324: HANDY-BOOK OP HUSBANDRY. 



thinned out. The temptation is always to plant at too narrow in- 

 tervals. The rows should never be nearer together than twenty- 

 seven inches, and even thirty would probably produce better results. 

 This gives ample room for thorough cultivation by horse-power, 

 reducing the amount of hand-work to only the cultivation of the 

 rows themselves. The roots are thinned out at distances varying 

 from six to fifteen inches. Six inches is very much too close, and 

 fifteen inches may be a little wider than necessary. It is believed, 

 however, that a larger weight of roots from a given area of land 

 will be produced if the plants stand at intervals of twelve inches 

 than if nearer together. At this distance, and with thirty inches 

 between the rows, the entire surface of the ground will be covered 

 by the leaves, and each plant will have, not only ample feeding- 

 ground for its roots, but ample room for the largest development. 

 If the land is thoroughly well pulverized, and enriched with per- 

 fect uniformity, at these distances every root should be perfect. 



When the crop is to be transplanted, the seed should be sown 

 in a thoroughly prepared seed-bed, about the middle of May. The 

 young plants should be dusted with soot, ashes, road dust, or 

 air-'slacked lime, or with some other powder that will drive away 

 the skipping-beetle, which often causes serious loss. The rows 

 need not be more than twelve inches asunder, and the plants may 

 stand quite thickly in the row, at intervals of not more one-half 

 inch or one inch. The plants for an acre may, in this way, be 

 raised upon a few square rods of ground ; although, for fear of 

 accidents, it is always best to be liberal in this respect. The 

 amount of seed sown for the transplanting of an acre should be 

 not less than three-quarters of a pound ; and, if there is the least 

 danger that the seed may not be of uniformly good quality, it will 

 be poor economy not to use at least twice this quantity. The 

 seed-bed should be kept thoroughly clean, free from weeds, and 

 well pulverized ; and, if the weather is dry, should be occasionally 

 watered, in order that the plants may be as strong and firm as" pos- 

 sible at transplanting time. They should be set out in place, not 

 later than the middle of July, if the crop is intended for consump- 

 tion on the farm. But the first of August will be early enough, 



