362 OF WEEDING. 



tetition, the flowers coming out early in April, according 

 to the season; so that it is impracticable to prevent their 

 increase by any other method than the one suggested. If 

 this plan, however, is persevered in for a few years, suc- 

 cess is indisputable ; though it must be remarked, that 

 much depends upon performing the operation of pulling, 

 as early as the corns are cut; for if delayed any length of 

 time, the leaves wither and fall off, after which the roots 

 cannot easily be discovered. If the weather is moist, there 

 will be little difficulty in pulling up the roots to a sufficient 

 depth ; but should it be dry, or the ground hard, it is pro- 

 per to furnish the pullers with a small piece of iron, split 

 at the one end, like the toes of a hammer, and about ten 

 inches long, to enable them to get the root up to the re- 

 quired depth. A few boys or girls, under the direction of 

 a careful overseer, will execute this work at a trifling ex- 

 pence ; and care must be taken, that all the roots so pulled, 

 be carried off and destroyed, for if allowed to remain at 

 the sides of stone walls or hedges, they will flower in the 

 succeeding spring, and shed their seeds; which, being of 

 a winged description, will fly about the field in all direc- 

 tions. Where land is much infested with this pernicious 

 weed, it is proper to examine it in the spring months, lest 

 any of the stalks should have escaped in autumn ; and in 

 this way, by attention and perseverance, ultimate success 

 may be relied on. 



7. There is likewise reason to apprehend, that much 

 trouble arises to the agriculturist, from inattention to the 

 choice of grass seeds. It not uncommonly happens, that 

 the seeds of couch, knot-grass, &c. are mixed with rye- 

 grass, and being nearly of the same size, shape, and colour, 

 pass unobserved, and are thereby introduced into fields, 

 which have been cleaned in the most careful manner. This 

 is an opinion in which most people will concur, and th$ 



