53 TILLA8E. 



not prevent it ; for when used upon sucli gronnds laid 

 down to mowing, it presses the stones into the earth 

 even with the surface, at the same time that it breaks 

 the clods, and thus prepares the way for the scythe in 

 in a cheap, and easy method. It is also usefully em- 

 ployed in reinstating the roots of meadow grasses, loos- 

 icned and raised by the alternate freezing and thawing 

 »»f the ground, and with similar view, may be passed over 

 winter crops early in the spring. Wiihout it, all crop« 

 of grain sown with ariifioial grasses, e^^pecially barley, 

 cannot well be taken up clean with the rake. Some 

 think a crop of barley in particular, will be larger for 

 rolling, as it is a dr}^ seed, that needs to be well enclos- 

 ed with mould. Rolling after so'.ving and harrowiug, 

 y.'iil cause the mould to enclose the seeds, much of 

 w hich otherwise lying in cavities that soon drj^, is apt 

 to fail of vegetating. It is useful in light dry soils, for 

 preventing their moisture from evaporating too easily ; 

 and in depriving certain insects of their hiding-places in 

 the cavities of the soil. Land on which turnips are to 

 l*e cultivated will be much improved by rolling. Flax 

 ought to be rolled immediately after sowing; it makes 

 the seed yegitate equally, and prevents after-growth. It 

 i-3 necessary in rolling that every part of the ground re- 

 ceive an equal impression ; once in a place is generally 

 fluflicient. 



A wooden roller about 2 feet in diameter, and 6 feet 

 in length, may answer the above purposes. 



nOEING. 



This is so important, that no crop can be expected 

 without it. The deeper land is hoed, provided the roots 

 ■are not disturbed, and too much cut to pieces, the grea- 

 ter advantage it will be to the plants. The oftenerland 

 }A hoed, the more moisture it retiuns, the more the crops 

 r.re nourished, and the better it stands droughts; draw- 

 ing fresh earth up near the plants, increases their 

 growth, makes them stand more tirmly, and protects the 

 roots from the heat of the sua. Hilling especially ia 

 hurtful ; it prevents the roots from having so much ben- 

 efit from rains, and deprives the lower roots of the in- 

 fluence oi the sun. It should be done therefore by lit- 

 tle *Bd liftle, at several hocinir^. 



