528 



SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part II. 



3260. The cultivator, grubber, scujffler, scarifiers, and such like implements (2650.), are 

 used to lessen the number of ploughings in tallows or light free soils. Their operation 

 differs from that of the plough in not reversing the surface, and therefore they can never, 

 as some have proposed, become a substitute for that implement in all cases. Still the 

 grubber is a valuable implement. William Lester, late of Northampton, who is said 

 first to have invented an implement of this kind, declares himself confident that one man, 

 a boy, and six horses, will move as much land in a day, and as effectually, as six ploughs ; 

 meaning land in a fallow state, that has been previously ploughed. We have elsewhere 

 pointed out the mode of using this description of tillage implements (2650.), one great 

 advantage of which is, that they may be used by the unskilful, and even by operators who 

 cannot guide a plough. As soon as steam shall be employed as a moving power in this 

 department of agriculture, implements of this kind, and especially Finlayson's harrow 

 (2657.) and Wilkie's brake (2656.), will come into very general use. 



3261. The operation of harrowing is intended both to drag out weeds and to cover the 

 seeds when sown. It is obvious that implements of different sizes are not only necessary, 

 but even that these implements should be worked in different ways, according to the 

 strength and condition of the soil on which they are employed, and the nature of the 

 work to be executed. When employed to reduce a strong obdurate soil, not more than 

 two of the old or common sort should be yoked together, because they are apt to 

 ride and tumble upon each other, and thus impede the work, and execute it imperfectly. 

 It may also be remarked, that on rough soils harrows ought to be driven as fast as the 

 horses can walk ; because their effect is in direct proportion to the degree of velocity 

 with which they are driven. In ordinary cases, and in every case where harrowing is 

 meant for covering the seeds, and the common implement in use, three harrows are the 

 best yoke, because they fill up the ground more effectually, and leave fewer vacancies, 



than when a smaller number is 

 518 ^ prC^fT-^:^ 7 employed : the improved forms, 



calculated to cover the breadth 

 of two or more of the old 

 harrows by one frame , {Jig. 

 518.), are only calculated for 

 flat ridges, or for working dry 

 lands in which ridging is not 

 requisite. 



3262. The harrow -man s at- 

 tention, at the seed process, should 

 be constantly directed to prevent 

 these implements from riding 

 upon each other, and to keep 

 them clear of every impediment, 

 from stones, lumps of earth, or 

 clods, and quickens or grass 

 roots ; for any of these prevent 

 the implement from working 

 with perfection, and causes a mark or trail upon the surface, always unpleasing to the 

 eye, and generally detrimental to the vegetation of the seed. 



,3263. Harrowing is usually given in different directions; first in length, then across, 

 and finally in length, as at first. Careful agricultors study, in the finishing part of the 

 process, to have the harrows drawn in a straight line, without suffering the horses to go 

 in a zigzag manner, and are also attentive that the horses enter fairly upon the ridge, 

 without making a curve at the outset. In some instances, an excess of harrowing has 

 been found very prejudicial to the succeeding crop ; but it is always necessary to give so 

 much as to break the furrow, and level the surface, otherwise the operation is imperfectly 

 performed. 



3264. Horse-hoeing is the operation of stirring the ground between rows of vegetables, 

 by means of implements of the hoe, coulter, or pronged kind, drawn by horses. Who- 

 ever can guide a plough, will find no difficulty in managing any implement used for 

 stirring ground. The easiest kinds are those which have few hoes, or coulters, or shares, 

 and a wheel in front ; and the easiest circumstances, wide intervals between the rows, and 

 a loose friable soil. Wherever soil is hard, rough, and rounded, as in the case of high- 

 raised ridges, there should not be more than three prongs or shares in the implement, 

 because more than three points can never touch a curved surface, and be in one plane ; 

 and if not in one plane, they will never work steadily, equally, and agreeably. 



3265. Turnip hoeing of every kind is accordingly exceedingly easy j but stirring the 

 earth between rows of beans on a strong clay soil in a time of drought, is proportionally 

 difficult, and sometimes, when the ground rises in large lumps, dangerous for the plants. 

 In stirring the soil between rows of beans, cabbages, or other plants, on strong or loamy 



