Evening journal., 1910-04-12
CULTURE OF
SWEET POTATOES
Discussion at the Meeting of
the Milford Grange
Milford Chronicle.

Milford Chronicle.
The subject considered at tho Grange
Saturday was the Culture of Sweet Po-
tatoes," which was divided into three
parts: First-How to build the beds, by
Mr.. Hopkins second-How to grow them.
by MI whitehead. Third-How to set
them by Mr.. Armour.
Mr. Hopkins said he had the first hot
bed that was ever made by any one and
1t is stin IN use. lie uses wood and brick
walls on the outside, and boards for the
floors. His bed is Q feet wide. lie makes
a box and puts 4xfs on Il and covers that
with boards, leaving a hollow space under
it. lie uses two nues. and has a furnace
in each end. which works very well The
bed is covered with boards and marsh
hay. lie has been growing sweet potatoes
forty-one or forty-two years and during
all Of that time they have been profitable,
with but two exceptions, this past year
being one
Mr. Whitehead exhibited a splendid var
iety Of sweet potatoes. marketable size.
smooth and oval, which is as hne as the
celebrated Vineland Of south Jersey He
says the soil and climatic conditions here
are good for this crop. The season past
has been trying for the sellers and buyers.
The reasons for this unusually ow price?
II was not on account or over production,
for this years crop was not on an aver
age larger than last years 10 seems that
the dealers were unable TO move them.
Tho first thing TO consider in growing
sweet potatoes is tho variety, some mar
<ots want a wet and some want dry
kind. most markets want "a medium sized
red potato the south demand a wet vari-
oty. The two methods of starting tho
growth are by manure hot beds and by
fire beds. Never plant what we call
strings. but be particular about the kind
and shape Of tie potato, and thus help ma
ture perform one Of hor simplest laws, tho
reproduction of the specie and by being
particular IN this matter now, we VIII
soon be able to produce .he ideal for which
we are working.
II my land Is poor and lacks humus, l
give it a light coat OF manure. Cow peas
are finc crop for sweet potatoes to fol-
low Any organic matter I'm the soil seems
TO be a great help to this potato. After the
land Is IN good condition and ground thor
oughly warmed / set the plants three feet
apart and in rows four feet wide; as they
are worked during tho season a small
ridge Is worked up to the plants They
should be worked soon after setting and
until they have made a large vine growth,
then nothing more until harvest timo.
They must be handled carefully and taken
to storage house as soon as possible after
being dug. Never take up more than can
] Nfa4a
from disease it does not matter how large
the bin is in which they are placed. IL is
not necessary to keep the house i'm high
Temperature. only a little fire and even
heat Is needed. All varieties keep very
well until Christmas.
The next thing for us to decide is, shal
VIC cut down our acreage this year OF
shall we continue to put IN the same num-
her of acres as is the past. / certainly
hope the crop which we yet have to grow
will prove to be a better paying one thar
that which Is past. The sweet potato
means much to as down among the pines
IN good old Sussex County.
Mr.. Armour states that he can set sweet
potatoes little cheaper by hand than
with a machine by using the tongs and
they will be set in better shape. but II he
cannot get than set I'm that way, he uses
the plant setter. Year tsfore last he had
400 baskets to The acre of prime potatoes.
lie has set 5000 plants in one day with
four men setting them. II he has TO carry
water he uses the plant setter lie said,
III YOU plsnt sweet potate-s when the
wind is i'm the East YOU viii have back
rot" Ho plants them when the ground
gets warm about the fifth Of May.