412 Cultivation of Grafs Land. Extirpating c&arfc Plants. 



ftock removed from them in the early fpring months, and been fhut up for hay, 

 they mould be prepared forthe fcythe by having all forts of obftruclions picked up 

 and removed. This work fhould always be executed as foon as poilible, before the 

 grafs begins to fpring up too much and conceal them, as it is difficult to perform 

 the bufinefs effectually afterwards. 



Extirpating coarfe Plants. It is an excellent practice, but one that is too much 

 ;neglecled by grafs farmers in general, to have all forts of coarfe plants of the 

 aquatic and other kinds, fuch as rufhes, fern, docks, thirties, and various others, 

 effectually drawn up and eradicated both from the hedge rows and other parts of the 

 field, in order to prevent their running up to feed and diffeminati.ng themfelves 

 over the lands, and thus not only filling them progreflively with all forts of trumpery, 

 but greatly injuring the herbage. In a field on an extenfive hay farm in this neigh 

 bourhood, on perceiving th^whole furface thickly ftudded with thirties, it was 

 .found that this fort of plants had been fuffered to flower and perfect their feed 

 annually, till the lands on every fide had become fully ftocked, to the vaft injury of 

 the crops. The fame thing takes place with the dock and feveral other noxious 

 plants ; which ftrongly enforces the utility of the practice juft recommended. The 

 annual expenfe of performing the bufinefs is but a mere trifle, while the advan 

 tage muft be real and permanent. The faving to the farmer would be confiderablc 

 by having the work regularly done as foon as the weeds fully (how themfelves, and, 

 at the fame time, his young hedge plants be prevented from being deftroyed, by being 

 imaded and choked up by fo many weeds. In order to take them up in a perfect 

 manner, a narrow implement of the fpade kind, fuch as is made ufe of in forming 

 narrow drains, may be employed with advantage, as cutting or breaking them off 

 is by no means effectual. After fuch plants have been removed and the ground 

 well cleaned, fowing the banks and hedge rows with the bed grafs feeds, white clover 

 and other plants, might be an excellent practice, as in this way, the lands may be 

 improved rather than injured. 



Moft of the varieties of thiftle are either annual or biennial plants except the Com- 

 mon Sow Thiftle and the Common or Field Thi/lle, which are both perennial. The 

 former however, though a troublefome weed in arable lands, is rarely met with in 

 thofe of the grafs kinds. It is obvious therefore from their nature that all the other 

 forts may be readily deftroyed by proper attention in cutting them fo as prevent 

 their feeding : and the common thiftle by frequent cutting in the bleeding feafon. 

 An effective implement for this purpofe has been contrived by Mr. Amos, by 

 which they are not only cut more cheaply, but much nearer the ground, tharMwhere 



