394 On Spade Husbandry. 



Sometimes also it is the practice, on soils which have been 

 trenched for planting, to raise potatoes, and other roots 

 among the young trees. They derive much benefit, not on- 

 ly from the manure employed on such occasions, but also, 

 from the free admission of air and of moisture to their roots. 



6. On the advantage of trenching in clearing Arable Lands of 

 Weeds. In 1820, Mr Warden purchased a field often acres, 

 which, for the preceding twelve years, had been infested with 

 large white gowans. The repeated exertions of different far- 

 mers had, in vain, endeavoured, to eradicate that noxious weed. 

 Mr Warden then resolved, to trench the land fifteen inches 

 deep, by which all the weeds were buried, and many thou- 

 sand cart-loads of stones were thrown upon the surface. 

 The expense was L.9 per acre. After the stones were re- 

 moved from the surface, the field was dunged, and ploughed. 

 Eight acres were immediately let for potatoes at L.14 per 

 acre, reserving two for turnips. Next year the ground was 

 sown with wheat in the best possible order, and the produce 

 was abundant. By the same means, wild oats, often so dif- 

 ficult to be got rid of, might be extirpated. The seeds of 

 the weeds being generally near the surface, are buried by 

 the trenching process. 



7. On Improvements which have been discovered in the art of 

 trenching Land. Mr Blaikie has suggested a plan, which 

 might be adopted, when strong clays are cultivated by the 

 spade. He objects to the customary process of turning over 

 the top-spit, or the cultivated soil, and throwing the barren 

 inert subsoil over it; but he recommends, to turn the top-spit 

 on one side, and to shovel the crumbs of earth upon it. The 

 subsoil in the bottom of the trench should then be dug, with- 

 out being raised, the top spit of the next trench placed upon it, 

 the crumbs shovelled over it, and the ground carefully level- 

 led, as the work proceeds. By this process, the earth is ef- 

 fectually loosened two spit deep, and the cultivated soil is 

 retained on the surface, a most important consideration in 

 the case of strong clays. Such soils therefore, might thus be 

 cultivated by the spade, to a moderate extent, in every dis- 

 trict where population is abundant, and employment diffi- 

 cult to be obtained. 



It may be proper likewise to observe, that it is perfectly prac- 

 ticable, to employ the spade, in working land, by women, 

 boys, girls, and even feeble old men, and that occupation may 

 thus be given to paupers of the humblest description. This 

 was ascertained by Mr Falla, who employed girls to trench 

 land, taking two short spits of about 5 or 6 inches deep, the 



