APRIL. 233 



tal of any branch of English husbandry, the only 

 object which should be expected in a book of this 

 sort, is slightly to touch on the chief works to 

 be clone, not by way of directing how all are to be 

 performed, but as a mere aid to the memory to 

 have the several works in mind, so that if a ma- 

 nager should happen to be careless, the master 

 may be attentive to what ought to be going on. 

 Thus, in poling there are several points which de- 

 mand consideration, such as the quality of the soil, 

 and the degree in which the last crop weakened 

 the exuberance of the plants. If overpoled one 

 year they are weakened, and must be unclerpoled 

 the next. The time of picking, whether late or 

 arly, has also an influence. These are points 

 which must be learnt by practice, and not by occa- 

 sional observation, and they are named here, merely 

 to call to them the attention of the young planter. 

 The number of poles per hill vary from three to 

 five. Their sort, size, length, and position, when 

 set, are all of consequence. 



FLAX. 



Flax may yet be sown. The beginning of this 

 month will do, though not so well as before. 



It may be laid down as a general rule, that the 

 land which is intended for flax should be brought 

 to a very fine tilth by repeated ploughings, and 

 that it should be enriched by a manure suited to 

 the quality of the soil. On grass-land some other 

 crops may be got off the land previous to flax, espe- 

 cially 



