[ *7 ] 



At the next spring and ensuing summer, the land is worked over 

 three or four times with the narrow spades ; by which it is kept 

 thorough clean, and the plants earthed up. 



In the month of July the uppermost heads begin to blossom, and 

 as soon as the blossom falls, they are ripe. The gathering is per- 

 formed at three different times. A man, with a knife made for the 

 purpose, cuts the heads which are ripe, and ties them up in hand- 

 fuls. After a fortnight, he goes over the ground again, and at a 

 third cutting the business is compleated. On the day of cutting 

 they are carried into a house ; and if the air is clear they are taken 

 out daily and exposed to the sun, till they are compleatly dry ; but 

 great care must be taken that no rain falls on them. 



The crop is very hazardous. A wet season rots them, particu- 

 larly when there is much rain at the time of blossoming. 



In the year 1792 there were few worth harvesting. The crop 

 this year is but indifferent. When dry they are separated into 

 three different parts called kings, middlings, and scrubs ; and are 

 after that made into packs, containing of kings 9000 heads, and of 

 middling, 20,000. The scrubs are but of little value. The ave- 

 rage price is forty shillings per pack ; and sometimes the produce 

 is fifteen or sixteen pack an acre, at other times a total blank. 

 There is an amazing inequality in the produce of different plants ; 

 some stocks will send forth 100 heads, others not more than three 

 or four. 



Should not great attention therefore be paid to the selection of 

 seed, namely by taking it from those plants which appear to be 

 most prolific ? This Uwver ic not done ; but the seed is taken in- 

 discriminately from the whole crop. 



As the goodness of the crop chiefly depends on the care taken to 

 keep the land free from weeds, leaving the plants at proper dis- 

 tances, and earthing them up well ; and as most of the common 

 workmen will pay more attention to their own, than to another 

 person's interest, it frequently happens that a partnership is formed 

 between master and man. The former finds ground and ploughing) 

 and the latter seed and labour. 



At harvest the crop is divided, and each party takes a moiety. 

 The expence and produce of teazels may be thus estimated per 

 acre, 



T« 



