216 



The Potato Crops 



flattened or grooved above, odd-pinnate; leaflets 3 or 4 pairs 

 and smaller ones between, the larger ones 1 to 2 in. long, 

 ovate to oblong-ovate, pointed, unequal at base, stalked, mar- 

 gins undulate but entire, the intermediate leaflets % to % in. 

 long, sessile or essentially so : flowers white to bluish, in 

 stalked forking clusters, about 1^4 in- across; corolla gamo- 

 petalous, with 5 broad acute shallow lobes ; calyx about one- 

 third the length of the corolla, the 5 lobes linear-lanceolate; 

 stamens 5, the long colored anthers connivent about the single 

 pistil and conspicuous in the center of the flower, the very 

 short filaments attached on the base of the corolla ; ovary 

 globular, sutured on either side, 2-celled with many ovules 

 on central placentjie ; style long, exceeding the anthers, the 

 protruding stigma capitate: fruit (corresponding to the 

 tomato fruit) a 2-celled or 3-celled berry 1^2 to % in. diameter, 

 green or yellowish, the calyx not enlarging. — Temperate Andes. 

 Anciently cultivated by aborigines in South America. 



SWEET POTATO 

 A warm sunny climate, long season, loose warm fertile 

 soil, liberal supply of moisture in the growing season and a 

 less supply iclien the tubers are maturing, careful atten- 

 tion to diseases and insects, are some of the requirements 

 of a good sweet potato crop. The plant is tender to frost. 

 It is propagated hy means of its tubers, usually from the 

 slips or shoots that arise ivhen the tubers are planted in 

 beds or frames; also by cuttings of vines. 



One bushel of ordinary sweet potatoes will give 3,000 to 

 4,000 plants, if the sprouts are taken off twice. The plants 

 are usually set in drills 2^2 to 314 feet apart. The plants stand 

 12 to 18 inches apart in the drill. At 18 x 36 inches, 9,680 

 plants are required for an acre. These should be produced 

 by 2 to 3 bushels of seed " tubers. The average yield of 

 sweet potatoes is about 100 bushels an acre (65 to 170 bu.) ; 

 but 3(X) to 400 bushels and more can be secured. 



