1G2 Of Wheat. Chap. IX. 



prefs'd or trodden harder, and cloferto it (a), as it 

 is when moved wet. 



If Wheat were as hardy as Rye, and its Roots as 

 patient of Cold, it might, no doubt, be fown in as 

 dry a Seafon as Rye is, and profper the better for it, 

 as Rye doth. This will appear, if Wheat and Rye 

 be both fown in the fame dry Seafon, after the Winter 

 is over. 



But as Wheat requires to have the Earth lie harder 

 on and about it, in the Winter •, fo it alfo requires 

 more Dung (or fomev/hat elfe) to diffolve the Earth 

 about its Roots, after the cold Winter is paft, than 

 Rye doth, whofe Roots never were fo much confined. 



s Tis another general Rule, that all Sorts of Vege- 

 tables thrive beft, when fown on frefh tilPd Ground, 

 immediately after 'tis plow'd. 



Wheat is an Exception to this Rule alfo ; for 'tis 

 better to plow the Ground dry, and let it lie till 

 the Weather moiftens it (tho* it be feveral WeeksJ, 

 and then drill the Wheat : The Harrows and the Drill 

 will move a fufhcient Part of the Ground, which 

 will frick together for Defence of the fmall Roots, 

 during the Winter, the reft of the Mould, lying 

 open, and divided underneath until Spring, to nou- 

 rifh them. 



There is a Sort of binding Sand, that requires not 

 only to be plow'd dry, but fow'd dry alfo \ or elle 

 the Wheat will dwindle in the Spring, and fail of" 

 being a tolerable Crop. 



But what I mean by dry Plowing is, not that the 

 Land mould always be fo void of Moifture, as that 

 the Duft fhouid fly 9 but it mufl not be fo wet, as 

 to ftick together (b). Neither mould we drill when 



(a) 'Tis for that Reafon, that Farmers drive their Sheep over 

 -vtry light Land, as foon as 'tis fown with Wheat, to tread tbe 

 I Top or) Surface of it hard • and then the Cold of the Winter can- 

 not fo eafily penetrate, to kill the Roots of the tender Pianos. 



/ ' . ;- 1 : uie d r ' ti p ow d i be 



