Excerpt from Sweet Potatoes: Culture and Uses

To secure the sets for transplanting, the eyes or buds on the Sweet potato must be sprouted. For this purpose considerable heat is required, and germination takes place in especially prepared open beds, in cold frames, or in hotbeds, the kind of bed used depending on the climate and on the degree of forcing desired. For an early crop, bottom heat is desirable. This is provided either by the fermentation of manure or by flue heat from a small furnace, the former method being most fre quently employed. The latter method, however, permits of a more complete regulation of the amount of heat, and has other advantages which recommend it to those who cultivate the Sweet potato on a large scale for market.

For the sweet-potato-plant bed select a location somewhat protected on the north Side. Build an ordinary plank cold frame 6 feet wide and of any length desired, facing toward the south and having its north wall several inches higher than its south wall. On the outside bank dirt against the frame and protect the bed against drainage water by a Shallow drain around the outside. Protect the bed against moles by means of a drain or by planking the frame below the surface of the ground.

Within the frame remove the earth to a depth of 2 to 12 inches; spread a thin layer of leaves or litter on the bottom of this excavation, to assist in draining the bed and to retain the heat. Then on this lit ter place a layer of manure 2 to 12 inches thick, the thickness of the layer depending on the amount of heat required. Level and pack the manure and on it place a layer of sand or soil 17} to 3 inches thick. On this place the sweet potatoes in a horizontal position, not touching each other. If large roots are used they may be Split lengthwise, placing the cut surface downward. Cover with sand, soil, or fine woods earth until the upper Side of the sweet potato is covered at least 1 inch deep, or better 2 to 3 inches deep.

After the Sweet potatoes are covered the upper surface of the earth within the frame will be either on a level with the ground outside or 1 to 6 inches above the level of the surrounding soil, according to the depth of excavation made in starting the bed. A bed with its sur face considerably higher than the surrounding Soil is better drained, but is liable to suffer from drought or to require more watering than a lower bed.

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