276 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



and if there are plants which cattle and horses will not eat, 

 let them first crop it closely, and then follow with sheep, 

 which are much more indiscriminate in their choice of food, 

 and consume many plants which are rejected by other 

 animals. Whatever escapes the maw of sheep, should 

 be extirpated by the hand or hoe before seeding. The 

 utmost care also, should be used in the selection of seed, 

 and none sown but such as has been entirely freed from any 

 foreign seeds. 



The Canada thistle is the only weed which has taxed 

 the ingenuity of vigilant farmers in effecting its removal. 

 This is, however, within the power of every one, who will 

 bestow upon it a watchful attention for a single season. 

 The plant should be allowed to attain nearly its full growth, 

 or till it comes fully into flower, when it has drawn largely 

 upon the vitality of its roots. If the bed be large, the plow 

 should be used to turn every particle of the plant under the 

 surface, and let the hoe or spade complete what has escaped 

 the plow. If small or difficult to reach with the plow, use 

 the hoe or spade \o cut off the crown of the root ; and if in 

 blossom, let the tops be burnt to prevent the possibility of 

 any of the seeds ripening. As soon as the tops again make 

 their appearance above ground, repeat the plowing or spading. 

 Continue this till the middle of autumn, when the land will 

 be free from them, and in fine condition to yield a crop of 

 wheat. If they harbor in fences or walls, these should 

 either be removed, or the thistle followed to its roots, and 

 kept constantly cut into the ground, when it will not long 

 survive. 



An abundance of weeds implies negligence of cultivation ; 

 and generally, a deficiency of manures is equally conspicu- 

 ous. The weeds in this case are kindly provided by nature, 

 partially to sustain a fertility which could not otherwise long 

 subsist. When found in any considerable quantity, plow 

 them in before the seed is formed ; and they are frequently 

 equivalent when thus treated, to a good crop of clover or 

 other dressing of green manures. 



FIBROUS COVERING- OR G-URNEYISM 



Is the name given to the practice (conspicuously brought 

 into notice recently by Mr. Gurney of England) of covering 

 grass lands with straw or any similar vegetable matter. It 

 has received the sanction of many eminent agriculturists 

 abroad ; and for the purpose of throwing every improvement 



