54 SWEET POTATO CULTURE. 



Tape Lines. — Every gardener or farmer slionld pro- 

 vide himself with a tape-line, so that he may know the 

 size of his patches, lots, and fields, how much seed they 

 need, what they yield, etc. A measure always at hand 

 and properly used, will be to him as im2)ortant as is a 

 compass to the mariner. 



Measuring Poles. — The farmer should always keep a 

 pocket rule, a yard-stick, and poles of G feet, 10 feet, and 

 one of IG'/^ feet, or one rod ; the last to be made of any 

 light wood, graduated or tapered each way from the cen- 

 ter to the ends, with marks for each foot of length. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

 CONCLUSION. 



In conclusion we would remind farmers and planters 

 that the 8weet Potato can endure more heat and drouth 

 than any other root crop. Turnips, parsnijis, carrots, 

 beets, etc., succumb and wither at a time when the con- 

 ditions are just right for this crop. Hence our dry and 

 hot seasons, which seem to increase in their torrid char- 

 acter, produce this splendid esculent in the highest perfec- 

 tion, and we may rely upon this when all other root croi)s 

 fail. This should induce all who have the proper soil to 

 plant tiie Sweet Potato freely for home use, if not for 

 market. 



The apparent obstacle to its culture is the difficulty in 

 the preservation of the crop for winter use. This is 

 mostly due to a want of knowledge, as the means are 

 always at hand, in any climate, for keeping them in ex- 

 cellent condition until late the following spring. 



