496 Bicton Gardens, their Culture and Management. 



blade, I find very useful for moving the ^ ^fiu > 



soil round the rims of the pots, to clear _.,_..,^,,_-ssss*====^ m ! ^ 



out any obstruction that is likely to pre- ^ ^^^^^ZZ... „ J.ill.j 



vent a free diffusion of water. '^ 



I well know it is an idea many people _,is*==***^ h \ ^ 



have, that it is loss of time to hoe b igs«*ff!^- ' R -' 



before they have a crop of weeds ; and 



they have encouraged their growth for < 5^ ^^ 



a considerable time, as if they were in ^ o^sifff^'^t!^!^) %.S 



some fear of losing the stock of them. 



In good cultivation a weed ought never < /« «v > 



to be seen. I do not agree with those „ 553^^=*=**°***^ i I t- 



that tell us one good weeding is worth X 



two hoeings : I say, never weed any crop ^ig. no. cj-ane-necked iioes o/ih" 

 in which a hoe can be got between the 



plants ; not so much for the sake of destroying weeds and vermin, 

 which must necessax'ily be the case, if hoeing is well done, as for 

 increasing the porosity of the soil, to allow the water and air to 

 penetrate freely through it. I am well convinced, by long and 

 close practice, that oftentimes there is more benefit derived by 

 crops from keeping them weU hoed, than there is from the manure 

 applied. By keeping the surface of the earth clean, open, and 

 healthy, nature supplies herself: it is not only the means of 

 eradicating weeds and vermin, but through it (stirring the soil) 

 vegetables profit in every way ; they are clean, healthy, and of a 

 finer flavour. Had not our country produced weeds, I am apt 

 to think, we should never have thought of using the hoe, or any 

 other fertilising tool. My rule is to hoe, fork, and stir the 

 surface, at every opportunity, when it is in a proper state for 

 performing these operations. Weeds or no weeds, still I keep 

 stirring the soil ; well knowing, from practice, the very beneficial 

 effect which it has. It is attended with little trouble, and only re- 

 quires to be adopted as a system. Raking the surface fine I have al- 

 most wholly dispensed with, in every department, as I have plainly 

 seen the ill effects of it many times ; and this is a season it must 

 be much felt, particularly on all kinds of heavy soils : the heavy 

 rains will run the surface together, and bind it so as to become 

 caked, "livery," and "steely." [See p. 429.] By hoeing with 

 judgement and foresight, the surface can be left even, wholesome, 

 and porous ; and three hoeings can be accomplished to one 

 hoeing and raking. Much injury is done by raking the surface 

 so very much, in more ways than one. It is not only the means 

 of binding and caking the surface, but it clears the stones off as 

 well. The earth in its natural state has stones, decayed roots, 

 and vegetation, to keep it open and porous, and, by their decom- 

 position, gradually to add to the earths of the soil. It also 

 contains naturally numerous insects, worms, and moles. If the 



