1 800. upon the Cultivation of Fla:< In RuJftOi ^c, 6 1 



of June, and pick it about the beginning of September, ac- 

 cording as the feafon proves favourable, or otherwife. 



^. 3. What grain, on the fame land, is generally fown 

 iminediately before or after flax or hemp ? 



^. If flax and hemp be not the chief objeft of cultivation, 

 and the foil in its full vigour, it is cuftomary, in Oberlands, to 

 foM^ firft wheat, then rye, barley, oats, peas, and tlien flax or 

 hemp, the lall on the fame piece of land -, becaufe the pluck- 

 ing up of the roots tenders the ground, and prepares it for 

 th? manure. It is with this view alone, that flax or hem.p is 

 fown the Lift -, for it is not fuppofed their cultivation impover- 

 iihcs the land more than any other grain, as, after the crop 

 of flax, the ground is manured with common dung, and is 

 thus prepared for whatever fort of grain may be wanted. 



^ 4. How is the land manured for flax or hemp ? 



^. As agriculture is here not purfued very fcientifically, 

 if the land requires manure in general for other grain, the 

 fame is ufed for flax and hemp. 



^ 5. What grain impoveriflies the land mofl, and how 

 muft it be treated after a crop of flax or hemp ? 



^. This feems difficult to determine, though it may be 

 obferved, that barley can only be fown twice on the fame land 

 without manure, but other grains oftener ; and when any pre- 

 paration is i-equifite, the management of the land is the fame 

 for flax or hemp as for other grain. 



^ 6. When, and how often, ought the flax and hemp to 

 be weeded ? 



yi. It is not advifeable to weed either flax or hemp at all, 

 as too much is deflroyed in the operation ; therefore, the befh 

 method is, to be very careful in cleaning the feed. 



^. 7. When ought flax or hemp to be pulled ? 



A. When the feed is fully ripe ; as flax or hemp, pulled 

 in the bloom, gives a weak unferviceable harl. 



^ 8. Can the feed be coUefted in pulling the flax or 

 hemp, or muft it firft be dried .'' 



A. So foon as the flax or hemp is plucked, the feed pods 

 are cut ofl*, and left on the field to dry, and are afterwards 

 thrafhed and cleaned. 



^ 9. When muft the flax or hemp be laid in v/ater ? 

 How long fteeped ? And why is ftanding water preferred to 

 running water ? 



A. Immediately after the pods are cut off, the. flax or hemp 

 muft be hurried into the water, and there lye entirely cover- 

 ed. If the weather be hot, and the water foft, nine or ten 

 days are fufficient ; but, in fpring water, and cold weather, 

 it may be three weeks ere it be ready ; but by no means let 



it 



