Sr73 Cultivation of Arable Land. Madder After-cu liure of. 



There are different methods employed in fetting the plants: in fome cafes they 

 are put in the furrows by means of the plough, while in others they are fet in beds 

 by a dibble. The former is probably the better method, and, as being the mod 

 expeditious, is the bed adapted to the culture of the plant on an extenfive fcale. 

 In this, the planter begins by drawing a ftrait furrow on one fide of the plantation 

 to a good depth : a row of plants is then laid in it by a perfon for the purpofe, 

 at thediftance of five, fix, or more inches from each other, according to the 

 circumftances of the land, in fuch a manner as to lean off from the plough: an 

 other furrow is then formed, by the mould of which they are covered. In this man 

 ner the work proceeds until the whole is finimed. 



In the other method the fets, after the land has been formed into beds of five feet 

 in breadth, with two feet between each for intervals, are pur in by means of a line 

 and dibble, beginning at the didance of fix inches from the outfides, and fetting a 

 row of plants at fuitable diftances from each other, as juft mentioned; then re 

 moving the line two feet further on them, and putting in another row ; after which 

 it is again removed two feet, and a third row of plants fet in, which finifhes the bed ; 

 the work proceeding in the fame manner till the whole of the plantation is com 

 pleted. In this way, each bed contains three rows of plants at two feet diftance 

 each, three feet being left between the rows on the different beds. 



In Holland, where the culture of this root is extenfive, their method is a little 

 different from the above. The plants, after being taken from the older plantations 

 about the month of May, are immediately fet in rows at the didance of three or 

 four inches from plant to plant, and about fifteen inches from row to row, the beds 

 being ten or twelve feet in width, with intervals of only about two feet. 



As, in whatever manner the plants are fet, fome of them even in the mod favour 

 able feafons are liable to die foon after the work has been performed ; it is necef- 

 fary in the courfe of a fortnight or three weeks to look over the ground, and put 

 frefli vigorous plants in the places where the others have been dedroyed. By this 

 means the plantations may be rendered more perfect and productive. 



After-culture. Whichever method of planting is practifcd, it is of the greated 

 confequence to the fuccefs of the crop that it be kept perfectly clean from weeds, 

 and that the mould be occafionally dirred about the roots of the plants. The fird 

 is accornplimed by means of hand-weeding and hoeing, during the fummer feafon ; 

 and the latter, either by the ufe of a hand-hoe or a light plough. This lad is 

 the mod eafy and expeditious. In this manner, or by digging the intervals of the 

 rows, the mould is alfo laid up to the plants once each year, after the ftemshave 



