36 SWEET POTATO CULTURE. 



The short-handled hoe, for opening holes for the sets, 

 IS a great convenience. It is in the shaj^e of a grubbing 

 hoe or carpenter's adze. The blade is six inche? long 

 (very light) by three inches wide, and the handle tAvelve 

 inches long. If the soil is sandy or light, the hand will 

 answer this purpose as well. To turn the vines a stick 

 about five feet long, with a hook, is used, to save tlie 

 labor of stooping. With this the vines are easily pulled 

 to one side or from one valley to the other, without 

 bruising. 



In harvesting, the vines are turned aside with the plow, 

 then cut from the ridges or hills with a sharp weedmg- 

 hoe. Baskets or hampers of white-oak splits or willow are 

 provided for use in harvesting. 



CHAPTER XI. 

 CULTIVATION. 



The much-lamented Dr. G. W. Briggs, of Nansemond 

 Co., Va., late associate editor of the "Petersburg Rural 

 Messenger," gave some valuable directions in regard to the 

 Sweet Potato. In one of his articles on cultivation, we 

 find the following excellent remarks : 



He says, incidentally : *' The methods and preparations 

 for planting are various. In this section, ridges or hills 

 over the manure are preferred (except when the manure is 

 broadcast)," as he described in a former article. " In many 

 parts of our own and other States, where farmers plant only 

 for family use, I have often seen high ridges thrown up 

 with the plow, and then th? earth carefully pulled up 

 with the weeding-hoe, and the sets planted on the ridge. 

 This we regard as labor lost, and positively injurious to 



