Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-16

tons may be divided, and half applied
i'm the row and half applied as a top
dressing. Ii is a good plan TO apply the
fertilizer from one to two weeks prior
10 the setting of the plants. If the
planting is done on beds, apply the
fertilizer when the row is laid off, and
list on to IT,
No particular or special methods are
required in the cultivation of the sweet
potato crop. Any of the ordinary tools
used 10 make and maintain a soil mulch
will answer the purpose. The cultiva-
tion should be shallow and often; once
every ten days or two weeks and after
every rain. When the vines begin TO
interfere with cultivation they should
be thrown back and each alternate mid
die cultivated. The vines can then be
placed back in this middle and the other
middle cultivated. When the ground is
pretty well covered with vines, cultiva-
ton should cease.
The following are the more common
diseases of the sweet potato:
Stem Rot. Two fungi are identified
with this disease. The symptoms of
the trouble differ with varieties. Usu-
ally the plants show a variation in
color from the normal the leaves turn
duff then yellow between the veins,
Wilt If the diseased stem is open it
shows black on the inside. In the late"
stages of the disease the stem ruptures
and rots. The selection of uninfected
seed potatoes is the main way TO con-
troll this trouble. symptoms may be
Eoticed in the beds and slips should
not be taken from diseased roots Sc
lect roots that have been grown in UNI
infected soil and rotate the crop, as
the disease is carried over I'm storage
and i'm the soil.
Black rot This trouble may attack
any of the underground parts of the
plant. 1t shows up on the potato as
sunken, more or less circular, dark to
nearly black spots. Potatoes affected
with black rot are very disagreeable in
taste when cooked. 1t is disseminated
about the same as the stem rot disease
abCve and the methods of control are
the same
Soft rot. This is the most common
rot of storage and one of the most seri-
Gus troubles of the sweet potato. II
is caused by a fungus and is so COM
mon that. it needs no description. AS
the disease seems to damage only
bruised or hurt roots it is absolutely
necessary that only good potatoes be
put in storage. All those damaged in
the field at harvest time or in handling,
should be culled and used Immediately
as food or canned.
Dry rot. Another trouble of storage.
II is well distributed over the country
and though a serious disease at times,
IL care is taken in selecting the roots
for storage little or no trouble Will be
experienced.
For more detailed information on
sweet potato diseases see Farmers Bull
letin No. TIA. from the department of
agriculture. Washington. p. c.
The sweet potato seems to be re-
markedly free from serious insects.
There are several that occasionally at
tack the plant but in Georgia their de-
precautions are not serious. Sometimes
cut-worms do considerable harm to the
newly set plants. The control of these
rests is through the use of poison bait
Paris green mixed with bran and mo-
lasses and scattered about the field in
little balls will help
The most serious pest of the sweet
potato has not reached Georgia as yet;
This Is the sweet potato root borer. 1t
works underground and bores and tun-
nc.e through the root. making il abso-
Iutely ursalabIe Care should be taken
nor to transport infected tubers. A
treatment with carbon bisulphide may
be made where the infestation is slight
and small roots may be fed to hogs.
Bad infections necessitate the destruc-
tion by burning the vines and potatoes.
ESTABLISHING A STAND OF BUR
CLOVER.
T.. 7. L.. Bremen. Ga writes: have
tried several times to get stand Of hur
clover. but have not succeeded. have
teuth of an acre Of good land and I want
20 know LoN To manage the same TOR the
best results. IL the clover Is what is
claimed for 1t. want to put IL en- my
whole farm. Will II make hay:
Bur clover will grow on a great varie-
ty of soils. OF course. il does best on
land which Is in a good physical condi-
tion and containing a fair amount of
loan. There is no crop which does well
ordinarily on very thin or extra poor
land. or course many crops spread and
develop as the land is built up and we
think. this will be true of your expert
ence with bur clover
We would not recommend bur clover
for hay production. Its primary value
lies in its ability to grow during the
fail and winter. thereby providing con-
siderable quantities OF grazing for ami
mails at seasons Of the year when ber-
muda and most other tame grasses are
not available. Bur clover Is also a soil
imrrover by reason Of its membership
in the family of legumes and its ahili-
" under favorable conditions to gather
nitrogen from the air
II starting to plant bur clover we
would prepare the best seed he'd prac-