Chap. X. CULTURE OF ANNUAL PLANTS. t^-j 



fumes any, as it then produces only a few leaves. But when the 

 winter rains, and the firil drying heat of the fpring, have rendered 

 the earth almofi: as hard as if it had never been plowed, the v/heat 

 is abandoned to itfelf, at a time when it might, and ought to be, 

 affifted by proper culture. 



Our farmers, in this, adl as prepofteroully, as it would be to 

 give a child a great deal of food, and diminifli it gradually as he 

 grows bigger. 



The great advantage of having land in fine tilth before it is 

 fowed, is univerfally allowed : but we muft not flop at thefe firfl 

 preparations. Plants require a due culture whilll they grow, and 

 mufl not be abandoned till they come to their full maturity. 



Some garden plants acquire great ftrength by being tranfplanted ; 

 becaufe, after having been confined in the nurfery, they are put into 

 large beds, where they find a new and loofe mould. The plants of 

 corn may be equally benefited by the plowings which Mr. Tull pro- 

 pofes, that is to fay, by ftirring the earth near them. If any of their 

 roots are difplaced or broke, the plant does not fuffer by it, becaufe 

 it flioots out feveral infi:ead of one ; and mofi; of the roots not having 

 been difplaced or hurt, they continue to fupply the plant with nou- 

 rilhment, till the difplaced or broken roots have taken frefh hold of 

 the earth j and then the plant becomes more vigorous than before : 

 for it is found by experience, that when a root is cut, it fails not 

 to fl:ioot out feveral new ones, which are more proper to draw 

 nouriihment from the earth. The breaking of a root is therefore a 

 means of multiplying the mouths, or rather fuckers, which colled: 

 the nourlfhment of plants. 



Thofe who are againft thefe frequent plowings, are afraid of 

 drying the earth too much ; becaufe, fay they, the moiflure efcapes 

 with greater difficulty from a hard earth, than from that which has 

 been well ftirred by plowing. 



In anfwer to this, it will appear from many of the following 

 experiments, that, even in the driefi: weather, land cultivated ac- 

 cording to the new hufbandry continues conlfantly moiller than that 

 which is managed in the old way. The reafon is affigned by Mr. 

 Elliot of New England, as follows, in a mofi: laudable attempt of 

 a periodical publication, called Effays on Field Hiijbandry. " This 

 " method of repeated plowings, fays he, fits and prepares the 

 " land to receive and retain all the benefits of the atmofphere. 

 " When land is made fine to a good depth, it is prepared with 



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