252 HOW TO MAKE THE FAEM PAY. 



ducing more aud better seed. As soon as the beets sprout, 

 weeding and cultivation must begin, and be kept up until the 

 seed riiiens. Cut awaj weak flower stems, and when the seeds 

 becrin to form, pinch off the tips of the stalks. Just before the 

 seed stalks turn brown, cut them off near the ground, and dry 

 them in some airj and sunny place. Thresh out the seeds in 

 hot weather, blow out all the chaff you can, and spread them 

 out until they are thoroughly dry, occasionally stirring them. 

 Put into small sacks, and hang in a dry, airy, secure place, until 

 they are two years old. Never sow one year old seed. Before 

 sowing, the coarsest of the seed should be rubbed between two 

 boards and partially crushed, or they will clog hfie sower, and 

 the seed will not be evenly distributed. 



KoTATiON' OF Crops and Manures, the Adaptation of 

 Stock to the Soil, and General Management of Crops. 

 The theory of rotation is that the soil contains in a greater or 

 less degree all the elements of plant food ; and that each crop 

 extracts its own peculiar elements and no others. This is un- 

 doubtedly true. Agricultural chemistry shoAvs,, by analyses, 

 what elements are extracted by each crop. For instance. 



The results of various chemical analyses has shown that red 

 clover is composed principally of potash, lime, and carbonic 

 acid, and that the grain of wheat consists, for the most part, of 

 phosphoric acid and potash, and the straw of silica. Potatoes 

 are composed principally of potash, carbonic acid, and phos- 

 phoric acid; turnips, of potash, lime, carbonic and sulphuric 

 acids ; peas consist principally of potash, and phosphate of lime ; 

 the grain of rye of phosphate of lime and potash; the straw of 

 rye of potash and silica. M. Sprengel found potash, soda, and 

 sihca, to be the principal ingredients in the grain of maize, and 

 the stalks to consist principally of silica and lime. The ashes 

 of the grape vine consists principally of potash, lime, and 

 phosi>horic acid. 



