18 SWEET POTATO CULTUEE. 



CHAPTEE IV. 



USES OF THE VINES AND LEAVES 



The vines and leaves compose a large and valuable 

 portion of the plant. They should be used for the fol- 

 lowing reasons : 



1st. They are believed to contain all the elements of 

 plant-food and fertility claimed for the Southern Cow 

 Pea, or for Eed Clover, and to be superior to these in 

 some respects. When spread upon the soil and turned 

 under, they decompose more readily than either of these, 

 especially when in a green state. 



2nd. As food for stock, green or dry, they are con- 

 sidered to be equal to the best hay, and cattle devour 

 them greedily. They are regarded as especially valuable 

 as food for milch cows. 



3rd. For mulching fruit trees, when half rotted, they 

 form the very best material, and may be used with equal 

 advantage as mulch for other purposes. 



4th. The Sweet Potato vine, for ornamental purposes, 

 is desirable as a plant to grow in the house. It is a rapid 

 grower, and, in house culture, is much more delicate in 

 appearance than when growing out of doors. Select, the 

 earlier the better, a well-ripened tuber of the Eed Nanse- 

 mond variety, known to be a most vigorous grower, eight 

 or ten inches long, and four or five inches in diameter. 

 A dark-colored hyacinth glass is a suitable and pretty 

 holder for the potato, but a common glass fruit can, or 

 small earthen jar, will do. Fill the vessel with rain- 

 water, and stand the potato, stem end uppermost, in the 

 mouth of it, allowing only two or three inches of the 

 potato to go down into the water. Set it in a warm, 

 light place^ to sprout, rilling up the jar or glass with 



