182 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



ther at the opening of spring or early in the fall. At New 

 York from March to July. 



It should be cut for drying soon after it begins to blossom. 



SWEET BASIL. 



French, Basilic. German, Basilikum. Spanish, Albahaca. 



SWEET MARJORAM. 



French, Marjolaine. German, Marjoran. Spanish, Mejorana. 



These are two aromatic herbs, used in cookery for seasoning, 

 -and may be sown and treated in all respects as summer savory. 

 See above. 



SWEET POTATO. 



French, Patate Sucrt. Patate Douce. Patate Malaga. German, Bataten. 

 Suesze Kartoffd. Spanish, Battatas. 



Sweet potatoes are raised from sets. These are either small 

 potatoes, raised for this purpose from summer cuttings of the 

 vines in the previous year, or the cullings of the general crop 

 carefully wintered in dry sand, etc., or the young shoots of 

 large or small wintered tubers, started at the opening of spring 

 in a hot bed or box to furnish sets for the season. 



When four or five inches long the shoots are ready for plant- 

 ing, and should be carefully taken off and set out as they suc- 

 cessively attain this size. 



Rich, warm, and, if possible, sandy soil must be chosen, and 

 about the time of corn-planting the hills should be carefully 

 prepared, at four feet apart each way, raising them slightly, 

 and mixing in plenty of rich compost, unless the whole has 

 been well manured. About the time of the first corn-hoeing 

 plant three or four sets in each hill, covering them three inches 

 deep if small or cut tubers are planted, and if the young shoots 

 are used let their points just appear above ground, and press 

 the earth gently about their lower ends ; or set them eighteen 

 inches apart, in rows three feet wide. 



Protect them a while from either cold or sun if it appears 

 necessary, and keep them perfectly clean and frequently hoed, 

 dressing them once or twice with plaster or ash compost, grad- 



