140 RUTA BAGA CULTURE. [PART I. 



not sow, or plant, any of my first crops, just 

 mentioned, till the month of June. What might 

 a man do, then, who is in a state to begin with 

 his first crops as soon as he pleases ! Who has 

 his land all in order, and his manure ready to 

 be applied. 



90. Another great advantage of the trans- 

 . planting method is, that it saves almost the 



whole of the after-culture. There is no hoeing ; 

 no thinning of the plants ; and not more than 

 one ploughing between the ridges. This is a 

 great consideration, and should always be 

 thought of, when we are talking of the trouble 

 of transplanting. The turnips which i have 

 mentioned in paragraphs 72 and 73 had no 

 after-culture of any sort ; for they soon spread 

 the ground over with their leaves; and, indeed, 

 after July, very few weeds make their appear 

 ance. The season for their coming up is passed ; 

 and, as every farmer well knows, if there be 

 no weeds up at the end of July, very few will 

 come that summer. 



91. Another advantage of the transplanting 

 method is, that you are sure that you have your 

 right number of plants, and those regularly 

 placed. For, in spite of all you can do in 

 sowing, there will be deficiencies and irregula 

 rities. The seed may not come up, in some 

 places. The plants may, in some places, be 

 destroyed in their infant state. They may, now 



