130 RUTA BAGA CULTURE. [PART I. 



rule is, that the shorter time the plants are out 

 of the ground the better. 



77. But, as to the business of transplanting, 

 there is one very material observation to make. 

 The ground ought to be as fresh; that is to say, 

 as recently moved by the plough, as possible ; 

 and that for the reasons before stated. The way 

 I go on is this : my land is put up into ridges, 

 as described under the head of manner of sowing. 

 This is done before-hand, several days ; or, it 

 may be, a week or more. When we have our 

 plants and hands all ready, the ploughman 

 begins, and turns in the ridges ; that is to say, 

 ploughs the ground back again, so that the top 

 of the new ploughed ridge stands over the place 

 where the channel, or gutter, or deep furrow, 

 was, before he began. As soon as he has finished 

 the first ridge, the planters plant it, while he is 

 ploughing the second : and so on throughout 

 the field. That this is not a very tedious pro 

 cess the reader needs only to be told, that, in 

 1816, 1 had fifty -two acres of Ruta Baga planted 

 in this way ; and I think I had more than fifty 

 thousand bushels. A smart hand will plant half 

 an acre a day, with a girl or a boy to drop the 

 plants for him. 1 had a man, who planted an 

 acre a day many a time. But, supposing that 

 a quarter of an acre is a day's work, what are 

 four days' work, when put in competition with 

 the value of an acre of this invaluable root? 



