80 The Sweet Potato 



mixture in such cases, for the purpose of killing some of 

 the causal fungi which may be present. However, pre- 

 vention is far easier and more reliable. 



DEAWHifG THE PIANTS 



Sweet potato plants should not be set in the field 

 until after all danger of frost is past. The plants will 

 ordinarily be ready for drawing five weeks after the hot- 

 bed has been put down, although seven or eight weeks 

 are sometimes required for plants to reach proper devel- 

 opment in a eoldframe or open bed. The ground for 

 planting should be ready and the plants promptly pulled 

 when they are 5 to 6 inches high. The common prac- 

 tice of waiting for a rain to transplant is unnecessary if 

 one-half pint of water is applied to each plant when set. 

 In fact, many growers claim the plants grow off better 

 when set in this way. 



The plants should be drawn carefully one at a time. 

 If the roots of several plants are grown together, they 

 should be separated at the bed to avoid delay in the 

 field. Drawing should be done by giving the plant a 

 sidewise pull with the right hand while the left hand is 

 employed in holding the ground firmly to prevent the 

 mother potato from being disturbed or drawn up. As 

 the plants are pulled, they should be placed in baskets or 

 crates and covered with a burlap sack or with hay to 

 prevent drying out while being carried to the field. It 

 will often be convenient to have a small shed, at the bed 

 in which the plants may be stored with roots down until 

 needed in the field. Many commercial plant-growers 

 have a special shed for this purpose which is provided 

 with a shallow pit in which the bundles of plants (100 

 or 200 in a bundle) may be stacked with the roots in 



