i*?;$£3P

^ibrar^

IN THE CUSTODY OF THE

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

SHELF N°

rtT^^d^

^ V \ rv^

< i

*y

Horfe-Hoeing Husbandry:

O R,

An ESSAY on the PRINCIPLES

O F

Vegetation and Tillage.

Defigned to introduce

A New Method of Culture;

WHEREBY

The Produce of Land will be increafed, and the
ufual Expence lefTened.

Together with

Accurate Descriptions and Cuts of the Inuruments
employed in it.

By

J

ETHRO TULL,

Of Shalborne in Berkfhire.

Efo

The F

ourth Edition,

very carefully

Corrected.

To which is

A New PREFACE by the E
concerned in Agi

prtfixed,

d i t o r s, addreiTed to all

UCULTURE.

S^lllpij

LONDON:

Printed for A. Millar, oppofite to Catharine-Jlreet
in the Strand.

M,DCC.LXII.
J

* auaE! > 7

THE

PREFACE.

gjA S Mr. Tull's Effay on Borfe-hoeing
Uujbandry has been published lb me
Years, it may be prelumed that
^if|Jf the World hath by this time
formed fome Judgment of his Performance •
which renders it the l.efs neceffary for the Edi-
tors of this Impreiiion to fay much concerning
it. For every Man who has attended to the
Subject, and duly confidered the Principles
upon which our Author's Method of Culture
is founded, is an equal Judge how far his The-
ory is agreeable to Nature: Though it is but
too true, that few have made fufficient Experi-
ments to be fully informed of its Worth.

How it has happened, that a Method of
Culture, which propofes fuch Advantages to
thofe who mall duly profecute it, hath been lb
Jong neglected in this Country, may be matter
of Surprize to fuch as are not acquainted with
the Characters of the Men on whom the Prac-
tice thereof depends y but to thofe who know
them thoroughly it can be none. For it is
certain that very few of them can be prevailed
on to alter their ufual Methods upon any Con-
fideration; though they are convinced that their
A 2 con-

iv PREFACE.^

continuing therein difables them from paying
their Rents, and maintaining their Families.

And, what is ftill more to be lamented,
thefe People are fo much attached to their old
Cuftoms, that they are not only averfe to alter
them themieives, but are moreover induftrious
to prevent others from fucceeding, who at-
tempt to introduce any thing new; and indeed
have it too generally in their Power, to defeat
any Scheme which is not agreeable to their
own Notions j feeing it muft be executed by
the fame Sort of Hands.

This naturally accounts for Mr. 2V/Js Hus-
bandry having been fo little practifed. But as
the Methods commonly ufed, together with
the mean Price of Grain for fome Years part,
have brought the Farmers every-where fo low,
that they pay their Rents very ill, and in many
Places have thrown up their Farms t the Cure
of thefe Evils is certainly an Objedt worthy of
the public Attention : For if the Proprietor
muft be reduced to cultivate his own Lands,
which cannot be done but by the Hands of
thefe indocile People, it is eafy to guefs oa
which Side his Balance of Profit and Lofs will
turn.

This Confederation, together with many
others which might be enumerated, hath in-
duced the Editors to recommend this Treatife
once more to the ferious Attention of every one
who wifhes well to his Country 5 in hopes that

feme

PREFACE. *

fcme may be prevailed upon, by regard either
to the public Good or their own private Intereft,
to give the Method here propofed a fair and
impartial Trial : For could it be introduced in-
to feveral Parts of this Country by Men of ge-
nerous Principles, their Example might, in
time, eftablifli the Practice thereof, and bring
it into general Ufe; which is not to be expected
by any other means.

It is therefore to fuch only, as are qualified to
judge of a Theory from the Principles on which
it is founded, that the Editors addrefs them-
felves, defiring they will give this Effay another
Reading with due Attention : and at the fame
time they beg leave to remind them how unfit
the common Pradifers of Hufbandry are to pais
Judgment, either on the Theory or Practice of
this Method ; for which Reafon it is hoped that
none will be influenced by fuch, but try the
Experiment themfelves with proper Care.

As a Motive to this, it is to be obferved that,
although the Method of Culture here propofed
has made little Progrefs in England, it is not like
to meet with the fame Neglect abroad, efpeci-
aliy in France-, where a Tranflation of Mr. Tulh
Book was undertaken, at one and the fame time,
by three different Perfons of Confideration, with-
out the Privity of each other : But afterwards,
Two of them put their Papers into the Hands
of the Third, Mr. Du Hamel du Manceau, of
the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, and of

A % the

vi PREFACE.

the Royal Stciety at London; who has published
a Book, intituled, A Treatife of Tillage on the
Principles of Mr. Tull. . The ingenious Author
has indeed altered the Method obferved by Mr.
Tull in his Rook; yet has very exactly given his
Principles and Rules : But as he had only feen
the Firft Edition of the Horfe-hoeing Hujbandry,
fo he is very defective in his Defcriptions of the
Ploughs and Drills, which. in that were very
imperfect, and were afterwards amended by Mr.
Tull in his Additions to that Eflay.

One of our principal Reafons for taking No-
tice of this Book is, to mew the Comparifon this
Author has made between the Old Method of
Hulbandry' and the New. By his Calculation
the Profits arifing from the New, are confider-r
ably more than double thofe of the Old. For,
according to him, the Profits of Twenty Acres
of Land foi Ten Years, amount, at iod. ~ per
Livre,

/. S. a

"By the Old Method, to 3000 I ivres, or 131 5 °%st T
~By the New Method, to 7650 Livres, or 3 34 1 3 9 y : r lng*

which makes a prodigious Difference in favour
of the latter. As this Computation was made
by one who cannot be fuppofed to have any
Prejudice in favour of Mr. TulVz Scheme, it
will naturally find more Credit with the Public
than any Comparifon made by Mr. Tull hirn-
\ or by fuch as may have an Attachment to
hid Principles.

It

PREFACE. vii

It may probably be expected, that the Edi-
tors mould take Notice of fuch Objections as
have been made, either to Mr. TuWs Theory or
Practice ; but we do not know any that in the
leaft affect his Principles : They ftand uncon-
troverted : Nor are there any to the Practice,
which may not be equally urged againft every
Sort of Improvement. One of the principal
which have come to our Knowlege is, its being
impracticable in common Fields, which make
a great Part of this Country, without the Con*
currence of every one who occupies Land in the
fame Field. But doth not this equally affect the
Old Hufbaiidry ? For every fuch Perfon is
obliged to keep the Turns of plowing, fallow-
ing, &c. with the other Occupiers 5 fo that if
any of them were inclinable to improve their
Lands, by fowing Grafs-feeds, or any other Me-
thod of Culture, they are now under the fame
Difficulties as they would be, were they to prac-
tife Mr. TuII's Method. Therefore this is rather
to be lamented as a public Misfortune, than to:
be brought as an Objection to the Practicablenefs
of that Method. Others object, that the intro-
ducing this Sort of Husbandry is unneceffary,
feeing the Improvements which are made by
Grafs-feeds are fo confiderable 5 befides, that
the Returns made by the Fold and the Dairy,
being much quicker than thofe of Grain, en-
gage the Farmer to mix Plowing and Grazing
together, But when this is duly confidered it
A 4 cau

till PREFACE.

can have no fort of Weight : for is it not well
known that, in thofe Farms where the greateft
Improvements have been made by Grafs-feeds,
the Quantity of Dreffing required for the Arable
Land often runs away with moll: of the Profit
of the whole Farm ? efpecially when the Price
of Grain is low. And if this be the Situation of
the moft improved Farms, what rnuft be the
Cafe of thofe which chiefly confift of Arable
Land ; where moft of the Dreffing muft be
purchafed at a great Price, and often fetched
from a considerable Diftance ? Add to this the
great Expence of Servants and Horfes, unavoid-
able in Arable Farms -, and it will appear how
great the Advantages are which the Grafier
hath over the plowing Farmer. So that it is
much to be wifhed, the Practice of mixing the
Two Sorts of Hufbandry were more generally
ufed in every Part of the Kingdom ; which
would be far from rendering Mr. Tull's Me-
thod of Culture ufelefs ; feeing that, when it
is well underftood, it will be found the fureft
Method to improve both.

For although Mr. Tull chiefly confined the
Praftice of his Method to the Production of
Grain (which is a great Pity), yet it ma;7 be ex-
tended to every Vegetable which is the Object
of Culture in the Fields, Gardens, Woods, &c.
and perhaps may be applied to many other
Crops, to equal, if not greater Advantage, than
to Corn.

In

PREFACE. ix

In the Vineyard it has been long pra&ifed
with Succefs ; and may be ufed in the Hop-
Ground with no left Advantage. For the Cul-
ture of Beans, Peas, Woad, Madder, and other
large-growing Vegetables ; as alfo for Lucern,
Saintfoin, and the larger GraiTes ; we dare ven-
ture to pronounce it the only Method of Cul-
ture for Profit to the Farmer -, feeing that, in
all thefe Crops, one Sixth Part of the Seeds now
commonly fown will be fufficient for the fame
Quantity of Land, and the Crop in Return will
be much greater; which, when the Expence of
Seeds is duly considered, will be found no fmall
Saving to the Farmer.

Nor mould this Method of Culture be con-
fined to Europe : for it may be practifed to as
great Advantage in the BritiJJj Colonies in
America, where, in the Culture of the Sugar-
Cane, Indigo, Cotton, Rice, and almofl all the
Crops of that Country, it will certainly fave a
great Expence of Labour, and improve the
Growth of every Plant, more than can be
imagined by fuch as are ignorant of the Benefit
arifing from this Culture. And mould the Sub-
jects of Great Britain neglect to introduce this
Method into her Colonies, it may be prefamed
our Neighbours will take care not to be blameable
on this Head-, for they feem to be as intent upon
extending every Branch of Trade, and making
the greateft Improvements of their Land, as
we are indifferent to both : So that, unlefs a
contrary Spirit be foon exerted, the Balance of

Trade,

i PREFACE.

Trade, Power, and every other Advantage, muft
be againft us.

There haVe been Objections made by fome to
Mr. Tull's Method, as if it were practicable only
on fuch Lands as are foft and light, and not at
all on ftiff and ftony Ground. That it hath not
been praclifed on either of thefe Lands in Eng-
land we are willing to grant -y but we muft not
from thence infer that it is impoflible to apply it
to them. For the Hoe-Plough has been very
long ufed in the Vineyards in many Countries,
where the Soil is ftronger, and abounds with
Stones full as much as any Part of this Country.
However, though the Ufe of this Plough may
be attended with fome Difficulties upon fuch
Land, for Wheat, or Plants of low Growth,
whofe Roots may be in Danger of being turned
out of the Ground, or their Tops buried by the
Clods or Stones ; yet none of the larger-grow-
ing Plants are fubjecl: to the fame Inconveniencies.
Befides, the ftronger the Soil is, the more Benefit
will it receive from this Method of Culture, if
the Land be thereby more pulverized^ which
will certainly be the Confequence, where the
Method laid down by Mr. Tull is duly obferved.
But as moft Inftruments, in their Firft Ufe,
are attended with fome Difficulty, efpecially in
the Hands of fuch as are indocile, the Hoe-plough
has been complained of, as cumberfome and un-
wieldy to the Horfe and Ploughman. But per-
haps this arifes chiefly from the Unwillingnefs of

the

PREFACE. xt

the Workmen to introduce any newlnflrument:
Indeed, feeing little is to be expected from thofc
who have been long attached to different Me-
thods, the fureft Way to promote the Ufe of it,
is to engage young Perfons, who may probably
be better difpofed, to. make the Trial at their
nrft entering into Bufinefs ; and then a little
Ufe will make it eafy. It is proper to obferve
here, that the Swing-plough, which is com-
monly ufed in the deep Land about London, will
do the Bufinefs of the Hoe-plough in all Ground
that is not very ftrong, or very ftony ; and that
where it is fo, the Foot-plough, made propor-
tionably ftrong, v/ill completely anfwer all Pur-
pofes. But it muft be remembered, that when
thefe are ufed to hoe Corn, the Board on the
Left Hand of the Plough, anfwering the Mould-
Board, muft be taken off; otherwife fo much
Earth will run to the Left Side, as to injure the
Crop when it is low. ,

The Drills are excellent Inftruments; yet we
imagine them capable of forne farther Improve-
ment. Parallel Grooves, at about an Inch
afunder, round the Infide of the Hopper, would
fhew the Man who follows the Drill, whether"
or no both Boxes vent the Seed equally. By
an Hitch from the Plank to the Harrow, the
latter may be lifted to a proper Height, fo as
iiiot to be in the Way when the Ploughman turns
at the Headland. Two light Handles on the
Plank, like thofe of the common Plough, would

2 enable

xii PREFACE.

enable the Perfon who follows the Drill to keep
it from falling off the Middle of the Ridge. It
may alfo be ufeful, in wet Weather, to double
the Drills ; by which means Two Ridges may
be fown at the fame time, the Horfe going be-
tween them : For the Planks of Two Drills,
each Plank having one of the Shafts fixed to it,
may be joined End for End by Two flat Bars of
Iron, one on each Side^ well fecured by Iron
Pins and Screws ; and, by correfponding Holes
in the Planks and Bars, the Diftance between
the Drills may be altered, according to the dif-
ferent Spaces between the Ridges.

The Alterations made by the Editors of this
Impreffion are little more than omitting the con-
troverfial Parts of the Book, which were judged
of no Service to the Reader, as they no- ways af-
fected the Merits of Mr. Tul/'s Principles.

But as he endeavoured to recommend his
Theory by drawing a Comparifon between the
Old Method of Culture and the New, fo we
beg leave to annex a Computation of the Ex-
pence and Profit of each -, for which we are
obliged to a Gentleman, who for fome Years
pracYned both in a Country where the Soil was
of the fame Nature with that from whence
Mr. Tull drew his Obfervations, viz. light and
chalky. And we chufe to give this the rather,
as it comes from one who has no Attachment
to Mr. TuH's Method, farther than that he
found it anfwer in his Trials, We appeal to

Experience*

PREFACE. xiii

Experience, whether every Article in this Cal-
culation is not eftimated in favour of the Com-
mon Hufbandry ; whether the Expence be not
rated lower than moft Farmers find it, and the
Crop fuch as they would rejoice to fee, but fel-
dom do, in the Country where this Computa-
tion was made.

In the New Hufbandry every Article is put
at its full Value, and the Crop of each Year is
Four Bufheis fhort of the other 5 tho', in fe-
veral Years Experience, it has equalled, and
generally exceeded, thofe of the Neighbour-
hood in the Old Way.

An Eftimate of the Expence and Profit of Ten
Acres of Land in Twenty Tears.
I. In the Old Way.
Firft Year, for Wheat, cofts

33/. $s. viz. /. s. d. /. s. d.

Firft Plowing:, at 6s. perl

Acre -* - - -\ 3 o o
Second and Third Ditto, 1

at 8s. per Acre - -J 4 ° °
Manure, 30 J. per Acre 15 00

Two Harrowings, and

Sowing, at is. 6d.

per Acre -
Seed, three Bufhels perl

Acre, at 4 s. per Bufh. \
Weeding, at 2 s.per Acre
Reaping, Binding, and

Carrying, at 6 s. per\. 300

Acre - - -

1

21

I I

33"

xiv PREFACE.

/. s. d\
Brought over ----- 33 5 o
Second Year, for Barley, cofts 1 1 /.

6 s. 8 d. viz.
Once Plowing, at 6 s. per 1 L s. d.
Acre -----3300
Harrowing and Sowing, 7

at 15. 6d. per Acre, £ ^

Weeding, at 1 s. per Acre 010 o

Seed, 4 Buihdsper Acre, 7
at 2 s. per Bufhel - J *
g, andl
3 s. zdA

Cutting, Raking, and'

Carrying, at 3;. 2^.^ 1 11 8

per Acre
Grafs-Seeds, at 3 s. perl

Acre

1 10

11 6 8
44 n 8

Third and Fourth Years, lying in
.Grafs, coft nothing: So that the
Expence of Ten Acres in Four) 222 18 4
Years comes to 44 /. 1 1 s. 8 d.
and in Twenty Years to - .

Firft Years Produce isl
half a Load of Wheat £35
fer Acre, at 7 /. - -j

Second Years Produce is")
Two Quarters of Bar- > 2 o
ley per Acre, at 1 /. J

Third and Fourth Years 1
Grafs is valued at 1 /. >ij
1 o s. per Acre - - J

So that the Produce pfl
Ten Acres in Four>7o
Years is - - - -J —

PREFACE. xv

And in Twenty Years it will be - 3 50 o
Deduct the Expence, and there re-")

o

mains clear Profit en Ten Acres >iiy 1 8
in 20 Years by the Old Way - J - — r

II. In the New Way.

Firft Year's extraordinary Expence-j

is, for plowing and manuring/

the Land, the fame as in Old f"

Way ------- J

Plowing: once more, at?

x a ' > 2 o o

4 s. fer Acre - 3

Seed, £ Gallons per Acre, ")

at 4 s. per Bufliel -3 5

Drilling, at 7 J. /w Acre o y 10
Hand-hoeing and Weed-7

ing, at 2 s> 6^. /*r Acre ^
Horfe-hoeing; Six times, 7

at 10;. per Acre - 3
Reaping, Binding, and'

Carrying, at 6 s. per

Acre - - - -

The {landing annual")
Charge on Ten Acres is - J * *

Therefore the Expence on Ten") 16 8

Acres in Twenty Years is - - 3_____

Add the Extraordinaries of the") z. ^

Firft Year, and the Sum is - - 3 '

The yearly Produce is at ieaft
Two Quarters of Wheat per Acre,
at 1/. %s, per Quarter j which, on }s^° °°
Ten Acres in Twenty Years, a-
mounts to - - - - -

1

Therefore, all things paid, these!
remains clear Profit on Ten Acres > 262 3 4
in Twenty Years by the New Way J — —

xvi PREFACE.

So that the Profit on Ten Acres of Land in
Twenty Years, in the New Way, exceeds that
in the Old by 135/. is. 8 d. and confequently
is coniiderably more than double thereof: an
ample Encouragement to practife a Scheme,
whereby fo great Advantage will arife from
fo fmall a Quantity of Land, in the Compafs of
a Twenty-one Years Leafe -> One Year being
allowed, both in the Old and New Way, for
preparing the 'Ground.

It ought withal to be obferved, that Mr, Tulh
Hufbandry requires no Manure at all, tho' we
have here, to prevent Objections, allowed the
Charge thereof for the firfl Year; and moreover,
that tho' the Crop of Wheat from the Drill-
plough is here put only at Two Quarters on an
Acre, yet Mr. Tull himfelf, by actual Experi-
ment and Meafure, found the Produce of his
drilled Wheat-crop amounted to almoft Four
Quarters on an Acre: And, as he has delivered
this Fa£t upon his own Knowlege, fo there is
no Reafon to doubt of his Veracity, which has
never yet been called in queftion. But that we
might not be fuppoied to have any Prejudice in
favour of his Scheme, we have chofen to take
the Calculations of others rather than his, having
no other View in what we have faid, than to
promote the Caufe of Truth, and the public
Welfare.

The Wheat and Turnep Drill-Boxes, or the Drill Plough com-
plete, mentioned in this Treatife, may be had at Mr. MuU
ford *s in Curfitoyflreet, Chancery-lane, London,

CHAP.

CHAP. J.

O/Roots and Leaves.

INCE the mofr immediate Ufe of
Agriculture, in feeding Plants, relates
to their Roots, they ought to be treated
of in the fir ft Place.
Roots are very different in different
Plants: But 'tis not neceffary here to take notice of
all the nice Diftinclions of them; therefore I fhall
only divide them in general into two Sorts, viz. Ho-
rizontal- Roots , and Tap- Roots, which may include
them all.

All have Branchings and Fibres going all manner
ofways, ready to fill the Earth that is open.

Butfuch/fotf/jaslcall Horizontal (except of Trees)
have feldom any of their Branchings deeper than the
Surface or Staple of the Earth, that is commonly
mov'd by the Plough or Spade.

The Tap-Root commonly runs down Single and
Perpendicular (a), reaching fometimes many Fa-
thoms below.

This (tho' it goes never fo deep) has horizontal
ones paiTing out all round the Sides \ and extend to
feveral Yards Diftance from it, after they are by their

(a) In this manner defcends the firft Root of every Seed ; but
of Corn very little, if at all, deeper than the Earth is tilled.

Thefe iiril Seed-Roots of Corn die as ibon as the other Roots
come oat near the Surface, above the Grain ; and therefore this
firffc is not called a Tap Root ; but yet fome of the next Roots
that come out near the Surface of the Ground, always reach
down to the Bottom of the puiveriz/d Staple ; a; may be feen, if
you carefully examine it in the Spring tirne ; but th.s firit Root
in Saint- foii» becomes a Tap Root.

B Minute-

2 Of Roots and Leaves. Chap. I.

Minutenefs, and earthly Tincture, become invifible
to the naked Eye.

A Method how to find the Diftance to which Roots
extend Horizontally,

PL &. Fig. 7. Is a Piece or Plot dug and made
iine in whole hard Ground, the End A 2 Feet, the
End B 12 Feet, the Length of the Piece 20 Yards •,
the Figures in the middle of it are 20 Turneps y fown
early, and well ho'd.

The manner of this Hoing mull be at firft near
the Plants, with a Spade, and each time afterwards,
a Foot farther Diftance, till all the Earth be once well
dug ; and if Weeds appear where it has been fo dug,
hoe them out (hallow with the Hand-Floe. But
dig all the Piece next the out Lines deep every time,
that it may be the finer for the Roots to enter, when
they are permitted to come thither.

If thefe Turneps are all gradually bigger, as they
fland nearer to the End 5, 'tis a Proof they all extend
to the Outfide of the Piece -, and the Turnep 20 will
appear to draw Nourifhment from fix Feet Diftance
from its Centre.

But if the Turneps 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, acquire
no greater Bulk than the Turnep 15, it will be clear,
that their Roots extend no farther than thole of the
"Turnep 15 does; which is but about 4 Feet.

By this Method the Diftance of the Extent of
Roots of any Plant may be difcover'd.

What put me upon this Method was an Qbfer vation
of two Lands (or Ridges) drill'd with Turneps in
Rows, a Foot afunder, and very even in them •, the
Ground, at both Ends, and one Side, was hard and
unplow'd •, the Turneps not being ho'd, were very
poor, fmall, and yellow, except the Three outfide
Rows, #, Cx D, which ftood next to the Land (or
Ridge) Ey which Land being plow'd and harrow'd,
at the time the Land A ought to have been ho'd,

gave

Chap. I. O/Roots and Leaves. 3

gave a dark flourifhing Colour to thefe three Rows ;
and the Turneps in the Row JD, which flood fartheft
off from the new-plow'd Land £, received io much
Benefit from it, as to grow twice as big as any of
the more diftant Rows. The Row C, being a Foot
nearer to the new-plow'd Land, became twice as
large as thole in D-, but the Row B, which was next
to the Land £, grew much larger yet (a).

F Plate 6. is a Piece of hard whole Ground, of
about two Perch in Length, and about two or three
Feet broad, lying betwixt thofe two Lands, which
had not been plowM that Year ; 'twas remarkable,
that during the Length of this interjacent hard
Ground, the Rows B, C, Dy were as fmall and yel-
low as any in the Land.

The Turneps'm the Row D, about three Feet diftant
from the Land£, receiving a double Increafe, proves
they had as much Nourifhment from the Land E%
as from the Land A, wherein they ftood -, which
Nourifhment was brought by lefs than half the
Number of Roots of each of thefe Turneps.

In their own Land they mu ft have extended a
Yard all round, elfe they could not have reach'd the
Land E, wherein 'tis probable thefe few Roots went

(a) A like Obfervation to this on the Land E, has been made
infeveral Turnep/Fields of divers Farmers, where Lands adjoin-
ing to the Turneps have been well tilled ; all the Turneps of" the
contiguous Lands that were within three or four Feet, or more,
of the newly pulveriz'd Earth, received as great, or greater in-
creafe, in the Manner as my Rows BCD did : and what is yet a
greater Proof of the Length of Roots, and of the Benefit of deep
Hoing, all thefe Turneps have been well Hand-ho'dj which is a
good Reafon why the Benefit of the deep Pulveration mould be
perceivable at a greater Diftance from it than mine, becaufe my
Turneps, not being hoed at all, had not Strength to fend out their
Roots through fo many Feet of unpulveris'd Earth, as thefe can
through their Earth pulve: iz'd by the Hoe, tho' but mallowly.

This Obfervation, as 'tii related to me (1 being unable to go
far enough to fee it tnyfejf ) fumciently demor.ltrates the mighty
Difference there is between Hand-hoing and Horfe-hoing. '

B i more

4 0/Roots W Leaves. Chap. I.

more than another Yard, to give each Turnep as
much Increafe as all the Roots had done in their own
Land.

Except that it will hereafter appear, that the new
Nourifhment taken at the Extremities of the Roots
in the Land £, might enable the Plants to fend out
more new Roots in theirown Land, andreceive fome-
thing more from thence.

The Row C being twice as big as the Row Z),
muft be fuppos'd to extend twice as far ; and the
Row B, four times as far, in proportion as it was of
a Bulk quadruple to the Row D.

A Turnsp has a Tap- Root, from whence all thefe
Horizontal Roots are deriv'd.

And 'tis obiervable ; that betwixt thefe two Lands
there was a Trench, or Furrow, of about the Depth
of nine or ten Inches, where thefe Roots muft de-
icer, d firft, and then afcend into the Land E : But
it muft be noted, that fome fmail Quantity of Earth
was, by the Harrowing, falPn into this Furrow,
elfe the Roots could not have pafs'd thro' it.

Roots will follow the open Mould (a)9 by defend-
ing

(a) A Chalk-Pit, contiguous to a Barn, the Area of which
being about 40 Perch of Ground, was made clean and (wept ; fo
that there was not the Appearance of any Part of a Vegetable.
more than in the Barn's Floor: Straw was thrown from thence
into the Pit, for Cattle to lie on ; the Dung made thereby was
haled away about three Years after the Pit had been cleanfed ;
when, at the Bottom of it, and upon the Top of the Chalk, the
Pit was covered all over with Roots, which came from a Witch-
Elm, not more than Five or Six Yards in Length, from Top to
Bottom, and which was about Five Yards above, and Eleven
Yards from the Area of the Pit ; fo that in three Years the Roots
of this Tree extended themfelves Eight times the Length of the
Tree, beyond the Extremities of the old Roots, at Eleven Yards
Diflance from the Body: The annual-.ncreafed Length of the
Roots was near Three times as much as the Height of the Tree.

I'm told an Objeclion hath been made from hence againft the
Growth of aPlant's being in proportion to the Length of itsRoots;
but when the Cafe is fully ftated, the Objection may vanifh. This

Witch-

Chap. I. Of Roots mid Leaves. 5

ing perpendicularly, and mounting again in the fame
manner : As I have obferv'd the Roots of a Hedge
to do, that have pafs'd a fteep Ditch two Feet deep,
and reach'd the Mould on the other fide, and there
fill it -, and digging Five Feet diflant from the Ditch,
found the Roots large, tho' this Mould was very
fhallow, and no Roots below the good Mould.

So in an Orchard, where the Trees are planted
too deep, below the Staple or good Mould, the
Roots, at a little Diftance from the Stem, are all as
near the upper Superficies of the Ground, as of thofe
Trees, which are planted higher than the Level of
the Earth's Surface.

But the Damage of planting a Tree too low in
moid Ground is, that in pafling thro' this low Part,
{landing in Water, the Sap is chill'd, and its Circu-
lation thereby retarded.

One Caufe of Peoples not fufpecting Roots to
extend to the Twentieth Part of the Diftance which
in reality they do, was from obferving theie Horizon-
tal-Roots, near the Plant, to be pretty taper ; and if
they did diminifh on, in proportion to what they do

Witch-Elm is a very old decay'd Stump, which is here called a
Staggar, appearing by its Crookednefs to have been formerly a
flajber in an old White-thorn Hedge wherein it ftands; It had
been lopped many Years before that accidental Increafe of Roots
happened ; it was Hunted, and fent out poor Shoots ; but in the
third Year of thefe Roots, its Boughs being moil of them hori-
zontally inclined, were obferved to grow vigoroufly, and the
Leaves were broad, and of a flourifhing Colour ; at the End of
the third Year all thefe Roots were taken away, and the Area
being a Chalk-Rock lying uncovered, round thePlace where the
Single Root, that produced all thefe, came out of the Bank, no
more Roots could run out on the bare Chalk, and the Growth
of the Boughs has been but little fmce,

Whsat, driil'd in double Rows in November, in a Field well
till'd before Planting, look'd yellow, when about Eighteen
Inches high ; at Two Feet Diftance from the Plants, the Earth
was Ho-plow'd, which gave fuch Nourimment to 'em, that they
recover'd their Health, and changed their fickly Yellow, to a
lively Green Colour.

B 3 there,

6 Of Roots and Leaves. Chap. I.

there, they muft foon come to an End. But the
Truth is, that after a few Inches, they are not dif-
cernibly taper, but pafs on to their Ends very nearly
of the lame Bignefs ; this may be feen in Roots grow-
ing in Water, and in fome other, tho' with much
Care and Difficulty.

In pulling up the aforemention'd Turneps, their
Roots feem'd to end at few Inches Diftance from the
Plants, they being, farther oft, too fine to be per-
ceiv'd by ordinary Obfervation.

I found an extreme fmall Fibre on the Side of a
Carrot, much lefs than a Hair ^ but thro' a Micro-
fcope it appear'd a large Root, not taper, but bro-
ken off fhort at the End, which it is probable might
have (before broken off) extended near as far as the
tfumep Roots did. It had many Fibres going out of
it, and I have feen that a Carrot will draw Nourish-
ment from a great Diftance, tho' the Roots are al-
moft invifible, where they come out of the Carrot

fcfelf.

By the Piece F Plate 6. may be feen, that thofe
Roots cannot penetrate, unlefs the Land be open'd
by Tillage, &c.

As Animals of different Species have their Guts
bearing different Proportions to the Length of their
Bodies ; fo 'tis probable, different Species of Plants
may have their Roots as different. But if thofe which
have fhorter Roots have more in Number, and hav-
ing fet down the means how to know the Length of
them in the Earth, I leave the different Lengths of
different Species to be examin'd by thofe who will
take the Pains of more Trials. This is enough for
me, that there is no Plant commonly propagated, but
what will fend out its Roots far enough, to have the
Benefit of all the ho'd Spaces or Intervals 1 in the
following Chapters allot them, even tho' they mould

u<y: have Roots fo long as their Stalks or Stems.

And

Chap. I. Of Roots and Leaves. 7

And this great Length of Roots will appear very
reafonable, if we compare the Largenefs of the Leaves
(which are the Parts ordain'd for Excretion) with the?.
Smalnefs of the Capillary Roots, which muft make
up in Length or Number what they want in Bignefs,
being deftin'd to range far in the Earth, to find out
a Supply of Matter to maintain the whole Plant •,
whereas the chief Office of the Stalks and Leaves is
only to receive the fame, and to difcharge into the
Atmofphere fuch Part thereof as is found unfit for
Nutrition ; a much eafier Tafk than the other, and
confequently fewer PalTages fuffice, thefe ending in
an obtufe Form*, for otherwife the Air would not be
able to fuftain the Stalks and Leaves in their upright
Pofture: but the Roots, tho' very weak and (lender,
are eafily fupported by the Earth, notwithstanding
their Length, Smalnefs, and Flexibility.

Plants have no Stomach, nor Oefophagus, which
are necelTary to convey the Mais of Food to an Ani-
mal : Which Mafs, being exhaufted by the Lacteals,
iseliminated by way of Execrements, but the Earth
itfelf being that Mafs to the Guts (or Roots) of
Plants, they have only fine Recrements, which are
thrown off by the Leaves.

In this, Animal and Vegetable Bodies agree, that
Guts and Roots are both injured by the open Air;
and Nature has taken an equal Care, that both may
be fupply'd withNourimment, withoutbeingexpos'd
to it. Guts are fupply'd from their Infides, and
Roots from their Outrides.

All the Nutriment (or Pabulum) which Guts re-
ceive for the Ufe of an Animal, is brought to them ;
but Roots mud fearch out and fetch themfelves all
the Pabulum of a Plant ; therefore a greater Quantity
of Roots, in Length or Number, is neceflary to a
Plant, than of Guts to an Animal.

All RcctszYezs the Interlines of Animals, and have

' - Mouths or LaetealVeffelsopeningon their outer

b 4 fp°ngy

8 Of Roots W Leaves. Chap. I.

fpongy Superficies, as the Guts of Animals have
theirs opening in their inner fpongy Superficies.

The Animal Lacteals take in their Food by the
PrefTure that is made from the Periftaltic Motion,
and that Motion caus'd by the Action of Refpiration,
both which Motions prefs the Mouths of the Lacteals
againfl: the Mafs or Soil which is within the Guts,
and bring them into clofer Contact with it.

Both thefe Motions are fupply'd in Roots by the
PrefTure occafion'd by the Increafe of their Diameters
in the Earth, which prefTes their Lacteal Mouths
againfl the Soil without. But in fuch Roots as live
in Water, a PrefTure is conflandy made againfl the
Roots by the Weight and Fluidity of the Water ;
this prefTes fuch fine Particles of Earth it contains,
and which come into Contact with their Mouths, the
clofer to them.

And when Roots are in a til I'd Soil, a great Pref-
Ture is made againfl them by the Earth, which con-
flantly fubfides, and prefTes their Food clofer and
clofer, even into their Mouths •, until itfelf becomes
To hard and clofe, that the weak Sorts of Roots can
penetrate no farther into it, unlefs re-open'd by new
Tillage, which is calTd Hoing.

When a good Number of Single-Mint Stalks had
flood in Water, until they were well flock'd with
Roots from their two lower Joints, and fome of
them from three Joints, Lfet one in a Mint-Glafs
full of Salt Water ; this Mint became perfectly dead
within "three Days.

Another Mint I put into a Glafs of fair Water ;
but I immers'd one Stringof its Roots (being brought
over the Top of that Glafs into another Glafs of
Salt-water, contiguous to the Top of the other Glafs:
This Mint dy'd alio very foon.

Of another (flanding in a Glafs of Water and Earth
till it grew vigorouily) I ty'd one fingle Root into a
Bag, which held a Spoonful of dry Salt, adjoining to

the

Chap. I. Of Roots and Leaves. 9

the Top of the Glafs, v/hich kill'd this flrong Mint
alio. I found that this Salt was foon diflblv'd, tho*
on the Outfide of the Glafs ; and tho* no Water
reach'd fo high, as to be within Two Inches of the
Joint which produc'd this Root : The Leaves of all
thcfe were fait as Brine to the Tafte.

Of another, I put an upper Root into a fmall Glafs
of Ink, inftead of a Bag of Salt, in the Manner
above-mention'd •, this Plant was alfo kill'd by fome
of the Inktlngredients. The Biacknefs was not com-
municated to the Stalk, or Leaves, which inclin'd
♦rather to a yellowifh Colour as they died, which
feem'd owing to the Copperas.

I made a very flrong Liquor with Water, and
bruifed Seeds of Wild-Garlick, and, filling a Glafs
therewith, plac'd the Top of it clofe to the Top of
another Glafs, having in it a Mint, two or three of
whofe upper Roots, put into this itinking Liquor,
full of the bruifed Seeds, and there remaining, it kill'd
the Mint in fome time ; but it was much longer in
dying than the others were with Salt and Ink. It might
be, becaufe thefe Roots in the Gar lick were very fmall,
and did not bear fo great a Proportion to their whole
Syftem of Roots, as the Roots, by which the other
Mints were poifon'd, did to theirs.

When the Edges of the Leaves began to change
Colour, I chew'd many of them in my Mouth, and
found at firft the flrong aromatic Flavour of Mint,
but that was foon overs and then the naufeous Tafle
of Gar lick was very perceptible to my Palate.

I obferv'd, that when the Mint had Hood in a GMs
of Water, until it feem'd to have finifh'd its Growth,
the Roots being about a Foot long, and of an earthy
Colour, after putting in fome fine Earth, which funk
down to the Bottom, there came from the upper Joint
a new Set of white Roots, taking their Courfe on the
Outfide of the Heap of old Roots downwards, until
they reach'd the Earth at the Bottoms and then, after

fome

io O/Roots W Leaves, Chap.I.

fome time, came to be of the fame earthy Colour
with the old ones.

Another Mint being well rooted from Two Joints,
about Four Inches afunder-, I plac'd the Roots of the
lower Joint in a deep Mint-Glafs, having Water at
the Bottom, and the Roots of the upper Joint into a
fquare Box, contriv'd for the Purpofe, (landing over
the Glafs, and having a Bottom, that open'd in the
Middle, with a Hole, that fhut together clofe to the
Stalk, j uft below the upper Joint ; then laying all thefe
upper Roots to one Corner of the Box, 1 fill'd it with
Sand, dry'd in a Fire-fhovel, and found, that in oner
Night's time, the Roots of the lower Joint, which
reach'd the Water at the Bottom of the Glafs, had
drawn it up, and imparted fo much thereof to thofe
Roots in the Box above, that the Sand, at that Corner
where they lay, was very wet, and the other three
Corners dry . This Experiment I repeated very often,
and it always fucceeded as that did.

And for thefamePurpofe I prepaid a fmall Trough,
about two Foot long, and plac'd a Mint-Glafs under
each End of the Trough ; over each Glafs I plac'd a
Mint, with half its Roots in the Glafs, the other half
in the Trough : The Mints flood juft upon the Ends
of the Trough. Then I cover'd thefe Roots with pul-
veriz'd Earth, and kept the GlafTes fupply'd with
Water-, and as oft as the white fibrous Roots fhot
thro' the Earth, I threw on more Earth, till the
Trough would hold no more; and ftill the white Fi-
bres came thro', andappear'd above it; but allfeem'd
(as I faw by the Help of a coarfe Microfcope) to turn,
and when they came above-ground, their Ends en-
ter'd into it again. Thefe two Mints grew thrice as
large as any other Mint I had, which were many,
that flood in Water, and much larger than thofe which
flood in Water with Earth in it : They being all of
an equal Bignefs when fet in, and fet at the fame time.
Tho' thefe two, Handing m my Chamber, never had

any

Chap.I. Of Roots W Leaves. ii

any Water in their Earth, but what thofe Roots, which
reach'd the Water in the GlafTes, fent up to the Roots,
which grew in the Trough. The vaft Quantity of
Water thefe Roots fent up, being fufficient to keep
all the Earth in the Troughs moift, tho' of a thou-
fand times greater Quantity than the Roots which
water'd it, makes it probable, that the Water pafs'd
out of the Roots into the Earth, without mixing at
all with the Sap, or being alter'd to any Degree. The
Earch kept always moid, and in the hot Weather
there would not remain a Drop of Water in the
GlafTes, when they had not been frefhfupply'dintwo
Days and one Night ; and yet thefe Roots in the
GlafTes- were notdry'd, tho' they flood fometimes a
whole Day and Night thus in the empty GlafTes.
Thefe two Mints have thus liv'd all one Summer.

Remarks on the Mints, &c.

Tho' theVeffels of Marine Plants befome ways for-
tify'd againft theAcrimony of Salt, as Sea-fifh are, yet
the Mints all mew, that Salt is poifon to other Plants.

The Reafon why the Salts in Dung, Brine, or
Urine, do not kill Plants in the Field or Garden, is,
that their Force is fpent in acting upon, and dividing
the Parts of Earth; neither do thefe Salts, or at lean:
any confiderable Quantity of them, reach the Roots.

I try'd Salt to many Potatoes in the Ground being
undermin'd, and a few of their Roots put into a Difh
of Salt-water, they all died fooneror later, according
to their Bignefs, and to the Proportions the Quantity
of Salt apply'd did bear to them.

