OF AGRICULTURE. 139 



has been the writer's experience, in the cultivation of 

 this important crop. 



THE SWEET POTATO. 



The Carolina or sweet potato, to the successful 

 cultivation of which the climate and soil of the 

 South is so admirably adapted, yielding, as it does, 

 from one hundred to four hundred bushels to the 

 acre, at comparatively litte cost, and being so highly 

 nutritious to man and beast, claim for it the first 

 place among the crops we should cultivate. The 

 intelligent and prudent farmer, anticipating the short- 

 ness of the corn crop consequent upon droughts or 

 other adverse circumstances, will readily turn his 

 attention also to this crop, and others, which like it, 

 come to maturity at a different time. For this crop, 

 sandy land having a good clay subsoil, is to be pre- 

 ferred. The red and the yam potato are in the 

 highest esteem. As soon as the frost is out of the 

 ground in the spring, the potatoes should be bedded 

 out to obtain slips ; the earlier this is done the 

 better, as it is very important to an abundant supply 

 of slips at the first planting. 



PREPARATION OF LAND FOR PLANTING. 



Lay off rows three and a half to four feet apart, 

 deepen the furrows with the turn plow, throwing 

 out each way, followed by a bulltongue or coulter, 

 running deep. Place in the trench thus formed half 

 rotted straw or leaves, or any rough compost, and in 

 stiff lands, corn cobs and the rakings of the wood 

 yard the larger the chips the better. This is to 

 loosen the soil .and make room for air, which, like 

 moisture, is highly essential to the growth of this 



