420 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



Sow very early in spring. If the outer coat of the seed be 

 bruised, without injuring the inside, the germination will 

 be accelerated. The plants are very slow in appearing; 

 never less than three weeks, often four or five months, 

 and sometimes a full year. Water plentifully in dry 

 weather, and keep the seed-beds free from weeds during 

 the season. Thin the plants as they appear to an inch 

 apart, and, as they grow strong, to two or three inches, 

 and keep free from weeds. In the autumn, when their 

 leaves decay, clear them away, and earth them up about 

 the crowns with an inch or two of soil from the alleys, 

 or leaf-mould from the woods, and cover over the whole 

 bed, four inches deep with long litter, and leave it to 

 stand until the time of transplanting. 



As early as possible the spring ensuing, prepare the 

 permanent bed for those you wish to transplant. Those 

 raised where they are to remain succeed best. 



Let the soil be light, and well enriched with good com- 

 post. Leaf manure is better than hot dung. Dig it up 

 deeply and thoroughly at least two feet deep, and lay it 

 off in beds three feet wide, with alleys two feet in width 

 between. Upon each of these beds plant two rows of 

 plants eighteen inches apart, and the same distance in 

 the row. Take up the plants very carefully with the 

 trowel, so as not to disturb the roots. If you plant cut- 

 tings of old plants put two in each place, to" guard against 

 failures. In all cases, be careful in transplanting that the 

 roots are not broken or dried by exposure to the sun and 

 air. During the dry, hot weather of summer, the beds 

 should be liberally watered the first season after replant- 

 ing, as upon their summer growth depends the next 

 season's crop. Keep the soil clean, and after the plants 

 get well rooted dig over the ground between the rows, 

 making the soil as fine as possible. 



The coming autumn the earthing-up must be a little 



