Don’t accept that theory of the shiftless man, that it is well to have the weeds grow pretty tall before the first weeding, that the plants may be protected from the sun. I have noticed that oftentimes those who act on this theory give over their weeding, and plough up the bed before they have half finished it. Promptness in the first hoeing and weeding is exceedingly important in the management of all root crops, and it is where the greatest mistake is apt to be made in their cultivation. [Illustration: SLIDE HOE.] [Illustration: WHEEL HOE.] [Illustration: McGEE CULTIVATOR.] [Illustration: MICHIGAN SEED SOWER.] [Illustration: LANG’S HAND WEEDER.] There are a few implements that are specially needed in the cultivation of root crops, and of these, every wise farmer will get the very best attainable. These implements are the Seed Sower, the Hand Weeder, the Slide Hoe, the common Wheel Hoe, and one for weeding both sides of a row at the same time. Of these there are a great many varieties, each of which are more or less popular among a class of growers. The engravings illustrate such as are in use in my own section of country, where root culture forms a very important part of the agriculture of farmers. Both the slide and the wheel hoe, for rapid work, far surpass the common hand hoe, while they cut up the weeds equally clear. The double wheel hoe is used until the tops of the crops become so large as to be in the way, when the single wheel hoe or slide hoe takes its place. Fuller’s Unique Hoe having a single wheel is preferred, to any double wheeled implement by many gardeners, especially so by reason of its stiffness. Each should be two inches narrower than the space between the rows. A slide hoe is an amazing handy implement about a farm for many uses other than between the rows of root crops. A new class of implements have been introduced within a few years which, to a degree, supersede the use of the common wheel or slide hoe, though there is yet a valuable sphere for each of them; I refer to the weeders which cut each side of the row at the same time. I have tested every variety of these and have found nothing now in the market superior to the McGee Garden Cultivator. These hoes which take each side of the row at once cannot safely be made to go over the ground as fast as those designed for use between the rows, but working close home to the growing crop, they save a large portion of the cost of hard weeding. Of seed drills there are a dozen or more in the market, several of which I have used on my farms. I prefer the Michigan over all others. Among other advantages it can be relied upon to drop almost any variety of small seed, while it is a good coverer and having a roller attached, it packs the earth over the seed, which, as every farmer knows, tends to keep the moisture in and thus hastens their germination. The hand weeder is an excellent little implement to facilitate the laborious