Sharp County record., 1917-01-26
HOW To BED
SWEET POTATOES
With New Soil and Tubers Free
From Disease All Trouble Can
Be Avoided.
BY w. II. Wicks,
HorticuIturist University of Arkansas.

| the sweet potato is Dy means VI
sprouts" or Slips" which are OBJ
tanned by placing the seed potato un-
der the proper growing conditions OF
heat and moisture. 1t is essential that
all tubers used for propagating ma
| terial come from clean fields. Diseases
are readily transferred by using
sprouts or tubers from old beds which
are diseased. BY using new soil IN
the propagating beds and tubers free
| from disease, most of the trouble from
serious plant diseases may be avoided.
Keep Propaeating Beds Free From
Infection.
The sprouts soon start from the tu-
| bers, but are quite sensitive TO cold
and if plants are wanted early in the
| spring, some form Of artificial heat is
necessary. The most common meth
cd of producing artificial heat is by
means Of stable manure. Never use
stable manure or soil from feeding
lots where diseased vines or tubers
have been fed. This is one OF the
most common ways of bringing infec-
ton into the propagating beds when
stable manure Is used for furnishing
artificial heat. Fresh horse manure
containing approximately one-third
litter should be obtained from livery
barns where only clean hay Is used
and the manure can be secured In
large quantities. A fire hot-bed may be
used in case manure cannot be Sc
cured, but this type of hot-bed requires
closer attention and it is much more
difficult to bring out good crop or
sprouts.
Location and Construction Of Prop
adatlon Beds important.
When making a propagation pit or
hot-bed, select a we'll drained place,
having a south slope and protected on
the north side by a fence, trees OF
buildings. Build plank frame four
feed wide and as long as desirable to
get the required amount Of space,
making the north side few inches
higher than the south side. Place suf.
ficient earth against the outside walls
to provide drainage to keep the water
from collecting near the frame. Inside
the frame excavate to depth Of about
eight or 10 inches. Place first a thin
layer of light material, such as straw
leaves or pine needles, On this place
layer Of six to- 10 inches Of fresh
horse manure, the amount depending
upon the climate, season, and amount
Of forcing desired. Moisten thorough
ly level and pack firmly Then place
a layer Of sand or light soil from three
10 four inches deep The temperature
may run rather high for few days
The roots may be planted Immediately
L so desired
Use Care In Bedding.
In bedding place them 80 that they
10 not touch each other so that the
tops OF the potatoes are from two to
three inches under the surface. Have
the top Of the bed come above the
level Of the soil on the outside OF the
frame. The bed should be kept moist
but not wet. The temperature may be
allowed TO run up to eighty.fve or
ninety degrees f, for a few days, but
It should be kept at eighty to eighty.
hve degrees r as near as possible
BY planting time, which should be
from FIVE to six weeks after bedding
the temperature should stand at about
sixty degrees r. IN the warmer parts
OF the state II may not be necessary
TO provide any covering on the frames,
but where a greater degree OF forcing
is required some cover, such as glass,
boards, muslin, leaves or straw, will be
desirable, II the climate ls mild a
cloth frame ls very cheap and gatsfao,
tory. II Is easy 10 handle In ventllat
ing and for hardening OFF, the plants
just before placing in the field.
Vine Cutting For Late Potatoes.
Propagation by vine cutting may be
praetioed when late crop OF pota.
toes is wanted. The vine cutting Ia
piece about eight TO 10 inches long
from the end Of the potato vine. The
leaves, except at the tip are stripped
off and all but the growing end Gov
cred with soil, Some Of the growers
prefer to plant portion Of their crop
by means Of slips and then secure
plants for the rest Of their acreage by
means Of vine cuttings The vine cut
tlngs have the advantage OF being
free from disease and are cheaper
than slips, Some claim that the vino
cuttings give the highest yield
Number Of slips From eushol Of
Seed Variable.
The number Of sweet potato alps
or draws" 10 be obtained from a
buehel of seed depends upon the slse
of The roots, the variety used and the
number Of "drawings.' A.small pota.
to will make as many slips az largo
one and requires less room In the bed.
A bushel of small potatoes will bed
from fifteen to twenty square foet It
l mill -. 4