The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-02-22
sweet POTATO RA|slAG'
a FAIR WELD MAY BE EXPECTED
ON ANY FARM LAND.
BY Dr.. J. c. Written, Professor OF
Horticulture, University
of Missouri.

best yields toward the South, still 1t
may be expected to give profitable
crops in Missouri. A fair yield may
be expected on almost any farm land.
Some of our richer bottom lands are
not so we'll suited to it's profitable de-
velopment as are the uplands OF mod
crate fertility.
The plants make excessive vine
growth, and the potatoes are less de-
sirable in quality on the richest heav'
lest soils. A loose light soil tending
toward sandiness is preferable. Al
least a fair yield may be had, now
ever, on almost any we'll drained lana
that will grow an ordinary corn crop.
Among the varieties most usually
planted are the Nansemond, jersey
Cuban Queen, and \lneless.
Sweet potatoes are propagated by
means of sprouts or draws produceo
in hotbeds from sweet potato tupers'
The hotbed should be made in early
spring, and the sweet potatoes I'M
bedded, lying close together IN lay
er. and covered with two or three
inches of soil. AS soon as the sprouts
are well up, they may be broken on
close to the sweet potato, each con-
tanning few roots near the base, anu
olanted out. If desirable, these draws
NAV be made into cuttings, and
larger number of plants thus secured.
l,he cuttings are made long enough 10
contain three buds: one bud shoulo
be at the base of each cutting, ana
two above. These cuttings may be
rooted by inserting them an lnch
apart in rows 5 or inches apart.
They may be set in sand, in the out
side soil, or in the hotbed. cuttings
should be set deep enough SO tha'
the upper bud will be above the soil.
Roots will quickly be produced below
especially in the vicinity OF the ouos
below ground.
The ground should be plowed to
good depth and thoroughly pulverized
by narrowing and dragging. Inc ann
should be to give level culture.
II possible the time for setting out
the plants should be when the soil Is
fairly moist, but not wet enough to be
rticky. Plants should be set two 1eet
mart in rows four feet apart. Many
rrowers set by turning the furrow
with the turning plow; dropping the
n,ants in the furrow and covering
with the loose soil which was turned
nut. Other growers simply mark the
rows with a marker and set the plants
with spade. The spade may be In
serted in the soil and pushed 1or-
ward, leaving the space for the plant
and it's roots behind the spade. Inc
second person inserts the plants be-
hind the spade to a good depth, and
when the spade is Withdrawn, the
soil is pressed firmly back against the
plant with the foot.
Frequent and thorough cultivation
should be given. On very wet land'
+ NAV be desirable to grow the plants
N ridges. Level cultivation, however,
q preferable on most soils. Cultlva'
tion may continue until the vines
cover the ground. In the later Guilt
vations, growing vines will be dragged
Iengthwise of the rows. A little later
they will branch laterally and will
cover all the space between the rows
and keep down weeds.
The question is frequently asked
whether it is best to pinch on the
ends of the vines to induce tuber for
J nation. With the same question IN
, mind, some growers advise colllng the
vines around the hills so they will
make length growth less rapidly.
These methods of checking length
( growth probably do not pay under
, average conditions. 1t is usually best
i, to allow the plants to make their own
, natural growth
1 The potatoes should be dug just be-
S fore frost. If frost ACCIDENTALLY
4 catches the vines, digging should be
I done as sooH- -9essfb4e'
Sweet potatoes are among the most
i, difficult of root crops to store sue
"a cessfully. The most important FAC
n tors to secure storage are to never
: bruise the sweet potatoes; to KEEP
them dry; to prevent extremes Of
heat or cold. Since bruises induce
rot. the sweet potato should be han
died with great care in harvesting
They should be allowed to dry thor
oughly after digging. For that rea
| son. it is we'll to dig in the forenoon
| of a sunny day and pick them up il
the afternoon after their surfacel
have dried. If the weather Is yer.
| wet. so it is difficult to dry in thu
field. it becomes desirable, If possible
to spread them out under shelter be
fore storing.
II Sweet potatoes may be stored b!
pitting them in the field. or in spe
cially constructed potato houses o
storage rooms. Storage houses o
storage cellars should be well ven
| tilated. Sweet potatoes should be pu
in bushel crates and stored In rick
with inch spaces between the crate
| to keep the potatoesh ventilated an
dried out One inch strips OF boar
VI- ~ ,locod nm each tier OF crate