62 The Sweet Potato 



THE PLANT-BED 



The kind of plant-bed to be used will depend on the 

 area to be planted, climatic conditions and the facilities 

 at hand for its preparation and operation. The grow- 

 ers of the Atlantic Coast area usually provide for one 

 large sash or an area equal to about 33 square feet for 

 each bushel of potatoes to be bedded. From 15 to 20 

 square feet of surface are required for a bushel of 

 medium-sized tubers, while an equal amount of small 

 roots will cover 25 to 30 square feet of bed, when they 

 are placed as close together as possible without touching. 



Location. 



The first and one of -the most important considera- 

 tions demanded by the plant-bed is its location. N'o 

 other one factor is so important as the choice of a good 

 site. Especially is this true when strong plants are 

 desired to provide the early crop. A high well-drained 

 spot should be selected, and in the regions north of 

 South Carolina a windbreak protecting the bed on the 

 north is very desirable. In any case, cold windy places 

 should be avoided, and unobstructed sunlight is essen- 

 tial. The southern or southeastern slope of a hill or a 

 location protected on the north and northwest by thick 

 woods or a large building is desirable. Where no nat- 

 ural protection is possible, growers often provide arti- 

 ficial windbreaks by the use of some thickly growing 

 hedge such as privet or arbor-vitae thickly planted. In 

 the more northern areas, a tight board fence is some- 

 times constructed around the bed, but usually when only 

 sweet potatoes are grown, protection on the north side 

 is sufficient. 



