232 APRIL. 



weight enough to level worm-casts, and crush 

 mould. Some gentlemen are extremely fond of 

 using very large and heavy rollers, thinking they 

 are beneficial in proportion to their weight. This 

 idea has been unjustly disputed. Another practice, 

 founded on direct contrary principles, has begun to 

 take place ; that of scarifying grass with a plough 

 consisting only of coulters, or harrow teeth. The 

 advocates for this practice assert, that the burthen 

 of hay (not the beauty of grass as a lawn) is much 

 increased by loosening the surface, for the roots 

 to have the power of a fresh vegetation : that the 

 fault of most pastures is the being quite bound 

 and hard ; that rolling increases this tenacity, and 

 is consequently pernicious. Experiments are men- 

 tioned, which prove that grass-lands are much 

 improved by this operation of scarifying : and fur- 

 ther, that its use is extremely great when the ope- 

 ration precedes manuring ; as difficulty is found 

 to get the manure below the surface, for the roots 

 to feed on ; whereas, if it be scarified well, the 

 ground is opened so much, that whatever you 

 spread on it gets at once to the roots ; consequently 

 a small quantity so applied, goes as far as a much 

 larger laid on in the old way. 



HOPS, 



The chief business of this month, in the hop- 

 ground, is that of poling. In an article of cul- 

 ture so extremely operose as that of hops, and 

 ivlvjch, at the same time, employs the largest capi- 

 tal 



