CHAP. IV.] CABBAGES. 233 



199. There are two ways of producing ashes 

 from earth: the one in heaps upon the ground, 

 and the other within walls of turf, or earth. 

 The first, indeed, is the burning of turf, or peat. 

 But, let us see how it is done. 



200. The surface of the land is taken off to 

 a depth of two or three inches, and turned the 

 earth side uppermost to dry. The land, of 

 course, is covered with grass, or heath, or 

 something the roots of which hold it together, 

 and which makes the part taken off take the 

 name of turf. In England, this operation is 

 performed with a turf -cutter y and by hand. 

 The turfs are then taken, or a part of them, at 

 least, and placed on their edges, leaning against 

 each other, like the two sides of the roof of a 

 house. In this state they remain, 'till they are 

 dry enough to burn. Then the burning is 

 begun in this way. A little straw and some 

 dry sticks, or any thing that will make a trifling- 

 fire, is lighted. Some little bits of the turf are 

 put to this. When the turf is on fire, more 

 bits are carefully put round against the open 

 ings whence the smoke issues. In the course of 

 a day or two the heap grows large. The burn 

 ing keeps working on the inside, though there 

 never appears any blaze. Thus the field is 

 studded with heaps. After the first fire is got 

 to be of considerable bulk, no straw is wanted 



