Chap. XI. OfBLic h t. i4<> 



confequently, the Crop will be yet weaker, and in 

 more Danger of the ftarving Blight (b). 



The mod effectual Remedy againft the Blight is 

 that which removes all its Cafes (except fuch extraor- 

 dinary ones as Lightning); as, 



Fir ft, Want of Nouriftment. 



The Horfe-hoe will, in wide Intervals, give Wheat, 

 throughout all the Stages of its Life, as much Nou- 

 rifhment as the difcreet Hoer pleafes. 

 Secondly, Want of Air. 



Air, being a Fluid, moves moft freely in a right 

 or ftrait Line ; for there the fewefl of its Parts meet 

 with any Refiftance •, as a ftrait River runs fwifter 

 than a crooked one, from an equal Declivity; be- 

 caufe more of the Water ftrikes againft z\iq Banks an 



(b) I am fure, that whenever Sheep break into my drill'd 

 Wheat in the Spring, it leffens my Crop half, juft as far as they 

 ear. the Rows. There are feveral Reafons why Sheep are more 

 injurious to drilled Wheat than Town : I would not therefore be 

 understood to decry the Practice of feeding fown Wheat, when 

 the Thieknefs and Irregularity of its Plants make k neceftary : I 

 have only endeavoured to mew, that that Practice is founded 

 upon a falfe Theory. For, if Wheat fell down by reafon of the 

 Luxuriance of it^ a Plant of it would be more likely to fall when 

 fingle, and at a great Diftance from every other Plant, than 

 when near to other Plants, becaufe fuch a Tingle Plant \s (ceteris 

 paribus) always the moil: luxuriant ; and I have not feen fuch a 

 one fall (except Birds pull down the Ears), but have obferved the 

 contrary, though its Ears are the largely 



The Subject I write on is Drilling and Hoeing, and of what- 

 foever elfe I think relates to the Practice or Theory thereof; 

 which obliges me to advife againfl: Drilling, too thick upon any 

 Sort of Land ; but more efpecially upon very rich Land : For 

 though I have no fuch Land, yet I apprehend, that a too great 

 Number of Plants may overflock the Rows, and caufe them to 

 be liable to fome of the Inconveniences of fown Wheat ; and in 

 fuch a Cafe, perhaps, Sheep may be rather ufeful than prejudi- 

 cial to the drilJed Wheat ; but cf this I have had no Experience : 

 And if it mould be too thick, it will be owing to the Fault of 

 the Manager or Driller ; but, I fuppofe, it might be a better 

 Remedy to cut out the fuperfiuous Planes by the Hand-hoe, in 

 the manner thatfuperfluous Turneps are hoed out. 



J- 3 the 



