234 



JOUliNAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OP AoiiiCULl'URfi. 



than the six-moiiths type. The sweetest potato of the four grown on 

 Mr. Robertson's farm is supposed to he the yellow (Cape) three- 

 months variety, the next in order being the red tuber. 



The East African potato is said by Mr. Robertson to be the least 

 sweet of his four kinds, but intermediate in general characters 



Fig. 2. — Plantint;- Sweet Potato Slips. 



between the six-months and the more watery three-months varieties. 

 Lnternally the tuber is very white in colour, and even the skin is of 

 a lighter shade than any of the other varieties. It is also more 

 luxuriant m growth and hardier, and is reputed to stand drought and 

 frost better. On account of its trident-shaped leaves this variety is 

 kj'own locally as hoenderpoot. 



Fui. 3.— Sweet Potatv Dibble. 



Method of Propagating. 



There are two methods of propagating sweet potatoes ; they are 

 grcwn either from plants or slips produced by allowing the seed 

 tubers to sprout in warm sand, and planting the slips with the eyes 

 from which they are developed; or by making cuttings from the 

 runners or vines of the sweet potatoes and planting those cuttings. 



