Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-11-15
JOE ROCKS GETS BIG
YIELD OF PORTO RICO
VANS FROM ONE HILL
More Than Half Bushel in Hill
Illustrates Possibility of Po-
tato as Cash Crop Here
CASH MARKET ALREADY
Farmers Who Raise These Tu-
bers Have No Trouble Sell
ing at Good Profit


Joe Rocks, Andersonville resi-
dent, and well known in Amgricus,
is probably the champion sweet po-
tato raiser in this Section of Geor-
gia.
Yesterday he harvested portion
of his fine crop of Porto Rico yams
and in one hill dug a total of 32
pounds, or considerably more than
half bushel of these delicious tu-
bers. One single potato dug from
this mammoth hill and presented to
the Times-Recorder through the
courtesy of Mr.. Rocks, weighed ex-
actly Is pounds, being one of the
largest ever produced in this Sec
ton of the state, if not the largest.
Mr.. Rocks has only small acre
age planted to sweet potatoes this
year, but he has demonstrated that
they are an exceptionally profitable
crop and next year may plant con-
siderable area to the tubers. The
potatoes, it should be stated, are
a second crop produced in the same
land, having been preceded by
good yield of Irish potatoes which
furnished food for Mr.. Rocks FAM
1y table throughor5 the season,
with a quantity, home-cLred and
now safely stored away for later
consumption or sale as he prefers.
Telling of his sweet potato crop
today, Mr., Rocks said that he used
no fertilizer whatever in their cul-
tivation, and expressed qualification
at the superior yield secured. The
plants were set out July 10, or
about that date, he said, and the
potatoes were gives the same atten-
ton as a humble rof other crops be-
ng raised for home use and Incl
dental sale. The total yield has not
been harvested and weighed up yet,
but the giant hill dug during We'd
nesday points to a tremendous pro-
duction, in addition to illustrating
graphically the possibilities of Sum
ter county soil in the production Of
the Porto Rico yam as money
crop.
With fifty cents a bushel being
paid for these yams at the Ameri-
Gus potato curing house, now being
operated by Roy Black, it is easily
seen what substantial returns per
acre may be secured by planting
Porto Ricos as a cash money crop.
1t should be explained, however,
that the saleable vans are those Of
considerable less size than the giant
tuber unearthed by Mr.. Rocks.
The No. rs, as they are CONNER
cially classed, are between 2 Id and
3 ga inches around, with a maxi
mum of ten inches in length to OBJ
tain the best price, butsall Of these
sizes are readily saleable here-and
for the cash, with no limit placed
on the quantity that may be brought
in
The larger potatoes, according to
George o. Marshall, county farm
demonstration agent, besides being
ayainlable for canning and home
use or sale to restaurants and ho-
tells for making pies, have high
feed value as hog feed and may be
profitably market con the hoof' as
so many farmers now market their
velvet beans and corn. The expert
ence Of Mr.. Rocks points one way
out of the all-cotton program, and
potatoes coming in at this season
will provide esah for the farmers
when it is most needed in prepara-
ton for planting the great u.oney
crop of the entire South-cotton-
and. without which it would be fl
naneially impossible for the indus
tries and institutions Of the nation
to exist,