258 THE TIM BUNKER PAPERS 



happen to be here in August, and see em going down to 

 the depot. Most every farmer goes into it more or less, 

 and would raise a great many more if he could get help 

 just when he wanted it.&quot; 



&quot; How do you prepare the land for this crop ? &quot; 



&quot; Wai, there ain t much of a knack about that. I fix it 

 pretty much as I would for corn, only I take more pains 

 to make it mellow and light. If a green sward, it must 

 be harrowed thoroughly, and the lighter you leave it the 

 better.&quot; 



&quot; Is there any particular advantage in having the land 

 fresh?&quot; 



&quot; I never could see as it made much difference. Neigh 

 bor Bussing has em on the same land sometimes three 

 years running. I spect more pends upon the dung than 

 any thing else, and where you have pickles, you calculate 

 to manure pretty high, and a good deal is left over for the 

 second year.&quot; 



&quot; What kind of manure do you use ? &quot; 



&quot; Any I happen to have in the yard. It wants to be 

 well rotted, and if ain t fine I fork it over until I make it 

 so. Coarse stuff won t answer.&quot; 



&quot; How much, and how do you apply it ? &quot; 



&quot; If I have plenty of manure, and I believe in that arti 

 cle if I don t in any thing else, I spread on a good lot 

 broadcast, and plow it in. I don t spose the crop gets the 

 whole the first year. Then I put a good heapin shovel- 

 full in the hill.&quot; 



&quot; And how far apart are the hills ? &quot; 



&quot;I run the furrows pretty deep, just four and a half feet 

 apart both ways, and make the hill at the crossing. One 

 man drops the manure, and another follows with a hoe, 

 mixing it a little with the soil, and covering it an inch or 

 two.&quot; 



&quot; What time do you plant ? &quot; 



