a'HE farmer’s manual. 37 
tirst, racHcally from our corn-fields, and the latter 
from our houses; then, and not till then, shall wc 
have peace and plenty, with the voice of health, both 
in our borders, and in our dwellings. 
Weeds are a noxious growth, quicker and more 
succulent than any of the grains, they therefore ex- 
haust the soil more, and quicker than the grains, and 
they also rob all plants in their vicinity, of the ferti- 
lizing properties of the air, and thus doubly destroy 
your crop and interest. If you wish for any illus- 
tration upon this idea of nutrition afforded to plants 
from the air, examine such small trees as grow conti- 
guous to large ones, or such corn or other herbage as 
grows near to a tree, or ijther corn, or herbage, which 
is greater ; the lesser will take their growth in a di- 
rection from the larger, for the purpose of drawing 
from the air that nutrition, which the larger robs it of 
upon the side next to it. 
Thus we see, 'that every weed that springs up in 
our corn-fields, becomes a tax upon our industry, or 
upon our profits, the first is necessarily so ; it is a part 
of the original curse ; the latter, which is not only the 
worst, but may become ruinous, is the immediate 
efl’ect of our own neglect. 
Weeds, wlien watched and extirpated in season, are 
subdued at a small expense, with little damage; but 
when neglected, their extirpation is attended both 
with expense and damage ; thus, by neglect, we suffer 
a double loss. Worse than this. 
One year’s neglect, will cause seven years’ toil, 
and a seven years’ damage ; so, on the otlier hand, 
one year’s close attention at weeding, will give seven 
years’ ease, with their profits : take your choice. To 
f ;uard against this common enemy as far as possible, 
etme recommend the following attention. 
1. Plant such fallows with potatoes, as are infested 
with wire-grass and noxious weeds. The plough 
and hoe together, can alone destroy this enemy. 
4 
