38 PROFITS. 



time from sowing the seed to cutting the heads for 

 In rating the expenses, we will say - 



. s. d. 



One acre at 2Z. per ann. (for two years) .... 4 

 Expense of culture, 3Z. per ann per acre .... 6 



Tithe 080 



Cutting the heads, per acre .060 



Sorting and packing at 6s. for seven packs, average 



crop 220 



Miscellaneous expenses, polls, sticks, &c 100 



Average crop brought to' market, seven packs, at 6Z. 

 Leaving a profit for the 2 years, upon an acre, of .28 



As the teasel man seldom rents less than four or six 

 acres, which he can very well attend to, it may produce 

 at the two years' end a return upon the six acres of 

 169Z., if all circumstances should be favorable a 

 tempting inducement to speculation, when a laborer, 

 by regular daily pay, cannot earn above 32Z. per annum. 

 But it requires some ready money to support the family 

 during this period of expectation and if a bad season 

 occur, all the labor is lost, the profit destroyed, the anx- 

 iety of months ends in disappointment, and debt only 

 remains. This is most truly a casualty crop ; and the 

 manufacturers are so sensible of the risk and trouble 

 attending the cultivation of this plant, that they prefer 

 purchasing to growing it for their own use ; and I 

 know one who has declared his loss in the attempt to 

 exceed 500Z. 



It has been thought that the cultivation of teasels ex- 

 hausted the land, and some landlords in consequence 

 have forbidden the growth of them in their agreements; 

 perhaps I can be no sufficient judge of the accuracy of 

 this idea, from our limited growth, but speaking locally, 

 such land as we make use of for their culture is of so 

 inferior a nature, that little deterioration can ensue from 

 any crop. The teasel, having a tap root, does not ex- 

 haust the superficial soil as a fibrous-rooted plant would 

 do ; the ground on which they grow is hoed, and turned 

 by the spade repeatedly, and up to a certain period 

 kept free from weeds ; but as the plant is forming heads, 



