210 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XV. 



that, if sown so tliin as not to completely close the rows, and thus shade 

 the land after clearing, the weeds will get ahead after that process is 

 finished, and therefore, unless the land be very rich, the safest plan is to 

 allow an abundance of seed. Thev are never steeped, as upon trying the 

 effect it has been found more injurious than serviceable ; and they are 

 usually sown at the depth of about four inches, or according to the tenacity 

 of the soil. The seed is then covered by going once over it with a light 

 harrow; or, what is better, by a double mould-board plough running up 

 between the rows and making a hollow interval between them, which keeps 

 them dry in wet weather*. 



In about a fortnight after the land has been sown, or as soon as the 

 beans are appearing above ground, it may be cross-harrowed ; for although 

 this may appear a rude operation, it is yet found to check the growth of the 

 weeds and to promote the vegetation of the plants without doing any injury 

 to the crop, as even should the tops be torn off, they will again push for- 

 ward ; but nothing short of frequent and effectual hoeing can keep the soil 

 in a fit state of tilth for the due perfection of the crop. When hand- weed- 

 ing is resorted to, it is frequently performed only once when the beans get 

 about half a foot high ; though, if properly performed, it should be re- 

 peated when they come into blossom, and indeed whenever a weed is to be 

 seen, and the hoe should never cease going until the plants completely 

 shade the ground, or the labourer cannot go among them without doing 

 material damage. The expense should never be spared ; for, be it what it 

 may, it will be amply repaid by the benefit which the crop will receive from 

 the stirring, earthing up, and the destruction of weeds. Much of the 

 charge may, however, be saved, if the seed be sown in rows at such dis- 

 tances as will admit of horse-hoeing. 



The comparalive advantages of drilling,, dibbling, and sowing broad- 

 cast, have been already so fidly discussed, that it seems unnecessary to add 

 anything to what is there stated in support of the superiority of the two 

 former methods f ; we shall therefore merely remark — that they afford a 

 decided superiority of produce, for they tlius throw out pods from the 

 bottom of the stem, which they rarely do when pressed close together, and 

 the crop is thus found to be more free from insects and disease. The 

 rows should be, if possible, placed east and west, as they will afford some 

 shelter to the young plants from the cold March winds ; and when hand- 

 hoed, the best way to do it is to employ two men closely following each 

 other in different drills, the one drawing the soil from the north or east to 

 the plant, and the other from the south or west, according as the situation 

 of the field may have caused them to have been laid; by which means the 

 plants are maintained erect without being broken by the weight of the soil 

 on either side J. 



AVe here also insert the cut of a machine which has been used for 

 dibbling beans, with great regularity as well as economy of seed. The 

 wheels, by which the process of perforating the holes is performed, 

 being moveable, may be separated to any prescribed distance; but the 

 implement must be weighted in proportion to the toughness of the soil, or 

 it will not dibble the land to a sufficient depth. The operation may be thus 

 managed more neatly, and with more ex])edition, than in the common way ; 

 but is, of course, exposed to the same objection of its forming a chamber 

 for the reception of the seed, which, in stiff clays, prevents the water from 



* Bailey and Cnlley's Survey of Northumberland. 3rd edition, p. 8 



\ See chapter vi. of the present volume. 



X Malcolm's Comp. of Mod. Ilusb., vol. ii., p. 35G. 



