iddle of the alleys.
Bend the shoots outward and inward in every direction, so as in time
to fill all the vacant space on the beds, and about one foot on each
side. After the first time covering, repeat the weeding when
necessary, and run a single horse plough through the alleys several
times to keep the earth clean and mellow. As soon as the plants
again become ten or twelve inches high, bend down and cover them as
before, repeating the operation as often as necessary, which is
commonly three times the first season. The last time may be as late
as September, or later if no frosts occur. By covering the tops in
this manner, they change to roots, and the design is to fill the
ground as full of roots as possible. When the vacant spaces are all
full, there is but little chance for weeds to grow; but all that
appear must be pulled out.

_The second year._--Keep the beds free from weeds; plough the alleys
and cover the tops, as before directed, two or three times during
the season. The alleys will now form deep and narrow ditches, and if
it becomes difficult to obtain good earth for covering the tops,
that operation may be omitted after the second time this season.
Care should be taken, when covering the tops, to keep the edges of
the beds as high as the middle; otherwise the water from heavy
showers will run off, and the crop suffer from drought.

_The third year._--Very little labor or attention is required. They
will now cover the whole ground. If any weeds are seen, they must be
pulled out; otherwise their roots will cause trouble when harvesting
the madder. The crop is sometimes dug the third year; and if the
soil and cultivation have been good, and the seasons warm and
favorable, the madder will be of a good quality; but generally it is
much better in quality, and more in quantity, when left until the
fourth year.

_Digging and harvesting._--This should be done between the 20th of
August and the 20th of September. Take a sharp shovel or shovels,
and cut off and remove the tops with half an inch of the surface of
the earth; then take a plough of the largest size, with a sharp
coulter and a double team, and plough a furrow outward, beam-deep,
around the edge of the bed; stir the earth with forks, and carefully
pick out all the roots, removing the earth from the bottom of the