By the Mints it appears, that Roots make no Di-
functions in the Liquor they imbibe, whether it be
for their Nourifhment or Deftruction ; and that they
do not infume what is difagreeable, or Poifon to them,
for lack of other Suftenance ♦, fince they were very
vigorous, and well fed in the GlafTes, at the time
when the moll inconfiderable Part of their Num-
ber

12 Of Roots and Leaves. Chap. I.

ber had the Salt, Garlick, and Ink offer'd to
them.

The fixth Mint fhews, that when new Earth it
apply'd to the old Roots, a Plant fends out new Roots
onPurpofeto feed on it: And that the more Earth is
given it, the more Roots will be form'd, by the new
Vigour the Plant takes from the Addition of Earth.
This correfponds with the Action of Hoing •, for
every time the Earth is mov'd about Roots, they
have a Change of Earth, which is new to them.

The feventh Mint proves, that there is fuch a
Communication betwixt all the Roots, that when any
of them have Water, they do impart a Share thereof
to all the reft : And that the Root of the lower Joint
of this Mint had Parages (or VefTels) leading from
them, through the Stalk, to the Roots of the upper
Joint ; tho' the clear Stalk ( through which it mull;
have pafs'd ) that was betwixt thefe two Joints, was
feveral Inches in Length.

This accounts for the great Produce of long tap-
rooted Plants, fuch as Lufern and St. Foin, in very-
dry Weather: for the Earth atagreat Depth is always
moid:. It accounts alfo for the good Crops we have
in dry Summers, upon Land that has a Clay Bottom;
for there the Water is retain'd a long time, and the
lower Roots of Plants which reach it, do, like thofe
of this Mint, fend ud a Share to all the higher Roots.

If thofe Roots of a Plant, which lie at the Surface
of i\\Q Ground, did not receive Moifture from other
Roots, which lie deeper, they could be of no Ufe in
dry Weather. But 'tis certain, that if this dry Surface
be mov'dor dung'd, the Plant will be found togrow
the fader, tho' no Rain falls ; which feems to prove,
both that the deep Roots communicate to the (hallow
a Share of their Water, and receive in Return from
them a Share of Food," in common with all the reii
of the Plant, as id the Mints they did.

The

Chap. I. O/Roots WLeaves. 13

The two laft Mints fhew, that when the upper
Roots have Moifture (as they had in the Earth in the
Trough, carried thither firft by the lower Roots) they
impart fome of it to the lower, elfe thefe could not
have continu'd plump and frefh, as they did for 24
Hours in the empty Glafs. And I have fince ob-
ferved them to do fo, in the cooler Seafon of the
Year, for feveral Weeks together, without any other
Water, than what the upper Roots convey'd to them,
from the moiil Barth above in the Trough (a). I
know not what Time thefe Roots might continue to
be fupply'd thus in the hot Weather, becaufe I did
not try any longer, for fear of killing them.

But it mufi be noted, thatthe Depth of the Glafs
protected the Roots therein from the Injury of the
Motion of the free Air, which would have dry'd
them, if they had been out of the Glafs.

In this Trough is fhewn mofc of the Hoing Effects ;
viz. That Roots, by being broken off near the Ends,
increafe their Number, and fend out feveral where
one is broken off.

That the Roots increafe their Fibres every time
the Earth is fcirr'd about them.

That the ftirring the Earth makes the Plants grow
the f after.

Leaves are the Parts or Bowels of a Plant, which
perform the fame Office to Sap, as the Lungs of an
Animal do to Blood ; that is, they purify or cleanfe
it of the Recrements, or fuliginous Steams, received
in the Circulation, being the unfit Parts of the Food •,
and perhaps fome decayed Particles, which fly off the

(a) 'Tis certain, that Roots and other Chyle- VefTels of a
Plant have a free Communication throughout all their Cavities,
and the Liquor in them will run towards that Part where there is
lead Refiilancejand fuch isthat which is the moft empty, whether
it be above or below ; for there are no Values that can hinder the
Defcent or Afcent of Liquor in thefe Veffels, a& appears by the
growing of a Plant in an inverted Pofture.

VefTels,

14 Of Food o/Plants, Chap.IL

Veflels, through which Blood and Sap do pafs refpeo
tively.

Befides which Ufe, theNitro-aerous Particles may
there enter, to keep up the vital Ferment or Flame.

Mr. Papin mews, that Air will pafs in at the
Leaves, and out thro' the Plant at the Roots, but
Water will not pafs in at the Leaves ; and that if the
Leaves have no Air, a Plant will die ; but if the
Leaves have Air, tho' the Root remain in Water in
vacuo, the Plant will live and grow.

Dr. Grew, in his Anatomy of Plants, mentions
VefTels, which he calls, Net-work, Cobweb, Skeins
of Silk, &c, but above all, the Multitude of Air-
Bladders in them, which I take to be of the fame
Ufe in Leaves, as the Veficulae are in Lungs. Leaves
being as Lungs inverted, and of a broad and thin
Form •, their Veficulse are in Contact with the free
open Air, and therefore have no need of Trachea, or
Bronchia, nor of Refpiration.

CHAP. II.

Of Food of Plants.

TH E chief Art of an Hufbandman is to feed
Plants to the bell Advantage ; but how mall
he do that, unlefs he knows what is their Food ? By
Food is meant that Matter, which, being added and
united to the frrft Stamina of Plants, or Plantul*y
which were made in little at the Creation, gives them,
or rather is their Increafe.

'Tis agreed, that all the following Materials con-
tribute, in fome manner, to the Increafe of Plants ;
but 'tis difputed which of them is that very Increafe
or Food. i. Nitre. 2. Water. 3. Air. 4. Fire.
5. Earth.

c I will

Chap. II. O/Food o/Plakts. 15

I will not mention, as a Food, that acid Spirit of
the Air, fo much talk'd of; fince by its eating afun-
der Iron Bars it appears too much of the Nature of
Aqua Fortis, to be a welcome Gueft alone to the
tender VefTels of the Roots of Plants.

Nitre is ufeful to divide and prepare the Food, and
may be faid to nourifh Vegetables in much the fame
Manner as my Knife nourifhes me, by cutting and
dividing my Meat : But when Nitre is apply'd to the
Root of a Plant, it will kill it as certainly as a Knife
mifapply'd will kill a Man : Which proves, that Nitre
is, in refpeclof Nourishment, jufl: as much the Food
of Plants, as White Arfenick is the Food of Rats.
And the fame may be faid of Salts.

Watery from Van-Helmonfs Experiment, was by
fome great Philolophers thought to be it. But thele
were deceived, in not obferving, that Water has al-
ways in its Intervals a Charge of Earth, from which
no Art can free it. This Hypothecs having been
fully confuted by Dr. Woodward, no body has, that
I know of, maintain'd it fince : And to the Doctor's
Arguments I fhall add more in the Article of Air.

Air, becaufe its Spring, &e; is as neceffary to the
Life of Vegetables, as the Vehicle of Water is ; fome
modern Virtuofi have affirm'd, from the fame and
v/orfe Arguments than thofe of the Wrater-Philofo-
phers, that Air is the Food of Plants. Mr. Bradley
being the chief, if not only Author, who has pub-
lihYd this Phantafy, which at prefent feems to get
Ground, 'tis fit he mould be anfwer'd : And this
will be eafily done, if I can fhew, that he has anfwer'd
this his own Opinion, by fome or all ot his own Ar-
guments.

His firft is, that of Belmont, and is thus related
in Mr. Bradley's general Treatife of Hufiandry and
Gardening, Vol. I. p. 36. , Who dry'd Two hun-
• dred Pounds of Earth, and planted a Willow of
' Five Pounds Weight in it, which he water'd with

« Rain,

16 Of Food o/Plants. Chap. II.

* Rain, or diftill'd Water; and to fecure it from any

* other Earth getting in, he covered it with a perfo-
' rated Tin Cover. Five Years after, weighing the
' Tree, with all the Leaves it had borne in that Time,

* he found it to weigh One hundred Sixty-nine

* Pounds Three Ounces ; but the Earth was only di-

* minifh'd about two Ounces in its Weight.5

On this Experiment Mr. Bradley grounds his Airy
Hypothefis. But let it be but examined fairly, and
fee what may be thence infer r'd.

The Tin Cover was to prevent any other Earth
from getting in. This muft alio prevent any Earth
from getting out, except what enter'd the Roots,
and by them pafs'd into the Tree.

A Willow is a very thirfty Tree, and mud have
drank in Five Years time leveral Tuns of Water,
■which muft necefTarily carry in its Interfaces a great
Quantity of Earth (probably many times more than
the Tree's (a) Weight, which could not get out,
but by the Roots of the Willow.

Therefore the Two hundred Pounds of Earth not
being increafed, proves that fo much Earth as was
poured in with the Water, did enter the Tree.

Whether the Earth did enter to nourilh the Tree,
or whether only in order to pafs through it ( by way
of Vehicle to the Air), and leave the Air behind for
the Augment of the VvTillow, may appear by examin-
ing the Matter ot which the Tree did confiit.

If the Matter remaining after the Corruption or
Putrefaction of the Tree be Earth, will it not be a
Proof, that the Earth remained in it, to nourifh and
augment it ? for it could not leave what it did not firft
take, nor be augmented by what pafs'd through it.
According to Arijioile\ Doctrine, and Mr. Bradley s

(a) The Body of an Animal receives a much lefs Incveafe in
Weight than its Perfpirations amount to, as San&orius's Static-
Chair demonltrates.

too,

Chap. II. Of Food of Plants. ij

too, in Vol. I. pag. 72. " Putrefaction refolves it
" again into Earth, its fir ft Principle."

The Weight of the Tree, even when green, mull
confift of Earth arid Water. Air could be no Part of
it, becaufe Air being of no greater fpecific Gravity
than the incumbent Atmofphere, could not be of any
Weight in it ; therefore was no Part of the One
hundred Sixty-nine Pounds Three Ounces.

Nature has directed Animals and Vegetables to
feek what is moff neceffary to them. At the Time
when the Fcetus has a Necefllty of Refpiration, 'tis
brought forth into the open Air, and then the Lungs
are filled with Air. As foon as a Calf, Lamb, &c.
is able to ftand, it applies to the Teat for Food, with-
out any Teaching. In like manner Mr. Bradley re-
marks, in his Vol. I. pag. 10. ' That almoft every
4 Stem and every Root are formed in a bending man-

* ner under Ground -, and yet all thefe Stems become
4 ftrait and upright when they come above-ground,

* and meet the Air ; and mod Roots run as directly
c . downwards, and fhun the Air as much as pofiible.'

Can any thing more plainly fhew the Intent of
Nature, than this his Remark dots? viz. That the Air
is mod neceffary to the Tree above ground * to purify
the Sap by the LeaveSj as the Blood of Animals is
depurated by their Lungs : And that Roots feek the
Earth for their Food, and fhun the Air, which would
dry up and deftroy them.

No one Truth can pofllbly contradict or interfere
with any other Truth ; but one Error may contra-
dict and interfere with another Error, viz.

Mr. Bradley , and all Authors, I think, are of Opi-
nion, that Plants of different Natures are fed by a
different Sort of Nourifhment ; from whence they
aver, that a Crop of Wheat takes up all that is pe-
culiar to that Grain •, then a Crop of Barley all that is
proper to it ; next a Crop of Peafe, and fo on, 'till
each has drawn off all thofe Particles which are proper
C to

1 8 Of Food of Plants. Chap. II.

to it ; and then no more of thefe Grains will grow in
that Land, till by Fallow, Dung, and Influences of
the Heavens, the Earth will be again repleninYd with
new Nouri foment, to fupply the fame Sorts of Corn
over again. This, if true (as they all affirm it to
be), would prove, that the Air is not the Food of Ve-
getables. For the Air being in itfelf fo homogene-
ous as it is, coukl never afford fuch different Matter
as they imagine ; neither is it probable, that the Air
mould afford the Wheat Nourifnment more one
Year, than the enfuing Year ; or that the fame Year
it fhouid nourifh Barley in one Field, Wheat in an-
other, Peafe in a Third -, but that if Barley were fown
in the Third, Wheat in the Firft, Peafe in the Se-
cond, all would fail : Therefore this Hypothefis of
Air for Food interferes with, and contradicts this
Doctrine of Neceftity of changing Sorts.

I fuppofe, by Air, they do not mean dry Particles
of Earth, and the Effluvia which float in the Air: The
Quantity of thefe is too fmall to augment Vegetables
to that Bulk they arrive at. By that way of fpeak-
ing they might more truly affirm this of Water, be-
caufe it muff be like to carry a greater Quantity of
Earth than Air doth, in proportion to the Difference
of their different fpecific Weight 5 Water, being about
800 times heavier than Air, is likely to have 8co
times more of that terreflrial Matter in it; and we fee
this is fufficient to maintain fome Sort of Vegetables,
as Aquatics ; but the Air, by its Charge of Effluvia,
&c. is never able to maintain or nouriifi any Plant •,
for as to the Sedums, Aloes, and all others, that are
fuppoled to grow fufpended in the Air, 'tis a mere Fal-
lacy 5 they feem to grow, but do not ; fince they con-
ftantly grow lighter; and tho' their Veffels may be
fomewhat diflended by the Ferment of their own
Juices which they received in theEarth, yet fufpended
in Air, they continually diminiffi in Weight (which
is the true Argument of a Plant} until they grow to

nothing,

Chap. II. O/Food c/Plants. to

nothing. So that this Inftance of Sedums, &c
which they pretend to bring for Proof of this their
Hypothefis, is alone a full Confutation of it.

Yet if granted, that Air could nourifh fome Vege-
tables by the earthy Effluvia, &c. which it carry'd with
it (tfj, even that would be againft them, not for them.

They might as well believe, that Martins and
Swallows are nourim'd by the Air, becaufe they live
on Flies and Gnats, which they catch therein •, thfia
being the fame Food, which is found in the Stomach
of the Chameleon.

If, as they fay, the Earth is of little other Ufe to
Plants, but to keep them fix'd and fteady, there
would be little or no Difference in the Value of rich
and poor Land, dung'd or undung'd ; for one would
ferve to keep Plants fix'd and fteady, very near, if
not quite as well as the other.

If Water or Air was the Food of Plants, I cannot
fee what Neceflity there mould be of Dung or Tillage.

4. Fire. No Plant can live without Heat, tho'
different Degrees of it be neceffary to different Sorts
of Plants. Some are almoft able to keep Company
with the Salamander ', and do live in the notteft Ex-
pofures of the hot Countries. Others have their
Abode with Fifhes under Water, in cold Climates:
for the Sun has his Influence, tho' weaker, upon the
Earth cover'd with Water, at a confiderable Depth ;
which appears by the Effedr. the Viciffitudes of Winter
and Summer have upon fubterraqueous Vegetables.

Tho' every Heat is faid to be a different Degree
of Fire ; yet we may diflinguifh the Degrees by their
different Effects. Heat warms ; but Fire burns : The
firft helps to cheriih, the latter deitroys Plants.

(a) This is meant of dry Earth, by its Lightnefs (when pul-
veriz'd extremely fine) carried in the Air without Vapour : For
the Atmofphere, confifting of all the Elements, has Earth in it in
confiderable Quantity, mix'd with Water ; but a very little Earth
is Co minutely divided, as to fly therein pure irom Water, which
is its Vehicle there for the mofl: Part.

C 2 5. Earth,

20 Of Food of Plants. Chap. II.

5. Earth. That which nourifhes and augments a
Plant is the true Food of it.

Every Plant is Earth, and the Growth and true
Increafe of a Plant is the Addition of more Earth.

Nitre (or other Salts) prepares the Earth, Water
and Air move it, by conveying and fermenting it in
the Juices ; and this Motion is called Heat.

When this additional Earth is afiimilated to the
Plant, it becomes an abfolute Part of it.

Suppofe Water, Air, and Heat, could be taken
away, would it not remain to be a Plant, tho' a dead
one ?

But fuppofe the Earth of it taken away, what would
then become of the Plant ? Mr. Bradley might look
long enough after it, before he found it in the Air
among his fpecific or certain Qualities.

Befides, too much Nitre (or other Salts) corrodes
a Plant -, too much Water drowns it ; too much Air
dries the Roots of it ; too much Pleat (or Fire) burns
it-, but too much Earth a Plant never can have,
unlefs it be therein wholly buried ; and in that Cafe
it would be equally miiapply'd to the Body, as Air
or Nitre would be to the Roots.

Too much Earth, or too fine, can never poflibly
be given to Roots; for they never receive fo much
of it as to furfeit the Plants, unlefs it be depriv'd oi
Leaves, which, as Lungs, mould purify it.

And Earth is fo furely the Food of all Plants, that
with the proper Share of the other Elements, which
each Species of Plants requires, I do not find but that
any common Earth will nourifh any Plant.

The only Difference of Soil (a) (except the Rich-
befs) feems to be the different Heat and Moifture it

has;

fa) A 6 I have laid in my B£ky9 That a Soil bcinv once proter fs
a Species of I'cgetables, it *will ainvays continue to be fo \ it mull
be iuppofeu, that $ere be no Alteration of the Heat and
Moiftun of it ; and that im Difference I mean, is of its Quality

of

Chap. II. Of Food of Plants. i i

has ; for if thofe be rightly adj lifted, any Soil will
nourifh any Sort of Plant ; for let Thyme and Rupes
change Places, and both will die •, but let them change
their Soil, by removing the Earth wherein the Thynft
grew, from the dry Hill down into the watry Bottom,
and plant Rufoes therein; and carry the moift Earth,
wherein the Rujhes grew, up to the Hill ; and there
Thyme will grow in the Earth that was taken from the
Rujhes ; and fo will the Rujhes grow in the Earth that
was taken from the Thyme -, fo that 'tis only more or
lefs Water that makes the fame Earth fit either for the
Growth of Thyme or Rujhes,

So for Heat •, our Earth, when it has in the Stove
the juft Degree of Heat that each Sort of Plants re-
quires, will maintain Plants brought from both the
Indies.

Plants differ as much from one another in the De-
grees of Heat and Moifture they require, as a Fiih
differs from a Salamander.

Indeed Mijletoe^ and fome other Plants, will not
live upon Earth, until it be firft alter'd by the VefTels
of another Plant or Tree, upon which they grow,
and therein are as nice in Food as an Animal.

There is no need to have Recourfe to Tranfmuta*
tation -, for whether Air or Water, or both, are trans-
fer m'd into Earth or not, the thing is the fame, if it
be Earth when the Roots take it -, and we are con-
vinced that neither Air nor Water alone, as fuch, will
maintain Plants.

Thefe kind of Metamorphofes may properly enough
be confider'd in DifTertations purely concerning Mat-
ter, and to difcover what the component Particles of
Earth are ; but not at all neceffary to be known, in
relation to the maintaining of Vegetables.

g "lourifhing different Species of Vegetables, not of the Quantity
of it ; which Quantity may be alter'd by Diminution or Super-
kdaftion.

c 3 c h x P.

CHAR III.

O/Pasture o/Plants.

CATTLE feed on Vegetables that grow upon
the Earth's external Surface ; but Vegetables
themfelves firft receive, from within the Earth, the
Nourifhment they give to Animals.

The Pafture of Cattle has been known and un-
derstood in all Ages of the World, it being liable to
Inipeclion ; but the Pafture of Plants, being out of
the Obfervation of the Senfes, is only to be known
by Difquifitions of Reafon •, and has (for ought I
can find) pafs'd undifcover'd by the Writers of Hus-
bandry (a).

The Ignorance of this feems to be one principal
Caufe, that Agriculture, the moft neceffary of all
Arts, has been treated of by Authors more Superfi-
cially than any other Art whatever. The Food or
Pabulum of Plants being prov'd to be Earth, where
and whence (b) they take that, may properly be
called their Pafture.

This Pafture I (hall endeavour to defcribe.

(a) When Writers of Hufbandry, in difcourfing of Earth and
Vegetation, come nearefi: to the Thing, that is, the Pafture of
Plants, they are loft in the Shadow of it, and wander in a Wil-
dernefs of obfcure ExpreiTions, fuch as Magnetifm, Virtue, Power,
Specific Quality, Certain Quality, and the like ; wherein there is
no manner of Light for difcovering the real Subftance, but we
are left by them more in the Dark to find it, than Roots are when
they feed on it ; And when a Man, no lefs.fagacious than Mr.
Evelyn, has tracM it thro' ail the Mazes of the Occult Qualities,
and even up to the Metaphyfics, he declares he cannot determine,
whether the Thing he purfues be Corporeal or Spiritual.

(h) By the Pafture is not meant the Pabulum itfelf j but the
Superficies from whence the Pabulum is taken bv Roots.

Tis

Chap. III. Of Pasture of Plants. 23

'Tis the inner or (internal) Superficies (a) of the
Earth ; or which is the fame thing, 'tis the Superficies
of the Pores, Cavities, or Interftices of the divided
Parts of the Earth, which are of two Sorts, viz.
Natural and Artificial.

By Nature, the whole Earth (or Soil) is compofed
of Parts ; and, if thefehad been in every Place abso-
lutely joined, it would have been without Interftices
or Pores, and would have had no internal Superficies,
or Pafture for Plants : but fince it is not fo ftri&ly
denfe (£), there inuft be Interftices at all thofe Pla-
ces where the Parts remain feparate and divided.

Thefe Interftices, by their Number and Largenefs,
determine the fpecific Gravity (or true Quantity) of
every Soil: The larger they are, the lighter is the
Soil ; and the inner Superficies is commonly the lefs.
. The Mouths, or Latteals, being fituate, and open-
ing, in the convex Superficies of PvOots, they take
their Pabulum, being fine Particles of Earth, from
the Superficies of the Pores, or Cavities, wherein the
Roots are included.

(a) This Pafture of Plants never having been mentioned or
described by any Author that I know of, I am at a lofs to find
any other Term to defcribe it by, that may be fynonymous, or
equipollent to it : Therefore, for want of a better, I call it the
inner, or internal Superficies of the Earth, to diftiriguifh it from
the outer or external Superficies, or Surface, whereon we tread.

Inner or internal Superficies may be thought an abfurd Ex-
preftion, the Adjective exprefling fomething within, and the Stib-
ftantive feeming to exprefs only what is without it; and indeed
the Senfe of the Expreflion is fo ; for the Vegetable Failure is
within the Earth, but without (or on the Outfides of) the divided
Parts of the Earth.

And, beiides, Superficies muftbe joined with the Adjeclive In-
aer (or Internal) when 'tis ufed to defcribe the Infide of a thing
that is hollow, as the Pores and interftices of the Earth are.

The Superficies, which is the Pafture of Plants, is not a bare
Mathematical Superficies; for that is only imaginary.

{b) For were the Soil as denfe as Glafs, the Roots or Vege-
tables (fuch as our Earth produces) would never be able to enter
its Pores.

C 4 And'

24 Of Pasture of Plants. Chap. Ill,

And 'tis certain, that the Earth is not diverted or
robb'd of this Pabulum^ by any other Means, than
by actual Fire, or the Roots of Plants.

For, when no Vegetables are iuffer'd to grow in a
Soil, it will always grow richer. Plow it, harrow
it, as often as you pleafe, expofe it to the Sun in
ITorfe-Paths all the Summer, and to the Froft of
the Winter-, let it be cover'd by Water at the Bottom
of Ponds, or Ditches ; or if you grind dry Earth to
Powder, the longer 'tis kept expofed, or treated by
thefe or any other Method poffible (except actual
Burning by Fire) i inftead of lofing, it will gain the
more Fertility.

Thefe Particles, which are the Pabulum of Plants,
are fo very minute (a) and light, as not to be fingly
attracted to the Earth, if feparated from thofe Parts
to which they adhere (£J, or with which they are in
Contact (like Dull to a Looking-Glals, turn it up-
wards, or downwards, it will remain affixt to it), as
thefe Particles do to thofe Parts, until from thence
remov'd by fome Agent.

(a) As to the Finenefs of the Pabulum of Plant?, 'tis not un-
likely, that Roots may infume no groffer Particles, than thofe on
■\yhich the Colours of Bodies depend ; but to difcover the greatest
of thofe Corpufcles, S\r Ifaae Neivton think, it will require a Mi-
crofcope, that with fufficient Diitinctnefs can reprefent Objects
Five or Six hundred times bigger, than at a Foot Diitance they
appear to the naked Eye.

My Microfcope indeed is but a very ordinary one, and when I
view with it the Liquor newly imbibed by a fibrous Root of a
Mint, it feeras more limpid than the cleareil common Water, nq-
t ing at all appearing in it.

\b) Either Roots muft infume the Earth, that is their Pabulum,
as they find it in whole Pieces, having intire Superficies of thejr
own, or die fuch Particles as have not intire Superficies of their
o.vn, but want fome Part of it, which adheres to, or is Part of
the Superficies of larger Particles, before they are feparated by
Koots. The former they cannot infume (unlefs contained in
"Water) ; becauie they would fly away at the firft Pores that were
open : Ergo they muft inlumc the latter.

Chap. HI. Of Pasture of Plants. 25

A Plant cannot feparate thefe Particles from the
Parts to which they adhere, without the AfMance of
Water, which helps to loofen them,

And 'tis alio probable, that the Nitre of the Air
may be necefTary to relax this Superficies, to render
the prolific Particles capable of being thence disjoint
and this Action of the Nitre feems to be what is call'd,
Impregnating the Earth.

Since the grofTer Vegetable Particles, when they
have pafs'd thro' a Plant, together with their moift
Vehicle, do fly up into the Air invifibly ; 'tis not
likely they fhould, fn the Earth, fall off from the
Superficies of the Pores, by their own Gravity : And
if they did fall off, they might fly away as eafily
before they enter'd Plants, as they do after they have
pafs'd thro' them ; and then a Soil might become
the poorer (a) for all the Culture and Stirring we
beftow upon it; tho' no Plants were in it; contrary
to Experience.

It muft be own'd, that Water does ever carry, in
its Interfaces, Particles of Earth fine enough to
enter Roots ; becaufe I have feen, that a great Quan-
tity of Earth (in my Experiments) will pafs out of
Roots fet in Rain-water ; and tis found that Water
can never be, by any Art, wholly freed from its
earthy Charge-, therefore it muft have carry'd in
fome Particles of Earth along with it : But yet I
cannot hence conclude, that the Water did firft take
thefe fine Particles from the aforefaid Superficies :
I rather think, that they are exhal'd, together with
very fmall Pieces to which they adhere, and in the
Vapour divided by the Aereal Nitre ; and, when the
Vapour is condens'd, they defcend with it to replenish

(a) But we fee it is always the richer by being frequently turn-
ed and expofed to the Atmofphere : Therefore Plants muft take all
their Pabulum from a Superficies of Parts of Earth; except what
may perhaps be contained in Water fine enough to enter Rooti
intire with the Water.

the

^b Of Pasture of Plants. Chap. III.

the Pafture of Plants -, and that thele do not enter
intire into Roots, neither does any other of the earthy-
Charge that any Water contains ; except fuch fine
Particles which have already pafs'd thro' the Vegeta-
ble VefTels, and been thence exhal'd.

This Conjecture is the more probable, for that
Rain -Water is as nourifhing to Plants fet therein
as Spring-Water, tho' the latter have more Earth
in it ; and tho' Spring-water have fome Particles in
it that will enter intire into Roots, yet we muft
confider, that even that Water may have been many
times exhal'd into the Air, and may have ftill retain'd
a great Quantity of Vegetable Particles, which it re-
ceived from Vegetable Exhalations in the Atmofphere;
tho' not fo great a Quantity as Rain-water, that
comes immediately thence.

Thefe, I have to do with, are the Particles which
Plants have from the Earth, or Soil ♦, but they have
alfo fine Particles of Earth from Water, which may
impart fome of its fined Charge to the Superficies of
Roots, as well as to the Superficies of -the Parts of
the Earth (a) which makes the Pafture of Plants.

Yet it feems, that much of the Earth, contain'd in
the cleared Water, is there in too large Parts to enter
a Root; fince we fee, that in a fhort time the Root's
Superficies will, in the pureft Water, be cover'd with
1 th, which is then form'd into a terrene Pafture,
which may nourifh Roots -, but very few Plants will
jive long in fo thin a Pafture, as any Water affords
.;. I cannot find one as yet that has liv'd a Year,
without fome Earth have been added to it,

And all Aquatics, that 1 know, have their Roots
in the Earth, the/ cover'd with Water.

The Pores, Cavities, or Interfaces of the Earth,
being of two Sorts, viz. Natural and Artificial ; the

(a) If Water does fepsrate, srd take any of the mere Tahu-

ons

iuv. of Plants from the Soil, it gives much more to it.

Chap. III. Of Pasture of Plants. 27
one affords the Natural, the other the Artificial Pa-
li ure of Plants.

The natural Pafture alone will fuffice, to furnifh a
Country with Vegetables, for the Maintenance of a
few Inhabitants ; but if Agriculture were taken out
of the World, 'tis much to be fear'd, that thofe of all
populous Countries, efpecially towards the Confines
of the frigid Zones (for there the Trees often
fail of producing Fruit), would be oblig'd to turn
Anthropophagi^ as in many uncultivated Regions
they do, very probably for that Reafon.

The'artificial Pafture of Plants is that inner Super-
ficies whivh is made from dividing the Soil by Art,

This does, on all Parts of the Globe, where ufed,
maincain many more People than the natural Pafture
(a)> and in the colder Climates, I believe, it will not

be

(a) The extraordinary Increafe of St. Foin, Clover, and na-
tural Grafs, when their Roots reach into pulveriz'd Earth, ex-
ceeding the Increafe of all thofe other Plants of the fame Species
(that lland out of the Reach of it) above One hundred Times,
fhew how vaiily the artificial Pafture of Plants exceeds the na-
tural. A full Proof of this Difference, (befides very many I have
had before) was feen by two Intervals in the middle of a poor
Field of worn-out St. Foin, pulveriz'd in the precedent Summer,
in the manner defcrib'd in a Note on the latter Part of Chap.
XII. relating to St. Foin. Here not only the St. Foin adjoin-
ing to thefe Intervals recover' d its Strength, blofTom'd, and
feeded well, but alio the natural Grafs amongft it was as ftrong,
and had as flourifhing a Colour, as if a Dung heap had been
laid in the Intervals ; alfo many other Weeds came out from the
Edges of the unplcw'd Ground, which mint have lain dormant a
great many Years, grew higher and larger than ever were ^en.
before in that Field ; but above all, there was a Weed amongfr.
the St. Foin, which generally accompanies it, bearing a white
Flower; {ota&Z^X'xK White Weed, others Lady's Bed/} raw: Some
Plants of this that flood near the Intervals, were, in the Opinion
of all that faw them, increafed to a thoufand Times the Bulk of
thofe of the fame Species, that flood in the Field three Feet ditfant
from fuch pulveriz'd Earth.

Note, Thefe Intervals were each an Hundred Perch long, and
had each in them a treble Row of Barley very good. The Rea-
fon I take to be this, That the Land had lain (till feveral Years

afcer

28 Of Pasture of Plants. Chap. IIL

be extravagant to fay, ten times as many : Or that, in
Cafe Agriculture were a little improved (as I hope to
fhew is not difficult to be done), it might maintain
twice as many more yet, or the fame Number, better.

The natural Pafture is not only lefs than the ar-
tificial, in an equal Quantity of Earth ; but alfo,
that little confiding in the Superficies of Pores, or
Cavities, not having a free Communication {a) with
one another, being lefs pervious to the Roots of all
Vegetables, and requiring a greater Force to break
thro' their Partitions ; by that Means, Roots, efpe-
cially of weak Plants, are excluded from many of
thofe Cavities, and fo lofe the Benefit of them.

But the artificial Pafture confifts in Superficies of
Cavities, that are pervious to all Manner of Roots,
and that afford them free PafTage and Entertainment
in and thro' all their RecefTes. Roots may here ex-
tend to the utmoft, without meeting with any Barri-
cadoes in their Way.

The internal Superficies, which is the natural Pa-*
fture of Plants, is like the external Superficies or

after its artificial Pafture was loft ; whereby all the Plants in it hav-
ing only the natural Failure to fubfift on, became fo extremely
piall and nufait that they were not able to exhauft the Land of
fo great a Quantity of the (vegetable) nourifhing Particles as the
Atmofphere brought down to it.

And when by Pulveration the artificial Pafture came to be add-
ed to this natural Pafture (not much exhausted), and nothing at
all fafiered to grow out of it for above Three Quarters of a Year,
it became rich enough, without any Manure, to produce this ex-
traordinary Effect upon the Vegetables, whole Roots reached into
it. How long this Effect may continue, is uncertain: but I may
venture to fay, it will continue until the Exhauftion by Vegetables
doth over- balance the Defcent of the Atmofphere, and the Pul-
veration.

And what I have faid of any one Species of Plants in this Re-
fpecl may be generally apply 'd to the reft.

[a) Norie of the natural Vegetable Pafture is loft or injured
by the artificial ? but on the contrary, 'tis mended by being
mift'd with it. and by having a greater Communication betwixt
Pore si ' ;

Surface

Chap. IV. O/Dung. 20

Surface of the Earth, whereon is the Pafture of Cat-
tle ; in that it cannot be inlarg'd without Addition of
more Surface taken from Land adjoining to it, by
enlarging its Bounds or Limits.

But the artificial Pafture of Plants may be inlarg'd,
without any Addition of more Land, or inlarging of
Bounds, and this by Divifion only of the fame Earth.

And this artificial Pafture may be increas'd in pro-
portion to the Divifion of the Parts of Earth, whereof
it is the Superficies, which Divifion may be mathe-
matically infinite-, for an Atom is nothing; neither
is there a more plain Impofiibility in Nature, than to
reduce Matter to nothing, by Divifion or Separation
of its Parts.

A Cube of Earth of One Foot has but Six Feet
of Superficies. Divide this Cube into Cubical Inches,
and then its Superficies will be increas'd Twelve
times, viz, to Seventy-two Superficial Feet. Divide
thefe again in like Manner and Proportion ; that
is, Divide them into Parts that bear the fame Pro-
portion to the Inches, as the Inches do to the Feet,
and then the fame Earth, which had at firft no more
than Six Superficial Feet, will have Eight hundred
Sixty-four Superficial Feet of artificial Pafture ; and
fo is the Soil divifible, and this Pafture increafable
ad Infinitum.

The common Methods of dividing the Soil are
thefe ; viz. by Dung, by Tillage , or by both (a).

C H A P. IV.

Of DUN G.

AL L Sorts of Dung and Compoft contain fome
Matter, which, when mixt with the Soil, fer-
ments therein 5 and by fuch Ferment difiblves, crum-

(a) For Vis Unit a Fortior.

5 Wes,

3o O/DuNG. Chap. IV.

bles, and divides the Earth very much : This is the
chief, and almoit only Ufe of Dung : For, as to the
pure earthy Part, the Quantity is fo very fmall,
that, after a perfect Putrefaction, it appears to bear
a moft inconsiderable Proportion to the Soil it is de-
fign'd to manure : and therefore, in that refpect, is
next to nothing.

Its fermenting Quality is chiefly owing to the Salts
wherewith it abounds-, but a very little of this Salt
applied alone to a few Roots of almoft. any Plant,
will (as, in my Mint Experiments, it is evident com-
mon Salt does) kill it.

This proves, that its Ufe is not to nourifh, but
to diflblve •, i. e. Divide the terreftrial Matter,
which affords Nutriment to the Mouths of Vegetable
Roots.

It is, I fuppofe, upon the Account of the acrimo-
nious fiery Nature of thefe Salts, that the Florifls
have banifh'd Dung from their Flower-Gardens.

And there is, I'm fure, much more Reafon to pro-
hibit the Ufe of Dung in the Kitchen-Garden, on
Account of the ill Tafte it gives to efculent Roots
and Plants, efpecially fuch Dung as is made in great
Towns.

'Tis a Wonder how delicate Palates can difpenfe
with eating their own and their Beafts Ordure, but a
little more putrefied and evaporated •, together with
all Sorts of Filth and Naftinefs, a Tincture of which
thofe Roots muft unavoidably receive, that grow
amongft it.

Indeed I do not admire, that learned Palates, ac-
cuftom'd to the Gout of Silphium, Garlicky la Chair
venee^ and mortify'd Venifon, equalling the Stench
and Ranknefs of this Sort of City-Muck, fhould re-
lilh and approve of Plants that are fed and fatted by
its immediate Contact.

People who are fo vulgarly nice, as to naufeate
thefe modifh Dainties, and whofe fqueamim Stomachs

even

Chap. IV. O/Dung, 31

even abhor to receive the Food of Nobles, fo little
different from that wherewith they regale their richeft
Gardens, fay that even the very Water, wherein a
rich Garden Cabbage is boiPd, (links ; but that the
"Water, wherein a Cabbage from a poor undung'd
Field is boiPd, has no Manner of unpleafant Savour ;
and that a Carrot, bred in a Dunghill, has none of
that fweet Relifh, which a Field-Carrot affords.

There is a like Difference in all Roots, nouriffi'd
with fuch different Diet.

Dung not only fpoils the fine Flavour of thcfe
our Eatables, but inquinates good Liquor. The
dung'd Vineyards in Languedoc produce naufeous
Wine ; from whence there is a Proverb in that Coun-
try, That poor People's WTine is bed, becaufe they
carry no Dung to their Vineyards.

Dung is obferv'd to give great Encouragement to
the Production of Worms •, and Carrots in the Garden
are much worm-eaten, when thofe in the Field are
free from Worms.

Dung is the Putrefaction of Earth, after it has
been alter'd by Vegetable or Animal VeiTels. But
if Dung be thoroughly ventilated and putrefy'd
before it be fpread on the Field (as I think all the Au-
thors I have read direct) fo much of its Salts will be
fpent in fermenting the Dung itfelf, that little of
them will remain to ferment the Soil ; and the Far-
mer who might dung One Acre in Twenty, by lay-
ing on his Dung whilft fully replete with vigorous
Salts, may (if he follows thefe Writers Advice to a
Nicety) be forced to content himfelf with dunging
one Acre in an Hundred.

This indeed is good Advice for Gardeners, for
making their Stuff more palatable and wholefome;
but would ruin the Farmer who could have no more
Dung than what he could make upon his Arable
Farm.

For

p Q/buN'd. Chap. iV*

For every Sort of Dung, the longer Time it fer-
ments without the Ground, the lefTer Time it has to
ferment in it, and the weaker its Ferment will be.

The Reafon given for this great Diminution of
Dung is, that the Seeds of Weeds may be rotted,
and lofe their vegetating Faculty •, but this I am cer-
tain of by Demonftration, that let a Dunghil re-
main Three Years unmov'd, though its Bulk be vaftly
diminiffi'd in that Time, and its beft Quality loft,
Charlock-feed will remain found in it, and ftock the*
Land whereon it is laid : For that Ferment which is
fufficient to confume the Virtue of the ftercoreous
Salts, is not fufficient to deftroy the vegative Virtue
of Charlock-feeds, nor (I believe) of many other
Sorts of Weeds.

The very Effluvia of animal Bodies, fent off by
Perfpiration, are fo noxious as to kill the Animal that
emits them, if confin'd to receive them back in great
Quantity, by breathing in an Air replete with them ;
which appears from the foon dying of an Animal (hut
up in a Receiver full of Air. Yet this feems to be the
moft harmlefs of all forts of animal Excrements the
Air can be infected with. How noxious then muft
be the more fetid Steams of Ordure!

If a Catalogue were publifh'd of all Inftances from
Charnel-houfes (orCcemeteries) and of thepeftiferous
Effects, which have happen'd from the Putrefaction
of dead Bodies, after great Battles, even in the open
Air, no body, I believe, would have a good Opinion
of the Wholfomenefs of Animal Dung ; for if a great
Quantity do fo infect the Air, 'tis likely a lefs may
infect it in proportion to that lefs Quantity.

In great Cities the Air is full of thele Effluvia*
which in hot Climes often produce the Peililencej
and in cold Climes People are generally obferv'd to
live a lefs time, and lefs healthfully, in Cities, than in
the Country \ to which Difference, 'tis likely, that
the eatrng unwftolfome Gardenage may contribute.

