iSB 211 
 
 .59 P9 
 
 iCopy 1 
 
 *^ K. M, PRICE, B^ 
 
 ILLUSTRATED, 
 
 A' 
 
 Tcsas Fmm and Ranch PubU&hin^^^. 
 
 mi^^ 
 
Sweet Potato ^5 
 
 Culture 
 
 for Profit. 
 
 
 0[= THE 
 
 on, History anH Botanical ctiaractenstlos 
 
 ^(s^" 
 
 OR THE 
 
 SwEEX Potato.--^.. 
 
 (ILLUSTRATED.) ., . \ 
 
 Tull and Complete Instructions from ^^bw to Grow the 
 Plants to Harvesting and Storing the Crop for Both 
 Southern and Northern Latitudes. Complete Dis- 
 cussion of the Diseases and Insects which Injure 
 the Crop. A description of 47 V^arieties with 
 a New System of Classifying tlAcm. The 
 Chinese Yam and the V'ineless V''ariely 
 are Discussed. Latest Improved 
 /Machinery Discussed, &c. 
 
 ^^ R^H. PRICE, B. SC, 
 
 Professor of Horticulture, Botany aud Entomology in Texas Agricultural and Mechanical 
 College, and Horticulturist of the Taxas Experiment Station. 
 
 PUBLISHEO BY 
 
 Texas Farm and Ranch Publishing Co.^ 
 
 DALLAS, TEXAS. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 
 
 COPYRIGHT OFFICE. 
 
 No registration of title of this book 
 as a preliminary to copyright protec- 
 tion has been iound../^^^ -^z- //.'_? 
 
 C — ' 
 
 Forwarded to Order Division -.■*-.....l'..^]A1l£..^ 
 
 (Date) 
 
 ^ ^ C\ (Apr. 5. 3901— 5,000.) 
 
 COPVRIGHIEU, 1896, 
 
 BY 
 
 Texa.s Farm and Ranch PrBLisuiNu Co. 
 
 DALLAS, TEXAS. 
 
 
 
 \N 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 uTTOW can our present condition be improved?" is a ques- 
 tion which comes up at some time in the affairs of all 
 working men. Progress forward should ever be our watch- 
 word. We owe it to ourselves, to humanity, and to our Maker. 
 
 How the farmer may use the information to best ad- 
 vantage contained in this little volume, and how" the teacher 
 may readily get hold of the facts to present to his students 
 are two objects constantly kept in view by the author while 
 writing this book, which is the outcome of four years careful 
 experimental work with the sweet potato. About all the 
 results obtained by the author and given in this volume have 
 been published in bulletin form by the Texas Experiment 
 Station, but as requests for these bulletins have come, not 
 only from nearly every state in the Union, but from foreign 
 countries, so as to rapidly exhaust the editions of each one, 
 have prompted him to put his own results together with many 
 of those from other experimenters along this line, in per- 
 manent book form. He has been able to find only one small 
 volume and two pamphlets on the sweet potato for sale, neither 
 one of wihch pretend to be exhaustive nor up with the times. 
 Consequently, the author has experienced difficulty in giving 
 accurate information on this subject to his students in the 
 class room. It is believed the author's new system of classi- 
 fication, recent results obtained on "mixing or sporting'' of 
 varieties, and the chapter on the vineless or bunch varieties, 
 will help greatly to clear up the confusion which now exists 
 on these points. New methods of transplanting and recent 
 improved machinery will help greatly to lessen the cost of 
 production. 
 
 In the preparation of this volume the author has found 
 it a labor of love done during his spare moments from arduous 
 and exacting duties. Inaccuracies may have crept in as they 
 have in most books, and if such be found, the author will 
 consider it a favor to have his attention called to them. The 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 author wishes here to acknowledge his obligations to those 
 who have so kindly assisted him in the preparation of this 
 volume: The Horticultural Department of the Louisiana 
 Experiment Station for the cuts on varieties, Prof. Byron D. 
 Ilalstead for several cuts on diseases of the Sweet Potato, and 
 to Prof. Hugh N. Starnes and others mentioned in the book. 
 If this little volume should point the way of prosperity to 
 some debt-ridden and discouraged farmer who has relied upon 
 the ordinary farm crops for success, and has failed; if it 
 should help in any small degree the increase of hunum happi- 
 ness, he will feel his labor has not l)een in vain. 
 
 "THE AUTHOR." 
 
 (_'(iLLi:(ii-: Statfox, Tkxas, 
 A I ISA (I si 'jr.ili, iS9(). 
 
Agriculture is the nursing mother of arts. — Xenophon. 
 
 Tillage and pasturage are the two breasts of the State. 
 
 — Sully. 
 
 The first farmer was the first man, and all historic 
 nobility rests on possession and use of hind. — Emmerson. 
 
 Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful^ and most 
 noble employment of man. — Washington. 
 
 There seem to be but three ways for a, nation to acquire 
 wealth: the first is by war, as the Romans did in plundering 
 their conquered neighbors — this is robbery; the second, by 
 commerce, not always fair; the third, by agriculture, at all 
 times honest, wherein man receives a. real increase of the 
 seed thrown into the ground in a, kind of continual miracle 
 wrought by the hand of God in his favor as a reward for 
 his innocent life and virtuous industry. — Franklin. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction v, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Botanical Characteristics and Oi'isiji 1 
 
 CHAPTER H. 
 
 Chinese Yam — Origin and Culture 4 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 Uses of the Sweet Potato. As food for man and for stock. 
 
 Canning and Drying o 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Influence of Climate 13 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Influence of Different Soils. Preparation 14 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Fertilizers. Commercial Fertilizers. Domestic Fertilizers. 
 
 How to Use Fertilizers with Profit l(i 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Propagation. By sets, by tubers, by vine cuttings. Best 
 tubers for seed. How to grow the plants North and 
 South 23 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Transplanting. When and how to transplant. Improved 
 
 transplanting machinery. Ridge and level methods. . 30 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Cultivation. Shallow and deep. Raising the vines 3(i 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Harvesting and storing. When and how to harvest. 
 
 Storing North and South 38 
 
CONTENTS. IV 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Yield of Varieties. North Jind South compared 44 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Classitication. A new method. Rules of Nomenclature. 
 
 Description of varieties with synonyms 49 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Variation of the sweet potato. How new varieties 
 
 originate 67 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Shipping and marketing 69 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Diseases of the Sweet Potato. How to prevent the injury 70 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Insect enemies and how to prevent their depredation 96 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The Vineless or Bunch Sweet Potato 98 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 Weights and measures in different states 103 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 How to predict the weather 104 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 How to cook the Sweet Potato 106 
 
 INDEX 109 
 
p^ 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Third word in 20th line of preface, for "wiheh" read which. 
 
 In last line on 6th page, for "Experimental" read Experiment. 
 
 In foot line on 8th page, for "Experimental" read Experiment. 
 
 First line in III. division of table XII., for "silver" read soda. 
 
 On page 63 figure "43" should read 34. 
 
 On page 67 in line next to last which reads there "has" been should 
 read tliere have been. ' 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ^^nCC an American farmer thought there was a better place 
 ^^ for him to live than the one at which he had been born. 
 He had read short accounts of a place described in the agri- 
 cultural papers which seemed to suit him. Once a small, mod- 
 est book on the same subject had reached his hands. All the 
 information he could obtain from such sources was read with 
 great interest and pondered over well. Good common sense, 
 which was this man's best earthly friend, told him that the 
 location of this place in which he had become interested was 
 favorable in regard to latitude and longitude. Salubriousness 
 of climate and fertility of soil seemed very probable. Large 
 and wealthy cities were of easy access by rail and by boat. 
 The trend of population seemed to be in that direction. Fear- 
 ing, however, that possibly it might be an overlauded place, he 
 concluded it would be best to go and see it before leaving his 
 home and moving there. It was a serious thing for him to 
 leave the home of his childhood. His grandfather had come 
 over from England with several others a century ago and had 
 purchased a large homestead at small cost, and established a 
 community which had now grown large and thickly settled. 
 Nearly all his grandfather's children and grandchildren had 
 married and settled around the old homestead. They were all 
 interested in the same occupation in which their grandfather 
 had been so eminently successful. Somehow, the occupation 
 did not seem so remunerative as formerly, the soil had become 
 worn by continuous cropping in the same kind of crops. The 
 products did not sell so well in the markets as they had in 
 days gone by. 
 
 In meditating over the future, common sense taught this 
 man that he must change occupation or location. Things 
 could not go on as they had; in fact he thought a change was 
 coming over the entire country, and he must prepare himself 
 .to meet it successfully, * * * 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE SWEET POTATO (Ipomca Batatas, Lam.), botanical char- 
 acteristics — ORIGIN. 
 
 The sweet potato belongs to the well known morning 
 glory family, Convolvulacea. It is a perennial, though culti- 
 vated as an annual. The creeping stems, in some varieties, 
 
 grow 20 feet long and frequently send 
 out roots at the nodes which, in favor- 
 able seasons, bear small potatoes. 
 There are three main types of leaves, 
 the round, the shouldered, and the 
 lobed or split. Color of the stems and 
 leaves varies from dark green to light 
 purple. No flowers are produced ex- 
 
 FiG. 1. Sweet Potato 
 Tubers. 
 
 cept occasionly in 
 Southern latitudes. 
 When peduncles ap- 
 pear they are axillary 
 and bear three to five 
 small purple flowers 
 which are white 
 around the border 
 and purple in the 
 throat. The pod 
 contains four one- 
 seeded cells. Flow- 
 ers of the sweet 
 potato shown in fig- 
 ure ^S were photo- 
 grS^phed by Mr. 
 Bridgewater of Ten- 
 nessee. The potato 
 is an enlarged, fari- ^^^^ ^ ^"^^^ ^''^'"^'^ ^l"^'^^"^' 
 
 naceous, tuberous root, which frequently contains 12 per cent, 
 to 15 per cent, of sugar after being stored a while. The word 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 potato was first applied to the sweet potato and is a (H)i'rii[)tioii 
 of the Indian word "Batatas." In the middle of the six- 
 teenth centiny, when irish potato tubers were being shipped 
 to foreign markets, the word "potato" was also applied to 
 the tubers of Solaniim Tuherosum., the common irish potato. 
 Even down to tlie middle of the seventeenth century we are 
 told that the sweet potato is generally understood where the 
 word potato is used by English writers. Now, in the market 
 ( I notations wherever the ^vord potato occurs, the irish potato 
 is meant, and for the other tubers the word "sweet" is 
 placed before the word potato. 
 
 "Tuber is an annual thickened portion of a subterranean 
 stem or branch, provided with latent buds called eyes, from 
 which new plants ensue the succeeding year."' 
 
 Tubers of the sweet potato vary much in shape, size, 
 color and texture of flesh. Shape varies from roundish to 
 much elongated, frequently taperi.jg at both ends. On some 
 varieties, vein-like ridges appear over the surface. Texture 
 of the flesh when baked varies from soft and mealy to soft and 
 mushy. Many varieties give off an agreeable odor when being- 
 baked. Color of skin varies from pale white to yellowish red 
 and sometimes purple. Color of the flesh when baked is 
 nearly always dull yellow or brownish yellow. Flavor is 
 greatly influenced by soils and seasons. 
 
 Comparison avith the irish potato. The irish potato 
 is an enlarged subterranean stem, as evidenced by the fact 
 that it contains well-defined "eyes" or axillary buds. It will 
 assume a greenish color when exposed to the sunlight, due to 
 the development of chlorophyll which is characteristic of a 
 stem. Neaily always the tubers are borne on the ends of 
 small roots. This vegetable is not sugary. It belongs to the 
 nightshade family, Solanacea. The sweet potato has no well- 
 defined eyes when flrst dug. and will not turn green when 
 exposed to the sunlight. Its tubers are borne near the sur- 
 face of the soil on the upper ends of long roots. 
 
 origin of the sweet potato. 
 
 Knowledge concerning the native habitat of the sweet 
 
 potato is not clear. Strong arguments in favor of its origin, 
 
 both in the eastern and the western hemispheres have been 
 
 advanced. Some of these arguments given by De Candolle in 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 his "Origin of Cultivated Plants" will be given here, begin- 
 ning with those in favor of an American origin. This origin 
 is advocated by Humboldt, Meyer and Boissier. Humboldt 
 says that according to Gomara, Christopher Columbus, when 
 he appeared for the tirst time before Queen Isabella, offered 
 her various productions from the New World, sweet potatoes 
 among others. Clusius, who was one of the first to mention 
 the sweet potato, says he had eaten some in the south of 
 Spain, where it was first supposed to have come from the 
 New World. Rumphius says positively, that, according to 
 the opinion, sweet potatoes were brought by the Spanish 
 Americans to Manilla and the Moluccas, whence the Portu- 
 guese diffused it throughout the Malay Archipelago. It is 
 certain that it was unknown to the Greeks, Romans and 
 Arabs. 
 
 On the other hand, the Chinese Encyclopedia of Agricul- 
 ture speaks of the sweet potato and mentions varieties. 
 
 Bretschneider has proved that the species is described for 
 the first time in a book of the second or third century of our 
 era. Boyer, Choisy and others hold to its Asiatic origin. 
 Oviedo, who wrote in 1526, says that he found the potato 
 extensively cultivated by the natives of St. Domingo 
 and had introduced it himself at Avila, in Spain. Ac- 
 cording to Thunberg, the sweet potato has been carried to 
 Japan by the Portuguese. 
 
 The plants cultivated at Tahiti and the neighboring isles, 
 and in New Zealand under the names of umara, gumarra and 
 gumalla, described by Foster under the name of Convolvulus 
 Ghrysorliizus, is, according to Sir Joseph Hooker, the sweet 
 potato. Seemann remarks in journal of Botany, 1866, that 
 these names resemble the Quichuen name of the sweet potato 
 in America, which is, he says, Gumar. 
 
 De Candolle concludes that the arguments in favor of an 
 American origin seem to him much stronger. However, there 
 is a probability of prehistoric communication between Asia 
 and America, and this vegetal)le having been in cultivation so 
 long it may have been transferred. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 CHINESE YAM (Dioscorea Batatas D'cne.). 
 
 Origrin and Meaning of Word "Yam." Origin 
 of the Vegetable. Botanical Charac- 
 teristics. Cultivation. 
 
 Since the little word "Yam'' is the cause of great con- 
 fusion in the nomenclature of sweet potatoes, especially in the 
 Southern States, it may be well to give some space here to the 
 discussion of the vegetable of which the word is more properly 
 the name. 
 
 The word Yam: French, Ignama de la China; Spanish, 
 Igname; Hughs says it is of African origin and means "to 
 eat" in several negro dialects on the coast of Guinea. 
 
 The generic name of the vegetable was given in honor of 
 a Greek physician and florist by the name of Dioscorides. 
 There are several species of Yams belonging to this genera, 
 
 such asZ>. Villosa,D.Japonica,D. Alata, 
 D. Sativa, Etc. The latter one with its 
 varieties, Wood says,*is understood to be 
 that which is known as the "Sweet Yam" 
 cultivated in Georgia and Florida and 
 all tropical countries, on account of 
 its sweet and nutritious tubers. If this 
 be true it is readily understood how 
 the word "Yam" came to be applied 
 to the soft, sugar varieties of the sweet 
 potato, and hence the confusion. 
 
 The Chinese Yam is sometimes called 
 Cinnamon Vine. It is, perhaps, native 
 of the Phillippine Islands. It is ex- 
 tensively cultivated in China under the 
 name Sain-in. Was introduced into 
 France in 1848, through the agency of 
 M. de Montigny, the French Consul at Shanghai. Soon after- 
 wards it was sent to this country from the Jardin des 
 plantes de Paris. 
 
 DESCRirTION. 
 
 The vegetable is very hardy, perennial, annual, twining 
 stems, which are green bluish color, and grow from 6 to 10 
 
 ♦Wood's Class Book of Botany. 
 
 Fig. 3. Chinese Yam. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 feet long. Leaves are opposite, heart shaped, and have a 
 glossy upper surface. White, small flowers groAv in clusters 
 and are dioecious. Little bulblets are produced sometimes 
 instead of flowers, and from them the vegetable can be prop- 
 agated. From the roots, fleshy tubers grow down almost per- 
 pendicular two or three feet, and are called botanically rhiz- 
 omes. Shape of the tubers is somewhat like that of an Indian 
 club. The fact that they groAV so deep down into the soil 
 makes the tubers difficult to dig. This is the main objection 
 to the vegetable ; however, the tubers are frequently left in 
 the ground and dug as wanted. When baked the flesh is 
 floury, white and light in texture. It keeps well and is worthy 
 of culture, especially where the sweet potato does not grow 
 well. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 USES OF THE SWEET POTATO. 
 
 For the Table. For Canning. For Drying. As 
 
 Food for Stock. Value of the Tops 
 
 and Vines for Stock. 
 
 As a diet for human food, the sweet potato may properly 
 be considered a luxury. Fortunately, however, it is a luxury 
 which nearly all the human family may enjoy. Those varieties 
 which become soft and sugary when baked, and are sometimes 
 erroneously called "Yams,'' are considered the leading vege- 
 tables in many Southern States. A garden in the Southern 
 States that has not the sweet potato in it is the exception. In 
 ante-bellum days this vegetable formed one of the chief ele- 
 ments of the negro's ration. It is frequently his practice in 
 the South now to peal and eat the tubers raw like apples. He 
 is almost as fond of it as the water melon, and takes a pride 
 in planting it round his log cabin home of the South. Here, 
 cotton, sweet potatoes, water melons, the negro and the mule 
 have become almost inseparable. 
 
 While the soft sugary varieties are most appreciated 
 in the Southern States, quite a different variety is most appre- 
 ciated in the Northern States. Mealy varieties, such as the 
 "Nansemonds," "Jersey Sweets,'' "Fancy Vineland Sweets," 
 sell higher than any other potatoes, the irish not excepted in 
 the Xorthern States. The following table shows results of 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 analyses of sweet potato tubers made at California Exper- 
 iment Station and at Texas Experiment Station: 
 
 TABLE III, ANALYSES OF SWEET POTATOES. 
 
 Averages of 17 varieties'froni 
 analyses made at Califor- 
 nia Agr. Expt . Station 
 
 Averages of 21 varieties from 
 analyses made at Texas 
 Agr. Expt. Station 
 
 A. Percent, on Fresh Substance. 
 
 69 00 
 
 70.27 1.14 2 41 
 
 2 08 
 
 1.00 
 
 .99 
 
 Nitrogen-Free Extract. 
 
 Sugar by 
 (Copper Tei-t. 
 
 Before 
 Inver- 
 sion. 
 
 Total 
 After 
 Inver- 
 sion, 
 
 r-i'Z, 
 
 3.42 
 
 5 55 
 
 r. Kl 
 
 24.23 
 
 24.no 1.20 
 
 Averages of 17 varieties from 
 analyses made at Califor- 
 nia Agr. Expt. Station 
 
 Averages of 21 varieties from 
 analyses made at Texas 
 Agr. Expt Station 
 
 B. Per cent. Calculated to Water-Free Substance. 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 -I 
 
 
 5' 
 
 
 B 
 
 ■5" 
 
 33 
 
 Nitrogen-Free ."ixtract 
 
 Sugar by 
 Copper Test 
 
 Before 
 Inver- 
 sion. 
 
 Total 
 After 
 Inver- 
 sion 
 
 6.23 
 
 3.83 8.10 3.33 
 
 3.17 
 
 7.73 
 
 11.50 
 
 19.00 
 
 22.90 
 
 7S.70 
 
 80.73 4 25 
 
 S3.J 
 
 COMPOSITION OF THE IRISH AND THE SWEET POTATO COMPARED. 
 
 The relative nutritive value of the sweet potato can be 
 more readily understood when compared with that of the 
 irish potato, which is recognized as a valual)le food product 
 the civilized world over. 
 
 The analyses in the following table were made at Storr's 
 Agricultural Experiment Station and at California Agricul- 
 tural Experimental Station: 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 TABLE IV. COMPOSITION OF IRISH AND SWEET POTATOES. 
 
 
 z 
 
 c 
 B 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 Nutrients, Per Cents 
 
 no 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 
 CD 
 
 
 g 
 
 3 ep 
 » B 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 
 
 »-j 
 
 D 
 
 ■d-- 
 
 
 
 CO 
 
 p 
 
 2. 
 
 5' 
 
 
 
 tr 
 
 
 5» 
 
 3 W 
 
 
 > 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 
 ci 
 
 ^ 
 
 2-B 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 C 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S- 
 
 •-1 
 
 UU 
 
 
 V5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c» 
 
 
 
 
 ? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 b' 
 
 Irish Potatoes (Connecticut) 
 
 12 
 
 78 90 21 10 
 
 2 10 
 
 .10 
 
 17 90 
 
 1 00 
 
 375 
 
 Sweet Potatoes (California) . 
 
 17 
 
 69 00 31 00 
 
 
 2 08 
 
 1.00 
 
 24 23 
 
 1 08 
 
 537 
 
 It will be seen that the sweet potato contains ten times as 
 much fat as the irish potato, the protein is about equal, and 
 that the potential energy is one-third greater. The sweet 
 potato has the sugar which the irish potato lacks, and also 
 contains 8.9 % more dry matter. The sweet potato does not 
 make a perfectly balanced "ration." Since it is lacking in 
 protein, it should be used in connection with more nitroge- 
 nous food, such as beans, peas, eggs and lean meat. This also 
 applies to the tops which are sometimes used for salad. 
 
 The table quality of sweet potatoes, while often good 
 when the tubers are tirst dug, improves during storage. This 
 seems to be due mainly to the loss of water and the increase of 
 sugar. To test this 16 varieties were analyzed for me by the 
 chemist of the Texas Experiment Station in November, in 
 December, and in March, 1893-'94; the results are given in 
 the following table : 
 
 TABLE v. ANALYSES 
 
 OF THE TUBERS 
 
 AT DIFFERENT PERIODS. 
 
 
 November 1 
 
 . 1893 
 
 December 20 
 
 , 1893 
 
 March 6, 1894 
 
 Name of variety. 
 
 Water 
 
 03 CD 
 
 " 3- 
 
 Total 
 Sugar 
 
 Water 
 
 «5 
 
 Total 
 Sugar 
 
 Water 
 
 
 Total 
 Sugar 
 
 Bunch (Yam)* 
 
 Early Bunch (Yam). . . 
 
 70 83 
 
 73 26 
 
 66 06 
 
 71 81 
 
 77 59 
 
 67 23 
 
 68 23 
 
 65 83 
 61 58 
 75 81 
 
 74 70 
 79 04 
 
 78 26 
 
 75 44 
 
 66 69 
 
 69 19 
 
 2 14 
 
 2 66 
 
 4 16 
 
 3 33 
 3 27 
 2 5^ 
 2 84 
 2 19 
 
 5 10 
 
 2 77 
 
 3 00 
 
 3 35 
 2 08 
 
 2 92 
 
 4 67 
 
 3 76 
 
 3 74 
 
 4 60 
 
 6 41 
 
 5 00 
 5 20 
 5 26 
 
 7 69 
 2 77 
 9 20 
 
 5 26 
 
 6 75 
 6 41 
 
 5 00 
 
 6 98 
 11 90 
 
 8 07 
 
 68 92 
 
 65 01 
 
 66 03 
 
 70 34 
 72 84 
 66 98 
 66 71 
 
 64 01 
 
 60 00 
 
 71 47 
 
 66 56 
 70 97 
 
 67 87 
 
 61 64 
 
 65 26 
 
 69 06 
 
 6 41 
 
 5 55 
 
 6 02 
 3 73 
 
 3 15 
 5 55 
 5 00 
 
 5 26 
 
 7 35 
 
 6 K) 
 
 4 54 
 3 50 
 
 5 50 
 
 5 00 
 
 6 66 
 6 25 
 
 12 50 
 
 10 00 
 12 50 
 
 5 88 
 
 6 00 
 
 11 11 
 9 60 
 
 11 63 
 10 50 
 
 7 20 
 7 14 
 
 6 00 
 
 7 46 
 
 8 98 
 
 12 10 
 
 9 95 
 
 68 85 
 60 81 
 (!3 90 
 70 14 
 ()8 76 
 
 60 55 
 
 61 72 
 59 81 
 58 12 
 70 S2 
 
 4 06 
 7 25 
 
 6 10 
 
 3 09 
 
 4 75 
 
 5 80 
 5 75 
 
 7 16 
 5 56 
 3 45 
 
 14 38 
 19 71 
 16 42 
 
 
 8 00 
 
 Red Nose 
 
 Brazilian (Yam) 
 
 Negro (Choker 
 
 11 13 
 
 15 30 
 11 50 
 13 80 
 
 Southern Qreim 
 
 Red Bermuda 
 
 10 64 
 
 8 84 
 
 Peabody 
 
 70 00 
 50 00 
 59 50 
 
 3 34 
 
 1 15 
 
 2 79 
 
 10 30 
 
 
 7 55 
 
 
 11 50 
 
 
 
 
 67 00 
 
 4 60 
 
 13 27 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 -Bunch, Karly Bunch ciud Vineleao are the same— R. H. P. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 The following comments were made by the chemist upon 
 these analyses: "In many cases, the quantity brought in for 
 analysis was too small to furnish average samples. It was 
 expected, according to popular belief, that the water would 
 decrease as the winter advanced. This was true in a general 
 way, and is clearly shown by reference to the table. The 
 increase of invert sugar, 'comprising grape sugar and fruit 
 sugar, is not so uniform as that of total sugar, comprising 
 cane sugar in addition to invert.' 
 
 "The highest total amount of sugar on March 6th was 
 found in the Early Bunch (Yam), although it was not the 
 highest initial amount. Next to this came the Vineless in 
 final total sugars. The Norton and the Pumpkin (Yam) and 
 the Southern Queen carried the largest amount of total sugars 
 on November 1st, the time when first analyses were made. As 
 to the amount of water, the above three varieties together with 
 the Vineless, the Brazilian (Yam), the Tennessee and the Negro 
 Choker, were lowest in water or moisture when the analyses 
 were first made. 
 
