PRACTICAL GARDElSriNG 



be put to a little better purpose early in the 

 spring. Plant the sprouted seed carefully in 

 a weU prepared and rich soil as soon as all 

 danger of frost has passed. If the seed is 

 given from four to five weeks to sprout and 

 cultivated frequently after planting, a crop 

 of fairly good-sized tubers may be harvested 

 in from seven to eight weeks. 



Still a better way to gain time in the spring 

 is to section oflF a shallow box with pasteboard, 

 making each compartment about three inches 

 square. Have the bottom of the box well 

 drained (Fig. 29) and put into it about one 

 and one-half inches of rich soil. Place the 

 tuber in the center of the compartment (Fig. 

 30) and cover it with soil. Place the box 

 where it has heat and water when necessary. 

 The soil should be kept moist but not wet. 

 The sprouts appear in about nine days. They 

 may be kept growing until they reach a height 

 of four inches. Remove the pasteboard care- 

 fully, lift out the block of soil and plant it so 

 that about one inch of the garden soil is added 



126 



