212 GARDEOTNG FOR PROFIT. 



in saving the tubers sound enough until spring, to start 

 for sprouting to produce young plants. The great essen- 

 tials to their good preservation, are a dry and rather 

 warm atmosphere; the cellar, suitable to preserve the 

 common Potato, being usually much too cold and damp 

 for this. Where there is no place of the necessary high 

 temperature, it is best to get them in spring direct from 

 some southern market) where they can always be had in 

 good condition ; or they can be kept by packing in bar- 

 rels in dry sand, and keeping them in a warm room. In 

 this district, we begin to start the tubers in hot-beds or 

 forcing pits, about the middle of April, laying them thickly 

 together on a 2-inch layer of sand and leaf-mold compost- 

 ed together, (or sand alone will suit if leaf-mold cannot 

 be had) ; as soon as the buds or eyes show signs of start- 

 ing, cover the tubers completely over to the thickness of 

 an inch with the same material. Treat as for other tender 

 plants in the hot-bed or forcing pit, and the sprouts or slips 

 will be ready for planting out by the first of June, 



Market gardeners often make the sale of Sweet Potato 

 plants a very profitable operation, immense quantities of 

 them being sold to private growers at the planting season. 

 As the sprouts from the tubers come up very thickly, re- 

 peated thinnings are made, which is not only profitable to 

 the grower, but of great advantage to the remaining plants, 

 by giving them the necessary room to grow. One grower, 

 in this vicinity, informed me that last season he sold up- 

 wards of $1000 worth of plants from 150 sashes. The 

 profit from the cultivation of the plant in the field is 

 something less than that from Tomatoes, but more than 

 from the common Potato. 



