324 WEEDS OF ACRTCUl.TURE. 



orass, for neglect of proper tillage would have rendered them 

 unprofitable. " By the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat 

 bread," is an ordination of the highest authority, and the 

 fulfilment of it is that precise principle which puts all man- 

 kind in motion. The necessity of subsistence ])roduces in- 

 dustrious hands for every department of labour ; but the 

 sluggish nature of man requires every stimulus to exertion. 

 The weeds of the fields excite emulation among farmers, and 

 foul fields are always a reproach to the occupier. Thus we 

 are compelled, by an unseen hand, to better habits and more 

 active industry. 



Clearing the wheat of thistles by the hook or spud, is usu- 

 ally practised during the months of April and May. But 

 to show of how little avail it is to cut down thistles early in 

 the year, the following rustic doggrel may be subjoined : — 



" If thistles be cut in April, 

 They appear in a little while ; 

 If in May, 



They peep out the next day ; 

 If cut in June, 

 They re-appear very soon ; 

 If in Julj", 

 They'll hardly die ; 

 But if cut in August, 

 Die they must!" 



Now although mc have known many deeply-w'orked sum- 

 mer fallows fail to destroy thistles, yet we have known a 

 very foul field cleared of them entirely by otice fallowing ; 

 and which was attributed to putting in the ploughs at the 

 very nick of time the roots were making a fresh shoot ; and 

 particularly just before making their last summer shoot — 

 say about the beginning of September. 



4. CURLED DOCK (riimex crispus). The Common Dock 

 of clover fields. Petals permanent, ovate, entire, all tu- 

 berculated ; leaves lanceolate, wavy, acute. Root pe- 

 rennial ; flowers in June and July. 



To avoid this pest, farmers should be cautious not to sow 

 clover seeds which have the seeds of the dock intermixed. 



