HOW TO GROW SWEET POTATOES IN CANADA. 



/:?TTn1HERE are a large number of 

 people who have the impres- 

 sion that the sweet potato can- 

 not be grown in this climate ; 

 that they are an article peculiar to the 

 South. 



As I have for a number of years ex- 

 perimented in growing them in order to 

 find the variety best suited to this 

 climate, I have at last succeeded (to 

 my own satisfaction at least). I have 

 planted all known standard as well 

 as all fancy varieties that I could obtain. 

 Last year I heard of a new kind called 

 the Golden Coin, for which I sent a 

 fabulous price, but the person to whom 

 I sent the money obtained the Coin 

 while I obtained a fine lot of tops with 

 tubers like lead pencils. 



I have been frequently asked how do 

 I raise such fine potatoes ? My answer 

 is, Can you raise cucumbers ? They 

 look at me in amazement, and seem to 

 think I am losing my reason, but it is 

 even so. If you can raise cucumbers 

 you can raise sweet potatoes You 

 would not think of raising the cucumber 

 without first preparing the ground and 

 using plenty of manure if you want them 

 early and good. 



If you want good potatoes the greater 

 part of the work is done before the 

 the plants are set out. 



Obtain your plants as early as possi- 

 ble, (from May ist to June ist,) set 

 them out in fruit boxes, four plants in 

 each box, then put them in a cold 

 frame, or hot-bed with gentle heat, ven- 

 tilate well through the day, protect well 

 at night especially if the weather is cold. 

 Do not give too much water or they 



will rot, better too dry than too wet. 

 About the first week in June have your 

 ground good and mellow, mark it off 

 into rows about 2 ft. 6 in. or 3 ft. each 

 way. Now at every corner place a fork- 

 ful of well rotted manure, do not use 

 fresh manure as the results are much 

 better from that which is well rotted. 



After placing the manure in position, 

 take your hoe and chop it up mixing 

 the soil with it, then form it into a nice 

 hill with the prepared soil in the centre. 

 When you have thus prepared your 

 ground you are now ready to set out 

 the plants as soon as you feel safe 

 from frost. Do not be in too great a 

 hurry to get them out, the plants do not 

 like cold weather, they will stand hot 

 and dry, much better than cold and wet. 

 After the ground has settled and you 

 feel safe to set out, take the plants from 

 boxes the same as you would re-pot any 

 flower, by striking the box on its side, 

 and place the ball in the centre of the 

 hill prepared for it by making a hole for 

 it, press the dirt well up to it, and so on, 

 until you have set them all out. Stir 

 the ground often to keep down the 

 weeds and keep the plants well hilled 

 up. As soon as the vines begin to run 

 nicely, stop working for the ground 

 should be clean by this time. Now 

 wait for results. You will have no 

 trouble with potato bugs or insects, for 

 I have yet to find an enemy to destroy 

 either vine or tuber. If you follow the 

 above directions I am sure you will be 

 well rewarded for your trouble. 



W. E. Leadbeater. 

 Woodstock, Ont. 



