\VEED.S OF AGRICULTURE. 353 



ratively, under such circumstances of soil as above men- 

 tioned), without feeling- a high gratification. 



At this time, June 27, the crop of potatoes so planted looks 

 remarkably well, the land lieing comparatively clean, and the 

 plants healthy, although the season has been very unfa- 

 vourable for this description of land, which in dry weather 

 becomes so indurated, as to resemble in some degree a solid 

 mass of stone. 



As soon as the plants appear above ground in the rows, 

 the drill-grubber, before mentioned, is used to clean and 

 looseii the soil. As this excellent implement is constructed 

 so as to accoaimodate itself to any breadth of the drill hus- 

 bandry with respect to green crops, it may be used for the 

 bean, pea, and turnip crop, as well as for potatoes ; on the 

 most tenacious clay it produces a friable surface-soil for 

 moulding up, it effectually reaches the couch, and by its 

 effects in loosening and breaking the hardened soil, greatly 

 benefits the health of the plants. Wheat crops in Kent, 

 Surrey, and Essex, have severely suffered this season from 

 the slug ; salt and other topical remedies have been tried, 

 but without the least perceptible beneficial effect. This crop, 

 after clover, tares, and beans, has failed this season at least 

 one-third. In wet seasons, the slug propagates with such 

 rapidity, that a wheat crop, after these green crops, is very 

 uncertain, and may be said always to fail. Mr. Dickson has 

 happily adopted a practice which is found to be effectual, in 

 preserving and securing the wheat crop under such cir- 

 cumstances. The following are the principles on which this 

 valuable practice is founded : — The slug, as before observed, 

 prospers under favour of the wet season; the clover, beans 

 and tares, afford the very best possible shelter and food for 

 this destructive enemy to the wheat crop. At the end of 

 autumn, when the plough is put into the ley, myriads of 

 the slug, in its various stages of life, from the egg to the 

 full grown devourer, lying near to, and on the surface of the 

 land, are by the ordinary practice of deep ploughing, placed 

 below, and out of the reach of harm, until spring, or favour- 

 able open weather during winter, encourages them to come 



2 A 



