The Sweet Potato and its Cultivation. 237 



four iron hooks ; each leng-tli of runners is rolled up as tiglitly as 

 possible in order to economize bag- space and thrown into the bag, in 

 which a native labourer keeps treading them down until the receptacle 

 is packed as full as it can hold. . 



Sweet potato runners are reckoned very poor feeders for working- 

 animals, but good for ostriches and sheep. Mr. Harold Robertson 

 considers the runners an excellent remedy for wire-worm in the latter. 

 Of the tubers only the large ones are collected for human consump- 

 tion, the small ones being used for feeding stock, including horses, 

 cows, and fowls. Cattle are reputed to prefer sweet potatoes, after 

 having once been accustomed thereto, to any other class of feed. 



The practice in planting runners on Mr. Robertson's farm is 

 first of all to cut them into lengths of about 11 inches, and then to 

 plant them 15 inches apart in rows, with only one-fourth of each 

 cutting showing above ground. The parallel rows themselves are 28 

 inches apart. 



In order to preserve the runners of the sweet potato over a frosty 

 winter it has been recommended to set them in early in Autumn, and 

 shield them from frost, while allowing them free air supply, by 

 erecting a horizontal thatch-screen on a frame about 2 feet above the 

 runners. 



Propagation Methods in Other Countries. 



No doubt many who srrow sweet potatoes in South Africa will 

 read with interest the following account of a method of planting 

 adopted in Ohio, U.S.A. The writer besrins bv remarking that ground 

 intended for sweet potato cultivation should be put under some hoed 

 crop the previous season, and kept free from weeds, a procedure which 

 will enable the sweet potatoes to be much more easily raised. After 

 removal of the hoed crop the ground should receive a coat of well- 

 rotted manure, and it will be an ideal place for sweet potatoes the 

 next season. He continues as follows: — 



■* Sweet potatoes require a long season for their growth ; 

 therefore as soon as danger of frost is past they should be set 

 out. Do not plough the ground over 4 inches deep ; if ploughed 

 deeper there is too much loose soil, and the potatoes will grow 

 lonsr and slim. On the other hand, they will grow downward 

 until they strike the solid bottom, and will then grow thicker and 

 shorter, making a potato that will sell better than a long potato 

 will. In making the ridges, make but slight elevations; these 

 can very easily be made by placing the shovels on the double 

 cultivator to throw the earth to the middle. This will almost 

 complete a ridge; if it be not complete in all places, it will take 

 but a short time to give it a few finishing touches with the hoe. 

 Make the ridges 3 feet apart from centre to centre. If one 

 wishes to raise only enough for home consumption, he can best 

 buy his plants ; but if raising them for market, by all means 

 make a hotbed and raise the plants. In setting the plants, it is 

 best to choose a cloudy day. The ridges should be made a few 

 days beforehand, so as to become somewhat compact. Scatter 

 the plants along the ridge about 18 inches apart (not too far 

 ahead, as they will soon wilt) ; use a pointed stick to make the 

 hole and place the plant in it the same depth as it was in the 



