Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-03-02
SWEET POTATOES: SEED SELEC.
TION, BEDDING AND DIS.
EASE CONTROL
Furnished by J. c. Terrell

There are three important factor
in bedding sweet potatoes; namely
selection of seed, treating seed fo
disease spores, and care in prepara
ton of plant bed. Proper considera
ton of these will do much toward:
controlling diseases and successful
storage.
Time for Bedding.
In open ground: After the DANCE
of frost (middle of March to- first o
ApriD, usually four to six weeks be-
fore planting time.
In hotbed: Usually four to si3
weeks before danger Of frost is ovel
(15th to goth of February.
Varieties.
For storage: Porto Rico or Nancy
Hall "a pure strain of the one local..
most popular)
For green or early market;
Triumph.
Selection Of Seed.
l. Use healthy uniform seed fror
fall selection from the best yieldins
hills of disease-free potatoes and OF
the desired type
2. Split stems and examine for
stem rot. If the stems are blackenet
8. Throw out all potatoes with
nearly round, sunken, black spots on
the surface, or rotten ends.
4. Before bedding, go over SEED
potatoes again, and remove all show
ing diseased spots, rotted ends, OF
bad wounds.
Treatment of Seed
l. Immerse for to 8 minutes ir
a solution of formaldehyde (com-
mercial 40 per cent? made by dilut.
ing one quart formaldehyde in so gal
Ions water. This solution may be
used repeatedly without losins
strength.
2. Corrosive sublimate, which may
be used instead of formaldehyde, is
very poisonous and must be handled
in wooden vessels. Dissolve on"
ounot corrosive sublimate in warm
water, add eight gallons Of water, and
immerse potatoes for 10 minutes.
3. For large quantity of potatoes
make up so gallons of the solution
After treating 10 bushels, add one
ounce corrosive sublimate and enough
water to bring up to so gallons agair
to keep up strength. Bed potatoes a
once.
Preparation and Handling OF Plant
Bed.
Potato plants are usually grown in
open ground in this state, but for ear
ly plants the hotbed is recommended.
l. Locate the bed in southeast
ern Exposure, with protection from
wind preferred; easy reach Of water;
good drainage; and preferably r'w
land
2. Break land deep, scoop out or
4 inches of soil rather than dig deco
pit. Make bed rectangular, not over
six feet wide, length to accommodate
the seed bedded Burning bed site,
as in making tobacco beds, helps C.
stroy weeds and sterilize soil.
8. Mix approximately half and half
cottonseed and horse stable manurc
for heat rs bushels of cotton seed tc
a plot G. 144O, and put down lay
er OF 4 to 5 inches. Level pack, and
if dry sprinkle. Cover the mixture
with Q to 3 inches Of sand Allow thi'
to remain "a to SO hours before bed
ding to prevent potatoes overheating
4. Immediately after heating, bed
potatoes so as to be nearly touching.
Cover with one inch of sand. then one
inch layer of unpacked pine s.
and cover straw with 4 inches o.
sand. The straw prevents pulling
patotaes out Of ground when plants
are pulled.
5. Bed three to four bushels for
enough plants for each acre, or 10000
to $4,000 plants.
6. Use light canvas, heavy muslin
or glass to protect plants from frost.
I. Pull plants often to encourage
production.
s. Water plants often to preven'
dryness, but do not keep bed soggy'
Note. Plants should have to
inches of underground growth.
BAD BACK TODAY
Backache is usually kidney-ache
and makes you dull, nervous and tir-