If any one, depending on the apparent fineness of the surface, concludes to dispense with the final raking and let the work of the brush harrow answer, he will be apt to repent it before the season closes; should he try it let him be sure to double the quantity of seed planted in that portion of the land so treated. When the land is loamy and free from stones an implement known as the “Meeker Harrow,” will be found to be a great time-saver in preparing the seed bed; by actual test on my own farm, I find that it will do the work of more than a dozen hands with rakes. If the bed has its first ploughing early in the season, much of the weed seed will germinate before planting time, then an occasional use of the cultivator will destroy many of the pests. WHEN TO PLANT. Some of our best farmers advocate planting about the middle of May, others equally successful in root culture claim that the middle of June is the best time. There are arguments for both early and late planting. In New England we usually have the weather sufficiently moist towards the close of May to insure the germination of the seed and protect the plants when they break ground, from “sun-scald.” Those planted as late as the middle of June are more liable to be so affected by the dry weather usual at that period as not to vegetate as well; and should the heat be very great just after they push through the ground, sometimes in a single day nearly the entire crop will disappear by “sun-scald.” But on the other hand, by planting late we about get rid of one weeding, assuming that the ground is stirred by the cultivator occasionally, up to the time of planting. Again, this brings the crop in full vigor in October, the month of all others most favorable for the growth of the root, and the Carrots being dug while the tops are in fair growing condition, keep better than when dug fully ripe. The argument for late planting holds especially good for the Short Horn varieties, as these require a shorter time to mature than the long kinds. If the crop is planted too early, sometimes the roots, having matured, will attempt to push seed shoots; when this is so they will be found woody in their structure, with numberless thread-like roots, while their quality and keeping properties are greatly injured. This crop on rich land is sometimes planted as late as the first week in July, and with great success, should the Fall prove exceptionably mild, yet, as a rule, I would not recommend planting later than the middle of June. If it so happens, from press of work, or the dry weather, the farmer has to plant later than this, then by all means let him confine himself to the earlier varieties. THE SEED AND THE PLANTING OF IT.