Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 133 



thought an extraordinary profitable Acre ; but yet 

 a drilled Acre, that produces Sixteen Bufhels of 



Wheat, 



This Hand-hoeing of the Rows fliould be done at the proper 

 time, though it happen, by late Planting, chat the Horfe-hoe 

 lias not gone before it; for it may be, that the Weather has kept 

 out the Horfe hoe : and the Earth may not be dry deep enough 

 in the Intervals for the Hoe -plough, but deep enough in the Par- 

 titions for the Hand-hoe. 



And the Expence of this Hand-work on the Rows would be 

 well anfwered, though there mould not be one* Weed in them j 

 and fo it would be, if a fecond Hand hoeing were bellowed on 

 the Partitions of every Crop of Wheat not fufpecled of being too 

 luxuriant. 



If after the laft Horfe-hoeing there mould be Occafion for an- 

 other Hoeing of the Intervals, where the Narrownefs of them, 

 and the Leaning of tall Wheat, make it difficult or dangerous to 

 be performed by the Hoe- plough ; a flight mallow Hoeing may 

 be performed therein by the Hand-hoe with Eale and Safety, at 

 a very fmall Expence, which would be more than doubly repaid 

 in the following Crops. 



IF any one doubts of the Efficacy of thus managing Wheat, 

 it can't coft much to make proper Trials. But then Care mure 

 be taken, that the Trials be proper. I do not ad vile any one to 

 be at the Expence of my Inftruments for that Purpofe, but to 

 imitate them in pulverizing, and all other directed Operations 

 by the Spade and common Hoes. His Ridges of Experiment 

 need be no longer than Six Feet. Inftead of a Drill, make ufe 

 of a triangular Piece of Wood, Seven Feet long, and Four or 

 Five Inches thick, with one Edge of which make Channels, and 

 place the Seed regularly even into them by Hand, and cover it 

 with the fame Piece of Wood; but if the Earth be fo wet, as to 

 cling to the Piece, then make ufe of it only as a Ruler, whereby 

 to make the Channels {bait with a Stick. 



Let fome of the Ridges have double Rows, others treble ; and 

 let fome have treble Rows half-way, and leave out the middle 

 Row in the other Half, to (hew whether the double Row or the 

 treble Row produce a better Crop. 



Then for the Firft time of Hoeing, the Spade mutt work with 

 its Back towards the Row. The Second time, in turning the 

 Earth to the Row, the Spade's Face mull be towards it* Thefe 

 Two, and feveral other Hoeings mould be deep ; but when the 

 Roots are large (and the Hoeing is near the Plants), the Spade 

 mull go fnaliovv ; and neiiher the Face nor the Back of it mult 



K 3 be 



