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only. Cattle of all Sorts, but efpecially Hares, which 
would otherwife feed on the Saffron Leaves during the 
Winter. 
About the Weather we need only obferve, that the 
hotteft Summers are certainly the beft, and if there- 
with there be gentle Showers from time to time, they 
can hardly mifs of a plentiful rich Crop, if the extream 
Cold, Snow, or Rain of the foregoing Winter have not 
prejudiced the Heads. 
The next general Part of the Culture of Saffron, 
is planting or fetting the Roots • the only Inftrument 
ufed for which, is a narrow Spade, commonly termed 
a Spit -/hovel. 
The Time of Planting is commonly in the Month of 
July , a little fooner or later, according as the Weather 
anfwers. The Method is this. One Man with his 
Spit-fhovel raifes between three and four Inches of 
Earth, and throws it before him about fix, or more 
Inches j twoPerfons, generally Women, following him 
with Heads, place them in the fartheft Edge of the 
Trench he makes at three Inches diftance from one ano- 
ther, or thereabouts. As foon as the Digger or Spit- 
ter has gone once the Breadth of the Ridge, he begins 
again at the other Side, and digging as before, covers 
the Roots laft fet, and makes the fame Room for the 
Setters to place a new Row, -at the fame Diftance from 
the fir ft, that they are from one another. Thus they 
go on till a whole Ridge, containing commonly one Rod, 
is planted, and the only Nicety in digging is to leave 
feme Part of the fir ft Stratum of Earth untouched to 
lie under the Roots ;■ and in fetting, to place the Roots 
direcftly upon their Bottoms. What Sort of Roots are 
to be preferred, (hall be Ihown under the fourth Head ^ 
but 
