Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-19
CULTIVATION OF SWEET POTATOES

The sweet potato constitutes an in
cleasngly impirtant crop in Georgia
where large areas OF land are already de-
voted 10 its cultivation The increase
OF popularity and the market demand,
however. are such as 10 indicate the
advisab ility and profit as well Of giving
special attention 10 the cultivation OF
this important crop The origin OF thls
useful crop is somewhat doubtful. but II
is thought 10 be a native OF America.
and is very closely related TO the fami-
lar family OF plants Of which the morn
ing glory is probably the best known
The cultivation OF this crop IS confined
chiefly 10 the southern states. though IL
is grown quite extensively In central
New Jersey. II may be called a strict
" summer crop. in fact. IL could OFTEN
be made to follow an extra early crop
OF Irish potatoes. and the land in this
instance would be in ideal condition for
its growth. and IL would be an advantage
10 have the crops follow each other and
thus occupy the soil completely through
the growing season.
In the south the sweet potato should
be regarded strictly as a field crop be-
cause OF its extensive cultivation and Its
wide adaptability for growth under our
seasonal and soil conditions. The sea-
son calculated to secure the best yield
OF sweet potatoes is one in which the
rains are rather frequent during the
greater part OF the summer with dry
weather prevailing in September and Oc-
tobe. The sweet potato is a perennial.
though treated as an annual in cultiva-
ton It has pristrate stems which often
take root at the nodes the later part OF
the growing season II is termed bovan-.
ically an enlarged root in which food il
stirred ii hasten the griwth OF the
young shoots the following season rrna
which in practice the plant is propa-
gated
The principal use of the sweet potato
is as a vegetable for human consump-
ton. though IL is sometimes fed quite
extensively TO hogs. The growing de.
mand for IL in the northern markets.
however. and the fact that many other
crops may be utilized for pork produc-
ton is tending to lessen it's use for this
purpose The sweet potato is especially
rich in starch and sugar. and IL should,
therefore. be eaten in association with
foods rich in protein. This is also true
where IL may happen TO be grazed BY
hogs since il viii be seen 10 be a one
sided food a ID certainly not well caIcu-
lated to supply the needs OF growing an
imaIs in the absence OF an abundance
OF supplemental food which contains
plenty OF protein Since sweet potatoes
cent OF starch. it is probable
that they will be used extern
sively for the manufacture Of this artf-
cls at an early date. and as a bushel
Yields about q gallon or so-called indus
trial alcohol. and a heavy yield Ger
acre may be secured under favorable
conditions. the probabilities are that the
crop viii find much favor by those en-
gagged in the manufacture Of denatureo
nInnhn1 -
tensiveiy for the two purposes mention
ed. but the more rapidly this is accom-
plished. the better IL viii be for the
southern farmer who virtually has a mo-
nopoly on the production OF this impor-
tant crop in a country which viii have
a consuming population in the next "a
years Of 100000. 900 people.
The composition OF the sweet potato
according TO several analyses is about
IS per cent OF nitrogen. II per cent or
phosphorus and So per cent OF potash.
The fresh vines. on the other hand. con-
tain about IS per cent OF nitrogen. per
cent Of phosphorus acid. SO per cent Of
potash. It appears. therefore that
sweet potatoes remove twice as much
potash as nitrogen. and about five times
as much potash as phosphoric acid from
the soil The fresh vines have been
found ia a number Of instances TO weigh
more than half as much as the edible
roots. and as indicated above, are richer
in nitrogen II appears on a conserva-
tive estimate. therefore. that 200 bush
els OF the ehible roots Of sweet potatoes
would remove from an acre Of land ap-
proximately 81 pounds OF nitrogen, I3
pounds OF phosphoric acid and 81 pounds
Of potash To supplr this plant food
would require 500 pound OF Sis per cent
cotton seed meal and 100 pounds if mu-
rate OF potash. IL should not be for
gotten, however. that a much larger
amount than that actually required py
the crop should be applied to the SOIL
since Il viii probably only assimiIate
from one-half to two-thfrds OF rnas
which is applied in a commercial form.
IL viii thus be seen that this crop re-
quires liberal fertilization with high.
grade materials.
The characteristics TO be sought in a
sweet potato are texture. flavor, pro-
ductiveness and fine keeping quaIitiAs
Early varieties are also in demand TO
supply the market in the latter part of
the summer. Good varieties for this pur-
pose are Nancy Hall and Strasburg while
among the most productive kinds are
Southern Queen. Hyman. Providence and
Shanghai.
Soils for this crop should be mellow so
they viii not readily bake and permit Of
the roots TO easily penetrate TO a consid-
cradle depth They should be naturally
well drained and warm so as to provide
a long period OF actual development A
sandy soil which may be enriched by
heavy applications Of vegetable matter
therefore, provides almost ideal condi-
tons for this crop, though IL may be
grown on clay soils. especially II they are
rich in lime On these lands, however
the crop as a rule is somewhat inferior
IN quality and appearance as well. HUI
mus is essential 10 the production Of this
cror in its highest degree OF perfection.
This Is often supplied BY the use of pine
straw OF other litter from the woods.
This material may be used advantageous
Is as bedding in the stables OF barn lots
Humus may also be supplied by growing
crimson clever and turning IL under.
Since sweet potatoes do, best on sandy
soils. and as already indicated. make a
heavy draft on the potash. the fertilizer
used should be rich in this element. and
while no one formula may be suggested.
15a pounds OF nitrate OF soda or 40