114 RUTA BAGA. 



ing ; which is from the 20th of June to the first, or even 

 10th of Julj^ It is recommended, if the soil is dry, to 

 steep the seed and roll them in gypsum. 



The gi'ound should be twice deeply ploughed, and 

 then harrowed. Furrows are then to.be run at the dis- 

 tances of about thirty inches, the plough passing tv.'ice 

 in the same place, and turning the furrows back to back. 

 In the bottom of these furrows suitable manure is to be 

 placed evenly along. If the soil is previously pretty 

 rich, fifteen horse-cart loads will be sufficient ; if other- 

 wise, thirtv ox-cart loads should be used. A furrow 

 with a horse plough, is then to be run on each side to cov- 

 er the dung. Level the top of the ridges, which should 

 be but very little elevated, except in wettish land, and 

 drill, or plant the seed by hand, about a foot apart, or 

 less if the ground is not rich, and two or three seeds in each 

 hole ; pressing the earth upon them a little. When the 

 plants are well up, plough and hoe them. In due sea- 

 son, thin them, leaving but one in a place, and fill up 

 vacancies by transplanting. After this, they must be 

 ploughed and hoed once or twice, and the weeds on the 

 ridges taken out with the hoe or the hand. 



Another method highly recommended is to transplant 

 ruta baga. This may be done after the 15th of July, 

 and after a crop has been taken from the ground ; but 

 the first of July is probably a better time. In trans- 

 planting it is recommended, that it be done immediately 

 after a heavy shower, that the plants be of five or six 

 weeks growth, and that in setting, particular care be 

 taken to press the earth closely against the bottom of the 

 roots. 



To save labor, some prefer sowing the seed broad- 

 cast ; and hoeing once among them, thinning out the 

 plants to proper distances. A crop of six hundred bush- 

 els was raised upon one acre of a clover lay in New- 

 York. The grass was cut about the 20th of June, about 

 twelve loads of manure spread over the ground, which 

 was immediately ploughed, one pound of seed sown, and 

 harrowed in lengthwise of the furrows. 



The time of harvesting is before the frosts set in, say 

 not to exceed the 10th of November. The earth can 

 be turned from the roots with the plough, in dry weath- 

 er, and then gathered by hand. The crop may be se- 



