124 BIGGLE GARDEN BOOK 



therefore it is not grown, commercially, very far 

 north, although a supply for home use may be 

 grown almost anywhere south of central Michigan. 

 A very rich soil is not necessary; too much nitrogen 

 causes the plants to "run all to vines," but there 

 should be plenty of potash and phosphoric acid. 



The greater portion of the commercial crop is 

 grown from sets, or "draws," produced by sprouting 

 medium-sized potatoes in a warm bed of soil. In the 

 southern states the seed potatoes are sometimes cut 

 into pieces in the same manner as Irish potatoes and 

 planted in the row where they are to mature. In 

 the south Atlantic and Gulf Coast states the sweet 

 potato is frequently propagated by making vine cut- 

 tings. Where only a small area of sweet potatoes is 

 to be grown for home use, the necessary plants can 

 best be secured from some one who makes a busi- 

 ness of growing them. If an acre or more is to be 

 planted, the grower should write to the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, and get a 

 copy of free Farmers' Bulletin No. 324, which gives 

 full details impossible to give in the space at my 

 command. 



The "ridge" method of culture is quite common. 

 Probably it is the best way for the small garden. 

 Low ridges about a foot wide are thrown up, say 

 three feet apart from center to center, and are 

 rolled, or are allowed to settle a week or two be- 

 fore planting begins. The plants are set about fif- 

 teen inches apart along the center of each ridge. 

 Level planting is also practised, with the plants set 

 about thirty inches apart each way. This permits of 

 cultivating both ways until the vines interfere. 



In the North the plants are usually set the latter 

 part of May or the first of June; earlier in the 



