576 OF HARVESTING GRAIN. 



would do material injury, by leaving holes, in which water 

 would collect in winter and spring, and because it might 

 be of great detriment to the future crop, if these plants 

 were cropped, close over before winter, by injuring the 

 crowns of their roots, and by removing what shelter their 

 previous growth might afford against frost.* Some farm- 

 ers, however, are of opinion, that when the clover and 

 rye-grass are very rank, moderately pasturing them, in dry 

 weather, early in aulumn, will be of service to them, and 

 the eatage is very valuable. 



It may be proper to add, that it was the practice of the 

 ancients, to burn their stubbles, which not only operated 

 as a manure, but had a tendency to destroy the seeds of 

 weeds.f It is recommended in one of the county reports, 

 to gather the stubble, and to stack it, for the purpose of 

 burning it, before turnip sowing, as a manure for that 

 crop.J It would appear from the same report, that burn- 

 ing straw on the stubble is sometimes practised. 



5. In regard to the management of wheat injured by a 

 bad harvest, and preparing it for consumption, it is cer- 

 tain, that though wheat, as well as other grain, if put up 

 when in proper condition, will keep better in a large than 

 in a small stack ; yet, in damp seasons, it will dry sooner 

 in small stacks, and consequently will be sooner fit for 

 grinding into flour and baking. Wheat that is stacked in 

 a damp condition, should never be threshed sooner than 

 the summer afterwards. 



When wheat is sprouted, it improves much by being 



* See the General Report of Scotland, Chapter 7. Part 4. Sect. 1. 



16. * 



f See Virgil's Georgics, Lib. 1. verse 84; also feaiah, Chapter 5. 

 verse 24. 



t See Lincolnshire Report, p. 268. 



