CULTURE. 43 



is the object sought ; it follows, then, that tillage must be 

 thorough and constant. It will be essentially the same 

 whether propagated, grown from plants or from seed. 

 The ground should be covered with a heavy coat of 

 manure in the Fall, and in the Spring it should be 

 cultivated in. As soon as the frost is out sufficiently, 

 fork the ground thoroughly along the rows and in the 

 hills, letting in the sunshine and giving the plants an 

 early start. 



Note 1. — Xo stalks should be picked the first season; 

 and none should ever be allowed to go to seed, as it is 

 very exhausting. After the first year the stalks can be 

 pulled for the market but should not be drawn upon too 

 heavily, especially if designed for forcing in the Winter. 



During the bearing season, the cultivation of course 

 has to be discontinued, on account of interfering with 

 the crop. Hence then, the great importance of 

 thorough work while it can be done. As soon as the 

 bearing season is over cultivation should again begin, 

 especially if the roots are to be forced during the Winter. 

 The heavy draft upon the plants during the bearing 

 season together with the hot dry weather often prevalent 

 during the whole after season, all tend to weaken and 

 impair the vitality. Thorough cultivation at this time 

 is highly necessary to stimulate the roots and to destroy 

 the grass and weeds which would otherwise absorb the 

 moisture and plant food which the roots so much re- 

 quire. 



If Winter forcing is to follow, a heavy application of 

 barnyard manure should be applied along the rows. If 

 to remain standing for the following year, the manure 

 need not be applied until later, say after the ground 

 freezes when it should be applied sufficiently heavy to 

 well cover the entire surface. 



