G2 BRITISH HUSBANDRY, [Ch. V. 



repeatedly given in opposite directions, to secure, as far as possible, the 

 eradication of the weeds, and no labour should be spared on the efficient 

 performance of these latter operations. The time when they are to be 

 performed must, however, depend upon the weather ; for, at this season, 

 the atmosphere has a powerful effect both upon the soil and vegetation : if 

 rain falls, they cannot be too soon executed, for the land being thus brought 

 into a tolerably fine state, the weeds will spring promptly up in readiness 

 for the next turning ; but, if the weather continue dry, it will promote the 

 decomposition of those root-weeds which have been already loosened from 

 the soil, and assist their extraction. The harrowing need not, therefore, be 

 liurried ; yet care should also be taken not to defer it too long, as tenacious 

 land would in that case become so baked by the sun, as to render the efibrts 

 of those implements wholly ineffectual. 



The fourth ploughing should be completed some time in the month of 

 July, the earlier the better, or at furthest not later than the beginning of 

 August, so as to come between the hay and corn harvests ; and the land 

 should be ridged np, or gathered, in the original direction, in order to 

 avoid the consequences of heavy rains, which on clay land should always 

 be guarded against as much as possible. The ridges should also be this 

 time harrowed lengthwise, as cross-harrowing would bring the root-weeds 

 into the furrows, where they would immediately strike root, if not picked 

 off. Some farmers, however, neglect that precaution, and lay the land in large 

 divisions without regarding the ridges ; while others not unfrequently plough 

 it in a direction diagonal to the former ridges, so as to cut them in a dif- 

 ferent point from either of the former ploughings ; but it is a dangerous 

 plan, for if the weather happen to be vv^et, the land will become sour, and 

 so poached in working, as to be nearly unmanageable. Instead of this 

 fourth ploughing, however, the grubbers may be employed ; and if they, 

 together with the roller, drags, and harrows, be assiduously used, the root- 

 weeds will be completely eradicated by their successive operation ; the 

 annuals will be either brought to maturity and destroyed, or their seeds, 

 together with numerous tribes of insects, will be exposed to be devoured 

 by birds, and the soil will be brought into, perhaps, a finer tilth than can 

 be effected by the plough. 



Some persons, indeed, object to the use of these implements in the fallow 

 process, alleging that frequent ploughing is all that is necessary to destroy 

 root-weeds by the baking of the clods in the sun and wind : certainly there 

 are some lands with which it will not agree to pulverize them too much, as 

 by so doing the seed is often thrown out of the ground in winter time. Such 

 soils, however, are more friable than those of the stubborn nature of which 

 we have been treating, and it has been justly remarked, as having been 

 ascertained by experience, " that frequent turning over the ground, though 

 absolutelv necessary while the fallow process is going on, can never eradi- 

 cate couch-grass or other root-weeds. In all clay-soils the ground turns 

 up in lumps or clods, which the severest drought will not penetrate so suffi- 

 ciently as to kill the included roots, AVhen the land is again ploughed, 

 these lumps are simply turned over, and no more, and the action of the 

 plough serves in no degree to reduce them, or at least very imperceptibly. 

 It may be added, that these lumps likewise contain innumerable seeds, 

 which cannot vegetate unless brought under the influence of the sun and 

 air near the surface. The diligent use of the roller and harrows, followed 

 by careful hand-picking, is, therefore, indispensably necessary to the per- 

 fection of the process*," That of the grubber will also be found essen- 

 * Gen. Rep. of Scotland, vol. i., p. 421, 