This

Chap. IV. O/Dung. 33

This Dung is a fitter Food for venomous Creatures
(a) than for edible Plants \ and 'tis (no doubt) upon
Account of this, that diing'd Gardens are fo much
frequented by Toads, which are feldom or never feen
in the open undung'd Fields.

What can we fay then to the Salubrity of thofe
Roots themfelves, bred up and fatten'd among thefe
Toads and Corruption ? The Leaves indeed are only
difcharging fome of the Filth, when we eat them ;
but the Roots have that unfavoury infected Food in
their very Mouths, when we take them for our Nou-
rifhment.

But tho' Dung be, upon thefe and other Accounts,
injurious to the Garden, yet a confiderable Quantity
of it is fo neceiTary to mofl Corn-fields, that without
it little Good can be done by the old Husbandry.

Dung is not injurious to the Fields (b) being there
in lefs Proportion : And the Produce of Corn is the
Grain. When the Leaves have done their utmoft to
purify the Sap, the moft refin'd Part is fecern'd to be
yet further elaborated by peculiar Organs; then, by
the VefTels of the BlofToms, 'tis become double-reftn'd,
for theNourifhment of the Grain; which is therefore
more pure from Dung, and more wholfome, than
any other Part of the Plant that bears it.

And common Tillage alone is not fufficient for
many Sorts of Corn, efpecially Wheat, which is the
King of Grains.

Very few Fields can have the Conveniency of a
fufficient Supply of Dung, to enable them to produce
half the Wrheat thofe will do near Cities, where
they have Plenty of it.

(a) Mr. Evtlyn fays, that Dung is the Nurfe of Vermin.

(b) Such Plants as Cabbages, "iurr.ep, Carrots, and Potatoes,
when they are defigned only for fatting of Cattle, will not be in-
jured by Dung, Tillage, and Hoeing all together, which will
make the Crops the greater, and the Cattle will like them never
the worle.

D The

34 O/Dung. Chap. IV.

The Crop of 20 Acres will fcarce make Dung
fufficient for one Acre, in the common Way of laying
it on.

The Action of the Dung's Ferment affords a
Warmth (a) to the Infant-plants, in their moft tender
State, and the moft rigorous Seafon.

But 'tis hard to know how long the Warmth of
this Ferment lafteth, by reafon of the great Difficulty
to diflinguifh the very lead Degree of Heat from the
very leaft Degree of Cold.

Under the Name of Dung we may alfo underftand
whatever ferments with the Earth (except Fire)-, fuch
as green Vegetables cover'd in the Ground, &c.

As to the Difference of the Quantity of artificial
Failure made by Dung without Tillage, and that
made by Tillage without Dung-, the latter is many
Times greater, of which I had the following Proof.
An unplow'd Land, wherein a Duwghil had lain for
two or three Years, and being taken away, was plant-
ed with Turneps \ at the fame time a till'd Land, con-
tiguous thereto, was drill'd with Turneps ^ and Horfe-
ho'd •, the other, being Hand-ho'd, profpered befb
at the firft ; but at lad did not amount to the Fifth
"Part of the Till'd and Horfe-ho'd, in Bignefs, nor in
Crop. The Benefit of the Dung and Hand-hoe was
fo inconfiderable, in comparifon of the Plough and
Hoe-plough ; the little Quantity of artificial Pafture
raifed to the other, was only near the Surface, and
did not reach deep enough to maintain the Tumeps,
till they arrived at the Fifth Part of the Growth of

(a) But though Dung in fermenting may have a little Warmth,
yet it may fometimes, by letting more Water enter its Hollow-
nefs, be in a Froft much colder than undung'd pulveriz'd Earth ;
for I have feen Wheat-plants in the Winter die in the very Spits
of Dung, when undung'd drill'd Wheat, adjoining to it, planted
at the fame Time, has flourifii'd all the fame Winter ; and J could
not rind any other Reafon for this, but the Hollownefs of the
Dung ; and yet it feemed to be well rotted. j

thofe

Chap. IV. O/Dung. 3f

thofe, whofe artificial Pafture reach'd to the Bottom
of the Staple of the Land.

A like Proof is •, that feveral Lands of Turneps,
drill'd on the Level, at three Foot Rows, plow'd,
and doubly dung'd, and alfo Horfe-ho'd, did not
produce near fo good a Crop ofTumeps, as Six Foot
Ridges adjoining, Horfe-ho'd, tho' no Dung had
been laid thereon for many Years: There was no
other Difference, than that the three Foot Rows did
not admit the Hoe-plough to raife half the artificial
Pafture, as the Six Foot Rows did. The Dung plow'd
into the narrow Intervals, before drilling, could ope-
rate no further, with any great Effect, than the Hoe-
plough could turn it up, and help in its Pulveration.

Dung, without Tillage, can do very little •, with
fome Tillage doth fomething ; with much Tillage
pulverizes the Soil in lefs Time, than Tillage alone
can do 5 but the Tillage alone, with more Time, can
pulverize as well : This the Experiments of artifici-
ally pulverizing of the pooreft Land, as they are re-
lated by Mr. Evelyn, fully prove.

And thefe Experiments are the more to be depend-
ed on, as they are made both in England and Holland
by Perfons of known Integrity.

This Truth is alfo further confirmed by thofe Au-
thors who have found, that High-way Duft alone is
a Manure preferable to Dung : And all thefe Pulve-
rations being made by Attrition or Contufion, why
fhould not our Inftruments of Pulveration, in Time,
reduce a fufficient Part of the Staple of a dry friable
Soil, to a Duft equal to that of a Highway ?

The common Proportion of Dung uled in the
Field pulverizes only a fmall Part of the Staple: but
how long a time may be required for our Inftruments
to pulverize an equal Part, it depending much upon
the Weather, and the Degree of Friability of the Soil,
is uncertain.

D2 I

36 0/ Tillage. Chap. V.

I have feen furprifing Effects from Ground, after
being kept unexhaufted, by plowing with common
Ploughs for Two whole Years running : And I am
confident, that the Expence of this extraordinary
Tillage and Fallow will not, in many Places, amount
to above half the Expence of a drefling with Dung;
and if the Land be all the Time kept in our Sort of
little Ridges of the Size moft proper for that Purpofe,
the Expence of plowing will be diminifhed one half;
befides the Advantage the Earth of fuch Ridges
hath, of being friable in Weather which is too moifl
for plowing the fame Land on the Level.

I have made many Trials of fine Dung on the
Rows •, and, notwithstanding the Benefit of it, I have,
for thefe feveral Years laft paft, left it off, finding
that a little more Hoeing will fupply it at a much
lefs Expence, than that of fo fmall a Quantity of
Manure, and of the Hands neceffary to lay it on,
and of the Carriage.

CHAP. V.

Of Tillage.

Tillage is breaking and dividing the Ground by
Spade, Plough, Hoe, or other Instruments,
which divide by a Sort of Attrition (or Contufion)
as Dung does by Fermentation (a),

[a) Neque enim aliud eji Colere quam Refofoere, & Ferment are
Terram. Columella.

And fince the artificial Pafture of Plants is made and increas'd
by Pulveration, 'tis no Matter whether it be by the Ferment of
Dung, the Attrition of the Plough, the Contufion of the Roller,
©r by any other Inftrument or Means whatfoever, except by Fire,
which carries away all the Cejnent of that which is burnt.

By

Chap. V. Of Tillage. 07

By Dung we are limited to the Quantity of it we
can procure, which in moll Places is too fcanty : But
by Tillage, we can inlarge our Field of fubterranean
Pafture without Limitation, tho' the external Surface
of it be confin'd within narrow Bounds: Tillage may
extend the Earth's internal Superficies, in proportion
to the Divifion of its Parts ; and as Divifion is infi-
nite, fo may that Superficies be.

Every Time the Earth is broken by any Sort of
Tillage, or Divifion, there mufl arife fome new Su-
perficies of the broken Parts, which never has been
open before. For when the Parts of Earth are once
united and incorporated together, 'tis morally impof-
fible, that they, or any of them, mould be broken
again, only in the fame Places ; for to do that, fuch
Parts mud have again the fame numerical Figures and
Dimenfions they had before fuch Breaking, which
even by an infinite Divifion could never be likely to
happen : As the Letters of a Diftichon, cut out and
mixt, if they mould be thrown up never fo often,
would never be likely to fall into the fame Order and
Pofition with one another, foas to recompofe the fame
Diftich.

Although the internal Superficies may have
been drain'd by a preceding Crop, and the next
Plowing may move many of the before divided
Parts, without new- breaking them ; yet fuch as
are new-broken, have, at fuch Places where they
are fo broken, a new Superficies, which never was,
or did exift before 1 becaufe we cannot reafonably
fuppofe, that any of thofe Parts can have in all places
(if in any- Places) the fame Figure and Dimenfions
twice.

For as Matter is divifible ad infinitum, the

Places or Lines whereat 'tis fo divifible, mud be, in

relation to Number, infinite, that is to fay, without

Number ; and muft have at every Divifion Super-

D 3 ficics

3S Of Tillage. Chap. V.

fides of Parts of infinite Variety (b) in Figure and
Bimenfions.

And becaufe'tls morally impofiible, the fame Fi-
gure and Dimensions mould happen twice to any one
Part, we need not wonder, how theEarth, every time
of Tilling, mould afford a new internal Superficies
(or artificial Failure); and that the till'd Soil has in it
an inexhauftibie Fund, Iwhich by a fufficientDivifion
(being capable Oi an infinite one) may be produe'd.

Tillage (as well as Dung) is beneficial to all Sorts of
Land U). Light Land, being naturally hollow, has
larger Pores, which are the Caufe of its Lightnefs :
This, when it is by any Means fuiflciently divided,

(b) Their Variety is fuch, that 'tis next to impomble, any two
Pieces, or Clods, in a Thoufand Acres of till'd Ground, mould
have the fame Figure, and equal Dimenfions, or that any Piece
mould exactly tally with any other, except with that from whence
it was broken off.

(c) 'Tis of late fully prov'd, by the Experience of many Farm-
ers, that two or three additional Plowings will fupply the Place
cf Dung, even in the old Husbandry, if they be perform'd at
proper Seafons : and the hiring Price of three Plowings, after
Land has been thrice plow'd before, is but Twelve Shillings,
whereas a Dunging will coll three Pounds : This was accidentally
difcovered in my Neighbourhood, by the Practice of. a poor
Farmer., who, when he had prepafd his Land for Barley, and
could no: procure Seed to fow it, plow'd it on till Wheat Seed-
Time, and [by means of fuch additional Plowing) without ung,
bad fo good a Crop of Wheat, that it was judg'd to be more than
the Inheritance of the Land it grew on.

The fame Lffecl follows when they prepare Land forTurneps,
fince they are come in Faihion, and fow them feveral Times upon
feverai Plowings, the Fly as often taking them off; they have
from fush extraordinary Tillage a good Crop of Wheat, inftead
of the loti Turneps, without the Help of Dung ; hence double-
plowingis now become frequent in this Country.

The Reafon why Land is enrich1 d by lying long unplow'd,
is that fo very few Vegetables are carried off it, very little being
produced ; the Exhauition is lefs than what is added by the Atmo-
sphere, Cattle, &c But when 'tis piow'd, a vaitly greater
Quantity of Vegetables is produe'd, and carried off, more than
e old Hufbandry is returned to it,

the

Chap. V. Of Tillage. 39

the Parts being brought nearer together, becomes,
for a time, Bulk for Bulk, heavier 5 i. e. The fame
Quantity will be contained in lefs Room, and fo is
made to partake of the Nature and Benefits of ftrong
Land, viz. to keep out too much Heat and Cold,
and the like.

But ftrong Land, being naturally lefs porous, is
made for a Time lighter (as well as richer) by a good
Divifion -, the Separation of its Parts makes it more
porous, and cauies it to take up more Room than it
does in its natural State ; and then it partakes of all
the Benefits of lighter Land.

When ftrong Land is plow'd, and not fufrlciently,
fo that the Parts remain grofs, 'tis faid to be rough,
and it has not the Benefit of Tillage -9 becaufe mod
of the artificial Pores (or Interftices) are too large •,
and then it partakes of the Inconveniences of the
hollow Land untill'd.

For when the light Land is plow'd but once,
that is not fufficient to diminifh its natural Hollow-
nefs (or Pores •,) and, for Want of more Tillage, the
Parts into which 'tis divided by that once (or perhaps
twice) Plowing, remain too large -, and confequently
the artificial Pores are large alfo, and, in that refpecl,
are like the ill-tilPd ftrong Land.

Light-land, having naturally lefs internal Superfi-
cies, feems to require the more Tillage ( d) or Dung

to

(d) As for puffy Land, which naturally fwells up, inftead of
fubfiding, tho' its Hoilownefs is much abated by Tillage, yet it
,is thought little better than barren Land, and unprofitable for
Corn : But what we ufually call Light-land, is only comparatively
fo, in RefpecTt of that which is heavier and itronger. And this
Sort of Light land becomes much lighter by being ill-tilFu; the
unbroken Pieces of Turf underneath undifTolved, forming large
Cavities, increafe its Hoilownefs, and confequently its Lightnefs :
I have often known this Sort of Land defpis'd by its Owners,
who fcar'd to give it due Tillage, which they thought would
make it fo light, that the Wind would blow it away; but when-
ever fuch has bsen thoroughly till'd, it never fail'd to become

D 4 much

40 Of Tillage. Chap. V,

to enrich it •, as when the poor, hollow, thin Downs
have their upper Part (which is the beft) burnt,
whereby all, (except a Caput Mortuum) is carried
away ; yet the Salts of this fpread upon that barren
Part of the Staple, which is unburnt, divide it into
fo very minute Particles, that their Pafture will nou-
rifh two or three good Crops of Corn : But then the
Plough, even with a confiderable Quantity of Dung,
is never able afterwards to make a J3ivifion equal to
what thofe Salts have done -> and therefore fuch burnt
Land remains barren.

Artificial Pores cannot be too fmall, becaufe Roots
may the more eafily enter the Soil that has them, quite
contrary to natural Pores •, for thefe may be, and ge-
nerally are, too fmall, and too hard for the Entrance
of all weak Roots, and for the free Entrance of ftrong
Roots.

Inefficient Tillage leaves ftrong Land with its na-
tural Pores too fmall, and its artificial ones too large.
It leaves Light-land, with its natural and artificial
Pores both too large.

Pores that are too fmall in hard Ground, will pot
eafily permit Roots to enter them.

Pores that are too large in any Sort of Land, can
be of little other Ufe to Roots, but only to give them
PaiTage to other Cavities more proper for them ; and
if in any Place they lie open to the Air, they are dry'd
up, and fpoil'd, before they reach them.

much ftronger than before ; and considering that 'tis tilPd with
lefs Expence than very ftrong Land, it is, for feveral Sorts of
Corn, found to be more profitable than Land of greater Strength
and Richnefs, that is inoie difficult to be tili'd.

And I am apt to think, that this Sort of Light-land acquires
more Cement, by having its external Superficies often changed,
and expofed to the Dews, and other Benefits of the Atmofphere,
as well as by the Increafe of (its internal Superficies, which is the
Surfaces of all the divided Parts of Earth, or) the Failure of
Plants; the one being augmented by the other; i.e, that into
the more Parts the Earth is broken, the more Cement will it
attain, from the Sulphur, which is brought by the Dews.

For

Chap. V. Of Tillage. 41

For fibrous Roots (which alone maintain the Plant ;
the other Roots ferve for receiving the Chyle from
them, and convey it to the Stem) can take in no Nou-
rifhment from any Cavity, unlefs they come into
Contact with (V), and prefs againft, all the Superficies
of that Cavity, which includes them •, for it difpenfes
the Food to their Lacleals by fuch PrefTure only: But
a fibrous Root is not fo prefs'd by the Superficies of
a Cavity whofe Diameter is greater than that of the
Root.

The Surfaces of great Clods form Declivities on
every Side of them, and large Cavities, which are as
Sinks to convey, what Rain and Dew bring, too quick-
ly downwards to below the plow'd Part.

The firft and fecond Plowings with common
Ploughs fcarce deferve the Name of Tillage ; they
rather ferve to prepare the Land for Tillage.

The third, fourth, and every fubfequent Plow-
ing, may be of more Benefit, and lefs Expence, than
any of the preceding ones.

(e) Roots cannot have any Nourifhment from Cavities of the
Earth that are too large to prefs againft them, except what Water,
when 'tis in great Quantity, brings to them, which is imbibed by
the gentle PrefTure of the Water ; but when the Water is gone,
thofe large Cavities being empty, the PrefTure ceafes ; and this is
the Reafon, that when Land has few other but fuch large Cavities,
the Plant:-- in it always fufFer more by dry Weather, than in Land
which by Dung or Tillage has more minute and fewer large Ca-
vities.

There may be fome Moiflure on the Superficies of large Cavi-
ties; but without Preffure the fibrous Roots cannot reach it ; and
very little or no PrefTure can be made to one Part of the Root's
Superficies, unlefs the Whole that is included be prefTed.

If it be objected that a Charlock-Plant, when pulled up, and
thrown upon the Ground, vyill grow thereon ; this proves nothing
againft the Neceflity of PrefTure, &c. for theWeight of that Plant
prefTes fome of its Roots fo clofely againft the Ground, that they
fend out (unlefs the Weather be very dry) new Fibres into the
Earth ; and there they are prefTed in all their Superficies ; without
which Fibres the Plant doth not grow.

But

42 Of T i l l a g e. Chap. V.

But the lafl Plowings will be more advantageoufly
perform'd by Way of Hoeing, as in the following
Chapters will appear.

For the finer Land is made by Tillage, the richer
will it become, and the more Plants it will maintain.

It has been often obferv'd, that when Part of a
Ground has been better till'd than the reft, and the
whole Ground conftantly manag'd alike afterwards
for fix or feven Years fucceftively •, this Part that was
but once better till'd, always produc'd a better Crop
than the reft, and the Difference remain'd very vifi-
bh every Harveft.

One Part being once made finer, the Dews did
more enrich it -, for they penetrate within and beyond
the Superficies, whereto the Roots are able to enter:
The fine Pares of the Earth are impregnate, through-
out their whole Subftance, with fome of the Riches
carried in by the Dews, and there repofited; until,
by new Tillage, the Infides of thole fine Parts become
Superficies ; and as the Corn drains them, they are
again fupply'd as before; but the rough large Parts
cannot have that Benefit ; the Dews not penetrating
to their Centres, they remain poorer.

I think nothing can be faid more flrongly to con-
firm the Truth of this, than what is related by the
Authors quoted by Mr. Evelyn (f)9 to this Effect,
viz.

' Take of the moft barren Earth you can find,
' pulverize it well, and expofe it abroad for a Year,

* inceffantly agitated (g)9 it will become fo fertile as

* to receive an exotic Plant from the further!: Indies-,

* and to caufe all Vegetables to profper in the moil

* exalted Degree, and to bear their Fruit as kindly

* with us as in their natural Climates.'

(f) In Pag. 17, 18, and 19, of his Phil. Difcgurfe af Earth.
{g) i. e. Stirr'd often.

z This

Chap. V. Of Tillage. 43

This artificial Duft (£), he fays, will entertain Plants
which refufe Dung, and other violent Applications ;
and that it has a more nutritive Power than any arti-
ficial Dungs or Compoft whatfoever : And further,
that by this Toil of pulverizing, " 'tis found, that
" Soil may be fo drangely alter'd from its former
cc Nature, as to render the harm and mod uncivil
" Clay (/') obfequious to the Hufbandmen, and to
" bring forth Roots and Plants, which otherwife re-
" quire the lighted and hollowed Mould (£)."

'Tis to be fuppos'd, that the Indian Plants had
their due Degrees of Heat and Moidure given them ;
and I mould not chufe to bedow this Toil upon the
poored of Earth in a Field or Garden, tho' that be
the moit fure wherein to make the Experiment {I).

I never myfeJf try'd this way of pounding or grind-
ing, becaufe impracticable in the Fields.

But I have had the Experience of a Multitude of
Indances, which confirm it fo far, that I am in no

(b) Tho it may be impofllble for the Plough to reduce the
whole Staple into fo fine Powder, yet the more internal Super-
ficies it makes, the more Dull will be made by the Atmofphere in
Proportion ; and great Clods perhaps are of no Ufe to Plants,
but by that Dull they let fall, being thence extricated by thein-
fenfible Ferment of the nitrous Airj and the Surfaces of this ar-
tificial Dud mull receive fuch Operations from the Air, before
the utmoit. Fertility be obtain'd.

(i) But I take harm uncivil Clay to be the leaft profitable of
any to keep in Tillage.

(k) To this Dull, Namque hoc imitamur arando ought to be
apply'd, and not to Putre Solum, which itfelf needs Tillage, as
well as ftrong Land : Put it feems the Antients did notobferve the
Difference between natural Pores (or Hollownefs) and artificial
ones, tho1 it is very great; as is {hewn in Chap, of Pnfiure of
Plants; Tis eafier indeed to imitate this artificial Dull in hollow
than in firong Land.

(I) This is the moil proper Trial of the Effect of Pulveration
by pounding and grinding ; but Land may be fo barren, that Plough
or Spade may not be fufRcient to pulverize it to that Degree,
which is neceffary to give it the fame Fertility, that Pounding in
a Mortar, or grinding betwixt Marbles (as Colours are ground),
can.

Doubt,

44 Of T i l l a g e. Chap. V.

Doubt, that any Soil (m) (be it rich or poor) can ever
be made too fine by Tillage (n).

For 'tis without Difpute, that one cubical Foot of
this minute Powder may have more internal Super-
ficies, than a thoufand cubical Feet of the fame, or
any other Earth till'd in the common Manner-, and,
I believe no two arable Earths in the World do ex-
ceed one another in their natural Richnefs Twenty
Times •, that is, one cubical Foot of the richeft is not
able to produce an equal Quantity of Vegetables, ce-
teris paribus > to Twenty cubical Feet of the pooreft \

(m) Land that is too hollow and light, having no Cement to
join its Parts together, tho' in Nature they are capable of infinite
Divifion, yet in Practice the Plough cannot divide them to any
Purpcfe, unlefs they were firft join'd, but glides through without
breaking them ; being more like to the primary Particles of
Water againft the Plough, which are broken by no Force, than
to Earth; it may be moved, but not broken by Tillage, and
therefore ought not to be reputed arable; nor does it indeed de-
ferve the Name of Land, but as the defart Sands of Lybia, to
diftinguim it from Sea.

(n) According to fome, this Rule is only general, and not
univerfal; for, fay they, there's a Sort of binding Gravel, that,
when it is made five, will, by a fudden Dafhof Rain, run together
like a Metal ; and I have feen the fame Accident in a particular
Sort of nvhite Land ; but this very rarely happens to the latter :
3 never knew it above once, and that was after Barley was fown
on it ; the Hardnefs was only like a very thin Ice upon the Sur-
face, which was fome Hindrance to the coming up of the Barley,
until the Harrow's going over it once or twice broke that Ice or
Cruft, and then it came up very well.

I never had any other Sort of Land liable to this Misfortune :
therefore can fay nothing to the Gravel in that Cafe, nor how
deep the Confiipation may reach in it, nor what Remedy is moft
proper to prevent the ill Confequence of it: But if there mould
be two or three Exceptions out of One thoufand Seventy-nine Mil-
lions One tboufand andSixty different Sorts of Earth (fee Mr. Evelyn s
'Terra, p. 2), 'twill be no great Matter.

But I think thefe are no real Exceptions againft any Degree of
Pulverizing; for it only Ihevvs, that fome Sorts of Land, tho*
very few, are fubjeel by Accident to lofe too foon their Pulvera-
tion: And if the Finenefs were no Benefit to that Land, fuchLofs
of it would be no Injury to it,

therefore

Chap. V. Of Tillage. 45

therefore 'tis not ftrange, that the pooreft, when by-
pulverizing it has obtain'd One hundred Times the
internal Superficies of the rich untill'd Land, it mould
exceed it in Fertility ; or, if a Foot of the pooreft was
made to have Twenty Times the Superficies of a Foot
of fuch rich Land, the pooreft might produce an
equal Quantity of Vegetables with the rich (0). Be-
fides, there is another extraordinary Advantage, when
a Soil has a larger internal Superficies in a very little
Compafs •, for then the Roots of Plants in it are better
fupply'dwith Nourifhment, being nearer to them on
all Sides within Reach, than it can be when the Soil
is lefs fine, as in common Tillage •, and the Roots in
the one muft extend much further than in the other,
to reach an equal Quantity of Nourifhment: They
muft range and fill perhaps above twenty Times more
Space to collect the fame Quantity of Food.

But in this fine Soil, the moil weak and tender
Roots have free PafTage to the utmoft of their Extent,
and have alfo an eafy, due, and equal PrefTure every-
where, as in Water.

(0) And very poor Land, well pulveriz'd, will produce better
Corn than very rich will do, without Manure or Tillage. The
Experiment may be made by paring off the Turf, and fetting
Corn in the whole Ground that is very rich ; and that will (hew
how much the natural Pafture of the rich is inferior to the arti-
ficial Pafture of the poor Land ; but then the poor muft have this
Proportion of Excefs of internal Superficies continued to it, du-
ring the whole Time of their Growth, which cannot be done with-
out frequently repeated Divifions of the Soil by Hoeing or Manure;
eife it might require forty Times the internal Superficies at the
Time of Sowing, to keep twenty Times the internal Superficies
of the rich till Harveft: For although the rich is continually
lofing fome of its artificial Pafture, as well as the poor, yet by
lofing this equally, they ftill draw nearer and nearer to the firft
Inequality of their natural Pafture.

Bat poor Land, being lighter, has this Advantage, that it being
mora friable than the ftrong, requires lefs Labour to pulverize it ;
and therefore the Exp^nce of it is much lefs, than in proportion
to the Excefs of Poomefs of its internal Superficies.

Hard

46 Of T i l l a c te. Chap. V,

Hard Ground makes a too great Refiftance, as
Air makes a too little Refiftance, to the Superficies
of Roots.

Farmers, juft when they have brought their Land
into a Condition fit to be further till'd to much greater
Advantage, leave off, fuppofing the Soil to be fine
enough, when, with the Help of Harrows, they can
cover the Seed; and afterwards with a Roller they
break the Clods ; to the End that, if a Crop fucceed,
they may be able to mow it, without being hinder'd
by thofe Clods : By what I could ever find, this In-
ftrument, call'd a Roller, is feldom beneficial to good
Hufbands •, it rather untilis the Land, and anticipates
the fubfiding of the Ground, which in ftrong Land
happens too foon of itfelf (p).

But more to blame are they, who neglect to give
their Land due Plowing, trufting to the Harrow to
make it fine -, and when they have thrown in their
Seed, go over it twenty Times with the Harrows (q)
till the Horfes have trodden it almoft as hard as a High-
way, which in moift Weather fpoils the Crop ; but on
the contrary, the very Horfes, when the Earth is moift,
ought all to tread in the Furrows only, as in plow-
ing with a Hoe-Plough they always do, when they
ufe it inftead of a common Plough.

(p) This Injury the Roller does, is only when tis ufed to prefs
down the Earth after the Seed is fown ; and is the greater, if
Land be moift ; but the Rolling of it in dry Weather, when 'tis
to be immediately plow'd up again, is the moll fpeedy Way to
pulverize the Soil ; and the Harrow is then very uleful in pulling
up the Clods, to the End that the R.oller may the better come at
them to crufh them.

(q) Nam <ve teres Romani dixerunt male fubaZium Agrum, qui fat is
Frugibus occandui fit.

Sed ut compluribus Iterationibus fie rpfolnjatur <ver<vaflum in PuU
<verem, ut nullam <vel exiguam defideret Occationem, cum femina*veri-
mus. Col. Lib. 2« Cap. 4.

C H A P.

H

[ 47 ]
CHAR VI.

O/HOEING.

OEING is the breaking or dividing the Soil by
Tillage, whilft the Corn or other Plants are
growing thereon.

It differs from common Tillage (which is always
perform'd before the Corn or Plants are fown or
planted) in the Times of performing it -y 'tis much
more beneficial j and 'tis perform'd by different ln-
ftruments.

Land that is before Sowing tilled never fo much
(tho' the more 'tis till'd the more it will produce) will
have fome Weeds, and they will come in along with
the Crop for a Share of the Benefit of the Tillage,
greater or lefs, according to their Number, and what
Species they are of.

But what is molt to be regarded is, that as foon as
the Ploughman has done his Work of plowing and
harrowing, the Soil begins to undo it, inclining to-
wards, and endeavouring to regain, its natural fpe-
cific Gravity ; the broken Parts by little and little
coalefce, unite, and lofe fome of their Surfaces ; ma-
ny of their Pores and Interlaces clofe up during the
Seed's Incubation and Hatching in the Ground ; and,
as the Plants grow up, they require an Inqreafe of
Food proportionable to their increasing B|ulk; but on
the contrary, inftead thereof, that internal Superficies,
which is their artificial Pafture, gradually decreafes.

TheEarthis lb unjuft to Plants, herownOff-fpring,
as to fhut up her Stores in proportion to their Wants ;
that is, to give them lefs Nourimment when they
have need of more : Therefore Man, for whofe Ufe
they are chiefly defign'd, ought to bring in his rea,-

fonable

4,8 Of Hoeing. Chap. VL

fonable Aid for their Relief, and force open her Ma-
gazines with the Hoe, which will thence procure
them at all times Provifions in Abundance* and alfo
free them from Intruders ♦, I mean* their fpurious
Kindred, the Weeds, that robb'd them of their too
fcanty Allowance.

There's no Doubt, but that one third Part of the
Nourifhment raifed by Dung and Tillage, given to
Plants or Corn at many proper Seafons, and appor-
tion^ to the different Times of their Exigencies, will
be of more Benefit to a Crop, than the Whole apply'd,
as it commoniy is, only at the time of Sowing.
This old Method is almoft as unreafonable as if
Treble the full Stock of Leaves, necefTary to main-
tain Silk-worms till they had finifhed their Spinning,
mould be given them before they are hatched, and
no more afterwards.

Next to Hoeing, and fomething like it, is Tranf-
planting, but much inferior ; both becaufe it requires
a fo much greater Number of Hands, that by no
Contrivance can it ever become general, nor does it
fucceed, if often repeated •, but Hoeing will maintain
any Plant in the greateft Vigour 'tis capable of, even
unto the utmoft Period of Age. Befides, there is
Danger in removing a whole Plant, and Lofs of Time
before the Plant can take Root again, all the former
Roots being broken off at the Ends in taking up
(for 'tis impoflible to do it without), and fo mull wait
until by the Strength and Virtue of its own Sap
(which by a continual Perfpiration is daily enfeebled)
new Roots are form'd, which, unlefs the Earth continue
moift (a), are fo long in forming, that they not only

(a) But when the Earth doth continue moift, many tranfplanted
Vegetables thrive better than the fame Species planted in Seeds,
becaufe the former, ftrikingRootfooner, have a greater Advantage
of the frem-pulveriz'd Mould, which lofes fome of its artificial
P allure before the Seeds have Roots to reach it. The fame Advan-
tage alfo have Seeds by foaking till ready to fprout before they are
planted. To both thefe the Moifture of the Earth is neceffary.

find

Chap. VI. Of Hoeing. 49

find a more difficult Reception into the clofing Pores ;
but many Times the Plant languishes and dies of an
Atrophy, being ftarv'd in the midft of Plenty •, but
whilft this is thus decaying, the hoed Plant obtains a
more.flourifhing State than ever, without removing
from the fame Soil that produc'd it.

5Tis obferv'd that fome Plants are the worfe for
Tranfplanting (a). Fenochia removed is never fo
good and tender as that which is not, it receives
fuch a Check in Tranfplanting in its Infancy ; which,
like the Rickets, leaves Knots that indurate the Parts
of the Fennel, and fpoil it from being a Dainty.

Hoeing has moil of the Benefits without any In-
conveniences of Tranfplanting -, becaufe it removes
the Roots by little and little, and at different Times ;
fome of the Roots remaining undidurb'd, always
fupply the moved Roots with Moifture, and the
whole Plant with Nourifhment fufficient to keep it
from fainting, until the moved Roots can enjoy the
Benefit of their new Paflure, which is very foon.

Another extraordinary Benefit of the new Hoein^
(J?) Hufbandry is, that it keeps Plants moid in dry
Weather, and this upon a double Account.

(a) As mod long Tap-rooted Plants are'; for I have often try'd
the Tranfplanting of Plants, of St. Fain and Luferne ; and could
never find, that any ever came near to the Perfection that thofe
will do which are not removed, being equally fingle.

Tap-rooted GrafTes and Turneps are always injur'd by Tranf-
planting ; their long Root once broken off never arrives at the
Depth it would have arriv'd unbroken ; as for this Reafon they cut
off the Tap-root of an Apple-tree, to rjireventits running down-
ward, by which it would have too mucnlVloiilure.

(b) Hoeing may be divided into Deep, which is our Korfe-
hoeing, and Shallow, which is the Englilh Hand -hoeing; and alfo
the Shallow Horfe hoeing, ufed in fome Places betwixt Rows,
where the Intervals are very narrow, as fixteen or eighteen Inches ;
this is but an Imitation of the Hand-hoe, or a Succedaneum to it ;
and can neither fupply the Ufe of Dung, nor of Fallow, and
may be properly called Scratch-hoeing,

E Firft,

?o O/Hoeisg. Chap. VI.

Firft, as they are better nourimed by Hoeing9-
they require lefs Moifture, as appears by Dr. IVood-
rward*& Experiment, that thofe Plants which receive
the greateft Increafe, having moil terreftrial Nou-
rishment, carry off the leaft Water in Proportion to
their Augment: So Barley or Oats, being lbwn on a
Part of a Ground very well divided by Dung and
Tillage, will come up and grow vigoroufly without
Rain, when the fame Grains, fown at the fame Time,
on the other Part, not thus enriched, will fcarce
come up; or, if they do, will not thrive till Rain
comes.

Secondly, The Hoe, I mean the Horfe-hoe (the
other goes not deep enough), procures Moifture to the
Roots from the Dews, which fall mod in dry Wea-
ther ; and thofe Dews (by what Mr. Thomas Hen/haw
has obferv'd) feem to be the richeft Prefent the At-
mofphere gives to the Earth ; having, when putre-
fy'd in a Veffd, a black Sediment like Mud at the
Bottom. This feems to caufe the darkifh Colour to
the upper Part of the Ground. And the Sulphur,
which is found in the Sediment of the Dew, may be
the chief Ingredient of the Cement of the Earth ;
Sulphur being very glutinous, as Nitre is diflblvent.
Dew has both thefe.

Thefe enter in proportion to the Finenefs and Frefh-
nefs of the Soil, and to the Quantity that is fo made
fine and frefh by the Hoe. How this comes to
pafs, and the Reafon of it, are (hewn in the Chapter
of Tillage.

To demonftrate that Dews moiften the Land when
fine, dig a Hole in the hard dry Ground, in the
drieil Weather, as deep as the Plough ought to reach :
Beat the Earth very fine, and fill the Hole therewith ;
and, after a few Nights Dews, you'll find this fine
Earth become moid: at the Bottom, and the hard
Ground all round will continue dry.

TiU

Chap. VI. Of Hoeing. Jt

Till a Field in Lands ; make one Land very fin
by frequent deep PJowings 5 and let another be rough
by infufficient Tillage, alternately •, then plow the
whole Field crofs-ways in the dried Weather, which
has continued long •, and you will perceive, by the
Colour of the Earth, that every fine Land will be
turn'd up moid ; but every rough Land will be dry-
as Powder, from Top to Bottom.

Altho' hard Ground, when thoroughly foak'd with
Rain, will continue wet longer than fine till'd Land
adjoining to it •, yet this Water ferves rather to chill,
than nouriih the Plants Handing therein, and to keep
out the other Benefits of the Atmofphere, leaving
the Ground dill harder when 'tis thence exhaled ;
and being at lad once become dry, it can admit no
more Moidure, unlefs from a long-continued Deluge
of Rain, which ieldom falls till Winter, which is not
the Seafon for Vegetation.

As fine hoed Ground is not fo long foaked by
Rain, fo the Dews never differ it to become perfectly
dry : This appears by the Plants, which flourifh and
grow fat in this, whiid thofe in the hard Ground are
darved, except fuchof them, which dand near enough
to the hoed (a) Earth, for the Roots to borrow
Moidure and Nourifhment from it.

And

(a) As when Wheat is drilTd late in very poor Land, fo that
in the Spring the young Plants look all very yellow ; let your
Hoe-plough, making a crooked Line, like an Indenture, on one
Side of a flrait Row of this poor Wheat in the Spring, turn a
Furrow from it ; and in a fhort time you will fee all thole yellow
Plants, that are contiguous to this Furrow, change their yellow
Colour to a deep Green ; whilft thofe Plants of the fame Row,
which ftand fartheft off from this indented Furrow, change not
their Colour till afterwards; and all the Plants change or retain their
Colour fooner or later gradually, as they ftand nearer to, or far-
ther from it ; and the other Rows, which have no Furrow near
them, continue their yellow, after all this Row is become green
and foariming: But this Experiment is belt to be made in poor
fandy Ground, when the Mould is friable ; elfe perhaps the differ-

E 2 ent

52 G/Hoeing. Chap. VI.

And I have been informed by fome Perfons, that
they have often made the like Obfervations ; that, in
the drieil of Weather, good Hoeing (a) procures
Moifture to Roots ; tho' the Ignorant and Incurious
fanfy, it lets in the Drought-, and therefore are afraid
to hoe their Plants at iuch Times, when, unlefs they
water them, they are ipoil'd for Want of it.

There is yet one more Benefit Hoeing gives to
Plants, which by no Art can pofnbiy be given to
Animals : For all that can be done in feeding an Ani-
mal is, what has been here already faid of Hoeing ;
that is, to give it fufficient Food, Meat and Drink,
at the times it has occafion for them ; if you give an
Animal any more, 'tis to no manner of Purpofe, un-
lefs you couid give it more Mouths, which is impofii-

ent Colour may not appear until the Farrow be turn'd back to
the Row, having lain fome time to be fomewhat pulveriz'd (or
impregnated) by the Weather, &c.

This Experiment I often made on Wheat drilPd on the Level
before I drill-d any on Ridges.

The plowing one Furrow in fandy or mellow Ground mikes a
Pulveration, which is enjoy'd firit by thofe Plants that are the
neareit to it ; and alfo delivers them from the Weeds, which,
though there may be very few, yetthere is a vaft difference between
their robbing the Wheat of its Pafture in the Row, and the
Wheat's enjoying both that and the whole Pafture of the Furrow
alfo.

I never remember to have feen a Plant poor, that was conti-
guous to a well-hoed Interval, unlefs overpower'd by a too great
Multitude of other Plants ; and the fame Exception muft be made,
if it were a Plant that required more or lefs Heat or Moifture,
than the Soil or Climate afforded.

(a) When Land is become hard by lying too long unho'd, the
Plough in turninga deep Furrow from each Sice of a fingle Row
of young Plants (fuppofe of Turneps) may crack the Earth quite
through the Row, and expofe the Roots to the open Air and Sun
in very dry Weather; but if the Faith wherein the Plants ftand
be fine, there will be no Crack? in it : 'Tis therefore the delaying
loeinjj too long that becafions the Injury. But to hoe with
Advantage againft dry Weather, the Ground muft have been well
tilled or hoed before, that the Hoe may go deep, elfe the Dews,
that fall in the Night, v, ill be exhal'd back in the Heat of the Day.

3 ble>

Chap. VI. Of Hoei n g. 53

ble; but in hoeing a Plant the additional Nouri fo-
ment thereby given, enables it to fend out innumerable
additional Fibres and Roots, as in one of the GlaiTes
with a Mint in it, is feen ; which fully demonftrates',
that a Piant increafeth its Mouths, in (ome Propor-
tion to the Increafe of Food given to it: So that
Hoeing, by the new Pafture it raifes, furnifoes both
Food and Mouths to Plants ; and 'tis for Want of
Hoeing, that fo few are brought to their Growth and
Perfection (a)

In what Manner the Sarrition of the Antients was
performed in their Corn, is not very clear: This
ieems to have been their Method ; viz. When the
Plants were fome time come up, they harrowed the
Ground, and pull'd out the Weeds by Hand. The
Procefs of this appears in Columella^ where he directs
the Planting of Medico, co be but a Sort of Harrow-
ing or Raking amongft the young Plants, that the
Weeds might come out the more eafily: Ligneis
Raftris fiatim jacla Semina obruantur. Poft Sationem
Ligneis Raftris Jarriendus, & identidem runcandus eft
Ager, ne alterius generis Herba invalidam Medicam
perimat.

