The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1920-03-26
the SWEET P0ThF0---
4 MONEY CROP
OF IMPORTANCE

?. n. Jeter, Soil Improvement Com.
Entering the field In competitions
with the other % firmly establish
"a money crops. the southern sweet
potato is rapidly gaining In popularity
N a natd crop Of nrst importance. One
Of the greatest drawbaeks TO Ns sue
eessful establishment has bean that no
adequate means Of curing and storing
had been advised until the last few
years. With the successful operation
Of these potato storage houses, how
ever, the crop can now be marketed
successfully. II 10 probably p Of
tho most cheapk grown crops OF the
South and With proper fertilization.
tho least fertile lands can be made to
uroduce excellent yields. Statistics
show that II Is an ordinary accom-
plishment to grow q crop Of from zoo
to 400 bushels per acre on most any
soil of average fertility with proper
fertilization.
Possibilities As q Money Crop.
As to the money income from the
crop. II must be said that 1t com
pares most ~favorably with cotton. {
tistice show that the average return
from an acre OF cotton amounts to
about $70.87 per acre, while the re-
turns from an acre OF potatoes
amounts to $134.19. One grower IN
South Carolina reports to the college
that he made q net profit OF $1,zl6.S6
on four acres, which is a return over
three hundred dollars per acre. This
grower was careful to keep an accu-
rate account of all expenses. including
that Of curing. marketing and grad
lnr his crop, and his experience shows
the possibilities Of the sweet potato
as q money crop for b South. In
fact. It proves the value Of the crop
beyond all question.
Produces We'll On Nearly All Soils.
The soil and climatic conditions OF
he lower South r very favorable
70 its growth and produce a root
sweeter and richer in nutriment than
the harder and more starchy tuber
of the more northern states. The po-
tato makes its best yields In the san
der soils. 1t will do well on
any soil that is we'll drained, but II
grown on soils that are too fertile,
produces q larger amount OF vine az
the pen Of the potatoes. A light
soil, not too fertile, with a firm sub
soil, gives best results. II the SUB
soil is too loose, and not compact, 2
large proportion Of the roots will DO
stringy and unfit for market purposes.
Preparation of the soil is about as
for cotton. The land ia broken. laid
OF, the fertilizers applied In the rows
and this beddsd upon. The ridge is
generally allowed u settle firmly be,
fore the slips or vines arc planted.
Some Leading Varieties.
As to varieties, the Nancy Hall
seems to be the primo favonte 1t this
time. The Porto Rico and Triumph
varieties are also very popular n
rank with tho Nancy Hall as = good
yielder and q market favorite. The
southern Queen and Yellow Jersey are
tvo other varieties which have found
favor with some growers.
Liberal Fertilization important.
The question of fertilizers is. OF
course. related to the kind OF soil on
which the crop is grown. On the
whole the crop needs liberal fertiliza'
ton and responds well to this treat
ment. The sweet potato needs . COM
p,ete fertilizer and an application OF
at least from 500 to 1000 pounds per
acre. Some manure may be applied.
but it should be understood that this
is IN unbalanced plant food. that be-
cause of its nitrogen content will de-
velop the vine to the detriment OF the
roots il applied in too large quaint
ties. The same thing is true Of q COM
mercial fertilizer mixture having .
high nitrogen analysis. The crop
needs potash more than do general
field crops. since this element seems
to aid In the elaboration Of starch in
the roots. 1t was found. however. that
during the shortage Of potash. due to
the recent war, that sweet potatoes
would produce well with . less amount
Of potash than had been previously
thought necessary.
For best results the crop must have
= good supply of readily available
phosphoric acid. A formula contain
ing ali three Of the necessary efe
ments Of plant food would be. tor the
coastal plain region, . per cent avail
able phosphoric acid, 3 per cent nitro
gen and 4 per cent potash. For the