8 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. 



destroy so many weeds as to save much of the after hand- 

 weeding. As soon as the plants are sufficiently strong, 

 they are hand-weeded and thinned ; (4) and this operation 

 must be repeated at least three times during the summer. 

 The distance between the plants is ultimately about nine 

 inches ; and, to save a portion of the labour, a harrowing 

 is sometimes given between the first and second wecdings. 

 The expence of weeding a vergee three times, is 30s. I 

 believe that the practice of drilling and horse-hoeing, by 

 which much labour might probably be saved, has never 

 been attempted in Guernsey, where agriculture has not 

 arrived at that perfection which it lias attained in this 

 country, and where, from the infinitely small division of 

 property, and consequent size of the farms, with the almost 

 unavoidable attachment to antient practices which accom* 

 panics these circumstances, its operations are in general 

 antiquated. It is indeed said, that in other countries 

 where this method has been tried, it has not been found to 

 answer so well as the system of broadcast culture. 



The first weeding is performed about the middle of May, 

 or it may be earlier or later according to the state of thft 

 plants ; it is repeated when necessary, tjU the beginning 

 of July. (5) The distance at which the plants are allowed to 

 remain, is greater in Guernsey than in England, where 

 they are suffered to stand at BIX inches asunder. 



Although the general practice is that which I have now 



(4) Before this is done, it is now the general practice to roll the ground 

 with a -wooden roller not too heavy. They do not roil After the first 

 weeding. 



(5) Sometimes even till August, 



