Cultivation of Arable Land. Woad Seed. 25J 



this the furface is repeatedly harrowed over,in order to raife a fufficient depth of good 

 mould for the drill to work in ; and before the feed is put in a roller is palled over 

 it.* 



This method is probably however inferior to that firft described, as the land 

 cannot be brought by it to nearly fo fine a ftate of mould, or the grafly material be 

 fb effectually deftroyed ; it will therefore be apt to rife and injure the woad plants. 



But there is ftili another method which is more expeditious, and at the fame time 

 equally effectual with the firft; and which has an advantage over it in more com 

 pletely deftroying the grubs and infects which are apt to feed on the plants in their 

 early growth. This is that of paring and burning. It is however chiefly practifed 

 where the fward is rough and abounds with names, fedge, and other coarfe plants^ 



After this, in the laft two methods, the land is to be carefully drained by making 

 grips in fuitabie directions, by means of the fpade, as wherever water ftagnates the 

 woad plants are fure to be deftroyed -jv 



Seed. This is collected from a portion of the ground that has been left covered 

 with the beft plants from the preceding feafon, as they only run up to ftem and 

 produce feed in the fecond year. It is fometimes a practice to crop the leaves of 

 the plants that are intended to ftand for this purpofe, two or three times in the firft 

 feafon ; but this is an improper cuftom, as they are thereby much weakened in their 

 growth, and, not only arford a lefs quantity of feed, but fuch as is of an inferior 

 quality. It is a better method either not to crop them at all, or but once, as by 

 fuch management, feed of the moft perfect quality may be obtained! The fterrr 

 fhould be fuffered to remain till the feeds in the hufks become perfectly ripened j 

 which is known by their attaining a brownifh yellow colour, and the pods having a 

 dark blackifh appearance. The feed mould then be gathered as foon as poffible,. 

 which is beft performed by reaping the ftems in the fame manner as grain, and then- 

 fpreading them in rows- thinly upon the ground if the weather be fine ; when in the 

 courfe of a few days they will be in a condition to be threfhed out fronr the hufks. 

 When they are fuffered to remain too long, the pods are apt to open, and fhed the 

 feed. The hufkor pod, in which the feeds are included, is of a large fize, but the 

 feeds are lefs than thofe of the turnip. It is always the beft to fow new feedj when 

 it can be procured, in preference to fuch as has beea kept for fome time ; when of 

 the latter kind, it fhould be fteeped for twelve or fifteen hours before it is fown. 



In refpect to the proportion that may be necefTary to be fown upon \ an acre, it: 

 muft depend much upon the foil, and the manner in which it is fowm Where the 



* Correfted Agricultural Report of Lincoln/hire, ^ Ibid, 



