Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1918-04-12
Plant Market Types Of Sweet Potatoes

The sweet potato is one of our
most important food crops and Is
now n part of the army rations at
all cantonments. 1t can he grown
with commercial success in all the
States of the South and Southwest.
! When properly grown. graded, and
packed. it finds a ready sale.
! According to L. S. Farmers Bul-
letin No. 324. teh net profit from an
acre of sweet potatoes is about 375,
while occasionally the net returns
range from 500 to $3.50 per acre
for IA single season or crop. How
ever. like all other crops. II may
have seasons OF failure or ovcr-pro-
duction when the profits may be
small. Throughout the South and
Southwest theer are thousands OF
acres of sandy loans in which the
sweet potato grows to perfection.
and farmers are beginning to realize
It's value as money crop. 1t is not
difficult to produce 200 bushels OF
sweet potatoes. Of which at least 1870
bushels will be marketable.
! Farmers should plant only those
types or varieties that give satisfac-
tory yields. and that will bear ship
ment. and are in demand. For Ok
lahoma. Southern Missouri. Arkan-
sas, Kentucky. Tennessee. and the
northern half of Mississippi, Alaba-
ma, and Georgia. the Nancy Hall
type of sweet potato is recommend
cd. For the territory south OF this
to the Gulf. the Porto Rico and the
Bunch Vans are also recommended.
The Nancy Hall variety has become
we'll known to the markets as far
west as Denver. north to Chicago.
and east to Cincinnati
The first requisites to success in
growing a crop of sweet potatoes IS
a supply of good. sound seed. free
from disease and decay. Farmers
should insist that the seed dealers
supply them with slips known to he
produced from absolutely healthy
sced--if they do not grow the slips
themselves If the seed potatoes
have black spots on them or indica-
'ions of any kind Of diseased condi-
tiOn, they should be treated by dip
ping them in a solution consisting of
one part of fOrmaldehyde to thirty
gallons of water The seed may he
allowed to remain in this snlution
from one to two hours. but not any
longer. and afterwards should be
partially dried before they are placed
in the terminating bed.
Another important point Is to So
l"ct seed known To he perfectly fire."
from the sweet potato wcevil. This
insect has already appeared in GER
tain districts of the South and H.
! done very serious injury to the crop
Ii the weevil-free slips or se' |
! known 10 he free from wpevil car
not be procured in your locality th' Y
should be obtained from some pla""
known to be absolutely clear of thi d.
insect trouble The increased crop
returns in the fall will more than
offset tn" increased expense for
healthy seed and good slips.
! Every farmer who so desires can
easily grow his own slips The seed
pufators should be- Of medium size,
smooth and uniform. tapcring at
both ends and of the general type
"'l1 cunturmati ton desired in the fin
/ ~ lnarE.'nhl" CrOl. Sweet potatoes
that ar" uf medium and uniform size
will command The best market
prices Seed potatoes that run
; from nn" inch Ia ON" and three
: turrthS inches in diameter, and two
and one-half to four inches long will
civ" better results than will over
grown nota'u"S or Culls. Some form
of hot bed is desirable for starting
III" slips This bed should he about
ten inches in dcpth. and tn" bottom
portion should b" filled with fresh
r.tl ~.