Agriculture is the most healthy , the most useful , and the most noble employment of man. —Washington. 
VOL. VII. NEW YORK, FEBRUARY, 1848. NO. II. 
A. B. Allen, Editor. 
CULTIVATION OF THE SWEET POTATO. 
The sweet potato ( Batatas edulis ), or some allied 
species, is a native of botli Indies, and is now cul¬ 
tivated everywhere within the tropics, and is com¬ 
mon to be met with in each of the temperate zones. 
There are numerous varieties, differing from each 
other, in the size, shape, color, and taste of the 
roots, as well as in the form, hairiness, or smooth¬ 
ness of the leaves, and color of the flowers. In the 
warmer parts of Asia, Africa, inter-tropical America, 
as well as in some of the southern states of the Union, 
the red-rooted varieties are in general cultivation, 
which are very deservedly esteemed for their large 
size, sweet flavor, and nutritious qualities; while in 
the temperate parts of Europe and of North and 
South America, the white and yellow-rooted sorts 
are almost exclusively raised. 
In warm climates, this plant is cultivated in a 
similar manner as the common potato is with 
us, but requires much more room; for the trailing 
roots extend four or five feet each way, often 
sending out forty or fifty large tubers to a plant. In 
the middle and northern states of the Union, the 
otatoes should be planted in March or April, in a 
ot bed, or some other warm place, where, in two 
or three weeks, they will throw out a number of 
runners or sprouts, which, as soon as they reach a 
height of three or four inches above the surface, are 
taken off, transplanted into hills four or five feet 
apart, in open ground, where the soil is light, rich, 
and properly prepared, and subsequently may be 
hoed, earthed up, or treated in other respects like 
the common potato. The tubers may be dug and 
eaten as soon as they are large enough for use ; but 
those intended for winter keeping, should not be 
disturbed before the vines are dead. In order to 
keep them during winter, until spring, they should 
be dried in the sun until the moisture is driven off, 
sweated in the heap, and when dry, packed in dry 
C. M. Saxton, Publisher, 205 Broadway. 
sand and stored in a cool cellar, not subject to wet 
nor frost. 
Sweet potatoes are considered a much lighter 
food than the common kind, and are equally nu¬ 
tritious. The young leaves and tender shoots are 
often boiled as pot herbs, and are esteemed as a 
wholesome food. 
NOTES ON LONG ISLAND.—No. 1. 
Last July we had the pleasure of passing a week 
at Oyster Bay, and some of the adjoining towns of 
Long Island. We were domiciled for the time at 
the hospitable mansion of Mr. Daniel Youngs, His 
eldest son, Mr. Daniel K. Youngs, with a kindness 
and attention which we shall not soon forget, de¬ 
voted his whole time, while we were there, to 
showing us the best system of farming practised 
in that part of the country. Had not so much al¬ 
ready been said about Long Island in this journal, 
we could write out a long and interesting story of 
what we there saw and heard. As it is, we shall 
be obliged to confine ourselves principally to such 
short details as have not yet appeared. 
Farm of Mr. Daniel Yottngs. —We shall com¬ 
mence with a short sketch of the farm of our hos¬ 
pitable host. It comprises about 300 acres, gene¬ 
rally of a light, loamy, or gravelly soil, though 
some fields are of a heavy loam, abounding more or 
less with loose stones of a suitable size for making 
walls. The farm lies partly on Oyster Bay, and 
partly on a fine ridge between it and Cold Spring 
Harbor. The situation is commanding and delight¬ 
ful. The house was erected in the year 1650, be¬ 
ing the first built in the place. It was honored by 
receiving General Washington as a guest for one 
night, while on a tour through Long Island after 
the revolution. The inmates of the house still re¬ 
member and practice the useful instructions that 
this great and good man then gave them in farming. 
