SWEET POTATOES 



163 



be cut off in sections about eight inches long and planted. 

 Press the middle of the cut vine into the soil. 



Varieties. The flowers of the sweet potato are large and 

 pretty, very similar to a morning-glory. They do not of- 

 ten form, however. If perfect seeds develop, these, when 

 planted, start new varieties, some of which may be better 

 than the parent variety. 



PUMPKIN YAM 



FIG. 107. ONE FORM OF SWEET 

 POTATO LEAF 



YELLOW YAM. 



FIG. 108. ANOTHER FORM OF 

 SWEET POTATO LEAF 



There are a number of varieties. These differ in flavor, 

 earliness, yield, shape of leaf (Figs. 107, 108), and length of 

 vines. Southern consumers like those which, when cooked, 

 become soft and very sweet. Among such varieties are the 

 Sugar Yam and the Dooley. For shipping to Northern 

 markets a grower must select varieties having a firm and 

 mealy character when cooked. 



Fertilizers for sweet potatoes. The sweet potato needs 

 a complete fertilizer. There is not much danger of having 

 the land too rich, provided enough phosphate and potash 

 are used to balance the nitrogen that may be in the rich soil. 



Sweet potatoes need to be cultivated often enough to 



