The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-05-07
Growing Sweet Potatoes In South
Carolina.

Growing Sweet Potatoes In South
Carolina.
There are few crops so we'll adapted
to SouH, Carolina conditions that can
be grown with equal success and prost
as can tie sweet potato. This crop
Oilers 10 the growers every advantage
that is offered By other field or truck
crops.
Soil selection, preparation. fertiliz-
ing. careful fitting and planting, and
cuitiyating are the essentials Of sue
cess in the growing O. crlp c. sweet
potatoes.
soil:-The sweet potato adapts it.
self to a great diversity Of soil, but IL
delights II ard thriTes best ca We.
drained sandy or clay loan soil un-
derlaid with a clay subsoil. Regard
less OF the apparent ideal physical
condition Of the soil, yhis crop must be
rotated each year. Sweet potatoes
may follow corn; cation, small grain
and leguminous coFsr crops. This
crop may be easily and effectively
worked into any well balanced three
year rotative systeDa.
Preparation Of soil:-The soil may
be thoroughly and deeply prepared by
turning twice to depth OF s to 8
inches followed by cross discing.
Crooked and irregular formed roots
result from preparatory shallow prep
aration of the soil. Therefore, deep
and thorough preparation is very es-
sential in the growing Of marketable
potatoes.
Fertilizers: Both Darnyard and
commercial fertilizers are recommend
ed. but the former must be judiciously
used. Under the present potash short
age conditions, that element OF plant
food most needed in excess, liberal ap-
plicat:ons Of barnyard manure will be
found to be very effective in supple
menting this shortage, and correcting
! the physical condition Of the soil. The
fertility and physical condition OF the
soil should determine the extent Of
! the applications, which should not be
in excess OF the needs. Ordinarily,
both commercial fertilizers and barn
yard manures are applied in the drill.
when the soil Is being fitted for set
ting the plants, and as side dresser.
Fitting the Soil and Setting the
Plants:-Preparatory to setting the
plants, which should be from May 1st
to July 18th, lay off rows 31h to 4 feet
apart and apply the BARNARD or COM
/ mercial fertilizers in the drill and
thoroughly mix with the soil. Plant
ing beds of medium height. depending
upon drainage, should be thrown up
and dragged down, and the plants or
vine-cuttings set Il to IS nshes apart.
Correcting the packed condition OF
the soil brought about through the
tmnsplanting process, Immediately
following the setting Of the plants, the
! water burrows should be narrowed or
otherwise shallow cultivated.
For late paintings, the one Leaf to
10 inch vine cuttings are more desira-
ole than are the plants, this being es'
necially true in the growing OF seed
stock.
varieties:-Ths Nancy Hall, Porto
Rico, and Triumph are the leading
and most popular varieties grown IN
this State. The Triumph is one OF the
earliest varieties, and should be plant
ed when potatoes are grown for early
market.
cultiyation:-Frequent and shallow
cultivation should be practiced until
ths vines have covered the ground,
during which period the greatest Oh
care must be exercised in the turning
of the vines. At the first cultivation
which consists Of careful hoeing ana
siding with a broad furrow. SIDE
dressing Of cottonseed meal should be
applied, at the rate Of one-half ton per
acre, and thoroughly mixed with the
soil The Orangeburg sweep or heel
bow and shovel will be found to be
ef16cClVG ID CulIlfuIAA9 lAAAS ~ ~
The following record OF expenditures
and returns on an acre OF sweet po'
tatoes was furnished US by grower
in Richland county, South Careiina'
during 1917 and 1918:
Expenditures.
Rental value of land. d..........$ S.oo
Turning and harzswing twice 4'oo
Bedding ground ...........'.'. I'ov
Compost-10 loads at $780,. lo.0o
Spreading compost ........'... l'oo
Plants-1o,ooo at $3.50. 25,oe
Setting plants ............'.. 1'Lo
, Hoeing three times ............ o'oo
Flowing and turning vines...... 40
Cottonseed meal, H ton at s4S.. 24.0'
Applying cottonseed meal...... LOO
Harvesting and storing. 12'eo
-
Total expenditure ..........$S7.os