418 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



A species of this grass is cultivated in England, and is 

 commonly called Darnel or Raygrass, and is much approv- 

 ed of to sow with red-clover ; bui probably this is the grass 

 with broad striped leaves, which we have commonly heard 

 called Ribbongrass. 

 See GRASSES 



Charlock ( Sinafiis) is also a troublesome weed. Some- 

 timts it is call- d wild-mustard. Mortimer mentions a field 

 of barley, which, by mowing when this weed was in blossom, 

 gave the barky a chance to g^t above the weeds, as the 

 mowing oi.ly look off the tops of the blades of the barley 

 without injuring the crop. He supposes Cow-dung more 

 favorable for increasing the growth of this weed, than any 

 other manure ; and recommends feeding Sheep on fallows 

 infested with this weed, as they are very fond of it. The 

 seeds will live many years in the earth, and afterwards 

 vegetate, when it is cultivated. 



Mr. Deane says grain should be sown thick, where 

 there is danger of its being injured by Charlock, so that 

 the crop may overtop the weeds. Barley sown thick will 

 certainly prosper in such situation.' 



Fallowing the land in an effectual manner, by repeated 

 ploughings and harrowings, is perhaps the best method to 

 extirpate this weed; for, as soon as the seeds are brought 

 up near the surface, they will vegetate; and then the next 

 ploughing, or harrowing, will destroy the young plants. 



Sheep are much better than any other cattle for destroy- 

 ing weeds, by pasturing. 



As all weeds are propagated by th^ir seeds, none should 

 be suffered to go to seed. This remark is no less applica- 

 ble to the weeds before enumerated, than to the numerous 

 class of biennials which commonly infest the fields. All 

 weeds, by being suffered to grow, exhaust the soil. The 

 ground, therefore, which is kept clear of weeds, will much 

 easier retain its fertility, than that which is suffered to be- 

 come full of their seeds. Generally speaking, any given 

 quantity of weeds growing with a crop lessens its product, 

 in proportion to the weight of the green weeds with that of 

 the growing crop. Farmers should therefore be extremely 

 careful in keeping all weeds out of their grounds, and in 

 destroying the common biennials as fast as they appear, while 

 the ground is bearing crops : And, in regard to those per- 

 ennials, before enumerated, and all others which may infest 

 the lands, the prevention of their growth is generally much 

 easier than their extermination, after they have got footing 

 in the soil. When, therefore, the Farmer sees new weeds 

 start up in his land, let him immediately extirpate them, 

 either by frequently mowing them off closely, by taking 

 them, out of the ground, or by smothering them with a 



