see 



PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part III. 



supposed to be greatly connected with the prevalence of winds from the northern or easterly quarters, 

 there is often a flea produced of a similar kind to that which attacks the shoots in their early growth. 

 (5441.) It is highly injurious, by preying upon the nutriment of the blossoms, and thereby diminishing 

 their weight and changing them to a brown color, which is very prejudicial in their sale at the market. 



5447. The fire-blast is a disease that hop-crops are exposed to, in the later periods of their growth, and 

 generally supposed to proceed from the particular state of the air or weather. It has been conjectured 

 to be the effect of lightning, as it takes place, for the most part, at those seasons when it is the most 

 prevalent, and in a very sudden manner: and besides, the most forward and most luxuriant vines 

 are the most subject to be affected. It has been suggested, that in exposures that are particularly liable 

 to have the crops thus injured, it may be advisable to plant thinner, to keep back the growth of the 

 l)lants as much as possible, by extirpating all the most forward shoots, and to employ a less proportion of 

 thd earthy compost in their culture. 



5448, In respect to the duty on hops, it is best for the planter to have the acts before him. But every 

 grower of hops in Britainlis legally obliged to give noticeto the excise, on or before the first day of Sep- 

 tember, of the num.ber of acres he has in cultivation ; the situation and number of his oasts ; the place 

 or places of bagging, which, with the store-rooms, or warehouses, in which the packages are intended to 

 be lodged, are entered by the revenue officer. No hops can be removed from the rooms thus entered 

 before they have been weighed and marked by a revenue officer ; who marks, or ought to mark, not only 

 the weight, but the name and residence of the grower, upon each package. 



SuBSECT. 2. Of the Culture of the Coriander and Caraway [fig. 595 a, b), 



5449. The coriander^ {Coriandrum sativum ^ L. fig. 595 a.), is a small rooted annual, 

 with branchy stems rising from one to one and a 5g5 



half feet in height. It is a native of the south of 

 Europe, and appears to be naturalized in some 

 parts of Essex, where it has been long culti- 

 vated. It flowers in June and July, and the 

 seeds ripen in July and August. 



5450. The culture and management of coriander, consists 

 in sowing it on a light rich soil in September, with seeds 

 ripened the same year. Twenty pounds of seed will sow an 

 acre. When the plants come up, thin them to six or eight 

 inches distance every way, and next spring, stir the soil 

 with a pronged hoe. In August the seed will be ripe, and 

 if great care be not used, the largest and best part of 

 it will be lost To prevent this, women and children 

 are employed to cut plant by plant, and to put it imme- 

 diately into cloths, in which it is carried to some conveni- 

 ent part of the field, and there threshed upon a sail-cloth. 

 A few strokes of the flail get the seeds clean out, and the 

 threshers are ready for another bundle in a few minutes. 

 In Essex it is sometimes . cultivated with caraway and 

 teazle. (See Caraway.) 



5451. The produce of coriander is from ten to fourteen 

 cwt. on an acre. It is used by the distillers for flavoring 

 spirits ; by the confectioners for incrusting with sugar ; 

 and by the druggists for various purposes, for all of which it is said to have a ready sale. 



5452. The Caraway (^Carumcami, b) is a biennial plant with a taper root, like a pars-- 

 nep, but much smaller, running deep into the ground. The stems rise from eighteen 

 inches to two feet, with spreading branches and finely cut deep green leaves. It is a native 

 of England, in rich meadows in Lincolnshire and other places, and has been long culti- 

 vated in Essex. It flowers in May and June, and the seeds ripen in autumn. 



5453. The culture and management is the same as that of coriander. In all probability both plants would 

 answer if sown like clover among a crop of corn ; hoed and thinned when the crop was removed, and again 

 in the following spring. The method of culture in Essex is, about the beginning of March to plough some 

 old pasture land : if it has been pasture for a century the better; and the soil should be a very strong 

 clayey loam. Twelve pounds of caraway seed are mixed with ten pounds of coriander, and twelve pounds 

 of teazle seed : this is sufficient for one acre ; and is sowed directly after the plough, harrowing the land 

 well. When the plants appear of sufficient strength to bear the hoe, which will not be until about ten 

 weeks after sowing, it must not be omitted ; and in the course of the summer, the crop will require three 

 hoeings, besides one at Michaelmas. The coriander being annual, will be fit to cut about the beginning 

 of July. It is left in the field after cutting, and threshed on a cloth in the same manner as rape 

 seed. About April following the caraway and teazle will want a good hoeing done deep and well ; and 

 another about the beginning of June. The caraway will be fit to cut the beginning of July, and must be 

 threshed in the same manner as the coriander. This compound crop is mostly sown onland,>o strong, as to 

 require being a little exhausted to make it fit for corn. Caraway and coriander are oftenest sown with- 

 out teazle : the latter being a troublesome and uncertain crop, arid the produce of caraway much greater 

 without it. 



5454. The produce of caraway, on the very rich old leys in the hundreds or low lands of Essex, has 

 often been twenty cwt. to the acre. Thete is always a demand for the seed in the London market. 



5455. The uses of the caraway are the same as those of coriander, and its oil and other 

 preparations are more used in medicine. Dr. Anderson says, both the roots and tops may 

 be given to cattle in spring. 



SuBSECT. 3. Of Plants which rtvay be substituted for Brewery and Distillery Plants. 



5456. There are a great many jdants with bitter juices which are or may be substituted 

 for hops. In Sweden, Norway, and the north of Scotland, the heath (Erica, L.) and com- 

 mon broom, were, and still are, occasionally used for that purpose. In some parts of France 

 and Germany nothing else is used but broom tops. In Guernsej', the Teucrium scordonia 

 is used and found to answer perfectly. In England, the different species of raugwort and 



