3^ 



THE RURAL SOCRATES* 



cleaning the ground. — For this reafon, great attention is 

 required when the leaves of the potatoes (lioot half a 

 foot above the furface, to have it carefully weeded. — 

 When this is done, Kliyogg waters them from his pools. 

 ff a frefh crop of noxious plants ariies, a fecond, and of- 

 ten athird w^eeding is beftowed. — In the autumn, about 

 a fortnight after leed-time, the potatoes are drawn out 

 of the ground. He begins to gather in his harvcflby 

 cutting the tops clofe to the ground ; if this can be done 

 a month fooner it anfv*^ers much better^ he thinks, by 

 fupplying the cattle with wholcfome and well tadcd 

 forage.*' The ground is then flirred with a pitch- fork 

 to loofen the potatoes, v*'hich are gathered in balkets, 

 and carried home in facks. 



When the crop Is carefully got in, the tillage is re- 

 peated ; and in following the plough, a great number 

 of potatoes that lie in the ground are gathered up. Ic 

 is then fowed with barley or rye ; and when the har- 

 row paOes over, there is a fecond gleaning of potatoes^ 

 v/hich are fiill immerous. Nor is it poffible with the 

 Mtmofl care to prevent many from flill remaining, which 

 jnufb be drawn out as foon as the tops appear.— -Kliyogg 

 is convinced by much experience, that the crops of rye 

 are as good when fovtn after potatoes, as in fields where 

 there has been only grain. — The fame land may be al* 

 lotted the third year either to potatoes or wheat. Kli- 

 yogg gives the preference to the former ; and approves 

 of planting them alternately, in all his fields defigned for 

 grain ; from a convidion that the culture they require 

 contributes greatly to meliorate the ground by the ex- 

 tirpation of weeds, and that varying the produdlion in- 

 creafes the fertility. 



Kliyogg, 



* However wholefome if may be, it Is by no means well tafted : and I 

 know from expedience, that C;jttlc, vvhilethey are fupplied wich the co,m- 

 r>cn Cons of food, vvill not touch them. Y, Horned cattle devout ihcm 

 in the Douhcro parwef theUoitedStares. E, 



