Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1918-04-12

the ends ,welve-inch boards mailing
them together at tho corners. Next
spread about four inches OF loose
soil over the bed; then let the bed
stand for several days until the first
period has passed. and until the
temperature has settled down to -
or 40 degrees Fahrenheit
In bedding the sweet potatoes
place them upon four inches of earth
resting on the manure. and then COW
er thew with three to three and one
half inches of finely screened moist
soil. Make sure that this and all
other bedding materials used are
free from weed seeds of all kinds
Bedding Is usually done in April. the
earlier the better; but little water
Will be required then until the
plants begin to appear. when the
bed may be watered moderately ev-
cry day, If the weather is bright and
pleasant If forcing is desired, a
glass or cloth cover will he required.
Commin cheap muslin will answer
this purpose. Early in the season
at night, and also during bad wealth
er this covering should he left over
the plants.
When the plants are to be drawn
for setting in the field. give the bed
a thorough watering In order to
make the plants pull easily. Also
water the bed thoroughly after draw
ing the slips in order to settle the
soil around the potatoes loosened in
drawing the plants. The roots OF
the young plants should be dipped
when possible into mixture OF clay
and water or thin mud having the
consistency of gravy. before they are
set out. This pudding coats the fine
rootlets and protects them from ex-
posure to the drying effects of the
air until the young seedlings can be
planted.
Ii; the WELD a deep and we'll pull
verized seed bed must be prepared
and the ground must be permitted
to settle we'll before planting time.
Local conditions will determine
whether the method should be on a
level surface. or on low or on a
high ridge. The plants are usually
set 16 to Is inches apart in the row
and the rows should be from three
and One-half feet to four feet apart
II the plants are set S inches apart
in rows three and one-half feet
apart. about $500 plants will be re-
quired for each acre planted. When
pissible il will be best to water the
plants when set and to have the soil
well firmod around the roots. Any
farmer who expects to grow five
acres or more of sweet potatoes will
find it advisable to buy sweet po-
tatO planter The slips should not
be- set out unit, the ground is warm,
and all danger of frost has passed.
Thrc" or four plowings with one
or two hoeings to keep down the
weeds and crab grass will ho about
all the cultivation that is necessary.
At the last cultivation the soil
| should he worked we'll up and
around the plants in order to form
plenty 0f bed or hill for the potatoes
The industrial department OF the VI
X. a. T Railway is suggesting that
every farmer should plan to raise
enough sweet potatoes io supply his
| own family and meet III" demands
of III" local market They ar" valu
able for stock feed as we'll as for
human food. Hogs are very fond %!
sweet POTATOES and tatt"n rapidly on
them. hut of cOurS" hogs must h,
| "hard"Hcd off" on corn h"for" h"in j.,
dep"idabl" crop. and should find q,
plnc" % nrv"ry farm. Industrial De
partmcnt, NJ, X. u r Railway
According To III" taddn Herald. a