Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-05-15

ton on Growing Sweet Potatoes In
south Carolina" has been prepared by
George P. Hoffman, extension horti.
culturist OF Clemson College, at tho
request OF the Food Administration fer
South Caroline:
Growing swset Potasoss In South
Carolina.
There are few crops 90 we'll adapted
20 South Carolina conditions that cal
Dc grown with equal success and profit
as can the sweet potato. This orop
onerS to the growers every ADVANTAGE
that Is offered by other fold or truck
crops.
SOIL selection, preparation, fertilia.
lhs' careful fitting and planting, and
oultivating are the essentials OF sue.
cess in the growing Of q Drop Of sweet
potatoes.
soll:-The sweet potato adapts 1t.
self to a great diversity Of soil, but u
delights IN and thrives beat on a wcli
drained sandy or clay loan soil un-
derlaid with clay subsoi. Regard.
less OF tho apparent ideal physical
condition OF the soil, this crop must be
rotated each year. Sweet potatoes
may follow corn: cotton. small grain
and leguminous oover crops. This
crop may be easily and effectively
worked into any we'll balanced three
year rotative system.
Preparation Of SoII,---The soil may
DO thoroughly and deeply prepared BY
turning twioe to depth Of 8 TO 3
nchos followed by cross disoing.
Crooked and irregular formed roots
result from preparatory shsllow prep.
aration OF the soil. Therefore, deep
and thorough preparation 10 very es.
sential In tho growing Of marketable
potatoes.
Fertilizers, - Both barnyard and
commercial fertilizers are recommend.
ed, but the former must be tudioiously
used. Under the present potash short.
age conditions, that element Of plant
food most needed In excess, liberal ap.
plications Of barnyard manure will be
found to bo very effective in supple.
mentfng this shortage and correcting
the physical condition Of tho soil. The
fertility and physical condition Of the
soil should determine the extent Of
tho applications, which should not be
| In excess. Of the needs. Ordinarily.
both commercial fertilizers and barn.
yard manures arc applied In the drill,
whom the soil Is being Atted for set.
ting the plants, and as 4 side dresser.
Fitting the Soil and Settling the
Pianta:--Preparatory te setting the
plants. which should be from May 1st
to July 18th. lay off rows az to 1 feet
apart and apply the barnyard or oon.
mercial fertilisers in the drill and
thoroughly mix with tho soil. Plant
Ing beds Of medium height, depending
upon drainage. should bo thrown up
and dragged down. and the plants or
vine.cuttin8s set IA to Is inches apart.
Correcting the packed condition Of
the soil brought about through tho
! transplanting process, Immediately
following tho setting Of the plants. the
water burrows should be narrowed or
otherwise shallow cultivated.
For late paintings. the ono leaf. 8 TO
| 10 inoh vine outings arc moro desira.
bio than are tho plants. this being es
peciaily true IN the growing Of seed
! stock.
Varletiss;--The Nancy Hall. Porto
Rico, and Triumph are tho leading
and most popular varieties grown In
this state. The Triumph Is ono OF the
| earliest varieties, and should be plant.
| ed when potatoes are grown for early
| market.
ivatIon:--Frequent and shallow
| cultivation should be practiced until
tho vines have covered the ground.
during which period the greatest Of
care must bs exercised IN the turning
| Of the vines. At the arst cultivation.
which consists Of q careful hoeing and
siding with a broad furrow, side
dressing OF cottonseed meal should be
| applied, at the ratio OF one-half ton per
aore, and thoroughly mixed with the
soil The Orangeburg sweep or heel
| bow and shovel will be found to be
very effective in cultivating this crop.
The following record Of expenditures
and returns on an acre OF sweet DO
| tatoes was furnished US by a grower
In Richland county, South Caroline,
daring 1017 and 1918:
Expenditures.
Rental value OF land. ......& 500
Turning and narrowing twice. 400
Bedding ground ........... l.e0
Compost--10 loads at $1.0o.... 1000
Spreading compost .......... LOO
Plants--10,0oo at 32.Bo...... $500
Setting plants ........... 1.3o