4,8 Of Hoeing. Chap. VL 



fonable Aid for their Relief, and force open her Ma- 

 gazines with the Hoe, which will thence procure 

 them at all times Provifions in Abundance* and alfo 

 free them from Intruders ♦, I mean* their fpurious 

 Kindred, the Weeds, that robb'd them of their too 

 fcanty Allowance. 



There's no Doubt, but that one third Part of the 

 Nourifhment raifed by Dung and Tillage, given to 

 Plants or Corn at many proper Seafons, and appor- 

 tion^ to the different Times of their Exigencies, will 

 be of more Benefit to a Crop, than the Whole apply'd, 

 as it commoniy is, only at the time of Sowing. 

 This old Method is almoft as unreafonable as if 

 Treble the full Stock of Leaves, necefTary to main- 

 tain Silk-worms till they had finifhed their Spinning, 

 mould be given them before they are hatched, and 

 no more afterwards. 



Next to Hoeing, and fomething like it, is Tranf- 

 planting, but much inferior ; both becaufe it requires 

 a fo much greater Number of Hands, that by no 

 Contrivance can it ever become general, nor does it 

 fucceed, if often repeated •, but Hoeing will maintain 

 any Plant in the greateft Vigour 'tis capable of, even 

 unto the utmoft Period of Age. Befides, there is 

 Danger in removing a whole Plant, and Lofs of Time 

 before the Plant can take Root again, all the former 

 Roots being broken off at the Ends in taking up 

 (for 'tis impoflible to do it without), and fo mull wait 

 until by the Strength and Virtue of its own Sap 

 (which by a continual Perfpiration is daily enfeebled) 

 new Roots are form'd, which, unlefs the Earth continue 

 moift (a), are fo long in forming, that they not only 



(a) But when the Earth doth continue moift, many tranfplanted 

 Vegetables thrive better than the fame Species planted in Seeds, 

 becaufe the former, ftrikingRootfooner, have a greater Advantage 

 of the frem-pulveriz'd Mould, which lofes fome of its artificial 

 P allure before the Seeds have Roots to reach it. The fame Advan- 

 tage alfo have Seeds by foaking till ready to fprout before they are 

 planted. To both thefe the Moifture of the Earth is neceffary. 



find 



