40 THE CULTURE OF 



Autumnal Dressing of the Jerusalem Artichoke. 



dry, and before autumnal rains fall, it will be 

 necessary to cleanse the beds from all weeds 

 throughout, by hoeing over the surface on a 

 dry day, with a strong four or six-inch wide 

 hoe, chopping over and breaking up entirely 

 the ground two inches or more deep, between 

 the plants, carefully pulling out and casting 

 away all weeds which may be found ; this 

 done, with a round-headed rake of convenient 

 size, immediately smooth over the entire sur- 

 face of the bed ; after which, afford a good 

 dressing with the same cool and rich manure 

 applied at the time of planting, by laying it 

 two inches thick between the plants through- 

 out the bed ; which will most easily be per- 

 formed by taking it out of scuttles or wheel- 

 barrows on each side the bed, on the point of 

 a narrow spade, laying the same at such equal 

 and convenient distances, as to admit of its 

 being afterward spread evenly by the hand, or 

 with hoes of convenient width, two inches 

 thick all over the bed. The beds being com- 