 But the amount of water which they lost on keeping 
 seems to have been very little. The greatest percentage loss 
 of water was in the Delaware, next to this came the Early 
 Bunch (Yam); but with a difference of eleven per cent, of 
 sugar in favor of the Yam. So far as these analyses indicate, 
 the Early Bunch (Yam) would seem to be the best potato for 
 table use, when a dry potato with a large amount of sugar is 
 wanted. The next best answering the purpose would be the 
 Pumpkin (Yam). But I believe it is a fact, that dry mealy 
 potatoes, low in sugar, are more appreciated in the Northern 
 market than are the 'Yellow Yams' rich in sugar."* 
 
 CANNING SWEET TOTATOES. 
 
 Canning sweet potatoes is, of course, a new industry. It 
 is gratifying to learn from those who have tried it, that there 
 are prospects of it being made profitable. Since the vege- 
 table comes in after nearly all other vegetables are gone, it 
 would enable the factories to run a longer time during the 
 year. Markets for this vegetable could then be extended, 
 even to the very cold climates where it cannot be grown. 
 
 ♦Bulletin 36, on Sweet Potatoes, Texas Experimental Station. 
 
SWEET POTA.TO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Upon this subject I cannot do better than give the results 
 of those who have tried it, and were kind enough to write out 
 the following statements for me : 
 
 Water Valley Canning and Manufacturing Co., 
 Water Valley, Miss., Dec. 9th, 1895. 
 
 "Replying to your communication of December 6th, 
 relative to canning sweet potatoes : The above factory packed 
 some potatoes in 1893 and a small lot in 1894, but could not 
 make the packing profitable, therefore, did not pack the 
 present season. The main hindrance to the successful pack- 
 ing of potatoes in the South, our experience at least, is the 
 excessive freight rates to market. No potatoes are sold south 
 of Chicago, very few east of there, and the bulk in the West, 
 Colorado and Minnesota. 
 
 "Baltimore and Maryland pack the bulk of the potato 
 output of canning factories, and get freight rates to Chicago 
 and the far West for much less than half the price Southern 
 packers are compelled to pay. We packed a first-class line of 
 goods, sold them right along in the Chicago markets, side by 
 side with the best Maryland pack, but could not obtain within 
 30 cents a dozen of the price paid for Maryland goods. We 
 paid farmers here 30 cents a bushel of 60 pounds for the 
 potatoes. We packed an average of 20 cans to the bushel and 
 sold at from 85 to 90 cents per dozen, Chicago delivery. We 
 had several communications this season asking us for prices, 
 parties who had used the goods in 1893 and 1894, but as stated 
 above, we did not pack." G. D. Brown, Secretary. 
 
 BooNEviLLE Canning Company, 
 Booneville, Miss., Dec. 16th, 1895. 
 "Replying to your favor of the 6th instant, will say that 
 in 1892 we packed about 500 cases of the Jersey Yams, and 
 sold them in Chicago at fair prices. While they are salable, 
 only in certain sections where the natural product cannot be 
 easily obtained, and are, therefore, not very staple. I, from 
 our experience, believe it to be a profitable industry." 
 
 John T. Burnside, Manager. 
 
 DRYING SWEET POTATOES. 
 
 Upon this subject the author can write with only a limited 
 experience. The author has dried them successfully in the 
 
10 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 sun when they presented somewhat the appearance of dried 
 fruit. 
 
 Dried potatoes were among the Japan exhil)it at the 
 WorkFs Fair. Their method of preparing them is stated as 
 follows: "Cleanly washed potatoes are placed in a suitable 
 basket and immersed in boiling water for a short time: when 
 taken out of the basket, they are cut into thin slices and 
 spread over mats and exposed to the sun for two or three days. 
 In order to make a superior quality, the skin of the potato is 
 peeled off before slicing." 
 
 Instances have been reported wherein the dried product 
 was successfully ground into flour. How useful the vegetable 
 may become in these lines, remains to be seen, but it seems 
 safe to conclude now, that evaporation would l)e important in 
 preserving the vegetable for stock food, at least, and also 
 for shipping it long distances. 
 
 FOOD FOR STOCK. 
 
 It is not always convenient and advisable to ship sweet 
 potatoes, and the question how to profitably dispose of a large 
 crop may frequently come to the grower. In many cases 
 there may be no better way than to feed the tubers to stock. 
 They have been successfully fed to hogs, cattle, horses and 
 poultry. Perhaps it pays better to feed the tubers to hogs, 
 because they can do their own harvesting. For other animals 
 the tubers should be sliced, and it is frequently the practice 
 to boil them. At first there is some danger of producing 
 colic if fed in large quantities. 
 
 By reference to table No. 3, we find that 100 pounds of 
 sweet potato tul)ers contain 69.00 to 70.27 pounds of water, 
 1.14 to 1.15 pounds of ash, 2.08 to 2.41 pounds of protein, 
 (so called flesh formers, the most costly of food constituents), 
 .99 to 1.00 pounds of fat, 24.00 to 24.23 pounds nitrogen free 
 extract ^starch, sugar, gums, etc.), and 1.26 to 2.62 pounds of 
 fil)er. However, a clearer conception of the food value of 
 sweet potatoes may be obtained by comparing the composition 
 of the tubei's with that of corn. 
 
 TABLE VI. RELATIVE FOOD VALUES OF CORN AND SWEET POTATOES 
 
 Nitrogen 
 Dry Matter 
 lbs 
 
 100 pounds corn contain 89.1 
 
 300 pounds sweet potatoes contain*. . . . 87.9 
 
 •Analysis Texas Experiment station. 
 
 Protein 
 
 free 
 
 extract 
 
 lbs 
 
 
 lbs 
 
 10.5 
 
 
 75.0 
 
 7.2 
 
 
 72.0 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 11 
 
 From the previous table we see that three pounds of sweet 
 potatoes contain nearly as much dry matter, about two-thirds 
 as much protein, and about as much carbonaceous material as 
 is contained in one pound of corn. One-half pound of cotton 
 seed meal or one pound of cowpeas(seed) to 10 pounds of sweet 
 potatoes will fully supply the deticiency in protein. There 
 are many acres of land that produce only 40 bushels of corn 
 per acre, which if they were planted to sweet potatoes would 
 produce 200 l)ushels, as the yield is often 5 to 8 times greater. 
 The value from a food standpoint, leaving out the vines, is 
 two-thirds greater than that of forty Imshels of corn. 
 
 VALUE OF THE VINES AND TOPS. 
 
 Farmers usually allow the tops to decay on the ground. 
 In this w^ay a considerable percent, of the fertilizing materials 
 is returned to the soil. This practice will also furnish some 
 of the necessary humus, which is often lacking in the cotton 
 fields of the South. On the other hand, the tops and vines 
 make a very important food for stock, and especially dairy 
 cattle. This is quite an important item during very dry 
 seasons when pasturage is scorched and killed by drouth. 
 When the ground is dry, stock may be turned on in the fall to 
 harvest the vines and tops, and will not injure the tubers. It 
 is best to feed the vines and tops while green as they do not 
 cure well and are said to become slimy in the silo. Short, 
 stubby vines of the Vineless variety throw up heavy and long 
 peduncles, which bear a large mass of foliage. This foliage 
 can be easily cut with a scythe, and, if the ground be nearly 
 level, with a mower; thus leaving the short gritty runners on 
 the ground. The writer has grown over 300 bushels of this 
 variety per acre, and intended to cut the tops with a mower, 
 but the frost got in its work first. However, it could have 
 been easily done. The Vineless variety mentioned will be 
 discussed further in another chapter. The yield in pounds of 
 vines and tops per acre is about twice that of the tubers, in 
 Southern latitudes, but does not appear to be so much in 
 Northern latitudes. 
 
 Green, succulent vines were taken from the field in 
 Octobei-, 1893, and were analyzed at the Texas Station, the 
 results of which analysis are given in the following table : 
 
12 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 TABLE VII. COMPOSITION OF VINES AND TOPS. 
 
 Water 84.720 
 
 Ash Content 2.735 
 
 Protein 2.420 
 
 Crude Fibre 2.320 
 
 N. fr. Ext 7.215 
 
 COST OF PRODUCTION AND PROFITS. 
 
 Upon this subject I cannot do better than quote from a 
 bulletin issued by the United States Department of Agricul- 
 ture, 1895 : 
 
 "Sweet potato growers in a number of states furnished 
 the data used below in estimating the cost of growing sweet 
 potatoes. Neither rent, cost of fertilizers, nor cost of ship- 
 ping are included in the following statements. 
 
 "Averaging the returns of several experienced growers in 
 New Jersey, we have the following figures, which may be 
 taken as representative of the cost (less fertilizers and rent), 
 of growing an acre of sweet potatoes in New Jersey, Delaware 
 and the tide-water counties of Virginia: Sets grown or pur- 
 chased, $5; preparation of the soil, $1.97; transplanting (with 
 wooden tongs), $2.12; horse cultivation, $1.62; hoeing and 
 other hand work, $3.75; harvesting, $6.50; total, $20.96. To 
 this, in addition to rent or interest, must be added $10 to $40 
 per acre for fertilizers or stable manure. 
 
 "The following figures are averages from six statements 
 selected from among those sent in by growers in the Southern 
 States, and give the cost of cultivating an acre: Seed pota- 
 toes for sets or vine cuttings, $1.98; preparation of the soil, 
 $2.79; transplanting sets or cuttings, $2.91; horse cultivation, 
 $1.87; hoeing and other hand work, $1.62; harvesting, $5.66; 
 total, $16.83. The figures used in making up these latter 
 averages vary between the following limits: Seed potatoes, 
 $1.25 to $4.75; preparation of land, $1.25 to $4.50; trans- 
 planting, $1 (doubtless for vine cuttings) to $6; horse cultiva- 
 tion, $1 to $3; hoeing, etc., 50 cents to $3.50, and harvesting, 
 $3 to $8. 
 
 "Numerous other estimates of the cost of growing an acre 
 of sweet potatoes in the Southern States approximate closely 
 to $16.83 and confirm the correctness of this figure. Returns 
 from this section of the country indicate that this crop is too 
 frequently left without manuring. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 13 
 
 "As regards costs per bushel, an Arkansas horticulturist 
 who grows sweet potatoes on a large scale, places the cost of 
 a bushel of sweet potatoes in the ground at 4.^2 to 11 '2 cents 
 when the yield is 150 to 300 bushels per acre; digging and 
 storing cost him 2 ^2 to 3 >2 cents, making a total cost of 7 to 
 15 cents per bushel in the cellar. From Illinois and from 
 Georgia come statements that 20 cents is the cost of growing 
 and harvesting a bushel. 
 
 "When we come to consider selling price and profits, we 
 find difficulty in generalizing, on account of the wide fluctua- 
 tions to which the price of this vegetable is subject in the 
 large cities, and to the fact that over a great extent of coun- 
 try there is practically no market, except for small quan- 
 tities. 
 
 The principal markets for Eastern growers are New York, 
 Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, and Providence, and in spite 
 of wide fluctuation in price, the sweet potato crop is usually 
 profitable in localities favored with cheap transportation 
 facilities to these cities. During the period from July 15 to 
 August 15 there is only a limited supply of sweet potatoes in 
 Northern markets, and potatoes of good quality find a ready 
 sale at relatively high prices. The sweet potato is a profitable 
 crop where local sales can be effected. In localities remote 
 from markets the profit in groNving this crop on a large scale 
 must come from converting sweet potatoes into pork or other 
 valuable animal product. As a partial substitute for corn in 
 the food of hogs the sweet potato should be extensively used 
 in localities where, on account of poor, sandy soil, corn does 
 not give large yields." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Climatic Influence. 
 
 The sweet potato reaches its highest development in 
 Southern climates. While this is true, it will mature a crop 
 in the greater part of the temperate zone. In warm, sandy 
 loam soils and with earlier varieties which are now coming 
 into cultivation, it seems that the latitude in which it is now 
 profitably grown can be much extended. As an instance, 
 Maine is credited in the census report of 1890 withl 267 
 bushels. 
 
14 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 At the Experiment Station of Geneva, New York, the 
 estimated yield of Southern Queen was 292 bushels per acre, 
 and the estimated yield of Spanish Red was 383 bushels per 
 acre. 
 
 In some parts of New Jersey, growing the sweet potato is 
 quite profitable. The report of the New Jersey Station for 
 1891 contains the following: "The raising of sweet potatoes 
 is an important industry in the State, though few are raised 
 north of Monmouth County. The chief shipping centers are 
 Swedesboro, in Gloucester County, and Vineland, in Cumber- 
 land County. In Gloucester County, and especially about 
 Swedesboro, it is estimated that one-fifth of the cultiva])le 
 area is given to this crop. In those sections great skill has 
 been acquired in growing large crops of excellent cpiality; the 
 market reports now quote New Jersey Sweets at higher prices 
 than those grown in other sections. * * * When grown in 
 hills, 220 bushels of large potatoes per acre is considered a 
 good yield: when grown in drills 250 bushels per acre is 
 nearer the average; 300 bushels per acre is a good crop, 
 though larger yields are frequently obtained." 
 
 In all the Southern States, and in many of the Western 
 States, the sweet potato grows to perfection, even during dry 
 seasons when many other crops fail. This drouth resisting 
 quality of the sweet potato is due mainly to the roots going 
 down into the soil so deep. The number of bushels grown in 
 the states is shown in table 1. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Influence of Soil on Quality of the Potato. The 
 Best Soil for Potatoes. Preparation of Soils. 
 
 The character of the soil has very much to do with the 
 quality of the sweet potato. When grown on a damp clay 
 soil the per cent, of starch seems lower, and the table quality 
 is not the best. Such a soil makes the tubers rough and 
 uneven. Dirt adheres to them and greatly injures the appear- 
 ance. Neither do they keep so well when grown on such a 
 soil. This difference of the tubers, however, is not so im- 
 portant when it is intended to feed them to stock as it is 
 when they are intended for table use. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 15 
 
 Sweet potatoes reach their highest development on a well 
 drained, sandy loam soil. Light, warm, slaty soil will often 
 grow good sweet potatoes. Not much moisture is needed 
 after the plants are well started if the ground is in good con- 
 dition. The Pumpkin variety, which, to my taste, is the best 
 ta))le variety when grown on a light, sandy loam soil, yet, I 
 have grown it on a damp clay soil when the table quality was 
 so poor one would not recognize it as being the same variety, 
 liccently cleared land usually grows potatoes of good quality. 
 
 PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 
 
 Sod land is not desirable because it cannot be worked so 
 well, and cut worms are very troublesome. If it is used, it is 
 often best to plow it in the fall so that the sod will rot. The 
 soil should 1)6 in tine tilth. If it has been in some hoed crop 
 like cabbage, it is better. Sweet potatoes may also follow 
 corn. If the land has been in corn or cotton a few years, it 
 would often be best to sow clover or cowpeas on it and turn 
 them under to enrich it and add vegetable matter to it, which 
 has been exhausted. Wherever crimson clover will grow suc- 
 cessfully it may be sown, frequently during August in the 
 corn, and be turned under the following April or May in time 
 for a sweet potato crop. 
 
 It is claimed by some growers that in order to obtain the 
 short, well-rounded tubers, which sell best in the market, the 
 ground should not be broken over three or four inches deep. 
 Our experience does not accord with this. The best potatoes 
 I have grown were produced on land which was plowed eight 
 inches deep, once in the fall and once in the spring (though it 
 should be stated the land was rather stiff). During very dry sea- 
 sons I have seen roots which had gone down a great distance 
 after moisture through a very hard subsoil and were enlarged 
 about one inch in diameter to two and three feet, thus forming 
 no regular tuber at all. In my experience, the shape of the 
 tuber depends very much upon the season, the dryer the 
 season the longer the tuber. 
 
 Preparation of the soil will depend somewhat upon its 
 drainage and upon the kind of machinery to be used in trans- 
 planting. Transplanting machinery will be discussed in an- 
 other chapter. If the soil is low and is inclined to be damp^it 
 
16 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 is best to plant in ridges. If ridges are used they should be 
 thrown up with a turning plow, three feet apart after the 
 ground has been well prepared by plowing and harrowing. 
 For many varieties grown in the South, four feet is better. 
 A plank drag is a good thing to even these ridges just before 
 setting time, and level them down to four or six inches of the 
 surface of the ground. Level and ridge culture are discussed 
 on page No. 31. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Manures. Analysis of Potatoes Showing Ferti- 
 lizing Ingredients. Cinemical Fertilizers. 
 Profits in their use. Formulas 
 for using. 
 
 No one fertilizer can be safely recommended as the best 
 for a crop on all soils, because soils vary in composition. 
 Some are poor in nitrogen, some in potash, and some in phos- 
 phoric acid. Chemical analysis of a soil, while often very 
 important, is not an infallible guide to the fertility of a soil, 
 because some of the fertilizing ingredients shown to exist in 
 the soil by chemical analysis, may be only partially available 
 to the plant. If all the soils were alike, analysis of the vines 
 and tubers would, perhaps, afford the best basis upon which 
 to compound a profitable fertilizer, and which could be 
 widely recommended. Since the composition of the sweet 
 potato varies less than the composition of soils, analysis of 
 the potato would seem to afford the more rational basis of the 
 two, but the only sure way to find out the amount of certain 
 fertilizers which can be advantageously applied to a given soil 
 for a particular crop is to experiment. Chemical analyses 
 point out the lines in which the best results are most likely to 
 be obtained. Each farm should, in a certain sense, be an 
 experiment station, and the owner, the director, the soil his 
 laboratory and the plants his chemists. From analysis of all 
 parts of the sweet potato taken as a basis, the individual can 
 compound a fertilizer of his own and experiment to find out 
 the need of his soil for this particular crop. It may be stated, 
 however, that a complete fertilizer, containing nitrogen, phos- 
 phoric acid and potash, is safer to use until experience has 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 17 
 
 shown that one or two of these may be left out or used in less 
 quantity. 
 
 The roots and vines which grew on a highly fertilized 
 field near Washington, D. C, were collected from a large plot 
 and weighed. The roots averaged 17,898 pounds per acre, or 
 about 350 bushels. Fresh vines completely covered the 
 ground when cut, October 1st, 1894, and they weighed 10,374 
 pounds per acre. Vines of many of the stronger growing 
 varieties will weigh much more in many of the Southern 
 States. Vines and roots from several varieties have been col- 
 lected by the author at College Station, Texas, where they 
 had grown upon good soil, and in every instance the vines 
 weighed twice as much as the roots and sometimes more. 
 However, as there is no very great difference in chemical com- 
 position of vines and roots, except that the vines contain 
 about 10 per cent, more water, the results obtained at Wash- 
 ington w^ill be taken as the average. 
 
 Fresh vines referred to were analyzed at Washington and 
 proved to contain the following: Water 83.06 per cent., 
 nitrogen, 0.42; phosphoric acid, 0.07; potash, 0.73; lime, 
 0.44; total ash, 2.45. 
 
 Fresh sweet potato roots were analyzed at the New Jersey 
 Experiment Station, and were found to contain the following: 
 nitrogen, 0.23 per cent. ; phosphoric acid, 0.10; potash, 0.51. 
 
 From Farmer's Bulletin No. 26, United States Depart- 
 ment of Agriculture, the following information is taken con- 
 cerning fertilizers needed for the sweet potato : 
 
 "If we assume 10,000 pounds of roots (equivalent to 185 
 bushels) and 8,000 pounds of vines per acre as a fair yield, 
 we have the following figures showing the amounts of ferti- 
 lizing ingredients contained in roots and vines of a crop of 
 this size: 
 
 TABLE VII. FERTILIZING INGREDIENTS IN ROOTS AND VINES 
 
 OF SWEET POTATOES GROWN ON ONE ACRE. 
 
 In roots 
 In roots In vines and vines 
 lbs lbs lbs 
 
 Nitrogen 23 34 57 
 
 Phosphoric acid 10 6 16 
 
 Potash 50 58 108 
 
 "Much more potash than nitrogen and much more nitrogen 
 than phosphoric acid is appropriated by the sweet potato, and 
 
18 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 this is true whether we look only at the roots, the part always 
 removed from the soil, or at the entire growth of roots and 
 vines. 
 
 "vVssuming that sweet potato vines are left on the land, 
 and that wheat straw is finally returned to the soil from 
 whence it came, we liiid that 185 bushels of sweet potato roots 
 remove practically as much nitrogen and phosphoric acid and 
 more than seven times as much potash as 20 bushels of wheat. 
 
 "The amounts of nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and 
 potash contained in a sweet potato crop of 185 bushels of 
 roots and 8,000 pounds of vines would be supplied by the fol- 
 lowing amounts of commercial fertilizers: 
 
 TABLE VIIl. COMPARISON OF FERTILIZERS. 
 
 57 pounds nitrogen in — 
 
 363 pounds nitrate of soda, or 
 542 pounds dried blood, or 
 803 pounds cotton-seed meal, or 
 11,600 pounds barnyard manure 
 
 16 pounds* available phos- 
 phoric acid in — 
 
 96 pounds dissolved bone- 
 black, or 
 138 pounds superphosphatef 
 
 108 pounds potash in — 
 
 210 pounds muriate of potash, or 
 320 lbs sulphate of potash, or 
 793 pounds kainit, or 
 475 pounds cotton-hull ashes 
 
 *According to an analysis made at the Texas Experiment Station about 25 pounds of 
 phosphoric acid, i e, 150 pounds of dissolved bone, or 215 pounds superphosphate, is required. 
 
 fCalled also acid phosphate and dissolved South Carolina rock, and containing 11 6 per 
 cent available phosphoric acid 
 
 It may be considered sufficient in some cases to apply only 
 tiic quantity of fertilizing material that is removed by the 
 roots of the sweet potato, the vines being left on the ground. 
 Ten thousand pounds of sweet potato roots contain fertilizing 
 ingredients equal to those found in the kinds and iunounts or 
 fertilizers given below: 
 
 TABLE IX. 
 
 FERTILIZING INGREDIENTS IN DIFFERENT FORMS. 
 
 23 pounds nitrogen in- 
 
 146 pounds nitrate of soda, or 
 2i8 pounds dried blood,* or 
 324 pounds cotton seed mealf. or 
 4,694 pounds barnyard manure§ 
 
 10 pounds available phos- 
 phoric acid in — 
 
 60 pounds dissolved bone 
 
 black or 
 86 pounds superphosphate 
 
 50 pounds potash in- 
 
 97 pounds muriate of potash, or 
 150 lbs sulphate of potash, or 
 367 pounds kainit. or 
 220 lbs cotton hull ashesll 
 
 ♦Containing also about 4 pounds phosphoric acid 
 
 tContaining also about 10 pounds phosphoric acid and 6 pounds of potash 
 JContaining also about 15 pounds phosphoric acid and 20 pounds of potash 
 llContaining also about 17 pounds of available phosphoric acid 
 
 A large per cent, of vegetable matter is required in a sf)il 
 to grow the best crop of sweet potatoes, and often chemical 
 
SWEET POTATO CUF.TURE FOR PROFIT. 19 
 
 fertilizers will not give their best results when this vegetable 
 matter is lacking. Truck farmers frequently apply large 
 quantities of woods earth, composted pine needles and other 
 vegetable material with beneficial results. By plowing under 
 such leguminous plants as clovers and cowpeas, this vegetable 
 matter is easily secured to the soil, and in addition that most 
 costly of fertilizers, nitrogen, which such plants bring from 
 the atmosphere in an available form for plant food. Wher- 
 ever crimson clover will grow successfully, for instance, it 
 may be sown in the corn fields late in summer and be turned 
 under the following May, and the soil be prepared at once for 
 sweet potatoes. Lime will be found beneficial in some in- 
 stances where the soil is heavy. 
 
 DOES THE FORM OF NITROGEN USED IN CHEMICAL MANURES 
 INFLUENCE THE GROWTH OF SWEET POTATOES? 
 
 While as much as 57 pounds of nitrogen is found in 185 
 bushels of sweet potatoes, including vines, yet heav}* applica- 
 tions of nitrogenous mineral fertilizers do not seem to be 
 required for this vegetable in the extreme Southern States. 
 In some instances where heavy applications of nitrate of soda 
 have been used in the Southern States, the results were injur- 
 ious. During 1894 the writer applied at the rate of 460 
 pounds sodium nitrate per acre on five different plots, by 
 itself, with sulphate of potash, with muriate of potash, with 
 bone black, and with all three combined, and in each instance 
 the yield of potatoes was lowered below the average of three 
 other check plots with no fertilizer, and in all others, except 
 in the one instance where bone black was used. Perhaps this 
 may be accounted for by the fact that the sweet potato having 
 a long period of growth, and during hot months when nitrifi- 
 cation is active in soils containing a large per cent, of vege- 
 table matter. It might also have been due to the fact that 
 nitrogen in this mineral form is not the best for the sweet 
 potato. The same negative results were also obtained by the 
 writer when nitrogen in this form was used at the Texas Sta- 
 tion upon irish potatoes. 
 
 At New Jersey Station, "organic forms of nitrogen, as 
 dried blood, are more desirable than nitrate of soda." How- 
 ever, experiments conducted there later were more favorable 
 for nitrate of soda. 
 
20 SWEET POTATO CCJLTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 At the Georgia Station, "cotton seed meal is preferable 
 to nitrate of soda as a source of nitrogen." So far cotton 
 seed meal has proved better than nitrate of soda as a source 
 of nitrogen with the writer. 
 
 From fourth annual report of New Jersey Station, 1893, 
 the following is taken: 
 
 TABLE X. PROFITS FROM DIFFERENT FERTILIZERS. 
 
 Cost of Net value of Net Net Gain, Average for 
 
 Fertilizer crop per acre gain 1892 two years 
 
 Unfertilized $113 33 
 
 Minerals alone $7 70 141 01 $30 68 $25 31 $28 00 
 
 with nitrate 12 34 139 70 26 37 23 30 24 84 
 
 " " blood 13 34 US 71 5 38 35 14 20 26 
 
 "The net gain from minerals alone is $30.68 per acre. 
 The net gain from minerals with nitrate is $26.37 per acre, or 
 a difference in favor of minerals alone of $4.31 per acre. The 
 nitrogen costs $4.64 per acre, hence, while there was a slight 
 increase in yield from its use, it was not sufficient to pay the 
 extra cost. This result is in accord with that of 1892. 
 
 "The use of dried blood in connection with minerals 
 resulted in a lower yield than was secured from the minerals 
 alone, and consequently a much decreased net gain. This 
 effect of dried blood is the reverse of that shown in a similar 
 experiment in 1892 and others in 1891, which showed an 
 increased yield from nitrogen, and that organic forms, as 
 dried blood, were more useful than the nitrate of soda. 
 
