!?0 CultiwttiQti oj Arabic. Land. (Vhcat. Methods of After-Culture. 



it nuiir, however, be kept perfectly clean and free from weeds, cither by means 

 of the horfc or hand-hoe, as they not only injure the crop in its growth, but leflen 

 the value of the fumple at the market. But the fUrring of the mould on thefurface 

 among the plants may frequently be ufeful in other intentions befides that of pre 

 venting the growth of feed weeds ; for, as in the heavy kinds of foil, that are moft 

 adapted to this grain, the more fupcrficial parts are liable to become fo hard and 

 baked as not to be eafily penetrated by the new-formed or coronal roots of the 

 plants in the early fpring months, efpecially when they are very dry and have been 

 preceded by much wet, loofcning of the earth, by any means whatever, muflbeof 

 confiderable utility. This effect is generally fhewn to have taken place by the ap 

 pearance and prcgrefs of the crop, which becomes of an unhealthy yellow colour, 

 and advances but little in its growth. In fuch cafes it has been fuggefted that 

 harrowing once, or oftener, in a place, may be of much fervice in the early fpring 

 months*. Where the crops are thin and of feeble growth, this operation may pro 

 duce beneficial effects, by affording a fort of earthing-up to the weak plants, and 

 thereby promote a more vigorous growth, at the fame time that a number of new 

 ihootsare fent off from the joints thus covered, and the crop, in confequence, ren 

 dered more full and abundant; and where the grain is too thick upon the ground, it 

 may alfo be ufeful by drawing out and deftroying many of the plants. It has like- 

 wife been fufpected by an acute writer, that many of the root fibres, by being torn 

 in the operation, may prevent the over luxuriance of the ftern and leaves, and by 

 that means promote the more early fructification of the plantsf . 



The practice of fcarifying the young wheats is an important part of the drill cul 

 ture, which mould conftantly be performed in an effectual manner, and not later 

 than March. Some have not fuppofed it fo beneficial from not performing it at the 

 proper time. Mr. Cook has contrived two implements for thisufe, a fixed harrow 

 and fcarifier, the former executing its work merely by common tines or teeth, 

 having three rows, which, by varying the pofition diagonally one, two, or three of 

 them may be brought to act in the space of nine inches, without injury to the rows 

 of wheat plants. &quot;If two,&quot; Mr. Young fays, &quot; they may be drawn in a breadth of 

 three inches ; if three, in that of four inches, and thefe fpaces widened at pleafure, 

 but dill fo as to keep quite clear of the rows of wheat. By loading the harrow, the 

 teeth are forced to, a proper depth.&quot; And it is added that &quot;the fcarifier has 

 teeth of various breadths ; but for working at this feafon, between nine or twelve 

 rows, the narrowest, are to be preferred. By the action of thefe tools, the 



* Midtlleton s Report jf MiJdlefc *. t Darwin s Phytologia, p. 323, 



