68 



Tun sb:^d annuai, of the 



salable than pinkish kinds, and as this 

 variety is handsome in appearance and of 

 good quality, it has become the general 

 favorite in this section. 



Wliite Elephant. This variety has 

 again given entire satisfaction. The tubers 

 are large and of excellent quality; planted 

 alongside the Peerless, it produced fully one 

 third more than that variety. 



Rural Blush. Second early, tubers 

 roundish flattened, blush skin, flesh slighted 

 with pink. Very dry and of , excellent 

 quality. A heavy yield^r and good keeper. 



Extra Early Vermont. Very similar 

 to the Early Rose, but of a stonger growth; 

 a little earlier, and the tubers are more 

 uniform and larger. It is an excellent table 

 variety. 



Rural New Yorker No. a. Of recent 

 introduction. This potato is the nearest to 

 perfection of any yet introduced, and ex- 

 ceeds all others in yield. It is of large size, 

 very smooth skin; few eyes, distinct and 

 shallow. Flesh very white, of excellent 

 table quality. 



Early Triumph. An early variety of 

 good quality; cultivated extensively in Ten- 

 nessee and other Southern localities for 

 shipping to Northern markets. It is of a 

 nice round shape, light red in color; earlier 



than the Early Rose and more prolific. 



Beauty of Hebron. We have tried 

 this variet}' thoroughly and found it in 

 every particular as has been represented. It 

 is earlier than the Early Rose, which resem- 

 bles it very much, being a little lighter and 

 more russetted in color. It is productive 

 and of excellent table quality; more mealy 

 than the Early Rose. 



Pride of the South. A variety tried 

 here for the first time two years ago. It 

 is a white potato, round in shape, of ex- 

 cellent quality, extra early and prolific. 



Snowflake Potato. This is one of the 

 earliest white Potatoes that we know of. It 

 is of excellent quality, flesh pure white and 

 very mealy when boiled, and superior to 

 the Peerless for family use, for which pur- 

 pose we recommend it highly. 



Improved Beauty of Hebron Potato. 



This Potato is of recent introduction, and 

 promises to become one of the earliest and 

 best potatoes in cultivation. It is a hybrid 

 of the Peerless and Beauty of Hebron ; be- 

 ing a seedling of the former it is hardier 

 than most of the Early Red varieties. In 

 color and shape it resembles the Old Beauty 

 of Hebron; but is superior in quality and 

 earlier. Recommend same for Early Market 

 planting, also for family use. 



THE SWEET POTATO. 



Convolvulus Batatas. 



The Sweet Potato is, next to corn, the most important food crop in the South. It is a 

 wholesome and nutritious diet, good for man and beast. Though cultivated to a limited 

 extent on the sandy lands of New Jersey and some of the Middle States, it thrives best on 

 the light rich lands of the South, which bring their red and golden fruits to greatest per- 

 fection under the benign rays of a Southern sun. It is a plant of a warm climate, a child 

 of the sun, much more nutritious than the Irish Potato on account of the great amount of 

 saccharine matter it contains, and no Southern table should be found without it from first 

 day of August till the last day of May. Some plant early in spring the Potato itself in 

 the prepared ridges, and cut the vine from the potato when large enough, and plant them 

 out; others start the potatoes in a bed prepared expressly for thai purpose, and slip off the 

 sprouts as they come up; and set these out. The latter method will produce the earliest 

 potatDes; others who set the vines, say that they make the largest tubers. In preparing 

 the land the soil should be thoroughly pulverized, the ridges laid off about five feet apart, 

 well drawn up and rather flat on top. If everything is ready, and time for planting has 

 arrived, do not wait for a rain, make a paste of clay and cow manure; in this dip the roots 

 of the slips and press the earth firmly around them. Old slips are more tenacious of life 

 than young ones, and will under favorable circumstances answer best. Watering after- 

 wards, if dry weather continues, of course, will be necessary. Otherwise plant your vines 

 and slips just before or after a rain. Two feet apart in rows is considered a good distance. 

 The ridges should never be disturbed by a plow from the time they are made until the po- 

 tatoes are ready to be dug. 



Scrape off the grass and young weeds with the hi^e, and pull up the large ones by hand. 

 Crab grass is peculiarly inimical to the sweet potato, and should be carefully kept out of 

 the patch. The vine should never be allowed to take root between the rows. Sweet 

 potatoes should be dug before a heavy frost occurs; a very light one will do no harm. The 

 earth should be dry enough to keep it from sticking to the potatoes. The old fashioned 

 potato bank is the best arrangement for keeping them, the main points being a dry place 

 and ventilation. 



Varieties generally cultivated in the South: 



During the planting season we ivill keep a Fine Stock of the 

 most suitable varieties of Sweet Potatoes on hand. 



