co plant waxes strong, and becomes mature enough for
transplantation."

A Tennessee planter gives the following description of making the
plant bed as practised in his State. In some respects, especially in
preventing the growth of weeds, it is the best process of making the
"plant patch" that we have ever seen described. He says:--

"To make a good plant bed it requires good management and
pretty hard work. It will hardly be done well without the
presence of the farmer to attend to it. The time to make a
bed is from the 15th of October to the first of April. The
best beds are made in the Fall, for the reason that the
ground is then very dry and therefore more easily burned,
and besides there is more time for the ashes to rot before
the hot weather. A bed turned in the Fall will hold moisture
better than burned later. It takes less wood to burn well.
The plants are more vigorous and tougher. The soil should be
rich and light and never tilled before. The location should
be as much exposed to the sun as possible. It is best for a
bed to be surrounded by timber. The bugs are not so apt to
find it. Low rich valleys will generally do better than
ridges, though any good rich new ground will make good
plants if well burned and prepared. The ground should be
raked very clean of leaves before packing on the brush and
wood. The fire must have a fair chance at the ground. The
brush should be packed on straight and close, at least
enough wood mixed with it to make it lie close. If the brush
is green, endeavor to mix what dry stuff there is thorough,
so the fire will burn through without trouble. It is very
important that the fire should be as hot as possible while
it is burning. The bed should not be rained upon after it is
set before it is burned, as it will be doubtful whether the
ground beneath the brush will get dry well.

"The ground should always be as dry as possible when it is
burned. The bed should be set on fire in several places at
once so as to have a very great heat on it at once. If the
ground is well burned it will be a little crusty and
whitish, and will pulverize beautifully. As soon as the
ground is cool enough it may be loosened up and pulverized.
This should be done well, and may be done with a good sharp
harrow and then followed with