Cultivation of Arable Land. Teafil Produce of Crops of, 



After being completely dried, they fhould be laid up in a dry room, in a clofe 

 manner, till they are become tough and of a bright colour, and ready for ufe. 

 They are then to be fortcd or feparated into three different kinds, by opening 

 each of the fmall bundles. Thefe are diftinguifhed into kings t middlings, und/cruZs, 

 according to their different qualities. They are afterwards made into packs, which,of 

 the firft fort, contain nine thoufand heads, but when of the fecond twenty thoufand; 

 the third fort is of very inferior value,*- By fome, before forming them into packs, 

 they are done up into what are termed Jtav&s, by means of fplit (ticks. 



The produce in crops of this nature is very uncertain, there being fometimes 

 fifteen or fixteen or more packs on the acre; and at others fcarcely any. The produce- 

 is difpofed of to the cloth manufacturers in Somerfetfhire, Wiltmire, and Yorkfhire, 

 and in general averages about forty millings the pack. From the circumftance of 

 the land being under the neceflity of being kept in a high ftate of pulverization and 

 cleannefs, the expences of cultivation muft be confiderable.f 



This kind of crop is extremely precarious, as the plants, efpecially when the 

 feafon proves wet about the time of bloflbming, are liable to rot and be de- 

 ilroyed. 



The uncertainnefs of teafel crops has induced the cultivators to blend other plants 

 with them the firft year, fuch as beans, &c. in order to repay them in fome meafure 

 for the great expence of tillage and keeping the land clean : but this is a practice 



* Correded Agricultural Report of the County of Somcrfet. 



f Mr. Billingfley, in his able Agricultural Survey of Soraerfetfhire, eftimates them in the following 

 manner : 



Expences per Acre, 



. * * 



Two years* rent - - - - 3 



Ploughing - - - 15 



Workmen s labour in digging, &c, - - 315O 



Making out in bundles, tying together, and bands, at 2s. per pack 0140 



8 4 O 



Profit 5 16 



Seven packs at 40s. 



In this eftimate tythes and taxes are not however valued. 



VOL. jj, Nn 



14 



Average Produce. 



