SWEET POTATO 233 



Sweet clover can be sown only in the spring or 

 summer in very cold latitudes, but in those that 

 are mild it can be sown in the autumn or spring, 

 preferably the former. Usually not less than 15 

 pounds of the seed is sown to the acre. In the 

 South it is frequently sown on the surface of stub- 

 ble lands after the crop has been harvested, and 

 when thus sown it is only covered by the harrow. 

 If sweet clover is kept from blossoming, the land 

 will soon be freed from it. Although it seeds 

 profusely, the high price of seed at the present 

 time stands much in the way of extending its 

 growth. 



SWEET POTATO.— If one wishes to set out 

 100 to 200 sweet potato plants it may be cheaper 

 to buy them from a local dealer, or if they cannot be 

 obtained from him, to send to a seedsman and have 

 them sent by mail. If one wishes to set 500 or 

 more plants he had better raise them himself. 

 For growing plants the seed should be placed in a 

 hotbed in soil about 2 inches above the manure and 

 covered with at least 3 inches of soil; 4 would 

 be better. Place the seed potatoes one deep as 

 closely together as may be without touching. When 

 they are covered, press the soil down over them 

 firmly. The ideal size for seed is ij4 inches in 

 diameter. Be sure not to use seed that shows any 

 sign of black rot or any other fungous disease. A 

 peck of seed will raise 500 plants at the first pull- 

 ing. If care is taken not to disturb the potato 

 when pulling the plants, there may be a .second 

 pulling. 



Soil and Fertilizers. — A warm, sandy soil of fair 

 to good richness is to be preferred. If this type is 

 not available any kind may be used, but sticky soils 



