The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-03-20
From the Farmer and Planter.
Early Culture of the Sweet Potato, Hot
Beds, Sprouting, &c.

glass cover, they may be prepared for set,
ting out early in the month Of April, and
large fine potatoes obtained, with proper
culture. in early July.
The best material for hot bed, is fresh
horse stable manure, that has not been
Iotted, and if mixed with onerfourth of its
bulk of either saw dust, fresh leaves. tan
bark or straw, the heat would be more
mild and durable, and less liable 10 scald
the potatoes.
Early in this month, for this latitude,
haul the materials for the bed and nix
them together in ridge where the bed
is made, and rs soon "a it is not. sh axe
1t thoroughly, mixing the cold and hot,
wet and dry portions together, forming a
bed on top OF the ground, which, when
settled with the fork, mot tramped) should
he fourteen inches high, more or less, As
there Is greater or less proportion oi
manure used, and six inches wider on all
| sides than the frame which is TO be placed
over it. Hot bed frames may be made
OF inch plank, framed together at the ends
with keys, to be taken apart and placed
IN the dry when not in use. They NAV
be 20 feet or less in length, and for con
venience should not exceed feet n width
The front or south side should be s inch
es high, the north from IL to 20 inches,
according TO the slope OF the ground on
which the bed stands, as the top of The
frame should have pitch of IL inches,
to secure the heat Of the sun, and shed
off the rain freely.
Cover the beds five inches deep with
good mellow earth, on which se, the
frames, and proceed to lay the potatoes,
Two inches apart, regularly, until the
whole bed is filled. Cover the potatoes
with three inches Of good soil that is free
from foul seeds and will not bake-top
soil from the woods and around old de,
caved logs would be preferable.
During the first ten days the beds
should be carefully examined, BY running
The hand down to the manure, and if It
becomes so warm as to be unpleasant TO
the hand, there is danger Of scaldinp the
potatoes, and should be cooled by water.
ing, being careful not to apply too much
at a time.
Pulling the plants before all are prop
er sze, is the cause Of thousands being
destroyed, and to avoid thie, the beddiug
may be continued week or ten DAYS,
that the plants may be pulled in success
sion. The beds must be covered at night
ard in cold and wet weather, and be par
ticu'ar to uncover them every lair, warm
day, to tougher the plants and inure
hAn to ntx 4
beds cause the plants to spring up tender
and weak, and such plants do not grow,
when set out, like those raised in the open
air.
The bes; covers are made Of common
shir,;ng, worth about cts. per yard,
tackled on n lath. so as 10 be rolled up
conveniently. These covers will adm,
the light, shed off the rain, and be cheap
er IN the end than anv other covering,
and sufficiently warm, except in extreme
cHld weather, when straw or some warm
covering should be thrown over them
The beds shoI,d be waiered in the even
ing with a suitable watering pot, to keep
the earth in good growing condition. If
spring or well water is used, it should
stahd in the sun, or a portion made hot
to temper the water used to a suitable
degree, before using it, After the plants
are up, they should, If the weather is
WARD, be kept tolerably moist, to encour.
age the growth OF good strong roots, and
hgh., warm showers, when they occur,
are better than watering; but cold and
heavy rains must be guarded against, as
they would injure the plants. bitches
should be formed around the beds, and
the earth thrown up to keep the water
from running under and chilling them.
When the plants are three inches high
and well rooted, they are ready to pull,
which is performed by taking hold OF the
plants with the thumb and fore. finger of
one hand, while the potato is held firmly
in its place with the other. Careless draw.
ing by experienced persons frequently de-
stroys hall tho plants.
IL, by bedding too early or crowdiug,
the plants should grow long aud slender,
they may be Gu, down from two 10 three
inches in length; but this should be avoid.
ed by giving plenty Of room and air, and
by working the earth in among the roots
with the fingers, as i, is lifted up by the
plants. and settling it by watering, which
will insure strong. stocky, well rooted
plants.
1t Is common error TO lay the potatoes
too close. A bed four by twenty feet,
will hold two bushels Of medium sized
potatoes. II potatoes are small, more,
and Il large, less room is required.
These directions are intended particu.
larly for those Who may wish to grow
early crops, but will answer equally ss
well for bedding out il deferred uatii mex
month, when potatoes are usually bsdd.d
out.