Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-21
THE CULTIVATION OF SWEET
POTATOES

termination of the value of the sweet
potato crop for syrup making. Such
experiments and Investigations as
have been made up to the present
time lead to the belief that the sweet
potato can be used for this pur-
pose with both profit and advantage
If these Investigations prove this
idea to be correct there is no telling
how large an area of this crop can be
successfully used for the purpose In
Dictated. Undoubtedly the demonstra-
ton of the fact that the sweet pota.
to will yield a satisfactory grade OF
syrup will greatly encourage its cul-
tivation throughout the coastal
plains area in which it finds natural
habitaE.
We should. of course, encourage
the cultivation of sweet potatoes
for various other purposes. 1t is one
Of the most desirable vegetables We
can place on our tables. 1t can be
prepared in a great variety of ways
that make it attractive and whole
some. 1t provides essential 1000
which is now often lacking in the
family dietary. 1t gives variety and
volume as well to the ration. The
farmer can now build a small storage
house and save his crop successful
ly. The potato does so we'll on such
a great variety of soils and is SO
easily produced that there is every
reason why we should both encour-
age and extend it's cultivation. Some
of the facts we should bear IN, mlnG
with reference to the selection ana
preparation of the soil for TINS crop
the varieties to plant, and the fertil-
izers to use will therefore not pe
out of place at this time,
The sweet potato likes a friable,
sandy loan. The soil should be
fertile, but need not be abundantIy
filled with organic matter. 1t shouldi
be we'll drained, but the supsoli
should be firm. Potatoes produced
in very deep, sandy soils are apt 10
We have heard reports of potatoes
growing On this type of soil yard
in length and from one-half to one
inch in diameter. The heavy SOILS
can be improved for the production
of this crop through the growing
of cover crops and the Tightening OF
the soil through the tilling and the
incorporation of organic materials.
In preparing land for setting OF
sweet potato plants it is well to give
it a good blowing with two-horse
turning pillow. Follow the blowing
with double discing; that is, disc the
land both ways, if it is level. On
done. In light soils only one discing
may be required. Follow the disc
harrow with a springtooth, Acme or
spiketooth harrow, provided plants
are going to be set on the level, as
Is sometimes done. If, however,
planting is to be done on bed, after
the discing, the rows may be laid on
four feet apart with an ordinary one
horse pillow. Then a furroW may De
run on either side, bedding on to the
row, in which the fertilizer has been
applied. After this, one-horse
Acme or spiketooth harrow is used
to drag the bed down to broad sur
face not more than an inch or two
above the general surface OF the
field.
Fresh barnyard manure is not. REG
commended for use just before plant>
ing. Some authorities, however, CON
slider a mixture of well-rotted stable
manure with a hundred pounds OF
acid phosphate added to each two
horse load a good material to use,
and recommend broadcast appl1ca-
ton of from eight to ten two-horse
loads of this material per acre, with
the addition of from fifty to seven
FIVE pounds of muriate of potash.
Compost, made of leaves, manure
and some sand, is also considered
good material to apply to to sweet ~ 5iT pol
with acid phosphate and potash.
In some sections where farmers
have herds of cattle, small areas are
fenced where cattle. are fed three
weeks to a month. They are then
moved to another place and the feed
lot is prepared for potatoes.
1t has been commonly considered
that too much nitrogen will give a
great yield of vines at the expense
of the potatoes. Authorities are now
of the opinion that it is the lack of
balance in the fertilizer that causes
nitrogen. If other materials are APP
piled in proper proportion to the
nitrogen, a good yield may be ex-
pected, even with large applications
IF high-grade fertilizer. The aver
age application Of fertilizer Tor
from $50 to 500 pounds per acre. APP
plications of 1000 pounds of prop
crly balanced fertilizer should give
excellent results. AS a rule, appli-
cations greater than this do not pay
for the extra fertilizer.
=. sweet potato fertilizer should
run to per cent nitrogen, to Z
per cent potash. The following mix
ture used at the rate of from 800 to
1000 pounds may be considered a
fairly good potato fertilizer: Eight
500 pounds acid phosphate 16 per
cent, 400 pounds muriate Of potash
or sulphate Of potash. This material
would be very expensive at this time
on account of the extremely high
price Of muriate of potash and cot
ton seed meal, and under these con-
ditions we would suggest that the
ton seed meal and 800 to 400 pounds
acid phosphate per acre. Where ap-
p1ications of from 200 to 500 pounds
are made, we suggest that they, be
made in the row: Larger applica-
tons may be divided, and half ap-
q top dressing. It is a good plan
two weeks prior to the setting of
the plants. If the planting is done
on beds, apply the fertilizer when
the row is laid off and list on it..
Of sweet potatoes. but at the pres
ent time the following are among
the most popular in this state.
Nancy Hall-Tubers elliptical, with
light, yellow skin and deep yellow,
flesh, a good keeper and d wonderful
stubby and bunchy, with large, thick,
the end of the stem next to leaf,
which is without red veins.
Porto Rico-Produces q shapely
potato; is good yielder, with pink
are long and dense; regular leaf,
Triumph-Tubers oval, inclined to
be long; skin a dirty white with
creany-white flesh. The vines are
thrifty, with red veins on under side
of forked leaves; vines are punched
"Fighting scab on the Apple"
w. NJ. NJ, Pike, Ga. writes:
Can I check apple scab at this
time of year? 1 sprayed just
before they bloomed with lime
and sulphur and arsenate of lead
and it did no good. Any informa-
ton will be appreciated.
For your information I quote from
our schedule for spraying apples
The data presented gives the com