184 



H AR 



HAR 



more increased than it could be 

 by ploughing only. For every 

 weed that consumes in the soil is 

 of some advantage. 



Some have found their account 

 in harrowing mowing grounds, 

 when they have become boi.nd 

 and stiff. Though the roots of the 

 grass are much torn and mangled 

 by harrowing, the soil will be loos- 

 ened at the surface, and the vege- 

 tation of the grass so much in- 

 creased, that the excess of the next 

 crop will more than compensate 

 the labour of liarrowing. It should 

 be done in autumn, and before 

 heavy rains fall, but after a gentle 

 one, when the surface is a little 

 moistened. It would be best, be- 

 fore harrowing, to atford tlie land 

 a sprinkling of old dung, or com- 

 post : Or else immediately after, 

 and bush it in. its fruitfulness 

 will thus be greatly increased. 



The harrowing of land that is 

 ploughed in ridges, should be per- 

 formed lengthwise, and by two 

 barrows abreast, or three, if the 

 breadth of the ridges require them, 

 that the (renches may not be too 

 much filled. The second harrow- 

 ing may be across, if the land 

 needs to be laid even for mowing. 

 But then the trenches should be 

 cleared out with a shovel or 

 plough, if the land be so flat and 

 wet as to make it proper or neces- 

 sary to lay it down in ridges. 



Harrowing of winter grain, in 

 the spring, is approved of beyond 

 the Atlantic. When the roots are 

 well set, and in sufficient plenty, I 

 think this may be a laudable piece 

 of husbandry. The hairow will 

 destroy but a few of the plants ; 



and the loss of them will be more 

 than made up in the increased 

 growth of the rest. But, in order 

 to make the loosened plants take 

 rootuig, Mr. Lisle advises to drive 

 a flock of sheep about over the 

 field. Others advise to rolling 

 the ground, which appears more 

 rational. 



" There are two modes of driv- 

 ing the harrows, either leading the 

 horses, or driving them by whip- 

 reins. The latter ought to be 

 preferred, for as young horses are 

 frequently employed in harrowing, 

 before they are broken to regular 

 woik, the person, who leads, is 

 exposed to considerable danger: 

 whereas, when he directs the hor- 

 ses by long whip-reins, he runs no 

 risk, and is always at hand, to re- 

 move any obstructions that may 

 occur, from the accumulation of 

 weeds, and other extraneous sub- 

 stances among the tines, or by the 

 harrows riding on each other. 



" HarrowMig is usually given in 

 ditrerent directions : first in length, 

 then across, and finally at length, 

 as at first. An excess of harrow- 

 ins is prejudicial to wheat, it is 

 better for that crop to have the 

 land rougK and cloddy ; but the 

 process ought to be efTectually 

 done for barley, (more especially 

 if accompanied by grass seeds), 

 and for turnips. Code of Jgricid- 

 ture. 



HARVEST, the season when 

 corn is cut down, and secured. 



Wheat and rye are harvested 

 in much the same manner. Both 

 are reaped and bound in sheaves. 

 It is usual to cut rye rather green- 

 er than wheat, that the flour may 

 be the whiter. 



