ROOTS. 147 



THE SWEET POTATO (Convolvulus batatus) 



Is a root of very general growth in the southern, and is 

 much cultivated in the middle sections of the United States, 

 and lor the. table i> scarcely surpassed by any esculent. It 

 is also greedily eaten and with great advantage by every spe- 

 cie-; <>f stock. 



SOIL. A dry and sandy or light loamy soil is best for 

 them, and this should be well manured with compost scatter- 

 ed broadcast before working the ground, and thoroughly pul- 

 veri/,ed by repeated plowing and harrowing. It should then 

 be thrown into beds 4 feet wide, (which may be easily done 

 with the plow,) and in the centre of this strike a light furrow 

 to receive the seed if the soil is dry, or plant it on the surface 

 if moist. 



CULTIVATION. When the season is sufficiently long to 

 mature them, the potato may be most conveniently planted 

 by cutting the seed into slips and laying them 6 or 8 iaches 

 apart in the place where they are to mature. Large pota- 

 toes divided into pieces of a proper size are better for seed 

 than small ones uncut. These should be covered about 2 

 inches with light mold. When they k'gin to sprout, the 

 plow mav be run closo to the rows on either side to remove 

 the earth and allow the full benefit of the sun and air to the 

 roots, and as the plant advances in its growth, the earth may 

 be gradually restored to them by the plow and hoe. Where 

 the vines are so large as to be injured by the plow, the hoe 

 alone should be used. The hill or drills may then be made 

 broadly around the -plants, hollowing towards them, to aficml 

 a full bed of rich, mellow earth, and to retain the rain which 

 falls. They are lit for gathering when the vines are dead. 

 Where the season is short or early potatoes are wanted, plant 

 on a hot bed made of warm manure with a covering of 4 

 inches of fine mold. After splitting the potatoes, place them 

 on this and cover with 3 inches of light earth. As the sprouts 

 appear, draw and transplant them after a rain in the same 

 manner as before suggested. When early vegetated, a 

 bushel of seed will supply plants for an acre. 



The preservation ofihe sweet potatoe through the winter is 

 difficult. We have often heard planters complain that they 

 could not preserve them, though their laborers are generally 

 succcessful. The latter frequently store them under the floors 

 of their cabins, by excavating a hole in the dry earth not far 

 distant from their fires and cover with light mold. Great 



