The weeds, whilst the plants are young, are kept hoed, but after the head of the plant has once spread, no weed can live underneath its shade, and the expence of hoeing afterwards is very trifling indeed.
The whole of the crop is taken up in the month of November, in dry weather. The tops are cut off near the crown of the plants, and the plants, when perfectly dry, are piled up in a shed, and covered with straw sufficiently thick to preserve them from the frost. They kept last year till the latter end of March, and they would have kept much longer.
The seed may be had of Cochran, seedsman, in Duke Street, Grosvenor Square; of Messrs. Gibbs and Co. Half Moon Street, Piccadilly; and of Mr. Mason, Fleet Street. From 3 to 4 pounds of the seed will be sufficient for an acre of ground, prepared and dibbled according to the method here stated. The price last year was 7s. per pound, but it may probably be less hereafter, as the growers of the root, so long as that high price continues, will of course save their own seed, and thereby lessen the demand from the seedsman.
THE METHOD BEFORE DESCRIBED ELUCIDATED.
Form of the ridges before manuring.
The tops of the ridges about 2 inches broad, a. a. a.
Intervals of 24 inches from one a to another.
Depths about 12 inches from a to b.
Furrows where the manure is deposited, b. b. b.