VEGETABLES. 159 



from the wagon ; an even distribution of manure gives a more 

 uniform heat throughout the soil, consequently a more uniform 

 crop. Go over the land thoroughly with the cultivator tooth 

 harrow, then brush, and if necessary, hand rake. 



Your bed is now ready for seed, in the selection of which 

 there should be no guess work. Stick lightly in the ground 

 three or four stakes (laths are good), in exact line for your 

 first row ; if you have a machine that will sow beet seed well 

 (I never saw one), place the wheel at the first stake, gauge 

 eighteen inches for distance between rows, and go ahead, keep- 

 ing the laths in line ; if you are a temperance man yoiir row 

 will be straight. I think the roller hastens vegetation, especially 

 in loose soils ; many seeds lie loosely in the ground immediately 

 after sowing, and some time is required for the earth to settle 

 sufficiently close about them for germination ; the roller does 

 this immediately (at once). Use the hoe as soon as the plants 

 show themselves, weeds or no weeds, and thin out early rather 

 than wait to market greens — the difference in labor and rapidity 

 of growth will pay far better. In harvesting, pack in barrels or 

 bin with dry sand ; this is no notion ; in no other way that I 

 know of can you take out your vegetables in April and May, 

 with their flavor and consistency perfectly preserved. 



The above is with reference to an early market ; for winter 

 use sow seed about May 20th. 



Potatoes. — So much has been said and written upon potato 

 culture lately, that I am happy to be able to say, little can be 

 added ; speculation for once has taken the right direction. 

 Three years ago, when Goodrich's seedling was the ne plus 

 ultra, I made fifteen hills of a single potato, and raised some- 

 where about a bushel. The following year, I spread eight cords 

 of stable manure upon one and one-half acres of pasture land, 

 ploughed, furrowed, added one-half shovelful to the hill, with a 

 handful of plaster, and planted single eyes of this variety as 

 carefully as I could cut them ; from fifty-five square rods the 

 receipts were one hundred and nineteen dollars (!$119). 



Tliis current year I tried the Early Rose similarly, with this 

 additional experiment : I cut off and planted one row of the 

 seed end ; it was behind throughout the season and at harvest- 

 ing. To sum up, therefore, spread two-thirds of your manure 



