Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-25
GROWING SWEET POTATOES
suggestions Based on Experience in
New Jersey.


toes are grown FOR nome use the most
satisfactory plan is TO ouy the required
plants writes George II. licpe OF New
jersey In the Rural New Yorker. Where
only few thousand plants are propa
gated they may he grown in ordinary
manure beds such as are used to grow
early vegetable plants. Plants heated by
ire or hot water are best for growing
larger quantities. The latter method IL
now used exclusively at Warheim Farm.
with good results, AS the temperature can
be accurately regulated by the turn OF 4
valve. Avoid making plants beds for the
propagation of sweet potatoes near build
inss. hedges or woods: they should have
a free circulation Of air. and when the
sun Is scorChinr not the cloth covers
may be partly let down. Where the beds
are heated by manure or hot water. five
or six inches Of loose earth Digit, SANDY
soil Is besO, are placed upon the manure
or water pipes. Fire beds should be Gov
cred to greater depth at the furnace
end. gradually decreasing to the far end
of the bed the exact depth depending
upon the general arrangement. so the
soil can he kept at about so degrees.
Upon this soil the tubcrs are laid. about
one inch apart, or more the farther
apart the stronger the plants will beo
" laid too close, sprouts will be more
spindling. The tuhers are then covered
with soil to the depth OF about two inch
es. which should be free from stones.
clods or trash Clean sand is best for
this purpose. A few inches of salt hay
or straw covered over the soil will keep
it moist, and the temperature more even:
this must be removed as soon as sprouts
begin to appear. Grass Is not necessary,
and most growers prefer cloth covers.
which are removed on sunny days. For
the first few days temperature Is kept
at about CO to 10 degrees. When fine
white rootlets appear upon the tubers.
the temperature Is raised to about 80 or
10 degrees until the plants are about
two inches high. when the heat Ia great
ly diminished. About five to seven days
before pulling plants should be without
any heat, and covered only when frost
Is feared This method makes plants
hardy; they will stand transplanting
better. and begin TO grow almost immedi-
ately after planting. After first plants
are pulled. heat Is again applied and n
SeCOnu crop OF sprouts produced. heep
beds well watered. as soon as plants
are up. about every day, unless rain falls.
and give plenty of water several hours
before the sprouts are to be pulled
In selecting soil. choose light. we'll
drained soil. rather poor preferred to
rich soil For northern climate a warm
southern exposure and sandy soil are
best suited ON very light soil blowing
is not necessary. but shallow blowing
or diskinG will improve most soils, and
retain moisture better. Shadows burrows
are opened. into which fertilizer is appli-
cd at the rate Of about 1900 pounds
per acre, more or less according TO re-
auirement of soil. In applying fertili-
Ter. keep in mind the fact that this plant
seems to have the power of acquiring
| from the soil nitrogen that is inaccessible
| to mos, other plants. Thus where this
| element is present in large proportions
4 tendency to undue vine growth is en-
| outraged and also to change the market
| able quality of the tubers, causing a
| long, rooty growth. rather than com.
| pact nodular form Sod land, which is
geperally rich In humus. and badly In.
| tested with cutworms, should be avoided
| The writer has in mind pasture field
| that was planted to corn In 1910 and "a
| sweet potatoes in 1911. The first plant
| ing was almost entirely destroyed by
cutworms. as also part of the replanted