We have Irish tubers and sweet, 

 With river and valley Burbank, 

 And raise more things to eat, 

 Than any state of our rank. 



SWEET POTATOES 



Native of China and America. 



The tubers are an enlarged growth of its 

 underground stems. Its aerial stems are creep- 

 ers and leaf and flower resemble those of the 

 morning glory. It has been cultivated as a 

 vegetable from time immemorial and was found 

 among the Indians when this country was 

 first discovered. It is believed to have been 

 an important crop of the ancient Chinese. Its 

 habit proves clearly that it is tropical in origin 

 though it has been acclimatized far to the 

 north. 



It is found in three varieties, Southern 

 Queen, Yam and Nausemond. The sweet po- 

 tato is similar to the Irish potato, but contains 

 more sugar. In starch and ash content they 

 are about the same. It does best in a warm 

 sandy loam with chemical fertilizer rich in pot- 

 ash for manuring and enriching the soil. 



After spading in the manure throw up a 

 ridge two feet wide with a trench on either 

 side. Plant the sprouts on the side of the ridge 

 [53] 



