SWEET POTATO 235 



apart. In setting them use a dibble and after in- 

 serting the plant in the hole press the soil firmly 

 about it. A week or two after the plants are set, 

 a cultivator may be run between the ridges and 

 although it may tear them down somewhat, it will 

 not disturb the plants. It might be well about this 

 time to hoe between the plants, or probably a little 

 later. The plants should not be set until danger of 

 frost is over. The setting may be done in any way 

 most convenient, provided plants in good condition 

 are set firmly into good, moist soil, preferably late 

 in the afternoon or evening, or on a cloudy day. 

 If set in this way no watering is needed, but have 

 the plants wet at the time of setting. If the weather 

 is hot and the ground very dry it will be necessary 

 to use water. 



Setting Large Areas. — When many plants are to 

 be set and the ridges are in good condition, run a 

 furrow a little to one side of the center of the ridge 

 with a hand wheel plow and have the plants 

 dropped on the side of this furrow, which is in the 

 center of the ridge. A man follows and covers 

 with a hoe, stepping on the soil over each plant 

 with his whole weight, thus packing it firm and 

 tight. Plants are dropped at a distance of 12 to 24 

 inches apart, according to the variety and the pur- 

 pose for which they are being grown, but about 15 

 inches apart is the usual average. 



In a week or ten days after the plants are set, 

 they should be gone through with a cultivator. I 

 like the harrow cultivator best for the first time. 

 At this time they should also be gone over lightly 

 with the hoe and if any of the first setting have died 

 they may be replaced in order that the stand may 

 be as perfect as possible. After this the cultivator 



