The Dermott news., 1917-02-22
ROW ID BED
 SWEET POTATOES
With New Soil and lubcrs Free From Disease All Trouble Can
 Be Avoided.
By w. x. Wicks, hortieulturist University of Arkansas.

Horticulturist University of Arkansas.
 The common method of propagating the sweet potato is by means ot sprouts" or slips" which are ob- . tained by placing the seed potato un der the proper growing conditions of heat and moisture Il 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 whlcA are diseased. By using new soil in the propagatirg beds and tubers free from disease. most of the trouble from serious plant diseases may be avoided Keep Propasstins Beds Free From
 Infection.
 The sprouts soon start from the tu bcrs. but are quite sensitive ta cold and if plants are wanted carly in the spring. some form of artificial heat is necessary. The most common meth cd of producing artiicja} 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 fnfeC- tion into The propagaung beds Whnn stable manure is used for furnahn- artificial heat Fresh horse manure containing approximately aneth.rd litter should be obtained from livery barns where only clean hay is used and the manure can bc secured in large quantities X fire. hoJ.hgd may ho used in case manure cannot be so cured. but this type of hot bed requires closer attention and il k much more difficult to bring cut d gcod crop o- sprouts
 Location and Construction of Prop
 aqation Beds important
 When making a propagation pit CT hot-bed. select a we'll drained place having south slope and protected on the north side by fence trees or buildings Build plank frame four feed vide and as long as desirable to got tbe required amount of space. making the north side few inches hicher than the south side Place sui dctont earth agaiust the outside walls 10 provide dra nase fa keep the water from collecting near the frame Inside the frame eXCayate to q depth ot about eight or 10 inches Place first q thin layer of light material. such as straw leaves or pine needles On this place layer of six to t0 inches of fresh horse manure. the amount depending upcp the climate. season. and amount of forcing desired Moistrn trnrouch. ly level and pack firmly Then plaC" 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
 I 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 10 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 moisr but not wet The temperature may ba allowed to run up to eighty.tve or
 
 it should be kept at eighty 10 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 to provide any covering on the frames, hut ,,F is required some cover. such as glass boards. muslin. leaves or straw. will he desirable If the climate k mild. a cloth frame is very cheap and satisfac tory II is easy to handle in yentlat ing and for hardening or" the plants just before placing in the Geld
 Vine Cutting For Late Potatoes.
 Propagation by vine cutting may be praetieed 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 coy cred with soil Some of the growers prefer 10 plant n portion of their crop by means of slips and then secure plants for the rest of their acreage by nrans ot vine cuttings The vine cut. tings have the advantage of being free from disease and are cheaper than slips. Some claim that the vine cuttings give the highest yield
 Number of Slips From 5ushel Of
 Seed Variable.
 The number of sweet potato slips or draws" to be obtained from bushel of seed depends upon the size of the roots, the variety used and the number of drawings" small pota to will make as many slips as large one and requires less room in the bed A bushel of small potatoes will bea