68 THE CULTURE OF WHEAT. Parti. 



5. Thefe plowings are i'ometimes interrupted by great droughts^, 

 and more frequently by heavy rains. Judicious farmers partly avoid 

 this inconvenience, by chuling fuch part of their land as will fufter 

 leaft by being plowed in too wet or too dry weather. For example, 

 the plough, which would poach flrong clayey land in rainy weather, 

 will not have that effecfl on fandy or ftony grounds : and when the 

 weather is dry, fome lands will plow up in great clods, while others 

 break into a fine mould. 



6. When there is a great depth of good mould, it may be renew- 

 ed every ten years by trenching-f-. But as this work is very expen- 

 five, the fame end may be anfwered by drawing two ploughs on« 

 after the other in the fame furrow. 



7. The ancients are very particular In their direftions not to plow 

 when the earth is very dry, very moill, or frozen. 



If the earth is very dry, its furface is fometimes fo hard, that 

 the plow cannot pierce it ; and if it does, it breaks it up in large 

 clods. 



If the ground is too wet, it will be poached in plowing, and 

 become full of weeds : and if ftrong, it will be kneaded as it were 

 into a pafte, fo that another year's fallow will fcarcely recover it. 



It may be laid down as a general rule, never to plow when it 

 rains, or when the earth is fo moift that the plow does not 

 fcour; for if it clogs in the leaft, the plowman ought to flop 

 diredly. 



If the frozen furface be turned down by plowing, it will remain 

 longer unthaw'd by reafon of its depth, and thereby chill the earth. 



Dungs are generally diftinguifhed into three kinds, viz. I. The 

 dung of the larger cattle, fuch as horfes, afles, oxen, cows, and 

 hogs. 2. Sheeps dung. 3. Poultry and pigeons dung. 



Grounds that have been marled, or on which fheep have been 

 folded, are never dunged. The proper time for fpreading the ftable 

 dung is before the twy-fallow, or at leaft before the laft plowing. 

 This is likewife the time for fpreading lime. 



In lands that lie near the fea, the farmers manure with fliells, 



fea 



* One of the great advantages of the new hufbandry is, that flrong foils never have 

 time to grow fo hard as not to admit the plough, even in the driefl weather ; efpecially 

 if only one row of turneps is fown in a bed, or two of wheat: therefore, contrary to 

 the creneral opinion, ftrong foils are flill more benefited by it, than light. 



•t^ This praftice was followed in Italy in the time of Cato, and even as late as 

 Columeila. They called it Pa/linatio, 



