Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-04-21
FIaLD CULTURE.

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inch.
FIELD CULTURE.
1t cannot be too strongl
stated that the land intended
for the Ramie should be deepl,
cultivated; if sub-soiled to tn
depth of twelve or fourteen
inches, so much the better
The first year it will be neces
sary to cut out the weeds ant
keep the land clean, but thu
tendency Of the plant to ratoor
/ will enable it to o2cupy com
pletely the ground and exclude
all foreign growth after the
first year. After the second
year, little cultivation will b;
necessary, except one blowing
between the rows in the spring
and the spreading of manure
over the surface during the
winter months.
The fields ought to IL laid
off in pieces for about twenty
rows in width and a passage
left to go with a cart or wagon
through. In this way the
plants will not be hurt with
the wagon wheels in gather
ing Ramie. The rows ought
to be about three feet apart, and
the plants in the rows half that
distance. When the fields are
ready for planting, that is,
plowed and cleaned, then it
must be narrowed; a furrow is
then made every three feet,
about three or four inches deep
and in these burrows the plants
are placed with but little more
care than other sweet potatoes
are planted.
The burrows ought to be
made so that the rain does not
stand too long, yet all heavy
washing ought to be prevented.
Rooted plants as we'll as layers
ought to be covered with earth
nearly to the tops, and if the
shoots are too long on rooted
plants, cut back two or three
leaves. Roots ought to be &C.
vered with earth about two or
three inches deep.
In case some plants or roofs
should not grow, the vacancies
should be filled as soon as pos
sible, and always the best plants
taken for this purpose to get an
even growing field. AS soon
as the plants have reached sew
en- or eight inches, they ought
to be topped like those in the
nursery, to force the plants to
form side shoots. When these
latter are grown to about five Or
six inches in length, the plant
has a bushy appearance; then
the plant is hilled nearly to the
top, and at the same time all
weeds destroyed. The plant is
left to grow now until it has
reached the height of about
three feet, then it is cut down
even with the ground, or better,
one inch below. The fibre Of
this first growth can be used,
but is not perfect yet, because
the roots and the bulbs are not
yet large enough, and there are
as yet too many side shoots. -
A few days after this cutting a
great many ratoons will make
their appearance on the surface.
The whole work now consists in
keeping out all weeds. This
second growth will be under
similar circumstances, a great
deal more rapid than the first
was, and can be cut when about
four feet high; each growth will
have less undershoots, and soon
they will disappear altogether.
The planting in the field ought
to be done in the spring, but
can be continued until late in
August and the beginning OF
September. Those which are
planted late must be covered in
winter time with straw or
leaves, because they are yet too
young and tender to resist Sc
we're frosts. Those planted
early in spring and the early
part Of summer do not need any
protection, as they will make
roots eighteen to twenty-four
inches deep. All refuse mat
ter falling off in cleaning the
fibre, ought to be collected and
put in the barn for winter use.
All the manure coming from
the plant should be carefully
Uatharad an1 hronob+ hacI ar