PROFITS. 
38 
time from sowing the seed to cutting the heads for sale 
In rating the expenses, we will say — 
£. s. d. 
One acre, at 2Z. per ann. (for two years) .... 4 0 0 
Expense of culture, 3Z. per ann per acre .... 6 0 0 
Tithe ................080 
Cutting the heads, per acre .060 
Sorting and packing at 6s. for seven packs, average 
crop 220 
Miscellaneous expenses, polls, sticks, &c 10 0 
13 16 0 
Average crop brought to market, seven packs, at 6Z. 42 0 0 
Leaving a profit for the 2 years, upon an acre, of £28 4 3 
As the teasel man seldom rents less than four or six 
acres, which he can very well attend to, it may produce 
at the two years’ end a return upon the six acres of 
169Z., if all circumstances should be favorable — a 
tempting inducement to speculation, when a laborer, 
by regular daily pay, cannot earn above 32Z. per annum. 
But it requires some ready money to support the family 
during this period of expectation — and if a bad season 
occur, all the labor is lost, the profit destroyed, the anx- 
iety of months ends in disappointment, and debt only 
remains. This is most truly a casualty crop ; and the 
manufacturers are so sensible of the risk and trouble 
attending the cultivation of this plant, that they prefer 
purchasing to growing it for their own use ; and I 
know one who has declared his loss in the attempt to 
exceed 500Z. 
It has been thought that the cultivation of teasels ex- 
hausted the land, and some landlords in consequence 
have forbidden the growth of them in their agreements; 
perhaps I can be no sufficient judge of the accuracy of 
this idea, from our limited growth, but speaking locally, 
such land as we make use of for their culture is of so 
inferior a nature, that little deterioration can ensue from 
any crop. The teasel, having a tap root, does not ex- 
haust the superficial soil as a fibrous-rooted plant would 
do ; the ground on which they grow is hoed, and turned 
by the spade repeatedly, and up to a certain period 
kept free from weeds ; but as the plant is forming heads, 