 ARE COMBINATIONS OF CHEMICAL AND HORSE MANURES MORE 
 PROFITABLE THAN HORSE MANURE ALONE? 
 
 This method of manuring is highly regarded by some of 
 the best growers, because it admits of securing the advantages 
 that may be derived from the mechanical and biological proper- 
 ties of the horse manure and from the greater solubility of 
 the chemical manures. Plot 7 received one-half as much, and 
 plot 13 the same amounts of manure and chemicals as were 
 used when each was applied singly. The result stands as 
 follows : 
 
 "table XI. VALUE OF CROP FROM DIFFERENT FERTILIZERS. 
 
 Average 
 net gain 
 Net value or loss 
 
 Cost of of crop Net gain Net gain for two 
 
 fertilizer per acre or loss 1892 years 
 
 Unfertilized $113 33 
 
 Manure and chemicals,one-half $26 17 118 69 $ 5 36 $14 68 $20 02 
 
 " " whole.. 52 34 92 43 —20 90 16 02 —2 44 
 
 Manure alone 40 00 106 76 —6 57 4 57 —100" 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 21 
 
 "The only net gain was secured from the combination of 
 small quantities of the manure and chemicals ; this gain was 
 but $5.36 per acre. Twenty tons of manure per acre, both 
 alone and in combination, with full quantities of minerals, 
 though increasing the yield, resulted in a considerable loss." 
 
 PHOSPHORIC ACID. 
 
 Applications of phosphoric acid to the sweet potato crop 
 have been profitable in most instances. Since it is one of the 
 necessary elements in a complete fertilizer, and 16 to 25 
 pounds are found in a normal crop grown on an acre, it could 
 not be left out when the fertilizers are to be applied to soils 
 deficient in this element, as is the case with most Southern 
 clayey soils. The writer has found it decidedly profitable on 
 such soils. 
 
 Since the phosphates, when first applied to the soil^ 
 largely enter into forms in which they are not immediately 
 available as plant food, larger quantities should be used than 
 are necessary for the immediate crop. Ph< sphoric acid may 
 be purchased in the form of dissolved boneblack, acid phos- 
 phate (superphosphate), floats, slag and some other forms. 
 While floats and slag contain larger amounts of phosphoric 
 acid than bone black and superphosphate, yet, in this form 
 the phosphoric acid is more insoluble and consequently acts 
 more slowly on plant life. 
 
 POTASH. 
 
 Potash is the most important fertilizer for sweet potatoes. 
 This is reasonable, since a normal crop contains 108 pounds 
 per acre, and sandy loam soils upon which the vegetable 
 grows best are deficient, usually, in this element. 
 
 Potash in the form of muriate proved best at New Jersey 
 Station, kanit at Georgia Station, and sulphate at Texas 
 Station. It seems that further work is necessary to demon- 
 strate more fully which form is the best for most soils. 
 Kanit, which is a low grade fertilizer, can be bought cheaply 
 near seaport cities, and at such places it is apt to prove the 
 most profitable form to use. 
 
 HORSE MANURE, OR BARNTARD MANURE. 
 
 One advantage that horse or barnyard manure has over 
 chemical fertilizers is that the results are seen for a loifger 
 
22 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 time after the a})plication to the soil. None of this material 
 which is produced on the farm should be allowed to go to 
 waste. It is decidedly better to haul it at once directly froui 
 the barn to the fields, than it is to let it be exposed to leech- 
 ing rains and then haul it out once a year. Perhaps a better 
 way to use it for the sweet potato crop is to first compost it so 
 that it will be well rotted when applied to the soil in the 
 spring. In doing this it is a good idea to keep the compost 
 covered with al)out two inches of clay dirt or with some 
 plaster (gypsum) to prevent the escape of nitrogen. After it 
 becomes wet and heated, it should be turned. It should be 
 turned two or three times at intervals of about two weeks, so 
 as to hasten its rotting. Apply it broadcast at the rate of 10 
 or 20 tons per acre, according to the fertility of the soil. 
 
 HOW^ THE FARMER MAY PREPARE HIS OWN FERTILIZER. 
 
 By reference to table 9, it will be seen at a glance the 
 amount of material a normal crop of sweet potatoes take from 
 the soil. It will often pay to buy the ingredients and mix the 
 fertilizers on the farm during winter months when other work 
 is not pressing. They should l)e well pulverized and mixed 
 thoroughly. 
 
 In the following table are formulas which have given 
 good results at some of the experiment stations: 
 
 TABLE XII. FERTILIZER FORMULAS FOR SWEET POTATOES. 
 
 Kind and amonnt of fertilizer per acre 
 
 Nitrogen 
 
 150 pounds of nitrate of soda 
 350 pounds superphosphate . . 
 150 pounds muriate of potash 
 
 285 pounds dried blood 
 
 320 pounds boneblack 
 
 160 pounds muriate of potash 
 
 III. 
 
 100 pounds nitrate of silver . 
 
 160 pounds boneblack 
 
 80 pounds sulphate of potash. 
 10 tons barnyard manure 
 
 IV. 
 
 360 pounds cotton-seed meal 
 320 pounds superphosphate . . 
 640 pounds kainit 
 
 Pounds 
 
 Available 
 
 pho.s- 
 
 phoric 
 
 acid 
 
 Pounds 
 41 
 
 t27 
 
 t43 
 
 Potash 
 
 Pounds 
 
 *The manure supplies gS pounds of nitrogen, the nitrate of soda only i6 pounds, 
 fin addition to 64 pounds of phosphoric acid in stable manure. 
 }In addition to 11 paundi of phosphoric acid in cotton-seed meal. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 23 
 
 The above fonnulas, which are taken from Farmer's 
 Bulletin previously referred to^ are for complete fertilizers 
 and are intended for rather poor soils deficient in nitrogen, 
 phosphoric acid and potash. The quantities mentioned in the 
 fornudas will be found rather large for most soils, and the 
 farmer himself must find out by experimenting how much or 
 what fertilizers pay best on a given soil. In the Southern 
 States where cotton seed meal and cotton seed hull ashes may 
 be easily obtained, a good fertilizer for an acre may be made 
 by mixing 300 pounds cotton seed meal with 200 pounds cot- 
 ton seed hull ashes. If fertilizers in this form are used, they 
 should be applied to the soil some time before the crop is 
 planted, so that the fertilizing ingredients in these organic 
 forms will become available when the young plants most need 
 them. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Propagration of the Sweet Potato. The Best 
 Tubers for Seed. The Plant Bed. 
 
 The sweet potato may be propagated in four ways: by 
 seed, by pieces of tubers, by slips or draws, and by vine cut- 
 tings. As the sweet potato rarely matures seed in the United 
 States, propagation in this way is impracticable. The hall 
 variety is said to have come up among some morning glory 
 seed planted by a lady. This is one way in which new varie- 
 ties may be started, but it is not the only way. Sweet pota- 
 toes, like some other plants, produce "sports." If the seed 
 of the sweet potato were abundant it would be impracticable 
 to grow a crop from them because the tubers would be few 
 and small from them the first year, owing to the very 
 small size of the seed. No one attempts to grow a general 
 crop of irish potatoes from the seed borne in the small, round 
 balls on top of the vines. They are grown almost exclusively 
 from the tubers. This is one of the main reasons why the 
 irish potato has lost the power of growing much seed. The 
 same reasons may answer in part for the non-seed producing 
 habit of the sweet potato. It should be stated, however, that 
 in warm climates near the equator much more seed is pro- 
 duced. 
 
24 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 PROPAGATION BY PIECES OF THE TUBER. 
 
 The sweet potato can be grown from pieces of the tuber, 
 just the same as the irish potato is grown. But, as the sweet 
 potato is more susceptible to injury from cold, damp weather, 
 the tubers will usually rot before sprouting if planted in 
 northern latitudes. After testing this method, I feel confi- 
 dent that it can be used more extensively, with profit, in warm 
 climates where cold, damj) weather is not so apt to prevail for 
 any great length of time during spring. The tubers should 
 not be put into the ground until it is time to plant melons. 
 Tubers should be cut transversely into about one ounce 
 pieces. This method is rather costly as it would take as 
 many bushels of sweet potatoes to plant an acre, as it would 
 irish potatoes when they are cut to two eye pieces. It will 
 take the tubers from two to four weeks to throw up sprouts, 
 owing to the condition of the weather. 
 
 PROPAGATION BY SLIPS, DRAWS OR SETS. 
 
 We mean by slips, draws or sets, shoots which come from 
 the roots that are planted in hot beds. The word "slip" we 
 prefer to use, as it seems the most fitting. This method of 
 propagation is the one most commonly used. It is about the 
 only one for northern latitudes. There are various ways of 
 starting the plants, which will now be mentioned. 
 
 THE PLANT BED. 
 
 The simplest form of plant bed which may be used in the 
 warmer climates, consists in selecting a warm, well drained 
 and sheltered place; dig up the soil carefully, place the tubers 
 on it, cover them two inches with rich loam soil and keep 
 moist. It takes the slips some time to come in this way with- 
 out bottom heat. The kind of bed used will depend upon the 
 climate and on the degree of forcing required. 
 
 The method most frequently used in furnishing bottom 
 heat is that of using fermenting manure. In using this 
 method, select a location well drained and protected from the 
 northern winds. Dig a pit 12 to 18 inches deep, six feet wide 
 and as long as desired. Drive stakes down in each of the four 
 corners and along the sides of the pit, to which nail plank 
 along the sides of the pit to keep the dirt from falling down, 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 25 
 
 and to prevent mice and moles getting in. The stakes must 
 project above ground so that plank may be nailed to them on 
 the outside above the ground. These planks should be twelve 
 inches wide on the north side and six inches wide on the south 
 side. Pile dirt up around these outside planks to keep out 
 cold. The pit is now ready for the manure. Before putting 
 this in, a layer of leaves or straw three or four inches deep, 
 should be spread over the bottom of the pit to help keep in 
 the heat. Fresh stable manure from the horse is best because 
 it reaches a higher degree of heat. The amount required 
 depends upon the climate. For the Gulf States, a layer of 
 three or four inches thick is enough, Avhile for the New 
 England States, the layer should be eight or ten inches thick. 
 After the manure is put in it should be tramped down and 
 slightly watered if not already wet enough. In good manure 
 the heat will reach 100 degrees Farenheit ; in three or four 
 days I have known it to go as high as 140 degrees. At the 
 end of three or four days the manure should be turned over 
 with a fork so as to make the fermentation even all over, 
 tramp it down again and water if not wet enough. If the 
 temperature should run very high it can be kept down by wat- 
 ering. If made too wet, fermentation may be almost entirely 
 checked. To use the proper amount, therefore, requires 
 some experience and judgment. When the temperature 
 comes down to 85 degrees, dirt can be put on and the potatoes be 
 planted. Rich, loose, sandy loam soil is best. Woods earth is 
 very good. Put on a layer of about three inches. Place the 
 tubers on this dirt about one-half inch apart. Cover with 
 three inches of sand, good garden soil will do. For top cov- 
 ering of the hot bed various things are used, such as sash, 
 boards, cloth, straw and leaves. A layer of six inches of 
 straw or leaves is often used until the plants grow three or 
 four inches high, when the cover should be removed during 
 the day, if not too cold. The main objection to this open bed 
 is that rain may soak the bed and chill the tubers. A layer of 
 leaves covered over with plank is better, provided some are 
 left off during the day to give ventilation. Sash are best 
 because they keep in the heat and do not obstruct the sun- 
 light, but they are more costly and require closer attention as 
 to ventilation and watering. 
 
26 SWEET POTATO CULTTRE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 It should be stated here that in the extreme Southern 
 States, horses frequently are not stalled and stable manure is 
 scarce. As a substitute, a layer of about four inches of cotton 
 seed is used instead of manure, cotton seed hulls are also 
 sometimes used, but the heat generated by them is slight. 
 
 FIRE BEDS. 
 
 In the more northern latitudes, where growing the plants 
 is a regular business, perhaps some form of fire bed is best. 
 These beds vary much with the nuiterial used, and in the 
 manner of construction. There are two main classes, the hol- 
 low bed and the tile bed, 
 
 A successful New Jersey sweet potato grower descril)ed 
 his method of growing plants in this way in the Rural Neic 
 Yorker, as follows : 
 
 "My bed is made by scooping out a space 12 feet wide by 
 50 feet long, to the depth of one foot. At one end is built a 
 brick furnace two feet high, two feet wide and three feet 
 long. The top of the furnace is arched, and on a level with 
 the bottom of the pit. A hole must be dug in front of the 
 furnace for an entrance. Two flues are laid from the furnace 
 to within three feet of the opposite end. They should rise a 
 little — four or five inches in the whole distance will be enough. 
 They may be made of six inch drain tile, terra cotta pipe, or 
 brick, whichever is the cheaper; I make them of brick. The 
 ground is made perfectly smooth and firm, and two rows of 
 brick set on edge six inches apart, for each flue. The top is 
 covered with brick laid crosswise, all joints made Avith mortar. 
 
 Eighteen inches from the bottom of the pit, is the floor. 
 I use cedar rails from three to four inches in diameter. Three 
 strong pieces are laid on blocks or posts at the required height, 
 the full length of the bed, one in the middle and one at each 
 side. The rails are cut 12 feet long, and laid crosswise. The 
 sides are made of inch boards, and should be 20 inches high 
 above the floor. They are nailed to stakes driven in the 
 ground, and are banked clear to the top with the earth thrown 
 out of the pit. The smoke-stack is built over the furnace, 
 but has no direct communication with it. There is an open- 
 ing into it from the space under the floor. This arrangement 
 insures a good draft at all times. As soon as a tire is started 
 in the furnace, the air in the stack is heated, and begins to 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 27 
 
 rise at once, drawing a fresh supply from the space under the 
 floor. This creates a vacuum which is filled by the smoke and 
 heat from the flues. Some beds made on this plan, have tho 
 flues go only half the length of the bed, with the smokestack 
 at the opposite end from the furnace. I like the former plan 
 better, for the reason that a good draft is assured, all the heat 
 is utilized, the furnace may be smaller, and less fuel is 
 required." 
 
 In Farmer's Bulletin No. 26, of U. S. Department of 
 Agriculture, the following method is given: 
 
 "The flues have a slight grade and terminate in a chimney 
 directly over the furnace. The four-inch space between the 
 double wooden walls which inclose the hot-air space below 
 the bed, is filled with sawdust. The two by four-inch studs 
 of this wall, which support the bed, are three feet long. 
 Earth is heaped against the walls on the outside." 
 
 Fig. 4. Sweet-potato bed, with furnace and flues. 
 F, furnace;f f f, flue; c, chimney. The arrows indicate the direction of liot air current. 
 
 WHEN TO BED OUT THE TUBERS. 
 
 When to bed out the tubers depends upon the location, 
 the season, and the amount of bottom heat used. Under 
 ordinary circumstances, slips may be grown from four to six 
 weeks after bedding the tubers. Slips are ready for setting 
 out in the field when they are about five inches high above 
 the ground. Before they are set, they must be sufliciently 
 "hardened off" by leaving the bed open frequently and letting 
 the plants be gradually exposed to the atmosphere. It is 
 sometimes the practice when plants are large enough to set 
 before it is time for them to go out, to detach them from the 
 roots and "heel them in" at some protected place. This must 
 be done with care or the plants will rot if crowded together 
 when in a rather moist condition. From three to four "draw- 
 ings" can be made from one bed. After the drawings, the 
 roots may be taken out of the bed and fed to hogs. 
 
28 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 At the following dates, plants are usually set out: Jack- 
 sonville, Fla., March 20 to April 1"; other Southern States 
 such as Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas and Texas, 
 April 1 to 25, and southern part of New Jersey they can be 
 set from May 1 to 15. It must be remembered, however, that 
 plants can be set much later than the above mentioned dates, 
 and will produce a good crop. Most varieties will not produce 
 tubers tit to be dug before 90 days, though I have grown a 
 good crop of the "Gen. Grant" variety in 75 days from vine 
 cuttings when the season was good. When the tubers are 
 dug so early in their sappy, half-matured state, it must not be 
 expected that they will ship very far. 
 
 KIND OF SWEET POTATOES FOR SEED. 
 
 Tubers to grow slips from are used from the size of a 
 cigar up to several pounds. Large potatoes take less space 
 per bushel than small potatoes. A bushel of large potatoes 
 will require about fifteen square feet; a bushel of medium size 
 potatoes will require about twenty square feet; a bushel of 
 
 Fig. 5. Best tuber for seed. 
 
 small ones, about twenty-five square feet. The amount of 
 potatoes to grow sets from is hard to estimate, because of the 
 conditions of the bed and the number of plants per acre, vary 
 indifferent localities all the way from 5,000 to 10,000. Med- 
 ium size potatoes will produce from 2,000 to 3,000 plants per 
 bushel in two drawings. There is a great lack of definiteness 
 in reference to the size of tubers. From definite experiments I 
 have found that tubers the size of a cigar will produce com- 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 29 
 
 paratively few slips, while those which are very large d to 5 
 pounds) will not produce as many slips ]3er bushel as those 
 from one inch to an inch and a half in diameter. The best 
 size we have found is shown in figure Xo. 5 made by the Rural 
 Neic Yorker to illustrate the best size used by a successful 
 grower in New Jersey. 
 
 The sweet potato is sometimes compared with the irish 
 potato, and it is, therefore, claimed that slips from small tubers 
 will not grow as large a crop as slips from large tubers will. 
 This comparison is wrong as will be seen upon a moment's 
 reflection. In the case of the irish potato, a part of the tuber 
 is cut off and remains in the soil from which the vine con- 
 tinues to draw some of its nourishment. Slips are taken from 
 the sweet potato while the tubers remain in the bed, and they 
 have an independent life while growing in the field, so that 
 the tuber could not influence the food supply, and therefore 
 would seem not to affect the yield materially. This reasoning 
 is borne out by my experiments, the results of which are 
 reported in the following table: 
 
 TABLE XIII. YIELD FROM SLIPS TAKEN FROM DIFFERENT 
 SIZES OF TUBERS. 
 
 Shanghai, yield from a tuber weighing 5 pounds . 
 Shanghai, yield from very small rubers 
 
 Vineless. yield from very large tubers 
 
 Vineless, yield from verj- small roots 
 
 
 Calculated bushels 
 
 
 
 
 per 
 
 acre 
 
 
 
 Large 
 
 Sm 
 
 all 
 
 Total 
 
 31-5 
 
 34 
 
 10 
 
 40 
 
 325 
 
 74 
 
 ioi 
 
 72 
 
 13 
 
 32 
 
 416 
 
 04 
 
 ■ 285 
 
 ^8 
 
 25 
 
 82 
 
 310 
 
 QO 
 
 354 
 
 66 
 
 17 
 
 66 
 
 372 
 
 32 
 
 In the above experiments each plot contained the same 
 number of plants. It would not be safe to conclude from 
 the above given facts that slips from very small tubers will 
 always give larger yields than slips from large tubers. A 
 safer conclusion would be that slips from small tubers will 
 produce fully as large tubers as slips from large tubers, be- 
 cause this experiment was carried on only one year. Some 
 gi'owers go over the field at harvest time and select short, 
 stubby tubers for seed. If this practice is followed tubers 
 should be selected from vines bearing the largest number of 
 the type desired. It appears that the sweet potato can be 
 improved upon by this selection. 
 
30 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 PROPAGATION BY VINE CUTTINGS. 
 
 As a rule, I have obtained much better results by using 
 cuttings from vines which are strong and vigorous, like those 
 of such varieties as Hall, Southern Queen and Shanghai. All 
 the leaves should be taken off the cutting so that the vitality 
 will not be exhausted before the cutting takes root. The tip 
 of the vine is too tender to be used with success. Any other 
 part of the vine will do. The cutting should be about 12 
 inches long. One inch is enough to project above ground 
 when the cuttings are put into the field. 
 
 Propagation by vine cuttings is the cheapest way. One 
 acre of a vigorous growing variety will produce enough vine 
 cuttings to plant one to three other acres. Continuous cutting 
 oif the vines lowers the yield some. It should not be done 
 late in the season. Some plants should be set very early for 
 this purpose. They will pay well when the tubers are costly. 
 Tubers from vine cuttings are usually rather small, long and 
 smooth. They are the best for seed the following year, and 
 can be grown in nearly all the southern states from Virginia 
 to the coast. 
 
 In Texas I have grown a crop of 15U bushels per acre 
 with the vineless variety from cuttings planted out 19th of 
 July. During a fair season many of the vigorous growing 
 varieties will produce a fair crop from vine cuttings in 90 days. 
 For these cuttings the ground should be thoroughly prepared 
 and kept well stiiTed after setting. If the soil is in good con- 
 dition and irrigation can be used the cuttings will grow quickly 
 and make almost a perfect stand. How best to set them is 
 discussed more fully in the chapter on transplanting. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Transplanting. When to Transplant. Ridge and 
 
 Level. Distance Between Plants. 
 
 Transplanting Machinery. 
 
 By transplanting is meant setting the plants in another 
 place. It is sometimes the practice of growers to transplant 
 when the ground is very wet. This is not at all necessary, on 
 the contrary it frequently leads to bad results, the dirt becom- 
 ing dry and baked around the young plants and thus preventing 
 the rapid growth of young roots. The plants frequently be- 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 31 
 
 come yellow and start off to grow very slowly. While the 
 sweet potato plant is very susceptible to injury from cold, it 
 will stand with impunity considerable dry weather. The soil is 
 in the very best condition for transplanting when it is just right 
 for plowing. I have set the plants in the ridges after the 
 plow during a warm sunny day and did not lose one per cent. 
 It is best, however, to set during a cloudy day or late in the 
 afternoon. The main point in this case, as with other plants, 
 is to press the dirt firmly around the roots. Growers some- 
 times pour a cup full of water around the plants. This is 
 not necessary if these instructions are followed, neither for 
 plants nor for vine cuttings. If the ground is dry a cup full 
 of water put around the roots and dry dirt be raked over im- 
 mediately, it will be beneficial. If the roots of the plants be 
 thrust into a mud batter made of loamy soil and water before 
 transplanting, it will be beneficial. 
 
 WHEN TO TRANSPLANT. 
 
 It will pay to wait until the ground becomes thoroughly 
 warm. When the ground is warm enough to plant lima beans 
 it is nearly warm enough to transplant sweet potatoes. In the 
 extreme southern states plants are frequently set April 15th 
 to 25th. In New Jersey, for instance, transplanting is done 
 one month later. 
 
 TRANSPANTING ON RIDGES AND ON LEVEL. 
 
 Both methods are in use among growers. The ridge 
 warms up first in the spring. On the contrary, it dries out 
 quicker and is a little more difficult on which to use trans- 
 planting machinery. However, the ridge is more generally 
 used and appears to give generally better results. 
 
 At the Louisiana station the results given in the following 
 table Avere obtained after two years experimenting and show a 
 decided advantage of the ridge over the level : 
 
 TABLE XIV. HEIGHT OF ROW — AVERAGE FOR TWO YEARS. 
 
 
 Height. 
 
 Yield in Bushels. 
 
 z 
 
 Merchantable. 
 
 Culls. 
 
 1 
 
 On the level 
 
 130 03 
 219 84 
 197 07 
 221 59 
 261 18 
 
 33 57 
 22 53 
 17 33 
 16 45 
 25 45 
 
 
 2 
 
 Four inches 
 
 Eight inches 
 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 Twelve inches 
 
 Sixteen inches 
 
 
32 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 At the Georgia station during 1893 and 1894 the results 
 were conflicting, but showed a slight difference in favor of the 
 
 ridge. 
 
 At the Texas station during 1895, the following results 
 were obtained: Level culture, 17H.()t) l)ushels: ridge, H inches 
 high, 211.44 bushels. 
 
 DISTANCE APART JiF/PWKEN THE PLANTS. 
 
 In New Jersey "two methods are followed in regard to 
 the setting of plants in the field, one in which the plants are 
 set in hills two and one-half feet each way, the other in which 
 they are grown in drills eighteen inches by two and one-half 
 feet." If the plants are set by the check method the crop 
 may be cultivateil easier, but it is seldom used in the southern 
 states. The distance apart at which the maximum crop may 
 be grown depends much upon latitude, soil and variety. Vig- 
 orous growing varieties require a greater distance than weaker 
 growing ones. The vineless variety may be planted very close. 
 
 In the following table will be found the results of the 
 Louisiana station obtained during three years, except in 
 the fifth plot the results of which were obtained during only 
 one year: 
 
 TABLE XV. AVERAGE OF THE LAST THREE YEARS IN DISTANCE 
 
 IN ROW. 
 
 Distance. 
 
 Yield Per Acre in Bushels. 
 
 
 JMerchnniahle. 
 
 Cul s 
 
 
 252 (,7 
 
 275 01 
 
 281 82 
 249 (18 
 
 13 86 
 
 'I'welve inches 
 
 11 01 
 
 1(> 48 
 
 Kighteen inches 
 
 Tweutv-fonr inches (IS93) 
 
 11 71 
 15 % 
 
 At the Georgia station for 1893, the following results were 
 obtained : 
 
 TABLE XVI. DISTANCE TEST. 
 
 IS 
 
 Distance. 
 
 Calcnlated Yield Per Acre in Bushels. 
 
 p-l 
 
 Marketab'e. 
 
 Small. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 Eiehteen inches (l'/2 ft.) 
 
 Tweuty-fonr inches (2 tt ) 
 
 Thirty inches (2;4 ft.) 
 
 202 04 
 184 74 
 179 64 
 
 65 58 
 52 34 
 50 11 
 
 267 62 
 
 237 08 
 229 75 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 33 
 
 If the plants are set 30 by 30 inches, which is claimed to 
 be the least distance that is convenient, it will take about 7,000 
 plants per acre. 
 
 TRANSPLANTING MACHINERY. 
 
 The cost of transplanting is usually expensive. When 
 done with a dibble or stick by hand it is hard work. The 
 writer, after testing a number of machines and methods, finds 
 that one of the best and easiest ways to transplant the slips 
 is with a common one horse turning plow; though transplant- 
 ing can only be done in this way on a level. Cheap and un- 
 skilled labor may be used. When a furrow is being thrown 
 open the plants may be dropped along against the straight 
 side of the furrow after the plow. When the end of the row 
 is reached the plow may be turned around and the dirt be 
 thrown back on the plants. The droppers may also come 
 back along the furrow and step on the dirt just above the 
 plants to press the dirt against them tirmly. The writer has 
 also set vine-cuttings in this way successfully. In this way 
 three men and a mule will plant about 3 acres in a day. This 
 method is shown in the following tigure, and is original with 
 the author: 
 
 Fig. 6. — Trunspliinting with a plow and a mule, a, Dirt thrown u|) by 
 a plow, b, Plants laid along on straight side of furrow. 
 
