218 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



hot-bed for a bushel of potatoes varies from nine to 

 thirty -two square feet, depending on the size of the 

 potatoes used. 



The number of plants required for an acre varies 

 from 5,000 to 10 ? 000, varying with the locality and the 

 character of the soil. 



For repeated drawing, one and a half to two bushels 

 of small roots and four to ten bushels of large ones are 

 required to give sets enough for an acre. Double that 

 quantity will give enough sets at one drawing to 

 plant an acre. 



As to the size of roots to choose for growing sets, it 

 is still a doubtful question. As soon as the set is de- 

 tached from the potato, it can no longer draw on that 

 for nourishment, consequently there is a wide differ- 

 ence between this and the Irish potato. The smaller 

 roots keep easier and produce more sets to the square 

 foot of hot- bed that they occupy, so they are in greater 

 favor among the gardeners of the North. It is proba- 

 ble that the individual root has less influence over the 

 future crop than the parent plant ; in other words, 

 small roots from a fine strain are preferable to large 

 roots from a poor one. 



Sweet potatoes may be grown from cuttings as well 

 as from sets. There is not sufficient evidence to de- 

 termine which plan will give the larger yield, but it is 

 quite a saving of material to be able to use cuttings of 

 vines. 



This crop may be planted as late as the first of July, 

 but the bulk of it should be in by the first of June. 



PREPARATION OF THE LAND AND TRANSPLANTING. 



Nearly all of the crop is planted out on ridges, but 

 it is a question whether this is the most desirable 

 method on our land. Experiments in Georgia gave 

 level cultivation an advantage of 9 per cent, in yield, 



