NOTES. 43 



357 Nothing else could be expected from so detestable a system, which can- 

 not be too soon exploded. 



558 Remarks by Edward Burroughs, Esq. This intelligent agriculturist 

 adds, that he has known instances, in which lands thus exhausted, were in a 

 great measure reclaimed, by growing green crops, and ploughing them in. 



359 Much must certainly depend upon climate. In Jamaica it has been 

 found, that exposing the soil to the heat of the sun, for any length of time, ex- 

 hausts its fertility, and the practice is disused. Even subjecting lands to the fal- 

 low process, for some years, has destroyed their productive powers. 



360 Mr Curwen's Report to the Workington Society, an. 181O, p. 88. In 

 his evidence before the Salt Committee, (Report in June 1818, p. 57), this 

 impartial observer states, " When one looks to the first farming in the kingdom, 

 4< which I think one may, without injustice to any, attribute to the Lothians, in 

 *' that system of farming, fallowing is a favourite practice." 



561 See Mr William Pitt's Essay on the Extirpation of Weeds, in the Com- 

 munications to the Board of Agriculture, vol. v. p. 240. In Marshall's Glou- 

 cestershire, 77 are enumerated. See also Alton's Survey of Ayrshire, p. 674 ; 

 and, of Bute. 



362 See the valuable Section on Weeding, drawn up by George Kennic, 

 Esq. of Phantassie, in the General Report of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 554. 



363 Dr Skene Keith's Report of Aberdeenshire. 



364 Derbyshire Report, vol. ii. p. 66. It is said, that the best forceps for 

 that purpose, is the human hand, protected by a suitable glove. Thistles 

 were formerly pulled in Scotland, not because they were weeds, but because 

 they were useful ; for owing to the scarcity of grass in summer, they were given 

 to the farmers' horses in the evening. Aberdeenshire Report, p. 442. It is 

 said to be a practice in Germany, after they are collected, to beat them in sacks 

 till their prickles are destroyed. Horses willl then devour them greedily. The 

 roots of couch-grass, after being washed, have likewise been given as food for 

 cattle in scarce seasons. 



365 Derbyshire Report, vol. ii. p. 66. On broad-cast crops of corn, pincers 

 are the only effectual means of relieving the crop from thistles or docks, should 

 they get but one weeding. 



366 In Mr Dombasle's valuable translation of the Code of Agriculture into 

 French, he states, that the dock (rumex acutus et obtusifolius'), and the colts- 

 foot (tussilagofarfaraj, are both considered to be valuable plants in France, 

 however much objected to by the British husbandmen. It is admitted, that 

 these weeds ought to be extirpated in crops of grain, but it is contended, that 

 they are useful in pasture fields. There certainly must be some mistake re- 

 garding the identity of these plants, to justify such a recommendation. 



367 The public owes these valuable hints to Mr Rennie of Phantassie. The 

 process is described at greater length in the General Report of Scotland, vol. ii. 

 p. 554. It is much the custom with those who fallow land in Ireland, to permit 

 the weeds to shed their seeds, under the idea, that when the land is afterwards 

 ploughed, they will be destroyed. This is one of the reasons, why the lands in 

 that country, under this system, become progressively more foul and less fer- 

 tile. Remark by Edward Burroughs, Esq. 



368 This is likewise the case in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. 

 569 Hints on the Agricultural State of the Netherlands, p. 53. 



370 Pitt's Essay on the Extirpation of Weeds, p. 255. 



371 The white darnel, (loliumtemulentum), for instance, if ground into flour 

 with wheat, and the bread eaten hot, will produce deleterious effects on the hu- 

 man body ; and if malted with barley, the ale soon occasions drunkenness. 

 Withering. This, however, is a scarce plant with us. The true darnel of agri. 

 culture, is the bromus sccalinus of Botany. It is annual, and grows almost as 

 large and as strong as wheat. 



372 Cheshire Report, p. 244. This is also the case in Derbyshire, vol. ii. 

 p. 191. 



