HOE 



H O R 



ground, as with the drawing hoe. In regard to 

 size, it should be from about four to six or eight 

 inches wide, open in the middle, for the mould 

 and weeds to pass through, so as not to be drawn 

 in heaps ; having a long socket at the back part, 

 in which to fix the handle, which may be five 

 or six feet in length. 



It is very proper for scuffling over any piece of 

 ground to destroy weeds, that is clear from crops, 

 or between crops that stand wide, with which a 

 person may make considerably more expeditious 

 work than with a drawing hoe, especially when 

 the weeds are not suffered to grow large; in which 

 case one man can often do as much as two with 

 the other sort. It is not proper for hoeing 

 out crops of esculent plants, or for earthing up 

 the stems of plants, nor for hoeing where the 

 plants stand close. But it is very useful for cut- 

 ting down weeds in shrubberies and wilderness 

 quarters, where the shrubs stand distant from 

 one another. And it is the best sort of any for 

 scufflingover sand-walks, orothers made of loose 

 materials, in order to destroy weeds, moss, &c. 

 In a small size it is also found useful to run over 

 flower borders, to cut up straggling weeds ; as, 

 being fixed on a long handle, the work may be 

 effected by standing in the walks, without tread- 

 ing on the borders or beds. 



A sort of triangular Hoe has also been lately 

 found very useful in hoeing many sorts of small 

 crops. 



HOEING, a necessary operation performed 

 by the hoe, to destroy weeds, loosen the soil, 

 and mould up the stalks or stems of plants. 



It is an expeditious method of destroying 

 weeds between all sorts of plants that stand di- 

 stant enough to admit it. 



When principally designed to destroy weeds, 

 it should always be performed to some depth, 

 ami in dry weather, the more sunny the better, 

 especially when the weeds are not to be raked 

 off, that they may die as they are cut clown, or 

 at least be so much flagged or withered by the 

 sun and air as not to grow again. 



This sort of work, besides destroying weeds, 

 is likewise useful in loosening the surface, and 

 disposing the ground to receive the greater be- 

 nefit from the air, dews, rains, &c. to the great 

 nourishment of all sorts of plants, and, by break- 

 ing up the surface, dividing the clods, and stir- 

 ring the earth, keeping it fresh, and proving a 

 very beneficial culture to all vegetables. In soils 

 apt to bind after much wet, which causes the 

 plants to appear of a stinted growth, hoeing is 

 of vast advantage in promoting their growth. 



The application of earth about the stems of 

 plants, such as earthing up rows of peas, beans, 

 kidney-beans, cabbages, cauliflowers, &c. is 



constantly of great service in promoting the 

 strength and vigour of the crops, as well as in 

 giving them a neat appearance. 



It is also beneficial in thinning out many 

 close-standing crops to proper distances, cutting 

 out the sunerabundant plants and weeds, and 

 loosening the soil. 



HOLLOW ROOT. See Adoxa and Fu- 



MARIA. 



HOLLY. See Ilex. 

 HOLLY, KNEE. See Ruscus. 

 HOLLY, SEA. SeeERYNGiuM. 

 HOLLYHOCK. See Alcea. 

 HOLM OAK. See Ouercus. 

 HOLM, SEA. SeeERYNGiuM. 

 HONEY-FLOWER. See Melianthus. 

 HONEYSUCKLE. See Lonicera. 

 HONEYSUCKLE, FRENCH. SeeHEDY- 



SAUUM. 



HONEY-WORT. See Cerinthe. 



HOODED WILLOW-HERB. See Scu- 

 tellaria. 



HOP-HORN-BEAM. See Carpinus. 



HOPS. SeeHuMums. 



HORN-BEAM. See Carpinus. 



HORN-BEECH-TREE. See Carpinus. 



HORNED POPPY. See Chelidonium. 



HORSE-BEECH. See Carpinus. 



HORSE-CHESNUT. See ^Esculus. 



HORSE-RADISH. See Cochlearia. 



HORSE-TAIL. See Equisetum. 



HORSE-TAIL, SHRUBBY. See Ephedra. 



HORSE-DUNG, that which is produced 

 in the stable. 



It is a material of great utility in garden cul- 

 ture, for the purpose of forming hot-beds for 

 various early productions and tender plants, and 

 afterwards as manure. See Dung and Ma- 

 nure. 



This sort of manure is mostly of a littery na- 

 ture, from the great quantity of straw that is 

 mixed and blended with the dung and urine of 

 the horses. On this account it is more disposed 

 to the production of heat, or the taking on the 

 process of fermentation, than other sorts, and is 

 of course better suited to the purpose of form- 

 ing hot-beds with than any other. 



For this use, it should besuch as has remained 

 together in the common dung-hill or heap till 

 collected in proper quantity; and if it have 

 commenced some fermentation, or become 

 wholly, or in part, of a moist, warm, steamy 

 quality, it is preferable. If, on turning it up 

 with the dung-fork, it begins to assume a black- 

 ish appearance, not rotten, or exhausted and 

 dry, but abounding in a fresh material sub- 

 stance, of a lively, moist, steamy warmth, it is 

 in a good slate for this purpose. Fresher dung 



