PLANTING 57 
simplified the planting, but have also materially 
reduced the expense, increased the crop, and improved 
the quality of the product. 
After the ground has been properly prepared, it is 
marked off in parallel rows from three to five or more 
feet apart, according to the preferences of the grower. 
The easiest way to open these trenches is by plowing a 
furrow each way, and, if necessary, going over the 
ground a sufficient number of times to make the 
FIG. I5—TRENCHES READY FOR PLANTING 
furrows from eight to ten inches deep. After this the 
loose soil is thrown out with a shovel or a wide hoe, so 
as to leave the trenches at a uniform depth of ten to 
twelve inches and of the same width at the bottom, as 
seen in Fig. 15. By rigging a piece of board on the 
mold-board of the plow more soil is thrown out, so that 
usually it will not be necessary to go over the ground 
oftener than twice. "The Messrs. Hudson & Son, of 
Long Island, have devised for their own use a 
‘‘trencher’’ (Fig. 16), which with a good team opens 
the trench to the desired depth in one operation and 
at a great saving of labor. 
