196 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF chap. VII. 



however, generally sow thick, from an opinion 

 that this practice gives the best chance for a full 

 crop ; whilst the expence of the seed is so trifl- 

 ling, as to render the saving of it no object, 

 and the superfluous plants can be removed with 

 very little additional trouble. 



3</, Culture 'while growing. As soon as the 

 plants are so far advanced as to render the rows 

 easily distinguishable, the earth is laid away 

 with a light plough, which is close on the left 

 side, as far forward as the coulter, to prevent 

 the earth from being thrown upon, and bury- 

 ing the young plants. They are then hand- 

 hoed, and thinned to the distance of 10 or 12 

 inches ; regularity of distance being, at the same 

 time, occasionally sacrificed to the preservation 

 of a healthy vigorous plant. This operation 

 should never be too long delayed, otherwise the 

 young plants, crowded together, instead of 

 spreading their foliage, and acquiring strength, 

 and rapidity of growth, will push up into long, 

 spindly,tender stems; and care should be taken not 

 to suffer them to remain in clusters. When two, 

 or three, or four plants stand close together, the 

 growth of the whole will be much cramped and 

 retarded. Some time after, perhaps a fortnight, 

 when they have acquired a tolerable size, the 

 earth is laid back with the double mould-board 

 plough. In doing this, the ploughman should 

 cautiously avoid throwing any of the earth up- 

 on the plants ; or should this at any time acci- 

 dentally happen, the plant ought to be imme- 

 diately relieved. If earth is allowed to lodge in 

 the heart of the plant, it will infallibly destroy 

 it. Even breaking the tender blade, and mak- 



