43 Cultivation of Arable Land. Barley. Preparation for. 



always be well mixed and incorporated with the mould before the feed is put in, 

 and be in a confiderable ftate of reduction before it is applied. 



After whatever fort of crop this grain may be grown, as the root is ex 

 tremely tender, and requires much fupport during the firft {rages of the growth 

 of the plant, from the quick manner in which the procefs of vegetation is carried 

 on, the foil mould conftantly be reduced into a ftate of much finenefs and pul- 

 verifution, fo as to become properly open and porous, in order to fecure a more 

 certain, equal, and perfect vegetation. This is to be effected by different flight 

 or ebb ploughings and harrowings, as well as by occafional crofs-ploughing 

 and rolling. In very wet feafons, on the heavier kinds of barley land, and 

 where there are land fprings, it may be advifable to plough the ground into final! 

 ridglets, of about eighteen or twenty inches in width, inftead of leaving them 

 flat; as by fuch means the land may be kept dry in any feafon, at leaft to fuch 

 a degree that by two or three dry days it may become in a condition for un 

 dergoing the operation of harrowing, in order to the fecond ploughing; and 

 in cafe the ftate of the weather mould ftili continue improperly moift, the 

 ground on this ploughing might be ridged up in a fimilar way until the period 

 of fowing, when a few days more of fine weather would be fufficient to render 

 it proper to be reduced by the harrow or fcuffle, fo as that the feed might be put 

 in ; or when the land is in a more moift ftate than is fuitable for this crop, a third 

 ploughing may be given before the feed is put in.* It is likewife fuggefted in the 

 lame work, that the uiingof the fcuffle, inftead of the plough, in the fecond earth, 

 would not only expedite the bulinefs of preparation, but be a confiderable faving 

 of expence. In foils that are free from weeds, it is afTerted that fcuffling would 

 be equal to a crofs-ploughing, and in fuch as are not perfectly clear from root 

 weeds, it vvouid ftill be more advantageous by bringing them within the power of 

 the harrow ; at the fame time that it would accomplish more than double the 

 quantity of labour with an equal number of men and horfes, belides leaving the 

 ground equally ready for the harrow and the roller, preyioufly to the putting in of 

 Che feed. 



The improved fyftem of management in preparing all the heavier forts of land 

 for the reception of this and many other fpring crops, is that of ploughing the 

 lands in autumn on to fuch forms of ridges as may be fuitable for the particular 

 method of fowing that may be practifed, and to render the furface fine for the feed 

 by Scarifying and fcuffiing at the feafon of putting it into the ground. 



* Middleion s Report of Middlefex., 



