258 On Weeding Land. 



light soils by the culture of turnips, potatoes, or tares, in rows, 

 and kept perfectly clean ; but for the attainment of that ob- 

 ject, it is necessary, 1. To bring the seeds within the limits of 

 vegetation; and, 2. To destroy every weed which vegetates. 



1. Seeds of an oily quality, such as those of charlock or 

 field mustard (raphanus 9 raphanistrum, and sinapis arvensisj, 

 and several other annuals, will remain for a long period of 

 time in the ground, capable of vegetation, when acted up- 

 on by moisture and heat. It is absolutely necessary, how- 

 ever, to make them germinate, before their destruction can 

 be effected. This is accomplished by the operations of 

 ploughing, harrowing and rolling, by which the ground is 

 pulverized, and a vast number of seeds are brought so near 

 the surface, as to promote their vegetation. In fallowing, 

 those processes should be performed early in the season, 

 when the powers of vegetation are the greatest, and the 

 weeds most likely to come forward. 



2. When the first crop of weeds appears r,bove the sur- 

 face, a second ploughing should be given, by which that crop 

 will instantly be destroyed, and a foundation laid for pro- 

 ducing another crop of weeds. Harrowing, and where there 

 are clods, rolling should also be resorted to, after every 

 ploughing; and in this way, several crops of weeds may be 

 destroyed, in warm and moist seasons, before the succeeding 

 crops are drilled. During the growth of those crops, both 

 the hand and the horse hoe should be constantly employed; 

 and the greatest care taken, to prevent all weeds from run- 

 ning to seed. 



As the several hoeings given to the cleansing crops, de- 

 stroy every annual weed as fast as it appears, if the seed-fur- 

 row, for the crop which succeeds, be not ploughed or sca- 

 rified deeper than the last furrow given to the cleansing crop, 

 (and a greater depth is then unnecessary), few weeds will 

 appear in the crop of grain which follows ; but as the clover 

 stubble, which follows the grain crop, must be ploughed a 

 little deeper than the seed furrow formerly given, a fresh 

 growth of weeds may then be expected. To get the better 

 of these enemies, some farmers hand-weed these crops, at 

 an expense of from ten to twenty shillings per acre, and have 

 found it much to their advantage ; while others have resort- 

 ed to the drill husbandry, and in that manner have been en- 

 abled to destroy them in a satisfactory manner. 



By an attention to these measures, the quantity of weeds 

 is regularly diminished ; and many farms, which, forty years 

 ago, were a nest of seed-weeds, are now brought into such 



