The log cabin Democrat., 1917-03-01
HOW ID BED
 SWEET POTATOES
With New Soil and Tubers Free From Disease All Trouble Can
 Be Avoided.
By w. K. Wicks, HortIcuiturist University Of Arkansas.


 HortIcuiturist University of Ar<ansas.
 The common method of propagating the sweet potato is by means of sprouts" or slips" which are ob- tained by placing the seed potato un- der the proper growing conditions of heat and moisture. It is essential that all tubers used for propagating ma terial come from clean fields Diseases arc 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. 1 Keep Propagating Beds Free From Infection.
 l The sprouts soon start from the tu- bers, but are quite sensitive to cold and if plants are wanted early in tho 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- tion 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 se- cured. but this type of hot-bed requires closer attention and it is much more difficult to bring out a good crop or sprouts
 Location and Construction of Prop agation Beds Important
 When making propagation pit or hot-bed, select we'll drained place, having a south slope and protected on the north side by fence, trees or buildings. Build plank frame four .. feed wide and as long as desirable to get the required amount of space, making the north side a few inches higher than the south side. Place sui 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 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 to four inches deep. The temperature may run rather high for few days. The roots may be planted immediately If so desired.
 Use Care in Bedding.
 In bedding place them so that they do 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
 
 ninety degrees F. for a few days, but 1t should be kept at eighty to eighty five degrees F. 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 F. In the warmer parts of the state it may not be necessary <a <Ao fro but where a greater degree of forcing Is required some cover. such as glass, boards, muslin, leaves or straw, will be desirable. If the climate is mild, a cloth frame is very cheap and satisfac- tory. It Is easy to handle in ventilat- ing and for hardening off" the plants just before placing in the field Vine Cutting For Late Potatoes. Propagation by vine cutting may be practiced when a late crop of pota. toes is wanted. The vine cutting Is a 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 1 tings have the advantage of being free from disease and are cheaper than slips. Some claim that the vine 1 cuttings give the highest yield.
 Number of Slips From Bushei of
 Seed Variable.
 The number of sweet potato slips or draws" to be obtained from a bushel of seed depends upon the size of the roots, the variety used and the number of drawings" A small pota-