AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM 125 



day bat one, before it is seeded ; then let it be well put 

 vef i/5ed by runsiing the bif^ Iron toothed Harrow three 

 or four times over it, until it be very fine, 



2d. Seeding. The best season for which, is generally 

 from the20ih Pvlaroh, to the 10th of April ; if sooner, it is 

 subject to damage from frost ; if later, the beat of the 

 approaching season, especial!}' if attended with drought 

 is certain to retard and so check its vegetation as to de- 

 feat entirely the future bcnetitof the most favourable wea- 

 ther. The best seed is full, round large grains, and of 

 a bright shining colour ; three pecks of which is fully suf- 

 ficient for an acre ; and ought to be covered in by run- 

 ning the light liarrow twice over it im!:jiediate]y after 

 seeding. 



3d. IVceding is indicpensib'y necessary to the perfec- 

 tion ofFiax, and ought to be performed when it is about 

 Lhree inches high. Each person engaged therein, with 

 a large strong knife in his hand, taking a given breadth 

 before him, should proceed cautiously, with a >% atch- 

 ful eye to observe the young weeds, ^nd pull up by hand 

 such as will readily come by the roots ; those which can- 

 not be thus eradicated, must be dug up with the knife. 

 In ten d:)ys or two weeks, as occasion may require, the 

 weeding may be repeated, very beneficially but greater 

 care is then necessary to be observed, or the Flax may 

 be too much trod on, bent down and injured. 



4th. Pif/^ing, ought to commence immediately befor* 

 the seed is ripe; then not one hour is to be lost; indeed 

 it had better be pulled up one or tvvo days before the 

 seed appeal's to be in full perfection, than romam neg- 

 lected one hour after. As it is pulled, it may be tied ia 

 small hund'es or sheaves, nearlj' the siije of a man's aim, 

 and set uji about twelve or lifteen bundles together in a- 

 small stook — to cu.re ; wlicn pei'fectiy dry the seed sliould 

 be threshed or ratlier i)eat oti", and the Flax well secured 

 in a good house ; or if built in a stack, neatly thatched ali 

 round, with rj e sli aw. TliCie is not any aiticle of pro 

 dncfion in the \vhole bu^oiaess of hutbandrv more a:b- 



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