VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH WALES, 79 



The plants necessary for producing an early crop are obtained by placing 

 the roots usually small, slender tubers kept over for this purpose from the 

 previous season in sand in a cold frame or hot bed. The tubers should be 

 placed close together, but not touching, and then covered with 2 or 3 inches of 

 sand (river sand prefers d) ; the whole bed should then be well watered and 

 covered with a glass sash or frame of hessian. By raising a corner of the 

 frame, enough air can be admitted to prevent rot setting in. The bed should 

 be kept moist, but not wet, and covered until the plants show through the 

 sand when the covering should be removed during the daytime, but replaced 

 at night. This is done UK til all danger of frost is past. The " plants," 

 when 6 or 8 inches long, are ready for planting out. (See illustration) 



By bedding the roots early, the addition of bottom heat is unnecessary in 

 comparatively warm districts. If tubers are set in the frame about the end 

 of July or beginning of August, plants will be ready as early as it is safe to 

 put them out. Plants raised on sandj and without artificial heat, are hardier 



Sweet Potato "root," with plants ready for breaking off and planting out. 



than if raised in a rich compost and on a hot bed. and in addition, the risk 

 of introducing disease is lessened. In a cold district, or where bedding- 

 down has been delayed, it will probably be found necessary to use some sort 

 of bottom heat. 



One or two tubers, bedded in a small box or kerosene tin, if placed in a 

 sunny situation, and covered at night, will supply sufficient plants for a 

 kitchen garden. 



In mild districts, plants quite early enough for a main crop can be 

 obtained by bedding the tubers in the open ground in a sheltered situation 

 with an easterly aspect, or, cuttings 6 or 8 inches long may be made from 

 the vines of the early-planted crop and set out in the same way as the plants 



