96 One Thousand Questioks in Agriculture 



of the potato by the sun is no disadvantage. We would not think 

 of planting potatoes directly from storage, because, owing to the lack 

 of development in the eyes, decay might get the start of germination. 



Potatoes and Frosts. 



Can I keep frost off of potato tops by building smudge fires? I 

 zvould like to plant about February I, but zve usually have a few light 

 frosts here during March. If I zuere to turn zuater in the field zvhen too 

 cold, zvould that keep the frost off, and if so, zvould I have to turn zuater 

 dozmi each rozv, or zvould one furrozv full of zvater to about every fourth 

 or sixth rozv be enough f 



You can prevent frost by smudging for potatoes just as you can 

 for other vegetables. The potato, however, needs little protection of 

 this kind and will endure a light frost which would be destructive 

 to tomatoes, melons, and other more tender growths. Unless you 

 have a very frosty situation, you can certainly grow potatoes without 

 frost protection, and they should be planted earlier than February 

 first if the ground is in good condition. The great secret of success 

 in growing potatoes in southern California is to get a good early 

 start before the heat and drought come on. Water will protect from 

 frost if the temperature only goes to about 28 degrees and does not 

 stay there too long. The more water there is exposed the longer 

 may be the protection, but probably not against a lower temperature. 



Growing Sweet Potato Plants. 



Hozv sliall I make a hot-bed to raise szveet potato plants? I don't 

 mean to put glass over bed, but zvaiit full description of an up-to-date 

 outfit for raising them. 



Manure hot-beds have been largely abandoned for growing sweet 

 potato slips, though, of course, you can grow them that way on a 

 small scale or for experiment. In the large sweet potato districts, 

 elaborate arrangements for bottom heat by circulation of hot water 

 or steam are in use. In a smaller way hot air works well. The Ari- 

 zona Experiment Station tells how a very good sweet potato hot-bed 

 at little cost is constructed as follows: A frame of rough boards 

 seven feet wide, twenty feet long and fourteen inches deep is laid 

 down over two flues made by digging two trenches one foot deep 

 and about two feet wide, lengthwise of the bed. These trenches are 

 covered with plank or iron roofing, and are equipped with a fire pit 

 at one end and short smokestack at the other. 



Four inches of soil is filled into this bed and sweet potatoes 

 placed upon it in a layer which is then covered with two or three 

 inches more of soil. Large potatoes may be split and laid flat side 

 down. The whole bed is then covered with muslin, operating on a 

 roller by which to cover and uncover the bed. Thus prepared, the 

 bed may easily be kept at a temperature of 60 to 70 degrees F. by 

 smouldering wood fires in the fire boxes. The potatoes, kept moist 

 at this temperature, sprout promptly and will be ready to transplant 



