260 On Weeding Land. 



well-conducted summer fallow ; but that is only a local re- 

 medy ; for their numerous seeds, which are feathered, will 

 often come from a considerable distance, and replenish the 

 field that has been cleared. They are frequently cut close 

 above the ground, by means of a very simple instrument, 

 called a weed-hook; but it is done much more effectually, 

 either by the hand, or by means of a pair of forceps or nip- 

 pers with two long handles, by which the whole, or part of 

 the roots are pulled up, and the plants either much weaken- 

 ed, or totally destroyed ( 3(J4 ). In Derbyshire, they make 

 use of a species of tongs, or pincers, with fluted jaws, which 

 must be peculiarly effectual ( 365 ). 



The dock, (rumex crispus and obtusifoliusj, is a hardy pe- 

 rennial, very tenacious of growth by its roots, and producing 

 a great increase of seeds. In arable land, the roots should 

 be carefully picked off during the tillage season, otherwise 

 they will produce vigorous luxuriant plants, drawing much 

 moisture and nourishment from the soil, to the injury of 

 the intended crop. Docks ought to be pulled up by hand 

 after heavy rains, when the soil is soft enough to allow their 

 long tap-roots to be extracted without breaking, and long 

 before the seeds approach towards ripeness, or even before 

 they blossom. If the season be too dry for that operation, 

 they ought at any rate to be cut and carried off ( 366 ). 



Coltsfoot, (tussilagofarfaraj, was long accounted almost 

 unconquerable, even by a fallow, the seeds ripening so early 

 in the spring, that they were usually shaken before the 

 ground had got the second furrow. It is now, however, 

 ascertained, that there is little difficulty in subduing this 

 noxious weed. For that purpose, the plants must be de- 

 stroyed in August, September, or October, after the crops 

 of corn are cut, at which time they are at their full growth, 

 and easily discovered. They ought then to be pulled up, 

 and every stock or root that can be laid hold of, carried off. 

 This should be done most carefully, for about an inch below 

 the surface, the roots have a number of buds about the size 

 of a pea, which, if allowed to remain till next spring, will 

 flower, and shed their seeds in spite of every precaution. 

 This plan should be persevered in for a few years, to give 

 the experiment a fair trial ( 36? ). 



By these means, more especially if accompanied by drill- 

 ing, cultivated fields may be cleared from the dominion of 

 weeds ; and though these several processes are troublesome 

 and expensive, yet they cannot be dispensed with, as they 

 are the only sure methods known of eradicating weeds, for 



