MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 197 



for many years on the same land without change, and, with 

 proper care, the land can be so thoroughly cleansed that the 

 labor of cultivating will be greatly lessened, as the crop soon 

 shades the soil so that weeds have but little chance to grow. 

 The double cultivators, with fenders, are used in its cultivation, 

 and by means of these we can cultivate it when quite small, 

 and get close to it without danger of covering it up. Unless 

 the land is very clean, and the season unusually favorable, it 

 will be necessary to hoe it, and this should be done thoroughly, 

 putting enough fresh, mellow earth round each hill to smother 

 out any weeds or grass that are starting. 



Harvesting. If you expect to produce brush that will 

 bring the highest price in the market your help must be engaged 

 both for cutting and scraping, and your racks prepared in barn 

 or shed for curing the brush, for a delay of a week may reduce 

 the price so as to cause a loss far greater than the entire ex- 

 pense of cutting and preparing for market. 



The most successful growers recommend that the cutting be- 

 gin as soon as the blossom falls, as the brush at this time will 

 not only have the best color, but also the greatest weight. The 

 first operation in harvesting is to " table " it, by which is meant 

 the breaking of two rows at about two feet above the ground, 

 and laying them across each other at such an angle that all the 

 brush shall project into the spaces between the tables far enough 

 so that when cut the " table " will stand, and be strong enough 

 to bear the weight of the brush. In tabling the man walks back- 

 wards, breaking two rows at a time, and the angle at which the 

 stalks are laid down will depend somewhat on the height of the 

 stalk the longer the stalk the greater the angle. A little ex- 

 perience will enable any one to make a good table if he will 

 keep in mind the two points that the brush should all be in the 

 spaces at the side of the table, and the table so that it will 

 stand firm after the brush is cut. In cutting grasp the brush 

 with the left hand, taking care not to catch the leaf; place the 

 knife against the stalk, about eight inches from the brush, and 

 draw with the left hand, the object being to sever the stalk and 

 draw it out of the sheath without removing the blade. If a 



