Chap. VIII. O/Turneps. 87 



Tho' the Earth on each Side the Row be left as 

 narrow as poftible (p) ; yet 'tis very profitable to hoe 

 that little with a Bidens (q), called here a Prong- 

 hoe (r)i for this will be lure to let out all the Roots 

 into the Intervals; even fuch as run very nearly pa- 

 rallel to the Rows. 



This alternate Way of Hoeing Plants that grow in 

 (ingle Rows, is of fuch vail Advantage, that four of 

 thefe, which are but equal to Two of the whole 

 Hoeings in Labour, are near equal to four whole 

 Hoeings in Benefit -, for when one Side is well nou- 

 rifhed, the other Side cannot be ftarv'd (j). 



Befides, where a great Quantity of Turneps are to 

 be ho'd, the laft ho'd may be (tinted, before the 

 firfl: are finifh'd by whole Hoeings. 



In this alternate Hoeing, the Hoe-plough may go 

 deeper (/) and nearer to the Row, without Danger of 

 thrufting it down on the Left Side, whilft the Plants 

 are very fmall ; becaufe the Earth on the other Side 

 of the Row always bears againft it for its Support : 

 But in the whole Hoeing, there is an open Furrow 

 left the firfl: Time on both Sides of the Row, and 

 there is Danger of throwing it into one Furrow in 



(p) I do not think that we can go nearer to the Plants with the 

 Hoe-plough, than within Three Inches of their Bodies. 



(q) We ought not to ufe the Bidens for this Purpofe, before the 

 perpendicular Roots are as big as one's litle Finger. 



(r) Some of thefe Prong-hoes have Three Teeth, and are 

 reckoned better as a Tridens than a Bidens ; but this is only in 

 mellow Ground. 



(s) But yet fometimes the Weeds, or other Circumftances, may 

 make it proper to give them a whole Hoeing at firft. 



(t) This deep Plowing lb near to the Row is very beneficial at 

 firft ; but afterwards, when the Plants are grown large, and have 

 fent their Roots far into the Intervals, it would almoit totally dif- 

 rootthem; and they, being Annuals, might not live long enough 

 for a new Stock of Roots to extend (o far as is neceffary to bring 

 the Turneps to their full Bignefs. 



Note, At the laft Hoeing we generally leave a broad, deep 

 Trench in the middle of each Interval. 



G 4 plowing 



