GARDEN MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 79 



lighter than the latter, and the shape of the 

 eyes is somewhat different. Like all pink 

 or red varieties it does best in sandy soil, 



but will grow very well in heavy soil, and 

 not rot as easy during a wet season as do the 

 Early Rose or even the Triumph. 



THE SWE^T POTATO. 

 Convolvulus Batatas. 



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 re:l and golden fruits to great- 

 est perfection under the benign rays of a Southern sun. It is a plant of a warm climate, a 

 child of the sun, much more nutritious than the Irish Potato on account of the great 

 amount of saccharine matter it contains, and no Southern table should be found without it 

 from first day of August till the last day of May. 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; others 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 pre- 

 paring 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 after- 

 wards, 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 disturbed by a plow from the time they are made until the pota- 

 toes are ready to be dug. 



Scrape oft the grass and young weeds with the hoe, and pull up the large ones by hand. 

 Crab grass is peculiarly inimical to the sweet potato, and should be carefully kept out of 

 the patch. The vines should never be allowed to take root between the rows. Sweet Po- 

 tatoes 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 Yam. 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. 



Southern Queen. Very similar to the 

 former, but smoother, the tubers having no 

 veins or very few; it is earlier. 



Shanghai, or California Yam. This 

 is the earliest variety we have, frequently, 

 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 almost the only kind culti- 

 vated for the New Orleans market. Skin 

 dull white or 3 7 ellow, flesh white, dry and 

 mealy, in large specimens frequently 

 stringy. 



There are some other varieties of Sweet Potatoes highly prized in the West, but not 

 appreciated here. The red and yellow Nansemond are of a 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.), Kurbiss (Ger.), Calabaza (Sp.) 



Kentucky Field. 

 Large Cheese. 



Cashaw Crook Neck, green striped. 

 Golden Yellow Mammoth. 



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 plant them close to Squashes or 

 Melons, as they will mix and spoil their quality. Plant in hills from eight to twelve feet 

 apart. 



