CULTURAL PREPARATIONS 21 



Annual weeds, unfortunately, are certain to come only too 

 plentifully, and will demand constant attention when grass 

 seeds are sown without a corn crop in spring.^ 



As a preparation for autumn sowing, no other crop is equal 

 to an early variety of Potato. Earthing-up the rows exposes 

 a great surface to atmospheric influences, and this materially 

 aids the disintegration of the soil. Another point in its favour 

 is that the crop is generally Hfted by hand, and the soil is sub- 

 jected to a course of spade husbandry, which, as a preparation 

 for grass, is superior to all other modes of cultivation. When 

 digging the Potato crop the labourers should fork up and 

 throw aside every bit of couch they come across. This will 

 very effectually assist the cleaning process. The only objection 



^ A remarkable instance of tlie vitality of buried seeds was reported by a corre- 

 spondent in The Times of March 26, 1894. The following is a verl)atim copy of the 

 letter : — 



'The fact that seeds of weeds, especially of annuals, are capable of retaining their 

 vitality for a number of years in the soil is a circumstance well known to farmers of 

 arable land. An objection often advanced against deep ploughing, particularly of 

 light soils, is that it may " bring up the charlock." To what length of time buried 

 seeds may continue alive is not certainly known, but the following carefully made 

 observations, sent to us by Mr. S. James A. Salter, F.R.S., of Basingfield, near 

 Basingstoke, are well worth recording: — "Twenty-four years ago I purchased this 

 property (Basingfield), a large portion of which was at that time arable land bearing 

 good crops of grain, which were, however, in a very weedy condition, the principal 

 weeds being charlock {Sinapis arvensis), red poppy (Papaver Bhceas), and fumitory 

 (Fumaria officinalis). It is important to note that all three of these plants are annuals. 

 In the autumn of that year (1870) I laid the land down to grass (permanent pasture), 

 and it has remained so ever since. I make hay annually with the first crop of grass ; 

 and the second I feed off with sheep. From time to time I dress the grass with 

 artificial manure — kainit and superphosphate. None of the before-named weeds are 

 ever seen unless the soil is disturbed ; but directly the surface is broken, and soil some 

 six or eight inches deep is brought up and exposed to atmospheric influences and light, 

 all three of the weeds named appear in abundance, especially the charlock and poppy. 

 This occurred conspicuously last year (1893). The seeds producing these plants had 

 been buried twenty-three years, but at a depth beyond vivifying influences, though still 

 retaining vitality. There can be no fallacy in the observation ; it has occurred over and 

 over again. Eight years ago, after a very hard frost and a thaw, the surface of the 

 ground being very rotten, I had occasion to take a waggon heavily laden across this 

 pasture ; the wheel* sank deeply into the soil, and tore up the ground, bringing to the 

 surface much subsoil. In the spring these furrows were fiUed with charlocks, and 

 presently, when they flowered, there were two parallel yellow ribands to be seen across 

 the land, following the irregular course the waggon had taken. It was a most striking 

 sight. There was not another charlock to be seen in the field. The seeds producing 

 these beautiful yellow ribands had been buried fifteen years.'" 



