Excessively high and low pHs can be detrimental for the use of water. High pH causes a bitter taste, water pipes and water-using appliances become encrusted with deposits, and it depresses the effectiveness of the disinfection of chlorine, thereby causing the need for additional chlorine when pH is high.
Carver's records included the following sweet potato products: 73 dyes, 17 wood fillers, 14 candies, 5 library pastes, 5 breakfast foods, 4 starches, 4 flours, and 3 molasses. He also had listings for vinegars, dry coffee and instant coffee, candy, after-dinner mints, orange drops, and lemon drops.
During 2010, I tried to grow sweet potatoes in Seattle. Briefly summarized: I learned that cultivars vary immensely and that growing sweet potato plants for their edible leaves is well worthwhile; but for their swollen roots alone, I found them not worth space in a garden here. The sweet potato is well known as a crop adapted to, and thriving in, warm and hot places.