Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-14
Bedding and Growing Sweet Potatoes.

Bedding ana 0FoWip9 sweet TSeSeSNS'
Sweet potatoes are a very important
crop on the, southern farm The market
for them is continually widening and
every farmer should make an ehort 10
raise a good crop.
The first thing necessary is to secure
good supply Of plants or vines. In Flor
ida where the seasons are long, the grow
ers do not try to make q draw bed but
simply cut and plant the potatoes in the
field on a small patch, and from this they
cut vines to plant the main crops With US
I'm north and middle Georgia, this prac-
tice would make our crop too late' ana
we therefore start the potatoes in hot
bed or under glass about the middle or
March or first Of April.
OF late years We have adopted Profess
sor Massey's method of bedding the pota-
toes uwler glass in sand, and have found
it most satisfactory. layer or SAND IS
first spread in the cold frames, then the
potatoes are placed as closely together as
possible without touching. They are then
covered with about two inches OF sand
and the bed well watered, after which the
glass is put on and allowed to remain
closed until the potatoes begin to sprout
We then put on two inches more of sand
so the slips will be longer and the pota-
toes less likely to pull up. After the
plants are up, the bed is kept well watereo
and aired on bright days. The matter OF
watering is very essential If you wish
continued supply Of slips, and, the bed
should be located where it will be con-
Venient for this purpose.
If the potatoes are started in a hot bed,
the first of April will be soon enough in
north Georgia Select a spot well pro-
tected from the north and west winds;
dig out a space about six feet wide, place
fresh horse manure and oak leaves whlch
IL oVaA al yne6
get hot The excavated space should be
very nearly filled with this material. Pack
it uown evenly and cover with about two
inches of sandy soil. Let the bed warm up
for a few days and then place your pota-
toes as stated above, and cover with soil
three or four inches deep, then cover the
bed with fine straw. We have found 1t a
good plan to place log in either side OF
the bed. 1t prevents the straw from
blowing away and protects the bed which
is above the general surface. Dig trench
around the bed to prevent surface water
from getting in and cooling off the ma
nure. Examine the bed from time to time
and If II shows a~tendency to get too not
punch holes to let off some Of the steam.
After the potatoes begin coming up re-
move the straw, but keep 1t handy to
cover with in case of frost. See that the
bed does not suffer for want of water and
YOU will have plenty of slips. Potatoes
which show signs of dry rot should not
be used.
GROWING THE CROP.
Select the land you intend to plant in
sweet potatoes early in the season. 1t
should be- if possible, of sandy charac-
ter and containing a good supply of vege-
table matter. Then, as soon, as you have
an opportunity, pillow it. In the course Of
two or three weeks pillow IT again. In
fact, it will pay to work this land over
with some implement as soon as dry
enough after every rain until you are
ready to plant. 1t will then be fine and
mellow and will contain good supply
of moisture. In such soil 1t is an easy
matter to make the slips or vines live.
Watering will not be necessary and all
you will need to do is to dip the roots
of the slips in mud and water as they
are being set.
II you once try preparing your land in
this manner, you will never go back to
the practice of many farmers who plant
potatoes in any odd spot not needed for
something else and leave the preparation
of the land until they are ready to set
their potatoes. With your land prepared
ahead there are no weeds or grass to con-
tend with; all you have to do when the
seasons are all right is to plow up your