296 SWEET POTATOES 



opened wth a small trowel or dibble, and the plant well pressed 

 into the soil. A good, expert man can set by hand one acre a day 

 if the plants are distributed for him. Four to five acres a day can 

 be planted with a transplanting machine. 



Distance Apart for Plants. Sweet potatoes are usually placed 

 in rows three and one-half or four feet apart, although the vine- 

 less or bunch varieties may be set somewhat closer. It is a common 

 practice to space them eighteen inches apart in the row, although on 

 rich land, where the potatoes are likely to be over-sized, it is an 

 advantage to set somewhat closer. The above spacing will require 

 about 10,000 plants per acre. 



Cultivation of Sweet Potatoes. The ordinary tools used for 

 cultivating corn or cotton are well adapted for use in the sweet 



FIG. 120. Special plow, fitted with two rolling coulters for digging sweet potatoes. 



potato crop. Usually one hoeing is required to clear grass and 

 weeds from the rows. Late in the season when the vines become 

 long, it is sometimes necessary to lay the vines aside for the last 

 cultivation. Some cultivators have an attachment for lifting the 

 vines at the last cultivation. 



Harvesting. The time of harvesting depends somewhat on 

 market demands. In trucking sections they may begin harvest 

 when the first potatoes are large enough to market, but the crop is 

 always cut short, as the smaller potatoes continue to grow for several 

 weeks after this period. The standard varieties are usually har- 

 vested in about four and a half months after planting. It is best 

 to harvest before severe frost. If the vines are killed by frost and 

 not cut off at once, the rotting vines will soon injure the sweet 

 potatoes. 



