The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-03
C. w. Carraway, Of Charles
ton, Discusses Summary
Of 1877 Records
GUY A.
General Agricultural Agent

oSAASA"A
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co.
Numbers of county agents pre-
pare helpful letters from time to
time for mailing to farmers in an
attempt to encourage the adoption
of uniform practices that have been
proved of value in getting the best
results from the production of some
particular crop. l am using a re-
cent sweet potato letter circulated
among Charleston county. S. C..
farmers by c. W. CarraWay, coun-
ty agent. Not only Charleston coln-
ty farmers but farmers through
out other counties interested in
money crop may find this informa-
ton of interest and value.
The time has come when farm
ers in the Carolinas producing Por-
to Rican sweet potatoes as a sup
Elementary money crop may ind
this information of interest and
value.
The time has come when farm
ers in the Carolinas producing Por-
to Rican sweet potatoes for ship
ment most pay close attention to
color, conformation and quality if
they wish to further expand the
acreage in this crop and still hold
place in the markets of the country
in competition with other produce
ing areas. Mr.. CarraWay's letter
follows:
County
Below is some Information con-
corning sweet potatoes, which I
hope may be of assistance to you.
Production practices that were
most successful with sweet pota-
toes are revealed in an analysis Of
1877 records kept in 1889 by farm
ers from 80 South Carolina coun-
ties. A summary of these records
by the Extension Agricultural Eco
Monies Division points to the fol-
lowing general conclusions with
reference to variety, vine cuttings,
disease control, spacing and stand,
height Of ridge and bed, and fer
tilizing.
l. A good strain of the Porto
Rico variety, one with c%opper-coi-
ored skin and orange-colored flesh,
is most highly recommended.
2. The planting of vine cuttings
made higher yields and higher re-
turns per ere than planting only
sprouts or both sprouts and vine
cuttings.
8. Seed stock from vines is pref
cradle to stock produced from
sprouts, as apparently seed pota-
toes produced from vines transmit
fewer diseases. Treatment of seed
stock with corrosive sublimate be-
fore bedding is to be recommend
ed.
4. Row widths 80 to As inches and
spacing of hills 9 to IL inches apart
gave the best yields and the hi r.
est returns. Also, the better yields
and returns were made by those
growers 0 setting 1000 to $4,000
plants per acre.. The yield tended
to vary directly with the stand.
5. The yield per acre increased
as the height of ridge increased,
until a height of IL inches had been
reached, and as the height of bed
when laid by increased, until a
height of IS inches had been
reached.
6. Relatively large amounts per
acre of fertilizer pay well in the
production of sweet potatoes, with
potash and phosphoric acid being
apparently the most important fer
~tilizer elements affecting the yield.
However, the use of sufficient
amounts of ammonia should not
be neglected. Growers who use
side dressing make higher yields
than those who do not. The use OF
manure in sweet potato production
is regarded as a bad practice be-
cause of its effect upon the keep
ing qualities of the potatoes.