(a) A Ground was driird with Ray-grafs and Barley, in R.ows
at Five Inches Diftance from each other ; it produced a pretty
good Crop of Ray-grafs the fecond Year as is ufual; there was
adjoining to it a Ground of Turneps, that were in Rows, with
wide Intervals Horfe-ho'd ; they flood for Seed ; and amongft
them there was, in Room of a Turnep, a fingle Plant of Ray-grafs,
which, being hoed as the Turneps were, had (in every one's Opi-
nion that faw it) acquired a Bulk at leaft equal to a Thoufand
Pi ants of the fame Species in the other Ground ; tho"' that vaft
Plant had no other Advantage above the other, exceptits Single-
nefs, and the deep Hoeing.

I have feen a Chickweed, by the fame means, as much increasM
beyond its common Size; and a Plant of Muitard-feed, whofe
collateral Branches were much bigger than ever I faw a whole
Plant of that Sort ; it was higher than I could reach its Top, and
indeed more like a Tree than an Herb ; many other forts of Plants
have 1 feen thus increas'd beyond what I had ever obferv'd before,
t>ut none fo much as thofe.

E 3 They

J4 O/Hoeing. Chap. VI.

They harrowed and hoed Rajiris ; fo that their
Occatio and Sarritio were performed with much the
fame Sort of Inftrument, and differed chiefly in the
Time : The firft was at Seed-time, to cover the Seed,
or level the Ground •, the other was to move the.
Ground after the Plants were up.

One Sort of their Sarrition was, Segetes permota
Terra debere adobrui, ut fruticare foffint. Another
Sort was thus: In Locis autem frigidis farriti nee
adobrui) fed Plana Sarritione Terrain permoveri.

For the better Underftanding of thefe two Sorts
of Sarrition, wemuftconfider, that the Antients fowed
their Corn under Furrow •, that is, when they had
harrowed the Ground, to break the Clods, and make
it level, they fowed the Seed, and then plowed it in :
This left the Ground very uneven, and the Cora
came up (as we fee it does here in the fame Cafe)
moftly in the lowefl Places betwixt the Furrows,
■which always Jay higher: This appears by VirgiFs
Cum Sulcos aquant Sat a. Now, when they ufed Plana
Sarritio^ they harrowed Length- ways of the Furrows,
which being fomewhat harden'd, there could be little
Earth tlirown down thence upon the young Corn.

But the other Sort of Sarrition, whereby the Corn
is faid Addbrui* to be cover'd, feems to be perform'd
by Harrowing crois the Furrows ; which muft needs
throw down much Earth from the Furrows, which
necerTarily fell upon the Corn.

How this did contribute to make the Corn fruticare*
is another Queflion : lam in no doubt to fay, it was not
from covering any Part of it (for I fee that has a contrary
Effect), but from moving much Ground, which gave a
new Paffure to the Roots : This appears by the Obfer-
yation of the extraordinary Frutication of Wheat ho'd
without being cover'd j and by the Injury it receives by
not being uncover'd when any Earth fails on the Rows.

The fame Author faith, Faba, & cetera Legumina^
turn quatuor Digitis a Terra exfitmnt, refte farrientur,

excepto.

Chap. VI. O/Hoeing. 5^

txcefto tamen Lupino> cujus Semini contraria eft Sarritio •,
quoniam unam Radicem ha bet, qua five Ferro Juccifa
feu vulnerata eft, lotus Frutex emoritur.

If they had ho'd it only betwixt Rows, there had
been no Danger of killiog the Lupine, which is a
Plant moft proper for Hoeing. What he fays of the
Lupine's having no need ot Sarrition, becaufe it is
able of itfelf to kill Weeds, fhews the Antients were
ignorant of the chief Ufe of Hoeing ; viz. to raife
new Nourifhment by dividing the Earth, and making
a new Internal Superficies in it.

Sarrition fcratched and broke fo fmall a Part of the
Earth's Surface, arnongft the Corn and Weeds, with-
out Diftinction, or favouring one any more than the
other, that it was a Difpute, whether the Good it did
in facilitating the Runcation (or Hand-weeding) was
greater, than the Injury it did by bruifing and tearing
the Corn : And many of the i\ntients chofe rather
to content themfelves with the Ufe of Runcation only,
and totally to omit all Sarrition of their Corn.

But Hoeing is an Action very different from that
of Sarrition, and is every Way beneficial, no-way in-
jurious to Corn, tho* deftru&ive to Weeds. There-
fore fome modern Authors (hew a profound Igno-
rance, in tranfUting Sarritio, Hoeing: They give
an Idea very different from the true one : For the
Antients truly hoed their Vineyards, but not their
Corn 5 neither did they plant their Corn in Rows,
without which they could not give it the Vineyard-
hoeing : Their Sarculation was ufed but amongft
fmall Quantities of fown Corn, and is yet in Ufe for
Flax •, for I have feen the Sarculum (which is a Sort
of a very nai row Hoe) ufed arnongft the Plants of
Flax Handing irregularly : But this Operation is too
tedious and too chargeable, to be apply'd to great
Quantities of irregular Corn.

If they ho'd their Crops fown at Random, one
would think they fhould have made mad Work of

E 4 it;

56 O/Hoeing. Chap. VI.

it ; fince they were not at the Pains to plant in Rows,
and hoe betwixt them with their Bidens ♦, being the
Instrument with which they tilled many of their
Vineyards, and enters as deep as the Plough, and is
much better than the Englijh Hoe, which indeed
feems, at the firft Invention of it, to be defigned
rather to fcrape Chimneys, than to till the Ground.

The higheft and loweft Vineyards are ho'd by the
Plough •, firft the high Vineyards, where the Vines
grow (almoft like Ivy) upon great Trees, fuch as
Elms, Maples, Cherry-trees, &c. Thefe are conftantly
kept in Tillage, and produce good Crops of Corn,
befides what the Trees do yield ; and alfo thefe great
and conflant Products of the Vines are owing to this
Sort of Hoe-tillage •, becaufe- neither in Meadow or
Pafture Grounds can Vines be made toprofper; tho'
the Land be much richer, and yet have a lefs Quan-
tity of Grafs taken off ir, than the Arable has Corn
carried from that.

The Vines of low Vineyards (a)9 ho'd by the

(a) From thefe I took: my Vineyard Scheme, obferving that
indifferent Land produce? an annual Crop of Grapes and vVood
without Dung ; and though there is annually carried off from an
Acre of Vineyard, as much in Subftance as is carried off in the
Crop of an Acre of Corn produced on Land of equal Goodnefs ;
and yet the Vineyard Soil is never impoverifhed, unlefs the hoeing
Culture be denied it : But a few annual Crops of Wheat, with-
out Dung in the common Management, will impoveriih and ema-
ciate the Soil.

The Vine indeed has the Advantage of being a large perennial
Plant, and of receiving fome Part of ics Nourifhment below the
Staple ; but it has alfo Difadvantages : The Soil of the Vineyard
never can have a true Summer Fallow, tho' it has much Summer
Hoeing ; for the Vines live in it, and all over it all the Year:
neither can that Soil have Benefit from Dung, becaufe though by
5ncreafing the Pulveracion, it increafes the Crop, yet it fpoils the
Tafte of the Wine ; the Exhauftion of that Soil is therefore fup-
ply'd ky no artificial H~lp but Hoeing: And by all the Experience
I have had of it, the fame Caufe will have the fame Effect, upon
4 Soil for the Production of Corn, and other Vegetables, as well
as upon the Vineyard.

Plough,

Chap. VI. O/Hoeing. 57

Plough, have their Heads juft above the Ground,
{landing all in a moft regular Order, and are con-
stantly plowed in the proper Seafon : Thefe have no
other Afliftance, but by Hoeing; becaufe their Head
and Pvoots are fo near together, that Dung would
ipoil the Tafte of the Wine they produce, in hot
Countries.

All Vineyards muft be ho'd one Way or other
(a), or eife they will produce nothing of Value •, but
Corn Fields without Hoeing do produce fomething*
tho' nothing in Companion to what they would do
with it.

Mr. Evelyn fays, that when the Soil, wherein Fruit-
Trees are planted, is conftantly kept in Tillage, they
grow up to be an Orchard in half the Time they
would do, if the Soil were not til I'd ; and this keep-
ing an Orchard-Soil in Arable, is Horfe-hoeing it.

In fome Places in Berk/hire they have ufed, for a
long time to Hand-hoe moft Sorts of Corn, with
very great Succefs ; and I may fay this, that I myfelf
never knew, or heard, that ever any Crop of Corn
was properly fo ho'd, but what very well anfwer'd
the Expence, even of this Hand-work ; but be this
never fo profitable, there are not a Number of Flands
to ufe it in great Quantities ; which poffibly was one
Reafon the Antients were not able to introduce it into
their Corn-Fields to any Purpofe -, tho' they mould
not have been ignorant of the Effect of it, from what
they faw it do in their Vineyards and Gardens.

In the next Place I fhall give fome general Direc-
tions, which by Experience I have found neceffary
to be known, in order to the Practice of this Hoeing-
Hufbandry.

I. Concerning the Depth to plant at.

II. The Quantity of Seed to plant. ,

III. And the Difiance of the Rozvs.

(a) Vines, that cannot be ho'd by the Ploughs, are ho'd by
the jjidens,

I. Tis

58 Of Hoeing. Chap. VI.

I. 'Tis neccflary to know how deep we may plant
our Seed, without Danger of burying it; for fo 'tis
faid to be, when laid at a Depth below what 'tis abla
to come up at.

Different Sorts of Seeds come up at differentDepths %
fome at fix Inches, or more ; fome at not more than
half an Inch : The Way to know for certain the
Depth any Sort will come up at is, to make Gauges
in this Manner : Saw off 1 2 Sticks of about 3 Inches
Diameter : Bore a Hole in the End of each Stick, and
drive into it a taper Peg •, let the firft Peg be half an
Inch long, the next an Inch, and fo on •, every Peg
to be half an Inch longer than the former, till the
kft Peg be fix Inches long ; then in that fort of Ground
where you intend to plant, make a Row of Twenty
Holes with the half-Inch Gauge; put therein Twenty
good Seeds ; cover them up, and flick the Gauge at
the End of that Row ; then do the like with all the
other Eleven Gauges: This will determine the Depth,
at which the mod Seeds will come up (a).

When the Depth is known, wherein the Seed is.
fure to come up, we may eafily difcover, whether the
Seed be good or not, by obferving how many will
fail : For in fome Sorts of Seeds the Goodnefs can-
not be known by the Eye ; and there has been often
great Lofs by bad Seed, as well as by burying good
Seed ; both which Misfortunes might be prevented
by this little Trouble ; befides 'tis not convenient to
plant fome forts of Seed at the utmoft Depth they

fa) In the common way of Sowing tis bard to know the pro-
per Depth, becaufe fome Seeds lying deep, and others {hallow,
it is not eafy to difcover the Depth of thofe that are buried: But I
have found in drilling of black Oats, that when the Drill-Plough
was fet a hrtle deeper for Trial, very few came up : Therefore
'tis proper for the Driller to ufe the Gauges for all Sorts of Seeds ;
for, if he drills them too deep, he may lofe his Crop ; or, if too
Shallow, in dry Weather, he may injure it, efpecially in Summer
Seeds ; but for thofe planted againft Winter, there is the moll
Daisage by planting too deep*

will

Chap. VI. O/Hoeing. f 9

will come up at ♦, for it may be fo deep, as that the
Wet may rot or chill the firft Root, as in Wheat in
moid Land.

The Nature of the Land, the Manner how it is
laid, either flat, or in Ridges, and the Seafon of
Planting, with the Experience of the Planter, acquired
by fuch Trials, muft determine the pioper Depths
for different Sorts of Seeds.

II. The proper Quantity of Seed to be drill'd on
an Acre, is much lefs than muft be fown in the com-
mon Way ; not becaufe Hoeing will not maintain as
many Plants as the other -, for, on the contrary, Ex-

Eerience (hews it will, ceteris paribus ^ maintain more;
ut the Difference is upon many other Accounts :
As that 'tis impoffible to low it fo even by Hand, as
the Drill will do ; for let the Hand fpread it never
fo exactly (which is difficult to do fome Seeds, efpe-
cially in windy Weather), yet the Unevennefs of
the Ground will alter the Situation of the Seed ; the
greateft Part rebounding into the Holes, and lowed
Places ; or elfe the Harrows, in Covering, draw it
down thither ; and tho' thefe low Places may have
Ten Times too much, the high Places may have
little or none of it : This Inequality leifens, in Effecl,
the Quantity of the Seed ; becaufe Fifty Seeds, in
Room of One, will not produce fo much as One will
do ; and where they are too thick, they cannot be
well nourifhed, their Roots not fpreading to near
their natural Extent, for Want of Hoeing to open
the Earth. Some Seed is buried (by which is meant
the laying them fo deep, that they are never able to
come up, as Columella cautions, Ut abfque ulla Refur-
rettionis &pe fepeliantur) : Some lies naked above the
Ground ; which, with more uncovered by the firfb
Rain, feeds the Birds and Vermin.

Farmers know not the Depth that is enough to
bury their Seed, neither do they make much Dif-
ference in the Quantity they fow on a rough, or a

fine

6o O/Hoeing. Chap. VI.

fine Acre ; tho' the fame that is too little for the one,
is too much for the other; tis all mere Chance-work,
and they put their whole Truft in good Ground, and
much Dung, to cover their Errors.

The greateft Quantity of Seed I ever heard of to
be ufually fown, is in IViltfiire, where I am inform-
ed by the Owners themfelves, that on fome Sorts of
Land they Tow Eight Bufheis of Barley to an Acre;
Jo that if it produce four Quarters to an Acre, there
are but four Grains for one that is fown, and is a very
poor Increafe, tho' a good Crop; this is on Land
plowed once, and then double-dung'd, the Seed
only harrow'd into the ftale and hard Ground (a)9
'tis like not two Bufheis of' the eight will enter it to
grow; and I have heard, that in a dry Summer an
Acre of thisicarce produces four Bufheis at Harveft.

But, in Drilling, Seed lies all the iamc jufl Depth,
none deeper, nor fhallower, than the reft; here's no
Danger of the Accidents of burying, or being un-
coverd, and therefore no Allowance mud be made
for them; but Allowance mult be made for other
Accidents, where the Sort of Seed is liable to them ;
fuch as Grub, Fly, Worm, Froft, Esfa.

Next, when a Man unexperienced in this Method
has proved the Goodnefs of his Seed, and Depth to
plant at it, he ought to calculate what Number of
Seeds a Bufhel, or other Meafure or Weight, con-
tains : For one Bufhel or one Pound of fmall Seed,
may contain double the Number of Seeds, of a
Bufhel, or a Pound, of large Seed of the fame Species.

This Calculation is made by weighing an Ounce,
and counting the Number of Seeds therein ; then
weighing a Bufhel of it, and multiplying the Num-
ber of Seeds of the Ounce, by the Number of Ounces

(a) Stale Ground is that which has lain fome confiderable
time after Plowing, before it is fown, contrary to that which is
fown immediately after plow'd -s for this laft is generally not fo
hard as the former,

at

Chap. VI. Of Hoeing. 61

of the Burner's Weight ; the Product will mew the
Number of Seeds of a Bufhel near enough : Then,
by the Rule of Three, apportion them to the Square
Feet of an Acre; or elfe it may be done, by divide-
ing the Seeds of the Bufhel by the Square Feet of an
Acre ; the Quotient will give the Number of Seeds
for every Foot : Alfo confider how near you intend
to plant the Rows, and whether Single, Double,
Treble, or Quadruple ; for the more Rows, the more
S&ed will be required (a).

Examine what is the Produce of one middle-fiz'd
Plant of the Annual, but the Produce of the bell
and large ft of the perennial Sort ; becaufe that by
Hoeing will be brought to its utmoft Perfection :
Proportion the Seed of both to the reafonable Pro-
duct ; and, when 'tis worth while, adjuft the Plants to
their competent Number with the Hand-hoe, after
they are up ; and plant Perennials generally in fingle
Rows: Laftly, Plant fome Rows of the Annual
thicker than others, which will foon give you Expe-
rience (better than any other Rule) to know the exact
Quantity of Seed to drill.

III. The Diftances of the Rows are one of the
mofb material Points, wherein we mail find many
apparent Objections againft the Truth; of which, tho'
full Experience be the mo ft infallible Proof, yet the
World is by falfe Notions fo prejudiced againft wide
Spaces between Rows, that unlefs thefe common (and
I wifh I could fay, only vulgar) Objections be fir ft
anfwer'd, perhaps no-body wiil venture fo far out of
the old Road, as is neceflary to gain the Experience ;
without it be fuch as have feen it.

fa) The narrow Spaces (fuppofe feven Inches) betwixt Double,
Treble, or Quadruple Rows, the Double having One, the Treble
Two, and tjie Quadruple Three of them, are called. Partitions.

The wide Space (fuppofe of near five Feet; betwixt any Two
of thefe Double, Treble, or Quadruple Rows, is Call'd an
Interval.

I for-

6i O/Hoeing. Chap. VL

I formerly was at much Pains, and at fome Charge,
in improving my Drills, for planting the Rows at
very near Diftances ; and had brought them to fuch
Perfection, that One Horfe would draw a Drill with
Eleven Shares, making the Rows at three Inches and
half Diftance from one another; and at the fame
Time fow in them Three very different Sorts of
Seeds, which did not mix ; and thefe too, at different
Depths; as the Barley-Rows were feven Inches afun-
der, the Barley lay four Inches deep ; a little more
than three Inches above that, in the fame Chanels,
was Clover ; betwixt every Two of thefe Rows was
a Row of St. Foin, cover'd half an Inch deep.

I had a good Crop of Barley the firft Year ; the
next Year, Two Crops of Broad-Clover, where that
was fown ; and where Hop-Clover was fown, a mix'd
Crop of That and St. Foin, and every Year after-
wards a Crop of St. Foin •, but I am fince, by Ex-
perience, fo fully convinced of the Folly of thefe,
or any other fuch mix'd Crops, and more efpecially
of narrow Spaces, that I have demolilh'd thefe In-
ftruments (in their full Perfection) as a vain Curiofity,
the Drift and Ufe of them being contrary to the t*ue
Principles and Practice of Horfe-Hoeing.

Altho' I am fatisfied, that every one, who (hall
have feen as much of it as I have, will be of my
Mind in this Matter; yet I am aware, that what I am.
going to advance, wili feem fhocking to them, before
they have made Trials.

I lay it down as a Rule (to myfelf ) that every Row
of Vegetables, to be Horfe-ho'd, ought to have an
empty Space or Interval of thirty Inches on one Side
of it (a) at leail, and of near five Feet in all Sorts
of Corn.

In

(a) Note, We call it one Row, tho' it be a Double, Treble, or
Quadruple Row ; becaufe when they unite in the Spring, they
feem to be all imgle; even the Quadruple then is but as one fmgle
Row. Obfer^ij,

Chap. VI. Of H o e i n g. 63

In Hand-hoeing there is always lefs Seed, fewer
Plants, and a greater Crop, ceteris paribus, than in
the common Sowing : Yet there, the Rows mufl be
much nearer together, than inHorfe-hoeing; becaufe
as the Hand moves many times lefs Earth than the
Horfe, the Roots will be lent out in like Proportion ;
and if the Spaces or Intervals, where the Hand-hoe
only fcratches a little of the upper Surface of them,
mould be wide, they would be fo hard and Hale un-
derneath, that the Roots of perennial Plants would be
long in running thro' them ; and the Roots of many-
annual Plants would never be able to do it.

An Inflance which fhews fomething of the Differ-
ence between Hand-hoeing and Deep-hoeing is, That
a certain poor Man is obferv'd to have his Cabbages
vaftly bigger than any-body's elfe, tho' their Ground
be richer, and better dung'd : His Neighbours were
amaz'd at it, till the Secret at length came out,
and was only this : As other People ho'd their Cab-

Obferve, that as wide Intervals are neceffary for perfeft Horfe •
hoeing, fo the largeft Vegetables have generally the greateft Bene-
fit by chem; tho' fmall Plants may have confiderable Benefit from
much narrower Intervals than Five Feet.

The Intervals may be fomewhat narrower for conftant annual
Crops of Barley, than of Wheat ; becaufe Barley does not fhut
out the Hoe-Plough fo foon, nor require fo much Room for
Hoeing, nor fo much Earth in the Intervals, it being a lefTer Plant,
and growing but about a Third-part of the Time on the Ground ;
but he that drills Barley, muft refolve to reap it, and bind it up
in Sheaves ; for if he mows it, or does not bind it, a great Part
will be loft among the Earth in the Intervals : But 'tis now found,
that in a wet Harveft thebeft Way is not to bind up drilPd Barley
or Oats ; but inftead thereof, to make up the Grips into little
Heaps by Hands, laying the Ears upon one another inwards, and
the Stubble-ones outwards; fo that with a Fork that hath Two
Fingers, and a Thumb, 'tis very eafy to pitch fuch Heaps up the
Waggons without fcattering, or wafting any of the Corn.

'Tis alfofeen, that when the Reaperstake Care tofet their Grips
with the But-ends in the Bottoms of the Intervals, and the Ears
properly on the Stubble, they will fo ftand up from the Ground, as
toefcape much better from fprouting, than mow'd Corn.

bages

64, w/ Hoeing. Chap. VI.

bages with a Hand-hoe, he inflead thereof dug his
with a Spade : And nothing can more nearly equal
(a) the Ufe of the Horfe-hoe than the Spade does.

And when the Plants have never (o much Pabulum
near them, their fibrous Roots cannot reach it all,
before the Earth naturally excludes them from it; for,
to reach it all, they muft fill all the Pores (i?), which
is impoffible : So far ctherwife it is, that we (hall find
it probable, that they can only reach theleaft Part of
it, unlefs the Roots could remove themfelves from
Place to Place, to leave fuch Pores as they had exhauft-
ed, and apply -themfelves to fuch as wereunexhaulled -9
but they not being endow'd with Parts neceflary for
local Motion fas Animals are), the Hoe-Plough fup-
lies their Want of Feet •, and both conveys them to
their Food, and their Food to them, as well as pro-
vides it for them •, for by tranfplanting the Roots, it
gives them Change of the Pafture, which it increafes
by the very Act of changing them from one Situation
to another, if the Intervals be wide enough for this
Hoeing Operation to be properly perform'd.

The Objections mofl likely to prepoffefs Peoples
Minds, and prevent their making Trials of this Huf-
bandry, are thefe :

Firft, they will be apt to think, that thefe wide,
naked Spaces, not being cover'd by the Plants, will
not be fufficient to make a good Crop.

For Anfwer, we muft confider, that tho' Corn,
flanding irregular and fparfim, may feem to cover

(a) The Hoe-plough exceeds the Spade in this Refpett, that it
removes more of the Roots, and cuts orr fewer ; which is an Ad-
vantage when we till near to the Bodies of Plants that are grown
large.

[b) The Roots of a Mint, fet a whole Summer in a Glafs,
kept constantly replenifhed with Water, will, in Appearance, fill
the whole Cavity of the Glafs ; but by compreihng the Roots, or
by obferving how much Water the Glafs will hold when the
Roots are in it, we are convinc'd, that they do not fill a Fourth-
part of its Cavity; tho' they are not ilopp'd by Water, as they
are by Earth. the'

Chap. VI. 0/ Hoeing. 6j

the Ground better than when it {lands regular in
Rows ; this Appearance (a) is a mere Beceptio vifus *,
for Stalks are never fo thick on any Part of the
Ground as where many come out of one Plant, or
as when they ftand in a Row ; and a ho'd Plant of
Corn will have Twenty or Thirty Stalks (l>)9 in the
fame Quantity of Ground where an unho'd Plant,
being equally fingle, will have only Two or Three
Stalks. Thefe tillered ho'd Stalks, if they were
planted fparfim all over the Interval, it might feem
well cover'd, and perhaps thicker than the fown Crop
commonly is ; fo that tho' thefe ho'd Rows feem to
contain a lefs Crop, they may contain, in reality, a
greater Crop than the fown, that feems to exceed it ;
and 'tis only the different Placing that makes one
feem greater, and the other lefs, than it really is; and
this is only when both Crops are young.

The next Objection is, That the Space or Interval
not bzmvplanted, much of the Benefit of that Ground
will be loft 5 and therefore the Crop muft be lefs than
if it were planted all over.

I anfwer, It might be fo, if not Horfe-ho'd ; but
if well Horfe-ho'd, the Roots can run through the
Intervals ; and, having more Nourifhment, make a
greater Crop.

The too great Number of Plants, plac'd all over
the Ground in common fowing, have, whilfl it is
open, an Opportunity of wafting 9 when they are very
young, that Stock of Provifion, for Want of which
the greateft Part of them are afterwards flarv'd -, for

(a) For the Eye to make a Companion betwixt a fown Crop
and fuch a ho'd Crop, it ought, when 'tis half grown, to look
en the ho'd Crop acrofs the Rows ; becaufe in the other it does
fo, in Effect, which way foever it iooks ; but whatever Appear-
ance the ho'd Crop of Vegetables (of as large a Species as Wheat)
makes when young, it furely, if well managed, appears more
beautiful at Harvelt than a fown Crop.

(b) I have counted Fifty large Ears on one fingle ho'd Plant
of Barley.

F their

66 Of Hoeing. Chap. VI

their irregular Standing prevents their being relieved
with frefh Supplies from the Hoe: Hence it is, that
the old Method exhaufting the Earth to no Purpofe,
produces a lefs Crop ; and yet leaves lefs Pabulum
behind for a fucceeding one, contrary to the Hoeing-
Hufbandry, wherein Plants are manag'd in all Re-
fpects by a quite different Oeconomy.

In a large Ground of Wheat it was prov'd, that
the widefl: ho'd Intervals brought the greater!' Crop
of all : Dung without Hoeing did not equal Hoeing
without Dung. And what was mod remarkable,
amongft Twelve Differences of wider and narrower
Spaces, more and lefs ho'd, dung'd and undung'd,
the Hand-fow'd was confiderably the word of all ;
tho' all the Winter and Beginning of the Spring,
that made infinitely the moil promifing Appearance ;
but at Harveft yielded but about One-fifth Part of
Wrheat of that which was mofl hoed ; there was
fome of the moft hoed, which yielded Eighteen
Ounces of clean Wheat in a Yard in Length of a dou-
ble Row, the Intervals being thirty Inches, and the
Partition Six Inches (a).

A Third Objection like the two former is, that fo
fmall a Part of the Ground, as that whereon the Row
Hands, cannot contain Plants or Stalks fufncient for
a full Crop.

This fome Authors endeavour to fupport by Argu^
ments taken from the perpendicular Growth of Vege-
tables, and the Room they require to ftand on ; both
which having anfwer'd elfewhere, I need not fay
much of them here j only I may add, that if Plants
could be brought to as great Perfection, and lb to

(a) The fame Harveft, a Yard in Length of a double Row of
Barley, having Six Inches Partition, produced Eight hundred and
Eighty Ears in a Garden ; but the Grains happened to be eaten
by Poultry before 'twas ripe, {o that their Produce of Grains
cculd not be known : One like Yard of a ho'd Row of Wheat,
in an undung'd Field, produc'd Four hundred Ears of Lammas-
Wheat.

5 ftarjd

Chap. VI. O/Hoeing, 67

Hand as thick all over the Land, as they do in the
ho'd Rows, there might beproduc'd, at once, many
of the greateft Crops of Corn that ever grew.

But fince Plants thrive, and make their Produce,
in Proportion to the Nourifhment they have within
the Ground, not to the Room they have to ftand
upon it, one very narrow Row may contain more
Plants .than a wide Interval can nourifh, and bring
to their full Perfection, by all the Art that can be
ufed ; and 'tis impofiible a Crop fliould be loft for
want of room to (land above the Ground, tho9 it were
lefs than a Tenth-part of the Surface (a).

In wide Intervals there is another Advantage of
Hoeing, I mean Horfe-hoeing (the other being more
like Scratching and Scraping than Hoeing) : There is
room for many Hoeings (b)> which mult not come

very

(a) Mr. Houghton calculates, that a Crop of Wheat of Thirty
Quarters to an Acre, each Ear has two Inches and a Half of
Surface ; by which 'tis evident, that there would be Room for
many fuch prodigious Crops to iland on.

And a Quick-hedge, {landing between two Arable Grounds,
one Foot broad at Bottom, and Eighteen Feet in Length, will, at
fourteen Years Growth, produce more of the fame Sort of Wood,
than eighteen Feet fquare of a Coppice will produce in the fame
Time, the Soil of both being of equal Goodnefs.

This feems to be the fame Cafe with our ho'd Rows ; the
Coppice, if it were to be cut in the firft Years, would yield per-
haps ten Times as much Wood, as the Hedge; but many of the
Shoots of the Coppice conftantly die every Year, for Want of
jTufficient Nourishment, until the Coppice is fit to be cut ; and
then its Product is much lefs than that of the Hedge, whofe
Pailure has not been over-ftock'd to fuch a Degree as the Coppice-
Pailure has been; and therefore brings its Crop of Wood to
greater Perfection than the Coppice-Wood, which has Eighteen
Times the Surface of Ground to Hand on: The Hed^e has the
Benefit of Hoeing, as oft as the Land on either Side of it is till'd 3
but the Coppice, like the fown Corn, wants that Benefit.

(b) Many Hoeings • but if it mould be afked how many, we
may take Columella '3 Rule in hoeing the Vines, <vi%. Humerus
autcrn vertendi Scli (bidentibus) iefiniendm non eft, cum quanto cre-

F z brier

68 O/'Hoeing. Chap. VL

very near the Bodies of fome annual Plants, except
whilft they are young ; but in narrow Intervals, this
cannot be avoided at ev^ry Hoeing : 5Tis true, that
in the laft Hoeings, even in the middle of a large
Interval, many of the Roots may be broken off by
the Hoe-plcugh, at fome confiderable Diftance from
the Bodies ; but yet this is no Damage, for they fend
out a greater Number of Roots than before ; as in
Chap. I. appears.

In wide Intervals, thofe Roots are broken off only
where they are fmall -9 for tho' they are capable of
running out to more than the Length of the external
Parts of a Plant •, yet 'tis not neceifary they mould
always do fo -, if they can have fufficient Food nearer
to the Bodies (a) of the Plants.

And thefe new, young, multiply'd Roots are
fuller of Lacteal Mouths than the older ones ; which
makes it no Wonder, that Plants mould thrive fafter
by having fome of their Roots broken off by the
Hoe -, for as Roots do not enter every Pore of the
Earth, but mifs great Part of the Pafiure, which is
kfc unexhaufced, fo when new Roots ftrike out from
the broken Parts of the old, they meet with that Pa-
ffure, which their PredecefTors mifs'd, befides that
new Paiture which the Hoe raifes for them ; and
thofe Roots which the Hoe pulls out without breaking,

hrior fit, plus prodejfe fojjiontm con-jcn'iat. Sed imperfurum Ratio
modum fojiulat. Lib. 4. Cap. 5.

Neither is it altogether the Number of Hoeings that determines
the Degrees of Pulveration : For, Once well done, is Twice
done ; and the oftener the better, if the Expence be not exceflive.

Poor Land, be it never fo light, mould have the mod Hoeings ;
becaufe Plants, receiving but very little Nourifhment from the
natural Pafture of fuch Land, require the more artificial Pafture
to fubfift on.

(a) Ail the Mould is never fo near to the Bodies of Plants,
as ti= when the Row ftands on a high Six-feet Ridge, when the
middle of the Interval is left bare of Earth, at the lafl Hoeing ;
for then all the Mould may be but about a Foot, or a Pcot and
.half, diilant from the Body of each Plant of a Treble Row.

and

Chap. VI. O/Hoeing. 69

and covers again, are turn'd into a frefli Pafture ;
fome broken, and fome unbroken : All together invi-
gorate the Plants.

Befides, the Plants of fown Corn, being treble in
Number to thole of the drill'd, and of equal Strength
and Bulk, whilft they are very young, muft exhauft
the Earth whilft it is open, thrice as much as the
drill'd Plants do; and before the fown Plants grow
large, the Pores of the Earth are fhut againft them,
and againft the Benefit of the Atmofphere ; but for
the drill'd, the Hoe gives conftant Ad million to that
Benefit; and if the Hoe procures them (by dividing
the Earth) Four Times the Pafture of the fown du-
ring their Lives, and the Roots devour but one half
of that, then tho5 the ho'd Crop fhould be double to
the fown, yet it might leave twice as much Pabulum
for a fucceeding Crop. 'Tis impofiible to bring thefe
Calculations to Mathematical Rules ; but this is certain
in Practice, that a fown Crop, fucceeding a large un-
dung'd ho'd Crop, is much better than a fown
Crop, that fucceeds a fmail dung'd fown Crop.
And I have the Experience of poor, worn out Heath-
ground, that, having produc'd Four fucceflive good
ho'd Crops of Potatoes (the laft ft ill belt), is become
tolerable good Ground.

In a very poor Field were planted Potatoes, and, in
the very worft Part of it, feveral Lands had them in
Squares a Yard afunder ; thefe were plowed four
ways at different times : Some other Lands adjoining
to them, of the very fame Ground, were very well
dung'd and till'd ; but the Potatoes came irregularly,
in fome Places thicker, and in others thinner : Thefe
were not ho'd, and yet, at firft coming up, looked
blacker and ftronger than thofe in Squares not dung'd,
either that Year, or ever, that I know of; yet thefe
Lands brought a good Crop of the larger! Potatoes,
and very few fmall ones amongft them ; but in the
dung'd Lands, for Want of Hoeing, the Potatoes
F 3 were

70 Of Hoeing. Chap. VI.

were not worth the taking up ; which proves, that in
thofe Plants that are planted fo as to leave Spaces
wide enough for Repetitions of Hoeing, that Inftru-
ment can raife more Nourifhment to them, than a
good Coat of Dung with common Tillage.

Another Thing I have more particularly obferv'd,
viz. That the more fucceffive Crops are planted in
wide Intervals, and often ho'd, the better the Ground
does maintain them ; the laft Crop is {till the belt,
without Dung, or changing the Sort of Plant; and
this is vifible in Parts of the fame Field, where fome
Part has a firft, fome other Part a fecond, the reft
a third Crop growing all together at the fame time ;
which feems to prove, that as the Earth is made by
this Operation to difpenfe or diftribute her Wealth to
Plants, in Proportion to the Increafe ot her inner
Superficies (which is the Pafture of Plants) ; fo the
Atmofphere, by the Riches in Rain and Dews, does
annually reimburfe her in Proportion to the fame
Superficies, with an Overplus for Intereft : But if that
Superficies be not increafed to a competent Degree,
and, by frequent Repetitions of Hoeing, kept increaf-
ing (which never happens in common Hufoandry)
this Advantage is loft; and, without often repeated
Stercoration, every Year's Crop grows worfe \ and it
has been made evident by Trials, which admit of no
Pifpute, that Hoeing, without Dung or Fallow, can
make fuch Plants as ftand in wide Intervals, more
vigorous in the fame Ground, than both common
Dunging and Fallowing can do without Hoeing.

This Sort of Hoeing has in Truth every Year the
Effect of a Summer-fallow ; tho' it yearly produce a
good Crop.

This is one Reafon of the different Effects Plants
have upon the Soil ; fome are faid to enrich it, others
to burn it, i, e. to impoverifh it*, but I think it
may be obferved, that all thofe Plants, which are
ufually ho'd, are reckoned among the Enrichers;

and

Chap. VI. O/Hoeing, 71

and tho' it be certain that fome Species of Plants
are, by the Heat of their Conflitution, greater De-
rourers than thofe of another Species of equal Bulk ;
yet there is Reafon to believe, that were the moft
cormorant Plant of them all to be commonly ho'df
it would gain (a) the Reputation of an Enricher or

(a) But this mufl be intended of the deep Horfe hoeing; for
Turneps that ftand for Seed, are fuch Devourers, and feed fo
long on the Soil, that tho' they are Hand-ho'd, fuch a (hallow
Operation doth not fupply the ufual Thicknefs of thofe Plants
with Failure fufficient to raife their Stems to half their natural
Bulk ; and they leave fo little of that Pafture behind them, that
the Soil is obferv'd to be extremely impoverished for a Year or
two, and fometimes three Years after them ; but 'tis otherwife
with my Horfe-hoM Turnep-Seed ; for I never fail'd of a good
Crop of Barley after it, fown on the Level in the following Spring,
tho' no Dung hath been ufed on the Land where the Turnep-Seed
grew for many Years. And alfo my Barley Crops thus fovvn
after two fucceffive Crops of Turnep-Seed without a Fallow be-
tween them, are as good as thofe fown after a fingle Crop of it.
For I have feveral Times made thefe Turnep-Seed Crops annual,
that is. to have Two Crops of it in Two Years, which would in
the old Way require three Years, becaufe this Crop Hands about a
Year on the Ground, and is not ripe till Midfummer, which is
too late to get that Land into a Tilth proper to plant another
Seed Crop on it the fame Summer; neither can the Soil be able
to bear fuch another Crop immediately after being fo much ex-
hausted, and unplowed for a whole Year, except it be extraordi-*
nary rich, or much dunged : However, Two Crops of Turnep-
Seed immediately fucceeding one another, is what I never knew,
or heard of, except my own that were Horfe-ho d ; and of thefe
the fecond Crop was as good as the firft ; their Stalks grew much,
higher than they ufually do in the common Way; and tho' the
Number of Plants was much lefs, their Produce was fo valuable,
that the Vicars Asent declared, he made Twenty Shillings per
Acre of his Tythe of a whole Field which he tythed in Kind.
The Expence of thefe Crops was judg'd to be anfwered by the
Fuel of the threfh'd Stalks. It mull be noted, that the extraor-
dinary Value of thefe Crops arofe, not from a greater Quantity
of Seed than fome common Crops; bur from their Quality, Ex-
perience having brought this Seed into great Efteem, on account
of its being perfectly clean, and produced by large Turneps of a
good Sort, and of a proper Shape; for thole that are not well
cultivated are very apt to degenerate, and then their Seed will
produce Turneps of a fmall Size, and of a Ifong rapy ill Shape.

F 4 Improver

72 O/Hoeing, Chap. VI.

Improver of the Soil ; except it mould be fuch, as
might occafion Trouble, by filling it full of its (hat-
ter'd Seeds, which might do the Injury of Weeds
to the next Crop ; and except fuch Plants, which
have a vaft Bulk to be maintained a long Time, as
Turnep-Seed (a).

The wider the Intervals are, the more Earth may
be divided •, for the Row takes up the fame Room
with a wide, or a narrow Interval ; and therefore with
the wide, the unho'd Part bears a lefs Proportion to
the ho\d Part than in the narrow.

And 'tis no Purpofe to hoe, where there is not
Earth to be ho'd, or Room to hoe it in.

There are many Ways of Hoeing with the Hoe-
Plough •, but there is not Room to turn Two deep
clean Furrows in an Interval that is narrower than
Four Feet Eight Inches ; for if it want much of this
Breadth, one, at leail, of thefe Furrows, will reach,
and fall upon the next Row, which will be very inju-
rious to the Plants; except of grown St. Foin, and
fuch other Plants, that can bear to have the Earth
pull'd off them by Harrows.

Thus much of Hoeing in general may fuffice :
And different Sorts of Plants requiring different Ma-
nagement; that may more properly be defcribed
in the Chapter, where particular Vegetables are
treated of.

It may not be amifs to add, that all Sorts of
Land are not equally proper for Hoeing : I take it,
that a dry friable Soil is the ben:. Intractable wet
Clays, and fuch Hiils as are too ileep for Cattle
to draw a Plough up and down them, are the molt
improper (J?).

