THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 351 



may be obtained during the time that the grass is becoming estab- 

 lished. Allow the land to remain in grass one or two years and then 

 repeat the rotation. Where corn is followed by sweet potatoes in the 

 rotation, stable manure should be applied while fitting the land for 

 the corn, and commercial fertilizers should be applied with the sweet 

 potato crop. 



The usual depth of plowing in preparing land for corn will 

 prove satisfactory for sweet potatoes. The fact that sweet potatoes are 

 not planted in the field until quite late in the spring makes it possible 

 for the grower to select a time when conditions are favorable for the 

 preparation of the land. Plowing may be deferred until the soil has 

 become sufficiently dry to break up fine and mellow. It is important 

 that the land should be harrowed within a few hours after plowing ; 

 further fitting may be deferred until later, and if the soil is inclined 

 to be lumpy the work of pulverizing may best be done shortly after a 

 shower and while the lumps are mellow. When the primary work of 

 preparation is finished, the soil should be mellow to a depth of 6 or 7 

 inches and the surface smooth and even. Subsequent handling of 

 the soil preparatory to planting will depend upon whether ridge or 

 level culture is to be followed. 



Preparation for Planting. After plowing and fitting the land it 

 is generally allowed to lie several days before being put in shape for 

 planting. If level culture is to be practiced, the only thing necessary 

 will be to run the harrow over the soil once and then mark in both 

 directions at the desired distances for planting. The marking is 

 generally done with either a one-horse plow, a flat-soled marker, or a 

 disk marker. The disk marker is well adapted to this work, as it 

 throws up a slight ridge which furnishes fresh earth in which to 

 plant. Some growers who practice level culture mark the ground 

 with a small one-horse plow and throw up a slight ridge upon which 

 to plant ; behind the plow a roller is used to compress this ridge to a 

 low, flat elevation. Where the more universal ridge method of plant- 

 ing is employed the soil is thrown up by means of a turning plow or 

 a disk machine. The ridges should be made at least one week before 

 planting, in order that the soil may become settled and compact. The 

 majority of sweet-potato growers make the ridges whenever the land 

 is in good condition to work and then either roll or drag the tops just 

 ahead of the planters. 



Setting the Plants. The success of the crop depends largely 

 upon the way in which the plants start after being removed from the 

 bed and set in the field or garden. Practical growers always plan to 

 set the plants during a "season" or period when the conditions are 

 suitable to a quick start into growth, either just before a rain or as 

 soon afterward as the soil can be worked. The method of setting will 

 depend entirely upon local conditions and the acreage to be grown, the 

 essential features, however, being to get the roots in contact with moist 

 earth and the soil firmly pressed about the plants. The use of water 

 around the roots of the plants is desirable under most circumstances, 

 as it not only moistens the soil but assists in settling it about the roots. 