 In figure No 7 is shown a vei-y simple transplanter manu- 
 factured by J. W. Parker, Paulsboro, N. J. This nuichine 
 consists of two wooden strips which slide up and down 
 against each other, and are held together by tin cross bands. 
 The one with a paddle on one end punches the vine or cut- 
 ting in the ground and is then raised, while the other with a 
 foot on the end is pushed down by the side of the plant to 
 
34 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 press the dirt firmly around the roots. If the ground is in 
 good condition this machine will put the plants in the ground 
 as fast as one man can drop them. The plants are dropped 
 along the 7o\v with the roots toward the transplanter. It 
 
 might be stated that 
 
 there is rubber on the 
 
 end of the paddle to 
 
 prevent it from injur- 
 ing the plants while 
 
 they are being pushed 
 
 down into the ground. 
 
 The machine may be 
 
 used either for slij)s or 
 
 for cuttings. 
 
 A very convenient 
 
 and simple machine any 
 
 one can easily make is 
 Tex.Exjx a common wooden dib- 
 d/r^tion, |-,]g^ Break off a well 
 
 seasoned limb of hard 
 
 wood just below a fork 
 
 and leave it about three 
 
 feet long and sharpen 
 
 the other end. If some fig. s-showmg 
 
 Fig. 7--Sweet Potato . , ., , ... lence of Ordinary 
 
 Transplanter, a, The tin be nailed OVCr tlllS 
 paddle which pushes , , , , t - 
 
 the plant down, b, end smoothly the dirt 
 
 The foot which press- „, , , . . , • i j_ -^ i j.i 
 
 GS the dirt around the Will not be SO apt tO StlCK tO it, and thUS 
 
 bother the work of transplanting. 
 
 A more costly machine is made by W. A. Lake Manufac- 
 turing Co., Harriman, Tenn., and is shown in figure No. 9. 
 This machine works well with small plants, but if they are 
 leafy they do not slip through the schute so readily. It is bet- 
 ter adapted for such plants as tomatoes and cabbage. It is 
 known as The Peerless Plant Setter. 
 
 There is a larger machine known as the Bemis transplant- 
 ing Machine, manufactured by Fuller & Johnson Manufactur- 
 ing Co., Madison, Wis., which is desirable for transplanting 
 on a large scale. This machine is drawn by two horses. One 
 man drives and two boys set the plants when the horses are 
 going in an ordinary walk. It will set from three to six acres 
 
 
Fig 9— Peerless Plant "better 
 
 per day depending upon 
 the skill of the boys and 
 the closeness of the plants. 
 It has a water attach- 
 ment which puts the wat- 
 er around the roots be- 
 fore they are covered. 
 From four to six barrels 
 of water may be used on 
 an acre. It has also a fer- 
 tilizer attachment which 
 distributes the fertilizer 
 along in the row. Slips 
 and vine-cuttings may be 
 set by it. It is a very 
 valuable machine and may 
 be used on the farm for 
 setting many other kinds 
 of plants. The only ob- 
 jection one could have 
 is its cost, which is about 
 $75.00. 
 
 Fig. 10-The Bemis Trausplautiug Machine. 
 
.36 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Cultivation, Shaliowor Deep. Raisingrthe Vines. 
 Pinciiingr off the Ends of the Vines. 
 
 The soil should be well cultivated after the plants are 
 set so as to keep it loose and moist, also to keep down weeds. 
 Usually after the ground dries when a hard rain has- fallen, the 
 cultivator should be started. Cultivation should be kept up 
 till the vines cover the rows. Care should be taken not to 
 throw dirt on the vines with the cultivator as they will take 
 root at such places. Some growers use a special cultivator 
 which lifts the vines so that the rows may be cultivated closer 
 and later in the season. Shallow cultivation is usually the 
 best since it does not break the fine roots which go far in 
 search offood. 
 
 Fit;. 11 — Cultivator with Vine Lifter. 
 
 KAISING THE VINES. 
 
 There seems to be some difference of opinion among grow- 
 ers as to whether lifting the vines and not allowing them to 
 root at the nodes is beneficial or not. The method of raising 
 the vines has been tested at the Louisiana and Georgia sta- 
 tions and at each one it lowered the yield. In the following 
 tables are given the results beginning with those obtained at 
 the Louisiana station: 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 37 
 
 TABLE XVII. VINE-LIFTING EXPERIMENT (LA.) 1893. 
 
 
 
 Yield 
 
 in Bus 
 
 hels 
 
 Yield 
 
 ill Bushels 
 
 a 
 
 
 Per 
 
 Acre. 1892. 
 
 Per Acre. 1893. 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <o 
 
 
 
 oi 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 H 
 
 Treatment. 
 
 fi 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 as 
 
 
 
 <6 
 
 
 
 
 
 .C 
 
 
 
 J3 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 = 
 
 5 
 
 t< 
 
 M 
 
 "3 
 
 S-, 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 
 H 
 
 s 
 
 U 
 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 Vines left undisturbed 
 
 352 49 
 
 76 78 
 
 429 23 
 
 310 2 
 
 25 7 
 
 335 9 
 
 2 
 
 Vines lifted twice per wee 
 
 226 85 
 
 2U 94 
 
 247 79 
 
 294 5 
 
 15 7 
 
 2U 
 
 314 5 
 
 
 Difference 
 
 125 04 
 
 55 84 
 
 1X1 44 
 
 5 7 
 
 21 4 
 
 TABLE XVIII. VINE-LIFTING EXPERIMENT (GA.) 1893. 
 
 d 
 
 s 
 
 Treatment. 
 
 Calculated Yield Per Acre in Bushels. 
 
 
 Marketable. 
 
 Small. 
 
 Total 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 Not allowed to root along vines 
 
 Check plat (normal treatment) 
 
 )48 1 
 ;;54 9 
 
 8 2 
 15 4 
 
 156 3 
 270 3 
 
 
 Difference in favor of normal treatment 
 
 106 8 
 
 7 2 U 114 
 
 PINCHING OFF THE VINES. 
 
 It is sometimes the practice of growers to pinch back 
 the vines, believing that it will increase the productiveness. 
 This practice also seems to be injurious. This method has been 
 tested also by the Louisiana and Georgia stations and the re- 
 sults are given in the following tables beginning with those 
 from Louisiana, obtained during 1893: 
 
 TABLE XIX. VINE-PINCHING EXPERIMENT (LA.) 
 
 c 
 
 a 
 
 0) 
 
 p. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yield in 
 
 Bushels Per .\cic. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 w 
 
 Treatment 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Merchautable. 
 
 Cui:?. 
 
 Totiil. 
 
 1 
 
 
 310 2 
 
 2.i7 2 
 
 2.'> 7 
 16 5 
 
 ■MS 
 273 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 Pinched eontinuallv (to two 
 
 leet) 
 
 
 TABLE XX. VINE-PINCHING EXPERIMENT (GA.) 
 
 s 
 
 Method. 
 
 Calculated Yield Per Acre in Bushels. 
 
 
 Marketable. 
 
 Small. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 
 
 
 195 7 
 85 1 
 37 8 
 
 5 6 
 19 8 
 12 3 
 
 201 3 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 Pinched weekly to 2 leei through season 
 Pinched weekly to 2 feet after Sept. 1st. . 
 
 104 9 
 50 1> 
 
38 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Harvestingr. When to Harvest. How to Harvest. 
 Storing. Pit method of Storing. House Meth- 
 od of Storing. Leaving the Tubers in 
 the Ground until Wanted. 
 
 If the crop is intended for stock food, cattle may be turned 
 on in dry weather to harvest the vines and tops, afterwards 
 hogs may be turned on to harvest the tubers. In this way 
 nearly all the crop may be saved at a minimum cost. 
 
 If the crop is intended for storage or for sale at once, con- 
 siderable care should be taken in harvesting it properly. It 
 is sometimes the practice of growers to harvest part of the 
 crop about the middle of August and sell it. The tubers are 
 palatable as soon as dug, and often very good profits are real- 
 lized by harvesting and shipping early, though the yield be 
 only one-half as great at this time. Owing to the sappiness of 
 the tubers at this time considerable risk is run of great loss by 
 soft rot, especially when shipped during hot, damp weather. 
 
 For storage the tubers are not in condition to be dug 
 until growth nearly ceases and the tubers are more mature. 
 There is a difference of opinion as to when the tubers are in 
 the best condition to be dug. Some contend just after a frost; 
 others contend just before a frost. The first frost which 
 merely kills the tops and seems to have no effect upon the 
 tubers. The author has left the tubers in the ground and dug 
 them in December and they kept well. The best test the 
 writer has found by which to tell when the tubers are in con- 
 dition to be dug is to break several tubers and expose the 
 pieces to the air for some time. If sufficiently mature to keep 
 well the original color is maintained while the exposed places 
 "heal over;" if not mature the exposed places assume a dark 
 or greenish appearance. 
 
 Do not dig when the ground is wet because dirt will ad- 
 here to the tubers and injure the sale, and they are also much 
 more difficult to keep. It is better to wait two or three weeks 
 for proper conditions than to run such a great risk of losing 
 the greater part of the crop. The tubers are not apt to be 
 injured much by being left in the ground some time after 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 39 
 
 frost. At the Texas Station the writer has left them in the 
 ground all winter and they kept well during a dry winter, 
 during a wet winter the tubers spoilt. Severe frosts and freez- 
 ing of the ground a quarter of an inch did not hurt the tubers 
 except those which came to the surface of the ground. This 
 will be discussed further under the head of storing. Dig in 
 the forenoon of a bright day and gather up the tubers in the 
 afternoon. 
 
 HOW TO HARVEST THE TUBERS. 
 
 Digging may be done with a spading fork, a plo^v or with 
 a digger made for the jDurpose. It is much more difficult to 
 get digging machinery to work on the SAveet potato than it is 
 on the irish potato, because the tubers are more oblong and 
 extend down into the ground further and the vines are much 
 in the way. The skin of the tubers is very tender and suscept- 
 ible to injury. Wherever a bruised place appears the soft rot 
 is apt to start. To keep them well, therefore, they must be 
 harvested carefully. 
 
 Vines may be cut off with hoes, corn cutters or with a 
 rolling coulter on the beam of a turning plow. The latter 
 method the writer has found to work very satisfactorily if 
 the rolling coulter is sharp. The rolling coulter is fastened 
 on the beam of a one horse turning plow and extends down 
 about one-half inch below the point. This plow is run on 
 each side of the row, cutting the vines and throwing some dirt 
 away from the row at the same time. If the plow is run too 
 close to the center of the row some of the tubers are apt to 
 be cut also. The field should be gone over in this way if the 
 crop is left after the first frost. To throw the potatoes out the 
 coulter is taken off and the plow run a little to one side of the 
 row. Two horses should be used for this. The pickers then 
 come along and pull the tubers out and scatter them along on 
 top of the ground. They should not be thrown in piles 
 because they are more apt to be bruised in this way. If the 
 pickers be careful nearly all the crop will be gathered because 
 all the tubers are attached to one vine. It sometimes pays to 
 harrow the ground after picking so as to rake out any tubers 
 which may be left under the dirt. 
 
40 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 It is perhaps best to assort in the field as the potatoes are 
 gathered. One man may pick up the "primes," another "sec- 
 onds," and another small roots and bruised ones for stock 
 food. Each class should be put in boxes or crates, which are 
 placed in a wagon and hauled to the storage house. 
 
 If the vines have not been harvested before, they may 
 now be gathered by running a heavy bull-tongue plow over the 
 field and dragging them into piles. Afterwards they may be 
 hauled off in the wagons. 
 
 PIT METHOD OF STORING. 
 
 The pit method is very much used in the extreme south- 
 ern states and it is cheap and convenient. Select a warm, 
 well drained place and spread over the ground about six 
 inches of dry straw. Carefully pile about twenty-five bushels 
 in a heap on the bed of straw and cover thickly with corn 
 stalks, wheat straw or pine needles. If corn stalks be con- 
 venient it is better to put them on first to give better venti- 
 lation. It is best to put a shed over this heap. Leave the 
 potatoes with no other covering but straw for about two 
 weeks, if the weather does not get too cold, when they will 
 have gone through a sweat. Put a few inches of dirt on 
 which may be increased as the weather gets colder. Some 
 straw or stalks should project out leaving places for ventila- 
 tion. Ventilation may also be provided for by having tiles or 
 something similar project up through the pit. If the pit be 
 
 
 Fk;. 12 — Potatoes stored in a pit. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 41 
 
 not covered with a shed it is best to cover these ventilating 
 phices with a board daring rainy weather. In the previous 
 figure the pit method is shown where the potatoes are placed 
 down into the ground several inches, this makes it easier to 
 cover with dirt but it should not be done unless a drain is 
 cut around the pit to carry off the surplus water and prevent 
 it injuring the potatoes. 
 
 HOUSE METHOD OF STORING. 
 
 Houses are frequently built especially for storing sweet 
 potatoes. The potatoes when stored this way can be exam- 
 ined easily at any time and can readily be taken out when 
 wanted. In the northern states these houses must be built 
 tighter and with more care than in the southern states. Arti- 
 ficial heat is used during very cold weather in many northern 
 states. The following extract from the Rural New YorJcer 
 gives the method of a New Jersey grower in storing "Fancy 
 Vineland Sweets:" 
 
 "The best form of storehouse is a one-story building with 
 a basement, with the heater in the basement. An ordinary 
 heating stove is used: the size needed will depend on the size 
 of the house. The tighter and better built it is, the less heat 
 it will require to heat it. The floor should be on a level with 
 an ordinary wagon body; this will allow unloading and loading 
 without any heavy lifting. The marketable potatoes may be 
 stored on the first floor, and the seed and feeding potatoes in 
 the basement. Provision should also be made in the base- 
 ment for a coal bin. The potato bins should all have false 
 bottoms raised two or three inches from the floor, and slatted 
 sides set the same distance from the walls, to give free ventil- 
 ation all around the potatoes. It is better to have the bins 
 divided by partitions every three or four feet; this will allow 
 the taking out of a small quantity without disturbing the rest, 
 and will also allow filling the bins clear to the ceiling. It will 
 do no harm to have the potatoes piled seven or eight feet 
 deep, if the filling is done carefully. They should never be 
 moved or disturbed in any way, unless they are to be disposed 
 of at once, as a great many will rot in a few days after being 
 moved. The temperature should be kept at 90 or 100 degrees 
 while the house is being filled, and for a week or so after- 
 
42 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT 
 
 wards, giving free ventilation all the time. This dries them 
 out quickly, and carries them through "the sweat" in a short 
 time, making what is called a kiln-dried sweet. After they 
 are through sweating, and the sprouts are just beginning to 
 show on the tops of the bins, the temperature should be 
 lowered to 55 or 60 degrees, and kept there. The more even 
 the temperature, the better they will keep." 
 
 By some it is claimed that the temperature may come as low 
 as 45 degree Fah. when the outside temperature is low. The 
 object being to keep the tubers a little warmer than the sur- 
 rounding air, so that the moisture will not condense on them. 
 In southern latitudes this heating by fire seems not nec- 
 essary to make the tubers go through the sweat, neither does 
 it seem necessary in keeping them over winter. The sweet 
 
 TejCjEA^, ^ta.tco?^ 
 
 Fig 13 — a, Posts which go up through the center from floor to ceiling. 
 
 b, ventilator which may be opened in warm weather and closed in cold. 
 
 c, Double wall, d, Potatoes stored in sand, e, Cross-pieces which run 
 from posts to wall. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 43 
 
 potato, while quite susceptible to injury from cold, will stand 
 much more than is commonly supposed. That peculiar, 
 slightly bitter and unpleasant taste frequently met with in 
 stored tubers and quite commonly believed to be due to having 
 been frozen, is very often due to being affected by the black 
 rot fungus. A very small infected place will taint the whole 
 tuber. 
 
 The writer has been very successful in keeping the tubers 
 from being frozen and from being injured by mice by storing 
 them in a house built according to the following plan at the 
 Texas Station : 
 
 It consists of two outer walls with a dead air space be- 
 tween. Also two doors, a double floor, and a ventilator. The 
 ventilator may be opened and closed at will. During warm 
 days in the fall the doors are left open for further ventilation. 
 Inside are upright pieces which project from the floor to the 
 ceiling. Strips reach from these across to the wall, and on 
 these planks are laid lengthwise, which are also nailed against 
 the sides of the posts, thus forming a long box. The potatoes 
 are stored in these, and dry road sand mixed with them. 
 Mice can not get through dry sand. Potatoes kept well in 
 this house last winter (1894 — 1895) when the temperature 
 went down as low as 7 degrees Fah. and not one per cent 
 was injured by freezing. The sand must be changed every 
 year for sweet potatoes, because it is very apt to contain 
 spores of disease which Avill infect the next crop when stored. 
 Where we did not change the sand nearly all the crop was 
 lost from black rot. 
 
 STORING IN A CELLAR. 
 
 In good houses, barnes or cellars, in southern latitudes, 
 potatoes may be kept over winter easily. 
 
 A method of a farmer who has had large experience in 
 northwestern Arkansas is given in a bulletin of U. S. Depart- 
 ment of Agriculture, as follows : 
 
 "Divide inside of cellar into slatted stalls 6 feet wide, 3 
 to 4 feet deep, giving a foot space between the stalls. If stalls 
 are one above another, leave 6 inch space between the stalls. 
 For a large cellar 20 or 30 by 50 or 75 feet, leave a 3 or 4 foot 
 hall lengthwise through cellar and build bins on each side df 
 
44 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 hall. * * * Take sweet potatoes immediately from field to 
 cellar and put in bins 3 or 4 feet deep. If ground is wet, sun 
 a while so that the dirt will slip from the potatoes. * * * Put 
 nothing around, over, or under them. Leave free to air. 
 
 * * * Every night or day that the thermometer registers 40 
 degrees above zero, but mostly at night, if possible, keep all 
 ventilators wide open; but should it get above 65 degrees out- 
 side, close all ventilators tight, for if you let hot air in your 
 cellar it will condense or cause potatoes to get wet (sweat). 
 
 * * * Keep as near 45 or 60 degrees inside as possible. But 
 be sure never to have any part of this cellar stand open when 
 the air outside is 15 degrees warmer than inside. This hot air 
 not being allowed to strike the cool potatoes or walls and 
 condensing is the whole secret in keeping them. Cool or cold 
 air will go all through them and drive out all the moisture, 
 but hot air will not." 
 
 It is sometimes claimed that vines can be kept over win- 
 ter; after trying several methods and keeping them sonie time 
 the author has failed. 
 
 LEAVING THE TUBERS IN THE GROUND OVER WINTER. 
 
 The tubers often keep well over winter in light, sandy 
 soils in some of the extreme southern states if they are left 
 undisturbed where they grew. If the soil is heavy and the 
 winter a wet one they are apt to decay. If the tubers are to 
 be left in this way, a turning plow should be used to throw 
 dirt up over the rows leaving a furrow between to drain off 
 the water. 
 
 CHAPTEE XL 
 
 Yield of Varieties from Slips. Character of Flesh 
 
 when Baked. Table Quality. Yield 
 
 from Vine-Cuttings. 
 
 The yield of different varieties is given from four exper- 
 iment stations, New York (Geneva), Georgia, Louisiana and 
 Texas. The character of flesh when baked is given as tested 
 at Louisiana station and Texas station. Table quality when 
 baked is given as tested at Texas station. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 45 
 
 TABLE XXI. VARIETY TEST AT NEW YORK STATION (1891). 
 
 Estimated Yield Per Acre. 
 Husli. 
 
 Bermuda 24-t 
 
 Brazillian 131 
 
 Cuba Yam ^9 
 
 Early Golden 143 
 
 Early Peabody S91 
 
 Old Maurice 104 
 
 Providence 388 
 
 Southern Queen 292 
 
 Spanish Red 383 
 
 It will be seen from this table that Spanish Red yielded 
 at the rate of 383 bushels per acre, Providence at the rate of 
 388 bushels per acre, Southern Queen at the rate of 292 bush- 
 els per acre, and Early Peabody at the rate of 291 bushels per 
 acre. This would seem quite favorable for sweet potatoes 
 that far north. 
 
 TABLE XXII. VARIETY TEST AT GEORGIA STATION ( 1894). 
 
 Variety. 
 
 White St. Domingo 
 
 Shanghai (or California). 
 
 Boone's White 
 
 Hayman 
 
 Early Golden 
 
 Tennessee (Yam) 
 
 Boone' 8 Red 
 
 Norton 
 
 Peabody 
 
 Red No.'-e 
 
 Red N ansemoud 
 
 Southern Queen 
 
 Black Spanish 
 
 Red Nansemond 
 
 Bermuda Red 
 
 Orleans Red (Choker) — 
 
 Southern Queen 
 
 White NaDsemond 
 
 Brazilian (Yam) 
 
 Big Stem J ersey 
 
 Yellow (Yam) 
 
 Yellow Jersey 
 
 Ticotea 
 
 Pumpkin (Yam) 
 
 Heckler (Yam) 
 
 Vineless 
 
 Yellow .Nansemond 
 
 Jersey Sweet 
 
 Spanish (Yam) 
 
 Spanish Bunch 
 
 Barbadoes 
 
 Georgia (Yam) 
 
 Straaburg 
 
 Calculated Yield Per Acre 
 
 in Bushels. 
 
 Marketable. 
 
 Small. 
 
 Total. 
 
 :-i. 9 4 
 
 42 5 
 
 381 9 
 
 327 1 
 
 47 2 
 
 374 3 
 
 312 
 
 32 1 
 
 344 1 
 
 313 9 
 
 26 4 
 
 340 3 
 
 244 H 
 
 6+ 8 
 
 31)9 1 
 
 231 S 
 
 69 9 
 
 301 5 
 
 246 7 
 
 30 2 
 
 276 9 
 
 ^09 9 
 
 43 5 
 
 253 4 
 
 211 8 
 
 37 8 
 
 249 6 
 
 182 4 
 
 58 6 
 
 241 
 
 204 2 
 
 32 1 
 
 2315 3 
 
 200 4 
 
 34 
 
 2.S4 4 
 
 204 2 
 
 24 6 
 
 :;28 8 
 
 162 6 
 
 65 2 
 
 227 8 
 
 175 8 
 
 51 
 
 226 8 
 
 203 
 
 22 7 
 
 225 7 
 
 152 2 
 
 61 4 
 
 213 6 
 
 130 4 
 
 78 4 
 
 208 8 
 
 171 1 
 
 32 1 
 
 203 2 
 
 151 2 
 
 49 1 
 
 200 3 
 
 156 9 
 
 34 
 
 190 9 
 
 104 9 
 
 86 
 
 190 9 
 
 117 2 
 
 71 8 
 
 189 
 
 160 7 
 
 28 2 
 
 188 9 
 
 128 6 
 
 45 4 
 
 174 
 
 144 6 
 
 29 3 
 
 173 9 
 
 115 3 
 
 56 7 
 
 172 
 
 118 9 
 
 45 4 
 
 164 3 
 
 138 
 
 20 8 
 
 158 8 
 
 130 4 
 
 26 4 
 
 156 8 
 
 90 7 
 
 37 8 
 
 128 5 
 
 86 
 
 32 1 
 
 118 1 
 
 83 2 
 
 19 8 
 
 103 
 
 From this table it will be observed that White St. Do- 
 mingo yielded the largest number of bushels, followed by 
 
46 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Shanghai, Boone's White, Hyman, Early Golden and Ten- 
 nei*see. The finest varieties for southern table use, such as 
 Pumpkin, Yellow and Vineless, did not yield as heavily as 
 the coarser varieties. 
 
 TABLE XXIII. VARIETY TEST AT LOUISIANA STATION (1894). 
 
 Variety. 
 
 Barbadoes 
 
 Bermuda 
 
 Big Stem Jersey 
 
 Canal 
 
 Delaware 
 
 Dog River 
 
 Early Goidon 
 
 Georgia 
 
 Gold Skin 
 
 Hayman 
 
 Matejito 
 
 Negro Choker 
 
 New Jersey 
 
 Norton 
 
 Peabody 
 
 Padisha 
 
 Pumpkin 
 
 Providence 
 
 Red Nansemond 
 
 Southern Queen 
 
 Strasburg 
 
 Spanish (Yam) 
 
 Shanghai(or ( California) 
 
 Sugar or Creole 
 
 Southern Red (Yam) . .. 
 Southern Yellow (Yam). 
 
 Ticotea 
 
 Tennessee 
 
 Vineless 
 
 Yellow (Yam) 
 
 Yellow N ansemond 
 
 Java No. 1 
 
 Java No. 2 
 
 Java No. 3 
 
 Java No. 4 
 
 .fava No. 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yieldf 
 
 d in Bush. 
 
 Charac 
 
 ter when Cooked. 
 
 Time of 
 Ripening 
 
 — plan 
 
 ted May 1. 
 
 
 "3 03 _o 
 
 
 Color. 
 
