33. NORFOLK. 2jS 



at random, there is no fuch thing as regularity 

 of dillance ; and, here, the notion has little ©r 

 no foundation. 



Nor is regularity here neceflary : for, fup- 

 poling nine plants to grow in a yard fquare, it 

 appears to me a matter of fmall confequence, 

 whether they ftand exactly a foot apart ; or 

 whether fome of them be fifteen and others 

 only nine inches afunder ; provided they be fo 

 diftributed, that their tops fill up a fquare yard 

 of fpace above them : for, in the fame mannet 

 as the tops of plants feek out for air and head- 

 room above, in a fimilar manner do their roots 

 feek out for food and moifture below. 



I grant, that if I had my choice, I would pre- 

 fer an exaift regularity of diftance ; but I would 

 much rather forego the mental gratification, 

 than give up three or four turneps in i 

 yard fquare of ground. 



Upon the whole, it flrikes mey that the ob- 

 jeft of the firlt hoeing, inftead of being that of 

 fetting out the plants at e^Cadt and wide dif- 

 tances, Ihbuld be merely that of checking the 

 weeds, and thinning the plants, to prevent their 

 crowding each other; and that the regulation 

 of dillances fhould be left in a great mcafure to 

 T z the 



