SECT. IV. 



05 A GARDEN. 



49 



Weeding in time is a material thing in culture, and 

 Jlirring the ground about plants, as alfo earthing up 9 

 where neceitary, mud be attended to ; and in fome 

 cafes prefling the mould to the items of vegetables 

 will be proper, for their better fupport. Earthing up 

 well before winter froit fets in, preferves plants, for- 

 wards, and improves them. Weeds exhauft the 

 flrength of the ground, and if they are fuffered to feed 

 and fow themfelves, may be truly called, " garden 

 fins :" The hand and hoe are the inftruments for the 

 purpofe; and where the trouble is not too much, the 

 former will generally be the belt, when it is not 

 thought neceilary to ftir the ground; which indeed 

 may be done afterwards, when all is clean, to better 

 purpofe. Digging, where the fpade can go, between 

 the rows of plants is a good method of deilroying weeds, 

 and as it cuts off the Itraggling fibres of growing roots, 

 they flrike afreib, in numerous new moots, to the great 

 benefit of the plants. Deep hoeing gives a degree of 

 fertility to the earth. Breaking the furface will keep 

 the foil in health ; for when it lies in a hard or bound 

 Hate, enriching mowers run off, and the falubrious air 

 cannot enter. 



The thinning of feedling crops iliould be done in 

 time, before the young plants have drawn one another 

 up too much. All plants grow ftronger, and ripen 

 their juices better, when the air circulates freely round 

 them, and the fun is not prevented from an immediate 

 influence ; an attention to which iliould be paid from 

 the firji appearance of plants breaking ground, 



In thinning elofe crops, as onions, carrots, turnip s % 

 Sec. be fure that they are not left too near, for inftead 

 of reaping a greater produce, there would affuredly 

 be a lets. -When they ftand too clofe, they will make 

 tall and large tops, but are prevented fweliing in their 

 roots : better to err on \Sxt x wtde fide, for though there 

 are fewer plants they will be finer. 



