54 Richard Frotscher's Almanac and Garden Manual 



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, 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 Tain. Taking into consideration quality and productiveness 

 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 variet}' is perhaps a little more productive 



and earlier than the preceeding, but far behind it in quality. Skin red. 



flesh white and mealy, and on that account not very popular as a table 



potato. 



Shangliai or California Yam, This is the earliest variety 



we have, frequent!}', under favorable circumstances, giving good sized 

 tubers two months after planting the vine. Very productive, having 

 given 300 bushels per acre when planted early and on rich land. Is al- 

 most the only kind cultivated for the New Orleans market. Skin dull 

 white or yellow, flesh white, dry and mealy, in large specimens fre- 

 quently stringy. 



There are some other varieties of Sweet Potatoes highly prized in 

 the West, but are not appreciated here. The Red and Yellow Nanse- 

 mond 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. 



PUMPKIN. 



Potiron, (Fr.) Kuerbiss, (Ger.) Calabaza, (Sp.) 



Kentucky Field. Cashaw Crook Neck. 



Large Cheese. J 



Are generally grown in the field, with the exception of the Cashaw, 

 which is planted in the garden ; but great care must be taken not to 

 have them close to Squashes or Melons, as they will mix and spoil the 

 quality of the same. Plant in hills from eight to twelve feet apart. 



Kentucky Field. Large round, soft shell, salmon color, very 

 productive ; best for stock. 



Large Cheese. This is of a bright orange, sometimes salmon 

 color, fine grained and used for the table or for stock feeding. 



Cashaw (Crook iVeck.) This is very extensively cultivated in 

 the South for table use. There are two kinds, one all yellow and the 

 other green striped with light yellow color. The latter is the preferable 

 kind, the flesh is grained, yellow and very sweet. It keeps well. This 

 variety takes the place here of the Winter Squashes, which are very 

 little cultivated. 



