238 THE CHICORY CROP. 



ample time to clean the land thoroughly before subsoil- 

 ing or trenching for the winter ; and in the spring little 

 remains to be done except to get a good tilth for the seed- 

 bed, which can usually be effected by running the grubber 

 across the lines of ploughing, and finishing off with har- 

 rows and a light roller, if necessary, to reduce any rough- 

 ness in the surface soil. Although the plant will grow in 

 poor soils, it will grow far better in soils of better quality ; 

 therefore the state of the land should be properly con- 

 sidered previous to sowing, and its condition secured by 

 the application of a sufficient quantity of manure. If 

 farmyard dung be used, it should be in a decomposed state, 

 for the reasons already given in reference to the ordinary 

 root crops ; the quantity will of course depend upon the 

 nature and condition of the particular soil, and it may be 

 applied either in the autumn or in the spring, in the usual 

 manner. Peruvian guano is the best substitute for the 

 dung, and should be deposited with the manure at the time 

 of sowing, having previously been carefully mixed with 

 about two or three times its bulk of coal ashes, sand, or some 

 similar diluting substance. 



From 4 to 7 Ibs. of seed are usually sown to the acre, 

 in drills or rows from 10 to 15 inches apart; when grown 

 for forage purposes it is sown thicker and closer in the 

 drill than when the root-produce is the object of cultiva- 

 tion. The seed is obtained from the Continent Holland, 

 Belgium, and France ; and as it is somewhat dear in price, 

 so it is liable to adulteration, and the buyer to disappoint- 

 ment, if due care be not taken in its selection. About 

 the end of March is the best time for sowing it as a 

 " forage crop." When grown for the roots alone, it is 

 generally advisable not to sow quite so early about May 

 is recommended as if sown earlier it is apt to run to 

 seed, and thus injure the root-produce. Such plants are 

 termed "runners," and are always carefully pulled up, 



