32 



possible, first-class surface drainage will do. Any standing water weakens the 

 plants, and, if continued, destroys them. Surplus water in the soil is equally 

 hurtful. Do not plant on a wet soil; but at the same time it must be retentive 

 of moisture to give good results. 



Preparation of the Soil for Planting. It is a very common practice to set the 

 young plants without any consideration of what has been growing on the field 

 previously, or what condition physically and chemically the soil may be in. But 

 such indiscriminate plantings are not recommended. The soil that has previously 



Marlboro 



been well fertilized and cultivated for one year at least and cleaned of weeds 

 invariably gives the best results, by forcing the immediate growth. A profitable 

 crop is produced in one year earlier this way, and the labor of caring for the plants 

 for that one year is saved. The effect of first-class soil on the young plants is very 

 remarkable, and a number of patches planted thus now show, at one year of age, 

 as great a growth as the majority at two on the poorer soils. 



A hoe crop of corn, tom^atoes, potatoes, or roots, well fertilized, is recommended 

 as a crop for the year previous to planting. 



Plants and Planting. The best plants to use are the young shoots that come 

 up in the fall after the last cultivation, or those that come up in the very early 



