126 On Wild. Garlick. 
of winter grain—the most valuable but the most 
dominant exhauster—A further practical answer, is at- 
tempted in what follows hereafter. 
Mr. Roberts, whose farming and management is ge+ 
nerally exemplary, candidly gives the preference to an 
open fallow ;_ though he has been in the habit of sowing 
wheat after oats. See our memoirs, page 100. But not 
having, for several past seasons, had encouraging wheat 
crops, lhe has this year sown on an open or clear fallow. 
Killing garlick and his demand for oats, form his apo- 
logy for sowing them heretofore. 
Wheat greatly exhausts ; but it occupies the ground 
long, and draws its supplies, gradually, and extensively. 
Its roots delight to penetrate and spread, beneath the 
soil stirred by the plough. It does not injure the vege- 
table mould like oats ;—rapid in their growth, with shal- 
low and superficial roots, numerous and_ peculiarly 
fibrous. When cut for hay, oats do not in any great de- 
gree exhaust: nor does any crop till it perfects its seed. 
I have now a fine field (small but well tilled) of wheat. 
‘wo years ago it was so infested with garlick, that the 
hay, in winter, was unfit for my cows; as it gave their 
milk a most disgusting taste. In 1807 I gave it a fall 
ploughing; and in the spring of 1808 I ploughed it 
ugain; as early as the frost permitted. At the usual 
time (the beginning of May) I planted Indian corn; 
which I so well attended, that not a weed was to be 
scen...My crop of corn was remarkably abundant ; 
though the season was unfavourable. I cut off the corn 
stalks, and hauled them intothe barn yard, as I usually do, 
for mauure.—l] fall ploughed it again ; and limed hght- 
ly. Wishing to cover my fallow in the spring, and, by 
