GARDENING. 53 



ceed in its growth with vigor^ but which is evaporated 

 soon after from the surface. 



8. Weeding. "Weeding in time is a material thing 

 in culture, and stirring the ground about plants, as also 

 earthing up when necessary, must be attended to. Brea- 

 king the surface will keep the soil in health; for when 

 it lies in a hard or bound state, enriching showers run 

 off, and the salubrious air cannot enter. Weeds exhaust 

 the strength of the ground, and if they are suffered to 

 seed and sow themselves, may be truly called (as Mr. 

 Evelyn speaks) gardcji sins. The hand and hoe are the 

 instruments for the purpose. 



9. '^Digging, where the spade can go, between the 

 rows of plants, is a good method of destroying weeds; 

 and as it cuts off the straggling fibres of roots, they 

 strike fresh in numerous new shoots, and are thus 

 strengthened. Deep hoeing is a good practice, as it 

 gives a degree of fertility to the earth. 



10. "The thinning of seedling crops (such as are de- 

 signed to produce seed) is a very necessary thing to be 

 done in time^ before the young plants have drawn one 

 another up too much, by which they become weak and 

 out of form, and sometimes never do well afterwards. 

 All plants grow stronger, and ripen their juices better, 

 when the air circulates freely round them, and the sun 

 is not prevented from an immediate influence, an atten- 

 tion to which should be paid from the first appearance 

 of plants breaking ground. 



11. "In thinning c/o5e crops, as onions, carrots, tur- 

 nips, &c. be sure they are not left too near; for instead 

 of reaping a greater produce, there would surely be a 

 less. When they stand too close, they will make tall 

 and large tops, but are prevented swelling in their 

 roots: better to err on \he wide side, for though there 

 are fewer plants they are finer. 



12. "In setting out plants^ be sure to do it as early as 

 may be, and always allow room enough for this work : 

 being thus treated, vegetables will come forward sooner, 

 larger, and of a superior flavor. These advantages are 

 seen in all things, but in lettuces particularly, which often 

 have not half the room allowed them that they require. 



e2 



