APPENDIX. 267 



tween the double rows have the benefit of hoe- 

 ploughing, which improves the land, and fub- 

 dues the weeds there. 



The rime to give the third hoeing is not 

 limited; only the farmer fhould be careful not 

 omit hoeing till the earth becomes ftale and 

 hard, and till the weeds get a head and grow 

 luxuriant. It is likewife neceflary to obferve 

 the ftare of the land ; that it be dry, and will 

 brenk into fine parts by the hoeing, which 

 fhould not be done when the earth is wet. 

 A good horfe-hoeing is very ferviceable when 

 the wheat begins to bloflbm, or a little before; 

 for this ftrengthens the plants and bloflbms, 

 fo that they produce more grain than if not 

 aflifted at this critical time : for ears of wheat 

 are formed at firft to produce above double the 

 number of grains that are found in them after- 

 wards ; as may be feen, if examined, when 

 they begin to blow, either by the eye, or better 

 by a magnifying glafs ; and by this examina- 

 tion it will be plainly feen that more than half 

 the bloflbms are abortive for want of nourifh- 

 ment, and that this happens even after the 

 grains begin to be formed : it is therefore of 

 great importance to affift the plants by a good 

 and deep horfe-hoeing when they begin, or a 

 little before they begin, to blow. It is not nc- 

 ceflary that this hoeing fhould be performed 

 by turning the earth towards the rows, for 

 the plants are nourifhed by turning the earth 

 to or from the plants, as we fliall lee beknv.-^- 



The 