 Hard or 
 
 Wet or 
 
 "3 
 
 5 
 
 
 soft. 
 
 dry 
 
 
 a« 
 
 o 
 
 H 
 
 Nearly, white 
 
 Soft 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 499 9 
 
 32 04 
 
 531 94 
 
 Nearly white 
 
 Hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Late 
 
 302 59 
 
 53 09 
 
 356 75 
 
 Lightyellow 
 
 Hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Medium 
 
 296 6 
 
 24 8 
 
 321 4 
 
 White 
 
 Hard 
 
 Very Dry 
 
 Medium 
 
 336 
 
 12 4 
 
 348 4 
 
 Light yellow 
 
 Medium 
 
 Moist 
 
 Medium 
 
 302 «r) 
 
 45 6 
 
 348 45 
 
 Dark yellow 
 
 Hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Late 
 
 160 2 
 
 16 
 
 176 2 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Medium 
 
 Dry 
 
 Medium 
 
 514 4 
 
 16 02 
 
 530 42 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 Late 
 
 560 or) 
 
 20 8 
 
 580 85 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Rather s< f t 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 257 •> 
 
 29 5 
 
 286 7 
 
 Light yellow 
 
 Medium 
 
 Dry 
 
 Late 
 
 63S .S 
 
 12 4 
 
 651 2 
 
 White 
 
 Hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Medium 
 
 373 3 
 
 12 
 
 385 3 
 
 Nearly white 
 
 Hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Late 
 
 489 5 
 
 35 2 
 
 524 7 
 
 Nearly white 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 INIedium 
 
 240 7 
 
 4S 2 
 
 288 9 
 
 Nearly white 
 
 Soft 
 
 Medium 
 
 Late 
 
 638 
 
 16 
 
 654 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Late 
 
 684 5 
 
 12 4 
 
 696 9 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Soft 
 
 Wet 
 
 Medium 
 
 340 18 
 
 8 29 
 
 349 47 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Late 
 
 299 6 
 
 24 8 
 
 324 4 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Soft 
 
 Wet 
 
 Early 
 
 lO.'i? 8 
 
 14 5 
 
 1072 3 
 
 Yellowish white 
 
 Medium 
 
 Rather di v 
 
 Late 
 
 696 9 
 
 20 7 
 
 717 6 
 
 White 
 
 Rather hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Late 
 
 622 2 
 
 18 6 
 
 640 8 
 
 Light Yellow 
 
 Kather hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Late 
 
 352 6 
 
 35 2 
 
 387 8 
 
 Light Yellow 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 Late 
 
 fiOl 9 
 
 18 6 
 
 520 5 
 
 White 
 
 Hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Late 
 
 741 02 
 
 17 6 
 
 7!58 62 
 
 White 
 
 Soft 
 
 Moist 
 
 Medium 
 
 377 5 
 
 14 5 
 
 392 
 
 White 
 
 Hard 
 
 Dry 
 
 Medium 
 
 539 3 
 
 16 02 
 
 555 32 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Soft 
 
 Wet 
 
 Medium 
 
 99 5 
 
 10 3 
 
 109 8 
 
 White 
 
 Soft 
 
 Wet 
 
 Late 
 
 514 4 
 
 53 9 
 
 568 3 
 
 Light Yellow 
 
 Soft 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 124 4 
 
 45 6 
 
 170 
 
 Light Yellow 
 
 Soft 
 
 Rather moi.'it 
 
 Early 
 
 280 5 
 
 37 2 
 
 317 7 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 336 
 
 45 6 
 
 381 6 
 
 Vellow 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 Medium 
 
 170 9 
 
 37 2 
 
 207 29 
 
 VVliite 
 
 Medium 
 
 Soft 
 
 Soft 
 
 Medium 
 
 Wet 
 
 Wet 
 
 
 204 8 
 87 1 
 120 3 
 
 20 8 
 41 6 
 12 4 
 
 225 6 
 
 Pink 
 
 
 128 7 
 
 White 
 
 
 132 7 
 
 vVhite 
 
 Soft 
 
 Wet 
 
 
 64 3 
 
 16 ('2 
 
 80 32 
 
 Dull White 
 
 Soft 
 
 Wet 
 
 
 194 9 
 
 24 8 
 
 219 7 
 
 From this table it will be seen that Shanghai made the enor- 
 mous yield of 758 bushels per acre, followed by Red Nanse- 
 mond, Peabody, Norton, Hayman, and Southern Queen. 
 Louisiana is one of the best states for the sweet potato, and 
 the yield now (1896) is said to be over 3,000,000 bushels for 
 the state. The experiment station for this state has done 
 very much to encourage the growth of sweet potatoes and, it 
 appears with very favorable results. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 TABLE XXIV. VARIETY TEST AT TEXAS STATION (1894). 
 
 Name of Variety. 
 
 Barbadoes 
 
 Big Stem Jei sey 
 
 Black Spanish 
 
 Brazilian 
 
 RroDze 
 
 Canal 
 
 Cavitt's Earliest 
 
 Chinese HO days 
 
 Cuban (Yarn) 
 
 •Delaware 
 
 Dog River 
 
 •Early Golden 
 
 Extra Early Caroline . 
 
 Florida (Yam) 
 
 'Georgia (Yam) 
 
 Gen. Grant 
 
 'Gold Skin 
 
 Hall 
 
 'Haymai: 
 
 Hayti Spanish 
 
 Jersey Red 
 
 ■ Matejita 
 
 Nancy Hall 
 
 Nansemond 
 
 Negro Choker 
 
 New Jersey . . 
 
 Norton 
 
 Orange 
 
 Padisha 
 
 "Peabody 
 
 Peruvian 
 
 Pool's (Yam) 
 
 Providence 
 
 Pumpkin 
 
 Queen of the West 
 
 Red Bermuda 
 
 Red Nansemond 
 
 ' Ked Nose 
 
 Rockport 
 
 Shanghai (California) 
 
 'Southern Queen 
 
 •Strasburg 
 
 • Sugar (Creole) 
 
 ■Tennessee 
 
 Ticotea 
 
 Vineless 
 
 White Brazilian 
 
 ' Yellow Jersey 
 
 ■ Yellow Nansemond . . . . 
 Yellow (Yam) 
 
 Character of flesh when Baked. 
 
 Yield per Acre in Bush . 
 
 Season. 
 
 Bluish white, soft, damp Medium 
 
 Yellowish white, rather soft. . . Late 
 
 White, dry, mealy Late 
 
 White, dry, mealy Late 
 
 White, moist, sweet Late 
 
 Pale yellow, mealy Late 
 
 Light yellow, soft, moisi, Early 
 
 White, soft, sweet Medium 
 
 Yellow, soft, damp . . Medium 
 
 Cream yellow, soft, wet Late 
 
 Yellowish red, soft, wet Late 
 
 Light yellow, soft, drv tCarly 
 
 Yellowish soft Early 
 
 Wliite, soft, mealy Late 
 
 Yellowish, soft Late 
 
 White, soft, mealy Early 
 
 Yellow, mealy Early 
 
 Redi--h yellow, soft, moist Early 
 
 Pale yellow, soft Medium 
 
 White, soft, dry Late 
 
 Pale yellow, mealy Late 
 
 Creamy yellow, soft Late 
 
 Kedish yellow, soft, moist Early 
 
 Yellow, damp, soft Early 
 
 Cream colored, soft, mealy. . . Late 
 Light yellow, soft, mealy . Early 
 
 White, soft Late 
 
 Redish, soft, wet Late 
 
 Redish, soft, wet, strong Early 
 
 Cream yellow, dry, miealy Late 
 
 Redish yellow, soft, wet Late 
 
 Dull yellow, soft, damp Late 
 
 Yellow, soft, damp Late 
 
 Light red, soft, wet Late 
 
 Creamy yellow, mealy, dry... . Late 
 Cream colored, soft, mealy .... Late 
 
 Pale yellow, soft, sweet Late 
 
 Light yellow, soft, mealy, strong Medium 
 
 Redish yellow, soft, wet Late 
 
 White, soft, damp Medium 
 
 White, soft, damp Late 
 
 White, soft, dry Late 
 
 W hite, soft, mealy Late 
 
 Yellow, soft, damp Late 
 
 White, soft, dry Late 
 
 White, soft, sweet Early 
 
 VV hite, soft, damp Late 
 
 Creamy yellow, mealy Medium 
 
 Creamy yellow, soft, damp Late 
 
 Light yellow, solt. dry Late 
 
 373 34 
 156 20 
 143 S6 
 275 20 
 575 83 
 270 68 
 3U3 98 
 
 25 91 
 135 55 
 
 80 37 
 
 93 50 
 436 20 
 
 89 57 
 324 36 
 369 45 
 614 35 
 
 101 70 
 
 319 93 
 311 06 
 311 12 
 105 56 
 208 65 
 143 56 
 
 97 76 
 
 275 73 
 155 40 
 
 320 00 
 
 101 43 
 194 44 
 
 6 
 262 94 
 198 90 
 138 12 
 225 70 
 103 70 
 413 05 
 411 14 
 192 63 
 300 76 
 402 7 
 277 50 
 185 52 
 150 00 
 161 16 
 
 102 06 
 290 98 
 272 22 
 110 9 
 
 276 07 
 V7 80 
 
 30 11 
 
 19 40 
 3 88 
 12 05 
 
 5 76 
 2 
 5 19 
 26 60 
 
 14 00 
 7 76 
 
 403 45 
 175 60 
 147 74 
 287 25 
 575 83 
 276 44 
 306 88 
 31 10 
 162 15 
 80 37 
 107 50 
 
 443 96 271 25 
 
 89 ill 68 83 
 333 25 
 
 3 
 11 90 
 
 20 77 
 
 7 76 
 19 61 
 
 8 40 
 3 
 
 39 88 
 
 56 55 
 
 4 60 
 
 '675 
 15 56 
 
 'i4'58 
 3 88 
 10 S3 
 
 8 50 
 
 3 88 
 
 147 37 
 
 127 39 
 
 21 61 
 
 10 37 
 13 32 
 
 8 88 
 
 11 36 
 5 20 
 
 15 56 
 26 16 
 
 196 22 7 
 
 77 13 
 179 61 
 
 .369 45 
 618 23 
 113 60 
 340 80 
 318 82 
 330 73 
 105 56 
 217 05 
 
 147 44 
 437 64 
 332 28 
 160 OU 
 320 00 
 108 18 
 210 00 
 
 276 
 
 277 52 
 202 78 
 
 148 45 
 234 20 
 103 70 
 416 93 
 411 14 
 214 24 
 311 13 
 415 45 
 286 38 
 196 88 
 155 20 
 176 72 
 12S 22 
 
 24 89 315 89 251 60 
 272 00 
 
 110 92! 73 08 
 276 07 173 46 
 
 17 50 95 391 85 26 
 
 190 76 
 
 154 81 
 
 123 14 
 
 From this table it wall be seen that Gen. Grant made the 
 largest yield for one year and Shanghai for two years. Other 
 varieties which made the largest yield for two years are Early 
 Golden, Red Nansemond, Negro Choker, Brazilian and Vine- 
 less. In this connection it should be stated that the year 1893 
 was an extremely dry one and consequently the yield of all 
 the varieties was low. It gave a good test of the drouth re- 
 sisting qualities of all the varieties, during w^hich Shanghai 
 made the heaviest yield, followed by Vineless. Shanghai was 
 
48 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 the largest yielder at Texas and Louisiana stations and was 
 second at tlie Georgia station. It is interesting to note that 
 Southern Queen, Hayman, Peabody and Early Golden are 
 heavy yielders at all the stations, though they are not, by any 
 means, the best for table use. Red Nanseniond, however, is 
 an exception, as its table quality is quite good. 
 
 CHARACTER OF FLESH AND TABLE QUALITY. 
 
 Character of flesh as tested by the author and given in 
 table twenty-four, may be relied upon when the tubers are 
 grown upon a somewhat heavy, damp, clay soil. From this 
 table the grower can select a variety which is apt to suit his 
 liking. As stated previously, the author prefers a soft, sugary 
 potato best, and therefore makes the Pumpkin the best i-i a 
 scale from to 10. Flowever, the soft, mealy Nansemonds 
 are very flue and are preferred in most of the northern states. 
 They are mostly grown in New Jersey and sell higher than any 
 other varieties in most northern markets. The vineless vari- 
 ety which is now attracting great attention is somewhat be- 
 tween a soft, sugary variety and a soft mealy one, and it is, 
 therefore, not so apt to meet with so much objection from 
 different parts of America on its table quality. 
 
 YIELD FROM VINE CUTTINGS. 
 
 It is well known that potatoes will grow from vine-cuttings 
 if the cuttings are put into the ground in time to mature a 
 crop before frost. They will mature a very fine crop in four 
 months if the season is good. The author has grown a good 
 crop from vine-cuttings of the Gen. Grant variety in 72 days. 
 The readiness with which the vine-cuttings start off to grow 
 depends somewhat on the variety. The heavy, vigorous vines 
 start quicker and grow better than the weaker ones. 
 
 TABLE XXV. YIELD FROM VINE CUTTINGS AT TEXAS STATION (1894). 
 
 Length of Ro\»', 50 feet. 
 
 Barbadoes. yield from vine-cuttings planted June 16th 
 
 Georgia \am, yield from vine-cuttings planted June 16th . . . 
 Hayti Spanish, yield from vine-cuttings planted June 16th . . . 
 Red Nansemond, yield from vine-cuttings planted June 16th. 
 Ticotea, yield from vine-cuttings planted June 16th 
 
 Bushels per Acre. 
 
 Large. 
 
 Small. 
 18 50 
 
 "ii'io 
 
 Total. 
 
 99 80 
 75 00 
 108 89 
 106 50 
 44 45 
 
 118 30 
 75 00 
 108 89 
 110 60 
 41 45 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTUEE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 49 
 
 TABLE XXVI. YIELD FROM VINE-CUTTINGS AT LOUISIANA STA- 
 TION (1894). 
 
 Variety. 
 
 Barbadoes 
 
 Bermuda 
 
 Big Stem Jersey 
 
 Canal 
 
 Delaware 
 
 Dog River 
 
 Early Golden 
 
 Georgia 
 
 Gold Skin 
 
 Hayman 
 
 Matejito 
 
 Negro Cholier 
 
 New Jersey 
 
 Norton 
 
 Peabody 
 
 Padisha 
 
 Pumpkin 
 
 Providence 
 
 Red Nansemond 
 
 Southern Queen 
 
 Strasburg 
 
 Spanish (Yam) 
 
 Shanghai (or California) 
 
 Sugar (or C'reole) 
 
 Southern Red (Yam) 
 
 Southern Yellow (Yam) . . . 
 
 Ticotea 
 
 Tennessee 
 
 Vineless 
 
 Yellow (Yam) 
 
 Yellow Nansemond 
 
 Java No. 1 
 
 Java No. 2 
 
 Java No. 3 
 
 Java No. 4 
 
 Java No. 5 
 
 Yield in Bush. 
 
 when planted 
 
 August 15. 
 
 36 
 
 51 
 
 31 
 
 IS 
 
 46 
 
 93 
 
 145 
 
 67 
 
 103 
 
 155 
 
 13 
 
 10 
 
 31 
 
 114 
 
 186 
 
 197 
 
 82 
 
 124 
 
 228 
 
 114 
 
 186 
 
 114 
 
 41 
 
 82 
 
 134 
 
 108 
 
 103 
 
 171 
 
 176 
 
 114 
 
 51 
 
 72 
 
 238 
 
 67 
 
 82 
 
 103 
 
 Per cent. Merch- 
 antable . 
 
 Culls 
 Culls 
 Culls 
 Culls 
 
 5 per cent. 
 Culls 
 50 per cent. 
 
 5 per cent. 
 10 per cent. 
 10 per cent. 
 Culls 
 Culls 
 Culls 
 
 5 per cent. 
 30 per cent. 
 60 per cent. 
 Culls 
 
 80 per cent. 
 75 per cent. 
 .'iO per cent. 
 50 per cent. 
 Culls 
 Culls 
 
 15 per cent. 
 '20 per cent. 
 
 5 per cent, 
 (^ulls 
 
 15 per cent. 
 10 per cent. 
 Culls 
 ( uUs 
 Culls 
 25 per cent. 
 
 5 per cent. 
 10 per cent. 
 30 per cent. 
 
 From this table it will be seen that Eed Nansemond made 
 228 bushels from cuttings planted as late as August 15th, 
 Early Golden and Strasburg each made 186 bushels. This is 
 important to know, because of the fact that if for some rea- 
 son one should fail to get a stand by first planting, a crop can 
 be made from cuttings if the season be favorable, when they 
 are planted in the southern states as late as August 15th. The 
 best "seed" are obtained from vine-cuttings. 
 
 No- 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Classification and Description of Varieties. 
 
 nnenclature. 
 
 The great confusion existing among growers in re- 
 gard to proper classification of sweet potatoes, and conse- 
 quently the very indefinite way writers often refer to them, 
 lead me to devote some space here to discussion of this subject 
 
50 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 In regard to the character of flesh when baked, an attempt 
 is frequently made to divide them into two classes: one with 
 the soft, dry and mealy flesh is known simply as the sweet 
 potato; and the other with soft and mushy flesh is known as 
 "yam'' potato. Especially is this true in the southern states. 
 This classilication is misleading, because varieties vary some 
 with seasons and with soils. One variety may be known 
 simply as sweet potato in one state and as "yam" potato in 
 another. In chapter two it is stated that the word "yam" 
 has been borrowed from a vegetable already described as 
 Chinese Yam. The Yams, strictly speaking, belong to the 
 genera Dioscorea. It would greatly clear up the confusion if 
 this little word "yam" were dropped in reference to sweet pota- 
 toes, and used exclusively in reference to vegetables belonging 
 to Chinese Yam type. After making the sweet potato a special 
 study for four years, and being confronted all this time with 
 a bad system- of classification and confusing nomenclature, 
 the author finally decided to divide them into groups ac- 
 cording to the characteristics of the foliage. First group 
 includes those with round or entire foliage; second group 
 includes those with shouldered foliage, and third group in- 
 cludes those with split or lobed foliage. This system was 
 adopted by the author December, 1893, and published in bul- 
 letin No. 28 of the Texas Experiment Station. It was stated 
 then, that while variations in the foliage would appear on the 
 same variety and often on the same vine, still all the varia- 
 tions would come under the three groups just mentioned, and 
 one prevailing type would be found on each variety. The 
 foliage varies most when old, and the true type is seen better 
 when young. 
 
 This system would seem to be more rational than one 
 based upon the character of the tubers, since the sweet potato 
 has been propagated so long from tubers and not from true 
 seed, as is the case with corn or cotton, so that great variation 
 occurs in type of tubers, and also since the foliage comes next 
 to the flower and true botanical seed which constitute the main 
 basis of botanical classification of phanerogamic plants. If this 
 "foliage system'' is taken in connection with a short description 
 of the color of the tubers and of the vines, there is scarcely a 
 variety which cannot be distinguished from all other varieties. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 51 
 
 At the same time, it must be understood that there are many 
 so called varieties which are nothing more than synonyms of 
 other varieties. These names have come about in most cases 
 by there having been no well defined description of varieties 
 extant for comparison and each individual grower thinking he 
 had a new variety gave it a different name. That varieties do 
 originate under culture cannot be successfully disputed, as an 
 example, we have the Vineless variety; but in the interest of 
 better nomenclature and clearer understanding, the author en- 
 ters a plea here for growers to send samples of potato, includ- 
 ing tubers and foliage to the experiment station of the state 
 in which they live for identification if they think they have a 
 new variety and they cannot determine from the classification 
 and description given here whether it is or not. It might be 
 well to state that the system of classification given here has 
 already been adopted by two other experiment stations and 
 great improvement has since come about in nomenclature. 
 It is hoped this improvement will continue until we shall 
 have as little confusion in sweet potato nomenclature as we 
 now have in irish potato nomenclature. Before giving the 
 varieties belonging to each group it may be well to give some 
 rules for naming vegetables. 
 
 RULES FOR NAMING VEGETABLES. 
 
 An effort will be made in this publication to make all 
 names of varieties conform to rules given in a report of a 
 committee of experiment station horticulturists, published in 
 1889, in regard to naming vegetables. This committee was 
 appointed by the Association of American Agricultural Col- 
 leges and Experiment stations, January, 1889. The following 
 is a copy of the rules reported and recommended : 
 
 "1. The name of a variety should consist of a single word, 
 or at most of two words. A phrase, descriptive or otherwise, 
 is never allowable; as, Pride of Italy, King of Mammoths, 
 Earliest of All. 
 
 2. The name should not be superlative or bombastic. 
 In particular all such epithets as New, Large, Giant, Fine, 
 Selected, Improved, and the like should be omitted. If the 
 grower or dealer has a superior stock of a variety, the fact 
 should be stated in the description immediately after the 
 
52 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 name rather than as part of the name itself; as, 'Trophy, 
 selected stock.' 
 
 3. If a grower or dealer has produced a new select strain 
 of a well known variety it shall be legitimate for him to use 
 his own name in connection with the established name of the 
 variety; as, Smith's Winningstadt, Jones's Cardinal. 
 
 4. When personal names are given to varieties, titles 
 should be omitted; as, Major, General, Queen. 
 
 5. The term hybrid* should not be used, except in those 
 rare instances in which the variety is known to be of hybrid 
 origin. 
 
 6. The originator has the prior right to name the variety; 
 but the oldest name which conforms to these rules should be 
 adopted. 
 
 7. This committee reserves the right, in their own publica- 
 tions, to revise objectional names in conformity with these 
 rules." 
 
 VARIETIES OF SWEET POTATOES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THE 
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOLIAGE. 
 
 1. Varieties loith entire or round foliage. 
 
 Fig. 14. 
 
 Ca nal, 
 
 D og River, 
 
 Florida (Yam), 
 
 Gen. Grant, 
 
 Hall, 
 
 Hay man (notched some) 
 
 Hayti Spanish, 
 
 Matejita, 
 
 Nancy Hall, 
 
 Orange, 
 
 Padisha, 
 
 Pumpkin, 
 
 Red Nose, 
 
 Shanghai, 
 
 Southern Queen (shoulder- 
 ed some). 
 
 *A hybrid is the product of a true species. There are few, if any, in- 
 stances of true hybrids among common garden vegetables. The union 
 of varieties gives rise to a cross. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 53 
 
 2. Varieties with shouldered foliage. 
 
 Fig. 15. Fig. 16 
 
 Big Stem Jersey (Fig 15), Early Golden (Fig. 15), Providence (Fig. 15), 
 Black Spanish, (Fig. 16), Gold Skin (Fig. 15) Queen of the West (Fig. 
 
 Brazilian (Fig. 16), Jersey Red (Fig. 16), 15) 
 
 Bronze (Fig. 15), Nansemond (Fig. 15), Red Bermuda (Fig 15), 
 
 Oavitt's Earliest(Fig. 15), Negro Choker, (Fig. 15), Red Nansemond(Fig. 15) 
 Chinese 30 days(Fig. 15), New Jersey (Fig. 15), Strasburg ( notched 
 Cuban (Yam, Fig. 15), Norton (Fig. 15), some), (Fig. 15), 
 
 Delaware (Fig. 15), Peabody (Fig. 15), WliiteBrazilian(Fig. 15), 
 
 Extra Early Caroline Peruvian(Yam,Fig 15), Yellow Jersey (Fig. 15), 
 (Fig. 15), Pool's (Yam, Fig. 15), Yellow Nansemond (Fig. 
 
 15). 
 3. Varieties with deeply cut or lohed foliage. 
 
 Fig. 17. 
 
54 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Georgia (Yam), 
 Rockport, 
 
 Tennessee, 
 
 Ticotea, 
 
 Barbadoes. 
 
 Yellow (Yam), 
 Vineless, 
 
 Haynian, 
 Hayti Spanish, 
 Norton , 
 Pool's (Yam), 
 Providence, 
 Rockport, 
 Southern Queen, 
 
 Shanghai, 
 
 Stras1)urg, 
 
 Tennessee, 
 
 Ticotea 
 
 Vineless, 
 
 White Brazilian, 
 
 Big Stem Jersey, 
 Orange, 
 
 Chinese 30 days, 
 Delaware , 
 
 Dog River, 
 
 Hall (Nancy Hall), 
 
 Negro Choker, 
 
 VARIETIES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO COLOR OF THE SKIN OF 
 
 THE TUBER. 
 
 1. Varieties with white skin. 
 
 Barbadoes, 
 Cavitt's Earliest, 
 Cuban (Yam) 
 Early Golden, 
 Florida (Yam), 
 General Grant, 
 Georgia (Yam), 
 
 2. Varieties ivith a dull straw colored skin. 
 
 Extra Early Caroline, Queen of the West, 
 
 Gold Skin, Red Nose, 
 
 Nansemond, Yellow Jersey, 
 
 New Jersey, Yellow Nansemond. 
 
 Varieties with light red skin. 
 
 Orange, Pumpkin, 
 
 Padisha, Red Bermuda, 
 
 Peruvian (Yam) Red Nansemond. 
 
 4. Varieties with purple skin. 
 Black Spanish, Canal, Matejita, Brazilian. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. 
 
 1. Varieties with entire foliage. 
 
 Canal. -Vines 
 purple, very 
 strong and vigor- 
 ous; tubers very 
 large, oblong, 
 smoother than 
 Brazilian, which 
 they somewhat 
 resemble. It was 
 introduced from 
 Cuba. See figure 
 18. 
 
 Dog Eiver. — 
 
 Foliage pale green, 
 often a slight 
 notch on the sides; 
 
 Fig. 18. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 55 
 
 vines vigorous, 
 root slightly, 
 length seven feet; 
 tubers roundish to 
 oblong, medium 
 size, skin white, 
 having prominent 
 veins. Has low 
 table qualities. So 
 named from be- 
 ing grown in the 
 Dog River section 
 of Alabama. See 
 figure 19. 
 
 Fig. Ut. 
 
 General Grant (Florida Yam). — Foliage pale green, 
 with purplish veins underneath; tubers very large, ^ oblong, 
 white. A vigorous grower, heavy yielder, and has very fair 
 table quality; grows well from vine-cuttings. In some parts 
 of Georgia it is called "Caddie Potato." The vines are rather 
 short and heavy, which fact has led some to give it the name 
 "Bunch Variety.'' It is a very heavy yielder. 
 
 Hall (Nancy Hall). — Foliage light green; tubers rather 
 conical, light purple, grows vigorously and is a heavy yielder, 
 Mr. A. J. Aldrich, Orlando, Florida, Avrote me that it came 
 up from a package of flower seed planted by Miss Hall, and 
 hence its name. 
 
 Hayman. — Foliage pale green, abruptly conical with prom- 
 inent notches on the side; vines vigorous, root profusely, 
 length seven feet; tubers oblong, large and white. A prom- 
 ising variety but easily affected by drouth. The following is 
 taken from a bulletin published by the Louisiana Experiment 
 station : 
 
 "Dr. W. R. Capehart, Avoca, N. C, gives its history as 
 follows: In 1856, Capt. Dan Hayman was master of the 
 schooner, "Harriet Ryan," freighting between the West Indies 
 and Elizabeth City, N. C. While on one of these trips he 
 purchased a supply of sweet potatoes at one of the West In- 
 dia Islands. A Methodist clergyman on visiting the ship after 
 its arrival in Elizabeth City was attracted by the fine appear- 
 
56 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Fig. 20. 
 
 ance of the potato, obtained a few and propagated them. 
 From this source came all the Hayman potatoes now grown in 
 this country." See figure 20. 
 