(a) Turneps run to Seed, not till the fecond Summer.

(b) For by hoeing crofs the Hill, the Furrow turn'd againfi
the Declivity cannot be thrown up near enough to the Row aoove
it ; and the Furrow that is turiVd downwards will bury the Row
JDelow 2E.

That

Chap. VII- Of We eds. 73

That 'tis not fo beneficial to hoe in Common-fields,
is not in Refpect of the Soil, but to the old Princi-
ples, which have bound the Owners to unreafonable
Cuftoms of changing the Species of Corn, and make
it neceflary to fallow every Second, Third, or Fourth
Year at far theft.

C H A P. VII.

Of Weeds.

PLANTS, that come up in any Land, of a
different Kind from the fown or planted Crop,
are Weeds.

That there are in Nature any fuch things as inntiles
Herb*, the Botanifts deny ;and juftly too, according
to their Meaning.

But the Farmer, who expects to make Profit of
his Land from what he fows or plants in it, finds not
only Herha inutiles, but alfo noxia> unprofitable and
hurtful Weeds ; which come like Mufca^ or uninvi-
ted Guefts, that always hurt, and often fpoil his Crop,
by devouring what he has, by his Labour in Dunging
and Tilling, provided for its Suftenance.

All Weeds, as fuch, are pernicious •, butfome much
more than others ; fome do more Injury, and are
more eafiiy defiroy'd; fome do lefs Injury, and are
harder to kill ; others there are, which have both
thefe bad Qualities. The harder! to kill are fuch as
will grow and propagate by their Seed, and alfo by
every Piece of their Roots, as Couch-grafs, Coltsfoot,
Melilot, Fern, and fucn-like. Some are hurtful
only by robbing legitimate (or fown) Plants of their
Nourifhment, as all Weeds do ; others both leffen a
legitimate Crop by robbing it, and alfo fpoil that
Crop, which efcapes their Rapine, when they infect

it

74 Of W e e d s. Chap. VII.

it with their naufeous Scent and Relifh, as Melilot,
wild Garlick, &c.

Weeds ilarve the fown Plants, by robbing them
of their Provifion of Food (a)9 not of their Room
(asfome Authors vainly imagine) ; which will appear
by the following Experiment.

Let three Beds of the fame Soil, equal, and equally
prepared, be fown with the fame Sort of Corn. Let
the firft of thefe Beds be kept clean from Weeds: In
the Second, let a Quantity of Weeds grow along with
the Corn ; and in the Third, ilick up a Quantity of
dead Sticks, greater in Bulk than the Weeds.

It will be found, that the Produce of the Corn in
the Firft will not exceed that of the Third Bed •, but
in the Second, where the Weeds are, the Corn will
be diminiuYd in Proportion to the Quantity of Weeds
amongft it.

The Sticks, having done no Injury to the Corn,
fhew there was room enough in the Bed for Company
to lodge, would they forbear to eat •> or elfe (like
Travellers in Spain) bring their Provifion with them
to their Inn, or ( which would be the fame thing) if
Weeds could find there fame Difh fo difagreeable to
the Palate of the Corn, and agreeable to their own,
that they might feed on it without robbing ; and then
they would be as innocent as the Sticks, which take
up the fame Room with the Weeds.

The Quantity of Ncunfhment Weeds rob the
Corn of, is not in Proportion only to their Number
and Bulk, but to the Degrees of Heat in their Con-

(a) A Tree of any Sort will fpoii Corn all round it, in a large
Circle ; half an Acre of Turneps has been fpoil'd by one : Here-
by 'tis plain, that Trees rob as Weeds ; becaufe 'tis not by their
Shadow, there being as much Damage done by them on the South-
Side, where their Shadow never comes, as on their North-Side:
Nor can it be bv their dropping; for 'tis the fame on the Side where
a Tree has no Boughs to drop over the Plants, when they are
alfo at a very great Diftance from all Parts cf the Tree, except
its Pvoots.

ftitution 3

Chap. VII. Of We e d s. 77

ftiturion; as appears by the Inftance of Charlock and
Turneps, mention'd in the Chapter Of Change of
Species.

'Tis needlefs to go about to compute the Value of
the Damage Weeds do, fince allexpenenc'd Husband-
men know it to be very great, and would unani-
moufly agree to extirpate their whole Race as intirely,
as in England they have done the Wolves, tho' much
more innocent, and lefs rapacious than Weeds (a).

But alas! they find it impoflible to be done, or
even to be hoped for, by the common Hufbandry;
and the Reafons I take to be thefe.

The Seeds of mod Sorts of Weeds are fo hardy,
as to lie found and uncorrupt for many Years f £), or
perhaps Ages in the Earth ; and are not kill'd until
they begin to grow or fprout, which very few of
them do, unlefs the Land beplow'd ; and then enough
of them will rfpen amongft the fown Crop, to propa-
gate and continue their Species, by fhedding their
Off-fpring in the Ground (for 'tis obferv'd they are
generally ripe before the Corn) ; and the Seeds of
thefe do the fame in the next fown Crop ; and thus
perpetuate their lavage, wicked (c) Brood, from
Generation to Generation.

Befides, their Seeds never all come up in one Year,
unlefs the Land be very often plow'd ; for they mull
have their exact Depth, and Degrees of Moifture and

(a) If we confider the Crops they utterly deftroy, and thofe
they extremely diminifh ; and that very few Crops efcape without
receiving Injury from them ; it may be a Queftion, whether the
Mifchief Weeds do to our Corn, is not as great as the Value of
the Rent of all the Arable Lands in England.

(b) The Seeds of Lethean Poppy (call'd Red-nveeJ) have lain
dormant 24 Years the Land being, duringthat time, in St. Fain)
and then at firft Plowing they came up very thick ; this I have
feen, and fo will many other Sorts of Weeds, when the Ground
has lain untill'd for an Age.

(c) The French call them, les Herbes Salvages, & les mechan-
tes Her he s.

Heat,

76 Of Weeds. Chap. VII.

Heat, to make them grow -, and fuch as have not
thefe, will lie in the Ground, and retain their vege-
tative Virtue for Ages ; and the common ufual Plow-
ings, not being fufficient to make them all, or the
greater! Part, grow, almoft every Crop that ripens
increafes the Stock of Seed, until it make a confider-
able Part of the Staple of fuch Land as is fown with-
out good Tillage and Fallowing.

The bed Defence againft thefe Enemies, which the
Farmer has hitherto found, is to endeavour their
Deft ruction by a good Summer-fallow : This indeed,
if the Weather be propitious, does make Havock of
them -, but dill fome will efcape one Year's Profecution.
Either by being fometimesfituatefo high, that the Sun's
Heat dries them, or fometimes lying fo deep, that
it cannot reach them; either way their Germination,
which would have proved their Death, is prevented.

Another Faculty fecures abundance of them, and
that is, their being able, to endure the Heat and Moi-
fture of one Year without growing; as (a) wild Oats,
and innumerable other Sorts of Weeds, will do; for
gather thefe when ripe, fow them in the richeft Bed,
water them, and do ail that is poffible to make them
grow the Firlt Year, it will be vain Labour; they
will refift all Enticements till the Second; that is,
if you gather them in Autumn, you cannot force
them to grow until the next Spring come Twelve-
month; and many of them will remain dormant
even to the next Year alter that, and fome of them
longer.

By this Means, One Year's Summer-Fallow can
have no Effect upon them, but to prepare the Soil

(a) I have not try'd wild Oats by {"owing them in a Bed myfelf,
but have been fo inform'd by others ; and my own Experience
hath frequently (hewn me, that they will come up, after lying
many Year?, in the Ground ; and that very few Sorts of Weeds will
come all up the hrft Year, as Corn doth : If they did, the Tillage
of one Year's Summer-fallow might extirpate them,

for

Chap. VII. Of We e d s. 77

for their more vigorous Growth and plentiful Increafe
the next Year after •, and very rarely will the Farmer
fallow his Land Two Years fuccefllvely •, and often
the Dung, which is made of the Straw of fown Corn,
being full of the Seeds of Weeds, when fpread on
the Fallows, incumbers the Soil with another Stock
of Weeds, as ample as that the Fallowing has de-
ftroy'd •, and tho' perhaps many of thefe may not
grow the next Year, they will be fure to come up
afterwards.

The other old Remedy is what often proves worfe
than the Difeafe •, that is, what they call Weeding
among fown Corn •, for if by the Hook or Hand
they cut fome Sorts (as Thirties) while they are young,
they will fprout up again, like Hydras, with more
Heads than before ; and if they are cut when full-
grown, after they have done almoft their utmofl in
robbing the Crop, 'tis like (hutting the Stable-Door
after the Steed is flolen.

Hand-weeders often do more Harm to the Corn
with their Feet, than they do Good by cutting or
pulling out the Weeds with their Hands •, and yet I
have known this Operation fometimes cod the Farmer
Twelve Shillings an Acre •, befides the Damage done
by treading down his Wheat -, and, after all, a fuffi-
cient Quantity of them have efcaped, to make a too
plentiful Increafe in the next Crop of Corn.

The new Hoeing-Hufbandry in Time will pro-
bably make fuch an utter Riddance (a) of all Sorts
of Weeds (b\ except fuch as come in the Air,

that

(a) A very pernicious, large, perennial Weed, like Barrage,
with a blue Flower, infefted a Piece of Land, (or Time out of
Mind: Hoeing has deilroyed it utterly ; not one of the Species
has been feen in the Field thefe Seven Years, tho1 conflantly till d.
and ho'd.

(b) I have now a Piece of Wheat drilPd early the laft Autumn
ypon an Hill, fallowed and well pulveriz'd : Part of it was drill'd
with Wheat in double Rows upon the Level Nine Years ago,

Horfe-

;8 Of We eds, Chap.VIL

that (c) as long as this Management is properly
continued, there is no Danger to be apprehended
from them ; which is enough to confute the old Error

Horfe-ho'd, and the Partitions thoroughly Hand ho'd to cleanfe
out the Poppies, of which the Land was very full ; the other
Part of this Piece was never drilled till this Year : The whole
Piece hath not been before this Winter Horfe-ho'd. Now the Par-
titions of the Part that was never any Way Ho'd, are fo itock'd
with Poppies matted together, that unlefs they are taken out
early in the Spring, they will totally devour the Rows of Wheat;
but in the other Part that was ho'd fo long fince, there are now
very few Poppies to be feen. Both thefe Parts have had feveral
fown Crops of Barley together fmce, and have lain with St. Fein
thefe laft Five or Six Years.

(c) And except alfo fuch Weeds, whofe Seed is carried by
Birds, which is the moil comincn Manner of tranfporting the
Seeds of Vegetables from Held to Field, againft the Conlent of
the Owner: For Birds, whether great or fmall, do not care to eat
their Prey where they take it, but generally chufe fome open
Place for that Purpofe. 'Tis, I am perfuaded, by this Means
chiefly, that a Vineyard or Field, made ever fo clean from Grafs,
will, in lying untilled a few Years, be replenished with a Turf of
that neighbouring Species of Grafs, which beft fuits the Heat
and Moiiture of the Soil : Yet there are fome Species of Seeds
that Birds (at leait fuch as frequent this Place) do not affect ; elfe
the Burrage-weed (mentioned in p. 77.) would have appeared
again in my Field in fome of the many Years fmce the Hoeing
has extirpated it there; for it grows plentifully in the unplowed
Way adjoining thereto.

The Seeds of fome Weeds may be fufpecled to come in the
Air; as the Seed of the Grafs that grew in the Cheapjieie, in the
Time of the Plague ; but it might come from Seeds in the Dirt,
brought thither by the Feet of People and Cattle, and by the
Wheels of Coaches, Carts carrying Hay : Or other wife continu-
al Treading might keep it from Growing ; and when the Tread-
ing ceafed, 'tis no Wonder the Seeds mould furnifh the Streets
with Grafs,

And I have cbferv'd on the Floor?, two Stories high, of alone,
ruinous, uninhabited Houie, being long uncover'd, a fort of Herb
growing very thick ; I think it was Vimptrncl^ and believe that
its Seeds did not come thither in the Air ; but in the Sand which
was mix'd with the Mortar that had fallen from the Cielings ; and
'tis like there were few Seeds at firft : Yet, thefe, ripening for
feveral Years, (hed their Seeds annually, until the Floors became
all over ve-y thick planted : Belides, Hay-feeds and Pimpernel
are too heavy to be carry 'd far by the Air.

of

Chap. VIII. Of T u r n e p s. 79

of equivocal Generation, had it not been already
fufficiently exploded, ever fince that Demonftration
of Malpigbius's Experiment. For if Weeds were
brought forth without their proper Seeds, the Hoeing
could not hinder their Production, v/here the Soil
was inclined naturally to produce them. The Belief
of that blind Doctrine might probably be one of the
Caufes that made the Antients defpair of finding fo
great Succefs in Hoeing, as now appears -, or elfe, if
they had had true Principles, they might perhaps have
invented and improved that Hufbandry, and the In-
flruments neceflary to put it in Practice.

CHAP. VIII.

O/TURNEPS.

AS far as I can be inform'd, 'tis but of late Years
that Turneps have been introduc'd as an Im-
provement in the Field.

All Sorts of Land, when made fine by Tillage, or
by Manure and Tillage, will ferve to produce Tur-
neps, but not equally -, for chalky Land is generally
too dry (a Turnep being a thirfty Plant) ; and they
are fo long in fuch dry poor Land before they get
into rough Leaf, that the Fly is very apt to deftroy
them there ; yet I have known them fucceed on fuch
Land, tho' rarely.

Sand and Gravel are the rood proper Soil for Tur-
neps, becaufe that is moil G3.Ci\y puiveriz'd, and its
Warmth caufeth the Turneps to grow fader, and fo
they get the fooner out of the Dangei of the Fly -, and
fuch a Soil, when well-till'd, and Horfe-ho'd, never
wants a fufficient Moifture, even in the dried Wea-
ther; and the Turneps being drill'd will come up
without Rain, and profper very well with the fole

Moifture

8o O/Turneps. Chap. VIIL

Moifture of the Dews, which are admitted as deep
as the Pulveration reacheth •, and if that be to Five
or fix Inches, the hottefl Sun cannot exhale the Dews
thence in the Climate of England: I have known
Turneps thrive well in a very dry Summer by repeat-
ed Horfe-hoeings, both in Sand and in Land which
is neither fandy nor gravelly.

When I fow'd Turneps by Hand, and ho'd them
with a Hand-hoe, the Expence was great, and the
Operation not half perform'd, by the Deceitfulnefs
of the Hoers, who left half the Land unho'd, and
cover'd it with the Earth from the Part they did hoe,
and then the Grafs and Weeds grew the fafter : Be-
fides, in this Manner a great Quantity of Land could
not be managed in the proper Seafon.

When I drill'd upon the Level (a)^ at Three Feet
Intervals, a Trial was made between thofe Turneps
and a Field of the next Neighbour's, fown at the fame
Time, whereof the Hand-hoeing cod Ten Shillings
per Acre, and had not quite haif the Crop of the
drill'd, both being meafur'd by the Bufhel, on Pur-
pofe to find the Difference (b).

In the new Method they are more certain to come
up quickly •, becaufe in every Row, half the Seed is
planted about Four Inches deep (c) ; and the other
Half is planted exactly over that, at the Depth of
half an Inch, falling in after the Earth has cover'd

(a) 'Tis impoflible to hoe-plow them fo well when planted
upon the Level, as when they are planted upon Ridges * for if
we plow deep near the Row, the Earth will come over on the
Left-Side of the Plough, and bury the younger Turneps; but
when they (land on Ridges, the Earth will almoft all fall down
on the Right Side into the Furrow in the Middle of the Interval.

(b) And I have fince found, that Turneps on the fame Land,
planted on Ridges, with Six-feet Intervals, make a Crop double
to thofe that are planted on the Level, or even on Ridges with
Three-feet Intervals.

(c) Turnep feed will come up from a greater Depth than mod
other Sorts of Seeds.

the

Chap. VTIL Of Turn eps. 8i

the firft Half: Thus planted, let the Weather be ne-
ver fo dry, the deepeft Seed will come up; but if it
raineth (immediately after planting), the Shallow will
come up firft : We alfo make it come up at Four (d)
Times, by mixing our Seed, half new and half old
(thenewcoming up aDayquicker than the old) : Thefe
four Comings up give it fo many Chances for efcaping
the Fly, it being often feen, that the Seed fown over
Night will be deftroy'd by the Fly,, when that fown
the next Morning will efcape, and vice verfa (e) ; or
you may hoe-plow, them, when you the Fly is like
to devour them ; this will bury the greater! Part of
thofe Enemies ; or elfe you may drill in another Row,
without new-plowing the Land.

This Method has alfo another Advantage of efcap-
ing the Fly, the mod certain of any other, and in-
fallible, if the Land be made fine, as it ought to be :
This is to roll it with a heavy Roller acrofs the
Ridges, after 'tis drill'd, which clofing up the Cavities
of the Earth, prevents the Fly's Entrance and Exit,
to lay the Eggs, hatch, or bring forth the young
ones to prey upon the Turneps $ which they might
intirely devour, if the Fly came before they had more
than the firft two Leaves, which, being form'd of the
very Seed itfelf, are very fweet; but the next Leaves
are rough and bitter, which the Fly does not love: I
have always found the Rolling difappoint the Fly ; but
very often it difappoints the Owner alfo, who fows
at Random ; tor it makes the Ground fo hard, that
the Turneps cannot thrive, but look yellow, dwindle*
and grow to no Perfection, unlefs they have a good
Hoeing foon after the rough Leaves appear ; for

(d) I have feen drill'd Turnep-feed come up daily for a Fort-
night together, when it has not been mixt thus, the old with the
hew.

(e) I have had the firft Turneps that came up all defcroy'd by
the Fly ; and about a Fortnight afterwards more have come up,
and been ho'd lime enough, and made a good Crop.

G when

82 O/Turneps. Chap. VIII.

when they ftand long without it, they will be fo poor
and ftinted, that the Hand-hoe does not go deep
enough to recover them -, and 'tis feldom that thefe
rolled Turneps can be Hand-ho'd at the critical Time,
becaufe the Earth is then become fo hard, that the
Hoe cannot enter it without great Difficulty, unlefs it
be very moid ; and very often the Rain does not come
to foak it, until it. be too late ; but the driil'd Tur-
neps being in fingle Rows with Six-feet Intervals,
may be roll'd without Danger: For be the Ground
ever fo hard, the Hand-hoe will eafily fingle them
out, at the Price of Six-pence per Acre, or lefs (if
not in Harveft) ; and the Horfe-hoe will, in thofe wide
Intervals, plow at any Time, wet or dry; and, tho*
the Turneps mould have been neglected till ftinted,
will go deep enough to recover them to a flourifhing
Condition.

Driil'd Turneps, by being no-where but in the
Rows (/), may be more eafily feen than thofe which
come up at Random ; and may therefore be fooner (g)

(f) Driil'd Turneps coming all up nearly in a Mathematical
Line, 'tis very nearly that a Charlock, or other like Weed, comes
up in the fame Line amongft them, unlefs it be driil'd in with the
Turnep-feed, of which Weeds our Horfe-ho'd Seed never has
any ; there being no Charlock in the F.ows, nor any Turnep in
the Intervals : We know, that whatever comes up in the Interval
is not a Turnep, though fo like to it, that, at firil coming up, if
promifcuoufly, it cannot eafily be diitinguifhed by the Eye, until
after the Turneps, &c. attain the rough Leaf] and even then,
before they are of a considerable Bignefs, they are fo hard to be
diftinguifhed by thofe People, who are not well experienced, that
a Company of Hand-hoers cut out the Turneps by Miilake, and
left the Charlock for a Crop of a large Field of fown Turneps.
Such a Misfortune can never happen to driil'd Turneps, unlefs
wilfully done, be they fet out ever fo young.

(g) The fooner they are made fingle, the better -9 but yet,
when they are not very thick, they may Hand till we have the belt
Convenience of fingling them without much Damage ; but, when
they come up extraordinary thick, 'twill be much more difficult
to make them fingle, if they are neglected at their very firll coining
into rough Leaf.

tingled

3

Chap. VIII. O/Turneps, 83

fingled out by the Hand-hoe ; which is another Ad-
vantage ; becaufe the foonef they are fo fet out, the
better they will thrive (h).

Three or Four Ounces of Seed is the ufual Quan-
tity to drill ; but, at random, Three or Four Pounds
are commonly fown, which, coming thick all over the
Ground, mull exhauft the Land more than the other,
efpecially fince the fown muft ftand longer^ before
the Hoers can fee to fet them out.

The Six-feet Ridges, whereon Turneps are drill'd
in fingle Rows, may be left higher than for double-
row'd Crops •, becaufe there will be more Earth in the
Intervals, as the fingle Row takes up lefs.

There is no preflx'd Time for planting Turneps,
becaufe that muft be according to the Richnefs of the
Land \ for fome Land will bring them as forward,
and make them as good, when planted the beginning
of Augufti as other Land will* when planted in May ;
but the mod general Time is, a little before, and a
little after Midfummer.

Between thefe Rows of Turneps (z), I have planted
Wheat in this Manner -, viz. About Michaelmas, the

Turneps

(h) Becaufe fuch young Turneps will enjoy the more of the
failure made by the Plowing, and by that little Pulveration of the
Hand-hoe, without being robb'd of any Paflure by their own
Supernumerary Plants.

(i) As I have formerly drilled Wheat between Rows of Tur-
neps, fo I have fince had the Experience of drilling Tnrneps be-
tween Rows of Barley and Rows of Oats : I have had them in the
Intervals between Six- feet Ridges, and between Four-feet Ridges,
and between thofe of feveral intermediate Diftances ; but which
Of them all is the beft, I leave at prefent undetermined. I mall
only add, that the poorer the Land is, the wider the Intervals
ought to be; and that, in the narrow, 'tis convenient at the Hoe-
ing, to leave more Earth on that Side of each Interval whereon
the Turneps are to be drill'd ; and this is done by going round
feveral Intervals with the Hoe Plough, without going forwards
and backwards in each immediately : But in the wide Intervals
the Earth may be equal on both Sides of them,

O 2 I will

84 Of Turnef s. Chap. VIII.

Turneps being full grown, I plow'd a Ridge in the
Middle of each of their Intervals, taking mod of the

Earth

I will prcpofe another Method of Drilling, which may be very
advantageous to thofe whofow their Barley upon the Level, and
f©w Turnep feed amongft it. at Random, as they do Clover;
which is, of late, a common Practice in fome Places. The Barley
keeps the Turneps under it, and flints them fo much, that they
are ufeful in the Winter or Spring, chiefly by the Pood their
Leaves afford to Sheep, their Roots being exceeding fmall ; and
for this fmall Profit they lofe the Time of tilling the Ground,
until after the Turneps are eaten oiF; which is a Damage we
think greater than the Profit of fuch Turneps : To prevent
which Damage, they may drill them in Rows at competent
Diftances, and Korfe-hoe them, and fet them out as foon as the
Barley is off : This will both keep the Ground in Tilth, fit for
another Crop of Spring Corn, and caufe the Turneps to grow
great enough (efpecially if Harveft be early, and the Winter prove
favourable) for feeding of Sheep in a moveable Fold to dung the
Ground into the Bargain.

What induces me to propofe this Improvement is, that a Gen-
tleman plows up his Barley-Stubble, and tranfplants Turneps
therein, and Hand-hoes them with Succefs. By the propofed
Way all the Expence of tranfpl anting (which muit be confiderable)
will be iaved ; and the fetting out cannot be more than an Eighth
of the Labour of Hand boeings ; and I conjecture the Horfe-hoed
Turneps may be as good ; for they (though Minted) having their
Tap-roots remaining unmoved below the Staple of the Land,
their horizontal Roots, being fupply'd with Moiiture from the
Tap-roots, immediately take hold of the frefh-plowed Earth, as
foon as 'tis turned back to them ; whereas the tranfplanted, having
their Tap-roots broken off, and their Horizontal Roots crumpled
in the Holes wherein they are fet, muft lofe Time, and be in
Danger of dying with Thirft, if the Weather proves dry.

Aifo this Way feems better than the common Practice of fowing
Turneps upon once plowing after Wheat; becaufe the Wheat-
land commonly lies longer unplow'd by Six or Eight Months than
Barley-land; and therefore cannot be in fo good Tilth for Tur-
neps as Barley- land may, unlefs the former be of a more friable
Nature, or much more dunged, than the latter. Befides, thefe
Wheat-Turneps are uncertain, in Refpedl of the Fly that often
deftroys them at their firft coming up ; which Misfortune hap-
pened the Autumn 1734. to almoft all that were fown in that
Manner.

I have obferv'd, that Barley fown on the Level, and not hoed,
overcomes the Turneps that come up amongft it ; but that Tur*

ncps

Chap. VIII. O/Turneps. 85

Earth from the Turneps, leaving only juft enough
to keep them alive ; and on this Ridge drilPd my
Crop of Wheat (k)7 and towards the Spring pull'd
up my Turneps, and carried them off for Cattle.

When Turneps are planted too late, to have Time
and Sun for attaining to their full Bulk, fome drill a
double Row on each Six-feet Ridge, with a Parti-
tion of Fourteen Inches ; but I am told, that in this
double Row the Turneps do not, even at that late
Seafon, grow lb large, as thofe planted at the fame
time in fingle Rows; tho' the double Row requires

neps, which come up in the Partitions of Treble Rows of ray
Ridges of Horfe-hoed Barley, grew fo vigoroufly as to overcome
the Barley. And this was demonltrated at Harveft in a long Field,
one Side of which had borne Turnep feed, and the drilled Ridges
of Barley croffmg the Middle of it; and both Ends of the Field
having Barley foA'n on the Level, one End of every Ridge crofs'd
the Tumep-feed Part of the Field for about Ten Perches of their
Length.

I obferved alfo, that the Turneps near the Edges of the Lands
of fovvn Barley, adjoining to the hoed Intervals, grew large, but
not fo large as thofe in the Partitions on the Ridges, their Inter-
vals being hoed on each Side of them.

But different from this have I feen mattered Tumep-feed com-
ing up in the like Partitions of drilled Wheat, on the very fame
Sort of Land, fo miferably poor and {tinted, that they fcarce
grew a Hand's Breadth high, when thofe Turneps which the Hoe
left in the Sides of the Intervals, and at the narrow Edges of the
unhoed Earth of the Interval Sides of the Rows of Wheat, grew
large; and the Wheat was good aifo : But I do not remember
how the middle Row of it fucceeded,

This iaft Experience of the Turneps among the Wheat was got
by this Accident ; The Wheat was drilled after drilled Turneps
on Ridges of a different Size. The Turneps were all pulled up
before the Ground was plowed for the Wheat; but as Tumep-
feed never comes all up the firft Year, enough remained of this
to come up [though thinly) in the Wheat, to fhew exactly where
every Row had been drilled ; whereupon the Obfervation was
made.

(k) This Wheat, being thus drili'd on the new Ridges made in
the Intervals, betwixt the Rows of Turneps, being well Horfe-
ho'd in the Spring, prov'd a very good Crop; it was driil'd in
treble Rows, the Partitions Seven Inches each.

G 3 double

86 Of T u r n e p s. Chap. VIIL

double the Expence in fetting out ; and there will be
lefs Earth ho'd by the Breadth of fourteen Inches of
the deepeft Part of the Ridge, and confequently the
Land will be the lefs improv'd for the next Crop.
We need not to be very exact, in the Number (I) of
Diftance (m) we fet them out at % we contrive to leave
the Mafter-turneps (when there is much Difference
in them), and fpare fuch when near one another, and
leave the more Space before and behind them •, but
if they be Three Mafter-turneps too near together,
we take out the middlemoft.

Turneps that were fo thick as to touch one another
when half-grown, by means of well Hoeing their wide
Intervals, have afterwards grown to a good Bignefs,
and by thrufting againft one another became oval,
jnftead of round.

'Tis beneficial to hoe Turneps (efpecially the firfl
Time) alternately; viz. to hoe every other Interval,
and throw the Earth back again before we hoe the
other Intervals ; for by this Means the Turneps are
kept from being (n) flinted : 'Tis better to have
Nonrifhment given them moderately at twice, than
to have it all once, and be twice as long before a
Repetition (o).

(I) The lead Number will be the largeft Turneps ; yet we
ihould have a competent Stock, which I think is not lefs than
Thirty on a fquare Perch.

(m) The Diftance need not to be regular ; for when a Turnep
has Six Inches of Room on one Side, and Eighteen Inches on
the other Side, 'tis almoft as well as if there was one Foot on each
Side : tho1 then it would be equally difiant from the Two Tur-
neps betwixt which it flood.

(n) Becaufe this alternate Hoeing doth not at all endanger the
Roots by being dried by the Sun ; for whilft one half of the Roots
have Moiflure, 'tis fufhcient ; the other Half will be fupplied from
thofe ; fo that they will foon take hold of the Earth again after
being moved by the Hoe.

(o) Sometimes, when Turneps are planted late, this alternate
Hoeing fuffices without any Repetition ; but when they are
planted early, 'twill be necefTary to hoe them again ; efpecially
if Weeds appear.

Tho?

Chap. VIII. O/Turneps. 87

Tho' the Earth on each Side the Row be left as
narrow as poftible (p) ; yet 'tis very profitable to hoe
that little with a Bidens (q), called here a Prong-
hoe (r)i for this will be lure to let out all the Roots
into the Intervals; even fuch as run very nearly pa-
rallel to the Rows.

This alternate Way of Hoeing Plants that grow in
(ingle Rows, is of fuch vail Advantage, that four of
thefe, which are but equal to Two of the whole
Hoeings in Labour, are near equal to four whole
Hoeings in Benefit -, for when one Side is well nou-
rifhed, the other Side cannot be ftarv'd (j).

Befides, where a great Quantity of Turneps are to
be ho'd, the laft ho'd may be (tinted, before the
firfl: are finifh'd by whole Hoeings.

In this alternate Hoeing, the Hoe-plough may go
deeper (/) and nearer to the Row, without Danger of
thrufting it down on the Left Side, whilft the Plants
are very fmall ; becaufe the Earth on the other Side
of the Row always bears againft it for its Support :
But in the whole Hoeing, there is an open Furrow
left the firfl: Time on both Sides of the Row, and
there is Danger of throwing it into one Furrow in

(p) I do not think that we can go nearer to the Plants with the
Hoe-plough, than within Three Inches of their Bodies.

(q) We ought not to ufe the Bidens for this Purpofe, before the
perpendicular Roots are as big as one's litle Finger.

(r) Some of thefe Prong-hoes have Three Teeth, and are
reckoned better as a Tridens than a Bidens ; but this is only in
mellow Ground.

(s) But yet fometimes the Weeds, or other Circumftances, may
make it proper to give them a whole Hoeing at firft.

(t) This deep Plowing lb near to the Row is very beneficial at
firft ; but afterwards, when the Plants are grown large, and have
fent their Roots far into the Intervals, it would almoit totally dif-
rootthem; and they, being Annuals, might not live long enough
for a new Stock of Roots to extend (o far as is neceffary to bring
the Turneps to their full Bignefs.

Note, At the laft Hoeing we generally leave a broad, deep
Trench in the middle of each Interval.

G 4 plowing

S8 Of Turn eps. Chap.VIIL

plowing the other; or, if the Row is not thrown
down, it may be too much dry'd in hot Weather, by
the Two Furrows lying too long open : Yet, when
the Turneps are large before Hoeing, we need not
fear either of thefe Dangers in giving them a whole
Hoeing; as I have found by Experience, even when
there has been left on each Side of the Row only
about Three Inches Breadth of Earth; tho' it is not
bell to fuffer it to lie long open (u).

Dry Weather does not injure Turneps when Horfe-
ho'd, as it does fown Turneps ; the Hand-hoe does
not go deep enough to keep the Earth moift, and
fecure the Plants againft the Drought ; and that is
the belt Seafon for Horfe-hoeing, which always can
keep the Roots moift (x).

Dung and Tillage together will attain the necefTary
Pegreeof Pulveration, in lefs time than Plowing can
go alone : Therefore Dung is more ufeful for Tur-
neps, becaufe they have commonly lefs time to grow
than other Plants.

Turneps of Nineteen Pounds Weight I have feve-
ral Times heard of, and of Sixteen Pounds Weight
often known ; and Twelve Pounds may be reckon'd
the middle Size of great Turneps : And I can fee no
Reafon, why every Turnep mould not arrive to the
full Bignefs of its Species, if it did not want Part of
its due Nourifhment.

(u) But, if the Weather prove wet, we always fuffer thofe
Furrows to lie open, until the Earth be dry enough to be turn'd
back again to the Row, without fmearing or flicking together ;
unlefs fuch Weather continue fo long that the Weeds begin to
come up, and then we throw back the Furrows to ftifle the Weeds,
before they grow large, tho' the Earth be wet.

(x) But if forne Sorts of Earth have Iain lo long unmoved as
to become very hard before the firit Hoeing, the Hoe, going very
pear to the Rows on each Side, may cauie fuch hard Earth where-
on the Rows (land, to crack and open enough to let in the
Drought (i. e. the Sun and Air) to the Roots in very dry Weather.
In this Cafe 'tis bell to Horfe-hoe alternately, as is directed in
fage 86.

The

Chap. VIII. O/Turneps. 89

The greateft Inconvenience, which has been ob-
ferv'd in the Turnep-hufbandry, is, when they are fed
off late in the Spring (which is in many Places the
greateft Ufe of them), there is not time to bring the
Land in Tilth for Barley ; the Lofs of which Crop
is fometimes more than the Gain of the Turneps :
This is intirely remedied by the drilling Method ;
for, by that, the Land may be almoft as well till'd
before the Turneps are eaten, or taken off, as it can
afterwards.

If Turneps be fown in June, or the Beginning of
July^ the moft experienced Turnep-Farmers will have
ho more than Thirty to a fquare Perch left in Hand-
hoeing; and find that when more are left, the Crop
will be lefs ; but, in drilling the Rows at Six Feec
Intervals, there may be Sixty to a Perch -, and the
Horfe-hoe, by breaking fo much more Earth than
the Hand-hoe does, can nourifh Sixty drill'd, as well
as Thirty are by the fowing Method, which has been
made appear upon Trial ; but, I think, about Forty
or Forty-five better than Sixty on a Perch ; and the
Number of Plants fhould always be proportion'd to
the natural and artificial Pafture which is to maintain
them-, and fixty Turneps on a fquare Perch, at Five
Pounds each (which is but a Third of the Weight of
the large Size of Sheep-Turneps), make a Crop of
above Eighty Quarters to an Acre (y).

When

(y) I have had Turneps upon poor undung'd Land, that weighed
Fourteen Pounds a-picce; but thefe were only fuch as had more
Ps-oom than the reft. I have feen a whole Waggon-load of
drill'd Turneps fpread on the Ground, wherein I believe one
£ould not have found one chat weighed fo little as fix Pounds ; or
if the Rows had been fearchfid before they had been pull'd up,
they would have weighed Seven or Eight Pounds apiece one with
another ; we weighed fome of them that were Thirteen, fome
Fourteen Pounds each, and yet they Hood pretty thick : There
might be, as I guefs, about Fifty on a fquare Perch ; but this
Crop was on fandy Land, not poor ; and was dung'd the Third

or

^o O/Turneps, Chap. VIII.

When Turneps are planted late (efpeciallv upon
poor Ground), they may be a greater Number than
when planted ^arly , becaufe they will not have time
enough of Heat to enjoy the full Benefit of Hoeing,
which would otherwife caufe them to grow larger.

The greatefl Turnep-Improvement ufed by the
Farmer, is for his Cattle in the Winter; one Acre of
Turneps will then maintain more than Fifty of Mea-
dow or Failure-ground.

'Tis now fo well known, that moft Cattle will .eat
them, and how much they breed Milk, &V. that I
need fay nothing about it.

Sheep always refufe them at firft, and, unlefs they
have eaten them whilft they were Lambs, muft be
ready to ftarve before they will feed on them •, tho',
when they have tailed them, they will be fatted by
them; and I have feen Lambs of Three Weeks old
fcoop them prettily, when thofe of a Year old (which
are called Tegs) have been ready to die with Hunger
amongft them -, and for Three or Four Days would
not touch them, but at laft eat them very well.

In fome Places, the greatefl: Ufe of Turneps (ex-
cept for fatting Oxen and Sheep) is for Ewes and
Lambs in the Spring, when natural Grafs is not grown
on poor Ground ; and if the artificial Grafs be then
fed by the common Manner, the Crop will be fpoil'd,
and it will yield the lefs Pafture all the Summer : I
have known Farmers, for that Reafon, oblig'd to
keep their Ewes and Lambs upon Turneps (tho' run
up to Seed) even until the Middle of April.

There are now three Manners of fpending Turneps
with Sheep, amongft which I do not reckon the Way
of putting a Flock of Sheep into a large Ground of
Turneps without dividing it j for in that Cafe the

or Fourth Year before ; and had every Year a ho'd Crop of
Potatoes, or Wheat, until the Year wherein the Turneps were
planted.

Flock

Chap. VIII. Of Turn eps. 9*

Flock will defiroy as many Turneps in a Fortnight,
as fhould keep them well a whole Winter.

The Firft Manner now in Ufe is, to divide the
Ground of Turneps by Hurdles, giving them leave
to come upon no mpre at a Time than they can eac
in one Day, and fo advance the Hurdles farther into
the Ground daily, until all be fpent -, but we mud
obferve, that they never eat them clean this Way,
but leave the Bottoms and Outfides of the Turneps
they have fcoop'd in the Ground. Thefe Bottoms
People pull up with Iron Crooks, made for that Pur-
pofe -3 but their Cavities being tainted with Urine,
Dung, and Dirt from their Feet, tho' the Sheep do
eat fome of the Pieces, they wade more, and many
the Crooks leave behind in the Earth ; and even what
they do eat of this tainted Food, can't nourifh them
fo well as that which is frefh and cleanly.

The fecond Manner is, to move the Hurdles every
Day, as in the Firft; but that the Sheep may not
tread upon the Turneps, they pull them up firft, and
then advance the Hurdles as far daily as the Turneps
are pull'd up, and no farther : By this Means there
is not that Wade made as in the other Way ; the
Food is eaten frefh and clean \ and the Turneps are
pull'd up with lefs Labour than their Pieces can
be (z).

The Third Manner is, to pull them up, and to
carry them into fome other Ground in a Cart, or
Waggon, and there fpread them every Day on a new

fz) I have feen Three Labourers work every Day with their
Crooks, to pull up thefe Pieces, which was done with much
Difficulty, the Ground being trodden very hard by the Sheep ;
when one Perfon, in Two Hours time, would have pull'd up all
the whole Turneps daily, and the Sheep would have eaten them
clean; but fo many ofthofe Pieces weredry'd and fpoiPd, that,
after the Land was fown with Barley, they appear'd very thick
ppon the Surface, and there could not be much lefs than half
the Crcp of Turneps wailed, notwithftanding the Contrivance of
thefe Crooks,

Place,

92 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

Place, where the Sheep will eat them up clean, both
Leaf and Root : This is done when there is Land
not far off, which has more Need of Dung, than
that where the Turneps grow, which perhaps is alfo
too wet for Sheep in the Winter •, and then the Tur-
neps will, by the too great Moifture and Dirt of the
Soil, fpoil the Sheep, and in Tome Soils give them
the Rot, yet fuch Ground will bring forth more and
larger Turneps than dry Land ; and when they are
carry'd off, and eaten on plow'd Ground in dry
Weather, and on Green- fwerd in wet Weather, the
Sheep will thrive much better-, and that moid Soil,
not being trodden by the Sheep, will be in much the
better Order for a Crop of Corn. And generally
the Expence of Hurdles, and removing them, being
laved, will more than countervail the Labour of
carrying off the Turneps.

Thefe Three Ways of fpending Turneps with
Sheep are common to.thofe drill'd, and to thofe fown
in the random Manner ; but they muft always be
carry 'd off for Cows and Oxen ; both which will be
well fatted by them, and fome Hay in the Winter :
The Management of thefe is the Bufinefs of a
Grazier.

