280 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1728. 



as before, covers the roots last set, and makes the same room for the setters to 

 place a new row, at the same distance from the first, that they are from each 

 other. Thus they go on till a whole ridge, containing commonly 1 rod, is 

 planted; and the only nicety in digging is to leave some part of the first stratum 

 of earth untouched to lie under the roots ; and in setting, to place the roots 

 directly on their bottoms. 



The quantity of roots planted in an acre, is generally about l6 quarters, or 

 128 bushels, which according to the distances left between them, as before 

 assigned, and supposing them all to be an inch in diameter one with another, 

 ought to amount to 392040 in number. From the time that the roots are 

 planted, till about the beginning of September, or sometimes later, there is no 

 more labour about them; but as they then begin to spire, and are ready to show 

 themselves above ground, which is known by digging a few out of the earth, 

 the ground must be carefully pared with a sharp hoe, and the weeds, &c. 

 raked into the furrows, otherwise they would hinder the growth of the plants. 



In some time after appear the saffron flowers. These are gathered, as well 

 before, as after they are full blown, and the most proper time is early in the 

 morning. The gatherers place themselves in different parts of the field, pull 

 off the whole flowers, and throw them handful by handful into a basket ; and 

 so continue till all the flowers are gathered, which happens commonly about 

 10 or 11 o'clock. 



Having then carried home all they have got, they immediately spread them 

 on a large table, and placing themselves round it, they pick out the filamenta 

 styli,* or chives, and together with them, a pretty long portion of the stylus 

 itself, or string to which they are joined. The rest of the flowers they throw 

 away as useless. The next morning they return into the field again, whether it 

 be wet or dry weather, and so on daily, even on Sundays, till the whole crop 

 be gathered. 



The chives being all picked out of the flowers, the next labour about them 

 is to dry them on the kiln. This is built on a thick plank (that it may be 

 moveable from place to place) supported by 4 short legs. The outside consists 

 of 8 pieces of wood, about 3 inches thick, joined in form of a quadrangular 

 frame, about 12 inches square at bottom on the inside, and 22 inches at top, 

 which is also equal to its perpendicular height. On the foreside is left a hole, 

 about 8 inches square, and 4 inches above the plank, through which the fire is 

 put in. Over all the rest, laths are laid pretty close to each other, and nailed 



* The stigmata or summits of the pistils (styles.) 



