270 On Weeding Land. 



the six weeded acres, 135 bushels, or 22-J per acre, which 

 is 4J bushels, or -J more produce in favour of" weeding ( 397 ). 



2. Barley. A six acre field was sown with barley, in fine 

 tilth, and well manured. The weeding, owing to^a great 

 abundance of charlock, cost 12s. per acre. The produce of 

 an unweeded acre was only 13 bushels; of the weeded, 28. 

 Difference in favour of weeding, 15 bushels per acre, be- 

 sides the land being so much cleaner for succeeding crops. 



3. Oats. Six acres sown with oats; one acre ploughed 

 but once, and unmanured, produced only 17 bushels. 

 Other six acres ploughed three times, manured, and weeded, 

 produced 37 bushels. This experiment proves, that oats 

 require good management, and will pay for it as well as 

 other crops ( 398 ). Ten bushels of the increased produce 

 may be fairly attributed to the weeding; and the other ten 

 to the manure. 



The importance of weeding, both to the individual and to 

 the public, is such, that it ought to be enforced by law. At 

 any rate, a regulation of police, for fining those who harbour 

 weeds, the seeds of which may be blown into their neigh- 

 bour's ground, can have no injustice in principle. In Eng- 

 land, the petty constable might be required, by precept from 

 the high constable, to give in presentments to the Quarter- 

 Sessions, containing a list of all persons who suffered weeds 

 to run to seed in their hedges or lands, such presentments 

 to be particularly specified to the court. Those referring to 

 the coltsfoot, to be given in at the Lady-day sessions ; and 

 those referring to thistles, rag-weed, &c. to be given in at 

 the Midsummer sessions. An order of court might then be 

 made, for the immediate removal of such nuisances; and if 

 not complied with, the offender should be fined a sum not 

 exceeding five pounds, one half to the informer, and the other 

 half to go for the relief of the poor( 399 ). 



If, in consequence of such a system being enforced, from 

 four to five bushels of wheat; fifteen bushels of barley; 

 and ten bushels of oats additional, were raised in all the 

 fields m the kingdom, whose crops are injured by weeds, 

 the benefit would be well worth the labour and expense ; 

 and the fanners would soon find, that however anxious they 

 may be, to have their lands tithe-free, yet to have them weed- 

 free, is of still greater importance ( 4 ). 



On the whole, keeping his land in a clean state, ought to 

 be a principal object with every farmer ; and if this be not 



