178 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



very good heart. To repeat either of the above around the 

 stalks on each hill after the last hoeing, will add materially to 

 the crop. 



PLANTING. It should be planted in hills two feet apart, in 

 rows two arid a half to three feet distant. If the seed is good, 

 15 to 20 seeds to a hill are enough ; if not, put in sufficient 

 to ensure eight or ten thrifty plants, which are all that re- 

 quire to be left for each hill. Time of planting must depend 

 on climate and season. The 1st of May is time for planting 

 in latitude 40, and 10th to 15th in 42, but as early as possi- 

 ble, yet late enough to escape spring frost is best. The ground 

 should be thoroughly harrowed and pulverized before plant- 

 ing. Thick planting gives the finest, toughest brush. Seed 

 should be buried one to one and a half inches deep. 



AFTER CULTURE. As soon as the plants are visible, run 

 a cultivator between the rows, and follow with a hand hoe. 

 Many neglect this till the weeds get a start, which is highly 

 prejudicial to the crop. The cultivator or a light plow should 

 be used afterwards, followed with a hoe, and may be repeated 

 four or five times with advantage. Breaking the tops should 

 be done before fully ripe, or when the seed is a little past the 

 milk ; or if frost appears, then immediately after it. This is 

 done by bending over the tops of the rows towards each other, 

 for the convenience of cutting afterwards. They should be 

 broken some 13 inches below the brush, and allowed to 

 hang till fully ripe, when it may be cut and carried .under 

 cover, and spread till thoroughly dried. The stalks remain- 

 ing on the ground may be cut close or pulled up and buried 

 in the furrows for manure, or burnt, and thus be restored 

 to the earth to enrich it ; or they may be carried to the 

 barn-yard to mix in a compost, or with the droppings of the 

 cattle. 



CLEANING THE BRUSH. This is best done by hand, by 

 passing it through a kind of hetchel, made by setting upright 

 knives near enough together, or it may be cleaned by a long 

 toothed currycomb. By the first method none of the little 

 branches are broken, and the brush makes a finer, better 

 broom. We have seen horse power machines used for clean- 

 ing the seed with great rapidity, in the Miami valley. The 

 average yield is about 500 Ibs. of brush per acre. It varies 

 according to season and soil, from 300 to 1,000 Ibs. The 

 price also varies materially, ranging from 3 to 16 cents per 

 Ib. ; the last seldom obtained unless in extreme scarcity. A 

 good crop of seed is obtained in the Connecticut valley about 



