54 FALLOWING. 



Yiatedby the adoption of the drill husbandry, or, by a 

 judicious rotation of crops. This remark will apply 

 with peculiar force, to the soils and climate of New- 

 England. 



WEEDS. 



The farmer views plants in a very different light from 

 the botanist. All are weeds with the husbandman that 

 give obstruction to the plants he propagates in his farm. 

 It is in vain to expect good crops, and folly to go to the 

 expense of seed and labour, unless they are kept free 

 from weeds, and particularly, while they are young. 



If weeds be neglected, or their destruction but par- 

 tially performed, perhaps not more than one half of the 

 crop, will be obtained, even from the very best soils — 

 To guard against bad kinds of grass and noxious weed*, 

 plant such lields with potatoes as are infested with them. 

 Be careful that seed grain, and grass seed are clean, and 

 free from all foul seeds. Pull out the docks, &c. upon 

 mowing grounds, before they go to seed. Remove the 

 thistle, burdock, and every noxious weed from fences, 

 tc. (For the saving of weeds see manures.) Suffer 

 no old field to lie waste, as a nursery for weeds ; the 

 expense of ploughing will bear no proportion to the af- 

 ter expense of weeding. Weed crops with the plough 

 and hoe ; not after the weeds are grown, but as soon at 

 they appear. It is supposed that the expense of weed- 

 ing wheat, rye, barley, oats, flax and hemp, would be 

 abundantly paid in increase of grain: for, generally 

 speaking, any given quantity of weeds growing with a 

 crop lessens its product, in proportion to the w^eight of 

 the green weeds with that of the growing crop. After 

 haying is over, all fern, or brakes ought to be cut, not 

 oniy for the purpose of destroying them, but of increas- 

 ing manure, by applying them as litter. If cut while 

 the sap is in, and left to rot on the ground, they will 

 gr'^atiy improve it. Sheep are much better than any 

 other creature for destroying weeds, by pasturing. 



DRAINING. 



A point of importance in good farming, but in which 

 our country is defective, is the draining ofwot and marshy 

 ground*. Much of our best Und is not only rendere4 



