162 GAKDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



purpose. Lay the roots separately and evenly together, 

 that they may not be entangled and injured while plant- 

 ing ; keep them while planting in a basket covered with a 

 little sand. Plant your first row by straining a line four 

 inches from the edge of the bed ; then with your spade 

 cut out a trench six inches deep with the side next the line 

 perpendicular, in which set the plants twelve inches apart, 

 if good large heads are desired. Place the roots against 

 the perpendicular side of the trench, and spread them out 

 evenly in the bottom of the trench, and cover them by 

 drawing back the earth regularly over the plants about 

 two inches deep. Draw the line again fifteen inches from 

 the first, and proceed as above, leaving a path two feet wide, 

 four inches from every fourth 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 pos- 

 sible, for lasting from ten to twenty years without work- 

 ing, the rains will render them compact, and walking upon 

 them would be very injurious. Water them daily in dry 

 weather until the plants are well-rooted. Watering in 

 dry weather in summer also is very beneficial. All weeds 

 must be removed as they appear. As salt applied while 

 the plants are young, 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. You need not fear applying too much salt, as 

 old beds have been covered an inch deep, and the plant* 



