On Weeding Land. 269 



pense ( 39 *) ; by others, that it should be done by the road- 

 surveyors, and the expense to be stated in their accounts ( 393 ). 

 The poor would be much more advantageously employed 

 in this way, than in breaking stones. 



6. Advantages to be derived from the Destruction of Weeds. 



All plants which grow naturally, among a crop that has 

 been sown, may be regarded as weeds, or, in other words, as 

 enemies to the crop that is cultivated. The destruction of 

 such plants, therefore, must be considered as one of the 

 most important branches of the agricultural art; for if that 

 is neglected, or even but slovenly performed, the crops may 

 be reduced to the amount of one-fourth, or one-third of a 

 fair average crop, even upon the very best soils. Besides, 

 it merits consideration, that if weeds are suffered to exist, 

 the full advantages of manuring land, and many other im- 

 provements, can only be partially obtained. Nor is this all ; 

 the mixture of weeds in the soil, prevents the crop from re- 

 ceiving the beneficial influence of the atmosphere; sucks 

 up that moisture so essential for the growth of the crop 

 sown ( 394 ) ; tends more than any other circumstance, to in- 

 jure the crop when lodged by violent winds or heavy rains; 

 augments the risks at harvest, (for a crop that is clean, 

 may be ready for the stack-yard in much less time than is 

 required to harvest it, when encumbered with weeds) ; and 

 the seeds of these intruders, deteriorate the quality of the 

 grain. Notwithstanding all the injuries thence sustained, 

 how many are there, who hardly ever attempt to remove 

 weeds in an effectual manner ( 395 ). This negligence is the 

 more to be blamed, because, were farmers at the trouble of 

 collecting all sorts of weeds, before they have formed their 

 seeds, and of mixing them with rich earth or lime, or fer- 

 menting them with dung, they would soon be reduced into 

 a soft pulpy mass, and in this way, a pernicious nuisance 

 might be converted into a valuable manure ( 395 ) 



Various experiments have been tried, to ascertain the 

 positive advantage derived from carefully weeding one part 

 of a field, and leaving another part undone ; among these, 

 the following, made with peculiar accuracy, may be safely 

 relied on. 



1. Wheat. Seven acres of light gravelly land were fal- 

 lowed, and sown broad-cast; one acre was measured off, 

 and not a weed was pulled out of it; the other six were 

 carefully weeded. The unweeded acre produced 18 bushels ; 



