58 J. STECKLER SEED co., LTD., ALMANAC AND 
BREEZE’S PEERLESS OR BOSTON.— eyes few and shallow, round, occasionally 
Several years ago this variety was intro- oblong; grows to a large size; very pro- 
duced, yet at present it is the leading kind ductive, and earlier than the Jackson 
for market as well as for family use. Skin White. It is a general favorite in this 
dull white, sometimes slightly russeted; section. 
(= 
TN THE GEM SEED POTATO CUTTER.—Has all 
the essential features necessary to a first-class 
tool. It will cut any size potato in pieces uni- 
form in size, thereby insuring more accurate 
planting when power planting is used. The 
operator, to get the best results, will pick up the 
tuber, look for the seed or blossom end, passing 
it over the knife on upper side of pressure lever, 
thus removing the cause of so many empty 
potato hills in your potato patch. Price $2.50. 
FORMULA FOR SCALY POTATOES. — One 
pint of formaldehyde to 30 gallons of water, 
soaking the seed potatoes in the solution two 
hours before planting, allowing them to dry 
thoroughly before cutting. As the formaldehyde 
solution does not lose its strength, keep on using 
the same solution as long as there are potatoes 
to be planted. This is very effective. 
SWEET POTATOES. 
For Price List See Red Pages in Back of Book. Slips 10c. per dozen; 30c. per 100; 
$2.50 per 1,000. 
Convolvulus Batatas. 
CULTURE.—The Sweet Potato is, next to corn, the most important food crop in 
the South. They are 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 perfection under the benign rays of a Southern sun. Some 
plant early in Spring the potato itself in the prepared ridges, and cut the vines from the 
potato when large enough and plant them out; other start the potatoes in a bed prepared 
expressly for that purpose, and slip off the sprouts as they come up and set these out. 
The latter method will produce the earliest potatoes; 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 afterwards, if dry weather continues, of 
course will be beneficial. 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 dis- 
turbed by a plow from the time they are made until the potatoes are ready to be dug. 
Scrape off the grass and young weeds with the hoe, and pull up the large ones by hand. 
Under ordinary methods of planting, about 7,000 plants are set on an acre; it requires 
an excellent barrel of seed to produce this number of draws or slips. Varieties generally 
cultivated in the South are: 
Pumpkin Yam. 
PUMPEIN YAM.—Taking into considera- SOUTHERN QUEEN.—A distinct vari- 
tion quality and productiveness, the Yam ety oval in shape, white eee pce 
stands at the head of the list. Frequently aving no veins, or very lew, , 
when baked the saccharine Chie re the | Yields bountifully and is largely used for 
3 3 canning purposes. 
shape of candy will be seen hanging to DOOLEY YAM.—Yellow skin and flesh, 
them in strings. Skin and flesh yellow and | somewhat similar to the Pumpkin Yam; is 
very sweet. Without doubt the best potato very productive and yields a large crop. 
for family use. It is very sweet and sugary. 
Steckler’s Seeds Are Best—Best Seeds Always Grow. 
