100 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Mabch, 
while they fail to flower in some sea¬ 
sons, in others his sweet potato fields 
are as full of blooms as are the Morn¬ 
ing-glories on the trellis of his porch. 
New Varieties of Sweet Potato. 
Mr. Peabody has been experimenting 
for several years with seedlings, with 
a view to produce improved varieties, 
and has so far succeeded that he has 
one that bears the same relation to 
other sweet potatoes that the Early 
Rose does to other common potatoes. 
He states that he has had potatoes fit 
for the table in six weeks from the 
time the vine appeared above ground. 
Mr. P. sent us samples of this potato, 
through Messrs. J. M. Thorburn & Co., 
of this city, who have arranged to take 
the stock, and we give an engraving, 
showing its usual form of about half 
the actual size. Mr. P. proposed, on 
account of its having, when in perfec¬ 
tion, a light rose-tint, and also its earli¬ 
ness, to call it “ Early Rose,” but as 
that would be very likely to lead to 
confusion, he has adopted the sug¬ 
gestion to call it “ Early Peabody.” 
Different Methods of Propagating. 
The usual method is to place the po¬ 
tatoes in a hot-bed, and cover them 
with a few inches of fine soil; the buds 
will soon start, and form, shoots; these, 
as they grow, make roots of their own, 
and when they are 8 inches to a foot 
long, and well rooted, the most forward 
ones are removed, and the others, not 
yet large enough, are allowed to grow 
on. It is customary to split the larger 
potatoes lengthwise, and lay them flat- 
side down in the bed. After the shoots 
appear, they should have the same care 
as other hot-bed plants, to prevent them 
growing weak and drawn up. These 
shoots, known in the Southern States as 
“ draws ” and' “ slips.” are at the North called 
“sets” or “plants” Another method is by 
cuttings; the strong vines from an early plant¬ 
ing, are cut into pieces about a foot long, and 
set out on ridges, for the late, or main crop; in 
NEW SWEET POTATO, “ EARLY PEABODY. 
planting, two joints are left above the surface. 
The Yam varieties can only be propagated by 
these two methods, but for the Spanish varie- 
gtjinea-grass. — (Sorghum. hilepense.)—Seepage 99. 
ties, a third is practised. The potatoes are 
placed in a moderate hot-beu, and in about two 
weeks the buds, or eyes, will have pushed suf¬ 
ficiently to show their position. The potatoes 
are then cut up, leaving one or two buds, or 
eyes, to each piece, 
and the pieces are 
planted in the 
ridges where they 
are to grow. As 
soon as the ground 
gets warm, these 
buds push rapidly. 
Mr.Peabody prefers 
this method for his 
early crop, and finds 
that vines so raised 
will give him pota¬ 
toes fit for the table 
two or three weeks 
earlier than those 
from slips. Whether 
this will be found 
to be the case in 
northern localities, 
is a matter on which 
we shall experi¬ 
ment. The method 
of raising from cut¬ 
tings is only suited 
to warm -climates. 
He planted cut¬ 
tings Iasi year the first of August, and made a 
good crop before frost. The time to commence 
propagating will depend upon the locality. In 
Georgia, the potatoes are put into the 
hot-bed about March first, and the 
slips planted any time in April. In 
the climate of New York, the beds are 
started about the middle of April, 
and the plants set out from the first 
to the 20th of June. It is better to 
defer planting until the soil is well 
warmed and the weather settled. 
Tlie Land mid How toCultivntc tliem. 
The sweet potato may be cultivated 
on any soil but a heavy one. We have 
seen fine crops on white sand that 
would blow into drifts with every 
heavy wind. Mr. Peabody says that 
he has never seen a sand-hill so poor, 
but what, with judicious manuring, it 
would bring a good crop; and that any 
soil which will produce a fair crop of 
corn, will produce one of sweet pota¬ 
toes, provided it is a sandy loam. He 
says that he has known a crop in his 
county of 800 bushels of sweet pota¬ 
toes to tlie acre, upon land that would 
yield 50 bushels of com, and was 
fertilized with 400 lbs. of Peruvian 
Guano to the acre. Mr. Peabody first 
thoroughly plows in the manure, and 
throws up ridges 21 feet apart with the 
plow. We prefer to not plow in the 
manure, but to place it on the surface 
and turn the ridges upon it, and these 
we make 3£ to 4 feet from center to 
center. Mr. Peabody plants his pieces 
of the potato at 12 inches apart; we 
plant our slips at 15 inches apart in the 
ridge. The sides of the ridges and 
the spaces between them must be kept 
clear of weeds until the vines cover the 
ground. We move the vines once a 
week or so, to prevent them from 
taking root; this . is quickly done by 
means of a rake handle or other stick. 
Keeping tlie Potatoes during Winter. 
Those who grow largely in the Northern 
States, have a house which can be kept heated 
to a temperature of 60°. Small quantities may 
be packed in cut straw, or in very dry sand, and 
be kept in a warm, dry place, such as a cellar. 
propagating. —(Seepage 102.) 
in which is a furnace. Mr. P. keeps his in pita 
containing 50 to 75 bushels. He puts down a 
layer of potatoes, then a layer of dry sand, and 
