[ '96 ] 



ground (hould be rolled, and a few days after the 

 plants may be fet out with a hoe; 16 or 18 inches 

 is the diftance proper for each plant to flourifh in. 



In the North of England, the farmers pare and 

 bum paft'ure lands, and fow them with rape after 

 one ploughing; which crop commonly (lands for 

 feed, and will fetch from 25I. to 30I. per lad,* for 

 the purpofe of making oil. Poor clay, or ftone- 

 brauVland, will frequently produce from 12 to 16 

 or 18 bufhels per acre, and almoft any frefh or 

 virgin earth will yield one plentiful crop. Many in 

 the Northern Counties, by cultivating rape, have 

 been raifed from poverty to the greateft affluence. 

 The feed of it is ripe in July or the beginning of 

 Auguft; and it is furprifing to fee with what avidity 

 people rlock to a rape threfhing (as it is called in 

 the North). It is an ablblute feaft; a violin is con- 

 ftantly played in the field, while the bufinefs is per- 

 forming; the beft of provifions are procured, and a 

 rural dance concludes the evening's diverfion: mirth 

 and good- humour mark the happy countenances of 

 all who affemble; and thofe who are or are not in- 

 vited, equally partake of the provifions and plea- 

 fures of the day. 



1 he rape is cut by men with hooks or fickles, 

 and fprtad thinly on the ground to dry, and when 



* A laft ii two loads=ten quarters=eighty bufhels. 



It 



