CULTIVATION. 43 



tected against winds. The bed should be 4 feet broad 

 and 8 feet long; on this we pile brush, wood, and heavy 

 logs, sufficient to keep up a strong fire for at least one 

 hour, and burn it. When the coals begin to die out, or 

 before the soil is cold, the bed is cleared off, and only the 

 fine ashes are left ; then it is hoed thoroughly and as deep 

 as the strongest heat has penetrated, after which it is 

 raked cross and lengthwise, until the soil is entirely 

 pulverized. Everything that might hinder the growing 

 of the plants, and their taking out afterwards, is carefully 

 removed. On this bed a thimbleful of seed, well mixed 

 with a few handfuls of ashes or earth, is sown broadcast, 

 and tramped in with the feet, or slapped with the under 

 side of the spade or any other suitable instrument. After 

 this, the bed is thoroughly wetted with a weak manure- 

 water, 12 Ib. of hen-droppings, or 1 Ib. of soot in 10 

 gallons of water, and lightly covered with straw. The 

 seed-bed does not need much attention at first, if the 

 weather remains mild ; but if there is danger of night- 

 frosts, a layer of brush must be made, and on this a layer 

 of straw 2 to 4 inches thick, according to the degree of 

 frost. The straw is removed in the morning, and put on 

 again at evening, leaving it off entirely when the nights 

 are mild. Although the seed-bed is ready now, it must 

 not be left to itself, and requires some care. The plants 

 must always have sufficient moisture, and if timely rains 

 do not fall, they must be watered with weak liquid 

 manure as often as needed. Should weeds appear, not- 

 withstanding all precautions, they must be removed with 

 the utmost care. The above-mentioned quantity of seed 

 is sufficient to raise plants for one acre. 



