ts, stones, &c., containing a good portion
of vegetable earth. Alluvial "bottom" land is the most suitable, but
it must not be wet. If old upland is used, it should receive a heavy
coating of vegetable earth, from decayed wood and leaves. The land
should be ploughed very deep in the fall, and early in the spring
apply about one hundred loads of well-rotted manure per acre, spread
evenly, and ploughed in deeply; then harrow till quite fine and free
from lumps. Next plough the land into beds four feet wide, leaving
alleys between three feet wide, then harrow the beds with a fine
light harrow, or rake them by hand, so as to leave them smooth and
even with the alleys; they are then ready for planting.

_Preparing sets and planting._--Madder sets or seed roots are best
selected when the crop is dug in the fall. The horizontal uppermost
roots (with eyes) are the kind to be used; these should be separated
from the bottom roots, and buried in sand in a cellar or pit. If not
done in the fall, the sets may be dug early in the spring, before
they begin to sprout. They should be cut or broken into pieces,
containing from two to five eyes each; _i.e._, three to four inches
long. The time for planting is as early in the spring as the ground
can be got in good order, and severe frosts are over, which in this
climate (America) is usually about the middle of April. With the
beds prepared as directed, stretch a line lengthwise the bed, and
with the corner of a hoe make a drill two inches deep along each
edge and down the middle, so as to give three rows to each bed,
about two feet apart. Into these drills drop the sets, ten inches
apart, covering them two inches deep. Eight or ten bushels of sets
are requisite for an acre.

_After culture._--As soon as the madder plants can be seen, the
ground should be carefully hoed, so as to destroy the weeds and not
injure the plants; and the hoeing and weeding must be repeated as
often as weeds make their appearance. If any of the sets have failed
to grow, the vacancies should be filled by talking up parts of the
strongest roots and transplanting them; this is best done in June.
As soon as the madder plants are ten or twelve inches high, the tops
are to be bent down on the surface of the ground, and all except the
tip end covered with earth, shovelled from the m