Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-14
How to Raise sweet Potatoes
ADVANTAGES OF A HOT BED.

ADVANTAGES OF A HOT BED.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR,
The time for bedding sweet potatoes has now
arrived, and they cannot be put out any too soon.
A not oed possesses many advantages over the
ordinary bed. There are various plans for con-
struct'ng hot beds, but the following Is believed
TO be the best adapted for general use, being SIM
pie, cheap and ef1ectve:
site exposed to the sun, preferably situated
near water, such as a branch spring, should be
selected. Construct box by placing plank edge
wise and securing them by stakes driven into the
ground. This box should be about l6 inches Deep
from TO Ieet wide, and OF a length to suit the
Quantity OF potatoes to be bedded No bottom Ill be
required nor VIII IL be necessary to dig the ground
incloSed by the box; in fact, / prefer hard
smooth surface.
The box being completed. I'LL to the depth OF 12
inches with freshly dug stable manure, and pack
down well Now apply a reasonable Quantity of
water, which viii cause the manure to heat.
Next place on the manure a covering OF loan and
sand, mixed about half and half, to the depth Of
about inches. The bei should stand thus for a
day or two until the manure begins to heat; then
place thereon the p0tatOeS, having some space be-
tween each; If the potatoes be not crow ded they
viii produce more vigorous sprouts. Next, cover
the potatoes with loan and sand. mixed as above,
10 The depth or about inches. II covered deeper
the shankS OF the sprouts Will be CORRESPONDENCE
longer. Sprouts having short Shanks will always
be found best; Therefore the potatoes should be
covered TO the best possible depth that VIII answer
Well for SaFoUting purposes
The bed being completed, you should guard
u.
at this stage may ruin your potatoes The bed
should be occasionally examined and the heat re-
duced ty an application of water as occasion may
require. III there be no ran 1t is safe to say that
water Will be required every other day for a week
or ten days, after which time the heat Will not be
sufficiently great to injure the potatoes but it will
be necessary 10 occasionally apply water to keep
the bed moist and In growing condition.
Sometimes, however, the fall OF rain Is greater
than Is necessary to keep the bed in good cOndi-
ton In this case the bed should be covered with
boards AMI the surplus water turned of as occa-
son my require. Bolrds, however viii not often
considerable water without injury.
Some people dig pits into which to put the man.
ure for hot bed. A box s vastly superior to this
plan. to say nothing OF the labor IN constructing
the PIT: Some beds constructed on this plan have
the potatoes ruined for lack OF heat
should have observed that some people use
clean sand to place on the manure. and also to
but believe 1t would answer good purpose. The
ever, such that 1t would pay TO haul the sand few
miles father than do without
ADVANTAGES OF HOT Bed
l. You can bed at least two weeks earlier than
by the old method
= You can procure at least double the quantity
of sprouts from the same quantity Of potatoes
g. The potatoes, with little care and attention
are much less liable to rot.
a. The sprouts being set out earlier there Is
more time for the potatoes 10 mature, and for this
reason they Will keep better tor winter and spring
believe the above plan for growing in the open
air To be better, as well as cheaper, than when
grown under glass. Plants when grown In hot
houses or under glass are generally tender and
1nJuriouSly effected by transferring them to the
open air.
BY bedding as above described about the last OF
March have had the sprouts up sufficiently early
Tor the tops to be bitten by late frosts, but the
warmth or the bed prevented any injury to the
roots. never had any potatoes to injure from
oyerheating.
SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT TRANSMITTING.
Hills are preferred to ridges. Care should be
taken to set the sprouts no deeper than they
grew on the bed. 1t Is a mistaken idea to set
them deeper with a view OF forcing roots from
parts where nature never Intended there should be
any. FARMER