288 Culture of Mangel WurtzeL 



nure as practicable, indents, or small holes are formed, 

 say half an inch deep, as above stated, into which the 

 seeds are deposited, (one seed in each indent is sufficient 

 provided the seeds are perfect,) and covered with dirt by 

 the fingers. As from two to three plants generally spring 

 up from one seed, and not more than one ought to be aU 

 lowed to grow in a place, there are pretty uniformly ex- 

 tra plants, sufficiently numerous to insure a full crop, by 

 transplanting, in order to fill up vacancies which may 

 have occurred, in consequence of the failure of any of 

 the seed. The transplanting ought to be commenced 

 when the plants have attained the size of a quarter to half 

 an inch in diameter, and when the ground is in quite a 

 moist state. These precautions being taken, there are 

 very few plants that will not thrive and do well. In trans- 

 planting, care will be requisite to form holes sufficiently 

 deep for the plants, to prevent the point of the root from 

 turning upwards. The mode I have adopted for dress- 

 ing or keeping the plants free from weeds, and the ground 

 in a loose mellow state, is by means of the plough and 

 hoe : — the space between the rows being sufficiently great 

 for the adfnission of a small plough, with one horse. It 

 has been found best, in the first place, to plough from the 

 plants, (taking care not to go so near as to injure them,) 

 as it much facilitates the use of the hoe, immediately 

 about and between the plants. After the hoeing is done, 

 they are again ploughed, but the ground turned towards 

 the plants, when the dressing is completed. 



