SECRETARY'S REPORT. 67 



would a bed in the garden. Leave it flat on the surface for the 

 convenience of watering in case of drought. Mix an even 

 table-spoonful of seed for every rod of ground to be sown, with 

 a sufficient quantity of gypsum, (or Indian meal will answer 

 the purpose,) in order to see where it is sown that you may 

 spread it even over the bed. Do not in any case cover the 

 seed, but after sowing, tread, or roll it hard. The bed Miould 

 then be covered with fine brush or a thin covering of straw, 

 which may remain till the plants are up and need weeding. 

 Ti)ey will require two or three times weeding before they are 

 large enough to set in the field. Many farmers are in too 

 great a hurry to get tlieir plants out ; they set them too early, 

 and use too small plants, ^j letting them grow in the bed 

 till they get a good root, and a good-sized leaf, they are 

 maturing as fast or faster than if set in the field. As long as 

 they can remain in the bed they are secure from the cut-worms 

 which devour small plants. This causes much labor, by being 

 obliged to reset, and gives an uneven crop. If the plants are 

 large, say leaves four or five inches in length, the worm may 

 eat some days, (or rather nights, for then is the time they do 

 the mischief,) without injury, unless it takes out the centre 

 bud. If that is gone the plant is worthless, and its place 

 should be supplied with another. From the 15th to the 25th 

 of June is early enough to set the field. If we could be sure 

 of suitable weatlier we would never put out the plants earlier 

 than the 25th. This plant requires strong, warm land, such 

 as would produce forty bushels of corn per acre ; should be 

 manured with at least ten cords of good manure with two 

 hundred poifjids of plaster sown on after it is spread. Plough 

 and harrow two or three times in order to get the earth well 

 pulverized and mixed with tlie manure. After harrowing 

 smooth, mark tiie rows three and a lialf feet apart, and make 

 the hills two feet four inches on the rows. Tiiey sliould be 

 ready previous to the day of setting, so that in case of a wet 

 time the work can be done with greater dispatch. 



Sometimes, for the want of rain, we are obliged to water out 

 the plants. This is done by pouring a little water on each hill, 

 and set soon after. Run some fine iiay or grass tlirougli a hay- 

 cutter, and cover the plants, if there is danger of injury by too 

 hot sun. Clean culture is necessary to the success of a good 



