The Brinkley argus. (Brinkley, Ark.) 1883-current, 1917-02-09
HOW To BED
SWEET POTATOES
With New Soil and Tubers Free
From Disease All Trouble Can
Be Avoided.
BY w. n. Wicks,
HorticuIturist University Of Arkansas.

The common method of propagating
the sweet potato is by means OF
Sprouts" or slips" which are oo-
tanned by placing the seed potato IN
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 Propagatine Beds Free From
Infection.
The sprouts soon start from the su-
bers, but are quite sensitive to cold
and il plants are wanted early in the
spring, some form of artificial heat ID
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
agation Beds important.
When making propagation pit or
hot-bed, select a well drained place
having a south slope and protected on
the north side by a fence, trees or
buildings. Build a 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-
fcient 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
al; To .
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 a few days.
The roots may be planted Immediately
if so desired
Use Care in Bedding.
In bedding place them 80 that they
do not touch each other 50 that the
tops Of the potatoes are from two to
three inches under the surface. Have
the top of the bed come above the
frame The bed should be kept moist
/ but not wet The temperature may be
allowed to run up to eighty-five or
ninety degrees r. for a few days, but
II should DO kept at eighty to eighty
five degrees F. as near az possible
By planting time, which Should b
from five to six weeks after bedding
the temperature should staad at absxt
sixty degrees II. In the warmer pArts
OF the state it may not be necessary
ts provide any covering on the frames
but whore greater degree of fSrsiAs
is required some cover. suea as Glass
boards. muslin. leaves or straw, VIC b
desirable. II the climate Ia nai}a, Z
cloth frame is very cheap and satissas
2 tory. 1t is easy to handle in vsatiIat
ing and for hardening Oft" the plants
just before placing in the : nd.
Vine Cutting For Late Potatoes.
= Propagation by vine cutting may b,
practiced when a late crop Of poes
toes is wanted The vine cutting il
a piece about eight to 10 inches loni
from the end OF the potato vine. Tn,
leaves, except at the tip. are stripped
off and all but the growing end Gov
cred with soil. Some of the grower,
piNAV' W Pi"iI " Poi 1i~h VI t4icA Siol
; by means of slips and then secure
| plants for the rest of their acreage b,
means of vine cuttings. The vine cut
tings have the advantage of bein,
free from disease and are cheape
( than slips. Some claim that the vim,
E cuttings give the highest yield
Number Of Slips From Bushel OF
Seed Variable.
{ The number of sweet potato slip
' or draws" to be obtained from
bushel of seed depends upon the SIZE
Of the roots, the variety used and tn,
number of drawings" A small pota
to will make as many slips as, larg,
one and requires less room in the bed
hnShal of small nntatnns will 10,