1 3 2 Of W heat. Chap. IX. 



therefore an Acre thas would produce every Year, 

 without any Expence, Eight Bufhels, would be 



thought 



the more Drying it requires: But how to cEftinguifli nicely the 

 Degrees of Dampnefs, and the Number of Hours proper for its 

 Continuance upon the Kiln, he faid was an Art impoiiibie to be 

 learned by any other Means than by Practice. About Three or 

 Four and Twenty Years ago, Wheat being at Twelve Shillings 

 a Bufhel, he had in his Granaries, as I was informed, Five thou- 

 fand Quarters of dried Wheat ; none of which coil him above 

 Three Shillings alSuihel. 



This dried Wheat was efteemed by the London Bakers to work 

 better than any new Wheat that the Markets afforded. His 

 Speculation, which put him upon this Project, was, that 'twas 

 only the fuperfluous Moifture of the Grain that caufed its Corrup- 

 tion, and made it liable to be eaten by the Wevil; and that when 

 this Moifture was dried out, it might be kept fweet and good for 

 many Years; and that the Effect of all Heat of the fame Degree 

 was the fame, whether of the Straw, or of the Sun. 



Asa Proof, he would (hew, that every Grain of his Wheat 

 would grow after being kept Seven Years. 



He was a moft fmcere honeft: Yeoman, who from a fmall Sub- 

 fiance he be^an with, left behind him about Forty thouiand 

 Pounds; the greateft Part whereof was acquired by this Drying 

 Method. 



For the Hand- hoeing they ufe Hoes of Four Inches Breadth, 

 very thin, and well Heeled : Their Thinnefs keeps them from 

 wearing to a thickEdge, and prevents theNeceflity of often grind- 

 ing them. Such Hoes are in Ufe with fome Gardeners near Lon- 

 don. They need not be afraid of drawing thefe little Hoes acrofs 

 the Rows of young Wheat to take out the few Weeds that come 

 therein at the early Hoeing; for whilft the Wheat-plants are fmall, 

 it may be an Advantage to cut out fome of the weakeft, as they 

 do of Turneps ; for I perceive there are oftener too many Plants 

 than too few. But the thing that caufes the greateit Trouble in 

 cleanfmg the R.ovvs, is when the Seed is foul (/. e. full of Seeds of 

 Weeds) : Therefore I cleanfe my Seed -wheat- by drawing it on 

 a Cloth on a Table, which makes it perfectly clean. 



This Hand-hoeing mould be performed about the End of 

 March, or Beginning of dpril, before the Wheat is fpindled (/. e. 

 run up to Stalks); and if the Weather be dry enough, you may go 

 lengthways of the Ridges with a very light Roller to break the 

 Clods of the Partitions, whereby the Hce will work the better. 



If there mould afterwards more Weeds come up, they 1 mull 

 not be fuffered to ripen ; and then the Soil will be every Year 

 freer from Weeds, 



This 



