STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 151 



spring, when about three feet high; and as soon as sufficiently 

 decayed was ridged and planted to sweet potatoes, which yielded 

 about two hundred and twenty-five bushels per acre. In '88 it 

 was again planted to sweet potatoes and produced equally well. 

 Last spring this field was again planted to strawberries, which 

 are as tine a stand, and promise as good a crop this season as any 

 I have ever grown. In 1891, as soon as the crop is off I propose 

 to repeat this proceeding, and by so doing expect to keep the 

 land in good condition, and I think any one on similar soil can 

 do likewise. 



CULTIVATING AND MARKETING TOMATOES AND 



SWEET POTATOES. 



BY T. E. GOODRICH, COBDEN. 



Tomatoes — riant in rows in hot bed, one and one-half ounces 

 of seed for each 1000 plants desired. Here we plant from Eeb- 

 uary 3d to March 1st. When the plants begin to crowd or show 

 the second pair of leaves, transplant to three inches apart each 

 way. AVhen the plants become large enough for the leaves to 

 reach across the rows, transplant to six inches. If early plants 

 are desired an extra transplanting will be beneficial. 



To prepare the plants for setting in the field, cut the soil both 

 ways in the center of the rows with a long butcher knife, after 

 which the plants can be removed with a six inch block of earth, 

 by using a spade. 



Plants will block out better if the ground is thoroughly 

 drenched with water the day before. Set in the field five feet 

 apart each way, and cultivate as for corn. Stake and tie as 

 often as necessary. 



The usual packages for shipping tomatoes are fourth bushel 

 boxes, and half bushel crates containing four baskets. 



Sweet Potatoes — In selecting seed reject all crooked and un- 

 usually long potatoes, and plant those showing a tendency to 

 become short and larger in the center, with a rapid taper 

 towards each end. Place in a hot bed horizontally one-half 

 inch apart, drench with water, cover three inches with earth, 

 then one and a half inches of sand. When the plants are four 

 inches above ground, they are large enough to pull for sets. 

 Ridge the ground with a two-horse plow, four feet or less apart, 

 and with a spade plant on the ridges, eighteen inches apart. 

 Keep free from weeds and grass. A sweet potato scraper, 

 drawn by a mule, will be of great assistance until the vines 

 cover the ground, after which little attention will be required. 

 Digging can be done with a spade, if only a small quantity is 

 grown, or with a plow with the mould board removed, and a 

 rolling cutter to cut the vines. 



