Chap. XVI. O F W E E D S. 107 



fuch as thiftles, blue bottles, poppies, &c. If thefe weeds arc very 

 young, they frequently efcape the eye of the weeder ; and in that 

 cafe the hoeing muft be repeated when they grow bigger. 



But the fmaller weeds, which are at leall as hurtful, fuch as 

 wild-fitch, wild oats, cockle or darnel, knot-grafs, fox-tail, and all 

 young poppies, remain in the field. 



Befides, in cutting the weeds, it is fcarce poflible not to cut 

 down the corn : and the roots of the thirties and other biennial 

 plants which are cut, produce two or three new flalks inftead of 

 the old one ; by which means the evil is increafed. 



The other method of clearing corn, is hand-weeding it. This is 

 feldom pradlifed by farmers, becaufe it is too expenfive. In vine- 

 yards indeed, women who have cows to feed, are glad to have leave 

 to pluck up the weeds for them. But in pulling up thofe weeds, 

 they likewife pull up a great deal of corn, and what with that, and 

 with their trampling, and dragging their bags of weeds over it, they 

 do more hurt than good ; efpecially if the earth is moift. 



The fureft way to deftroy weeds, is, to continue plowing whilfl 

 the corn grows : but this can be done only in the new hufbandry. 



Weeds may be diftinguiflied into four kinds : i . Into fuch as 

 have creeping perennial roots. 2. Such as grow in cold wet foils. 

 3. Such as are of a large fucculent body; and, 4. Such as having 

 fmall feeds, or that ripening before the corn, fow themfelves. Each 

 of thefe require difi"erent methods, to dellroy them. 



The firft can only be deftroyed by repeated fummer fallows, by 

 which their roots are cut, and turned up to be withered by the fun 

 and winds ; after which they are dragged out by harrows, and fliould 

 be burnt. This repeated as often as the farmer can conveniently 

 during a dry feafon, or repeated another feafon, can fcarcely fail to 

 complete the cure. Coif s foot, which is propagated by the root, 

 may likewife be deftroyed by fowing the ground with rye graf^, or 

 any plant which, coming up early in the fpring, fliades and fxno- 

 thers it, whereby it dies in a few years. 



The fecond are deftroyed by draining the earth of its fuperfluous 

 moifture, and by warming it with lime, aihes, gravel, fhelly fea- 

 fand, &c. 



The third are deftroyed by cutting them down when in full fap 

 and vigour : for the fudden interruption which this gives to the 

 motion of the fap, caufes it to ftagnate in the roots, and putrify 



P 2 there. 



