256 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



before the young plants are wanted. By pushing the 

 sets ahead in a hotbed, one will have new potatoes at 

 least a month earlier than by waiting for them to sprout 

 in the field. The early crop will be found to be among 

 the most profitable for shipping ; if the crop is wanted for 

 home consumption, it will be sufficient to make a bed in 

 the open from which to obtain sets. The amount of space 

 required in a hotbed for a bushel of potatoes varies from 

 9 to 32 square feet, depending on the size of the potatoes 

 used. The number of these plants required for an acre is 

 from 5000 to 12,000, varying with the locality and the 

 character of the soil. 



For repeated "drawing," 1| to 2 bushels of small po- 

 tatoes, or 4 to 10 bushels of large ones are required to give 

 sets enough to plant an acre. Double that quantity will 

 give enough sets at one drawing to plant an acre. 



The main crop of sweet potatoes is grown by vine cut- 

 tings from an early patch planted by " sets." 



Preparation of the land for sweet potato, and transplanting. 



Nearly all of the crop is planted out on ridges to allow 

 of drainage, but it is a question whether this is the most 

 desirable method on sandy land. For an extensive crop 

 the plants may be set in checks ; this requires fewer plants 

 to an acre and gives a smaller yield, but it does away 

 with most or all of the hoeing, which is an expensive 

 operation. 



The labor of transplanting is an important item of 

 expense, and if this could be reduced it would largely in- 

 crease the acreage. The transplanting machine is some- 

 times used for this crop. 



