The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-03-12
the sweet POTATO.
A MONEY CROP
OF IMPORTANCE
r. Il. Jeter, Soil Improvement Com
mittee.

Entering the field in competition
with the other more firmly establish
ed money crops, the southern sweet
potato is rapidly gaining in popularity
as a field crop of first importance. One
of the greatest drawbacks to its sue
cessful establishment has been 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. It is probably one OF
the most cheaply grown crops OF the
South and with proper fertilization,
the least fertile lands can be made to
produce excellent yields. Statistics
show that it is an ordinary accom-
plishment to grow crop OF from zoo
to 400 bushels per acre on most any
soil Of average fertility with proper
fertilization:
Possibilities As a Money Crop.
As to the money income from the
crop. it must be said that it COM
pares most favorably with cotton. Sta
tistics show that the average return
from an acre Of cotton amounts TO
about &7o.s7 per acre, while the re-
turns from an acre Of potatoes
amounts to s134.1s. One grower ~
South Carolina reports to the college
that he made a net profit Of s1,21e.3e
on four acres, which Is return over
three hundred dollars per acre. THIS
grover was careful to keep an accu-
rate account Of all expenses, including
that of curing, marketing and grad
ing his crop, and his experience shows
the possibilities of the sweet potato
as a money crop for the South. In
fact. it proves the value OF the crop
beyond all question.
Produces Well On Nearly All Soils.
TIE soil and climatic conditions Of
the lower South are very favorable
to it's growth and produce root much
sweeter and richer in nutrlment IMAM
the harder and more starchy tuoer
of the more northern states. : fhe po-
tato makes it's best yields IN the san
dier soils. 1t will do we'll on most
anv soil that is well drained, but IL
grown on soils that are too fertile
produces a larger amount OF vine at
the expense of the potatoes. A llght
soil. not too fertile, with a firm sub
soil, gives best results. II the SUD-
soil is too loose, and not compact,
large proportion of the roots WILL bP
stringy and unfit for market purposes.
Preparation of the soil is about as
for cotton. The land is broken, laid
off. the fertilizers applied in the rows
and this bedded upon. The ridge is
generally allowed to settle firmly be
aore the slips or vines are planted.
Some Leading Varieties.
AS to varieties, the Nancy Hall
seems to be the prime favorite at this
time. The Porto Rico ard Triumph
varieties are also very popular and
rank with the Nancy Hall as a good
yielder and market favorite. The
Southern Queen and Yellow Jersey are
two 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
\nrent. The sweet potato needs com
plete fertilizer and an application OF
at least from 500 to 1000 pounds per
acre. Some manure may be applied
but it shonld be understood that this
is an unbalanced plant food, that be
cause of its nitrogen content will de-
velop the vine to the detriment OF ttre
roots if applied in too large quaint
ties The same thing is true of ccm
mercial fertilizer mixture having a
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. It was found, however, that
during the shortage CT 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
a good supply of readily available
phosphoric acid. A formula contain
ing all three of the necessary ele.
ments O. plant food would be, for the
coastal plain region, per cent avail
xl,ocraharin aci6 9 cont nitro.