SECT. IV. OF A GARDEN'. 4£ 



Jl r eeding in time is a material thing in culture, and 

 flirting the ground about plants, as al [o earthing up, 

 where necelfary, muff be attended to; and in feme 

 cafes prefiing the mould to the items of vegetables 

 wril be proper, for their better fupport. Earthing up 

 well before winter fro ft fets in, preferves plants, for- 

 wards, and improves them. Weeds exhauit the 

 itrength of the ground, and if they are fufTered to feed 

 and fow themfelves, may be truly called, " garden 

 Jiiis:' The hand and hoc are the inftruments for the 

 purpofe; and where the trouble is not to* muefe, the 

 former will generally be the belt, when it is not 

 thought necelfary to flir the ground ; which indeed 

 may be done afterwards, when all is clean, to better 

 purpofe. Uigging, where the fpade can go, between 

 the rows of plants is a good method of deflroying weeds, 

 and as it cuts off the (haggling fibres of growing roots, 

 itrike afrefh, in numerous new moots, to the gteat 

 benefit of the plants. Deep hoeing gives a degree of 

 fertility to the earth. Breaking the furface will keep 

 - oil in health ; for when it lies in a hard or bound 

 ilate, enriching mowers run off, and the falubrious air 

 cannot enter. 



The thinning of feedling crops fhould be done in 

 time, before the young plants have drawn one another 

 up too much. All plants grow ftronger, and ripen 

 their juices better, when the air circulates freely round 

 them, and the fun is not prevented from an immediate 

 influence; an attention to which mould be paid from 

 the//// appearance of plants breaking. ground" 



In thinning cloje crops, as onions^ carrots, turnips 

 &c. be fure that they are not left too near, for infiead 

 ut reaping a greater produce, there would afmrediy 

 be a lefs. When they ftand too cbfe, they will make 

 tail and largc'tops, but are prevented (welling in their 

 roots : better to err on tin; zvide fide, for though ther< 

 are fewer plants they will be fine/. 