CHAP. IX.

Of Wh e a t.

TH O5 all Sorts of Vegetables may have great
Benefit from the Hoe, becaufe it fupplies them
with Plenty of Food, at the Time of their greater!
Need, yet they do not all equally require Hoeing \
but the Plant that is to live the longeft, mould have
the largeft Stock of Suftenance provided for it : Ge-
nerally

Chap. IX. Of Whea t. 93

nerally Wheat lives, or ought to live, longer than
other Sorts of Corn ; for if it be not fown before
Spring, its Grain will be thin, and have but little
Flour in it, which is the only ufeful Part for making
Bread. And when fown late in the Winter, 'tis in
great Danger of Death from the Froft, whilft weak
and tender, being maintain'd (as a. Fat us) by the um-
bilical VefTels, until the Warmth of the Sun enables
it to fend out fufiicient Roots of its own to fubfift on,
without Help of the Ovum.

To prevent thefe Inconveniences, Wheat is ufually
fown in Autumn: Hence, having about thrice the
Time to be maintain'd that Spring Corn hath, k re-
quires a larger Supply of Nourifhment, in proportion
to that longer Time -, not becaufe the Wheat in its In-
fancy confumes the Stock of Food, during the Winter,
proportionably to what it does afterwards ; but be-
caufe, during that long Interval betwixt Autumn and
Spring Seed-times, mod of the artificial Pafture is
naturally loft, both in light and in ftrongLand.

For this very Reafon is. that extraordinary Pains of
fallowing and dunging the Soil, neceflary to Wheat 1
tho', notwithstanding all that Labour and Expence,
the Ground is generally grown fo ft ale by the Springs
and fo little of the Benefit of that chargeable Culture
remains, that, if Part of the fame Field be fown in
the Beginning of April, upon frefh Plowing, without
the Dung, or Year's Fallow, it will be as great or a
greater Crop, in all Refpecls, except the Flour, which
fails only for want of Time to fill the Grain.

Poor light Land, by the common Hufbandry,
muft be very well cultivated and manur'd, to main-
tain Wheat for a whole Year, which is the ufual Time
it grows thereon; and if it be fown late, the greateft
Part of it will feldom furvive the Winter, on fuch
Land ; and if it be fown very early on ftrong Land,
tho' rich, well till'd, and dung'd, the Crop will be
vvorfe than on the poor light Land fown early. So

much

94 O/Wheat. Chap. IX,

much do the Jong Winter's Rains caufe the Earth to
fubfide, and the divided Parts to coalefce, and lock
out the Roots from the Stock of Provifion, which, tho*
it was laid in abundantly at Autumn, the Wheat has
no great Occafion of until the Spring ; and then the
Soil is become too hard for the Roots to penetrate %
and therefore mud ftarve (like Tantalus) amidft
Dainties, which may tempt the Roots, but cannot be
attain'd by them.

But the new Method of Hoeing gives, to ftrong
and to light Land, all the Advantages, and takes
away all the Difadvantages, of both •, as appears in the
Chapters of Tillage and Hoeing. By this Method the
flrong Land may be planted with Wheat as early as
the light (if plow'd dry); and the Hoe-Plough can*
if rightly apply'd, raifc a Pafture to it (a), equal to
that of Dung in both Sorts of Land.

About the Year 1701, when I had contrived my
Drill for planting St. Foin, I made ufe of it alfo for
Wheat. Drilling many Rows at once, which made
the Work much more compendious, and perform'd
it much better than Hands could do, making the
Channels of a Foot Diftance, drilling in the Seed, and
covering it, did not in all amount to more than Six-
pence per Acre Expence, which was above ten Times
over-paid by the Seed that was faved ; for One
Bufhel to an Acre was the Quantity drilPd ; there re-
main'd then no need of Hand-work, but for the Hoe-
ing ; and this did coil from Half a Crown to Four
Shillings per Acre. This way turn'd to a very good
Account, and in confiderable Quantities •, it has
brought as good a Crop of Wheat on Barley-flubble^
as that fown the common Way on Summer-fallow 5

fa) Becaufe the Hoe may go in it all the Year, and the Soil
being infinitely di<vifibley the Divifion which the Hoe may make
whilft the Crop is growing, added to the common Tillage, may-
equal, or even exceed, a common Die&ng with Dung, as I have
otcen experienced.

and

Chap. IX. O/Wheat. 9S

and when that Town the old Way, on the fame Field,
on Barley-ftubble, intirely faii'd, tho' there was no
other Difference but the Drilling and Hoeing : It was
alfo fuch an Improvement to the Land, that when
one Part of a ftrong whitifh Ground, all of equal
Goodnefs, and equally fallow'd and tilPd, was
dung'd and fown in the common Manner, and the
other Part was thus drili'd and hand-ho'd without
Dung, the ho'd Part was not only the beft Crop,
but the whole Piece being fallow'd the next Year,
and fown all alike by a Tenant, the ho'd Part pro-
duc'd fo much a better Crop of Wheat than the
dung'd Part, that a Stranger would have believ'd by
looking on it, that that Part had been dung'd which
was not (a), and that Part not to have been dung'd
which really was.

Scarce any Land is fo unfit, and ill prepar'd, for
Wheat, as that where the natural Grafs (b) abounds.
Mod other forts of Weeds may be dealt withal when
they come among drili'd Wheat; but 'tis impofllble
to extract Grafs from the Rows : Therefore let that be
kill'd before the Wheat be planted.

The Six-feet Ridges being Eleven, on Sixty-fix
Feet, which is an Acre's Breadth, ought to be made
Lengthways of the Field, if there be no Impedi-
ment againft it ; as if it be an Hill of any considera-
ble Steepnefs, then they muft be made to run up
and down, whether that be the Length or Breadth
of the Piece; for if the Ridges fhould go crofs fuch a
Hill, they could not be well Horfe-ho'd; becaufe
it would be very difficult to turn a Furrow upwards,
clofe to the Row above it, or to turn a Furrow down-
wards, without burying the Row below it; and even

(a) If the Dung did pulverize as much as the Hoeing, the
Caufe muft be from the different Exhauftion.

(b) One Bunch of natural Grafs, tranfplanted by the Plough
into a treble Row of Wheat, will deflroy almoft a whole Yard
of it.

when

c)6 O/Whea t. Chap. IX.

when a Furrow is turn'd from the lower Row, enough
of the Earth to bury that Row will be apt to run
over on the Left-fide of the Plough •, unlefs it goes
at fuch a Diftance from the Row, as to give it no
Benefit of Hoeing.

Thefe Ridges mould be made ftrait and equal •
And to make them ftrait (c) all good Ploughmen
know how •, and they will, by fetting up Marks to
look at, plow in a Line like the Path of an Arrow:
But to make the Ridges equal, 'tis necefTary to mark
out a Number of them,, before you begin to plow,
by lhort Sticks fet up at each End of the Piece •, and
then if one Ridge happen to be a little too broad,
the next may be made the narrower; for if the
Plough comes not out exactly at the fecond Stick, the
Two Ridges may be made equal by the next Plow-
ing, or by the Drilling; but if many contiguous
Ridges mould be too wide, or too narrow, 'twill be
difficult to bring them all to an Equality afterwards,
without levelling the whole Piece, and laying out the
Ridges all anew.

The exact Height of Ridges, which is beft, I can-
not determine (d) : A different Soil may require a
different Height, according to the Depth, Richnefs,
and Pulveration of the Mould. As Wheat covets
always to lie dry in the Winter, fo there is no other
way to keep it fo dry as thefe Ridges; for when they
are, after the firft Hoeing, about Eighteen Inches

(c) But if the Piece be*of fuch a crooked or Terpentine Form,
that the Ridges cannot well be plov/d ftrait the ftrft Time, 'tis
befl to drill it upon the Level ; and then the marking Wheels
may direct for making the Row all parallel and equidiftant j
which will guide the Plough to make all the Ridges for the next
and all the fubfequent Crops, as equal.

(d) I find by meafuring my Wheat Ridges in the Spring, that
rtone of them are quite a Foot high ; and iome of them only Six
Inches ; but I know not how much they have fubfided in the'
Winter ; for they were certainly higher when firft made.

broad.

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. ^

broad (a), with a Ditch on each Side, of almofl a
Foot deep, the Rain-water runs off fuch narrow
Ridges as faft it falls, and much fooner (h) than
'tis poflible for it to do from broad Ridges.

And the deeper the Soil, the more occafion there
commonly is of this high Situation ; becaufe fuch
Land is wetter for the mod Part than fhallow Land,
where we cannot make the Furrows fo deep, nor the
Ridges fo high (c)9 as in deep Land; for we muffc
never plow below the Staple. I fee the Wheat on
thefe ho'd Ridges flourifh, and grow vigoroufly, in
wet Weather, when other Wheat looks yellow and
fickly.

The fame wide Interval, which is ho'd betwixt
Ridges the Firft time, with Two Furrows, mull have
had Four Furrows, to hoe it on the Level ; or elfe
the Furrow, that is turn'd from the Row, would
rife up, and a great Part of it fall over to the Left-
hand* and bury the Row ; but when turn'd from a
Ridge, it will all fall down to the Right-hand.

You muft not leave the Tops of the Ridges quite
fo narrow and (harp for Drilling of Wheat, as yon
may for drilling Turneps; Wheat being in treble
Rows, but Turneps generally in fingle Rows (d).
This is our Method of making Ridges for the Firft
Crop of drill'd Wheat.

{a) This is the Breadth the Ridges are generally left at, when
the Furrows are hoed from them, and thrown into the Intervals.

{b) Water, when it runs off very foon, is beneficial, as is fecrt
in water'd Meadows ; but where it remains long on, or very near
the Bodies of terretfrial Plants, it kills them, or at leafl is very
injurious to them.

[c) If we mould make our Ridges as high on a mallow Soil,
as we may on a deep Soil, there would be a Deficiency of Mould
in the Intervals of equal Breadth with thofe of a deep Soil.

(d) A fingle Row taking up lefs of the Breadth, may be afford-
ed to have more of the Ridge's Depth ; becaufe it leaves the In-
terval wider.

i

H But

5>8 O/Wheat. Chap. IX.

But the Method of making Ridges for a fucceed-
ing Crop, after the former is harvefted, is bed per-
form'd as follows : In making Ridges for Wheat after
Wheat, you muft raife them to their full Height,
before you plow the old Partitions, with their Stub-
ble, up to them *, for if you go about to make the
Ridges higher afterwards, the Stubble will fo mix
with the Mould of their Tops, that it may not only
be an Hindrance to the Drill, but alfo to the Firft
Hoeing ; becaufe if the Hoe-plough goes fo near to
the Rows as it ought, it would be apt to tear out the
Wheat-plants along with the Stubble.

In Reaping, we cut as near as we can to the Ground
(a)\ which is eafily done, becaufe the Stalks fland
all clofe together at Bottom, contrary to thofe of
fown Wheat.

I find this Stubble, when 'tis only mixt with the
Intervals, very beneficial to the Hoeing of my Wheat;
but I know not whether it may be fo in rich miry
Land.

As foon as conveniently you can, after the Crop
of Wheat is carried off (if the Trench in the Middle
of each wide Interval be left deep enough by the lad
Hoeing), go as near as you can to the Stubble with a
common Plough, and turn Two large Furrows into
the Middle of the Intervals, which will .(b) make a

Ridge

[a] When Wheat is reap"d very low, the Stubble is no great
Impediment ,- and 1 do this when I am fore'd to inlarge the
Breadth of my Ridges, or to change their Bearing, as I do when
f and it convenient for them to pomt Crofs-ways of the Field in-
ftead of Length ways ; as if one End of it be wetter than the
ocher : For 'tis inconvenient, that one End of a Ridge mould be
in the wet Part, and the other in the dry • becaufe, in that Cafe,
we cannot hoe the dry End without hoeing the wet at the fame
time ; and whilft we attend for the wet Part to become dry, it
may happen, that the Seafon for hoeing the whole (if the Quan-
tity be great) may be loft.

{It 'Tis the Depth and Finenefs of this Ridge that the Succefs4>f
Jur Crop depends on ; the Plams having nothing die w mam tarn

them-

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 9p

Ridge over the Place where the Trench was : But if
the Trench be not deep enough, go firft in the Mid-
dle of it with one Furrow, which with Two more

them during the Firft Six Months j and if, for want of Suftenance,
they are weak in the Spring, 'twill be more difficult to make them,
recover their Strength afterwards fo fully as to bring them to
their due Perfection. But Ploughmen have found a Trick to
difappoint us in this fundamental Part sf our Hufbandry, if they
are not narrowly watched : They do it in the following Manner ;
t'/z. They contrive to leave the Trench very mallow ; and then,
in turning the Two Firft Furrows of the Ridge, they hold the
Plough towards the Left, which raifes up the Fin of the Share,
and leaves fo much of the Earth whereon the Rows are to Hand
whole and unplowed, that after Once Harrowing there doth not
remain above Two or Three Inches in Depth of fine Earth under-
neath the Rows when drilled, inftead of Ten or Twelve Inches.

On a Time, when my Difeafes permitted me to go into the
Wheat-held, where my Ploughs were at Work, I difcovered this
Trick, and ventured to afk my chief Ploughman his Reafon for
doing this in my Ablence, contrary to my Direclion. He ma-
gifterially anfwer'd, according to his own Theory, which Servants
judge ought to be follow'd before that of him they call Mafter,
laying, That as the Roots of Wheat never reached more than Two
or Three Inches deep, there was no need that the fine Mould
mould be any deeper. Eut thofe mallow Ridges, which were in-
deed too many, producing a Crop very much inferior to the con-
tiguous deep Ridges, mewed, at my Coft, the Miftake of my cun-
ning Ploughman.

'Tis true, that People who examine Wheat-roots when dead,
are apt to fall into this miftake; for then they are fhriveird up,
and fo rotten, that they break off very near to the Stalk in pull-
ing up ; but if they are examined in their Vigour at Summer with.
Care, in a friable Soil, they may be feen to defcend as deep as the
fine pulveriz'd Mould reacheth, though that mould be a Foot in
Thicknefs.

I took up a Wheat-ear in Harveft: that had lain on the Grafs in
Wet Weather, where the Wind could not come to dry it, which
had fent out white Roots like the Teeth of a Comb, fome of
them Three inches long: None having reached the Ground, they
could not be nouriihed from any thing but the Grains, which re-
mained faft to the Ear, and had not as yet fent out any Blade. 'Tis
unreasonable to imagine, that fuch a fingle Root as one of thefe,
when in the Earth, from whence it mufl maintain a pretty large
Piant all or moll Part of the Winter, mould defcend no farther
than when it was itfelf maintained from the Flour of the Grain

H 2 taken

ioo Of Wheat. Chap. IX-

taken from the Ridges, will be three Furrows in each
Interval-, continue this Plowing as long as the dry-
Weather lafteth; and then finifh, by turning the
Partitions (whereon the laft Wheat grew) up to the
new Ridges, which is ufually done at Two great
Furrows. You may plow thefe lad Furrows, which
complete the Ridges, in wet Weather.

To make a Six-feet Ridge very high, will fome-
times require more Furrows -, as when the Middle of
the Intervals are open very wide and deep, then Six
Furrows to the whole Ridge may be necefTary, and
they not little ones ; and the Seafon makes a Difference,
as well as the Size of the Furrows •, for when the fine
Mould is very dry (which is beft), it will much of it
run to the Left-hand before the Plough, and alio
more will run back again to the Left after the Plough
is gone pad it.

But when fuch Ridges have been madefor Wheat,
and the Seafon continues long too dry for planting it,
and the Stubble not thrown up, we then plow one
deep Furrow on the Middle of each Ridge, and then
plow the whole Ridge at Four Furrows more, which
will raiie it very high. This Way of replowing the
Ridges moves all the Earth of them, and yet is done
at Five Furrows.

The Furrows, necefTary for raifmg up the Ridges,^
mult be more, or fewer, in regard to the Bigneis of
them -, becaufe Six fmail Furrows may be lefs than
Four great ones. 'Tis not belt to plow the Stub-
ble up to the Ridges, until juft before Planting
(efpecially in the early Plowing) -, becaufe that will
hinder the Re-plowing of the Firft Furrows, which,
if the Seafon continues dry, may be necefTary:
Sometimes we do this by opening One Furrow in
the Middle of the -Ridge, ibmecimes Two, and after-
wards raiie up the Ridges again •, and when they
are become moilt enough at Top (the old Partitions
being plow'd up to them), we harrow them

once

Chap. IX. O/Wheat. ioi

once (a) (and that only Lengthways) -, and then drill
them.

There is a Necefiity of plowing the old Partitions
up to the new Ridges, to fupport their other Earth
from falling down by the Harrowing and Drilling,
which would elfe make them level.

Our Ridges, after the Firft Time of Plowing,
excel common Ridges of the fame Height ; becaufe
thefe, tho' as deep in Mould at the Tops, have little
of it till'd at the 1 aft Plowing; but ours, being made
upon the open Trenches, confift of new-till'd pulve-
riz'd Mould, from Top to Bottom.

'Tis a general Rule, that all Sorts of Grain and
Seeds profper bed, fown when the Ground is fo dry,
as to be broken into the mofl: Parts by the Plough.
The Reafon why Wheat is an Exception to that Rule
is, becaufe it mull endure the Rigours of Winter,
which 'tis the better able to do, by the Earth's being

(a) But if once be not fufficient to level the Tops of the Ridges
fit for the Drill to pafs thereon, as it always will, unlefs the Two
hard Furrows lie fo high, that all the Three Shares of the Drill
cannot reach to make their Channels, in this Cafe you mull
harrow again until they can ail reach deep enough. Alfo in fome
Sort of Land, that when drilled late, and very moifl, will flick to •
the Shares like Pitch or Bird-lime, whereby the Channels are in
Part left open by the Drill-harrow, it mull be harrowed after 'tis
drilled, becaufe 'tis neceflary in fuch Land to take off the common
Drill- harrow, in order for a Man to follow the Drill with a Paddle,
or elfe a forked Stick, with which he frees the Sheats of the ad-
hering Dirt ; this Harrow being gone, much of the Seed will He
uncovered, and then muft be covered with common Harrows;
unlefs a Drill- harrow, which was not in Ufa when my Plates
were made, be placed inftead of that taken off: This, with its
two Iron Tines, will cover the Seed in this Cafe much better than
common Harrows, and will be no Hindrance to cleanfingof the
Sheats, the Legs by which this Harrow is drawn, being remote
from them, placed at near the End of the Plank ; and/*?/?, that
the mofl proper Drill for this Purpofe is one that has only Two
Shares, (landing a Foot or fourteen Inches afunder : This Har-
rew ferves for taking up the Drill to turn it.

H 3 prefs'i

1G2 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

prefs'd or trodden harder, and cloferto it (a), as it
is when moved wet.

If Wheat were as hardy as Rye, and its Roots as
patient of Cold, it might, no doubt, be fown in as
dry a Seafon as Rye is, and profper the better for it,
as Rye doth. This will appear, if Wheat and Rye
be both fown in the fame dry Seafon, after the Winter
is over.

But as Wheat requires to have the Earth lie harder
on and about it, in the Winter •, fo it alfo requires
more Dung (or fomev/hat elfe) to diffolve the Earth
about its Roots, after the cold Winter is paft, than
Rye doth, whofe Roots never were fo much confined.

sTis another general Rule, that all Sorts of Vege-
tables thrive beft, when fown on frefh tilPd Ground,
immediately after 'tis plow'd.

Wheat is an Exception to this Rule alfo ; for 'tis
better to plow the Ground dry, and let it lie till
the Weather moiftens it (tho* it be feveral WeeksJ,
and then drill the Wheat : The Harrows and the Drill
will move a fufhcient Part of the Ground, which
will frick together for Defence of the fmall Roots,
during the Winter, the reft of the Mould, lying
open, and divided underneath until Spring, to nou-
rifh them.

There is a Sort of binding Sand, that requires not
only to be plow'd dry, but fow'd dry alfo \ or elle
the Wheat will dwindle in the Spring, and fail of"
being a tolerable Crop.

But what I mean by dry Plowing is, not that the
Land mould always be fo void of Moifture, as that
the Duft fhouid fly 9 but it mufl not be fo wet, as
to ftick together (b). Neither mould we drill when

(a) 'Tis for that Reafon, that Farmers drive their Sheep over
-vtry light Land, as foon as 'tis fown with Wheat, to tread tbe
I Top or) Surface of it hard • and then the Cold of the Winter can-
not fo eafily penetrate, to kill the Roots of the tender Pianos.

/ ' . ;- 1 : uie d r ' ti p ow d i be

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 10$

the Earth is wet as Pap ; it fuffices that it be moift,
but moifter in light Land than in ftrong Land,
when we drill.

If the Two Furrows, whereon the treble Row is
to fland, be plow'd wet, the Earth of the Partitions
may grow fo hard by the Spring, that the Roots
cannot run freely therein, unlefs there be Dung to
ferment and keep it open.

So we fee, that a deep Bank, made of wet Earth,
will lie faff, for feveral Years, when another, made
of the fame Earth dry, will moulder, and run down
very foon •, becaufe its Parts have not the Cohefion
that holds the other together, it continues open, and
more porous, and crumbles continually down.

I have feen Trials of this Difference betwixt plow-
ing Dry, and plowing Wet, for planting of Wheat,
both in the Old Way, and in the Drilling Way, but
mod in the latter ; and never faw ar In (lance where
the Dry-Plowing did not outdo the Wet; if the
Wheat was not planted thereon before the Earth was
become moift enough at Top.

And ftrong Land, plow'd wet in November, will
be harder in the Spring, than if plow'd dry in Auguft ;
tho' it would then have Three Months longer to
lie.

After Rain, when the Top of the Ground is of a
fit Moifture for Drilling, harrow it with Two light
Harrows, drawn by a Horfe going in the Furrow
betwixt Two Ridges (a) •, once will be enough, the
Furrow being juft broken to level, or rather fmooth
it for the Drill.

If the Veerings (b) whereon the next Drop is to
ftand, be plow'd dry, we may drill at any Time

during

(a) Once Harrowing is generally enough, but not always.

(b) The Word veering is, I believe, taken from the Seamen,
and fignifies to turn ; It is the Ploughman's Term for turning Two
Furrows toward each other, as they muft do to begin a Ridge :

H 4 and

xo4 Of Wheat. Chap. IX,

during the common and ufual Wheat-feed time, that
is proper for the fort of Wheat to be drill'd, and the
fort of Land, whether that be early or late, we may
drill earlier, but not later than the fowing Farmers.
But I have had good Crops of Wheat drill'd at all
Times betwixt Harveft and the Beginning of No*-
"vember.

For the Benefit of the middle Rows, 'tis better not
to drill Wheat on ftrong Land before the ufual Seafon ;
becaufe the later 'tis planted, the more open the Par-
titions will be for the Roots of thofe Rows to run
through them in the Spring: and yet, if the Earth
of the Partitions be plow'd very wet, tho' late, they
may be harder at the Spring, than thofe which are
plow'd early and dry.

There is a Sort of Wheat call'd by fome (a)
Smyrna Wheat : It has a prodigious large Ear, with
many lefs (or collateral) Ears, coming all round
the Bottom of this Ear-, as it is the largeft of all
Sorts of Wheat, fo it will difpenfe with theNourifh-
ment of a Garden, without being over-fed, and re-
quires more Nourimment than the common Hufban-

and therefore they call the Top of a Ridge a Veering ; they call
the Two Furrows that are turn'd from each other at the Bottom,
between Two Ridges, a Henting, ;'. e, an Ending : becaufe it
makes an End of plowing Ridges.

Our Intervals wholly confiil of Veerings or Hentings ; when
Two Furrows are turn'd from the Rows, they make a Veering;
when turn'd towards the Rows, they are a Henting, which is the
deep wide Trench in the Middle of an Interval.

(a) 'Tis faid to grow moitly in fome Iflands of the drcbipelago,
and fome Author defcribes it Triticum [pica ■ multtplici : There is
another Sort of Wheat that has many little Ears coming out of
Two Sides of the main Ear, but this is very late ripe, and doth
not fucceed well here, nor is it liked by them who have fovvn it ;
yet I have had fome Ears of it by chance among my drill'd
Wheat, which have been larger than thofe of any common Sort.
I have not as yet been able to procure any of the Smyrna Wheat,
which 1 look on as a great Misfortune ; but I had fome of it
above Forty Years ago.

dry

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. v IOj

dry will afford it j for there its Ears grow not much
bigger than thoie of common Wheat : This I believe
to be, for that Reafon, the very bed Sort for the Hoe-
in^ Hufbandry; next to this I efteem the White-cone
Wheat, then the Grey-cone. I have had very good
Crops from other Sorts ; but look upon thefe to be
the beft.

When Wheat is planted early, lefs Seed is requi-
red than when late; becaufe lefs of it will die in the
Winter than of that planted late, and it has more
Time to tiller (a).

Poor Land mould have more Seed than rich Land,
becaufe a lefs Number of the Plants will furvive the
Winter on poor Land.

The leaft Quantity of Seed may fuffice for rich
Land that is planted early •, for thereon very few Plants
will die ; and the Hoe will caufe a fmall Number of
Plants to fend out a vaft Number of Stalks, which
will have large Ears ; and in thefe, more than in the
Number of Plants, confifts the Goodnefs of a
Crop {b).

Another thing muft be confider'd, in order to find
thejuft Proportion of Seed to plant; and that is,
that fome Wheat has its Grains twice as big as
other Wheat of the fame Sort ; and then a Bulhel
(c) will contain but half the Number of Grains ;
and one Bufhel of Small- grain'd Wheat will plant as
much Ground as Two Bufhels of the Large-grain'd ;
for, in Truth, 'tis not the Meafure of the Seed, but
the Number of the Grains, to which refpeel: ought
to be had in apportioning the Quantity of it to the
Land.

[a) To tiller is p branch out into many Stalks, and is 'the
Country Word, that fignifies the fame with fruticare.

\b) A too great Number of Plants do neither tiller, nor produce
fo large Ears, nor make half fo good a Crop, as a bare competent
Number of Plants will.

(<■) Our Bufhel contains Seventy Pounds of the bell Wheat.

Some

106 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

Some have thought, that a large Grain of Wheat
would produce a larger Plant than a fmall Grain •, but
I have full Experience to the contrary. The fmall
Grain, indeed, fends up its fir ft fingle Blade in Pro-
portion to its own Bulk, but afterwards becomes as
large a Plant, as the iargeft Grain can produce (a),
ceteris paribus.

Six Gallons of middle-iiz'd Seed we moft com-
monly drill on an Acre ; yet, on rich Land planted
early, Four Gallons may fuffice -, becaufe then the
Wheat will have Roots at the Top of the Ground
before Winter, and tiller very much, without Dan-
ger of the Worms, and other Accidents, that late-
planted Wheat is liable to.

If it is drilPd too thick, 'twill be in Danger of
falling •, if too thin, it may happen to tiller fo late in
the Spring, that fome of the Ears may be blighted ;
yet a little thicker or thinner does not matter.

As to the Depth, we may plant from half an
Inch, to three Inches deep -9 if planted too deep,
there is more Danger of its being eaten off by Worms,
betwixt the Grain and the Blade {b) \ for as that

(a) Farmers in general know this, and choofe the thinneft,
fmalleft-grdned Wheat for Seed ; aqd therefore prefer that which
is blighted and lodged, and &at which grows on new-broken
Ground, and is not fit for Bread ; not only becaufe this thin
Wheat has more Grains in a Buftiel ; but alfo becaufe fuch Seed
is leait liable to produce a fmutty Crop, and yet brings Grains as
large as any.

I myielf have had as full Proofs of this as can poflihly be made
in both Refpe&s.

'Twas from fuch fmall Seed that my drill'd Lammas Wheat
produced the Ears of that monftrous Length defcribed in this
Chapter. I never faw the like, except in that one Year ; and the
Grains were large alfo.

And as full Proofs have I fcen of thin Seed-wheat efcaping
the Smut, when plump large grain'd Seed of the fame Sort have
been fmutty.

(b) A Wheat-plant, that is not planted early, fends out no
Root above the Grain before the Spring ; and is nouriuYd all the
Winter by a fingle Thread, proceeding from the Grain up to the
Surface oi the Ground, Thread

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 107

Thread is the. Thread of Life during the Winter (if
not planted early), fo ihe longer the Thread is, the
more Danger will there be of the Worms (a).

'Tis a neceffary Caution to beware of the Rooks
(b), juft as the Wheat begins to peep; for before

(a) Becaufe the Worms can more eafily find a Thread, that
extends by its Length to live or fix Inches Depth, than one which
reaches but One Inch ; and befides, the Worms in Winter do not
inhabit very near the Surface of the Ground* and therefore alfo
mifs the fhort Threads, and meet with the long ones.

(b) 'Tis true, that Wheat which is planted early enough for
its Grain to be unfit for the Rooks, before the Corn that is left
on the Ground at Harveft is either all eaten by them, or by Swine,
or elfe grow'd, plowed in, or otherwife fpoiled, is in no Danger :
but as this fometimes happens foon after Harveft, the Time of
which is uncertain, a timely Care is neceffary.

Many are the Contrivances to fright the Rooks ; viz. To dig
an Hole in the Ground, and itick Feathers therein ; to tear a Rook
to Pieces, and lay them en divers Parts of the Field : This is fome-
times effectual ; but Kites or other Vermin foon carry away thofe
Pieces. Hanging up of dead Rooks is of little Ufe; for the
living will dig up the Wheat under the dead ones. A Gun is alfo
of great Ufe for the Purpofe ; but unlefs the Field in Time of
Danger be conftantly attended the Rooks will at one Time or
other of the Day do their Work, and you may attend often, and
yet to no Purpofe; for they will do great Damage in your Abfence.

The only Remedy that I have found infallible is a Keeper (a
Boy may ferve very well) to attend from Morning until Night;
when he fees Rooks either flying over the Field, or alighted in
it, he halloos, and throws up his Hat, or a dead Rook, into the
Air ; upon which they immediately go off; and 'tis feldom that
any one will alight there : They, finding there is no Ren1 for them,
feek other Places for their Prey, wherein they can feed more
undifturbed.

This was the Expedient I made ufe of for preferving my pre-
fent Crop : It fucceeded fo well, that in Sixfcore Acres, I believe
there is not Two-pence Damage done by the Rooks; but I had
two Boys (one at Four-pence, and the other at Three-pence a
Day) to attend them ; becaufe my Wheat is on Two Sides of my
Farm ; the whole Expence was about Twenty Shillings. The
Damage I received by Rooks the lall Year in a Field of Seventeen
Acres, was more than would have, in this manner, preferved my
whole Crops for Twenty Years running. I wifh T could as eafily
defend my Wheat againfl Sheep, which are to me a more perni-
cious Vermin than the Rooks,

you

108 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

you can perceive it to be coming up, they will find it,
and dig it up to eat the Grain; therefore you mud
keep them off for a Week or Ten Days ; and in that
time the Blade will become green, and the Grain fo
much exhaufted of its Flour, that the Rooks think
it not worth while to dig after it.

But the Rooks do not moleft Wheat that is plant-
ed before or a little after St. Michael -y for then there
remains Corn enough in the Fields, which is left at
Harveft above-ground, that Rooks prefer always
before Corn which mull <:oft them the Labour of
digging to find it.

Of Partitions.

I have now intirely left out the middle Row for
Wheat, and keep only to the double Row, for the
following Reafons.

It makes the cleanfing from Weeds more difficult,
than when there is only a double Row.

The Hand-hoe cannot give near lb much Nourifh-
ment (i. e. pulverize fo much Earth) in Two Seven-
inch Partitions, as it can in One Ten-inch Partition.

There is Four Inches lefs Earth to be. pulveriz'd
by the Horfe-hoe from the Surface of a Ridge that
has Two Seven- inch Partitions, than from a Ridge
that hath One Ten-inch Partition.

The Ridge muft be almoit twice as deep in Mould
for the treble as for the double Row, or elfe the
middle Row will be very weak and poor •, and then,
according to the Principles, the whole Ridge will be
more exhaufted, than by an equal Product produced
by lirong Plants.

As the Ridges may be much lower that have only
the one Partition, fo the Intervals may be narrower,
and yet have as much Earth in them to be pulve-
riz'd, as in wide ones that are betwixt treble Rows ;
becaufe the Four Inches that are in the two Partitions
more than in the fingle Partition, being on the Top of

the

Chap. IX. O/Wheat. 109

the Ridge, may have more Mould under them than
Eight Inches on the Side of a Ridge ; and the Four
Inches, being in the Partitions, lofe the Benefit of
Horfe-hoeing.

Inftead of ufing the middle Row as an Alloy, 'tis
better to plant fuch Sorts of Wheat as do not require
any Alloy to the double Row ; and thefe are the
White-cone, and above all other Sorts the right Smyrna.

The White-cone Wheat muft not be reaped fo
green as the Lammas Wheat may ; for if it is not
full-ripe, it will be difficult to threfh it clean out of
the Straw.

It happened once that my White-cone being plant-
ed early, and being very high, the Blade and Stalk
were kill'd in the Winter -, and yet it grew high again
in the Spring, and had then the fame Fortune a Se-
cond time i it lay on the Ridges like Straw, but fprung
out anew from the Root, and made a very good
Crop at Harvefl : Therefore, if the like Accident
fhould happen, the Owner needs not be frighted at
it.

One thing that made Six-feet Ridges feem at firft
necelTary, was the great Breadth of the Two Par-
titions (which were Eight Inches apiece), which, to-
gether with the Earth left on each Side of the treble
Row not well cleanfed by Hand-work, made Two
large whole Furrows, at the firft Plowing for the
next Crop, that could not be broken by Harrows :
Thefe Two flrong Furrows, being turned to the Two
Furrows that are in the middle of a narrow Interval,
for making a new Ridge, would cover almoft all the
pulveriz'd Earth, not leaving room betwixt the Two
whole Furrows for the Drill to go in. But now the
fingle Partition, and the Earth left by the Hoe-Plough,
on the Outfides of the double Row, making Two
narrow Furrows, and the one Partition being cleanf-
ed, and deeper Hand-hoJd than thofe of the treble
Row were, or could be, are eafily broken by the

Harrows ;

no Of Wheatv Chap. IX*

Harrows ; for, befides their Narrownefs, they have
no Roots to hold their Mould together, except the
Wheat-roots, which, being fmall and dead, have not
Strength enough to hold it ; and therefore that Ne-
ceflity of fuch broad Ridges now ceafes along with
the treble Row.

When the Two narrow fragile Furrows are harrow-
ed, and mixed with the pulveriz'd Earth of the Inter-
vals, the Roots of the Wheat will reach it -, and it is
no Matter whether the Crop be drill'd after Two
Plowings, in which Cafe the Row will Hand on the
very fame Place whereon the Row flood the precedent
Year, or whether it be drill'd after One or Three
Plowings -, and then the Rows will (land on the Mid-
dle of the laft Year's Intervals.

I cannot prefcribe precifely the mod proper Width
of all Intervals •, becaufe they mould be different in
different Circumilances. In deep rich Land they may
be a little narrower than in mallow Land.

There mud be (as has been faid) a competent Quan-
tity of Earth in them to be pulveriz'd i and, when
the Soil is rich, the lefs will fufflce.

Never let the Intervals be too wide to be Horfe>
hoed at Two Furrows, without leaving any Part un-
plowed in the Middle of them, when the Furrows
are turned towards the Rows.

Some Ploughmen can plow a wider Furrow than
others, that do not underftand the letting of the Hoe-
Plough fo well, can.

By making the Plank of the Hoe-plough fhorter,
and the Limbers more crooked, we can now hoe in
narrower Intervals than formerly, without doing any
Damage to the Wheat.

1 now choofe to have Fourteen Ridges on an Acre,
and one only Partition of Ten Inches on each of
them. This I find anfwers all the Ends I purpofe.
If the Partitions are narrower, there is not fufficient
room in them for the Hand-hoe to do its work effectu-
3 ally >

Chap. IX. O/Whea't. hi

ally *, if wider, too much Earth will lofe the Benefit
of the Horfe-hoe.

The poorer the Soil is, the more Pulveration will
be necefiary to it.

When a great Seafon of Wheat is drill'd, it cannot
be expected that much of it can be plowed dry, tho*
it is advantageous when there happens an Opportunity
for doing it ; but by long Experience I find, that in
mod of my Lands it does very well, when plowed in
a moderate Temper of Moilture.

It may not be amifs to harrow it once after it is
drill'd, which will, in fome Meafure, difappoint the
Rooks ; befides covering the Wheat, if, perchance,
any mould mifs being covered by the Drill-harrow.

But thefe, and all Harrows that go on a Ridge, both
before and after it is drill'd, fhould be very light, and
fattened together in the common Manner ; except
that the Pole mud be fattened to each Harrow in two
Places ; which keeps them both as level as if they
were One fingle Harrow : Otherwife the Ridges
would be too fharp at the Top, and the Partitions
would lie higher than the Rows, and fome of their
Earth would be apt to fall on the Rows when it is
Hand-hoed.

By Means of this level Harrowing, there is left an
open Furrow in the Middle of the Interval, which
much facilitates the Firtt Horfe-hoeing.

But when, after a Crop is taken off, the Ridges
are plowed twice, as they may be where the one Par-
tition hath been well Hand-ho'd •, 'tis better to har-
row the firft-made Ridges in the common Manner;
becaufe then fome of the fine Earth, that is harrow'd
down, will reach to the middle of the Intervals where-
on the Ridges are to be made for Drilling: Or if there
fhould be time for plowing thrice, the Ridges of the
Firtt and Second Plowings are to be harrow'd in the
common Manner alfo.

The

in O/Wheat. Chap. IX«

The Harrowing of Ridges mad never be crofs*
ways, unlefs they are to be made level for Crofs-plow-
ing, in order to lay out the Ridges of a Breadth differ-
ent to what they were of before.

When you perceive the Ridges are too high, har-
row them lower by the defcribed manner of Harrow-
ing ; firft with the heavy Harrows for harrowing out
the Stubble, and then with light ones, which may be
often, for making the Earth on the Ridges the finer
for Drilling, without throwing much of it down ;
frequent Harrowings in this manner, not being inju-
rious like too much Harrowing on level Ground,
which is fometimes trodden as hard as the Highway
by the Cattle that draw the Harrows ; for in har-
rowing thefe Ridges, the Bead draws the Two Har-
rows, and always treads in the Furrow between them
where there is none or very little Mould to tread
on.

The Price of Hand-hoeing of thefe double Rows
is a Peny for thirty Perches in Length of Row, which
amounts to between Eighteen and Nineteen Pence for
an Acre.

I mould fay, that in Hand-hoeing the Earth muft
never be turned towards the Wheat ; for, if it were,
it might crufh it when young; neither could the
Partition be clean hoed.

The Hand-hoes for hoeing the Ten-inch Partition
have their Edges Seven Inches long; they are about
Four Inches deep from the Handle ; if they were
deeper, they would be too weak ; for they muft be
thin, and well fteeled. The Labourers pay for them,
and keep them in Order, for their own Ufe.

Thefe Hoes muft not cut out any Part of the
Two Rows, nor be drawn through them, as the Four-
inch Hoes fometimes may through the treble Rows.

If I am taxed with Levity in changing my treble
Rows for double ones, it will not appear to be done
of a fudden. In p. 132. I advifed the Trial of both

Sorts :

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 113

Sorts : And now, upon fuller Experience, I find
the double Rows much preferable to the treble,
efpecially for Wheat.

When Gentlemen faw the middle Row on low
Ridges fo much inferior to the outfide Rows, they
were convinced of the Effect of deep Hoeing ; for
they faid, there was no other Reafon for this fo vi-
fible a Difference, except the outfide Rows {landing
nearer to the puiveriz'd Intervals than the middle
Row did.

