Jtct.ir. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 2OI 



sowing ; as early ploughing has the effect, 

 both of lessening the quantity of weeds, and of 

 rendej ing the ground fitter to resist the drought, 

 in case a course of dry weather should succeed 

 the sowing.- Land that is full of weeds, or that 

 is reduced and impoverished by cropping, what- 

 ever be its natural quality, is never chosen for 

 this crop by the judicious farmer ; as, in the 

 former case, the expence of weeding will greatly 

 diminish the profit, and in both cases, the crop 

 will be so deficient, both in quantity and qua- 

 lity, as not to balance the expence of manage- 

 me,nt. 



When the flax is sown, the ground is com- 

 pletely harrowed, all large lumps of earth are 

 broken with a clod mallet, and stones, quick 

 roots, and every thing that may obstruct the 

 growth of the plant, removed. 



zd Sort. Seed from Holland, Riga, and 

 Philadelphia, are the kinds mostly sown. The 

 first is generally preferred, as being best adapted 

 to this climate, and as producing the largest crop, 

 and finest flax. Philadelphia seed is thought to 

 thrive better than Dutch seed on cold wet soils, 

 and the flax is tolerably fine. Riga seed yields 

 an abundant crop ; but the flax is of a very coarse 

 quality. Seed produced at home is, sometimes, 

 used ; but does not yield so large a crop as fo- 

 reign seed. Though this may be true in gene- 

 ral, I am apt to think that the difference, when 

 remarkably great, may be owingj in some mea- 

 sure, to the want of skill and attention in dry^ 

 ing and keeping the seed, and to oiir not giving 

 it- a fair trial by a change of soil. Besides, it 

 must be all") wed that flax -req uires a more fre- 

 C c * 



