The Ozark spectator., 1917-02-21
HOW ID BED
 SWEET POTATOES
With New Soil and Tubses Pess From Disease All TrVubls CaA
 Be Avoided
By W. h. Wieks, Horticuiturist University of Arkansas.

By W. n. Wlc0,
 horticulturist University of Arkansas. The common method of propaEating the sweet potato is by means Of sprouts" or slips" which are ob- tained by placing tho 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 are readily transferred by using sprouts or tubers from old beds which are diseased. By using nsw soil in the propagating beds and tubers free from disease. most of the trouble from serious plant diseases may be avoided. Keep Propasatins Beds Free From
 infection,
 The sprouts soon start from the tu bers, but are quito sensitive to cold and if plants are wanted early in the spring, some form of artificial heat is necessary. The most common meth means of stable manure. Never use stable manure or soil from feeding lots where diseased vines or tubers have been fed This is ono of the most common ways of bringing infoc tion into the propasating beds when artificial heat. Fresh horse manure containing approximately one-third litter should be obtained from livery barns whore only clean hay is used and the manure can be secured in large quantities. A Ire hot-bed may b. 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 o<vp of sprouts.
 Location and csnstruetion of Prop-
 asatien Beds important.
 When making . propagation p4t CT hot-bed. select . we'll drained place, having a south slope and protected on the north side by . 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 sui. fcient earth against the outside walls 10 provide drainage to keep tho water from collecting near the frame Inside the frame excavate to a depth of about eight or 10 inches. Place first . tAin layer of light material. such as straw, leaves or pine needles. On this place a layer of six to 10 inches of fresh horse manure, the amount depending upon the climate, season. and amount ly. level and pack firmly. Then place q 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 imme lately if so desired
 Use Care In Bedding
 In bedding place them so 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 level of the soil on the outside of the frame. The bed should be kept moist but Rot wet, The temperature may be allowed to run up to eishty-hve or ninety degrees F. for . few days, but it should be kept at eighty to eighty five degrees F. as near as possible By planting time, which shoaid be from five to xix weeks afteT bedding the temperature should stand at aNeut sixty degrees F. In the warmer pasts of the state it may not be necessary to provide any covering ou the franss but where greater degree of ferciAg is required some cover. such as giass boards. muslin, leaves or straw, will b. desirable. If the climate is mild. . cloth frame is very cheap and satisfAo tory. IL is easy to handle in ventllat ing and for hardening of" the plants just before placing in the held
 Vine Cutting For Late PeAatoes-
 Propagation by vine cutting may be practiced when a late crop of pota toes is wanted. The vine cutting fl. a piece about eight to 10 inohcs loas from the end of the potato vine. TAs leaves. except at the tip, are stripped on and all but the growing end oov cred with soil. Some of the growsre n,afar to nIans ~csxNnn >S ~l.