

CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 



writer in the Farmers' Register,* after observing that he had 

 cultivated the plant for several years, says, "about the time my 

 long forage gives out, these (the sun-flower) begin to bloom. 

 As the blossoms appear, I cut them off about a foot from the 

 ground and give them to my horses, which eat them very readi- 

 ly leaves, buds, stalks and all. This I consider a very whole- 

 some as well as nutritious food." The plants to which this writer 

 refers were raised along the fences leading to his homestead, 

 instead of suffering, as is 100 often the case, such spaces to be 

 occupied and overrun with noxious weeds, to the great injury 

 of the adjacent fields. 



The sun-flower requires a good soil well manured, tho- 

 roughly worked, and perfectly cleaned. The seeds are to be 

 sown in rows, early in the spring, the rows two feet asunder. 

 The distance between the plants in the rows should be twelve 

 to fifteen inches. They require but very little care or atten- 

 tion after they have acquired strength but it is nevertheless 

 indispensable to keep the ground free of weeds. The proper 

 period of gathering the seeds is when fully ripe, and cannot be 

 mistaken. 



Another of the oleaginous plants is the American Earth- 

 nut JLrachis hypogoea which is found wild and in great 

 abundance in some parts of the southern states, of which it is a 

 native. It is cultivated in the south of Europe, and has been 

 made, with special care, to ripen its seeds in the latitude of 

 Paris. It is remarkable for ripening its seeds under ground. 



* Vol. vi., page 208, published at Petersburg, Virginia, by E. RUFFIN, Esq. 





