Methods of Culture in the South. 131 



This fact proves that he could follow the system of autumn planting 

 successfully, and I am inclined to think that he will regard this method 

 with constantly increasing favor. As an instance proving the adaptation 

 to this latitude of the fall system of planting, I may state that 96,000 

 plants were sent to a gentleman at Richmond, in October, 1877, an< ^ 

 when I visited his place, the following spring, there was scarcely a break 

 in the long rows, and nearly fruit enough, I think, to pay for the plants. 

 From his Seth Boydens, set out last September, Mr. Young will certainly 

 pick enough berries to pay expenses thus far ; and at the same time, the 

 plants are already four times the size of any set out this spring. As the 

 country about Norfolk is level, with spots where the water would stand 

 in very wet weather, Mr. Young has it thrown up into slightly raised beds 

 two and a half feet wide. This is done by plows, after the ground has 

 been thoroughly prepared and leveled by a heavy, fine-toothed harrow. 

 These ridges are but four or five inches high, and are smoothed off by an 

 implement made for the purpose. Upon these beds, quite near the edges, 

 the plants are set in rows twenty inches apart, while the depressed space 

 between the beds is twenty-seven inches wide. This space is also 

 designed for the paths. The rows and the proper distances for the plants 

 are designated by a " marker," an implement consisting of several wheels 

 fastened to a frame and drawn by hand. On the rim of these wheels are 

 two knobs shaped like an acorn. Each wheel marks a continuous line on 

 the soft earth, and with each revolution the knobs make two slight but 

 distinct depressions twelve inches apart ; or, if the variety to be planted is 

 a vigorous grower, he uses another set of wheels that indent the ground 

 every fifteen inches. A plant is dropped at each indentation, and a gang 

 of colored women follow with trowels, and, by two or three quick, dexter- 

 ous movements, imbed the roots firmly in the soil. Some become so 

 quick and skillful as to be able to set out six or seven thousand a day, 

 while four or five thousand is the average. With his trained band of 

 twenty women, Mr. Young calls the setting of a hundred thousand plants 

 a good day's work. 



In April commences the long campaign against the weeds, which 

 advance like successive armies. No sooner is one growth slain than 

 a different and perhaps more pestiferous class rises in its place the 

 worst of the Philistines being nut-grass, quack-grass and direst foe of 

 all wire-grass. 



This labor is reduced to its minimum by mule cultivation, and Mr. 

 Young has on his -farm a style of cultivator that is peculiarly adapted 

 to the work. As this is his own invention, I will not describe it, but 

 merely state that it enables him to work very close to the rows, and 



