S570 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



propose another laborsaving implement, in the shape of 

 a small hand weedingplough, which is described under 

 PLOUGH. Tnis is to be pushed along by hand, runing fur- 

 row*, on each side of the rows, as near as may be found ad- 

 visable; turning the furrows firit from the rows, and then 

 back to them, in order the more completely to throw all 

 the roots of the young growth of weeds out of the tooting 

 they may have got in the soil. 



Every part of the interval between the rows should, in 

 this manner, be cut with this plough; after which it would 

 probably be found requisite to use a small narrow iron- 

 toothed rake, for the purpose of completely separating the 

 roots of the weeds from the soil. When this has been per- 

 formed, the cleansing of the rows of the weeds growing 

 among them, which the plough could not touch, and also 

 the thining of the rows, must be performed by hand. 



When the weeds begin to rise again, this operation must 

 be repeated, and again, if it be necessary, as no weeds 

 should be suffered to grow among the crop. 



Old grounds never can be completely cleared of weeds, as 

 some kinds seem to grow spontaneously; but, where none 

 are suffered to go to seed, the trouble of extirpating such 

 as do rise will not be very difficult. 



In raising this root, some plant them in holes, about ten 

 inches apart* so as to form rows each way, puting about 

 eight seeds in each hole. 



This, where the cultivation is all performed by handlabor, 

 is the easiest, both in seeding the ground, and afterwards 

 in weeding it, as the weedinghoe can be run each way be- 

 tween the bunches or hills; but the product will be found 

 the greatest, where the ciop is raised in rows, whether 

 drilled in, as above directed, or planted by hand. 



By the use of the drill, and weeding plough, as above 

 described, in raising the crop, it is believed that one-halt 

 of the labor usually bestowed on the culture of this root 

 would be saved ; and that thereby the Farmer could proba- 

 bly afford his onions for about thirty cents a bushel ; a sum 

 which is not more than a third of the price they usually 

 command in our markets. 



The culture of this root, upon somewhat of an extensive 

 scale, and agreeably to the above directions, would, no 

 doubt, be found very profitable in some situations, where a 

 ready market could be had for the crop, and where the soil 

 was suitable tor its cultivation. 



When the stalks have become dead and dry, the onions 

 will have ceased to grow, and then they should be pulled, 

 and laid on the ground some days, to dry and harden, be- 

 iore they are carried in. 



