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 middle 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