 Hayti Spanish. — Foliage light green, with purple veins 
 on under side ; tubers large, oblong and white ; a vigorous 
 grower and heavy yielder. Perhaps same as Shanghai. 
 
 Fig. 21. 
 Matejita. — Foliage darlj; green, with purple veins ; tubers 
 rather oval, large, purple. A vigorous grower but does not 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT 
 
 57 
 
 stand drouth so well, 
 figure 21. 
 
 Supposed to have come from Cuba. See 
 
 Fig. 22. 
 
 Orange. — Foliage light green ; tubers medium size, light 
 purple; affected considerably by dry weather. Table quality 
 rather poor, 
 
 r^v Padisha . — 
 
 Foliage green; tub- 
 ers resemble 
 Pumpkin in type, 
 but the quality is 
 much poorer; 
 large, light red. 
 Originated in 
 Georgia. See fig- 
 ure 22. 
 
 Pumpkin. — 
 Foliage pale green, 
 conical in shape; 
 V in e s vigorous, 
 root profusely, 
 length six feet; tubers oblong, large, dull yellow. An ex- 
 cellent sugary variety, which is appreciated for its excellent 
 table qualities in the southern states. It is not a vigorous 
 grower nor a heavy 
 yielder. The table qual- 
 ity is very much lower- 
 ed when grown on a 
 stiff, clay soil. When 
 grown on a loose, sandy 
 soil the author prefers 
 it to all others. See fig- 
 ure 23. 
 
 Red Nose (Heck- 
 ler Yam.) — Foliage pale 
 green, resembles Nan- 
 semond ; vines root pro- 
 fusely, length six feet; ■^^" 
 tubers oblong, medium size, dull straw color; not red as the 
 name would indicate; practically same as Nansemond. 
 
58 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Fig li. 
 
 Shanghai (Cal- 
 ifornia) . — F o 1 i a g e 
 pale green, conical 
 in shape; sides some- 
 times slightly notch- 
 ed; vines very vig- 
 orous, do not root; 
 length five feet, tub- 
 ers oblong to round, 
 very large and white. 
 Made the largest 
 yield in a test made 
 by the author during 
 a very dry season. A 
 valuable variety to 
 grow for stock. It 
 also makes a very 
 fair table variety. 
 See figure 24. 
 
 Southern Queen. — Foliage pale green, sometimes prom- 
 inently notched on the side; vines very vigorous, root pro- 
 fusely, length eight feet; tubers obtuse, medium size, white. 
 A reliable variety which is much grown in the south. It is, 
 perhaps, the same as Boone's White, Cuba Yam and White 
 St. Domingo. See figure 25. 
 
 Fig. 25. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 69 
 
 Southern Red — In foliage the variety somewhat resem- 
 bles the Red Nansemond. Foliage green and heart shaped, 
 vines slightly red; tubers pale red. See figure 26. 
 
 Pig. 26. 
 2. Description of varieties with shouldered foliage. 
 
 Big Stem Jersey. — 
 Foliage often variable, 
 pale green, vines vigorous- 
 tubers round to oblong, 
 medium size, skin dull yel- 
 low. Has only fair table 
 quality. See figure 27. 
 
 Black SPANiSH.—Foli- 
 age pale green ; tubers 
 variable in shape, but the 
 variety is practically"same 
 as Brazilian ; vines are vig- 
 orous and grow very long; 
 tubers are spindle shaped, 
 small deep purple, rough 
 and uneven, grow widely 
 apart. Table quality is 
 only fair. Keeps well. 
 Brazilian. — Foliage purple when young, when older 
 light green, sagitate; vines purple at tips, vigorous, root 
 slightly, length twelve feet; tubers long, medium size and fair 
 
 Fig. 27. 
 
60 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Fig. 2^ 
 
 quality, light purple; grow widely apart and deep down into 
 the soil. Keeps well and has very fair table qualities. 
 
 Bronze.— Foliage dark purple ; tubers oblong, dull straw 
 color; table quality high; promising new variety. Originated 
 
 in Kansas. 
 
 Chinese 30 Days.— 
 Foliage when young is 
 purple, and in this re- 
 spect differs from near- 
 ly all others; tubers 
 roundish, rather small, 
 dull straw color; not a 
 heavy yielder. Origin, 
 China. 
 
 Delaware. — Foli- 
 age pale green, obtuse; 
 vines root profusely ; 
 tubers oblong, medium 
 size, dull yellow. Practically same as Gold Skin. See figure 28. 
 
 Earliest (Cavitt's). — Vines slightly purple; tubers large, 
 roundish and white ; one of the earliest varieties. Obtained 
 from Major W. E. Cav- 
 itt, Bryan, Texas, who 
 states that one or two 
 hills were discovered 
 by, a farmer living north 
 of Bryan. It is very 
 early. 
 
 Caroline (Extra 
 Early). — Foliage pale 
 green, obtuse conical; 
 vines root slightly; tub- 
 ers oblong, rather small, 
 dull yellow; grow in a 
 bunch like Gold Skin. 
 
 Early Golden. — 
 
 Foliage pale green, 
 
 deeply shouldered; 
 
 Fig. 29. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 61 
 
 ["^^^^ 
 
 vines root slightly, 
 length seven feet; tub- 
 ers conical, medium 
 size, dull white. ' Ap- 
 pears to have originat- 
 ed in Virginia, as "a 
 sport of the Early Red." 
 See figure 29. 
 
 Gold Skin. — Foli- 
 age pale green, obtuse; 
 vines root slightly, 
 length five feet; tubers 
 oblong, medium size, 
 ?dull yellow, grow in a 
 beautiful bunch near 
 ^'iG. 30. tlie surface. Rather 
 
 weak and does not stand drouth well. During a favorable 
 
 season it makes a large yield. See figure 30. 
 
 Jersey Red. — Foliage pale green, with purple veins on 
 foliage; tubers oblong, medium size and purple skin. Per- 
 haps same as Brazilian. 
 
 Nansemond (Hanover, Mississippi Yellow, Yellow Nan- 
 semond, White Nansemond, Yellow Jersey, Jersey Sweet). 
 Foliage pale green, leaves medium size, vines make medium 
 growth; tubers oblong, smooth, dull straw color. Table 
 quality very good. Perhaps the most popular variety grown 
 at this time. Hence the great number of synonyms. 
 
 Negro Choker ( Bermuda, Red Bermuda, Orleans Red, 
 Louisiana Red, Negro Killer, Early Ireland). — Foliage pale 
 green, deeply shouldered; vines vigorous, root considerably, 
 length nine feet ; tubers roundish, large, light purple, prom- 
 inently veined, yields heavily and is easily grown. Recom- 
 mended for stock. Keeps well. 
 
 Norton. — Foliage pale green ; a few slight projections on 
 the sides; vines vigorous, root prof usely, length six feet; tub- 
 ers roundish, rather large and white. A rank growing vari- 
 ety of low table quality. 
 
62 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Peabody , — 
 Foliage pale green, 
 vines vigorous, 
 root profusely, 
 length ten feet; 
 tubers oblong, 
 large, light purple. 
 Same type as Ne- 
 gro Choker. Said 
 to have originated 
 by Charles Pea- 
 body, Columbus, 
 , -^^m.^^ Georgia. See tig- 
 
 Peruvian. — 
 Foliage green; tub- 
 ers resemble Hall, 
 roundish, light 
 purple, vigorous 
 grower, has ])oor 
 table quality. 
 
 Pool (Pool's Yam ). — Foliage green with purple veins; 
 tubers roundish, very large, white. A vigorous grower. Ob- 
 tained from Julius Schnadelbach, Grand Bay, Alabama, who 
 states that the Pool's Yam was brought from Louisiana about 
 eight years ago by Mr Pool, hence its name. 
 
 Providence. — 
 Foliage green, with 
 purple veins at base; 
 tubers large, rather 
 oblong, vigorous 
 grower; said to have 
 originated in Florida. 
 See figure 32. 
 
 Queen (of the 
 West). — F ol i a ge' 
 green, tubers round- 
 ish, dull straw color. 
 
 Fig. 32. 
 
 Fig. 81. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIE. 
 
 63 
 
 Seed obtained from 
 Thomas Nicholson, 
 El Modena, Califor- 
 nia, who stated it is 
 a sport of the Red 
 Jersey, found by him 
 in 1890. A promising 
 new variety. 
 
 Red Nansemond 
 — Foliage pale green, 
 deeply lobed, obtuse; 
 vines root slightly, 
 length seven feet; 
 tubers oblong, med- 
 ium size, color dull 
 Fig. 33. red; sells well in 
 
 northern markets. A good variety of the dry and mealy 
 
 character. See figure 33. 
 
 Strasburg. 
 
 Foliage green; tub- 
 ers large, roundish, 
 white. Stands drouth 
 well but has poor 
 table qualities. See 
 figure 34. 
 
 White Brazil- 
 ian. — Foliage green 
 and heavy ; vine 
 slightly purple ; tub- 
 ers medium size, ob- 
 long, white. A vig- 
 orous grower; table quality rather poor. 
 
 Fig. 43. 
 
 3. Description of varieties with deeply cut or lohed foliage. 
 
 LOBED VARIETIES. 
 
 Barbadoes. — Foliage pale green, practically same as 
 
 Tennessee except a little larger, lobes prominent ; vines root 
 
 slightly, length seven feet; tubers oblong, medium siz;e, 
 
 whitish. Does not yield heavily. See figure 35. 
 
61 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Fig. 35. 
 
 Georgia ( Yam). — Foliage green, vines rather weak, not a 
 heavy yielder. Has good table quality. An old variety. See fig- 
 ure 36. 
 
 Fig. 36. 
 
 Java No. 1. — Lobes of foliage prominent; tubers rather 
 large and smooth. After testing it one year, I see no special 
 qualities to recommend it. Imported from Java by the Louis- 
 iana Experiment Station in 1893. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 65 
 
 RoCKPORT. — Foliage green, tubers roundish, large, white; 
 keeps well. Obtained from C. Falkner, Waco, Texas, who says 
 that he obtained the variety from Mr. Duboise, who lives on 
 the coast, in Aransas county, Texas. His family lived on Mat- 
 agorda Island, and claims to have kept the seed for thirty years. 
 Named Rockport from the fact it has been much grovvn at 
 Rockport, Texas. I have known specimens to keep sound in 
 the open air at Rockport for twelve months. 
 
 Fig. :^7. 
 
 Sugar (Creole). — Foli- 
 age green, very small and 
 weak; vines root profusely, 
 length seven feet, very weak 
 like Tennessee; tubers ob- 
 long, medium size, dull 
 white. Of good quality 
 but yields slightly. See fig- 
 ure 37. 
 
 Tennessee. — This is not 
 a strong growing variety, 
 foliage green; tubers pale 
 yellow and smooth, flesh 
 cooks yellow. See figure 38. 
 
 Fig. 38 
 
66 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Tfc_orE\ 
 
 Fig. 39. 
 TicoTEA. — Foliage light green color; tuber^white, long, 
 smooth, not a heavy yielder. Came from Cuba. See figure 
 39. 
 
 Fig. 40. 
 Spanish (Yam). — Foliage pale green, vines root slightly, 
 length seven feet; tubers oblong, medium size, dull white. 
 Injured by drouth. See figure 40. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 67 
 
 Yellow (Yam). 
 — Foliage dark green, 
 lobes prominent; 
 vines root profusely, 
 length seven feet, 
 tubers oblong, med- 
 ium size, white, veins 
 prominent, very fair 
 quality. Perhaps the 
 parent of the Vine- 
 less. Has excellent 
 table quality. See 
 figure 41. 
 
 ViNELESs (Bunch 
 Yam, Early Bunch 
 Yam) — Foliage dark 
 
 Fig. 41. 
 
 green, large, deep- 
 ly lobed; vines vig- 
 orous, root pro- 
 fusely, length two 
 and one-half feet, 
 tubers oblong to 
 nearly round, good 
 size, white, vein- 
 ed. Stands drouth 
 well. A valua- 
 ble new variety. 
 See'figure 42. 
 
 Fig. 42. 
 CHAPTER Xin. 
 Variation of the Tubers or "Sports." 
 
 The fact that tubers of sweet potatoes do vary in shape and 
 color is well known to all sweet potato growers. Sometimes 
 variations take place not only in the tubers but in the vines 
 also. Some of our best varieties have come about in this way. 
 
 There has been various ways of trying to account for 
 these variations. Some botanists have declared that there 
 
68 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 could be no variation of the tuber without cross fertilization, 
 but variations have been found where there could possibly 
 have been no seed formed. In our experimental work tubers 
 which showed streaks of red and white have been found and 
 we were satisfied no seed were formed on the ground for sev- 
 eral years previous, because no potatoes had been growing on 
 the ground previously. Some have tried to account for the 
 variation by advancing the theory that the sap mixed where 
 the vines crossed. This hardly seems probable. In fact we 
 do not know the cause. This fact can be explained no easier 
 than can the fact that nectarines occur on the limb of a peach 
 tree. In order to obtain the opinions of well known botan- 
 ists and scientists on this point, a section of a tuber was sent 
 them which showed one side to be light red and the other to 
 be white. Their replies are given below in full: 
 
 Ithaca, N. Y., Feb. 11th, 1896. 
 Professor R. H. Price, College Station, Texas. 
 
 Dear Professor Price: — I have your letter and also the 
 interesting piece of sweet potato. It is one of those things 
 which cannot be explained, but I think that I can throw some 
 light upon the question. It is, to my mind, just the same 
 kind of phenomenon or variation which is likely to occur upon 
 leaves or stems, or a flower petal, when those parts have a 
 streak or stripe of unusual color. The same thing is occa- 
 sionally seen upon apples and is ordinarily attributed to cross- 
 fertilization, but such explanation is erroneous, as it is also 
 in the case of your sweet potato. What causes these occasional 
 stripes and markings upon parts of plants is a question which 
 no one can answer, but it is simply an individual peculiarity 
 of the plant and I believe has no distinct relation to the 
 phylogeny of the plant. A distinct thing is bud variation or 
 "mixing in the hill." Yours very truly, 
 
 L. H. Bailey. 
 
 {: 
 
 U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
 Division of Botany, Washington, D.C. 
 February 11th, 1896. 
 Mr. R. H. Price, Agricultural Experiment Station, 
 
 College Station, Texas. 
 Dear Sir: — Your letter of February 3rd, accompanied by 
 a slice of a sweet potato, was duly received. At my request, 
 Mr. B. T. Galloway examined the specimen to ascertain 
 whether the carrot-like color of the interior could have been 
 caused by fungi, but he found no trace of such organism. In 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 69 
 
 the absence of any definite knowledge of the condition under 
 which the potato grew, and therefore under which this sport 
 was formed, it wouhl be futile to attempt an explanation of it. 
 There is no necessity, however, of assuming that it was caused 
 by a cross between two varieties. Yours very sincerely, 
 
 Frederick V. Coville, Botanist. 
 
 Since writing this chapter I have received the following 
 letter from the Horticulturist of the Georgia Experiment Sta- 
 tion on variations of sweet potatos, and I am glad to be able 
 to give the results of his experiments: 
 
 "The natural grafting or welding of the stalk or vine of 
 two contiguous varieties when growing in the same hill, has 
 been alleged by many growers to be the agency producing new 
 varieties. C. C. L. Dill, previously referred to, who claims 
 to be authority on potatoes, boldly advances this th'=',ory ; but, 
 if it ever had any foundation from a scientific standpoint, its 
 practical possibility has been fully disproved by our Station 
 the past season by artificially grafting some 300 hills of Ber- 
 muda Red and Early Golden, and Bermuda Red and Georgia 
 Yam — red and white varieties together. While most of the 
 grafts took well and grew finely, in no instance were mottled 
 or "calico" tubers produced, but the roots on the side of the 
 amalgamated stem (to use a word out of its proper significa- 
 tion) made white tubers, and those on the other side red tub- 
 ers, with all the individual characteristics of the respective 
 varieties preserved. We have not yet published this test, but 
 facts are as stated. 
 
 Trusting soon to see your forthcoming work on the sweet 
 potato, which will unquestionably be a most valuable contribu- 
 tion to our horticultural literature, I remain with high re- 
 gards. Very truly yours, 
 
 H. N. Starnes.'' 
 
 "I neglected to state that 'approach' grafting was em- 
 ployed, the roots of both varieties remaining intact — so also 
 the vines above the point of junction. They were simply con- 
 verted into a sort of 'Siamese Twins' — the point of juncture 
 just below the surface of the ground; but the union was much 
 more perfect than could possibly have been establish by 
 any natural process." 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 Shipping and Marketing. 
 
 There are many places in different states, like the "Tide- 
 Water" section of Virginia, where the sweet potato grows to 
 success and may be shipped on water at small cost. If the 
 farms are located further inland near streams, small boats 
 
70 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 may be used to carry the tubers down to the markets. Trans- 
 portation is cheap in this way and there is no risk from bruis- 
 ing. To bring the highest price the tubers should be rubbed 
 off, so as to present a clean and attractive appearance. This 
 will bring out most clearly their natural color. If the crop is 
 grown in a sandy, loamy soil it will take but little trouble to 
 clean the tubers properly. The grower should always seek to 
 build up his trade by selling first-class potatoes put up in good 
 shape and bearing the name of the variety and grower's private 
 trade mark. 
 
 If the tubers are intended to be shipped long distances, 
 they are usually put up in ordinary flour barrels holding about 
 three bushels each. In cold weather it is ])est to line the bar- 
 rels with two or three thicknesses of old newspapers. After 
 the tubers are well shaken down in the barrel and filled up 
 rounding full, the top is usually covered with some paper and 
 then with some strong, coarse cloth. A hoop is pressed down 
 over this cloth and nailed. 
 
 It is best not to risk shipping a large quantity at once, 
 unless the condition of the market is known with certainty. 
 If the grower has a good commission man whom he knows 
 and can rely upon, it is of great benefit; otherwise it is apt to 
 be found best to ship a few at a time until the condition of 
 the market is known. In all cases, the grower should seek to 
 build up a private trade by being honest, and by packing the 
 tubers in a neat and attractive way, and by putting his own 
 trade mark on each package. Grow the varieties the market 
 demands. Let the tubers be dry when they are shipped, so 
 that soft rot will not set in if warm weather comes while they 
 are so closely confined in the barrels. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Diseases of the Sweet Potato. How to Prevent 
 the Injury done by Them. 
 
 The sweet potato is subject to injury by many diseases. 
 Many of them live upon the sweet potato and produce the 
 condition commonly known as rot. They are in their nature 
 similar to moulds, mildews, smuts, rust and black rot of the 
 grape. They are low forms of vegetation belonging to the 
 group known as fungi. A fungus is a chlorophyllous, sapro- 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 71 
 
 phytic, or parasitic plant. Fungi live upon other organisuis 
 and absorb their nutriment from other tissues, and produce 
 the condition known as rusts, moulds, rots and mildews. 
 
 The life history of many of the fungus diseases of the 
 sweet potato have been worked out by the aid of a compound 
 microscope, and the specific cause of many of the rots is 
 known with absolute certainty. 
 
 During the past two years the author has devoted consid- 
 erable time to the study of some of these diseases and how to 
 prevent the injury done by them, but many of the statements 
 given here are taken from the excellent work of Prof. Byron 
 D. Halstead on diseases of the sweet potato.* We are also 
 indebted to Prof. Halstead for many of the following figures 
 on this subject. 
 
 THE SOFT ROT. 
 
 (^Bhizopus Nigricans, e'hr.) 
 
 The soft rot causes more loss, perhaps, than qny other 
 fungus ^disease. It may be met with in the field at digging 
 time, but it is most destructive soon after the tubers are dug. 
 If the tubers are put in large heaps just after being dug, 
 where the temperature is warm, the atmosphere close and 
 damp, the fungus frequently spreads so rapidly as to cause a 
 soft, worthless mass of the whole very soon. 
 
 This mould nearly always effects its entrance into the tuber 
 through some broken place in the skin. Frequently at the 
 
 Thc^-xjt'StiaAm. 
 
 Fig 43. — Diseased potato, showing soft rot. a, Diseased end where 
 
 broken off. 6, same" magnified, showing spore sacks. c, Disease at 
 bruised place. 
 
 *Bulletin No 76, New .Jersey Experiment Station. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 place where it was severed from the vine. If there be a 
 bruised place it is apt to enter there also. In the foregoing 
 figure 43, are shown both places where a tuber was infected 
 after being left in our laboratory: a, where the tuber was sev- 
 ered from the vine; c, a bruised place. 
 
 The tuber when attacked at once becomes soft and worth- 
 less, and gives off an offensive odor. Mycelium (white threads 
 of the fungus ) soon grows over the tuber in a felt-like mass. 
 The tuber then begins to shrink, and at the infected places 
 will appear a dark, powdery mass of spores. These spores 
 correspond to seed in higher plants, and are therefore capable, 
 each of them, of starting an independent fungus. 
 
 In figure 44, a, is shown a highly magnified view of some 
 of the irregular branched threads of the mould as they are 
 formed in the potato. These portions of the fungus lie upon 
 the cells composing the root, 6, and give an idea of the rela- 
 tive size and shape of the mould filaments and of the cells of 
 the sweet potato. These mould threads, as they advance 
 within the tissue of the root, excrete a substance that is very 
 active in causing the starch in the potato cells to dissolve, as 
 also the walls of the cell to become partly decomposed. In 
 this way the juice of a decaying sweet potato is able to induce 
 similar decay in healthy roots. After the mould has grown 
 for a short time in the sweet potato, it is ready to form its 
 spores. These spores are produced in capsules, formed at 
 the tips of the branches that rise from the rotten mass and 
 stand upright in the air. If there are any broken places in 
 the skin of the potato these spore-bearing threads are quickly 
 produced. A tuber with no cut or bruised place in the skin, 
 may become entirely rotten without showing an exterior sign 
 of mould that has penetrated it in all parts, and if a rupture 
 be now made, the spore bearing filaments quickly fill the ex- 
 posed place, and, after a few hours, the black, spherical tips 
 begin maturing multitudes of spores. In figure 44 is shown a 
 single mould plant with its dark, root-like base, g, from which 
 several threads arise. At d, is a capsule with the spores 
 nearly ripe ; e, shows another after the outer wall has fallen 
 away and nearly all the spores have been removed. A collaps- 
 ed empty capsule is shown at/. The spores are seen much 
 more highly magnified at h, where one of them has sent out a 
 
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 73 
 
 Fkt. 44. — Soft Rot. a. fungus threads ; b, cells of potato ; c, mould 
 fungus, much enlarged; d, spore capsule; e, older state; /, collapsed 
 capsule; g, base of mould plant; h, spores. (After Halstead. ) 
 
 slender tube in the process of germination. The mould, while 
 very contagious, does not, so far as known, begin by infecting 
 the leaves of the growing plant, and then pass down the stem, 
 as is true of the soft rot of the irish potatoes. 
 
 PREVENTIVE MEASURES. 
 
 Dig the tubers when the soil is dry and during a clear 
 warm day. 
 
 Handle them with care so as not to bruise them. 
 
74 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Store them in small piles where the atmosphere is dry and 
 they can have good ventilation while going through the "sweat.'' 
 
 In the northern states a stove or furnace is frequently 
 used to dry them out. 
 
 Take out all infected tubers as they appear. 
 
 If these suggestions are followed the tubers will be cured 
 out in two or three weeks and after this there will not be much 
 risk of loss from soft rot. 
 
 THE BLACK EOT. 
 
 (Ceratocystis Fimhriata, e. & hals.) 
 
 After the soft rot there is, perhaps, no other fungus dis- 
 ease which causes more loss than the black rot. Unlike the 
 soft rot, however, it continues its ravages all through the 
 period of storage. This disease is usually evident at digging 
 time, but many of the tubers show such small infected places 
 that they are not usually noticed, and the tubers find their way 
 into the store room, or into the market, where the damage is 
 often great. Frequently the middleman and the consumer are 
 the losers. An infected tuber when broken open has a dark 
 greenish appearance at the point of attack. On close exam- 
 ination it will be found that an infected tuber gives off a 
 slight odor, which, if detected, is always characteristic. The 
 flavor of an infected tuber is slightly bitter. This bitter 
 flavor has been attributed to being frozen by many, because 
 a very small infected spot is overlooked and is sufiicient to 
 taint a whole tuber. In our experience, dry conditions do 
 not have much effect in checking the spread of this disease. 
 The rot begins at a certain point and gradually spreads in all 
 directions until the whole root is decayed. When the spot is 
 of the size of a half dollar or so it begins to break up at the 
 center, as indicated by the darker irregular places in the mid- 
 dle of each decayed spot, illustrated in the engraving. "If a 
 portion of the diseased tissue is left for a few hours, under 
 favorable conditions of moisture and warmth, a large num- 
 of fine threads will be found, as shown in figure 46. These 
 threads are of a brown color and bear two sorts of tips, one 
 of which, as at 6, is tapering and ends in a number of cells 
 placed end to end. The terminal cells fall away and ap- 
 pear as at d, still more enlarged, one of which has developed 
 
Fig. 45. — Black Rot, a, potato affected; b, tip of diseased s{)r()ut 
 c, base of sprout with black rot. 
 
76 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 a germinal tube. A second kind of spore is formed as an en- 
 largement of the tip of the branch, as shown at c. These are 
 of a chestnut brown color and do not germinate quickly, as is 
 the case with the colorless oblong ones above mentioned, and 
 as shown at d. Occasionally two of the second form of spores 
 are formed upon the same tip, as shown at /, and from this 
 fact and the oblong shape, it seems evident that this is an in- 
 termediate form." 
 
 "A third kind of 
 spore is formed in the 
 older portions of a rot- 
 ted patch, as for ex- 
 ample, in the center 
 of the spots shown 
 in figure 44. If a por- 
 tion of the dark sul)- 
 stance be magnified 
 somewhat, it will be 
 seen to contain a large 
 number of black spher- 
 ical bodies, each with a 
 long neck. The lower, 
 bulbous end is a fiask 
 in which spores are pro- 
 duced, and when ripe, 
 they pass up a canal in 
 the long neck and make 
 their exit through a 
 fringed end. As the 
 s})ores are mixed with 
 an adhesive substance, it is not unusual to find the tips cap- 
 ped l)y a globule of yellowish jelley, in which the spores are 
 imbedded, as seeu at a, figure 47, but are quickly dispersed 
 when moisture is applied." 
 
