602 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



axillary, like those of a Convolvulus, seldom blooming in the 

 climate of Paris ; roots abundant, very much ramified, and bearing 

 tubers more or less rounded or elongated in shape, according to 

 the variety. The flesh of these tubers is tender, floury, sweet, and, 

 in most cases, rather perfumed. They are the edible part of the 

 plant, and are produced in very great abundance in warm countries, 

 where, as an article of food, they occupy, to a certain extent, the 

 same place which the Potato does with us. 



Culture. — As the Sweet Potato requires a rather long time 

 to complete its growth, it is difficult to cultivate it in the climate 

 of Paris without the aid of artificial heat ; and as, moreover, the 

 tubers keep badly in northern countries, gardeners are in the habit 

 of starting some plants in the middle or end of winter, either in a 

 plant-house or in a hot-bed. As soon as the shoots are strong 

 enough, they are detached from the tubers and planted separately 

 in pots, in which they remain until they are planted out. This is 

 done from March to the end of May, according as it is desired to 

 forward the growth of the plants. Those planted out in March 

 and April should have the protection of a frame. In May this is 

 not required, and the plants may then be simply put out on beds 

 of dry leaves covered with from 4 to 6 in. of light soil or compost. 

 Copious waterings are necessary as soon as the hot weather 

 commences, and the stems quickly cover the whole bed, and even 

 extend beyond it. In the South only, the Sweet Potato may be 

 planted in the open air on sloping beds of rich mellow soil, and 

 watered by means of trenches cut between the beds, which should 

 be at least 6J ft. apart. The tubers are well grown in four or five 

 months, and are taken up as late as possible in the climate of 

 Paris, but care must be taken to lift the crop as soon as the stems 

 and leaves have been touched by frost, as, the soil being no longer 

 covered by the foliage, the frost would easily reach the tubers, 

 which very often grow level with the surface of the ground, and are 

 very sensitive to cold. The tubers are very difficult to keep, cold 

 and damp being equally injurious to them ; they should, therefore, 

 be kept in a very dry place, the temperature of which should be as 

 uniform as possible, and never fall below 5 or 6° C. (40" or 42"* 

 Fahr.). It is sometimes a good plan to store them in boxes, which 

 are then filled up with dry sand, peat, or sawdust. The tubers 

 should not be allowed to touch one another, and the boxes should 

 be examined from time to time, and any tubers which have 

 commenced to decay should be removed. Like the ordinary 

 Potato, the Sweet Potato may be propagated from seed, but 

 varieties are not reproduced true in this way, and it is only 

 employed for the purpose of raising new varieties. However, the 

 plant never seeds in the climate of Paris, and it is useless to 

 attempt the culture of it in England. 



