Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 117 



and left almoft bare till the Spring, one would think 

 fhould fuffer by the Froft coming fo near them (d) 9 

 or for wa^nt of Pafture : But it appears to be quite 

 contrary ; for where the Hoe has gone nearer!: to a 

 Row, its Plants thrive beft : The Earth, which the 

 Froft hath pulverized, being within the Reach of the 

 young fhort Roots, on that Side of the Row, from the 

 Top to the Bottom of the Trench, nourifhes them at 

 firft ; and before the Plants have much exhaufted 

 this, as they grow larger in the Spring, the Ridge 

 from the Middle of the Interval is thrown to them, 

 having a perfectly unexhaufted Pafture, to fupply 

 their increafing Bulk with more Nourifhment. 



The Row {landing as it were on the Brink of this 

 almoft perpendicular Ditch, the Water runs off 

 quickly, or doth not enter but a very little Way into 

 this fteep Side ; fo that, the Earth at the Plants being 

 dry, the Froft doth not reach quite to all their Roots 

 to hurt them, tho' the Diftance from the Air to the 

 Roots be very fhort •, and dry Earth doth not freeze 

 as wet doth, neither is this Ditch much expo-fed to 

 the cold Winds. 



The Spring-hoeing is performed after the great 

 Frofts are paft, and when the Weather will allow it; 

 and then turn (e) the Ridge from (f) the Middle of 



the 



{dj In very light Land, perhaps, we mull not hoe quite fa 

 near to the Rows of Wheat, as in tfrong Land, for fear the Win- 

 ter mould lay the Roots bare, and expofe them too much to the 

 Cold ; but then we may be fure, that, in this Cafe, the Roots will 

 reach the Interval at a greater Diftance than in ftrong Land ; yet 

 fuch very light Land is not proper for Wheat. 



[e) 'Tis an errant Miftake of the Vulgar, when they imagine 

 that the immediate Benefit of frefh Earth to Plants is from that 

 Part which remains uppermoft; for 'tis from turning the impreg- 

 nated pulverized Side downwards, to be fed on by the Roots, that 

 gives the Pabulum or Nourifhment of the freih Earth to Plants : 

 The other Side, being turned upwards, becomes impregnate alfo 

 in a little time. 



(f) But note, that when we fee Weeds coming up near the 

 Row in the Spring, we plow again from the Rows (and fome- 



I 3 times 



