ROOT CROPS. 219 



hand-hoe, or dibble, are efficient, though rather slow substitutes. 

 Under these circumstances, the method most commonly prac- 

 tised, and which is most to be recommended, is with the hand- 

 hoe to open holes at the required distance apart, and from an 

 inch and a half to two inches in depth ; another person follows 

 and drops three or four capsules (or, as they are commonly 

 called, seeds) in each hole, followed by a third, who, with a 

 spade, shovel, rake, or any other convenient implement, draws 

 a sufficiency of mould over the seeds to cover them to a depth 

 proportionate to the texture of the soil, the average being about 

 an inch and a half; but if the soil be of a light nature, and the 

 weather dry, two inches would not be too deep. By this mode 

 of sowing, three careful boys, women, or girls, would sow at 

 least an acre in a day. xVbout six pounds of seed per statute 

 acre is the quantity usually sown, which, if not saved on the 

 farm, should be procured from a respectable and trustworthy 

 seed merchant, in order to insure what is genuine, as great 

 losses are often sustained by farmers from purchasir.g cheap 

 but bad seed.* 



In forming holes for the seed, the dibble is sometimes em- 

 ployed, which makes from four to six holes at a time by a single 

 pressure of the foot, and is much more expeditious than the 

 hoe ; but it has been objected to for two reasons ; the first and 

 more important is, that the holes are too small, and the seeds 

 when put in fall together, and consequently grow up intertwined 

 with eacli other, which is very injurious to their early growth, 

 and troublesome at the time of thinning ; the other is, that the 

 soil immediately about the seed is consolidated, instead of 

 having that loose texture which is so essential for promoting 

 the growth of the minute and tender roots. These objections 

 may, in a great part be obviated when the teeth of the dibble 

 are made pretty large and the soil light and friable. In sowing 

 the seed, it is well to bear in mind what has been previously 

 said when treating of the varieties as suited to the various 

 classes of soils. In addition to this, it may not be out of place 



* I have found that sowing too deeply is more to be guarded against than the 

 oi^posite ; an inch is quite sufficient depth for the seed sown early in the month 

 of May. Steeping the seed for 24 hours in water insures a rapid germination, 

 and does not prevent sowing by a drill, if, before sowing, the seed is shaken 

 up slightly in a bag containing a little dry sand. — R. S. F. 



