Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-18

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Mars is going TO take a close look
a; Richmond this evening.
And b. the same token Richmond
ties are going 10 take Il close look
at Mars She closest since 1903,
by tonight Mars VIII be 5000 900
miles nearer the earth than II was
81 month ago Proving Mars as
spccd"r certainly stlrs mp the star
dust,
But you needn't fear MARS viii skid
At some celestial corner and knock
= fender off the earth For Mars
will come Within Only I2.23o,00
miles OF tho plane; to which ".
hold title. before he curves away
again
II Mars were to hesitate a. that
o,Ooo-mile mark while you
: Proper storage
/, 81 needless to emphasize tho
fact that all measures Tor the Grad
ication OF the fungOus diseases or
sweet potatoes deal with the seed
II this point is overlooked all sub
scGucnt pains are wasted But
while the condition OF the seed and
the manner IN which they are b.dd.d
are fundamental points there are
~
potatoes that should receive our care
ful study.
Wrong Way to rInnt.
Last year tho writer saw man
WHO had been growing swec; pota-
toes FOR years. go into an unplowed
feld and lay on his sweet potato
rows by throwing up Two burrows
into bed with single plow The
land had been standing since the
preceding year and was almost Gov
cred with weeds and small grass.
None ~ this was turned under OK
cent where the two burrows made
the rough, clody ridge for the plants.
Think OF II. No blowing nor harrow
ing. and yet this grower expected
TO get good yield He did make
some sweet potatoes. for this crop
will stand lot OF abuse but his
yield was less than half OF what the
same land would have given with
thorough preparation.
Commercial fertilizers may he used
Drofitably on sweet potatoes Re-
suits of experiments conducted at
the South Carolina Agricultural EN-
pertinent Station show that tho sweet
potato in tile processes OF growth
removes comparatively small
amount OF phosphorus. n larger
large amount OF potash from the soil
The Virginia Truck Experiment Sta
ton at Norfolk. after cmpha sizing
the need for organic matter in the
soil recommends the use OF "A fcrti-
.izeT carrying TO per cent ann
monia. to per cent phorphoric
acid and 10 S per cent potash, and
adds that during the potash short
aSc good results were obtained m
Eastern Virginia by using fcrt-
Her containing per cent ammonia
per cent phosphoric acid and no
notash The same station recon-
mends The use Of 2oO-5oo pounds OF
fertilizer on fertile land and 1000
pounds per acre on poorer soils
Sweet potatoes should he Guilt
waited uutil tho vines extend across
The rows. after this cultivation is
Impractical All civilizations should
be shallow The practice of lifting
the vines TO check roofing in the
middle of the rows IS not TO he
recommended Neither Is II good
plan TO cut the vines for hog feed
or for other purposes. Experiments
conducted at the Georgia Experiment
Station show that the yield of the
crop may be reduced nearly onc-half
when the vines are cut while the
plants are growing.
The potatoes should always be dug
before the frost Injuries the vines
The keeping qualities of the potatoes
are seriously affected by the physical
and chemical changes within the
roots that take place after the frost
strikes the vines.
II a sweet potato is scratched. cut
or bruised at harvest time 1t is much
more apt to rot than one tina; is
"a M laI aFtIll
of split baskets Pat potatoes in
storage crate II possible. and thereby
proven; second handling. Use new
crates each year or disinfeC: old ones
by soaking them for fifteen minutes
in a II To 1000 solution ot bichloride
Of mercury
When all the above points have
been considered one is ready to dis
cuss sweet potato storage and not
before then. Whether one wishes to
save few bushels for home use or
store. thousands for market, the same
general principles should guide him.
The matter Of storage is long
story and requires much detailed in
formation. All growers who arc in
terested in this matter should begin
at once to secure all the information
possible through their State insti;u-
tions and so be prepared to meet
and solve their sweet potato prob
lens intelligently.
Development In Infancy.
The development of tho sweet po-
tato as a factor In the economic life
OF the nation seems TO be in Its
infancy. AS n food il is becoming
more popular each year as those who
know II only slightly become better
acpualn cd with its delicious flavor
through The hundreds OF tempting
u'sheS tlit can be prepared from II.
fcrhnps 4 can never rank with Irish
potatoes IS q food hccausc OF It's
sweet tas e. hut II W.. always satisfy
The appeiit Of thu,o who know II
best In such a pleasing manner that
with them at 'leSSt 1t viii continue