The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-07-29
CrownlgSweet Potatoes
Suggestions for Profitable
Production Of "Sugar"
Spuds.

Clemson College, J 1s.-Thers
are few crops 50 well adapted to
South Carolina conditions as the
sweet potato. This crop offers to the
growers every advantage for success
ful growth and profit that is offered
BY other field Or truck crops.
Soil selection, preparation, fertiliz-
ing. careful fitting and planting, and
cultivating ars the essentials Of sue
cess in the growing Of sweet potatoes,
says Geo. P. Hoffman, Extension Ser.
vice heTticulturist.
sou.-The sweet potato adapts IT.
ssx to grea+ diversity Of soil, but It
delights in and thrives best On q well
drained sandy or clay loan soil with
O clay subsoil. But regardless OF the
apparent ideal physical condition Of
che soil, this crop must be rotated
each year. Sweet potatoes may fol-
low corn, cotton, small grain, and
leguminous cover crops. 1t may
easily and effectively be worked into
any well balanced thrss-yeaR roes'
Hon.
Preparation Of SoiI.-The sodl may
be thoroughly and dseply prepared
by turning twice to depth OF six to
eight inches followed by cross Asc-
ing. Crooked and irregular roots 10
suit from shallow preparation OF TIE
sosl. Therefore, deep and thorough
preparation is very essential in grow
Ing. marketable potatoes.
Fertilizers. - Both karnyasd and
eomnersial fertilizers are recon-
mesded, but the former must be JUDI
esoasly used. Under the present
shortage Of potash, that clement Of
plant food most needed in sxcess.
liberal applications Of barnyard man
urs will bs very effective both IN cup
plemezting this shortage. and IA cor
recting tho physical condition OF ne
very heavy slayey soils. Ordinarily
both commercial and barnyard man
ures are applied In the drill when the
soil is being fitted for sstSaAg the
plants, and later as a side dresser.
For tho average clay soils that Will
produce q bale Of eotten to the acre,
400 to 500 pounds Of an s-S-s fsrtiaser
10 recommended. For the sandy
sefis producing a bale OF eotten per
acre, 400 10 coo pounds Of an 1876 fer
tilizer is recommended.
Fitting the Soil and Setting the
PIants-Preparatory to setting the
plants, which should be froms May lst
to July 18th. lay off rows to 3 s1-s
feet apart and apply the barnyard
manure (S-1e tons per acre} or com
mercial fertilizer made OF two-thirds
16 Der cent acid and one-thTd cotton
seed meal applied in the drih. and
thoroughly mix with the soil. Plant
ing beds of medium height, depend
ing upon drainage, should be thrown
up and dragged down, and the plants
or vinscutsirgs set II TO Ii inches
apart. To correct the packed conda-
tion of the SOIL brought about through
the transplaating process, the water
burrows should be narrowed or other
wise cultivated Immediately follow
Ing the setting Of the plants.
For late paintings, the one-ieaf,
to 10 inch vine cuttings are more de-
sirable than are the slips or draws,
especially for the growing OF seed
stock. ..-
varieties.-Nancy Hall, Porto Rico,
and Triumph are the leading and
most popular varieties grown in this
state. Triumph Is one Of the earliest
varieties, and should DO planted
when potatoes are grown for early
market.
cultivarien.-Frequent shallow eul-
tivatien should be practicsd until the
vines have covered the ground dur
ing which period the greatest care
must be used in turning the vines.
At the first cultivation, which con
sists OF a careful hoeing and siding
with a broad furros; side dressing
Of one-third cotton seed meal and
two-thirds 16 per cent acid phosphate
should be applied, 400 to 500 pounds
per acre, aad thoroughly mixed with
the soil. The Orangeburg sweep or
heel bow and shovel Is very edee-
tive in cultivating this crop.
A Good Example OF Profits.
The following record OF expenAi-
lures and returns on four acres Of
sweet potatoes grown in 1913 was fur
nished hy a farmer in Williamsburg