And when on high Ridges the middle Row was
nearly or quite as good as one of the outfide Rows,
I was not convinced, that they were not diminiflied
by the middle Row, as much as the Produce of it
amounted to : And this I now find to be the Cafe ;
for Four Rows of Oats, without a middle Row, pro-
duced fomewhat more than the fame Number that had
a middle Row ; Two of which treble Rows were
taken on one Side, and Two on the other Side of
the double Rows, purpofely to make an unexcep-
tionable Trial. And it is, as far as I can judge, the
fame in Wheat.

'Tis true, I began my Horfe-hoeing Scheme ftrft
with double Rows \ but then they were different to
what they are now \ for the firft had their Partition
uneven, being the parting Space, whereby it was lefs
proper for Hand-hoeing, which I then feidom ufed,
except for abfolute Neceffity, as to clean fe our Pop-
pies, and the like. The Intervals alfo were too nar-
row for conftant annual Crops.

By all thefe Three Methods I have had very good
Crops •, but as this I now defcribe is the latefl, and is
(as it ought to be) the beft ; I publifh it as fuch,
without Partiality to my own Opinions; for I think
it lefs difhonourable to expofe my Errors, when I
chance to detect them, than to conceal them : And
as I aim at nothing but Truth, 1 cannot, with any
Satisfaction to myielf, fuffer any thing of my own

1 kaow-

114 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

knowingly to efcape, that is in the lead contrary to
it.

I have a Piece of Five or Six Acres of Land
which I annually plant with boiling Peafe, in the
very fame manner as Wheat; except that the Second
Horfe-hoeing (which is the laft) throws the Earth lb
far upon the Peafe as to make the Two Rows become
One. Thefe Feafe cannot be planted until after the
25th of March ; dfc Two Horfe-hoeings might not
be fufficient. The fame Drill that plants Wheat plants
Peafe •, only fometimes we change the Spindle for one
that has its Notches a little bigger.

I drill no more Barley, becaufe 'tis not proper to
be followed by a Crop of Wheat without a Fallow ;
for fome of the mattered Barley will live over the
Winter, and mix with the Wheat in the Rows, and
can fcarce poffibly be thence timely taken out, its
firfb Stalk and Blade being difficult to diftinguifh from
the Wheat •, and this is a great Damage to the Sale
in the Market ; and for the fame Realbn I plant no
more Oats.

The Firft Hoeing is performed by turning a Fur-
row from the Row.

We are not fo exacl as to the Weather in the Firft
Hoeing ; for if the Earth be wet, the Hoe-plough
may go nearer to the Row, without burying the
Wheat ; and the Froft of the Winter will pulverize
that Part of the (a) Furrow, which is to be thrown
to the Wheat in the Spring, altho' it was hoed wet.

Neither is it necefTary to be very exacl as to Time ;
but it mud never be till the Wheat has more than
One Blade ; and it may be foon enough, when it has
Four or Five Leaves, fo that it is done before (b)^
or in the Beginning of Winter.

The

(a) The Word Farr >w fignines the Earth that is thrown out,
as well as the Trench from whence it is thrown by the Plough.

fb) But if the Wheat is planted very late, it may not be hoe-
able before the Winter is pall; nor is there fuch a Necefiky of

hoeing

Chap. IX. Of Whe\t, up

The greateft Fault you can commit in Hoeing, is
the Firft Time, when the Furrow is turned from the
Row, not to go near enough to it, nor deep enough.
You cannot then go too near it, unlefs you plow it
out, or bury it with Mould, and do not uncover it;
nor too deep, unlefs you go below the Staple of the
Ground.

Servants are apt to hoe too far from the Rows,
going backwards and forwards, in the Middle of the
Intervals, without coming near the Rows: This lofes
moil of the Benefit of Hoeing, and is very injurious
to the prefent Crop, and alfo to the Two fucceeding
Crops ; for then there will be a Deficiency of pulve-
rized Earth; and nobody can fuppofe, that the hoed
Earth can be of any Benefit to the Rows, before the
Roots reach into it; and when 'tis far off, few of the
Roots reach it at all; and thofe that do reach, come
there too late to bring the Plants to their full Perfec-
tion : Therefore, if the Firft Furrow was not near
enough, nor deep enough, plow a Second Furrow
at the Bottom of the former, which will go deeper
than the Firft, and break the Earth more ; befides
taking away from the Rows fuch unmoved Ground,
which the Firft Plowing may poffibly have miffed.
If this can't be conveniently done foon after the Firft
Hoeing, do it before the Ridge is turned back in the
Spring.

Always leave the Furrows turned up, to make
(a) Ridges in the Middle of the Intervals during the

Winter y

hoeing the late planted before the great Frofts are over, as there
is of the early-planted ; for the later 'tis planted, the lefs time
the Earth has to fubfide, and grow hard.

Note, By Winter we do not mean only thofe Months that are
properly fo reckoned, but alfo fuch other Months as have hard
Frofts in them, as 'January, February, and fometimes the .begin-
ning of March.

(a) Tho' the Ridge in the Middle of the Interval mould, for
Wan: of fufficienc Mould, or othervvife, be too low to give Shel-

X 2 ter,

1 16 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

Winter; and then the hollow Furrows, or Trenches
next the Rows, being enriched by the Froft (b) and
Rains (<:), the Wheat will have the Benefit of them
earlier in the Spring, than if the Trenches had been
left open in the Middle of the Intervals.

The outfide Rows of Wheat, from which the Earth
is hoed off before or in the Beginning of Winter,

ter, yet there is generally fome Earth falls to the Left of the
Hoe-plough, and lodges upon that Part which is left on the
Outfide of the Row ; which, notwithstanding that Part be very
narrow (as fuppofe Two or Three Inches), yet a fmal) Quantity
of Earth lying thereon, fo near to the outfide Row, gives an ex-
traordinary Shei.er to the young Wheat plants that grow in it.

Shelter is a great Benefit to Wheat; but yet Nourifhment is
more : for in the Winter I fee the Wheat plants upon the moft
expofed Part of the Ridge flourifn, when fmgle Plants in the
Bottom of the Furrow are in a very poor languiihing Condition,
without any Annoyance of Water, they being upon a ChaLk
Bottom.

(b) Froft, if it does not kill the Wheat, is of great Benefit to
it ; Water or Moifture, when it is frozen in the Earth, takes up
more Room than in its natural State ; this Swelling of the Ice
(which is Water congealed) mud move and break theEarth where-
with it is mixt ; and when it thaws, the Earth is left hollow and
open, which is a kind of Hoeing to it. This Benefit is done
chiefly to and near the Surface ; confequently the more Surface
there is, by the Unevennefs of the Land, the more Advantage the
Soil has from the Froft.

This is another very great Ufe of the Ridge left in the Middle
of the Interval during the Winter ; becaufe that Ridge, and its
Two Furrows, contain Four Times as much Surface as when le-
vel. This thus pulverized Surface, turned in in the Spring hoe*
ing, enriches the Earth, in proportion to its Increafe of internal
Superficies, and likewife proportionably nourifhes the Plants,
whofe Ro'its enter it ; and that Part of it wherein they do not
enter, mud remain more enriched for the next Crop, than if the
Soil had remained level all the Winter.

(r) It is a vulgar Error that the Winter Rains do not enrich
the Earth; and is only thought fo, becaufe we do not fee the Ef-
fect of them upon Vegetables, for lack of Heat in that Seafon.
But fome Farmers have frequently obferved, that one half of a
Ground plowed up juft before Winter has produced a Crop of
Barley as much better than the other Part plowed up at the End
of Winter, as is the Difference of a Dunging, even when there
has been very little Froft,

and

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 117

and left almoft bare till the Spring, one would think
fhould fuffer by the Froft coming fo near them (d)9
or for wa^nt of Pafture : But it appears to be quite
contrary ; for where the Hoe has gone nearer!: to a
Row, its Plants thrive beft : The Earth, which the
Froft hath pulverized, being within the Reach of the
young fhort Roots, on that Side of the Row, from the
Top to the Bottom of the Trench, nourifhes them at
firft ; and before the Plants have much exhaufted
this, as they grow larger in the Spring, the Ridge
from the Middle of the Interval is thrown to them,
having a perfectly unexhaufted Pafture, to fupply
their increafing Bulk with more Nourifhment.

The Row {landing as it were on the Brink of this
almoft perpendicular Ditch, the Water runs off
quickly, or doth not enter but a very little Way into
this fteep Side ; fo that, the Earth at the Plants being
dry, the Froft doth not reach quite to all their Roots
to hurt them, tho' the Diftance from the Air to the
Roots be very fhort •, and dry Earth doth not freeze
as wet doth, neither is this Ditch much expo-fed to
the cold Winds.

The Spring-hoeing is performed after the great
Frofts are paft, and when the Weather will allow it;
and then turn (e) the Ridge from (f) the Middle of

the

{dj In very light Land, perhaps, we mull not hoe quite fa
near to the Rows of Wheat, as in tfrong Land, for fear the Win-
ter mould lay the Roots bare, and expofe them too much to the
Cold ; but then we may be fure, that, in this Cafe, the Roots will
reach the Interval at a greater Diftance than in ftrong Land ; yet
fuch very light Land is not proper for Wheat.

[e) 'Tis an errant Miftake of the Vulgar, when they imagine
that the immediate Benefit of frefh Earth to Plants is from that
Part which remains uppermoft; for 'tis from turning the impreg-
nated pulverized Side downwards, to be fed on by the Roots, that
gives the Pabulum or Nourifhment of the freih Earth to Plants :
The other Side, being turned upwards, becomes impregnate alfo
in a little time.

(f) But note, that when we fee Weeds coming up near the
Row in the Spring, we plow again from the Rows (and fome-

I 3 times

u8 Of Wheat. Chap. IX,

the Interval, to the Rows on each Side by Two Fur-
rows as near as can be, without covering the Wheat;
in doing which have regard to the Row only, with-
out looking at the Middle of the Interval •, for 'tis
no matter if a little Earth be left there ; the next
Hoeing, or the next fave one (g)9 will move it.

As to how many times Wheat is to be hoed in the
Summer, after this Spring Operation, it depends
upon the Circumftances (b) and Condition of the
Land (i) and Weather (k) ; but be the Seafon as it
will, never fufTer the Weeds to grow high, nor let
any unmoved Earth lie in the Middle of the Intervals
long enough to grow hard -, neither plow deep near
the Rows in the Summer, when the Plants are
large (J)> but as deep in the Middle of the Intervals

times can plow within one Inch of the Row) before we turn down
the Mould from the Middle of the Interval.

(g) If at the next Hoeing we turn another Furrow towards the
Row (which is feldom done), then 'tis the next that moves the re-
maining Earth, left in the Middle of the Interval : But if the next
Hoeing be from the Row (as it generally is), then that covers,
the Middle of the Interval ; and then 'tis the next Hoeing after
that, that turns all the Earth clean out of the Middle of the In-
terval toward the Rows.

(h) If the Land was not fufRciently tilled or hoed in the pre-
cedent Year, it will require the more Hoeings in the following
Year.

(7) The poorer the Land is, the more Hoeings it mould have.

[k) A wet Summer may prevent fome of the Hoeings that we
fhould perform in a dry Summer.

(/) O or Hoeing deep near the Plants, when fmall, breaks off
only the Ends of the Roots; but after the Roots are fpread far in
the Interval, the greateft Part of them, being then on the Right-
hand Side of the Hoe plough, might hold fall on that Side, and
not be drawn out; and then the whole Roots would be broken off
clofe to the Bodies of the Plants : Therefore at the Second deep
Hoeing, that turns a Furrow from the Row in the Summer, we
go about Four or Six Inches farther off from the Roots than the
time before ; but we go nearer or farther off, according to the
Diliance of Time between thofe Two Hoeings: Yet we may hoe
jhallvw near to the Plants at any time, without Injury to their
Roots, but, en the contrary, it will be advantageous to them.

as

Chap, IX. Of Wheat. 119

as the Staple will allow •, turning the Earth towards
the Wheat, efpecially at the Jaft Hoeing, fo as to
leave a deep, wide Trench in the Middle of each In-
terval.

We augment our Wheat-crops Four Ways-, not in
Number "of Plants, but in Stalks, Ears, and Grains.

The Firft is, by increafing the Number of Stalks
from One, Two, or Three, to Thirty or Forty to a,
Plant, in ordinary Field-land.

And we augment the Crop, by bringing up all the
Stalks into Ears, which is the Second Way ; for, if it
be diligently obferved, we fhall find, that not half (m)
the Stalks of fown Wheat come into Ear.

I faw an Experiment of this in Rows of Wheat
that were equally poor : One of thefe Rows was in-
creafed (n) fo much, as to produce more Grains than
Ten of the other, by bringing up more of its Stalks
into Ears, and alfo by augmenting its Ears to a much
greater Bignefs; which is the Third Way : For, what-
ever Varro means by faying, that the Ears remain
Fifteen Days in Vaginis^ 'tis pretty plain, that the
Ears are formed together with the Stalks, and will
be very large, or very fmall, in proportion to the
Nourimment given them (0).

The laft and Foureh Way of augmenting the Pro-
duce of Wheat-plants, is by caufing them to have
large and plump Grains in the Ears ; and this can no
way be fo effectually done as by late Hoeing, efpeci-

[m) If a fquare Yard of Town Wheat be marked out, and the
Stalks thereon numbered in the Spring, it will be found, that
Nine parts in Ten are miffing at Harveit.

{n) Thefe Rows were drilled a Foot afunder, not hoed ; and
were, by the Shallownefs and Wetnefs of the Soil, very poor in
the Spring ; and then, by pouring Urine to the Bottom of this
Row, it was fo vaftly increafed above the reft.

(0) Like as the Vines, if well nourifhed, bring large Bunches
of Grapes; but if ill nourilhed, they produce few Bunches, and
thofe fmall ones ; and many Clafpers are formed, which would
have been Bunches, if they had had fufficient Nourimment given
them at the proper time.

I 4 ally

120 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

ally juft after the Wheat is gone out of the RlofTom-,
and when iuch hoed Grains weigh double the Weight
of the fame Number of unhoed (which they frequently
will) tho' the Number of Grains in the hoed are only
equal, yet the hoed Crop muft be double.

Thus, by increafing the Number of Stalks (p)9
bringing more of them up into Ear (q\ making the
Ears larger (r), and the Grain plumper, and fuller of
Elour (j), the Hoeing Method makes a greater Crop

from

[p) The fame Plant that, when poor, fends out but Two or
Three Tillers, would, if well nourifhed by the Hoe, or other-
wife, fend up a Multitude of Tillers, as is feen in hoed Wheat,
and fown Wheat.

(q) Mr. Houghton relates Eighty Ears on one fmgle Plant of
Wheat, and a greater Number has been counted lately in a Gar-
den : Thofe Eighty, reckoned to have Fifty Grains apiece, make
an Increafe of Four thoufand Grains for one; but I have never
found above Forty Ears from a fmgle Plant in my Fields ; yet
there is no doubt, but that every Plant would produce as many as
Mr. Houghton s, of the fame Sort, with the fame Nourishment ;
But I mould not defire any to be fo prolific in Stalks, left they
lhould fail of bringing fuch a Multitude of Ears to Perfection.
The Four hundred Ears, that I numbered in a Yard, were not
weighed, becaufe they were told before ripe ; and the greateft
Weight of Wheat that ever I had from a Yard, was the Product
of about Two hundred and Fifty Ears, and fome of them were
fmall.

(r) I have numbered One hundred and Nine Grains in One
Ear of my hoed Cone-wheat of the grey Sort ; and One Ear of
my hoed Lammas-wheat has been meafured to be Eight Inches
long, which is double to thofe of fown Wheat. I have fome of
thefe Ears now by me almoft as long, the longed being given
away as a Rarity ; and indeed 'tis not every Year that they grow
to that Length, and 'tis always where the Plants are pretty fingle.
But there is no Year wherein One Ear of my heed does not more
than weigh Two of the fown Ears, taking a whole Sheaf of each
together without choofing. The Sheaves of the hoed are of a
different Shape from the other; almoft all the Ears of the hoed
are at the Top of the Sheaf; but moft of the other are iituate at
the lower Part, or near the Middle of the Sheaf.

(/) Seed Cone wheat coming all out at the fame Heap, planted
all at the fame Time, and on Land of the fame Sort adjoining
near together, the Wheat that was fown produce4 Grains fo fmall.

and

Chap. IX. O/Wheat, 121

from a Tenth Part of the Plants (/) that the fowing
Method can.

' All

and that which was drilled To very large, that no F armer or Wheat-
buyer would believe them to be of the fame Sort of Wheat, ex-
cept thofe who knew it, which were many. One Grain of the
drilled weighed Two of the fown, and there was twice the ChalF
in an equal Weight of the fown, being both weighed before and
after the Wheat was feparated from the Chaff.

(t) The Fad of this nobody can doubt, who has obferved the
different Products of ftrong and of weak Plants, how the one ex-
ceeds the other.

i The greateft Difference of having an equal Crop from a fmall
Number of ftrong Plants, and from a great Number of weak
ones, is, that the Soil is vaftly lefs exhaufted by the former than
by the latter, not only from the latter's exhaulting more in pro-
portion to their Number when young, and whilft each of them
confumes as much Nourilhmen* as each of the fmall Number ;
but alfo from the different Increafe that a ftrong Plant makes by
receiving the fame Proportion of Food with a weak one; For it
appears from Dr. Woodward's Experiments, that the Plant which
receives the leaj? Increafe carries off the greatcjl Quantity of
Nourilhment in proportion to that Increafe ; and that 'tis the
fame with an Animal, all who are acquainted with fatting of
Swine know ; for they eat much more Food daily for the firll
Two Weeks of their being put into the Sty, than they do after-
wards, when they thrive falter; the fatter they grow, the lefs they
eat.

Hence, I think, it may be inferred, that a Plant, which, by
never having been robbed or fiinted by other Plants, is ftrong,
receives a much greater Increafe from an equal Quantity of Food,
than a Number of weak Plants (as thick ones are), equalling the
Bulk of the fingle ftrong Plant, do.

And this of the Doctor's have I feen by my own Obfervations
confirmed in the Field in Potatoes, Turneps, Wheat, and Barley;
a following Crop fuceeeds better after an equal Crop, conlifting
of a bare competent Number of ftrong Plants, than after a Crop
of thick weak ones, ceteris paribus.

Thus the hoed Crops, if well managed, confifting of fewer and
ftronger Plants than the fown Crops of equal Produce, exhauft
the Ground lefs ; whereby, and by the much (I had almoft faid
infinitely) greater Pulveration of the Soil, indifferent good Land
may, for any thing I have yet feen to the contrary, produce pro-
fitable Crops always without Manure, or Change of Species, if
the Soil be proper for it in refpecr, of Heat and Moifturo ; and
alfo as Crops of fome Species, by their living longer, by their

greater

122 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

All thefe Advantages will be loft by thofe Drillers,
who do not overcome the unreafonnble Prejudices of
the unexperienced, concerning the Width of Inter-
vals.

In wide Intervals, we can raife a good Crop with
lefs Labour, Ids Seed, no Dung, no Fallow, but not
without a competent Quantity of Earth, which is the
leaft expenfive of any thing given to Corn -9 the Earth
of a whole good Acre being but about the Tenth
Part of the common Expence ; and of indifferent
Land, a Twentieth ; and luch I count that of Five
Shillings and Six-pence per Acre.

The Crop enjoys all the Earth-, for betwixt the laft
Hoeing, and the Harveft, there remains nothing but
Space empty of Mould in the Middle of the Intervals.

'Tis an Objection, that great Part of thofe wide
Intervals muft be loll (u), becaufe the Wheat-roots do

not

greater Bulk, or different Constitution, exhauft more than others,
refpect. ought to be had to the Degree of Richnefs of the Soil, that
is to produce each Species ; The Sowing and the Hoeing Huf-
bandry differ io much both in Pulveratian and Exhauftion, that
no good Argument can be drawn from the former againft the
latter : But tho' a too great Number of Plants be, upon many-
Accounts, very injurious to the Crop, yet 'tis beft to have a com-
petent Number; which yet needs not be fo exact, but that we
may expect a great Crop from Twenty, Forty, or Fifty Plants in
a Yard of the treble Row, if well managed.

(») They do reach through all the Mould (as fhall be
proved by-and-by); and yet may leave fufficient Pafture behind;
becaufe it is impofhble for them to come into Contact with all the
Mould in One Year; no more than when Ten Horfes are put inco
an Hundred Acres of good Pafture, their Mouths come into Con-
tact with all the Grafs to eat it in one Summer, though they will
go all over it, as the Vine-roots go all over the Soil of a Vine-
yard without exhaufting it all; becaufe thofe Roots feed only fuch
a bare competent Quantity of Plants, which do not overitock
their Pafture.

The Superficies of the fibrous Roots of a proper Number of
Wheat- plants bear a very fin all Proportion to the Superficies of
the fine Parts of the pulverized Earth they feed on in thefe Inter-
vals ; for one cubical Foot of this Earth may, as is fliewn in

p. 29.

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 123

nor reach it-, but as we generally turn the Mould to-
wards the Row at the lait Hoeings, there is no Part

of

p. 29. have many thoufand Feet of internal Superficie : Eut this
is in proportion to the Degree of its Pulveration : and ihat De-
gree may be fuch as is Iufficient to maintain a competent Num-
ber of Wheat-plants, without over-exhaufting the vegetable Paf-
ture, but not iufficient to maintain thofe, and a great Stock of
Weeds befides, without over-exhaufting it. And this was plainly
ieen in a Field of Wheat drilled on Six-feet Ridges, when the
South Ends of fome of the Ridges, and the North Ends of others,
had their Partitions Hand hoed, and cleanfed of Weeds, early in
the Spring, the oppofite Ends remaining full of a fmall Species
of Weeds, called Crow-needles, which io exhauftcd the whole In-
tervals of the weedy Part of the Ridges, that the next Year the
whole Field being drilled again with Wheat exa&ly in the Mid-
dle of the lair Intervals, the following Crop very plainly diliin-
guiflied how far each Ridge had its Partitions made clean of thofe
imall Weeds in the Spring, from the other End where the Weeds
remained till full-grown; the Crop of the former was twice as
good as that of the latter, even where both were cleanfed of
Weeds the next Spring. This Crop Handing only upon that Part
of the Mould, which was farther* from the Rows of the precedent
Crop, proves that the Roots, both of the Wheat and Weeds,
d.d enter all the Earth of the former Intervals.

It was alfo obfervable, that where the Partitions of Two of the
Six-feet Ridges had been in the precedent Year cleanfed of
Weeds, and thofe of the adjoining Ridges on each Side of them
not cleanfed, the Row that was the next Year planted exactly in
the Middle of the Interval between thofe two Ridges, was per-
ceivably better than either of the Two Rows planted in the In-
tervals on the other Side of each of them : The Reafon of which
Difference mud be, that the Midde of the Interval, that was be-
tween the Two cleanfed Ridges, was fed on by the Wheat only,
and by no Weeds ; but the other Two Intervals were fed on by
the Wheat on one Side, and by both the Wheat and Weeds on
the other Side of each.

There were, in the fame Field, feveral Ridges together, that
had the Ends of their Rows of Wheat plowed out by the Hoe-
plough, and their other Ends cleanfed of Weeds: This was done
on purpofe, to fee what Effedt a Fallow would have on the next
Crop, which was indeed extraordinary; for thefe fallowed Ends
of the Ridges, being Horfe-hoed in the Summer, as the other
Ends were, and the Intervals of them made into Ridges, the
following Year produced the largeil Crop of all ; this Crop was
received in 1734,

Thefe

124 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

of it above Two Feet diftant from even the middle
Row, and Seventeen Inches from either ©f the outride
Rows.

And I have plainly proved, that the Roots of
Cone-wheat have reached Mould at Two Feet Di-
flance, after pafTing through another Row at a Foot
Diftance from it, the Plants being then but Eighteen
Inches high, and but half-grown.

Farmers do not grudge to beftow Three or Four
Pounds in the Buying and Carriage of Dung for an
Acre ; but think themfelves undone, if they afford an
extraordinary Eighteen-penyworth of Earth to the
wide Intervals of an Acre; not confidering that Earth
is not only the beft, but alfo the cheapeft Entertain-

Thefe feveral different Managements performed in this Field,
Ihewed by the different Succefs of the Crops in each Sort, what
ought to be done, and which is the beft Sort of Management.

This Field indeed is fome of my beft Land ; and by all the
Experiments I have feen on it, I do not find but that, by the
beft Management, never omitted in any Year, it might produce
good annual Crops of Wheat always, without Affiftance of Dung
or Fallow ; but it would be very difficult for me to get Hands to
do this to the greateft Perfection, unlefs I were able conftantly to
attend them.

The whole pulverized Earth of the Interval being pretty-
equally fed on by the former Crop, 'tis no great Matter in what
Part of it the following Crop is drill'd : I never drill it but on
the Middle of the laft Year's Interval, becaufe there is the Trench
whereon the next Year's Ridge is made with the greateft Con-
veniency : But there may be fome Reafon to fufpett, that the
Plants of the Rows exhauft more Hourifhment from that Earth
of the Intervals which is fartheft from their Bodies, than from
that which is neareft to them : Since their fibrous Roots, at the
greateft Diftance from the Rows, are moft numeaous, cifr. by
thefe the Plants, when they are at their greateft Bulk, are chiefly
maintained.

It muft be noted) that the above Experiments would not have
been a full Proof, if Weeds had been fuffered to grow in the
Partitions of the Ends of thofe Ridges, in the Year wherein
the Difference appeared. It may alfo be noted, that a Mixture
and Variety of bad Hufbandry are ufeful for a Difcovery of the
Theory and Pra&ice of good Hufbandry.

2 ment

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 125

ment that can be given to Plants •, for at Five Shil-
lings and Six-pence Rent, the whole Earth belonging
to each of our Rows cofts only Six-pence, i. e. a Peny
for a Foot broad, and Six hundred and Sixty Feet
long-, that being the Sixty-fixth Part of an Acre (x).

And if for conftant annual Wheat-crops you make
fewer than Eleven Rows on Four Perches Breadth, you
will always increafe the Expence of Hoeing; becaufe
then Two Furrows will not Hoe One of thofe Inter-
vals, and you will alfo thereby leffen the Crops, but
improve the Land more : And if you increafe that
Number of Rows, you will thereby increafe every
Expence •, for there mufl be Two Furrows to hoe a
narrow Interval, and an Increafe of the Quantity of
Seed, and the Labour in uncovering, weeding, and
reaping-, and alfo you will lefs improve the Land, and
lefTen the Crops after the Firft Year.

If the Intervals are narrower in deep Land, tho'
there might be Mould enough in them, yet there
would not be Room to pulverize it.

If narrower in fhallow Land, tho' there were
Room, yet there would not be Mould enough in
them to be pulverized.

The Horfe-hoe, well applied, doth fupply theUie
of Dung and Fallow -y but it cannot fupply the Ufe of
Earth, tho' it can infinitely increafe the vegetable Fa-
ilure of it, by pulverizing it, where it is in a reafonable
Quantity: Yet if the Intervals be fo narrow, that near
all the Earth of them goes to make the Partitions
raifed at the Top of the Ridges, there will be fo little
to be pulverized, that you mull: return to Fallowing,

(x) But the Vulgar compute this Expence of a Foot Breadth
of Ground, not only as of the Rent, as they ought, but as an
Eleventh Pare of th^ir own ufual Charges added to the Rent.

And there is Land enough in England to be had, at the Rent
of Five Shillings and Six-pence the Acre, that is very proper for
Wheat in th« Hoeing- Hutbandry.

and

1 16 Of Wheat. Chap. IX,

and to the Dung-cart, and to all the old exorbitant
Charges (y).

Eight Acres, Part of a Ground of Twenty Acres,
drilled with Intervals of Three Feet and an half,
brought a good Crop -y but the Second Year, not
being hoed, the Crop was poor •, and the Third
Crop made that Land fo foul and turfy, that 'twas
forced to lie for a Fallow, there being no way to
bring it into Tilth without a Summer-plowing (z),
when the reft of the fame Piece, in wider Intervals,
being conflantly hoed, continued in good Tilth, and-
never failed to yield a good Crop, without miffing
one Year.

In another Field, there is now a Sixth Crop of
Wheat, in wide Intervals, very promifing, tho3 this
Ground has had no fort of Dung to any of thefe
Crops, or in feveral Years before them : The laffc
Year's Crop was the Fifth, and was the beft of the
Five, tho' a Yard of the Row yielded but Eighteen
Ounces and Three Quarters ; and the Third Crop
yielded Twenty Ounces Weight {a) of clean Wheat

in

( y) The Objections againft thefe wide Intervals are only for
faving a Penyworth or Two of Earth in each Row, or a few
Groats-worth of it in an Acre ; by faving of which Earth they
may lofe, in the prefent and fucceeding Crops, more Pounds.

(z) This Narrownefs of the Intervals, if the Damage of it be
rightly computed, would amount to half the Inheritance of the
Land ; and was occafioned by the Wilfulnefs of my Bailiff, who,
drilling ic upon the Level, ordered the Horfe to be guided half a
Yard within the Mark, becaafe he fanfied the Intervals would be
too wide, if he followed my Directions.

{a) Wheat, before Harveft, ftand:ng in Rows with wide In-
tervals betwixt them, may not feem, to the Eye, to equal a Crop
of half the Bignefs difperfed all over the Land, when iown in the
common Manner ; and yet there is more Deceit in the Appear-
ance of thofe different Crops, whilft they are ypung, and in Grafs :
We fhould therefore not judge of them then by our Imagination,
hut as we do of the Sun and Moon nigh the Horizon, viz. by
our Reafon.

Ima-

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 127

in the fame Spot*, but 'twas becaufe the Spot where
the Twenty grew, was then a little higher than the
reit, which in Two Years became more equal ; and
the thin Land was more deficient in that Third Crop,
than the thick Land exceeded the thin in the Fifth
Crop.

In the thick the Hoe-plough went deeper, and
confequently railed more Pafture there ; but then it
went the fhallower in the thin •, and when the Land
became of a more equal Depth the Fifth Year, the
Plough and the Hoe-plough went deeper, all the
Piece being taken together-, for the Crop could be but
in proportion to the different Pafture, allowing ibme-
what for the more or lefs Seafonablenefs of the Year.

The Soil, in this our Cafe, cannot be fupplied in
Subftance, but from the Atmofphere. The Earth
which the Rain brings can do it alone, if it fall in
great Quantity ; for by Water, 'tis plain, the Earth
which nourifTied Helmont's Tree was fupplied ; for
the Tin-cover of the Box wherein it flood, prevented
the Dews from entering.

Dews muft add very much to the Land, thus
continually tilled and hoed ; for they are more
heavily charged with terrefirial Matter than Rain is,
which appears from their forcing a Defcent through
the Air, when 'tis flrong enough to buoy up the
Clouds from falling into Rain : And Dew, when
kept in a Veffel long enough to putrefy, leaves a
greater Quantity of black Matter at the Bottom of the

Imagination often deceives us by Arguments falfe or precari-
ous; but Reafon leads us to Demonstration, by Weights and Mea-
fures : Yet this Prejudice will vanifti at Harveit before weighing;
for then all thofe wide Intervals that were bare, will be covered
with large Ears interfering to hide them quite, and make a finer
Appearance than a ibwn Crop. But 'tis obferved, that the Cone-
wheat makes the fineft Shew, when you look on it lengthways
of the Rows, both at Harveft, and a confiderable time before
Harvcft.

Vcffcf,

123 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

VefTel, than Rain-water does in a VefTel of the fame
Bignefs, rilled with it till putrefied.

Dews at Land, 1 fuppofe, are fir ft exhaled from
Rivers, and moift Lands, and from the Expirations
of Vegetables; moil of the Dew which falls on it is
exhaled from untilled Land ; but mod of that which
falls on well tilled or well hoed Land, remains there-
in unexhaled ; fo that the untilled Ground helps, by
that means, to enrich and augment the tilled: For if
an Acre be tilled for Two Years together without
fowing, it will become richer by that Tillage, than
by lying unplowed Four Years, which may be eafily
proved by Experience (b).

But then, as to Rain, the Sea being larger than all
the Land (and its Waters, by their Motion, becom-
ing replete with terreftrial Matter), 'tis not unlikely,
that more Vapour is raifed from One Acre of Sea,
than from One hundred Acres of Land.

Some have been fo curious as to compute the
Quantity of Rain, that falls yearly in fome Places in
England, by a Contrivance of a VefTel to receive it ;
and 'tis found, in one of the drieft Places, far from
the Sea, to be Fourteen Inches deep, in the Compafs
of a Year; in fome Places much more; viz. at Paris,
Nineteen Inches ; in Lancajhire, Mr. "Townley found,
by a long-continued Series of Obfervations, that there
falls above Forty Inches of Water in a Year's time.

Could we as eafily compute the true Quantity of
Earth in Rain-water, as the Quantity of Water is
computed, we might perhaps find it to anlwer the
Quantity of Earth taken off from our hoed Soil an-
nually by the Wheat.

But if Land fown with Wheat be not hoed, its
Surface is foon incruftate ; and then much of this
Water, with its Contents, runs off, and returns to

[b) Nan ig'itur Fatigatione, quemath:odum plurimi crediderunt*
rec Senio, fed nojira fcilicet Inertia, minus benigm nobis Ar<va re-
Jftondent. Colum. lib. xi, cap* I.

the

Chap. IX. Of W heat. 1 2 c>

the Sea, without entering the Ground •, and in Sum-
mer a great deal of what remains is exhaled by the
Sun, and raifed by the Wind, both in Summer and
Winter.

Some there are who think it a fatal Objection, that
the more an Interval is hoed, the more Weeds will
grow in it ; and that the Hoe can produce, or (as
they fay) breed in it as many Weeds in one Summer,
as would have come thereon in Ten Years by the old
Husbandry. But by this Objection they only main-
tain, that the Hoe can deftroy as many Weeds in One
Summer, as the old Hufbandry can in Ten Years.

And they might add, that fince all Weeds that
grow where the Hoe comes, are killed before they
feed, and that few of thofe Which grow in the old
Hufbandry, are killed (c) before their Seed be ripe
and fhed -, thefe Objectors will be forced to allow,
that our Hufbandry will leffen a Stock of Weeds
more in one Summer, than theirs can do to the
'World's End ; unlefs they believe the equivocal Ge-
neration of Weeds, than which Opinion nothing can
be more abfurd.

Some object again ft my Method of (d) weighing a
Yard, or a Perch in Length of a Row, faying, this
does not determine the Produce of a whole Field.

I an-

(c) Weeds cannot be killed before they grow, but will lie dor-
mant, as they do in our Partitions, and in their fown Land; and
while Seeds are in the Ground, they are always ready to grow
at the firft Opportunity, and will certainly break out at one time
or other; 10 that preventing their coming, is only like healing
up a Wound before it be cured.

{d) I did not weigh this Yard, as different from the other Yards
round about it, for I had much Dih^culty to determine which
Row 1 mould chufe it in ; when T was going to cut in one Row,
it dill feemed that another was better, and i queflion whc.her 1
did chufe the beft at laft.

Note, Whereas I often mention the Wheat of this Field to be
without Dung or Fallow, it muft be undeiitoo.i of that Part of
the Field wherein my Weigbinzs and other Trials were made :

K bee

130 Of Wheat. Chap. It.

I anfwer, that they judge right, if the Produce of
the whole Field be not of equal Goodnefs ; but if it
be not, it muft be becaufe one Part of the Field is
richer, or differently managed from the other Part :
For the fame Caufes that produce Twenty Ounces of
clean Wheat upon one Yard, muft produce the fame
Quantity upon every Yard, of a Million of Acre?.

When the Crop of half a Field is fpoiled by Sheep,
not hoed at ail, or improperly, it would be ridicu-
lous to compute the whole Field together for an Ex-
periment : We might indeed weigh the poorer!, to
prove the Difference of the one from the other, to
try (as they fometimes feem to do) how poor a Crop
we can raife ; but my Defign was, to try how good
a Crop I could raife with a Tenth Part of the com-
mon Expence.

And I have often weighed the Produce of the fame
Quantity of Ground (e)9 of all Sorts of fown Wheat,
both the bed and the worft ; but never have found
any of the fown equal to the bed of my drilled.
Indeed we have none of the richeft Land (f) in our

becaufe there was a frnall Part once fallowed Eight or Nine Years
£go, and a little Dung laid on another Part about the laft Mi-
chaelmas, after the Crop of Oats was taken off. But this being a
Year in which Dung is obferved to have little or no Effect on
fo<vjn Wheat (my Dung being weak and laid thin), 'tis the fame
here ; for thofe Rows which are in the dunged Part, can hardly
be diftinguiflied from the reft of the Rows which had not been
dunged : And yet the Ends of the Rows which were cleanfed of
Weeds, are very diflinguifhable by the Colour of the Wheat,
though fome are the Thud, and fome the Fourth Crop fince the
Difference was made; and the ivbo/e Rows managed alike every
Year, from that time to this; fo that here Un-exhauiiion is more
effe&cal than Dung. This is certain, that neither Dung nor Fal-
low hath been near the Part wherein my Experiments were made.

(e) I allow Two fquare Yards of their Crops to One Yard in
Length of my Treble Row.

(f) I am forry that this Farm, whereon I have pra&ifed Horfe-
hoeing, being fituate on an Hill, that con fills of Chalk on one
Side, and Heath ground on the other, has been ufually noted for
the pooreit and fhalloY/eft Soil in the Neighbourhood.

Country

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. i3r

Country within my Reach, that being not above One
Mile.

As a Yard in Length of my treble Row of the
Third fucceflive Crop of Wheat, without Dung or
Fallow, produced Twenty Ounces of Wheat; which,
allowing Six Feet to the Ridge, is about Six Quar-
ters (a) to an Acre ; and, allowing Seven Inches to
each Partition, and Two Inches on each Outfide, is
in all Eighteen Inches of Ground to each treble
Row, and but juft One-fourth Part of the Ridge.
Now, if, in the old Hufbandry, the Crop was as
good all over the Ground, as it was in thefe Eighteen
Inches of the treble Row, they muft have Twenty-
four Quarters to an Acre; but let them dung whiift
they can, they will fcarce raife Twenty-four Gallons
of Wheat the Third Year, on an Acre of Land of
equal Goodnefs; and let them leave out their Dung,
and add no more Tillage in lieu of it* and I believe
they will not expect Three Quarters to an Acre, in
all the Three Years put together.

The mean Price of Wheat, betwixt Dear and
Cheap, is reckoned Five Shillings a Bufhel (J?) ; and

there-

(a) Eight Bufhete make a Quarter.

{b) 'Tis commonly faid, that a Farmer cannot thrive, who for
want of Money is obliged to fell his Wheat under Five Shillings
a Bufhel ; but if he will fell it dear, he 'mail keep it when 'tis
cheap ; And his Way of keeping it is in the Straw, ufing his
belt Contrivances to preferve it from the Mice.

The moil fee u re Way of keeping a great Quantity of Wheat,
that ever I heard of, is by drying it. When 1 lived in Oxford*
Jbire, one of rny neareft Neighbours was very expert in this,
having pradlifed it for great Part of his Life: When Wheat was
under Three Shillings a 3 u ft el, he bought in the Markets as much
of the middle Sort of Wheat as his Money would reach to pur-
chafe: He has often told me, that his Method was to dry it upon
an Hair-cloth, in a Malt-kiln, with no other Fuel than clean
Wheat-Straw; never foffering it to have any ftronger Heat I
that of the Sun. The longeit time he ever let it remain in this
Heat was Twelve Hours, and the fhonejl time about Four Hours;
the damper the Wheat was, and the longer in: ended to be kept,

K 2 tne

1 3 2 Of W heat. Chap. IX.

therefore an Acre thas would produce every Year,
without any Expence, Eight Bufhels, would be

thought

the more Drying it requires: But how to cEftinguifli nicely the
Degrees of Dampnefs, and the Number of Hours proper for its
Continuance upon the Kiln, he faid was an Art impoiiibie to be
learned by any other Means than by Practice. About Three or
Four and Twenty Years ago, Wheat being at Twelve Shillings
a Bufhel, he had in his Granaries, as I was informed, Five thou-
fand Quarters of dried Wheat ; none of which coil him above
Three Shillings alSuihel.

