134 SCARIFY WHEAT. [MARCH. 



face to receive these roots ; but, if given afterwards, 

 and so near the rows as to disturb them, it must do 

 mischief for the time, as Nature has then her ope- 

 ration to perform again : and though the wisdom 

 of Nature's Author without doubt provides for the 

 case, as in that of the blossoms of wheat being 

 blown off, yet a delay takes place, and a succession 

 of injuries may be felt in the crop. The circum- 

 stance should at least induce the farmer to be early 

 in his operations : if he is early enough, he may- 

 break the surface of a nine-inch interval, to the 

 breadth of five inches, but afterwards he must re- 

 cede from the rows, for fear of mischief. These 

 tools of Mr. Cook are very effective, and if used 

 with attention will be safe, while they dispatch a 

 great deal of work in a short time. When, how- 

 ever, it is considered, that at this season, hi com- 

 mon management, the teams are all in full employ- 

 ment, it must be admitted, that if there is much 

 horse-hoeing to do, the common charge of a few 

 pence per acre, is utterly inadequate for a period 

 when a farmer would be glad to hire horses, could 

 lie get them, at 5s. per day, and even at a greater 

 charge ; but if the modern s\ stein, of avoiding as 

 far as possible, all spring ploughing, by the use of 

 the same and other tools, be taken into th< 

 count, then the di ill-husbandry will not demand 

 more horses, possibly not so many. Whatever the 

 operation, never loosen the toitom, for that should 

 be \vhjirm for wheat. 



HAND- 



