234 SWEET POTATOES. 



Middle States. Formerly the supply for the North- 

 ern markets came from Virginia and the Carolinas, 

 but now farmers in New Jersey and other States as 

 far north, having light sandy soil, are turning their 

 attention more and more every year to the cultiva- 

 tion of it as a profitable market crop. 



It is useless to attempt growing the Sweet Pota- 

 toes, with any hopes of success, on a heavy clay soil. 

 They will only reach their full size on a light, warm, 

 sandy soil. In the Northern or Middle States the 

 plants should be started imder glass, and transplanted 

 to the open air in June. 



About the first of April a moderate hot-bed is 

 made, putting on top of the manure, when the frame 

 is in place, two inches of good garden-soil. The Po- 

 tatoes selected for seed, should be fine specimens. 

 These should be cut lengthwise in two, then placed 

 close to each other, flat side down, in the frame, and 

 covered at once with about three inches of garden- 

 moi;ld, putting on the sashes immediately. In fifteen 

 days from the time of planting, the young sproiits 

 will be well above ground; then they should have an 

 abundance of air daily, or else they will grow too 

 long and spindling. They may be grown in hills, 

 three feet apart each way — either in the open field 

 or garden. A shovelful of well-rotted manure is 

 thrown on the spot and well mixed with the soil, 

 forming a raised mound like a Cucumber hill, only 

 larger. The plants may be separated from the Pota- 

 to by pressing them off with the thumb and finger. 

 They should be at once planted in the hill ; this must 

 be done early in June, on a damp or cloudy day. 



