The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-07-27
FORMER FARM AGENT
URGES IMPORTANCE
Of SWEET POTATOES
rRaise sweet potntoea and assure

ry That Is the slogan of several persons
O, n Ardmoro's immediate vicinity who
,, ire putting their theories into practice
With the result that their bank accounts
ire constantly increasing and they are
'' Engaged in an occupation that does not
- .equire every working day in the year
;" n order 10 get returns
"' East and southeast of Ardmorc h 10
~ .ated some of the finest lands for the
>" production Of sweet potatoes that can
VI ,e found in the entire state, and not a
w. 'ew are taking advantage OF the favor
~ able soil situation and establishing small
!" rweet potato and garden truck farms
h r. L. Scott, former county farm
o' tgent. purchased some land east of
=" Ardmore two years ago and has been
Ut marketing sweet potatoes from II with
~ profitable results ever since.
!" Mr. Scott, who is thoroughly familiar
III With cultivation of all crops indigenous
10 this section, says that after yearA
:" " experimenting with the sweet potato
~ he has AT last found the place where
( 4 can be produced in greater quanti'
" aes with less expense than any he
mas ever found and is advising his
friends who desire to get back to the
!, roll to do so by way of the sweet po'
!" ato route.
70 The lands above spoken of are also
particularly blessed for the reason that
irrigation can be accomplished ut a
minimum OF expense.
There is an immense water sand hut
few feet below the surface that where
.ver touched produces AN abundance or
,lear water This was recetly proven
II the test oil well now drilling south
= East of the city. The hole stands nearly
,ull of water an dthe drillers are au-
: .horty for the statement that II IS the
biggest water SAND they have ever
encountered in all the years of their
drilling experience.
Some of this water has been sent off
.or analysis and the report is expected
from the state chemist soon.
Wells can he drilled at a nominal cN
pense and that entire section irrigated.
one prominent farmer stated that 1t
had been his experience that water for
irrigation purposes. secured from wells.
was as general thing too cold, but
fit is pumped into trench or irrisa'
hon ditch it soon becomes warm
enough. especially with such weather
Continuing the subject Of sweet po'
latoes. Mr.. Scott said:
'The sandy lands of this section of
Carter county are particularly adapted
10 growing sweet potatoes, and there
is no field crop that will give better
returns for capital and labor invested
II properly handled. Carter county
has never raised enough sweet potatoes
10 supplv her own needs, and yet there
Is no reason why hundreds of carloads
should not be shipped from here an
nualy.
"In nv opinion there is not an acre
Of sandy land in Carter county but that
NAV be paid for with the first crop OF
sweet potatoes if properly handled, and
give the farmer good wages for his
work as we'll
Sweet potatoes are almost immune
from devastating insects and reasonably
clear of disease.
Professor Beeson, president or the
Meridian College at Meridian Miss
says that the sweet potato contains %
per cent more human food values than
the Irish potato. and comes nearer be
ing a balanced ration for man or beast
In my opinion there is but one kind
Of potato to grow in this section ana
that is the Nancy Hall. or Bradley
Yam. they being one and the same. The
sweet potato is just beginning to come
into its own, the south ships thous
anda of bushels to northern markets
avery winter and the demand is always
far ahead of the supply.
"Growng sweet potatoes is not DIFF
ficult and the yield is very dependable.
Personally. | never figure on making
less than 100 bushels to the acre and
ofteutimes double that figure. The
sweet potato is n hardy. thrifty vege-
table and will stand more drouth than :
any crop l know of. I believe every
Carter county farmer who has sandy
land should raise at least ten acres OF
sweet potatoes.
by next year we are practically as
sured that Ardmore will have potato
storage warehouse and if a market is
established where the farmer is assured \
that his crop may be disposed of. they
will respond and raise more of this val
uable crop for which there is so much
demand"
Referring to the, question of a ware
house in Ardmore, the proposition is Il
now under advisement with several
prominent business men, including 1
wholesale merchants. and it is the con 4
scnsus of opinion that the building will
be ready for next years crop.
George Dyer Of Artimore has a potato
farm near that of Mr.. Scott, and he
Is one of the most enthusiastic mem
bers of Carter cou1ty's sweet potato Z
colony. For many years Mr.. Dyer was i
engaged in the mercantile business in
Ardmore, but after his first experience
with the succulent yam he says that
there will be no more confinement in
store or office for him, as he sees
more real money ahead from the soil
than can he made by selling goods over
the counter.
Several prospective buyers are in
vestigating the SECTION south and east
of Ardmore and there is evidence to y
substantiate the statement that several
acres will be added to the sweet potato
crop another season.
~
Peaches, Peaches.