318 THE FARMER'S AND 



pieces, containing from two to five eyes each ; i. e. three 

 to four inches long. The time for planting is as early in 

 spring as the ground can be got in good order, and severe 

 frosts are over, which, in this climate, is usually about the 

 middle of April. With the beds prepared as directed, 

 stretch a line lengthwise the bed, and with the corner of 

 a hoe make a drill two inches deep along each edge and 

 down the middle, so as to give three rows to each bed, 

 about two feet apart. Into these drills drop the sets, ten 

 inches apart, covering them two inches deep. Eight or 

 ten bushels of sets are requisite for an acre. 



After Culture. As soon as the madder plants can be 

 seen, the ground should be carefully hoed, so as to destroy 

 the weeds, and not injure the plants ; and the hoeing and 

 weeding must be repeated as often as weeds make their 

 appearance. If any of the sets have failed to grow, the 

 vacancies should be filled by taking up parts of the strong- 

 est roots and transplanting them ; this is best done in June. 

 As soon as the madder plants are ten or twelve inches 

 high, the tops are to be bent down on the surface of the 

 ground, and all except the tip end, covered with earth 

 shoveled from the middle of the alleys. Bend the shoots 

 outward and inward, in every direction, so as in time to 

 fill all the vacant space on the beds, and about one foot 

 on each side. After the first time covering, repeat the 

 weeding when necessary, and run a single horse plough 

 through the alleys several times to keep the earth clean 

 and mellow. As soon as the plants again become ten or 

 twelve inches high, bend down and cover them as before, 

 repeating the operation as often as necessary, which is 

 commonly three times the first season. The last time 

 may be as late as September, or later if no frosts occur. 

 By covering the tops in this manner, they change to roots, 

 and the design is to fill the ground as full of roots as possi- 

 ble. When the vacant spaces are all full, there will be 



