60 GAEDE^IXG FOE PROFIT. 



Sweet Potato plants are almost universally raised in 

 hot-beds ; but, as this is a plant that luxuriates in a high 

 temperature, the hot-bed should not be formed to start 

 them until the middle of April. The soil should be a 

 mixture of sand and leaf mold, laid on of the usual 

 thickness on the hot-bed, six inches. The roots are 

 placed close together, and the same sandj compost sifted 

 over them to the depth of two inches. Seme split the 

 large ones lengthwise and place them flat side down. 

 They should not be watered until they start to grow. 

 They are fit to plant out about six weeks after starting. 



Two most essential points in working hot-beds are in 

 covering up at night and in giving air during the day. 

 It often happens that a few mild nights in March or 

 April delude us into the belief that all the cold weather 

 is over, and the covering up is in consequence either care- 

 lessly performed or abandoned. Every season shows us 

 scores of victims to this mistake, who by one cold night 

 lose the whole labors of the season. It is always safest 

 to cover up tender plants, such as Tomatoes, Sweet Po- 

 tatoes, etc., until the 10th of May in this latitude, and 

 the more hardy plants, such as Cabbage, to the l&t of 

 April, when raised in hot-beds. Even if there is no dan- 

 ger from freezing, it will give a more uniform tempera- 

 ture, and consequently conduce to a more healthy growth. 

 The want of close attention in airing is equally danger- 

 ous. Often an hour's delay in raising the sashes will 

 result in the scorching up of the whole contents of the 

 hot-bed, and irregularity of airing will always produce 

 " drawn" and spindling plants, even when they are not 

 entirely killed. The thermometer is the only safe guide, 

 and should be regularly consulted, and whenever it indi- 

 cates seventy-five degrees, it is safe to admit more or less 

 of the outer air, proportioned of course to the condition 

 of the atmosphere. If there be bright sunshine and cold 

 wind, very little will suffice ; if calm, mild, and sunny, 



