TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 511 



PBEPABING THE BEDS. 



Spade the grund over thoroughly, pulverizing every clod, removing 

 roots, and stones, to the depth of from twelve to sixteen inches. If your 

 ground is not rich enough, spread on well rotted harnyard manure, about 

 one or two inches deep, and work well into the soil. Now raise your beds 

 four, six or eight inches according to the drainage required, make beds 

 four feet wide with path, sixteen or eighteen inches between the beds. 

 Plant seed two inches apart in rows and rows four inches apart, planting 

 crossways of the beds. Roots in permanent beds, should be planted six 

 inches one way and eight the other. "When roots and seed are all planted, 

 mulch to a depth of one or two inches with sawdust, that nearly rotted 

 Is best, though new dust will be found good. If you live near a woods, 

 you may use loaves if you choose to do so, they of course, are the nat- 

 ural covering. Planting may be done in either spring or fall, but fall 

 planting is much preferred. 



SHADING. 



Natural shade of the forest is considered "best, but must not be too 

 dense. The best artificial shade is made with laths. Make sections four 

 feet square, requiring 27 lath for each section 24 one way, with one at 

 each end to nail to. Weaving the middle one in will greatly increase the 

 strength of the section. 



These sections should be put on with the cracks running north and 

 south, in this way the changing position of the sun, will make a continual 

 change of shadow on the plant. This frame may be placed only high 

 enough to miss tops of plants, about 18 in. or two feet, or may be made 

 high enough to walk under, the latter plan is much the better. 



DIGGING AND PBEPABING FOE MARKET. 



Roots are best dug in the fall any time after the first frost or freeze 

 that kills the tops. Be careful to not cut, break or mutilate the roots in 

 any way. Much broken root will reduce the price of a bunch of roots that 

 would otherwise be prime stock. 



All particles of soil should be washed from the root being careful not 

 to lireak the bark. Prices for the past ten years have ranged from $4.50 

 to $10.00 per lb., some choice lots, large roots and select forms, have sold 

 as high as $12.00 in the New York markets. Prices at present are as 

 follows: 



Good cultivated $7.00 per lb. 



Medium 6.50 per lb. 



Choice wild 7.50 per lb. 



Medium 7.00 per lb. 



other according to grade. The above prices are for dried root. 



My garden No. 1, which is 48 tiy 56 feet produced $1,316.85 worth of 

 stock in 1909. 



