UNIVERSITY 



TO HIS GARDENER 89 



18*^ to give it the last furrow for the Seed, than not have it 

 clean and fine. Weeds will ... it and not only hinder the 

 roots of this crop from extending themselves, but will hurt it 

 when next to be opened again and made corn of Too great 

 haste in such business may disappoint, but when undertaken if 

 the weather favours, let him lose.no time in carrying it on and 

 finishing all that horses and hands can do, to put it right by 

 hand. Thorough opening and cleaning of ground for crops is 

 too much if not entirely neglected by our Gardiners and 

 Farmers for which neglect all suffer strongly in their crops 

 both in quantity and goodness of fruit, plants and grain. 

 They lose more than is all thought of by their neglects in doing 

 things completely, and particularly in the not opening and 

 cleaning of their ground for Crops of all kinds. I have told 

 you often that you did not make the mould fine enough even 

 about roots of trees in planting, but for small Seeds its being 

 fine is absolutely necessary for giving room for their very small 

 fibers to extend themselves with ease and to draw their proper 

 nourishment from the earth, by which they get more strength 

 and vigour. If we would compute our loss from such savings 

 we should find it double to what the necessary trouble pains 

 and expence would cost. Consequently our not being at the 

 expense proceeds from unthinking stupidity. All Weeds bind 

 the ground and their roots entangle with destroy or at least 

 interrupt the roots of great or small plants. Reason would 

 teach us this and many other good Maxims in Agriculture 

 would We employ our heads a little to the use of it and be at 

 pains in executing what a reasoning head would dictate. This 

 has been a clear frosty day. 



15 March 174|. 



XXXI 



Charles, — Now comes the trying season for Trees where the i6 Augt. 1743. 

 roots have not taken strongly; but I hope from the rains 

 since Midsummer most have got strength in their roots and 

 that they have still moisture about the roots to enable them 

 to withstand this sun and dry easterly winds which are trying 

 for trees but good for Harvest and ripening of the corn. 