 "The spores and the methods of their formation from 
 strings within the flask are shown at c, figure 47. In a pota- 
 to that is in the last stages of decay these flasks may be found 
 throughout the whole substance, but in a young patch only the 
 first two kinds are present." 
 
 Fig. 46. — Black Rot fungus enlarged. 
 a, branching filament ; b, spore bearing 
 branch ; c, a second form of tip ; d, oblong 
 spores ; e, oval dark spores ; /, a midway 
 form of spore. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 77 
 
 Fig. 47.— Black Rot. An enlarged view of a spore body at a; neck 
 more enlarged at b, spores escaping ; spores and their formation at c, 
 much magnified. (After Halstead.) 
 
 Another form of black rot is sometimes found in which 
 the substance of the potato becomes filled with minute black, 
 irregular masses. The root thus affected takes on a color that 
 looks like charcoal. Figure 48, a, shows a section of a root 
 with this form when fully developed, while at b is seen the 
 same at an earlier stage. A highly magnified view of a small 
 portion of the fungus is shown at r, and it is seen to consist 
 of black nodules with brown threads running from one to an- 
 other. The origin and development of these black masses is 
 
78 
 
 SWKET POTATO CULTURK FOR PROFIT 
 
 shown in tigure 49. At certain places the threads swell, turn 
 brown and divide into two or more small cells, as shown at a. b 
 and c. These cells continue to increase in number until a mass 
 like d is formed, which tinally attains the structure and appear- 
 
 FiG. 48. — a, portion of black potato ; h, the same when younger ; c, a 
 magnified view of a portion of a, showing nodules. (After Halstead.) 
 
 ance shown at e. In 
 connection with these 
 bodies the second form 
 of spore is frequently met ^: 
 with, ])orne upon the tips 
 of threads that nuike up a 
 part of the surface. This 
 is shown at a in tigure 50, 
 while at h is seen a view 
 of a cross-section of one 
 of the nodules. Many 
 fungi have this form, 
 which seems to be a provi- 
 sion for passing over times 
 unfavorable for the im- 
 
 FiG. 49. — The developement of the 
 
 mediate growth of the ""^^^1*^^- «, a thread, thickening; 6 and 
 
 c, the division more advanced ; d and e 
 
 later stages. (After Halstead.) 
 
 fungus. The vital ener- 
 gies are conserved in the 
 well protected masses, which, while differing in origin and 
 structure, perform the function of spores. 
 
SVVEKT POTATO OULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 79 
 
 Fig. 50. — The nodule a, with spores upon the surface ; b, the same 
 in cross-section. (After Halstead .) 
 
 The black rot makes its appearance in the sequence of the 
 seasons, early in the spring before the plants are out of the 
 the hot-beds. The young sprouts furnish a tender substance 
 particularly favorable for the growth of the fungus, and 
 therefore if the roots used are not free from the disease, the 
 sprouts are quite sure to become infected. The general ap- 
 pearance of a sprout that is almost destroyed by bl&ck rot is 
 shown at b, figure 45. Large black, dead patches are seen 
 upon the surface of the pale base, c, of the plant, while the 
 first leaf and the entire upper portion are killed and brown. 
 The whole heart of the stem is discolored and the ])lant is 
 worthless for setting in the field. Sprouts as badly "marked" 
 as the one shown are usually discarded at setting-time, but it 
 is those that are only slightly affected, and therefore pass 
 unnoticed, that are most dangerous. Such when placed in 
 the field will continue to grow and nothing may be observed, 
 unless it be a general feebleness, until harvest time, when one 
 or all of the roots are found to be affected with the black rot. 
 
 From the investigation of the subject, it is seen that the 
 black rot fungus is abundantly supplied with spores, and they 
 may be found in one or more forms in every patch of diseased 
 substance in the root or sprout. These spores being formed 
 underground, as a rule, tend to charge the soil with the germs 
 of infection. How long the spores can remain alive and 
 inactive is not known, but very likely for many years, and the 
 roots of one crop may become inoculated from the fungus of 
 a previous crop upon the same soil. In like manner, the 
 spores, being light as dust, can be carried from one field to 
 another by the winds. The difliculties of applying a satisfac- 
 
80 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 tory remedy are not easily overcome, for the trouble is so 
 largely under ground. In the first place, there is no doubt 
 but that only healthy slips should be used, which means the 
 careful selection of perfectly sound roots for the hot-bed, 
 in order to get the best plants it is' possible to use some 
 remedy in the hot-bed, as, for example, a compound of 
 copper, the Bordeaux mixture, or similar subtance which 
 will tend td keep the sprouts from out side contamina- 
 tion. There is also something in the setting of the plants, 
 for if they get a poor start, as from chilling rains, they 
 are weakened, and thereby made more susceptible to the 
 attacks of the black rot. It must not be considered that 
 the circumstances of the season or conditions of the soil 
 are in any sense the cause of black rot, as a specific fungus is 
 necessary for that, but it like all other living things, is de- 
 pendent upon its surroundings. It seems impracticable to 
 apply any substance to the soil to kill the germs that have 
 accumulated there. As a rule, the only way is to let the 
 fungus starve out by withholding the crop upon which it 
 feeds until the germs become extinct. While a grower with 
 superior sweet potato land may be loath to set aside his best 
 crop, there is no doubt that in some cases, in the long run, 
 it would be most economical. In our experience with the 
 disease, we have found that the purple skin varieties resist 
 the fungus best, the light red skin next and the white skin 
 varieties least. 
 
 Wherever enough potatoes can be grown from vine-cut- 
 tings for seed the following year this fungus can be easily 
 gotten rid of if the crop is planted on fresh land. The 
 author has weeded out tubers badly infected with it and 
 planted slips from them and the crop would be almost ruined. 
 Vine-cuttings were taken from these badly infected tubers as 
 they grew in the field and were planted out July 19th, and 
 they grew a crop at the rate of 150 bushels per acre of 
 clean, nice and healthy tubers. I consider this the very best 
 way of getting rid of the fungus after trying several fungi- 
 cides upon the tubers during storage. 
 
 Of course, vine-cuttings to grow seed from should not be 
 planted on infected soil. This second crop can not be grown 
 in the northern states because the season is too short. Enough 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 81 
 
 cuttings might possibly be started in the green-house to go 
 out early enough to grow seed. Good crops from vine-cut- 
 tings have been grown successfully as far north as Maryland. 
 
 THE SOIL ROT. 
 
 (Acrocystis Batatas, e. ttHALS.) 
 
 The life history of the soil rot has not been worked out 
 
 with clearness. Its specific forms are rather obscure. The 
 
 habits and spore formation are quite different from those of 
 
 the black rot. The roots are usually attacked while quite 
 
 Fig. 5L— Two sweet potatoes showing the soil rot. (After Halstead. 
 
82 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 small, sometimes at different places, in the worst cases nearly 
 all over the surface. It is a peculiarity of the disease that the 
 infected portion ceases to grow, while the healthy part on 
 each side continues to grow. In this way the roots present a 
 very uneven appearance. The parts surrounding the infected 
 places are healthy and edible. The infected places are fre- 
 quently not large, and they surround a small rootlet that may 
 still be found fastened to the center. It is when the attack 
 is early in the life of the root that the greatest damage is done 
 for it is then that the young root is girdled or eaten into on one 
 side so that its future growth is irregular and very much check- 
 ed. As the root enlarges the old infected part becomes cracked 
 and largely falls away. It is not unusual to find soil rot spots 
 upon potatoes in the market, but as they do not harm the 
 surrounding tissue and will not spread further, such small 
 "marks," as they are termed, are not particularly damaging. 
 Frequently the loss in a badly infected field is very heavy. It 
 seems that infection takes place through the tender structure 
 of the fine roots, and usually takes place while the whole root 
 system is very small. 
 
 The fungus consists of branched threads that terminate 
 in spherical bodies of considerable size. These spherical bod- 
 ies gradually enlarge and become filled with spores. "When 
 the brown portion of the patches are examined, it is found 
 that minute brown bodies are scattered irregularly through 
 the decayed substance. These are produced in the cells of the 
 fungus, sometimes one at a point, as at a, figure 52, but more 
 frequently in considerable numbers in enlarged places, as at 6, 
 
 Fig. 52. — Soil rot. a and b, filament with spores; c, swollen tip, with 
 spores; d and e, collapsed tip and enlarged spores. (After Halstead.) 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 83 
 
 and perhaps more often in swollen tips, as shown at c. The 
 walls of such spore-bearing cells seem to dissolve at maturity, 
 and the spores are thereby set free. At d, one of the col- 
 lapsed tips is shown with only a few spores remaining, two of 
 them still small and colorless. The appearance of the isolat- 
 ed spores is shown at e, very much magnified, but they often 
 have an adhering envelope of jelly, as indicated at /. 
 
 An old spot of the field rot contains countless numbers of 
 these spores, and they doubtless are capable of remaining in- 
 active for a long time. As this fungus is subterranean, and 
 the decayed spots soon become crustaceous and break into 
 powder, it is evident that a large proportion of the spores re- 
 main in the soil where produced and render it unfit for future 
 crops. These brown spores also offer an explanation of the pas- 
 sage of the soil rot from one field to another, as has often been 
 observed . They are smaller and lighter by far than the particles 
 of soil that are easily whirled along by driving winds, ^nd being 
 in the light, dry ground ready for movement, they go from 
 the infested field to another that perhaps has never grown 
 sweet potatoes, but will show signs of the soil rot whenever 
 the first crop is attempted. From the conditions that surround 
 the growth and preservation of this soil rot fungus, it is likely 
 that it cannot be eradicated by any of the ordinary methods of 
 spraying with copper compounds. It is most emphatically in 
 the soil, as every sweet potato grower well knows. With the 
 black rot, it has been shown that one of the great precautions is 
 to have perfectly healthy sprouts, but this will avail almost noth- 
 ing in the case of the soil rot. The infection is by means of the 
 brown spores that are lying in and upon the soil. It might 
 be possible to dip the roots in some substance not injurious 
 to the sprout, that would destroy the germs afterwards com- 
 ing in contact with the plants. In like manner, it is possible 
 that some substance might be placed in the hills before the 
 plants are set out, that would kill the fungus. 
 
 That the season may have much to do with the prevalence 
 of the soil rot is to be expected, but that it is more abundant 
 in a dry year, as all testify, at first thought, appears contrary 
 to the common rule of fungus growths. It must be borne in 
 mind, however, that the potato frequently outgrows the dis- 
 ease to a considerable extent. The attack may be so violent 
 
84 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 as to cut off the crop, but usually there are multitudes of 
 roots formed, although small and badly "marked." This fact 
 that they are "marked," as it is termed, is only anothei- way 
 of saying that the deceased root is not destroyed. Long be- 
 fore harvest time the affected places have ceased to enlarge 
 and the root has increased its healthy substance, often to such 
 an extent that the rot spots are overgrown. In a dry season 
 the plant is less able to push ahead and overcome the attack, 
 and therefore the yield is light and the rot appears more 
 abundant. That the season may be favorable, will always be 
 a hopeful element in the grower's calculations." 
 
 Since writing the above, Prof. Halstead has carried on 
 Held experiments with several things in testing their effects 
 upon checking this disease. The results are given in the fol- 
 lowing table: 
 
 TABLE XXVII. EXPERIMENTS IN PREVENTING SOIL ROT. (N. .7. 
 
 STATION 1895.) 
 
 Clean. Marked. Cie.Hn. Marked. 
 
 Lime 24 21? 
 
 Sulphur , 55 22 f '^ 8 
 
 Manure 4 25? 
 
 Corrosive Sublimate 49 32) ^" ^•J 
 
 Kaiuit 8 26) ' ,_ 
 
 Sulphate of Copper 18 40 f 17 .HO 
 
 Cheek 9 29 
 
 These experiments indicate quite clearly that sulphur 
 sprinkled along in the rows may prove very beneficial. Prof. 
 Halstead makes the following comments on these experiments : 
 
 "The combinations are not, for the present to be recom- 
 mended. If calculations are based upon the plot where the 
 least sulphur is used, the difference between this and the ad- 
 joining checks is sixty pounds of clear roots — that is, a bushel 
 — or fifty bushels per acre, worth at least $40.00 The cost of 
 the sulphur at three cents a pound would be in this ease $18.75, 
 leaving a clear profit of $20.00 per acre. 
 
 It is too soon to conclude what will be the best practice 
 upon soil rot infested land. The results of a single season, 
 and that an unusual one in dryness at its close, upon a single 
 field, indicate that a remedy may be found in both sulphur and 
 corrosive sublimate. It remains to be seen whether the appli- 
 cation of these substances will act favorably in succeeding 
 years." 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 85 
 
 The tubers treated with sulphur were more smooth and 
 kept much better. 
 
 THE STEM ROT. 
 
 "In the so called stem rot of the sweet potato, the vine 
 dies at or close to the surface of the ground, and from there 
 the decay extends down to, and for a short distance into, the 
 potatoes, while in the opposite direction it works along the 
 vines to the end, unless they have taken root at some joint, 
 when they remain green beyond that point. The moulds 
 constantly associated with the decay of the tips of the potatoes 
 are not found in the distant ends of the dead vines, and the 
 inference is that the decay of the stem at the point of union 
 between root and stem, cuts off the supply of water and nour- 
 ishment from the soil, and the vine consequently dies, unless 
 as before stated, there are secondary roots at some joints along 
 the way. This dying of the vines is followed by th-e forma- 
 tion of a fresh growth of short stems and leaves in the center 
 of the hill and directly over the decaying roots. This charac- 
 teristic second growth is due to the roots, often a half inch in 
 diameter, putting out sprouts that reach the surface and strug- 
 gle to develope new vines, but without success. A hill de- 
 stroyed by the stem rot does not recover suflBciently to be of 
 value. 
 
 In figure 53, a, is shown one of the larger roots of a hill 
 affected with the stem rot in which the decay had proceeded 
 for nearly half the root's length, and from the healthy lower 
 portion a sprout had grown so vigorously and far that it was 
 about ready to begin running. The line between the decayed 
 and healthy portion is sharply drawn ; in the former there only 
 remains a dry blackened substance with the skin loosely at- 
 tached. At ft is a still larger root, from which there are sev- 
 eral sprouts growing, and none have reached the surface of 
 the soil. The dark, irregular upper end of the root indicates 
 the extent to which the stem rot has wrought its destructive 
 work. Another end of a root presenting a characteristic view 
 of stem rot is shown at c, while at d is seen a much smaller root, 
 the whole of which has become decayed and much shrunken. 
 
 The circumstances under which the stem rot is developed 
 make it extremely difficult to assign the cause to any one of 
 
86 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT 
 
 Fig. 53. — The stem rot in its different stages. (After Halstead.) 
 the fungi found present. Situated as the decay is, at or near 
 the surface of the ground, it is a "catch-all'' for any passing 
 germs, so that, while finding several species of fungi present, 
 and believing that one is the cause of the decay, it is impossi- 
 ble to fully decide the case until the trouble has been taken in 
 its first stages, which it is difficult to do, but it is a point hoped 
 for the coming season. It is probable that the stem rot fungus 
 is most nearly related to the soil rot, and that the same meth- 
 ods of eradication are to be observed. The germs are in the 
 soil and innoculation is direct. It is not, therefore, so much 
 a question of healthy plants as a "healthy soil," if such an ex- 
 pression is allowable.'' 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 87 
 
 THE WHITE ROT. 
 
 A kind of decay very different from any previously des- 
 cribed in tliis bulletin, naturally may take the name of white 
 rot, for the diseased portions have an almost chalky color as 
 well as consistency. Being a dry one, entirely inoffensive, and 
 before the root is cut or the skin broken, comparatively incon- 
 spicuous, very little complaint has been made of this form of 
 rot. It is, however quite destructive in some parts of N. J. 
 This trouble is first noticed by the slight depression in the 
 root at the base of one or more of the hairs. These depres- 
 sions continue to enlarge and deepen, and, in bad cases, sev- 
 eral may become confluent, and finally the whole potato is of 
 a chalky consistency, and consequently worthless. In figure 
 54, a, is shown a p(»rtion of a root with four places that have 
 
 Fig. 54. — The white rot a, portion of potato; b, cells with threads; c, 
 spore formation; d and e, a second spore developement. (After Halstead.) 
 
 become deeply infected with the white rot. It will be observ- 
 ed that the bottom of each white pit is a dark border; this is 
 the portion undergoing the change from the healthy tissue to 
 the dry, white and worthless condition mentioned above. It 
 is a peculiar characteristic of this form of rot, that this border 
 when cut, quickly changes from the ordinary color of the flesh 
 of the potato to a peculiar dark olive. A fungus growth is 
 found invariably associated with this decay, the threads of 
 which are branched and very slender. At b is seen three cells 
 of the diseased substance of the potato, with the filaments of 
 the fungus passing over and among them in all directions. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 When the diseased root is broken by accident, or purposely 
 cut, and the inner substance exposed, under favoring condi- 
 tions of warmth and moisture, long verticle threads are soon 
 developed, which bear upon their tips a number ol branches, 
 each of which terminates in a row of spores, as shown at c, and 
 the surface is soon covered withathicklayer of mould differing 
 slightly, if any, from the blue mold so common everywhere. It 
 was also noticed that a second form of spore is produced 
 within the threads of the fungus as they grow in the substance 
 of the decaying potato. Frequently they are formed in the 
 ordinary slender filaments as local enlargements, and occasion- 
 ally the tip of the thread broadens out considerably, as shown 
 at c?, and in these, from their contents, spherical bodies are 
 formed that take on a thick wall and become free, as seen at e. 
 This form of rot has not been studied in the field, and its 
 first developement cannot be definitely stated, but it seems 
 reasonable to infer that the rootlet or its base is the point of 
 attack. While it cannot be stated as a demonstrated fact, it 
 is probable that the spores of the mould, which may abound 
 in the air, reach the rootlets during the rains, and at other 
 times effect a lodgement and germinate and enter the potato. 
 The study of this kind of decay, associated with a species of 
 Penicillium, will need to be prosecuted further." 
 
 THE DRY ROT. 
 
 {Phonia Batato. e. & hals;) 
 
 "Another kind of sweet potato decay is illustrated in fig- 
 ure 55, and may be called dry rot. For example, the whole 
 upper end of the root becomes dry, much wrinkled, and exhib- 
 its upon the surface a multitude of pimples. At a is shown a 
 portion of the stem end of a sweet potato, and upon one side 
 the roughened surface is exhibited. The whole substance of 
 the potato is diseased, and, with the exception of certain pits 
 for the production of spores, there is very little change of color, 
 while an almost powdery condition of the substance has re- 
 placed the previous juicy tissue of the root, as seen in health. 
 At b is seen an enlarged view of a section of the pimply sur- 
 face, showing that the rind of the diseased potato is filled 
 with minute pits, in which the spores of the fungus, causing 
 the trouble, are borne. One of these conceptacles is still more 
 
SWEET POl ATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 highly magnified at c, and the dark' wall is a conspicuous feat- 
 ure, while the spores are still too small to be distinguished. 
 At d may be seen some of the spore-bearing cavities as met 
 with occasionally buried within substance of the decayed po- 
 tato. The lining of the dense dark wall of the cavity is shown, 
 
 i tx 
 
 \,^ 
 
 T^ 
 
 
 4, ~m 
 
 ^^^, 
 
 #<^ 
 
 
 
 
 "•^"^„'- 
 
 t i^. 
 
 
 
 .453.**^^ 
 
 X 
 
 ■*s ^ 
 
 ^iT 
 
 
 '^■i'e^h- 
 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 Fig. 55. — The dry rot. a, portion of affecteJ potato; b, section show- 
 ing fungus pits; c, same enlarged; d, interior spore formation; e, the 
 spores and filaments within the pits. (After Halstead.) 
 
 much magnified, at e, where it is seen that slender filaments 
 arise and bear the spores upon the tips. A simple cavity can 
 thus produce an almost countless number of spores, and each 
 spore, under the best conditions, is probably able to inoculate 
 a whole potato. 
 
 As this form of rot is as yet only occasionally met with, 
 there is no cause for alarm from it, but the fungus nature of 
 the dry or pimply rot being established, it is evident that as a 
 safe preventive all such decayed potatoes should be destroyed 
 and not allowed to remain upon the soil, where the countless 
 spores may mature and spread the trouble. All possible pre- 
 
90 SWEET POTATO CULTUKE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 cautions should be taken in clearing away the rubbish alter 
 every crop. 
 
 THF SWEET POTATO SCURF. 
 
 [Moniloclixtes Infuscans. e. & hals.) 
 
 While studying the various diseases of the sweet potato, 
 many have asked for information concerning the brown and 
 rusty coat that so frequently appears upon the roots. In some 
 soils, nearly every potato will be wholly or in part covered 
 with a scurf, while elsewhere the roots are free from it. It is 
 quite objectionable, for while not causing the decay of the 
 roots there is a shrinking of the potatoes, and for this reason 
 and the less attractive appearance, the market value of scurfy 
 potatoes is a half dollar or so per barrel below those that are 
 bright and clean. 
 
 The scurf is due to the growth of a brown fungus that 
 penetrates for a short distance into the affected root. At a, 
 figure 56, is represented a potato partly covered over with the 
 scurf. At those places where the mould is worst the root has 
 a wrinkled appearnce, due to the drying out of some of the 
 juices from the tissue beneath, and a consequent contraction. 
 The fungus starts as a minute light-brown speck, and this 
 keeps on spreading and darkening until the whole root may 
 become of a quite dark color. The mould continues to spread 
 after harvesting, and only stops when the root is completely 
 covered with it, or the rind is thoroughly dried out in the 
 storage room. 
 
 At h is shown a highly magnified view of the surface of a 
 scurfy potato, and four projecting filaments of the fungus are 
 represented. Beneath the rind of the root the threads of the 
 mould penetrate in all directions near the surface, robbing the 
 substance as they go, and cause the withering of the affected 
 parts, as above mentioned and shown at a. One of the free, 
 upright, dark chains of cells is shown, more highly magnified, 
 at c, with two younger filaments coming from the same base, 
 and the nearly colorless and smaller thread extending below 
 as it penetrates the root and soon forks. At d is another chain 
 with less regular cells than c, and a larger portion of the 
 branched threads from below the surface, shown at e,some cells 
 of which bear dark bodies that may be spores." 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PORFIT. 
 
 91 
 
 "The scurf is found upon the roots above the potatoes, 
 particularly upon that portion from which all the potatoes 
 arise. No attempts have been made to find a remedy for this 
 trouble. It is likely that the fungus may pass from a scurfy 
 root used for propagation, to the sprouts developed from it, 
 
 Fig. 56. — The scurf, a, affected potato; b, magnified surface; c, fila- 
 ments of fungus; d and e, other threads, (e) from within the tissue. (After 
 Halstead.) 
 
 and therefore it is a precaution to use, if possible, roots for the 
 hot-bed that are bright and free from the scurf. It is also 
 possible that some quality of the soil may favor the growth pi 
 this dark mould, and when this is known something may be 
 
92 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 done to reduce the trouble. Some kinds of manure may favor 
 its development, and it is likely something could be applied to 
 the Ireshly-dug potatoes that would .check the spread of the 
 scurf. But until this mould becomes more damaging than at 
 present, it is not probable that growers of "sweets'' will com- 
 plain, especially while they have such destructive enemies to 
 contend with, as the soil and black rot previously treated in 
 this bulletin." 
 
 THE LEAF BLIGHT. 
 
 {Phylostictahataticola, e. and m.). 
 
 "A fungus quite similar in its structure and spore-forma- 
 tion to the dry rot, is often met with upon the sweet potato 
 leaves, where it produces white, dead patches. 
 
 "At a, Fig. 57, is shown a leaf thus affected with the blight. 
 The fungus sends its filaments in all directions through the 
 substance of the leaf, and after thriving for a time prepares for 
 the production of its spores. Certain spots become dead from 
 the excessive sapping by the fungus parasite at such places, 
 and in these the spores are developed in flask-shaped bodies 
 constructed for the purpose out of the filaments. At b may be 
 seen such a spot highly magnified, with a few of the spore con- 
 
 Fig. 57. — The leaf-blight fungus, a, leaf infested; 6, an enlarged 
 spot; c, section of one of the spore-bearing bodies; d, magnified spores. 
 (After Halstead.) 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 93 
 
 ceptacles within the dead area. A section made through this 
 portion of the leaf gives a longitudinal view of these bodies, as 
 seen at c. The multitudes of spores formed within the flask 
 pass out through the sharp neck when mature, which may be 
 the following summer, when a new crop of leaves is ready to 
 receive them. These spores are shown at d, highly magnified. 
 While this leaf blight may not attack the root, it neverthe- 
 less has a bad effect upon the plant. Anything that is injuri- 
 ous to the foliage invariably does harm to the whole plant, for 
 the leaves are the organs in which the nourishment is prepared 
 for the sustenance of all portions. The parasitic fungus at- 
 tacks the vigorous foliage and causes the dead white patches to 
 appear. There is but little doubt but that if it should become 
 noticeably destructive it might be held in check by spraying 
 the young vines with one of the many fungicides, but at the 
 present time it is not to be expected that such attempts will be 
 necessary. ■' 
 
 THE LEAF MOULD. 
 
 ( Cystopus ipomoesepandurauas, farl.). 
 
 "A second form of leaf fungi is much more abundant than 
 the blight above mentioned, and no doubt often has a decidedly 
 deleterious effect upon the crop. The affected leaves at first 
 lose their healthful green color, and the paleness is soon fol- 
 lowed by brown patches that after a time become quite dark. 
 Upon the under side there may be seen small patches of a 
 whitish color. These are places where the leaf-skin has been 
 broken and multitudes of white fungus spores have formed. 
 At c, in figure 58, is shown a small portion of the under side 
 of a sweet potato leaf with a few of the mould patches. A 
 section through a patch is shown at (i, and the fungus appears 
 as colorless threads, which, crowding together, have ruptured 
 the leaf, and the rows of cells expose their tips, from which 
 the older spherical spores are constantly ripening and falling 
 away. The free spores, more highly magnified, are shown at e. 
 
