118 RUTA BAGA CfLTURE. Part L 



there is a greater body of earth to exhale from, 

 and to receive back the tribute of the atmosphere. 

 Mr. CuRWEN tells us of a piece of cattle-cabbage. 

 In a very dry time in July, they looked so yellow 

 and blue, that he almost despaired of them. He 

 sent in his ploughs ; and a gentleman, who had 

 seen them when the ploughs went in on the Mon- 

 day, could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw 

 them on the next Saturday, though it had continued 

 dry all the week. 



124. To perform these summer ploughings, in 

 this Island, is really nothing. The earth is so light 

 and in such fine order, and so easily displaced and 

 replaced. I used one horse for the purpose last 

 summer, and a very slight horse indeed. An ox is, 

 however, better for this work ; and this may be 

 accomplished by the use of a collar' and two traces, 

 or by a single yoke and two traces. Tull recom- 

 mends the latter ; and I shall try it for Indian Corn 

 as well as for Turnips.* Horses, if they are strong 



* Since the above paragi-aph was written, I have made a 

 Single Ox-Yoke ; and, I find it answer excellently well. Now, 

 my work is much shortened ; for in forming ridges, two Oxen 

 are awkward. They occupy a wide space, and one of them 

 is obliged to walk upon the ploughed land, which, besides 

 making the ridge unev-^en at the top, presses the ground, which 

 is injurious. For ploughing between the rows of Turnips and 

 of Indian Corn also, what a great convenience this will be ! 

 An ox goes steadier than a horse, and will plough deeper Avith- 

 out fretting and tearing ; and he wants neither harness^naker 

 noYgrooju. The plan of my yoke I took from Tull. I showed 

 it to my workman, who chopped off the limb of a tree, and 

 made the yoke in a.n hour. It is a piece of wood, with two 

 holes to receive two ropes, about three quarters of an inch in 

 diameter. These traces are fastened in the yoke merely by a 

 knot, which prevents the ends from passing through the holes, 

 while the other ends are fastened to the two ends of a Wif- 

 Jle-tree, as it is called in Long Island, of a Wipple-tree as it is 

 called in Kent, and of a Wippance as it is called in Hamp^ 

 shire. I am but a poor draftsman ; but, if the printer can find 

 any thing to make the representation Avith, the following draft 

 will clearly show what I have meant to describe in words. 

 >Vhen the Corn (Indian) and Turnips gel to a size, sufficient 



