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taken to keep the ground foft, and free from 

 weeds, by often ftirring with your hoe the 

 mould round the roots ; and to prune off 

 the dead leaves that fometimes are found near 

 the bottom of the ftalk; 



The difference of this climate from that 

 in which I have been accuftomed to obferve 

 the progrefs of this plant, will not permit 

 me to dired: with certainty the time which 

 is moft proper to take off the top of it, to 

 prevent it from running to feed. This 

 knowledge can only be perfectly acquired 

 by experience. When it has rifen to up- 

 wards of two feet, it commonly begins to 

 put forth the branches on which the flowers 

 and feeds are produced ; but as this expan- 

 fion, if fuffered to take place, would drain 

 the nutriment from the leaves, which are 

 the moft valuable part, and thereby leffen 

 their fize arid efficacy, it becomes needful 

 at this ftage to nip off the extremity of the 

 ftalk, to, prevent its growing higher. In 

 fome other climates the top is commonly 



cut 



