Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-03
HOW TO GROW AND STORE
SWEET POTATOES ..
BY r. j. WARD.

Recent articles in The Journal and other newspapers
of regard the methods Of growing
and keeping potatoes have aroused the interest
o writer a business with which of prac-
teal experience has made MIN more than ordinarily
familiar, and the prospects scarcity of all kinds
food products in country for the next year or
more together with the wel-recognzed food value Of
the sweet potato, prompts offer the benefit of
this Information to all who may be interested. MY
father the late w. P Ward, of Cobb county,
of the pioneers in this the state in the
keeping potatoes through winter, and
the information contained this article gained
his farm during the first twenty-five Of the life
of the writer. -..
That the city gardener as we'll small farmer may
know that he raise and keep through the winter
sufficient quantity of potatoes the of his
family at nominal expense compared to their value as
food product restricts this article to the most prac
teal methods of growing keeping potatoes in
paratively small quantities, and it should be stated
here that fifty to hundred bushels be raised on
spot larger than the ordinary farm garden, and
can be kept just safely much larger quantities
To make frst-class crop, the plants should be set
out by the first of June but excellent results can be
obtained by transpanting late July l. The land
should be we'll broken to depth of at least six or
eight inches and the off from three to four
apart. The equivalent of 500 pounds Of
good commercial fertilizer should be used
this produces better results than stable manure Low
lands. however fertile should be avoided they pro-
duce too much vine. and general rule the land
that produces the best cotton will produce the best
potatoes. sandy, oamy soil will produce greater
yield and smoother, pretter potato but the potato
raised strong appears to be harder and
better When the fertilizer has been put in the
should be bedded high as possible using
four burrows to each row with turn plow leaving
deep furrow in the middle The plants should be set
this ridge and cultivated as to keep clean OF
until the vines begin to rum The last blowing
should be done with the pillow used in preparing
the for plantdng to give the tubers all Of
the loose earth available in which to grow.
The potato crop should be dug about the first week
in November, when the vines have been nipped with
frost The vines should be cut loose and dragged of
with small pillow for feed. If desired, otherwise they
should be buried they will before another crop.
Use large turning pillow to get the potatoes out OF
the ground, bruise them a. little
possible The next object after getting them out of
the ground is to put them in the house or bank and
protect them from the cool air. Remember they have
been wrapped in the earth, and too sudden and
longconnued exposure to the cool air will them
to In should they be allowed to remain
uncovered over night When placed in the bank they
should be covered Immediately with thick coat OF
straw blanket, and this should not be removed to
any extent until they closed in completely
For keeping small crop the expense of building a
house is great be considered, especially
since they will keep just well in a bank. Select
welldrained spot preferably under she'd they
will be protected from rain and near enough the dwell
ing that they will attention
of temperature that prevail in winter. However,
shelter is absolutely necessary, 1t
water does not under stand around the bank,
potatoes must be kept dry Shovel off the loose
earth, which will need for covering the bank and
the firm, level surface place a coating of straw
three four inches in depth Pile the potatoes in such
that the sides of the bank will be nearly
perpendicular possible and cover them over with
the Of that is placed beneath them.
In putting them into the bank 1t is not to
throw out all and bruised potatoes, as many
writer's advise, for these will heal and keep perfectly
sound If the bank gets the proper attention They
should be handled with however for denies
that cuts and bruises increase the natural tendency to
decay If several hundred bushels be banked it
is best to make the bank long and and not too
high as it is necessary to give attention to vents top
of the bank On the next morning after banking and
covering outlined above will be observed that the
potatoes are wet This is due to the drying out of the
and ic tin1
eral days get all of this moisture out, but when
they have ceased Sweat nothing remains to
keep them at average temperature, neither
cold The writer can't say just what temperature,
he thermometer in a potato house in
his life When the potatoes are all in the bank and
covered with straw. close wooden covering should
be built the bank and covered depth about
twelve inches in dirt leaving three inches between
the straw the bank and the wooden cover for
ventilation If this is impractical. stalks
used instead of the wooden covering standing them
end and making sufficiently thick covering of them
keep the dirt from getting through ventilator,
sisting of box the length of the bank, and without
bottom should placed top the bank, by which
regulate the temperature Of the potatoes. In
ordinary winter weather this should be lightly covered
that any excess heat escape; but in very cold
weather it should be tightly stopped to keep out the
frost. This ventilator should potatoes and
have the dirt thrown well around it, and, if suf-
fcienty 1t will be very convenient taking
potatoes for daily use. the bank should be
opened potatoes they are to be
used During the first few days the bank will probably
De caused Oy one OF Two potatoes routing ana the
steam from the Sweating" potatoes they
out Do not become alarmed at this odor, and by no
the bank, for If let alone, probably only
a few will rot whereas if the bank be torn down
the rottng ones thrown out all Of the others will
If there be secret about keeping potatoes
through the winter it is that they covered
and protected from the cool air just possible
and kept covered until they have completely dried
out Wheat straw makes of the best coverings for
this it not only keeps the abr away
the potatoes but will allow the escape
also dries rapidly. If properly
week after being banked there should be no
difficulty in keeping them through the winter, though
constant and sudden changes in temperature require
close attention. and rule day should pass with
examination temperature of the potato
This outline may appear simple. but by following the
principles suggested the father Of the writer never