Chap. VIII. O F M A N U R E S. 47 



advife not to make the furnaces too big, becaufe, the walls being 

 proportionably thick^ the outfide of the turfs will not be done 

 enough, when the infide is over-done : for if you burn them like 

 bricks, they will not be fit for vegetation. Beiides, in making 

 large furnaces you will have too far to carrj^ the turfs. You might 

 even make them lefs, but that it would confume too much wood. 

 It will therefore be found neceflary to conform pretty nearly to the 

 proportions we have prefcribed. 



When the furnaces are cooled, they wait till it rains, and then 

 fpread the burnt earth as even as poffible, leaving none on the fpots 

 where the furnaces flood, which neverthelefs will produce finer 

 grain than the refl of the field ; for which reafon they leave only 

 fuch turfs as are not burnt enough on thofe fpots. 



They immediately plow it very lightly, to begin to mix the 

 burnt earth with the furface; but they go deeper in the following 

 plowings. 



If you can give the firft plowing In June, and rain follows, it is 

 poffible to reap fome advantage from the land immediately, by 

 fowing turneps, radifhes, or millet ; which will not prevent your 

 fowing wheat or iTe the autumn following. 



It is however befl to lofe the advantage of fuch a firft crop, that 

 you may have the whole time to prepare the land well for the 

 reception of wheat. 



Some chufe to fow rye rather than wheat, becaufe the firfl: pro- 

 dudlion being very vigorous, wheat is more apt to be laid than 

 rye. 



Some do not fpread the burnt earth till juft before the laft plow- 

 ing for wheat. They content themfelves with plowing well be- 

 tween the furnaces, which they take care to fet exadly in a line, 

 in order to leave a free pallage for the plough. But this is a bad 

 method : for, fince wheat is always apt to be laid the firft year 

 after burning, it is better to fpread the burnt earth early, before it 

 lofes part of its heat, and for the convenience of well preparing the 

 land : for it is very material, that the burnt earth iliould be per- 

 feflly well mixt with the foil. 



It muft be owned that this method of burning is very expen- 

 five, becaufe the labour muft be performed by men, and that it 

 confumes a great deal of wood : but it is very advantageous ; 

 for after this fingle operation, the land is better prepared thai> 

 it would be by many plowings. 



CHAP. 



