VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 169 



from the edge of the bed ; then with the spade cut out a 

 trench six inches deep with the side next the line perpen- 

 dicular, in which set the plants twelve inches apart, if 

 large heads are desired. Place the roots against the per- 

 pendicular side of the trench, and spread them out like a 

 fan against the cut without any doubling, keeping the 

 crowns all at the same level, at about two inches beneath 

 the surface, and cover them by drawing back the light 

 earth regularly over the plants. Draw the line againn 1 f- 

 teen inches from the first, and proceed as above, leaving a 

 path of two feet wide a little below the level of the bed, 

 eight inches from every third row. Some plant lettuce 

 and radishes between the rows, but it is not advisable, 

 though a crop of cabbages may be made in the alleys. 

 After the beds have been planted, rake them smooth, and 

 do not tread between the rows. Keep the edges of the 

 bed smoothly trimmed and even. The beds are made 

 narrow to avoid the necessity of treading upon them with 

 the feet, as they should be left as light as possible, for, 

 lasting from ten to twenty years without working, the 

 rains will render them compact, and walking upon them 

 would be very injurious. If some of the beds are made 

 wit.h but two rows, these, being narrower, will warm 

 through quicker and be earlier in the season. 



Water them daily in dry weather until the plants are 

 well-rooted. All weeds must be removed as they appear. 

 As salt is an excellent manure for this plant, the weeds 

 may be easily kept down by its application. Old brine 

 or refuse salt, in which meat or fish has been packed, is 

 better than any other, as it abounds in the blood and 

 juices of the meat, which are a most valuable fertilizer. 

 Asparagus is a sea-whore plant, and salt will not hurt it, 

 but is life and nourishment to it. 



Old beds have been covered an inch deep, and the plants 

 continued to thrive; but a sprinkling just sufficient to 

 make the soil look white is enough. As soon as the 

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