THE GROWING OF VEGETABLES 



199 



little greater. In localities where canning clubs are organ- 

 ized, the crop should be grown as it is well suited to canning. 

 Sweet -potato is a southern crop but is grown as far north 

 as the latitude of Philadelphia or New York. The soil should 

 be light and well drained, and an abundance of plant-food and 

 organic matter is desired. 

 The plants for setting in the 

 field are started from the 

 seed potatoes in special beds 

 in spring. Seed potatoes 

 may be started in hotbeds 

 (Fig. 113), slight heat being 

 produced bath by the manure 

 and sun. Much care must 

 be exercise^d in the manage- 

 ment of the starting bed to 

 maintain proper ventilation 

 and proper temperature. As 

 the sprouts become of proper 

 size and the season is warm 

 enough, trajisplanting be- 

 gins. The largest sprouts 

 are usually pulled first and 

 immediately set in rows 

 three to four feet apart, and? fiq. 113.— in selecting sweet potato 



IT 11 J ^ I • 1 _L ■ ' plants for the garden, use those which are 



the plants twelve to eighteen stocky and well rooted. (New Jersey Sta- 



inches apart in the rows. 



It is usual to set the plants in ridges raised a few inches 

 above the general level of the field. This makes the 

 soil warmer, stimulates the growth and insures good drainage. 

 The soil between the ridges is kept well stirred and the vines 

 are moved or lifted to keep them from rooting. The crop 

 requires the entire season for growth and is usually not har- 

 vested until the first light frost touches the vine tips. After 

 digging, the tubers are left to dry a few hours and then stored 



