PEEPARATION OF THE LAND. 419 



The weathering action of the winter upon the two 

 extremes of soils clays and sands is very different ; 

 upon the one the tendency is to disintegrate and separate 

 its particles, and thus produce a tilth or finely-divided 

 mass of soil ; upon the other the frosts have little or no 

 action, and the rains merely tend to wash out the finest 

 portions, and to bring the coarser portions closer together, 

 and thus form a more compact and consolidated mass. 

 And the more our soils approach either to the one or to 

 the other extreme whether clay loams or sandy loams,, 

 for instance the more they are influenced in the manner 

 described by the action of the weather, if exposed to it 

 during the winter months. 



In either case the land has to be broken up, and the 

 surface sward buried sufficiently deep to insure its decom- 

 position and to prevent its appearance above the surface, 

 which, during the entire existence of the crop, requires 

 to be perfectly clean and free from weeds. The surface 

 must then be harrowed and rolled, if necessary, until a 

 proper tilth be obtained for the seed-bed. This is always 

 a matter of great importance with all the cruciferous 

 plants we cultivate. The seed-time commences in March 

 and is continued at intervals until the end of May, as, 

 owing to the constant hand labour required in the culti- 

 vation, it is always considered advisable to divide the 

 crop, so that the different portions may come on in 

 succession and render the application of the labour more 

 economical. The seed should always be deposited by the 

 drill, it being very important to regulate both the depth 

 and the distances of the rows, in order that the growth 

 may be equal and the weeds be kept down. It is equally 

 important that the seed used should be quite fresh; about 

 one bushel is ample for the purpose a light roller being 

 run over the surface to insure its evenness. The seeds 

 should be deposited in drills, 12 inches at least apart, and 



