SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 473 



are planted on the surface, and are five feet wide, and a space of ground eight 

 feet or more wide is left between each bed for earthing up. In planting, a line 

 is stretched along one side of the bed, and a board, five feet loug and one foot 

 wide, having notches on both its edges six inches apart, is placed across the bed 

 at right angles with the line. Tbe planters stand on this board and set a plant 

 at each notch. The board is then turned over, and the process repeated to the 

 end of the bed, thus putting the plants six inches apart, in rows one foot 

 asunder. Care must be used to keep the planting board perpendicular to the 

 line, so as to keep the rows straight. Nothing further is necessary, except 

 weeding and cultivating, until the earthing-up process is commenced. 



For earthing-up, two boards about nine inches wide, and long enough to pro- 

 ject eighteen inches on each side when laid across the bed, are used. The pro- 

 jecting portions are tapered so as to be used as handles. In earthing, two men 

 work together on opposite sides of the bed. The earthing boards are placed 

 on edge crosswise the bed, between two rows of plants, and are supported in 

 position by pegs driven in the soil at each end. The space between the boards 

 is then filled with earth, and the workmen, taking hold of the ends of the 

 boards, bring their upper edges together with a few sharp raps, so as to leave 

 the earth standing in a sharp ridge between the rows. The boards are then 

 moved to the next rows, and the process repeated. Boys follow the hillers, and 

 grasping each plant with the left hand, draw the earth closely around with the 

 right, so as to prevent the earth getting into the hearts of the plants. As the 

 celery grows, this process is repeated, care being always used to carry up on 

 each side of the bed a neat bank of earth twelve to eighteen inches thick. 

 By the last of November, or early in December, we are apt to have hard freez- 

 ing, and earth is then filled in entirely over the bed, completely covering the 

 tops for several inches. As the weather grows severe, the beds are covered a 

 foot deep with leaves from the woods, and cornstalks are laid over all to keep 

 the leaves from blowing off. The covering of leaves enables us to dig at any 

 time in winter, and it is only dug as used or marketed. To my taste, celery 

 kept in this way is much better than that which has been lifted and stored, as 

 the latter is less crisp and brittle. 



June Potatoes. — Henry Ives of Batavia, N. Y., says: With the present 

 cheap transportation facilities from the South, it does not pay farmers in this 

 latitude to force extra early potatoes for market, but it is easy to secure a fami- 

 ly supply considerably in advance of the season by a little care. Prepare a cold 

 frame, which is cheaper and less trouble than a hot-bed, on the sunny side of 

 some fence or building, with facilities for covering when the nights are cold. 

 The soil should be light and fine. At the time when the bed is prepared cut 

 some tubers of a good early variety in two, lengthwise, and lay them on a 

 chamber floor where there are abundant light and some heat. In ten or twelve 

 days after leveling down the bed, place the seed close together, with the cut 

 side down, and cover with an inch and a half of soil, which should be patted 

 tightly down. Sift another half-inch over this. Put on the glass and protect 

 from the cold. This should be done four or five weeks before early planting 

 time. When this time arrives the tubers in the bed will have made a stocky 

 growth. Prepare the ground and lift the sets, earth and all, carefully trans- 

 ferring a single piece to each hill. Plant well into the ground so as to cover 

 the greater part of the tops, and cultivate as you would an ordinary crop. 



Fkesh Cabbage all Winter.— Cabbage may generally be left in the garden 

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