8 



and mellow the earth to a proportionate depth, by which means they will of 

 course obtain a double crop, more difficult, however, to get out, except with the 

 improved beet and carrot ploughs, or until we adapt some new ploughing ma- 

 chine to the purpose, which mechanical ingenuity will doubtless soon provide. 

 In light, sandy soils, the labor will be comparatively easy, and in all cases the 

 increased crop will cover any extra expense many times over. 



Field Planting. 

 For regular crop, the Boots are usually cut into sections of about H inches 

 in length. These when cut should be spread for 48 hours, and the sap thereby 

 allowed to pass off from the cuts, which will then dry up. Where the tillage is 

 to be performed by the hoe, the Koots should be placed 9 inches apart in the 

 row, and the rows 15 inches asunder, or they may be set 12 inches apart in the 

 row, and the rows 12 inches asunder , this last course rendering the Boots equi- 

 distant throughout. Although the roots are covered with countless minute 

 eyes, provided by Nature for her wise purposes, the most minute section of 

 which will vegetate, and does so in the renewal of the field crops, I recommend 

 that no sections be planted of less size than I have above named. In 

 Field culture of small Tubers, where no crop can be looked for but small roots, 

 they are usually planted in rows 8 inches asunder, and distant 5 to 6 inches in 

 the row. 



The planting here recommended is where the cultivation would be by the hoe. 

 Hereafter a course of field culture will be adopted, where the plough and harrow 

 will be used, and then the most simple course of culture will be adopted, pre- 

 cisely the same as with the common potato, but in rows instead of in hills, and 

 the distance of the rows will in like manner be adapted to the plough. The 

 usual crop has been elsewhere stated. 



Crop from Tubers. 



The growth of the vines is similar to the Sweet Potato, and they run over the 

 ground, or ascend any poles or bushes placed for the purpose. Each tuber of 

 the long varieties, produces one straight root, differing in length according to 

 the variety, some 10 to 12 inches, and others 12 to 18 inches, and the round, 

 globose and oval varieties produce roots of their respective character. These 

 roots usually weigh from 8 oz. to l-£ and 2 pounds each. The new tubers are 

 produced at the axits of the leaves, and when the plants are well eared for, 

 they average 20 to 35 to each vine, and often more. The blossoms are very 

 diminutive, but fill the air with a delicious Cinnamon perfume, and the vines are 

 consequently very often trained on piazzas and trellises as valuable appendages. 

 Some persons place a pole about 5 feet in height to each plant and train the 

 vines thereon, but in general they allow the vines to trail on the ground the 

 same as the sweet potato. 



Garden Planting. 



For the present, whilst both Roots and Tubers are comparatively scarce, a 

 system may be pursued which, by allowing more facilities for culture, will be 

 sure to realize more extensive crops. For the attainment of this object, I pro- 

 pose that the rows be 20 to 24 inches apart, and that the tubers be set at 12 to 

 15 inches apart in the rows. This is the course I at present adopt for my own 

 planting, and it will probably prevail for some time, whilst the roots continue 

 scarce and of great value. Any extra attention to weeding and to culture will 

 of course be beneficial as with every other garden production. 



Period of Planting. 



Its hardihood against all frosts and cold admits of its being planted at the 

 first opening of spriog, long before the potato can be trusted, which gives to it 

 the great advantage of a prolonged season for growth. The planting should be 



