210 O/Luserne. Chap. XIII. 



afterwards, and then they might become too thin. 

 For Luferneis fometimes eaten by the Fly, as Turneps 

 are, tho' St. Foin be never liable to that Misfortune, 

 if fown in a proper Seafon. Luferne mud alfo be 

 more frequently ho'd (# ), in fome Proportion to the 

 more frequent Crops it produces. 



I fhall not go about to compute the Difference of 

 Expence beftow'd in the Roman Culture and in this; 

 yet it will appear theirs was incomparably more 

 chargeable, and that the Excefs of Charge was occa- 

 lioned by their Error in the Theory of Hufbandry. 



They fow'd it fo thick, that the Plants muft needs 

 be very fmall -, and when Ten of them were no bigger 

 than one good fingle ho'd Plant would have been, 

 in the fame Space or" the Earth's Surface, they could 

 have but a Ninth Part of the Earth's Depth, which 

 the one would have had. The Defect of Depth 

 muft be therefore made up, in fome Meafure, by the 

 extraordinary Richneis of the Surface. Upon this 

 Account few Lands were capable of bearing Medica. 

 Their fowino: it fo late made the firft Waterings ne- 

 celTary •, and the Shortneis of the Roots required the 

 repeated Rigations, after the Crops were cut : For 



{a) The Hoe-plough is the Inftrument to bring it to Perfec- 

 tion : but then I doubt it mult lie llili fome Years, left the plowM 

 Earth injure the Hay that is made upon it; and when it is come 

 to a Turf, and the Luferne wants renewing, the Four coulter 'd 

 Plough is the only Inftrument that can prepare the Turf to be 

 kiTd, and cure the Luferne ; which Plough mull be ufed in the 

 following Manner: Turn its Furrows toward one Row, and from 

 the next ; that is ? plow round one Row, and that will nnilli Two 

 Intervals, and fo on; and the next Plowing muft be towards 

 thofe Rows, from whence they were turrfd the fir ft time ; take 

 care the firft F ■ .. not "lie long enough on the Rows to kill 



the Plants, which will be much longer in Winter than in Sum- 

 mer. But you may leave ewevy Third or Fourth Interval unhoed 

 for making the Hay on. which will be yet more beneficial, if the 

 SWarths in mowing mould fall thereon. This unhoed Interval 

 may be plowed when there is Occafion, and another left in its 

 ftcacl. 



Columella 



