PI^ANTING 57 



simplified the planting, but have also materially 

 reduced the expense, increased the crop, and improved 

 the quality of the producft. 



After the ground has been properly prepared, it is 

 marked off in parallel rows from three to five or more 

 feet apart, according to the preferences of the grower. 

 The easiest way to open these trenches is by plowing a 

 furrow each way, and, if necessary, going over the 

 ground a sufl&cient number of times to make the 



FIG. 15 — TRENCHES READY FOR PLANTING 



furro\vs from eight to ten inches deep. After this the 

 loose soil is thrown out with a shovel or a wide hoe, so 

 as to leave the trenches at a uniform depth of ten to 

 twelve inches and of the same width at the bottom, as 

 seen in Fig. 15. By rigging a piece of board on the 

 mold-board of the plow more soil is thrown out, so that 

 usually it will not be necessary to go over the ground 

 oftener than twice. The Messrs. Hudson & Son, of 

 lyong Island, have devised for their own use a 

 "trencher" (Fig. 16), which with a good team opens 

 the trench to the desired depth in one operation and 

 at a great saving of labor. 



