For the Southern States. 



59 



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 that purpose, and slip off the 

 sprouts as they come up, and set these ont. The latter method 

 will produce the earliest potatoes, others who set out the vines, 

 say that they make the largest tubers. In preparing the land the 

 soil should be thoroughly pulverized, the ridges laid oft about 

 five feet apart, well drawn up and rather flat on top. If every- 

 thing 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 these cir- 

 cumstances answer best. Watering afterwards, if dry weather 

 continues, of course, will be beneficial. Otherwise plant your 

 vines or slips just before or after a rain. Two feet apart in the 

 row is considered a good distance. The ridges should never be 

 disturbed by a plow from the time they are made until the pota- 

 toes are ready to be dug. 



Scrape off" the grass and young weeds with the hoe and pull 

 up the large ones by hand. Grab grass is peculiarly inimical to 

 the sweet potato and should be kept carefully out of the patch. 

 The vines should never be allowed to take root between the rows. 

 Sweet potatoes should be dug before a heavy frost occurs j 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 : 



The Yam. Taking into consideration quality and produc- 

 tiveness the Yam stands at the head of the list. Frequently when 

 baked, the saccharine matter in the shape of candy will be seen 

 hanging to them in strings. Skin and flesh .yellow, and very 

 sweet. Without a doubt, the best potato for family use. 



The Bermuda. This variety is perhaps a little more pro- 

 ductive and earlier than the preceding, but far behind it in qual- 

 ity. Skin red, flesh white and mealy, and on that account not 

 very popular as a table potato. 



Shanghai or California Yam. This is the earliest va- 

 riety we hM,ve, frequently, under favorable circumstances, giving 

 good sized tubers two mouths after planting the vine. Very pro- 

 ductive, having given 300 bushels per acre when planted early 

 and on rich land. Is almost the only kind cultivated for the New 

 Orleans market. Skin dull white or yellow, flesh white, dry and 

 mealy, in large specimens frequently stringy. 



There are some other varieties of Sweet Potatoes highly 

 prized in the West, but are not appreciated here. The Ked and 

 Yellow Nansemond are of fine quality and productive, but will 

 not sell so well as the California Yam when taken to market. For 

 home consumption they are fine, and deserve to be cultivated. 



