610 



Report to H.R.H. the President 



many others, must be deckled by longer experience; but the most 

 perfect method would probably be the combination of both plans. 

 To return to our present subject, the young growing wheat, it may 

 not only be revived in spring by additional food, but is usually, 

 on light land, settled down in its bed by 



3. Press-rolls. 



On some spoils, especially the calcareous, the ground alternately 

 frozen and thawed in winter throws the roots of the wheat plant 

 almost out on the surface. For this mischief and that of the 

 wireworm flocks of sheep were once driven over the wheat ; but 

 we have lonir had ihe well-known wheel-roll, and, as has been 

 said, CrosskiiTs clod-crusher is a still better presser when it can 

 be used, but is not a perfect substitute, as it requires the land to 

 be drier. The new clod-crusher, however (Gibson's), must serve, 

 T suppose, for both purposes equally well. 



4. Horse-hoes. 



Machinery can do but one thing more for the growing crop. 

 The hoe not only clears away a host of youns: weeds, but, by 

 looseninir the crusted surface, admits the air and stimulates the 

 growth of the true crop. Even vineyards are thus found to be re- 

 lieved during long drought, and hence it is said that the iron should 

 be always between the rows of our root-crops. Ridged root-crops 

 have been lonor hoed bv a sino-le horse, one row at a time. Gar- 

 rett's hors8-hoe cleans four rows at once of turnips, six of beans. 



Garrett and Son's Patent Horse-hoe. 



nine of wheat. To hoe wheat thus is a delicate operation : to hoe 

 even turnips so, when their lines are but just distinguishable, or 

 again when the leaves almost meet, requires not only a first-rate 



