18 HOW TO PLANT. 



soil o^ver the manure, about half an inch to one inch 

 thick. On this bed lay the potatoes thickly, but so as 

 not to touch one another. Scatter lightly some thorough- 

 ly rotted manure over the potatoes, and cover about four 

 or five inches deep with top soil. After frosts are over 

 rake off this soil to two inches in depth, and soon the 

 sprouts will begin to appear, and in a few days will be 

 ready for transplanting to the field. To prepare the field, 

 plow the land thoroughly, six to eight inches deep, lay 

 off rows three feet apart, apply well rotted manure, or 

 ammoniated superphosphate, in this furrow (two to four 

 hundred pounds of the latter per acre). Cover by run- 

 ning a turn plow on each side of the rows, so as to make 

 a good soft bed. Draw the plants or slips, and plant 

 them about eighteen inches apart, on the ridge you have 

 prepared. Keep the crop clear of grass, by plowing and 

 and hoeing, until the vines begin to run freely, then hill 

 up and lay by, being careful not to permit the vines to 

 take root between the rows. Dig and house after the first 

 frost. Banking them out of doors in the Southern states, 

 is as good a plan as any. 



PUMPKINS. (Cucurlita Pepo.) 



Common field pumpkins may be profitably planted 

 about in the growing corn. From the latter part of May 

 until the last of June plant three or four seeds to the 

 hill ; make hills ten to fifteen feet apart, and on about 

 every fourth or fifth row. Pumpkins may also be simi- 

 larly planted by themselves on rich ground. 



BEOOM CORN. (Sorghum vulgare, YAR.) 

 Broom Corn requires good strong land, well prepared, 

 and on which water will not stand. Plant about the first 

 of March, or as soon as all danger of frost is over. Lay 

 off rows four to four and one-half feet apart, in which 

 drill the seed thinly and cover about one inch deep. 

 When up, thin to two or four inches apart and cultivate 



