140 AGRICULTUKAL REPORT. 



Another motliod of miumrinj; the above kind of land for field culture is to 

 Fj)ioa(l tlic manure equally over the ■whole suriace ; then, with a mould-board 

 l.lough, turn the manure under in the manner sod lands are ploughed, and 

 harrow it evenly, without bringing the manure too much to the surface. 



It is by no means necessary or proper that stimulating manures should be 

 in close proximity to the plants. If they are below the sua'face, as above 

 stated, in clay lands, the efiects arc soon felt in the opening of spring, wher 

 the j\'armth of the sun acts upon the surface. All that is required at the tim 

 of planting is to use ashes, or, if ashes cannot be had, a compost of old head 

 lands* — soil from around decayed stumps, logs, or leaf mould, or any decom- 

 posed vegetable matter, finely screened, and sowed along in the furrow, to 

 induce the first growth of the young plants. The top dressings which they 

 receive iu after growth will be quite equal to the necessity of the majority of 

 plants. 



II. GARDEN AND FIELD CULTURE. 



Of garden culture I may be allowed to repeat, in part, what I have said in 

 my article on strawberry culture, publi.shcd iu the Transactions of the American 

 Institute of 18G0, page 148, inasmuch that, after various subsequent experi- 

 ments, I find nothing to alter, but considerable to add in detail. 



After the preparation of the ground, as above stated, when it is rakcd or 

 harrowed level, make, by Hue, two rows fourteen inches apart. Then, with 

 the corner of the hoe, make miniature furrows about six inches deep, quite 

 regular, from one end of the bed to the other. Tlien take two and a half feet 

 between that and the next two rows for an alley, and so on over the space 

 allotted for the bed. Procure some unleached wood ashes, (leached ashes are 

 nearly as good,) or a plenty of coal ashes may be used as a last resort. (This 

 last should not be suffered to get wet before using.) Sprinkle them all along 

 in the bottom of the furrows, say to the depth of one inch. Then, with the 

 end of the hoe handle, mix the ashes well with the soil without changing the 

 form of the furrow. Next make holes fourteen inches apart with a garden 

 trowel (not a dibble) along in the rows where the plants are to go. Set the 

 plants carefully in these holes with the roots spread horizontally, so that their 

 crowns will be two inches below the general level of the prepared ground, for 

 the reason that when the plant has gained size and strength, it will admit of 

 being hoed without drawing the earth from between the rows. This little 

 bank or ridge of ground, in sandy soils, should at the time of planting be 

 removed from between the rows to be drawn upon as necessity requires, as the 

 rains are apt to wash it into the furrows too soon, and smother the plant; and 

 iu rolling lands it is also necessary to use the same precaution, as the soil left 

 by the side of the furrow when made will, as it is from time to time drawn into 

 the furrow during the first and second season's hoeing, enable the plant to put 

 forth new roots above the old ones. (These newly-formed roots from the side 

 shoots rise above those of the old plants, and become the absorbents ; the mat- 

 ters passing through them to sustain the new side shoots do not sustain the old 

 plant to which they are so nearly connected.) By fall the furrows will be by 

 this gradual process nearly filled up, so that the bed will present one level 

 surface. Meanwhile bear in mind to pinch off the runners as they appear. 

 These runners frequently make their aj)pearance simultaneously with a small 

 incipient leaf, and, if not suppressed in time, will draw so much upon the root 

 that the plant will not produce a crown, and Avill eventually waste the whole 

 substance of the plant. As the plants are not expected to bear much fruit the 

 first season, it is well to go over the ground after rains with a rake about one 



* By headlands we mean the accumulation of leaf mould, &c., round old fences of pasture 

 lands. 



