Propagation 85 



THE COMMEECIAL PXAKTT BUSINESS 



In recent years there has been a large demand for 

 sweet potato plants of pure varieties which are free from 

 disease. The greater part of the sweet potato crop in 

 the South is raised by small farmers who produce just 

 enough for home use and possibly a few to sell on the 

 local markets. These growers usually prefer to buy a 

 new supply of seed or plants each year for their small 

 area. Eecently a number of large sweet potato storage 

 companies have been formed for the purpose of produc- 

 ing, buying and storing the crop. These organizations 

 require large supplies of plants to set their new area. 

 These conditions and the continually increasing interest 

 which has been taken in sweet potato production in re- 

 cent years have given rise to the development of a num- 

 ber of commercial plant industries. 



Two months will cover the time required to produce 

 salable plants from seed. As a bushel of seed which 

 can ordinarily be bought for $2.00 or less will produce 

 from 2,000 to 4,000 plants worth as much a thousand 

 as the original bushel of seed cost, there is opportunity 

 to realize a good margin of profit in a comparatively 

 short time if proper care is exercised. Often heavy 

 rains will prevent the beds from " slipping " just at the 

 season when the plants are most in demand, while later 

 on an abundance of plants may be produced which can- 

 not be disposed of on the later market. However, since 

 some growers bed 10,000 bushels or more seed, assuming 

 the risk of their disposal, it is evidence that the business 

 can be made to pay if properly handled and unfortunate 

 occurrences do not interfere. 



