Tillage, Fertilizing and Rotation 91 



marking may be done either with a one-horse roller rake- 

 toothed marker or a disk-marker. When the more uni- 

 versal ridge method is used, the ridges or rows are made 

 by means of a turning plow or disk. The ridges should 

 be turned a few days before planting in order that the 

 soil may have time to settle. Most farmers make the 

 ridges whenever the land is in working condition, and 

 then run over them with a drag or roller to level them, 

 and leave a suitable place to set out the plants. By 

 means of the roller or drag, from four to eight rows can 

 be done at once, according to the nature of the machine. 

 A drag can be built at home by nailing together several 

 pieces of 2 X 4, or one or two 4X4 scantlings. 



In small patches for home use, ridges are often leveled 

 by means of a field or garden hoe, all the preparatory 

 work and cultivation being done by a one-horse plow. 



Distance and method of planting. (See Plate III.) 



When level culture is practiced, plants may be set from 

 24 to 30 inches apart in each directioii. On the eastern 

 shore of Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey, a part of 

 the crop is checked 24 inches each way, therefore re- 

 quiring about 11,000 plants to the acre. When the crop 

 is grown in ridges, it is customary to have them from 

 30 to 40 inches apart, and the plants from 12 to 18 

 inches in the row. By this method an acre will require 

 from 8000 to 12,500 plants, the average acre through- 

 out the Gulf Coast region being set with about 10,000 

 plants. 



In planting for level cultivation, the location for the 

 plants is indicated by cross marks made by running 

 the marker in two directions across the field, the marker 

 being at right angles. When planting on ridges, the 