 There is a second form of spore to this species of mould, 
 but as far as known it is not produced upon the sweet potato 
 plant. Some parasitic fungi flourish upon several kinds of 
 plants, usually closely related, and this is true of the mould in 
 question. Many of the morning glory family are subject to its 
 attacks, and among others the wild morning glory, sometimes 
 
94 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURK FOR PROFIT. 
 
 called 'Man-of-the-earth.' This weed is not uncommon in the 
 sweet potato regions of New Jersey, and is remarkable for the 
 massive roots that are sometimes several feet in length and 
 weigh twenty or thirty pounds. At one place, where this 
 
 
 Fig. 58. — The leaf mould, a, viue a8 enlaroied by fungus; 6. winter 
 spores; c, portion of leaf as affected; d, section through spot; e, spores, 
 highly magnified. (After Halsted.) 
 
 vine-weed was found covering the ground in a large corn lot 
 adjoining a sweet potato field, nearly every stem and many of 
 the leaves were greatly distorted, as shown at a, in the figure. 
 It is a peculiarity of this fungus that its second kind of spores 
 are produced in swellings of this sort. These spores are many 
 times larger than those borne upon the leaves, and are for the 
 purpose of carrying the mould through the winter. When the 
 thick, brittle galls break up in spring the spores are set free, 
 and are ready to spread the mould to all susceptible plants, the 
 sweet potato being one of the leading ones. The chief point in 
 bringing in the weedy cousin in this connection is, that it is a 
 means of harboring the mould and furnishing proper conditions 
 ior its propagation and continuance from year to year. Know- 
 ing this, it would be wise to treat the weed as such, and pre- 
 vent it from maturing the galls filled with the winter spores of 
 the sweet potato mould. This is not the only case in which a 
 worthless plant serves as a home for fungi that also prey upon 
 field or garden crops." 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 95 
 
 ANOTHER STEM ROT. 
 
 {Nectria ipomeoe). 
 
 Prof. Byron D. Halstead* has described this disease, which 
 he found occurring on egg plants, under the common name of 
 •'egg plant stem rot." We have found it occurring with black 
 rot on sweet potatoes, both in the field and in the storage 
 room. The disease appears in small pink colored spots on all 
 parts of the potato. These pinkish spots, when placed under 
 a microscope, are seen to be spore sacks, containing immense 
 numbers ol spores. We have succeeded in making a pure cul- 
 ture of this disease, and infected a potato with the spores. The 
 potato shrivelled up and became very hard and dry in the 
 laboratory. 
 
 Fig. 59. — Shows the appearance of the potato that was infected with 
 stem rot. a, cut place where the spores were put into the potato. 
 
 While this potato became very dry, shrivelled and hard in 
 the laboratory, yet in the field where the soil is damp the in- 
 fected tubers are rather soft, and the spores, which occur in 
 pinkish spots, appear all over the surface. 
 
 ■•Twelfth Annual Report, N. J. Experiment Station, p. 281. 
 
96 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 I have not yet noticed it upon the young plants, but it is 
 evidently carried to the field on young slips from the bed. It 
 is probable also that spores may come from egg plants and 
 cause infection. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 Insect Enemies. 
 
 During most seasons the sweet potato is comparatively 
 free from injury done by insects. Occasionally, however, the 
 injury is quite serious. Most of the leaf eating insects can be 
 easily killed at small cost. A brief discussion of the more 
 injurious insects will be given, together with remedial meas- 
 ures. 
 
 Flea Beetles. These very small, dark, hopping insects, 
 often do the young plants great injury when first set out, and 
 before the roots have taken sufficient hold to force the plants 
 along. They eat numerous small holes in the leaves. One of 
 the best ways to prevent their injury is to dip the young plants 
 in the following preparation before they are planted out: 
 
 Paris green or London purple, 1 pound ; water, 175 gal- 
 lons; lime, 1 pound. 
 
 If the insects should attack the plants at any time after 
 they are set out, this mixture should be sprayed on them. 
 
 Cut Worms. These insects are quite injurious on sod 
 land. In order to starve them out, it is a good idea to keep 
 the field clean some time before the plants are set. If the 
 field is made clean some time before planting, and the follow- 
 ing precaution taken, the risk from damage will be greatly 
 lessened: Thoroughly spray a patch of fine tender grass with 
 one pound of London purple, stirred in 100 gallons of water, 
 and then cut the sprayed patch close and place small heaps of 
 the grass late in the afternoon to prevent wilting, at intervals 
 of about ten feet, over the ground. The insects will eat the 
 poisoned grass and die. 
 
 Sweet Potato Saw Flies {Schizocerus spp). If these 
 insects become serious, spray with formula recommended for 
 the flea beetles. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 Tortoise Beetles (Gassidce). Sometimes these insects 
 do great injury in both tlieir larva and pupa states, by eating 
 the foliage. Spray witli same formula recommended for flea 
 beetles. 
 
 Sweet Potato Hawk Moth (Macrosila Cingulata). 
 
 Growers sometimes call this insect the "horn worm." Its 
 large size renders it easily seen. Pick it off or spray with 
 formula recommended for flea beetles. 
 
 Sweet Potato Root Beetle {Cylas Formicarius). This 
 insect is supposed to have come from Cuba. It is spreading 
 through some of the southern states, and has done considerable 
 damage in Louisiana, Florida and Texas. It lives upon the 
 roots. The larva tunnels its way through the tubers, and is, 
 therefore, difficult to kill. Growers in the southern states 
 should be very careful in buying new seed. The only way so 
 far known to check it is to burn the tubers which have the 
 insects in. It is a practice of some growers to feed the in- 
 fested tubers to hogs. While this method will, no doubt, 
 destroy a great many, still it is not so sure as burning the 
 tubers. 
 
 Fig. 60. The sweet potato root bore {Cylas formicarius). Extreme 
 left hand figure, adult beetle, with enlarged antennae at right. Figure at 
 left center, pupa; at right center, larva; at extreme right, portion of 
 sweet potato tuber channeled by borer. AH figures except the last con- 
 siderably enlarged; natural sizes indicated by hair lines. (Drawn bj^ 
 L. Sullivan). 
 
98 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 CHAPTER XYII. 
 
 VINELESS SWEET POTATO. 
 Origin, History and Value. 
 
 There are a number of so-called vineless sweet potatoes, 
 such as "Bunch Yam,'* "Spanish Yam," "Florida Yam," "Vine- 
 less Gold Coin Prolific," Etc. "Bunch Yam" is really a syno- 
 nymn of vineless. After testing all the so-called vineless or 
 bunch sweet potatoes, which I could obtain through extended 
 correspondence, I have found only one variety, which comes 
 near being a "Vineless" variety. The vines of this variety 
 usually grow from two to four feet long, and bear a heavy 
 dense foliage on thick fleshy stems, which range from six to 
 twelve inches long, owing to soil and season. The character 
 of the foliage of this variety is shown in Fig. No. 61. There 
 are two variations from the vineless, both of which have foli- 
 age alike. The foliage of one is much smaller and less dense 
 on the vine. The vines run from four to eight feet. While 
 the tubers of one are just like the original, the tubers of the 
 other are reddish yellow, and resemble very much the Pump, 
 kin type. The character of the foliage on these two variations 
 from the true vineless is shown in Fig. No. 62. 
 
 ORIGIN OF THE VINELESS. 
 
 The following in regard to naming this "sport,'' and its 
 origin, was published in a bulletin by the author, December, 
 1893: 
 
 "We prefer to use the name 'Vineless' because it is shorter, 
 and hope the seedmen of the State will so catalogue it that 
 growers may not be deceived. 
 
 "It undoubtedly originated in Mississippi in 1884. The 
 following in regard to its origin was received from J. A. Burk- 
 itt & Sons, Abbott, Miss., October 9th, 1893 : 
 
 * * * "Yours of the 29th of September at hand, in reply 
 will state that the Southern Bunch Yam originated on Mr. 
 George Harvey's plantation, near Columbus, Miss.'' Also the 
 following from Mr. C. C. L. Dill, Dillburgh, Ala., was received 
 Oct. 2nd, 1893: * * * "The Vineless is no doubt the same as 
 the Bunch, and I am positive that the Bunch Yam is a sport of 
 the old fashioned Yam, since Harvey found it growing with 
 that variety in 1884, and all the seed people have obtained, no 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 99 
 
 doubt, can be traced to the same source, no matter what name 
 may be given them. I have written up the Bunch for most of 
 the leading agricultural papers, and no one has successfully 
 disputed its origin. Mr. Harvey lived just over the line in 
 Mississippi, and it is only a few miles from here. I am per- 
 sonally acquainted with his family and his immediate neighbors, 
 and all agree as to its origin, except that it is much larger." 
 
 This seems to be clear in regard to its origin, but while it may 
 have been found then there is evidence to which my attention was 
 called during the fall of 1895, that a "Vineless" variety was 
 known earlier. On this point I quote the following, which was 
 published in the ^(^a^jia TTee/f^j/ Constitution, December 26, 1893: 
 
 "In the year 1865 my father, T. D. Padleford, found in a 
 patch of the old-fashion long- vine yam, a hill of potatoes with 
 very short and heavy set vines, with its leaves set close 
 together on vines. In the fall he dug this odd looking 
 hill and found it to he exceedingly productive and large in 
 size, and splendid for the table. The potatoes were found to 
 be close around the stem or root in a cluster, the vines meas- 
 uring one to two feet when fully grown, and covered the 
 ground with a dense shade. 
 
 "The next season he tested this newly found curiosity 
 along by the side of its parent, and when dug in the fall were 
 found to outyield its parent by a little more than one-fourth, 
 much earlier and easier to cultivate, owing to shortness of 
 vines. He then gave the new oddity the name of "Bunch Yam," 
 owing to its habits and general appearance, having a very 
 bunchy top. My father, T. D. Padleford, claims to be the pro- 
 ducer of the Bunch Yam sweet potato, near Edwards, Hinds 
 county, Mississippi, though some one has — I suppose unthought- 
 edly — changed its name to the Vineless Yam, which name is, 
 I think, not appropriate, as the name is liable to mislead any 
 one not acquainted with the potato. 
 
 "The Bunch Yam is a sport of the old-fashioned long-vine 
 yam; plants of various kinds that do not mature their seed, 
 frequently sprout or spring off from the parent plant, and pro- 
 duce new varieties this way." * * * 
 
 A. S. Padleford, Edwards, Miss. 
 
 After corresponding with Mr. A. S. Padleford. we found 
 him convinced of the truthfulness of the above statement. 
 
 L.orc. 
 
100 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 While we have some conflicting evidence in regard to its 
 origin, the following points seem to be clear: 1st, it is a sport; 
 2nd, it came from the so-called "Yellow Yam.'' It resembles 
 tills variety in flavor, character of tubers, and in shape of the 
 foliage. 
 
 VALUE OF THE VINELESS. 
 
 After testing the Vineless for three years with a large 
 number of other varieties, the following was written in regard 
 to it for one of our bulletins, and after testing it another year, 
 I do not wish to make any change in what I have written con- 
 cerning it: 
 
 "Perhaps no other vegetable novelty which has been 
 introduced in the South in recent years has caused more com- 
 ment than the vineless sweet potato. The experimental stage 
 has been passed, and the value of this variety, like that of the 
 bunch Lima bean, has been established beyond question. In 
 Bulletin No. 28, we stated that the tops of the vines (leaves and 
 stems) could be cut with a mower. It has been stated as an 
 objection, that the ground is usually too rough to run a mower 
 over. With nearly a level culture, we have grown over three 
 hundred bushels per acre of this variety, and all the tops could 
 have easily been cut with a mower. The high value of the 
 tops for feed has been proven, but it is best to feed them 
 green, as they do not cure well. Frequently it is a good prac- 
 tice to mow ofP the heavy tops and leave the gritty runners on 
 the ground. Owing to the short vines of this variety, which 
 seldom grow over two to four feet long, I have seen it planted 
 in the corn fields and grown with fair success between the rows 
 of corn. The ground can be cultivated later, and the crop can 
 be harvested easier than when running varieties are used. 
 There is only one strain of the Vineless potato that we can 
 endorse. There are two others somewhat inclined to be vine- 
 less, but the foliage is much less dense, and the stems of the 
 leaves are not near so long nor so heavy as in the case of the 
 true Vineless. The other two, which are perhaps varieties of 
 the true Vineless, judging from the resemblance of the foliage 
 and vines, have not proven themselves to be as pro- 
 ductive here as the frue Vineless. This may account 
 for the partial failure some have reported on the Vineless. In 
 one of these strains there is not only a variation in the vines 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 101 
 
 and tops, but also in the tubers. One has all the flavor and 
 color of the true Vineless, but the other resembles very much 
 in color and quality the Pumpkin Yam. This being true, the 
 Vineless is likely to become the parent of an entirely new race 
 of sweet potatoes, ranging in quality from the soft sugary 
 yams of the South to sweet mealy Nansemonds of the North." 
 
 7ejr.Bjnx3t£e2^cmy 
 
 (One-half natural size). 
 
 Fig. 61. This figure shows the arrangement of the leaf stalks on the 
 vine of the Vineless variety. 
 
102 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 (One-half natural size). 
 
 Fig. 62. This figure shows the arrangement of the leaf stalks on the two 
 varieties from the Vineless variety. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 103 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Legal or Customary Weights of a Bushel of 
 Sweet Potatoes in Various States. 
 
 (Bailey's Bide Book). 
 
 TABLE XXVII. 
 
 Pounds. Pounds. 
 
 Arkansas 60 Montana 60 
 
 California Nebraska 50 
 
 Colorado Nevada 
 
 Connecticut New Hampshire 
 
 Delaware New Jersey 54 
 
 Georgia 55 New York 
 
 Illinois 50 North Carolin-' 
 
 Indiana 55 Ohio 50 
 
 Iowa 46 Oregon 
 
 Kansas 50 Pennsylvania 
 
 Kentucky 55 Ehode Island 
 
 Louisiana Tennessee 50 
 
 Maine Texas 55 
 
 Maryland 56 Vermont '. 
 
 Massachusetts 54 Virginia 56 
 
 Michigan 56 West Virginia 
 
 Minnesota Wisconsin 
 
 Missouri 56 Washington 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS LEGAL SIZE. 
 
 "The heap bushel contains 2564 cubic inches in Connect- 
 icut and Kansas; 2150.42 inches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
 Nebraska, Tennessee, Missouri and Washington. The bushel 
 measure must be IQJ inches in outside diameter, the half 
 bushel 15j inches, the peck 12J inches, in New York and Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 The bushel inclosure must be 18^ inches in inside diam- 
 eter, the half bushel 13,^4 inches, the peck lOK inches, and the 
 half peck 9 inches, in New Hampshire and Minnesota. 
 
 Produce sold by dry measure must be heaped as full as 
 the measure will hold in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, 
 California, Oregon and Washington. 
 
 Heap measure must be cylindrical, with a plane bottom in 
 New York and California. 
 
 The half bushel is thirteen and thirty-nine fortieths inches 
 in interior diameter, and seven and one twenty-fourth inches 
 deep in Ohio. It contains 1075 and one-fifth cubic inches in 
 Indiana." — Laws of 1892, Bailey's Rule Boole. 
 
104 
 
 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 NUMBER OF PLANTS REQUIRED TO SET AN ACRE OF GROUND 
 AT GIVEN DISTANCES. 
 
 One acre contains 43,560 square leet. 
 
 To find the number of plants to set an acre, multiply 
 together the two distances in feet or tenths of a foot, at which 
 the plants stand apart, and divide 43,560 by the product; the 
 quotient will be the number of plants required. 
 
 PLANTS 
 
 12x18 inches 29,040 
 
 12x20 " 
 
 12x24 " 
 
 12x30 " 
 
 12x36 " 
 
 12x42 " 
 
 12x48 " 
 
 12x54 " 
 
 12x60 " 
 
 15x15 " 
 
 15x18 " 
 
 15x20 " 
 
 15x24 " 
 
 15x30 " 
 
 15x36 " 
 
 15x42 " 
 
 15x48 " 
 
 16x54 " 
 
 26,036 
 
 18x18 
 
 ,21,780 
 
 18x20 
 
 17,424 
 
 18x24 
 
 14,520 
 
 18x30 
 
 12,446 
 
 18x36 
 
 10,890 
 
 18x42 
 
 9,680 
 
 18x48 
 
 8,712 
 
 18x54 
 
 27,878 
 
 18x60 
 
 23.232 
 
 20x20 
 
 20,908 
 
 20x24 
 
 17,424 
 
 20x30 
 
 13,939 
 
 20x36 
 
 11,616 
 
 20x42 
 
 9,950 
 
 20x48 
 
 8,712 
 
 20x54 
 
 , 7,744 
 
 
 PLANTS 
 
 15x60 inches 6,969 
 
 ' 19,360 
 
 ' 17,424 
 
 ■ 14,520 
 
 • 11,616 
 
 ■ 9,680 
 
 • 8,297 
 
 '• 7,260 
 
 • 6,453 
 
 ' 5,808 
 
 ■ 15,681 
 
 • 13,168 
 
 • 10,454 
 
 • 8,712 
 
 ' 7,467 
 
 • 6,534 
 
 • 5,308 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE WEATHER 
 Barometer Indications. 
 
 "Stationary barometer indicates continuation of the pres- 
 ent weather. 
 
 "Slowly rising barometer usually indicates lair weather. 
 
 "Slowly falling barometer indicates the approach of a 
 severe storm. One-fifth to one-third of an inch is sufficient 
 fall to give indications. 
 
 "Sudden rise of the barometer indicates the approach of 
 a storm or the breaking of an existing storm. 
 
 "Sudden fall of the barometer indicates high winds and 
 probably rain. 
 
 "When areas of low and high barometer are near together, 
 heavy gales may be expected." 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR I'ROFIT. 105 
 
 SOME POPULAR WEATHER SIGNS (HORT. RULE BOOK). 
 
 "Long lines of clouds extending up the sky from a com- 
 mon starting point, often foretells a storm from that quarter. 
 
 "When the fleecy or cirus clouds settle down into hori- 
 zontal bars or ribs in the upper sky, wet and foul weather may 
 be expected. This is 'mackeral sky.' 
 
 "If contiguous clouds move in various directions, rain is 
 likely to follow soon. 
 
 "When small black clouds scud over and overcast the sky, 
 heavy rain and bad weather may be expected. 
 
 "Cumulus clouds that preserve a well-rounded form, and 
 float high in the air, indicate fair weather, 
 
 "Anvil shaped, cumulus clouds usually indicate thunder- 
 storms. 
 
 "In spring and fall rain is often indicated by a dense bank 
 of gray clouds in the east, in front of which are little shoals of 
 blackish clouds. 
 
 "Cirro-cumulus clouds, like bunches and fleeces of wool, 
 scattered high in the sky, are indications of still and dry 
 weather, 
 
 "When the rays of the rising sun shoot far up into the 
 sky, fair weather may be expected. 
 
 "When the ray-like shadows of clouds overlie a hazy sky, 
 in the vicinity of the sun, rain is apt to follow. This is 
 expressed in the phrase the 'sun is drawing water.' 
 
 "Gaudy lines of blue and purple at sunset prophecy rain 
 and wind. 
 
 "A bright red sunset means fair weather for the morrow. 
 
 "A pale and diffuse sun at setting portends a storm. 
 
 "If the sunset is subdued purple, and the zenith is pale 
 blue, fair weather may be expected. 
 
 "A deep morning sky is usually followed by bad weather. 
 "A rosy or gray morning sky means good weather. 
 
 "A sonorous condition of the atmosphere foretells rain. 
 "A bank of clouds across the southern horizon in winter, 
 indicates snow. It is frequently called the 'snow bank.' 
 
 "If the sun rises clear, but becomes overcast within half 
 an hour, prepare for rain. 
 
 "A halo about the moon indicates a rani storm. 
 
106 SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
 
 "If the sky is white or yellowish, white nearly to the zen- 
 ith after sunset, prepare for rain soon. 
 
 "Strong east winds indicate a storm. 
 
 "Haziness is indicative of dry weather. It is due to dust 
 in the atmosphere. 
 
 "When haziness suddenly disappears and the sun sets 
 pale, and the sky is very clear, rain is probable. 
 
 "When stars twinkle with unusual prominence, rain may 
 be expected. 
 
 "Heavy dew indicates fair weather. 
 
 "Absence of dew for two or three mornings in succession, 
 in summer, is a precurser of rain. 
 
 "When sunshine is very hot and the shade very cold, and 
 the shadows very deep, 'there is frost in the air,' because the 
 air is very dry and radiations of heat little checked." 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 COOKING SWEET POTATOES. 
 
 I have found the following to be a very fine method; after 
 washing the potatoes, place them in a pan with a small amount 
 of water; while the potatoes are baking in a stove, shake the 
 pan occasionally so as to turn the potatoes over, to prevent 
 them burning on one side; pour in more water if needed, 
 keeping enough in so that the potatoes will be about dry when 
 done; place in a dish and serve while hot; peel them like 
 boiled Irish potatoes. Just before eating, put butter and salt 
 on them. 
 
 GLAZED SWEET POTATOES. 
 
 "Select potatoes of uniform size, pare and trim them into 
 long oval shape. Cook in boiling salted water until nearly 
 tender. Mix quarter of a cup of sugar and the same of butter, 
 and melt them in half a cup of hot water. Arrange the potatoes 
 in a granite pan. Moisten them with the sugar mixture. Set 
 them into the oven and baste frequently with this syrup. 
 Cook until they are covered with a rich brown glaze, but be 
 careful not to let them burn.'' 
 
 FRIED SWEET POTATOES. 
 
 After slicing the potatoes thin, place them in grease with 
 some white sugar, and fry like "Saratogas" until done. 
 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 107 
 
 SWEET POTATOPIE. 
 
 "One quart of sweet potatoes boiled and well drained, 
 three beaten eggs, three table spoonfuls of sugar, one table 
 spoonful of butter, half a nutmeg grated, half tea spoonful of 
 ground cinnamon, a little ground cloves, a little lemon peel, or 
 a little essence of lemon, enough cream to make the mixture of 
 the consistency of butter; make a rich pastry, and, covering 
 your bake plate, pour in the mixture and bake with a top 
 crust '' 
 
 SWEET POTATO PUDDING. 
 
 "Two cups mashed potato (the potato must first be 
 boiled), a cup of sugar, a small cup of butter, three eggs, one- 
 fourth teaspoonful soda dissolved in a little hot water, a tea- 
 spoonful lemon extract, and a halfteaspoonful grated nutmeg. 
 Beat the eggs until they are very light, rub the butter and 
 sugar to a cream, and mix all with the potato ; cover a deep 
 plate or shallow pudding dish with a thick crust; tlien put in 
 the mixture and bake slowly for three-fourths of an hour.'' 
 
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 TEXAS FARM AND RANCH, Dallas. 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 I 
 
 9J 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Analyses of sweet potatoes 6 
 
 At different periods 7 
 
 Irish and sweet potatoes compared 7 
 
 Sweet potato and corn compared 10 
 
 Bailey, Prof 68 
 
 Barbadoes 63 
 
 Brazilian 59 
 
 Bronze 60 
 
 Canning 8 
 
 Caroline (Ex. Ey.) 60 
 
 Classification 49 and 52-67 
 
 Climatic influence 13 
 
 Cooking sweet potatoes 106 
 
 Cost and profit 12 
 
 Coville, Prof 69 
 
 Cultivation, shallow or deep 36 
 
 Diseases 70 
 
 Black Eot 74-5-6-7-8-9 
 
 Dry Rot 88-9 
 
 Leaf Blight 92 
 
 Leaf Mould 93-4 
 
 Scurf 90-1 
 
 Soil Rot ■ 81-2-3-4 
 
 Stem Rot 85-6 and 95 
 
 Soft Rot 71-2-3 
 
 White Rot.. 87 
 
 Description of varieties . . .* 54 to 67 
 
 Distance between plants 32 
 
 Dog River 54 
 
 Drying sweet potatoes 9 
 
 Earliest (Cavitt's) 60 
 
 Early Golden 60 
 
 Fertilizers, ingredients of, in sweets 17 
 
 Composition compared 18 
 
 Diiferent form of Nitrogen 20 
 
 Formulas for the sweet potato 22 
 
 Home made and commercial 20 
 
 Phosphoric acid 21 
 
 Potash 21 
 
 Profits by use 20 
 
INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Georgia (Yam) 64 
 
 Gold Skin 61 
 
 Halstead, Prof IY-84-89 
 
 Hall (Nancy) 55 
 
 Harvesting 38 
 
 How and when 39 
 
 Hayman 55 
 
 Hayti Spanish 56 
 
 Insects, injurious' 96 
 
 Cut Worms 96 
 
 Flea Beetles 96 
 
 Hawk Moth 96 
 
 Saw Flies 96 
 
 Root Beetle 97 
 
 Tortoise Beetle 97 
 
 Irish potato VIII 
 
 Java No- 1 64 
 
 Jersey Red 61 
 
 Manure, horse 21 
 
 Marketing 69 
 
 Matejita 56 
 
 Nansemond 61 
 
 Negro Choker 61 
 
 Norton 61 
 
 Lifting vines 36-7 
 
 Oranage 57 
 
 Peabody 62 
 
 Pinching vines off 37 
 
 Plant beds 24-5 
 
 Pool's (Yam ) 62 
 
 Propagation 23 
 
 By slips 24 
 
 By vine-cuttings 30 
 
 By pieces of tubers 24 
 
 Bedding out 27 
 
 Providence 62 
 
 Queen ( of the west ) 62 
 
 Red Nansemond 63 
 
 Red Nose • • • 57 
 
 Rockport 65 
 
INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Rules of Nomenclature ^^ 
 
 "Seed," best kind ,g 
 
 Shanghai g^ 
 
 Shipping -j^^ 
 
 Soil, best kind ^g 
 
 Chemical analysis of 
 
 Preparation . 
 
 Southern Red gg 
 
 Spanish gg 
 
 "Sports" ^Q 
 
 Storing ^-^ 
 
 House method 
 
 In cellar ^ 
 
 Pit method 
 
 Strasburg g- 
 
 Sugar (Creole) g. 
 
 Tennessee l' ' gg 
 
 Ticotea oq 
 
 Transplanting '^^ 
 
 When to 
 
 Ridge or level • ^^^_. 
 
 Machinery for ' ' ' ' 
 
 Uijes of the svreet potato 
 
 For table 
 
 For canning " 
 
 For drying ' 
 
 For stock „ 
 
 Value of the sweet potato in the U. S 
 
 Texas -,-, 
 
 Vines and tops • , 
 
 Weather predictions '^^^ 
 
 Weights and measures 
 
 White Brazilian ' 
 
 4 
 
 \ am . 
 
 Origin 
 
 Culture 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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