The Mena weekly star., 1918-05-09
SWEET POTATOES ARE IN DEMAND
MILLIONS OF DoLLARs BROUGHT INTO SOUTH EVERY YEAR
 FROM THEIR SALE.
By ]. s. Knox, Extension Division.
 University of Arkansas.


 Millions of dollars are brought into the South every year from the sale of the sweet potato The United States Army has recently added this vegeta- ble to its ration and this means that the crop will be in demand more than ever before. The South is sweet DO tato section and none of the states are better suited to the growing of sweet potatoes than is our own state. We must nave an abundance of this vege- table next fall,
 Sweet Potato Pays We'll.
 The sweet potato will produce, on very common soil, from 100 to 125 bushels per acre and at present prices of $2 per bushel there are few, if any. of our crops that will equal it. However, while the sweet potato grows and produces fairly well on great variety of soils. 1t seems at it's best on the well-drained sandy loam soils of medium fertility. Sweet po- tatoes intended for storage should not be planted on poorly drained soil, because they are much harder to keep over winter than are those that have been produced on the better drained soils. Clay soils produce good potatoes. but at digging time tho soil adheres to the potatoes and is the cause of great deal of bruises and unnecessary labor in removing dirt from the tubers, It Is not advis. able to grow potatoes on the same soil two years in succession, and if a stubble of COW peas or clover or cov- CT crop of rye or oats can be turned under. so much the better.
 It Pays To Use Fertilizer.
 As rule our farmers use too little fertilizer on the sweet potato soil. From 400 to 500 pounds per acre of fertilizer made by mixing equal parts by weight of cotton seed meal and acid phosphate should increase the yield of the potatoes from 20 to 25 per cent. If supply of hard wood ashes can be had, it would also be well to apply few loads of this to each acre -the ashes contain lime and potash and the latter Is considered one of the chief essentials for this crop. Or der your seed potatoes right away or place your order with some one who viii grow the plants for you. because the indications are that seed sweet potatoes are going to be scarce again this year. In sections of Louisiana and Texas the sweet potato weevils almost destroyed the crop last year and at the present time they are threatening Arkansas. Sweet potato growers from the weevil infested states are now searching for suitable seed for bed ding this spring and they have al- ready purchased great many from our storage men. Be sure to cull out all potatoes showing black rot before bedding them.
 Bed Sweet Potatoes Properly.
 To bed the potatoes select some well-drafned sunny location and dig a pit about eight to ten inches deep. Put about six inches of good, rich, well pulverixsd soil in the bottom of this. then place the potatoes on this just close enough so that they do not touch about IS inch space is enough. Af- ter the potatoes are thus placed cover over with about one inch of sand or soil that will not pack readily and keep moist. Where bottom heat fig de- sired 1t is necessary to dig the pit about six inches deeper than men toned above and put six inch layer of horse manure in the bottom of the bed Always water the bed thorough ly before removing the plants.
 Use Labor Saving Machinery.
 The scarcity and high price of la bor at the present time makes it nee essary to use labor saving machinery wherever possible. The man who ln- tends to plant ten or twenty acres will in the long run find it profitable to buy a sweet potato planter These can be purchased at prices ranging from S60 to SEQ. and with it one can plant three or four acres with a force that would not ordinarily plant more than one acre the old way. Make rows about 2 1-2 to s feet apart and set the plants about IS to IS inches in the sow It is claimed by some that closer planting will lessen thu size of the potatoes. so if your crop has been over size try closer planting and vice versa. Do not try to get the plants on high ridges Ordinarily from to 5 inches is high enough and the plants are cultivated more easily.
 Cultivation Should Begin Early.
 As soon as the plants have become established the cultivation should be- gin. Avoid the use of blows which run too deep near the roots of the plants Upon examining the roots Of plants whsps one man had been cuiti- vating with heel sweep it was found that several roots that would have made potatoes had been cut off. Uss tho harrow freely and ss often as is necessary s keep the tsp soil loose and free from weeds
 writs Expsrimsnt Station. Fayette- vilie. Ark.. for Bulletin on Sweet Po- tatoes.
 There is not apt to be any more | .s5