28 



spoonful of seed will be sufficient for fifty square yards. 

 Wore than that quantity should not be sowed on that 

 space of ground. But if the ground prepared be abund- 

 ant, the plants would grow more thrifty by sowing a 

 spoonful of seed on seventy or eighty square yards. The 

 seed allotted for a particular bed should be put into a 

 -vessel half filled with fine mould or earth, and stirred so 

 thoroughly as to cause the seed to be equally distributed 

 in all parts. It should now be separated into two equal 

 divisions. And the plant bed having been divided into 

 convenient lands for sowing, one portion should be sowed 

 as equally as possible in one direction, and the other 

 portion in the same bed, in the opposite direction. The 

 plant bed should now be well raked with an iron tooth 

 rake, both ways, and should then be well trodden by the 

 feet of men or boys, so as to render the loose soil firm 

 and compact. The bed should be thinly covered over 

 with brush to keep it moist, and to protect the plants 

 from frost. Plant beds should be prepared and sown 

 as early in February as the weather will admit ; though 

 it will be in good time if sown 'any time in that month." 



From a statement of R. H. Phelpa, of Windsor, Hartford 

 County, Conn., found in the Patent Office Beport for 1853: 



" The Connecticut mode of management is nearly as 

 follows ; The seed is sown as soon as the ground is free 

 from frost ; or if not, a quantity of bushes is burned upon 

 the ground to warm it, and kill all the seeds of weeds, 

 &c. It is then trodden down compactl}^, in order that 

 the seeds, which are small, may come closely in contact 

 with the earth. Guano is said to act with good efiect 

 in giving the plants an early start, which is to be at- 

 tained if possible." 



From Attends American Farm Book : 



" Pulverize the beds finely, and sow the seed at the 

 rate of a tablespoonful to every square rod. Tlic seeds 

 are so minute, that sowing evenlv is scarcely attainable, 

 unless by first mixing with three or four times their 



