140 WALL'S M A N u A L 



tuber. If the soil needs manure, it can be applied at 

 this time, in some concentrated form, fifty pounds of 

 Peruvian guano and fifty pounds of bone dust would 

 increase the crop very materially. Then bed up in 

 the usual way ; just before planting the slips the beds 

 should be "Hushed up." If your plants in the bed 

 are large enough, the best time to set them out is 

 just before a rain. If this cannot be done set them 

 out when there is a good season in the ground. 

 About two or three thorough workings will make 

 the crop. After the vines commence running, they 

 very often take root between the rows ; they must 

 be loosed from the soil, otherwise numerous tubers 

 will be formed in every direction, much to the injury 

 of the main crop. 



Sweet potatoes should be dug before they become 

 chilled by the frosts. They should not be allowed to 

 remain long in the sunshine, but be deposited as soon 

 as it can be made convenient, where they are to 

 remain, and covered with straw, corn stalks or other 

 dry litter. Earth may now be leisurely thrown on 

 in such way and in such quantity as to prevent the 

 ingress of water. A hole must be made and kept 

 open at the top, which should be sheltered by bark 

 or a piece of board. Another method of banking 

 which has been tried for a long series of years, and 

 found very successful, is as follows : Dig a ditch of 

 convenient length, two feet deep, and three feet 

 w r ide on high and dry ground, lay in a thick bed of 

 straw for bottom and sides, fill the ditch heaping 

 with potatoes, cover with straw, and then with earth, 

 leaving air holes at top, at intervals of three feet. 

 Upon a ridge-pole placed upon forks, and nearly 



