The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1919-05-29
GROWING SWEET PcTA.
TOES.
An E' silly Grown, Profit,b Crcp Eo,
South Caro- ina.

clemson C0!i"r2.-Thprp are fpu
crops so well adapted to South CIR,
lima conditions .h"t cIn be gray,
with equal success and profit is can
the sweet potato. This crop CTers ts
the grower every advantage that |,
oher2d by other fields or true; crops
says Geo. p. Hoffman, Extension Ser
vice horticulturist.
Soil selection, preparation fertiIiz
ing, careful fitting and planting. and
cultivating are the essentials of sue
cess in the growing OF crop o,
sweet potatoes.
Soil: The sweet potato adapts ~
self to a great diversity OF soils. bu;
delights in and thrives best on
well drained sandy or clay loam un
heriaid with clay subsoil. But re
gardless OF the apparent ideal physi
cal condition OF the soil. this crot
must be rotated each year Swee,
potatoes may follow corn, cotton
small grain, and leguminous cove,
crops, and may be easily and effect
iVely worked into any well balanced
three-year rotation system.
Sp""''o" o' So'i. Inc SOIL may
be thoroughly and deeply prepared by
turning twice to depth of to 3
inches. followed by cross discing
Crooked and irregularly formed root.
result from shallow preparation OF the
SOIL. Therefore. deep and thorough
preparation is very essential in the
growing OF mark ketable potatoes.
FertiIizers: Both barnyard manure
end commercial fertilizers arc recon
mendod. but the former must he Judi
ciously used. Because OF presen,
shortage OF potash the element Of plant
food most needed in excess in potstc
production, liberal applications oi
barnyard manure will he found TO he
very effective in helping to reduce this
shortage and to correct the phvsica
condition OF the soil. The fertility
and physical condition OF the sol
should determine the amount Of Tho
applications. Ordinarily. both com
mercial fertilizers and BARNARD ma
nures are applied in the drill. wher
the soil is being fitted for setting the
plants. and. later. as a side dresser.
Fitting the Soil and SETTING the
Plants: Preparatory to setting the
plants lay off rows 31a to 4 feet apart
and apply the barnyard manure (8 n
10 tons per acre. or commercial fer
tilizer made OF two-thirds lGot aciC
phosphate and one-third cotton-sccC
meal applied in the drill at the rat,
of 400 to 600 pounds per acre, and
thoroughly mix with the soil. 'rh,
planting beds OF medium heiCht, dc
pending upon drainage. should b,
thrown mp and dragged down. Th,
plants or vine-cuttings should he So;
IA to 18 inches apart. The period for
setting the plants is from May ! t,
July 18th. To correct the packed con
dition OF the soil brought about
through the transplanting process
the water furrows should be narrowed
or otherwise shallow cultivated i'm
mediately following tho setting OF the
plants.
For late plant ngs, the one leaf vine
cuttings 8 to 10 inches long are moro
desirable than are the slips ol
draws" this being especially true ir
the growing OF seed stock.
Varieties: NanceY Hall. Porte
Rico. and Triumph arc tho leading an,
most popular varieties grown in thi,
State. Triumph is one OF the earliest
varieties. and should be planted whcr
potatoes are grown for early market
Cultivation: Frequent and shal
low cultivation should be practicct
until the vines have covered IN,
ground. during which period tho
greatest OF care must be excr .isrd ir
the turning the vines. At the frs
cultivation, which consists OF care
ful hoeing and siding with broat
furrow, n side dressing OF mxtur,
of onc.third cottonseed meal and two
thirds 16 per cent acid phOsphat,
should be applied at the rate OF 400 t.
COO pounds per acre. and thorough,
mixed with the soil. The Orang"buri
sweep or heel bow and shovel will b,
found to be very effective in cultivat
ing this crop.
A Record Of Profits: The followin'
record of expenditures and returns o.
an acre OF sweet potatoes in 1915
was furnished us by grower in Rich
land County South Carolina the cro'
having been produced in 1877 anc
marketed during the late winter an,
early spring.
Expenditures.
Rental value OF land $ S0'
Turning and narrowing twice 400
Bedding ground ..... ~
Composite loads at 81 90 00f
Spreading compost ... -
Plants 10 900 at S250..... - ~
Setting plants .......... %
TIocing three times .. 3O'
Flowing and turning vines 40!
Cottonseed meal. ~ ton at s48 ~ Ot
Applying cottonsecd meal. -. lJ'
,o n,