Edible Products. 



230 



[September, ism 



argument in favour of China tea on the 

 ground that it is far less astringent 

 than is Indian tea rests on a scientific 

 basis, and that they are content to 

 leave the controversy there. Again, it 

 says, if a dyspeptic is permitted to take 

 tea at all it should be China tea, since 

 analysis has shown again and agaiu it is 

 less likely to derange a delicate digestive 

 system. The adding of milk to tea is 

 considered in the circumstances a per- 

 fectly physiological, if not aesthetic, 

 proceeding, as the infusion of a powerful 

 Indian tea would produce infinitely more 

 harm than it does. 



THE CULTIVATION OF SWEET 

 POTATOES. 



(From the Queensland Agricultural 

 Journal, Vol. XXIII., Part 1, July, 1909.) 



The sweet potato, so-called, is botani- 

 cally not related to the English potato, 

 but to the Convolvulaceaa, and is scienti- 

 fically known as Convolvulus batata or 

 Batata edul is; also, rarely as Ipomea 

 batata. The convolvulus-like flowers 

 frequently produced by the plant often 

 produce seed from which new varieties 

 have been raised. The plant is culti- 

 vated in the first instance for the sake 

 of its roots, which of ten grow to a very 

 large size ; and, secondly, for its spread- 

 ing vines, which, under certain condi- 

 tions, afford food for stock, although they 

 should be sparingly vised for this pur- 

 pose, since, like sorghum, they contain a 

 certain amount of a poisonous element. 

 The leaves when cooked make a good 

 vegetable, resembling spinach in flavour 

 and appearance, The sweet potato 

 thrives well in all parts of the sea-board 

 of Queensland, and in inland districts 

 where there is suitable soil and a fair 

 rainfall. Extremely moist climates are 

 not favourable to its cultivation, owing 

 to continuous wet weather producing 

 fungoid disease in the roots. Hence, the 

 most suitable districts for the plant are 

 rather the semi-tropical than the tropi- 

 cal. A good rainfall followed by two 

 or three months of dry heat extending 

 with slight rain at long intervals up to the 

 harvest time are the climatic conditions 

 which are most favourable to the sweet 

 potato. 



Choice of Soil. 

 The choice of soil is a matter of great 

 importance. Stiff, wet soils are more 

 injurious to the sweet potato than to 

 the English potato. Clay soils and very 

 rich alluvial soils are also objection- 

 able. On the latter, there will be pro- 

 duced an immense quantity of vines, 

 but very few good tubers, the roots 



all running out long and thin in all 



directions. The very best soil is a 

 light sandy loam, not necessarily deep, 

 but loose and dry. Even on pure sand 

 good results have been obtained by the 

 judicious use of manure, A well-culti- 

 vated sandy, loamy forest soil is prefer- 

 able to rich black volcanic, or rich allu- 

 vial scrub soils. 



The soil chosen, then, should be free 

 dry, and safe from inundation in time 

 of flood. 



Preparation of the Land. 

 The land should be ploughed fairly 

 deeply ; and, if the soil be very poor, 

 manure of some kind must be used— a 

 potash and phosphoric acid manure at 

 the rate of 550 lb. per acre. Stable 

 manure, if available, may be used, but it 

 should be supplemented with kainit or, 

 if procurable, wood ashes. 



Planting. 

 The rows of furrows should be opened 

 up at a distance of from 3 ft. apait, and 

 well loosened and widened. The manure 

 is then applied, the furrows covered 

 with the plough, and flatly ridged up to 

 a height of 6 or 8 in. The young vine 

 cuttings are then planted on top of the 

 ridges about 18 to 20 in. apart. The 

 cuttings should be from 8 to 12 in. long, 

 and the soil should be well firmed round 

 them. Should the weather be very dry 

 at planting time, it will be found advan- 

 tageous to dip the cuttings in a thicK 

 paste of cowduug and loam, 



When vines are unattainable, as some- 

 times happens when planting in August 

 is intended, small tubers should be 

 procured and planted in a well-prepared 

 bed in May. They will throw up an 

 abundant supply of shoots, which must 

 be covered with grass or litter during 

 the winter months, as the sweet potato 

 vine is very susceptile to frost. 



After Cultivation. 



The next business is to keep down 

 the growth of weeds, which will be very 

 much in evidence in the spring, ana 

 these are more deleterious to the sweet 

 potato than to many other crops. A9 a 

 rule, the weeding should begin when 

 the young plants begin to throw out 

 runners. For this purpose a small 

 harrow or cultivator may be run along 

 the rows, and the weeds on the ridges 

 destroyed with a hoe. At the next 

 cleaning, more hand labour is needed, 

 as the vines will be running vigorously. 

 After this, it is well to draw loose 

 soil round the plants, but without bury- 

 ing any of the vines. 



Care must be taken, when using a 

 cultivator, not to disturb the hills or 



