23(5 now TO make the farm pay. 



soil as early in the spring as it will work without being sticky, 

 leaving it as mellow and fine as the harrow, roller, and brush, 

 can make it. Let it lie until the grass and weeds spring up all 

 over it, and the leaves on the trees begin to unfold, then give 

 it a thorouf^h harrowing to destroy these weeds, and while the 

 ground is still fresh sow the seed as speedily as possible. Mark 

 olV vour ground both ways, in " lands" eighteen feet wide, by 

 drafifTing a, chain after yoa from stake to stake, across the 

 field. This is a more important matter than you may think it, 

 and should never be neglected. Soak the seed in warm water 

 an hour or two, and then roll in gypsum. This is of great 

 advantage in sowing these slippery seeds. Now sow around 

 your " land," giving the seed an even, uniform cast. Only a 

 small portion of seed should be taken at a time. A great 

 difference of opinion exists as to the amount proper to be sown 

 to the acre, from one peck to seven bushels being recommen- 

 ded. If sown only for seed, one bushel, or even three pecks, 

 may be sufficient ; and if sown only for the fibre, two and one 

 half, or even three bushels, may not be too much ; but where 

 loth seed and fibre are taken into consideration, which we 

 strongly recommend, one and one fourth to one and three fourth 

 bushels is the proper quantity. After sowing, brush in with a 

 hand brush. Do not allow any team on the field. A brush 

 harrow, drawn by two men, will brush the seed in evenly and 

 none will be trodden down three or four inches deep, which is 

 exceedingly injurious. If the ground has been worked as 

 recommended, and the weeds conquered beforehand, the crop 

 will need but little weeding ; but if, unfortunately, weeds should 

 appear before the plants are a foot high, a careful hand, without 

 boots, should go in and cut them up just beneath the surface, 

 and bring them off the field. It is far better to destroy the 

 weeds before the flax is sowed. If the seed has been evenly 



