420 [Assembly 



I have used guano for cabbages with success. I put merely a 

 pinch of guano to each stalk. It is best to mix the guano with 

 something else before you put it to the plants. 



CHA.RLES FOUSSET, 



0?i the Lespinasse farm. 



SWEET POTATO CULTURE. 



Columbus, Ga., Jan. 16, 1855. 

 Hon. H. Meigs: 



Dear Sir — On my return home last evening from my planta- 

 tion, I found letters from Messrs. John F. Clark, of Washington 

 city, H. Everett, of Philadelphia, and yourself, each alluding to 

 the notice of my potato crop in the National Intelligencer, and 

 requesting a statement of my mode of culture, &c. That notice 

 was entirely accidental, and without my knowledge. My wife, 

 visiting a friend, caried a few fine potatoes with her, and spoke of 

 our success, (the unusual drouth considered,) without knowing 

 that her husband had recently taken the chair editorial, and we 

 were much surprised at the flattering puffin the next issue of the 

 Enquirer, I am not given to the seeking of notoriety, and have 

 no experience nor inclination in writing for the public. How- 

 ever, I shall not refuse your request, but in my humble way give 

 you such information as you desire. 



The sweet potato crop has long been a favorite one with me, as 

 one easily raised, easily saved, and yielding more good, palatable 

 and wholesome food than any other of the same cost. My crop 

 on the plantation, is usually from ten to twelve acres, yielding 

 from one hundred and fifty to three hundred bushels per acre, 

 and are all used or wasted on the place — whites and blacks 

 using them (ad libitum) during the fall, winter, and spring. I 

 have often kept them until the new crop came in. They become 

 sweeter the longer they are kept. 



I will now give the manner of cultivating the crop you allude 

 to. About the first of March, I opened the seed bank and had 

 them all broken in pieces of the proper size to plant, (so that the 

 sprouts should not be injured when ready for planting,) opened a 

 bed four feet wide, five inches deep, and sufl^cient length, filled 



