298 SCHOOL AND HOME GAKDENS 



THE SWEET POTATO 



Sweet-potato plants may be grown from roots in hot- 

 beds or in window boxes in sand or fine soil. Cover the 

 roots to a depth of two inches and keep moist but not 

 too wet. They may be grown at home or in schoolrooms 

 at the ordinary temperature. Start them about a month 

 before the plants are to be set out. After they are four 

 or five inches long, pull them without disturbing the 

 roots. The same roots will continue yielding sprouts. 



Soil. Sweet potatoes grow best on rich, light, sandy 

 soil. Before the plants are set out, the soil may be given 

 a dressing of barnyard manure ; they may be planted 

 on level soil, but some prefer growing them on ridges 

 made by throwing two furrows together. 



Setting out plants. Plants may be set eighteen inches 

 apart, keeping three feet between the rows. They should 

 be set some deeper than in the sprouting box or hotbed. 

 Water the plants as they are set out. Transplant on a 

 cloudy day if possible. Shading the vines for a day or 

 two will give them a vigorous start. 



Culture. Keep a surface mulch over the ground until 

 the vines cover it, and pull any weeds that may come up. 



Harvesting. Leave the roots in the ground until frost. 

 Much growing is done late in the season. When frosts 

 set in, cut off the vines with a hoe ; the crop may be dug 

 later. Sweet potatoes that have had the vines injured 

 by frosts will lose much of their flavor. Store the roots 

 in boxes of sand in a dry cellar out of the reach of frost. 



