86 The Sweet Potato 



Field methods. 



The commercial plant-grower ordinarily employs 

 either eoldframes or flue-heated or pipe-heated hotbeds, 

 the former in the southern and southwestern areas and 

 the latter farther north. Cloth covers are used on the 

 eoldframes commonly and the heds are prepared as de- 

 scribed for ordinary eoldframes. (See page 66.) An 

 adequate supply of water must be provided by piping 

 and hose connections, by running one or two pipes 

 through the area covered by beds on which are numerous 

 faucets for hose attachment. Men must be kept busy 

 continually, providing for the proper moisture require- 

 ments of the beds. 



Drawing of the slips is done by negro women and 

 girls who may be employed at a relatively low figure 

 and can accomplish work satisfactorily. The slips are 

 pulled and placed in piles, 200 plants to each pile. One 

 or more of the hands is kept busy tying these bundles 

 and putting them into containers to be transported to 

 the packing-shed. A superintendent is necessary to see 

 that the drawing is done carefully and that the counting 

 is correct. At the packing-shed the plants are received 

 by the packer in charge who stacks them roots down and 

 one layer deep in a shallow pit, the bottom of which is 

 covered with damp moss, the different varieties of 

 course being kept separate. The packer will find it con- 

 venient to work on a low platform on which the plants 

 are packed in sacks, crates or boxes. To his right and 

 above the packing platform is a roughly constructed 

 board desk on which is kept in plain view the order- 

 sheet, the corresponding shipping tags and miscellan- 

 eous supplies. Hanging over the packing platform is a 



