Cultivation of Arable Land IFeld Seed Time and Method offowing. 261 



crops, and a great cxpence of machinery, it is probable that many other kinds of 

 root and other crops that are Icfs expoled to hazard in their growth, and trouble 

 in th. ir preparation a^.d after-management, may be grown on foils that are proper 

 for this plant, with more profit and ad vantage. 



Where the culture of the plant is however eftablifhed, and the nccelTary appa 

 ratus provided, its cultivation, by confining it to a particular place, and introducing 

 it in a regular cotirfe as juft ftated, may be extended, and rendered more eafy and 

 profitable. 



H eld. This is another plant that is cultivated for the fake of its flower-ftems, 

 which arc employed in the art of dyeing, for the purpofe of producing the bright 

 yellow and lemon colours.* 



The foils moft adapted to the culture of this plant are thofe of the more fertile 

 mellow kinds, whether of the loamy, fandy, or gravelly defcriptions ; but it may 

 be grown with confiderable fuccefs on thofe of a poorer quality. In the former, 

 the plants will however rife to a much greater height, and produce much larger 

 leaves than in the latter. 



In the preparation of the ground, it is neceflary that there mould be a confider 

 able degree of finenefs produced in the mould. This may be effected by different 

 ploughings performed in the more early fpring-months, and by occafional harrow 

 ing. In giving the feed furrow, the land mould be left in as even and level a 

 lituation as pofllble on the furface, in order that the feed may be difperfed over it 

 in a more equal and regular manner. 



Seed. It is necefTary that this mould be collected from the beft plants, and that 

 it fhould have remained upon the ftems till it has been rendered perfectly ripe: as 

 that which is well ripened never vegetates well. The plants defigned for feed 

 ihould not, however, be let ftand too long in the field, as the feed is liable to fiied ; 

 and it mould be perfectly frelh when fown, as that which has been long kept never 

 comes up well, or in fo even a manner. As the feed is very fmall, the furface 

 mould, by bfing left in a fine condition, is more fit for its being difperfed over it 

 equally. The proportion of feed that is necefTary is generally from about two 

 quarts to a gallon the acre, according to circumftances, where it is fown alone; but 

 when mixed with other crops a little more may be required. It mould be mixed 

 with a little fand at the time of fowing it. 



Time and method of fo wing. In this, as in thf preceding crop, the feed may be 

 put into the ground either in the fpring, as about the latter end of April or be* 

 ginning of May ; or in the clofe of the fummer, as about the beginning of Auguft ; 



* It is the Xweefa Luteola, and is commonly known by the names of Woold, Wdd, and Dyer s Weed, 