This dried Wheat was efteemed by the London Bakers to work
better than any new Wheat that the Markets afforded. His
Speculation, which put him upon this Project, was, that 'twas
only the fuperfluous Moifture of the Grain that caufed its Corrup-
tion, and made it liable to be eaten by the Wevil; and that when
this Moifture was dried out, it might be kept fweet and good for
many Years; and that the Effect of all Heat of the fame Degree
was the fame, whether of the Straw, or of the Sun.

Asa Proof, he would (hew, that every Grain of his Wheat
would grow after being kept Seven Years.

He was a moft fmcere honeft: Yeoman, who from a fmall Sub-
fiance he be^an with, left behind him about Forty thouiand
Pounds; the greateft Part whereof was acquired by this Drying
Method.

For the Hand- hoeing they ufe Hoes of Four Inches Breadth,
very thin, and well Heeled : Their Thinnefs keeps them from
wearing to a thickEdge, and prevents theNeceflity of often grind-
ing them. Such Hoes are in Ufe with fome Gardeners near Lon-
don. They need not be afraid of drawing thefe little Hoes acrofs
the Rows of young Wheat to take out the few Weeds that come
therein at the early Hoeing; for whilft the Wheat-plants are fmall,
it may be an Advantage to cut out fome of the weakeft, as they
do of Turneps ; for I perceive there are oftener too many Plants
than too few. But the thing that caufes the greateit Trouble in
cleanfmg the R.ovvs, is when the Seed is foul (/. e. full of Seeds of
Weeds) : Therefore I cleanfe my Seed -wheat- by drawing it on
a Cloth on a Table, which makes it perfectly clean.

This Hand-hoeing mould be performed about the End of
March, or Beginning of dpril, before the Wheat is fpindled (/. e.
run up to Stalks); and if the Weather be dry enough, you may go
lengthways of the Ridges with a very light Roller to break the
Clods of the Partitions, whereby the Hce will work the better.

If there mould afterwards more Weeds come up, they1 mull
not be fuffered to ripen ; and then the Soil will be every Year
freer from Weeds,

This

Chap. IX. Of Wheat. 133

thought an extraordinary profitable Acre ; but yet
a drilled Acre, that produces Sixteen Bufhels of

Wheat,

This Hand-hoeing of the Rows fliould be done at the proper
time, though it happen, by late Planting, chat the Horfe-hoe
lias not gone before it; for it may be, that the Weather has kept
out the Horfe hoe : and the Earth may not be dry deep enough
in the Intervals for the Hoe -plough, but deep enough in the Par-
titions for the Hand-hoe.

And the Expence of this Hand-work on the Rows would be
well anfwered, though there mould not be one* Weed in them j
and fo it would be, if a fecond Hand hoeing were bellowed on
the Partitions of every Crop of Wheat not fufpecled of being too
luxuriant.

If after the laft Horfe-hoeing there mould be Occafion for an-
other Hoeing of the Intervals, where the Narrownefs of them,
and the Leaning of tall Wheat, make it difficult or dangerous to
be performed by the Hoe- plough ; a flight mallow Hoeing may
be performed therein by the Hand-hoe with Eale and Safety, at
a very fmall Expence, which would be more than doubly repaid
in the following Crops.

IF any one doubts of the Efficacy of thus managing Wheat,
it can't coft much to make proper Trials. But then Care mure
be taken, that the Trials be proper. I do not ad vile any one to
be at the Expence of my Inftruments for that Purpofe, but to
imitate them in pulverizing, and all other directed Operations
by the Spade and common Hoes. His Ridges of Experiment
need be no longer than Six Feet. Inftead of a Drill, make ufe
of a triangular Piece of Wood, Seven Feet long, and Four or
Five Inches thick, with one Edge of which make Channels, and
place the Seed regularly even into them by Hand, and cover it
with the fame Piece of Wood; but if the Earth be fo wet, as to
cling to the Piece, then make ufe of it only as a Ruler, whereby
to make the Channels {bait with a Stick.

Let fome of the Ridges have double Rows, others treble ; and
let fome have treble Rows half-way, and leave out the middle
Row in the other Half, to (hew whether the double Row or the
treble Row produce a better Crop.

Then for the Firft time of Hoeing, the Spade mutt work with
its Back towards the Row. The Second time, in turning the
Earth to the Row, the Spade's Face mull be towards it* Thefe
Two, and feveral other Hoeings mould be deep ; but when the
Roots are large (and the Hoeing is near the Plants), the Spade
mull go fnaliovv ; and neiiher the Face nor the Back of it mult

K 3 be

134 Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

Wheat, with the Expence of Ten or Fifteen Shil-
lings, is above a Third Part more profitable.

I don't

be towards the Row, except when the Earth is turned towards it;
and then the Face muft be always towards it; but for the reft of
the laft Koeings, the Spade mould work with its Face towards
one or other of the Ends of the Intervals, that the fewer of the
Roots may be cut off, and the more of them removed, and cover-
ed again. Let the Spits be thin for the better pulverizing of the
Mould. The Hand-hoe will fometimes be ufeful in the Inter-
vals, as well as in the Partitions.

Four or Five Perches of Land may fuffice for making proper
Trials.

The Expence of this will be little, though perhaps Ten times
more than that which is done by the proper Inftruments for the
fame Proportion of Land.

But I muft give this Caution, that no Part of it be done out of
the Reach of the Mailer's Eye ; for if it mould, he may expect
to be difappointed.

The richer the Land, the thinner it muft be planted to prevent
the lodging of Corn.

The Mafter ought to compute the Quantity of Seed, due to
each Perch, at the Rate of Five or Six Gallons to an Acre, by-
Weighing, cj*V. as I have {hewn in my Eflay

I cannot commend more than Two Partitions in a Row, or
more than One, when the Intervals are narrow j becaufe the
broader the Row is, the more Earth will remain un-pulverized,
under the Partitions j too much of which Earth being whole,
will difapppint, at leaft, one of the Differences mentioned in my
xviith Chapter. -

Indifferent Land I think tnoft proper whereon to make the Ex-
periment, and th^ meft improper lor Coin is barren Land, as the
beft brings the largeft Crops.

To afcertain the Quantity of the Crop, take a Yard in the
Middle of a Ridge, and weigh its Produce.

Every Year ieave one Interval unhoed, to prove the Difference
of that Side of a double or treble Row next to it, from the other
Side next to the hoed Interval.

Eut it muft be noted, that the Spade doth not always pulverize
fo much as the Plough, or Hoe-piough ; therefore there may be
pecafion for more D ggings than there would be of Horfe-^joeings.

One of the Obfervations that put me upon Trials of wide In-
tervals, and Horfe work for Corn, was the following ; *viz. One
or a poorilh Field was fown with Barley ; the other Half
drilled with Turners, the Rows Thirty Inches afunder, at the
proper Seafon, and twice hoed with a Sort of Horfe-hoe con^

trived

Chap. IX. O/Whsat. 135

trived for that Purpofe (but nothing like that I have defcribed) ;
the Drill, beginning next to the Barley, left an Interval of the
fame (30 Inches) Bread tn between the Firft Row of Turneps end
the Barley, which, being fpwn on large Furrows, came up in a
fort of Rows, as is common for Barley to come when fown on
fuch wide Furrows. This Interval between the Barley and the
Turneps had the fame Hoeings as the reft, and had this Effect oa
the broad Row of Barley next to it; wfc. Each Plant had many
Stalks ; it was of a very deep .flourishing Colour, grew high, the
Ears very long, and, in all refpecls, the Barley was as good as if
it had been produced by the richer! Land. The next Row of
Barley had fome little Benefit en the Side next to the ftrong Row;
but all the reft of the Barley, either by the too late Sowing of it,
the Poverty of the Soil (not being in any manner dunged), or
eife by the Coldnefs of the Land, or Co:daeis of the Summer,
or by all of thefe Caufes, though pretty free from Weeds, was
exceeding poor, yellow, low, thin, and the Ears were very iliort
and fo

I intended to have taken the exact Difference there was between
the Produce of this outride Row, and one of thofe that Hood out
of the Reach of the hoed Interval: But I was disappointed by
my Neighbour's Herd of Cows, that in the Night broke in juft
before Harveft, ani eat ott almoft all the Ears of the rich Row,
-doing very little Damage to the reft, except by treading it. It
mull be from the different Taftes, the one being fweet, and the
other bitter, that they make their Election to eat the one, and re-
fufe the other.

This accidental Obfervation was fufHcient to demonstrate the
Efficacy of deep Hoeing, which I look upon as fy nonymous to
Horfe- hoeing.

I immediately fet about contriving my limbered Hoe, finding
all other Sorts infufficient for the Exactnefs required in this hoe-
ing Operation : Thofe drawn in any other manner, when they
went too far from the Row, and the Holder went to lift the
Plough nearer, it would fly back again, like the Sally of a Bell,
and go at no Certainty not being iubj-6: to the Guidance of the
Holder, as the limber Floe-plough is. The Michaelmas follow-
ing I began my prefent Horle-hceing Scheme ; which has never
yet deceived roy Expectations, when performed according to the
Directions I have given my Readers. And the Practice of this
Scheme troves the Advantage of e'eep Hoeing, by the Ends of
the Ridges and Intervals; for there, vvhiift the drawing Cattle
go on the HeadLnd that is higher, the Furrows are Shallower, and
the Corn of tne Rows is always there vifibly poorer in proportion
to that Shaliownefs.

AnotherP;oof of the Difference there is between deep Hoeing
and mallow, is in the Garden, where a fquare Perch of Cabbages,
the Rows of which are Three Feet afunder : the middle Row of

K. 4 them

t%& Of Wheat. Chap. IX.

them having the Intervals on each Side of it deeply and well dug
by the Spade at the fame proper time, when the reft of the In-
tervals are Hand hoed ; this middle Row will fhew the Difference
of thofe Two Operations: But in this mull be obferved what I
have here before mentioned, of turning the Back of the Spade to
the Plants, to avoid the total removing them, efpecially in very
dry Weather.

This Experiment hath been tried, and always fucceeds with
every one that has made the Trials.

Bat before any one makes his Trials of my I ield-fcheme, I
would advife him to be Mailer of the Treadle, by making an
Index himfelf to it : This will both direct him in his Proceedings,
and fhew him the Rafhnefs of thofe, who go into the-Pra&ice of
my Hufbandry, without the neceiTary Preparation ; for they that
do fo now, feem to act as rafiily, as they that went into it before
the Treatiie was publifhed. 'Tis reafonable to prefume, that fuch
their Practice mull be either different from, or contrary to mine.

This Index may be aifo ufeful for difcovering Pretenders by an
Examination, without which. Gentlemen are liable to be impofed
on by them, as I am afraid too many have been ; for amongft
all thofe who have undertaken the Management of my Scheme
for Noblemen, or others, I declare I do do not know one Perfon
that fufficiently understands it: There may be fome who have
feen, or perhaps performed, fome of the mechanical Part; but I
don't think it can be properly performed without a thorough
Knovvlege of the Principles, which cannot be expected of fuch
illiterate Perfonsj arid yet is necefiary for the proper Applications
ifl different Cafes, which cannot be difiinguiihed by Pretenders :
Therefore, until the Scheme becomes common, the Management
mult be under the Direction of the Mafter himfelf, or of one who
has pall his Examination, and is faithf.;'.

To the above Trials, I here add the following, together with
feme Alterations of the former.

Gentlemen who can get t rjut Wheat, I advife to make

Trials of it in fmglie Rows, of between 17 and 18 to an Acre, in
this Method ; there beinw no Partitions, the Intervals will be of
the fame Widen as in the Ridges of 14 to an Acre, that have Par-
titions of Ten Inches. Thus almoft all the Earth of the Ridges
may be pulverized by the Hoe- plough in the Field, or by the
Spade in this Trial; and very little Hand-work will be neceffary
for cleanfing cut the Weeds that come in the Rows, and on each
fide of them. The Land will be the fitter for a fucceeding Crop
of Wheat with ieis Harrowing. But this muft be obferved, that,
gard to hard Frofts in Winter, and very dry Weather in
Summer, the alternate Hoeing defcribed in the Chapter of Tur-
neps may be proper ; left the little Earth that may be left for the
.Row to ftand on, when the Furrows are turned from both Sides

Chap. IX. O/Wkeat. i37

of it, mould not be fufP.cient to fecure the Roots from the Injuries
that may happen to them by being expofed either to Froit cr
Drouoht on both Sides of the Row at the fame time.

In the Field, when the Ridges are all of an equal Ereadth, the
belt Way is to plant Two of the fmgle Rows at once, by fetting
the Two Beams of the Drill at the fame Diltance afunder, as each.
of the Ridges is broad ; and the Beaft that draws it mult, go in
the Middle of the Interval, planting a Row on each Side of it;
but if the Ridges are very unequal, the Beaft (a little Korfe is
bell) that draws the Drill muft go on the Top of a Ridge, plant-
ing one Row thereon ; and the Drill for this Purpofe is the fame
as the Turnep-driil, except that the Beam-fhare, Seed- box, and
Spindle, are the fame as thofe of the Wheat-drill ; and 'tis but
to take off from the Wheat-drill .one of its Beams, and place it
in the room of the Beam of the Turnep-drili, and placing the
Crofs-piece of the Turnep-beam (fee Plate 5.) on this Beam, and
alio a ihort Wheat hopper to be drawn by the Turnep-ilandards,
fetting the Wheels near enough together ; /. e. as near as the
Wheels of the Wheat- drill are, I mean thofe which plant Two
Rows.

Two Gallons of Smyrna Wheat I judge will be Seed fufficient
for an Acre, efpecially if planted early.

Planting one Row upon a Ridge, I think is the mod advan-
tageous Method of all ; but, not being able to get any Smyrna
Wheat (tho' I have been often promifed it), I have made no Trial
of it; and I do not believe the Plants of any other Sort of Wheat
are large enough for fuch fingle Rows.

Lam not quite a Stranger to this Wheat ; for I have feen the
Producl of it, both in the Garden, and in the Field, above Forty
Years ago.

I am now making Trials, in order to know how much aiingle
Row of White cone Wheat will exceed half a double one : For
this Purpofe, I caufe one Row of the double, with the Partition,
to be dug out with a Spade, in Part of every Field, Two or
Three Yards in a Place : Thefe I intend mail be hoed as the double
Rows are; and where the Hoe-plough doth not reach, the Spade
fhall fupply its Ufe.

I do not expect this fingle Row will equal the double Row ;
but I am in no doubt but that it will produce more Grain than
half a double Row.

I cannot tell whether the Sort of Cone-wheat that fends out
little Branches on each Side of the Ear, might not fuccecd tole-
rably well in fmuk. Rows ; for its Ear is, when well nourifhecf,
larger than the Ear of the White-cone ; tho' not near fo large as
that of the Smyrna.

Another Experiment I propofe to be made as a Trial for the
Satisfaction of fuch feepdeal Gentlemen who may doubt the

Truth

138 Of Wheat. Chap. DC

I don't know that I ever had an Acre yet, that was
tolerably well managed in this Manner, but what
produced much more.

CHAR

Truth of what I have related in p. 27, 28. concerning the won-
derful Effect of deep Hoeing. Jn a Field of very poor old de-
cayed St. Foin, let Two or Three Perches be hedged in, in a
fquare Piece, and Two, Three, or more Intervals, of Three or
Four Feet wide each, be well pulverized by the Spade, leaving
between every Two of them, Two or Three Feet of the St. Foin
unmoved. Begin this Work in Summer, and repeat the Hoeing
pretty often, obferving the Rules I have laid down for Hoeing
the Intervals of Wheat. Let not the Back of the Spade be turned
towards the unmoved St. Foin, from which it throws the Earth
at the Firft time of Hoeing ; which is contrary to the Firft Hoe-
ing of Wheat with a Spade ; becauie there would otherwife be
Danger of moving Wheat-roots ; but there is no Danger of
moving the St. Foin Roots, unlefs you wholly dig them out :
Therefore the beft Way for this Hoeing is to dig with the Back of
the Spade towards one or the other End of the Interval: This
cuts off the feweft Root?, and covers the moil of them, and may
perhaps be fometimes bell for Wheat alfo. When the Earth i-;
turned towards the St. Foin Rows, the Spade's Face will be to-
wards them of courfe.

Be fure to leave Four or more Feet untouched next to the Hedge
that bounds the Piece, to the End that the Increafe of tne hoed
Sr. Foin may the more plainly appear by comparing its Plants
with thofe that are not hoed.

If the Plants are very thick, make them thinner on one fide
of an Interval ; and, on the other fide, let them remain thick.
You will certainly find the thin Plants moil wonderfully increafed
in a Year or two, and the thick ones in proportion; and alfo the
natural Grafs, and all other Vegetables that grow near to the
Intervals when they are well pulverized. I am confident mine,
thus managed by Ploughs, increafed fome to an Hundred, fome to
a Thoufand times the Size they were of before that Pulveration.

All the Methods I have here and elfewhere defcribed for the
Field, I advife to be tried in thefe few Perches for Experiments.

I think fome of thofe Ridges whereon one End is to be ma-
naged differently from the other End, fiiould be longer than Si*
Feet; e\{e the Roots of the Wheat and Weeds may fo mix, and
draw Nourilhrnent from one another in the Middle of the Ridge,
that the Difference of the Managements mzy not (o plainly be feen
as when the Ridge is longer.

The few Perches of Land whereon any of the propofed Expe-
riments are to be made, ihould be bounded in with dead Hedges;

and

[ i39]
CHAP. X.

O/Smuttiness.

SMUTTINESS is when the Grains of Wheat
indead of Flour, are full of a black, ftinking
.Powder: 5Tis aDifeafe of Wheat, which I don't know
is ufual any-where but in cold Northern Countries ;
for if it had been common in Greece or Ital)\ there
would probably have been fome Word to exprefs it
by, in thofe Languages, as well as there is for the
Blight.

I take it to be caufed by cold wet Summers; and
I was confirmed in this by feveral Plants of Wheat,
taken up when they were in Grafs in the Spring, and
placed in Troughs in my Chamber-window, with
fome of the Roots in Water. Thefe Wheat-plants
fent up feveral Ears each ; but at Harveft, every
Grain was fmutty ; and I obferved, none of the Ears
ever fent out any Bloffom : This Smuttinefs could
not be from any Moifture that defcended upon it,
but from the Earth, which always kept very moifb,
as in the aforefaid Mint Experiment. The WTheat-
plants in the Field, from whence thefe were taken,
brought very few fmutty Grains, but brought much
larger Ears than thefe.

Whatfoever the Caufe (d) be, there are but Two
Remedies propofed ; and thofe are Brining, and
Change of Szed.

Brining of Wheat, to cure or prevent Smuttinefs
(as I have been credibly informed), was accidentally

and fhould not be fituate within Three or Four Poles of a live
Hedge or Tree.

The Three Infhr.ments to be ufed in thefe unexpenfive Trials,
are, the Spade, to fuppty the Uie of the Plough and Hoe plough ;
the Hand-hoe; ar.d a Rake, inllead of Harrows.

\d) The largeft grained, plump, fat Wheat, is more liable to
Jigwttinefs, than fraaU-graiiied thin Wheat.

s difcovered

140 0/*Smuttiness. Chap. X#

difcovered about Seventy Years ago, in the following
Manner ; viz. A Ship-Joad of Wheat was funk near
Brifiol in Autumn, and afterwards at Ebbs all taken
up, after it had been foaked in Sea- water ; but it be-
ing unfit for making of Bread, a Farmer fowed fome
of it in a Field ; and w7hen it was found to grow very
well, the whole Cargo was bought at a low Price by-
many Farmers, and all of it fown in different Places.
At the following Harveft, all the Wheat in England
happened to be fmutty, except the Produce of this
brined Seed, and that was all clean from Smuttinefs.
This Accident has been fufiicient to juftify the Prac-
tice of Brining ever fince in all the adjacent Parts, and
m moft Places in England.

I knew Two Farmers, whofe Farms lay intermixed ;
they bought the fame Seed together, from a very
good Change of Land, and parted every Load be-
twixt them in the Field. The oldefl Farmer believed
Brining to be but a Fancy, and fowed his Seed un-
brined ; the other brined all his Part of Seed, and
had not a fmutty Ear in his Crop; but the old Far-
mer's Crop was very fmutty.

Wheat for Drilling muft have no other Brine, than
what is made of pure Salt; for if there be any Brine
of Meat amongft it(*), the Greafe will not fuffer the
Wheat to be dry enough to be drilled.

If Seed-wheat be foaked in Urine, it will not grow ;
or if only fprinkled with it, it will moft of it die,
unlefs planted prefentiy.

The moft expeditious Way of brining WTheat for
the Drill, is to make a very ftrong Brine •, and when
the Wheat is kid on an Heap, iprinkle or lave it
therewith •, then turn it with a Shovel, and lave on
more Brine ; turn it again with a Shovel, until, by
many Repetitions of this, the Wheat be all equally

(e) Urine alfo makes the Wheat fo greafy, that it will not be cry

wet.

time enough to be drilled

Chap. X. OjTSmuttiness. 14,1

wet. Next, fift on Quick-lime through a Sieve ;
turn the Wheat with a Shovel, and fife on more
Lime-, repeat this Sifting and Turning many times,
which will make it dry enough to be drilled imme-
diately ; and this has been found fufficient to preferve
uninfected Wheat from the Smut in a bad Year, the
Seed being changed.

To dry it, we ufe (f) Quick-lime (that is, un-
packed), which, beaten to Powder, and fifted thereof
confines the Brine to the Surfaces of the Grains, and
fufTers none of it to be exhaled by the Air : But
when Lime has been long flacked, and is grown
~weak, 'tis unfit for this Purpofe.

Smutty Seed-wheat, tho' brined, will produce a
fmutty Crop, unlefs the Year prove very favourable.

For 'tis to be known, that favourable Years will
cure the Smut, as unkind ones will caufe it : Elfe,
before Brining was n fed, and the bad Years had
caufed all the Wheat in England to be fmutty, they
muft have brought their Seed from Foreign Coun-
tries, or never have had any clean Wheat : There-
fore 'tis certain, that kind Years will cure the Smut:
'Tis therefore to prevent the Injury of a bad Year,
that we plant clean Seed, and well brined.

But of the Two Remedies againft Smuttinefs, a
proper Change of Seed fome think the mod certain.

A very worthy Gentleman allures me, that fmce
he has found out a Place that affords a Change of
Seed proper to his Land, which is for thefe Ten

(f) But if this doth not afford Powder enough, the Pieces
mull be flacked immediately before uling ; for if the Lime lie
long after it is flacked (efpecially that made of Chalk), it will-
become weak, and lbfe moft of its drying Quality.

Some Farmers ufe only to boil the ftrongeit Quick-lime in Wa-
te*-, with which, inftead of Brine, they fpnnkle their Wheat, *
affirming it to be as effectual as that for preventing the Smut :
.But this not being within the Compals of my own Experiente,
I am doubtful of it; yet I wifh it may be found effectual, becaufe
it would fave Trouble to the Sower, and more to the Driller.

Years

142 Of Smut tin ess. Chap. X*

Years paft, he never had a Smutty Ear in any of his
Crops (and he never brines nor limes it), tho' all
other Wheat have been often fmutty throughout his
Neighbourhood every wet Year, tho' brined and
limed. He fays, the Perfon who furnifhes him with
this Seed, is very curious in changing his Seed alfo
every Year.

This gives a Sufpicion, that our drowned Wheat
at Brijlcl might pofTibiy be Foreign; and then might
not have been fmutty the next Year, tho5 it had not
been foaked in the Sea- water.

The Wheat fown by the Two Farmers aforemen-
tioned might be from a good Change of Land, but
the Seed not changed the precedent Year ; and then
it might be no more infecTed, than what the Brine
and Lime did cure.

To know what Changes are bed to prevent Smut-
tinefs of Wheat, we mull confult the moft Expe-
rienced; and they tell us, that the fbrong Clay Land
is bed to be fent to for Seed-wheat, whatever Sort of
Land it be to be fowed upon; a White-clay is a good
Change for a Red-clay, and a Red for a White.
That from any ftrong Land is better than from a
light Land ; and the old Rhyme is, that Sand is a
Change for no Land. But from whatever Land the
Seed be taken, if it was not changed the preceding
Year, it may poflibly be infected ; and then there
may be Danger, tho5 we have it immediately from
never fo proper a Soil.

The firongeu: Objection that has been yet made
againft cpnftant annual Crops of Wheat, is, that
thofe Grains of the precedent Crop which happen
to fried, and grow in the following Crop, will be
in Danger of Smuttinefs, for want of changing thofe
individual Seeds.

All I can fay in Anfwer is, that during thefe Five
Years, which is all the time I have had thefe annual
Crops, this objected Inconvenience never has hap-
pened

Chap. XL Of Blight. 143

pened to me, even when a precedent Crop has been
fmutty.

The Reafon I take to be, that a Crop very early
planted is not fo apt to be fmutty ; and if it be not
planted early, the Grains that are fhed grow, and
are killed before, or at the time of planting the
next Crop. This faves a Crop following a fmutty
one (which is always occafioned by bad Seed, or bad
Ordering) 5 and when the former Crop was planted
with good Seed well ordered, the mattered Grains of
that may produce clean Wheat the Second Year ;
and 'tis very unlikely, that any Breed of thefe
Grains mould remain to grow in the Crop the
Third Year.

CHAP. XI.

Of Blight.

WHEAT is blighted at Two Seafons ; Firft,
when in the BlorTom ; and then its Genera-
tion is prevented and many of the Hufks are empty
in the Ear, the Grains not being impregnated.

Secondly, Wheat is blighted, when the Grains are
brought to the time of their Maturity, but are light,
and of little Value for making of Bread ; becaufe
they are not well filled with Flour.

The Firft cannot happen in England by the Froft
becaufe the Winters do not fuffer it to grow fo
much, as to come into BlorTom before the Month
of June ; but they are long continual Rains that rot
or chill the Bloffoms, and prevent their Fertility.
Yet this is what feldom happens to any great De-
gree. Wheat that grows in open Fields has fome
Advantage from the Wind, that dulodges the Water

fooner

144 Of Blight. Chap. XL

fooner from the Ears, than it can do in fheltry Places;
and Lammas Wheat does not hold the Drops of Rain
fo long as the Bearded (or Cone) Wheat, which
received very great Damage by this fort of Blight in
the Year 1725, the like never having been heard of
before.

The Second fort of Blight, viz. from light Ears*
is that which is moil frequent, and more general :
This brings the greater!: Scarcity of Wheat. The
Caufe is plainly Want of Nourishment to perfect the
Grain, by whatever means that Want is occafioned.

Several Accidents kill die Plants, or injure their
Health, and then the Grains are not filled ; as
Lightning, the Effects whereof may be obferved by
the blackifh Spots and Patches in Fields of Wheat,
efpecially in fuch Years as have more of it than ufual.
Againft this there is no Defence.

The other Caufes of the Blight, which are mod
general, and do the moil Damage, may, in fome
meafure, be prevented.

One Caufe is the lodging or falling of Corn ; for
then the Stalks are broken near the Ground, whereby
many of the Veflels are fo preffed, that the Juices
cannot pafs them ; and then the free Circulation is
hindered ; the Chyle cannot mount in fufficient
Quantity to be purified, and turned into Sap -, the
Defect whereof makes the Plants become languid,
and only juft able to live ♦, they have Strength
enough to, linger on to the time of their Period, as
in very old Age, but not to bring their Fruir, which
is the Grain, to its natural Bulk, nor to fill it with
Flour : and the fooner the Stalks fall, the lefs and
thinner the Grain will be.

Hence it often happens, that when Tillage,
Dung, and good Land have brought a Crop of
Wheat, that in the Months of April and May
promife to yield the Owner Five or Six Quarters
on an Acre, then in June it falls down, and fcarce

affords

Chap. XI. Of Blight. 147

affords Five or Six Bufhels ; and that perhaps is fo
thin and lank, that the Expence of reaping and
threfhing it may overbalance its Value.

That the falling down of Wheat does caufe the
Ruin of the Crop, is well known -, but what cauies
it to fall, is not fo plain.

And, without knowing the true Cau fes, 'tis not
likely that a Remedy fhould be found againft the
Difeafe.

I take this Weaknefs of the Stalks, which occa-
fions their falling, to proceed from want of Nou-
fifnment, want of Air, want of the Sun's Rays, or
of all Three.

One Argument, that it lodges for want of Nou-
rifhment, is, that a rich Acre has maintain'd a Crop
of Five Quarters Handing, when another poorer
Acre was not able to fupport a Crop from falling,
which was but large enough to have brought Three
Quarters, if it had flood : and this in the fame
Year, and on the fame Situation. And 'tis very
plain, that if one Acre was twice as rich as the other,
it mud be able to nourifh Five Quarters better than
the other could nourifh Three Quarters.

Air is neceffary to the Life and Health of all Plants,
tho' in very different Degrees : Aquatics, which live
under Water, are content with as little Air, as their
Companions the Fillies.

But Wheat, being a terreftrial Plant, (tho' in Win-
ter it will live many Days under Water, whild the
flow Motion of its Sap gives it litle or no Increafe),
requires a free open Air, and does not fucceed fo well
in low fheltery Places, as upon higher and opener
Situations \ where the Air has has a greater Motion,
and can more eafily carry off the Recrements from
the Leaves, after it has fhaken off the Dews and
Rains, which would otherwife fufFocate the Plants ;
and therefore the Leaves are made fo .fufceptible
of Motion from the Air, which frees them from

L the

146 Of Blight. Chap. XI.

the Dews, that would Hop in the Recrements at the
VeficuU of the Leaves, but maken down will nourifh
the Plants at the Roots: The want of this Motion
weakening the Wheat, 'tis (as Animals in the like
fickly Cafe are) the more unable to (land, and the
more liable to be prefs'd down by the Weight of Rain-
water, and more unable to rife up again when down :
All which Evils are remov'd by the free Motion of
the Air, which makes off both Dews and Rains, and
thus contributes to prevent the falling (or lodging) of
Wheat.

A great Quantity alfo of the Sun's Rays is necef-
fary to keep Wheat ftrong, and in Health ; and in
Egypt, and other hot Countries, it is not fo apt to fall,
as it is when fown in Northern Climates, tho' the
Produce of the South be the greateft (a).

It may be obferv*d, that every Leaf is inferted
into a Sort of Knot, which probably delivers the Sap
to be depurated at the Veficula of the Leaves, and
then receives it back again for the Nourimment of
the Plant, doing for that Purpofe the Office of an
Heart : But the Sun with his Rays fupplies the Part
of Pulfe, to keep the Sap in Motion, and carry on
its Circulation, inflead of the Heart's Syftole and
Diaftole. Wheat, being doubtlefs originally a "Native
of a hot Country, requires by its Conftitution a con-
fiderable Degree of Heat to bring it to Perfection ;
and if much of that Degree be wanting, the Wheat
will be the weaker ; and when the Solar Rays cannot
reach the lower Parts of the Stalks, the lowed Leaves
and Knots cannot do their Office •, for which Reafon
the Chyle mud mount higher before it be made into
Sap, and there mult be then a greater Mixture of
crude Chyle next to the Ground, as by the white

{a) This proves that the Crop doth not lodge on account of
its Bignefs.

Colour

Chap. XL Of Blight. 147

Colour it appears (b). By this Means that Part*
which, if it had a due Share of the Sun's Influence*
would be harden'd like a Bone or Spring, for the
Support of the Stalks, for lack of thalj becomes
more like to a Cartilage, foft and weak, unable to
fuilain the Weight of the bending Ear, which, having
its greateft Impetus againfl this Part, which is moft
feeble to refift it, it yields, and lets it fall to the
Ground ; and then the Grain will be blighted.

There is alfo another Caufe of the Blight ; and that
is, the Wheat's coming too late into Bloffom. The
ufual Time is the Beginning of June ; and if it be
later, the Days fhorten fo fad after the Solftice, that
the Autumn of the Year haftening the Autumn of
the Wheat's Life, the full Time of its Pregnancy
(c) is not accomplifh'd ; and then its Fruit, which is
the Grain, becomes as it were abortive, and not full-
grown. This Time betwixt the Generation, BlofTom-
ing, and the Maturity of the Grain, is, or ought to
be, about Two Months.

Therefore 'tis advantageous to haften, what we can^"
the Time of BloiToming, and to protract the Time of

(b) But now I fufpeel this to be a Miftake, it being more like-
ly, that the white Colour of the Rind is owing to the Abfence
of the Sun and free Air, than to the Chyle, as the Skin of thofs
Parts of our own Bodies that are concealed from them, is whiter
than of thofe which are expofed to them, though no Chyle- vefTei
comes near our Skin.

(c) Ut enim Mulieres habent ad Far turn Dies certos, fie Arbor es
acFruges. Varro, Lib. i. Cap. 44.

Menfe Maio fiorent ; Jic Frumenta, & Ordeum, & qua funt Sem:-
nis fingularis, Oclo diebus florebunt, iff deinde per Dies 40. gran-
defcunt Ficre depojito ufque ad Maturitatis E-ventum.' Palladius,
Pag. 114, 115. . "

Quindecim Diebus ejft in Vaginis, ^uindechn for ere, ^uindecim
exarefcere, cum ft maturum Frumentum. Varro, Lib. i. Cap. 32.

But the different Heat that there is in different Climates, may
alter both the Time that Plants continue in BloiTom, and the
Time betwixt the BlofToming and the Ripening.

L % Ripening :

i43 O/Bligh t. Chap. XL

Ripening: And 'tis obferv'd, that the earliefl Town
Wheat generally efcapes the Blight the beft, becauie
it comes firft into BloiTom.

Feeding down the Wheat with Sheep prevents
the Blight, by doing what the Blight wou'd do, if
the Wheat fell down, - *. e. caufes the Ears to be
light fa).

And we find, that thofe who pracTife this Method
of feeding their Wheat with Sheep in the Spring, to
prevent the lodging of it, have moil commonly their
Straw weak, and Ears light.

Thefe, inftead of making the Stalks ftrong enough
to fupport heavy Ears, make the Ears light enough
to be Supported by weak Stalks. They know that
heavy Ears make the greateil Crop \ and yet they (till
hope to have it from light ones.

They caufe the Blight by the very means they make
ufe of to cure it.

This feeding of Wheat much retards the Time of
its blorToming;<and that it may blofibm early, is one
chief End of fowing it early, to prevent the Blight.
But when it is fed, what the Plants fend up next is
but a Sort of fecond or latter Crop, which has longer
to ftand than the firft would have required, and is
always weaker than the firft Crop would have been ;
and the longer time it has to continue on the Ground,
the more Nouriihmentis required to maintain it; and
yet, as has been fhewn, the longer it has been fown,
the more the Earth has loft of its Nonrifhment ; and

fa) Heavy Ears never fall. I£ they did, that would not make
them light. Wheat falls fometimes vvhilil 'tis in Grafs, and be-
fore it comes into Ear; fo far are the Ears from caufing it to
fall. This was proved by my whole Crop the kit HarvelT, and
particularly by the Meafured Acre, the Ears of which, tho' prodi-
gious large and heavy, were none of them lodg'd, when thofe of
fown Wheat on the other Side of the Hedge were fallen down
fiat, and ledg'd on the Ground.

confe-

Chap. XI. OfBLic h t. i4<>

confequently, the Crop will be yet weaker, and in
more Danger of the ftarving Blight (b).

The mod effectual Remedy againft the Blight is
that which removes all its Cafes (except fuch extraor-
dinary ones as Lightning); as,

Fir ft, Want of Nouriftment.

The Horfe-hoe will, in wide Intervals, give Wheat,
throughout all the Stages of its Life, as much Nou-
rifhment as the difcreet Hoer pleafes.
Secondly, Want of Air.

Air, being a Fluid, moves moft freely in a right
or ftrait Line ; for there the fewefl of its Parts meet
with any Refiftance •, as a ftrait River runs fwifter
than a crooked one, from an equal Declivity; be-
caufe more of the Water ftrikes againft z\iq Banks an

(b) I am fure, that whenever Sheep break into my drill'd
Wheat in the Spring, it leffens my Crop half, juft as far as they
ear. the Rows. There are feveral Reafons why Sheep are more
injurious to drilled Wheat than Town : I would not therefore be
understood to decry the Practice of feeding fown Wheat, when
the Thieknefs and Irregularity of its Plants make k neceftary : I
have only endeavoured to mew, that that Practice is founded
upon a falfe Theory. For, if Wheat fell down by reafon of the
Luxuriance of it^ a Plant of it would be more likely to fall when
fingle, and at a great Diftance from every other Plant, than
when near to other Plants, becaufe fuch a Tingle Plant \s (ceteris
paribus) always the moil: luxuriant ; and I have not feen fuch a
one fall (except Birds pull down the Ears), but have obferved the
contrary, though its Ears are the largely

The Subject I write on is Drilling and Hoeing, and of what-
foever elfe I think relates to the Practice or Theory thereof;
which obliges me to advife againfl: Drilling, too thick upon any
Sort of Land ; but more efpecially upon very rich Land : For
though I have no fuch Land, yet I apprehend, that a too great
Number of Plants may overflock the Rows, and caufe them to
be liable to fome of the Inconveniences of fown Wheat ; and in
fuch a Cafe, perhaps, Sheep may be rather ufeful than prejudi-
cial to the drilJed Wheat ; but cf this I have had no Experience :
And if it mould be too thick, it will be owing to the Fault of
the Manager or Driller ; but, I fuppofe, it might be a better
Remedy to cut out the fuperfiuous Planes by the Hand-hoe, in
the manner thatfuperfluous Turneps are hoed out.

J- 3 the

1 5-0 O/Blight. Chap. XL

the Turnings, and is there fomewhat retarded : and
the reft moving nofafter than in the ftrait River, the
whole Stream of the crooked mud: be (lower in its
Courfe, than that of the ftrait River.

The Air cannot pafs thro' fown Corn in a direc"V
Line, becaufe it muft ftrike againft, and go round
every Plant, they (landing all in the Way of its Courfe,
which muft ftop its Current near the Earth.

And the Air amongft fown Corn is like Water
amongil Reeds or Ofiers in the Side of a River ; it is
fo ftopp'd in its Courfe, that it aimed becomes an
Eddy; and fince Air is about Eight hundred Times
lighter than Water, we may fuppofe its Current thro*
the Corn is more eaCily retarded, efpecially near the
Earth, where the Corn has occafion for the greateft
Quantity of Air to pafs : For, tho' the upper Part of
the Wheat be not able to ftop a flow Current of Air,
yet it does fo much raife even a fwift one, as to
throw it off from the Ground, and hinder it from
reaching the lower Parts of the Stalks, where the Air
muft therefore remain, in a manner, ftagnant; and
the thicker the Wheat is, where it ftands promifcu-
oufly, the left Change of Air can it have, tho' the
greater the Number of the Stalks is, the more freflj
Air they muft require.

But the confufed Manner in which the Plants of
fown Wheat ftand, is fuch, that they muft all oppofe
the free Entrance of Air amongft them, from what-
ever Point of the Compafs it comes.

Now it is quite otherwife with Wheat drill'd regu-
larly with wide Intervals ; for therein the Current of
Air may pafs freely (like W'ater in a ftrait Rivei^
where there is no Refiftance), and communicate its
Nitre to the lower as well as upper Leaves, and carry
off the Recrements they emit, not fuffering the Plants
to be weaken'd, as an Animal is, when his Lungs are
fore'd to take back their own Expirations, if debarr'd
from a fuflicien.t Supply of f rem untainted Air, An4

this

Chap. Xf. O/Blight. 151

this Benefit of frefh Air is plentifully, and pretty
equally, diftributed to every Row in a Field of ho'd
Wheat.

Thirdly, Want of the Suns Rays.

Sown Wheat-plants, by their irregular Pofnion,
may be faid to Hand in one another's Light, for want
of which they are apt to fall.

'Tis true the whole Field of Plants receive the fame
Quantity of Sun-beams amongft them, whether they
ftand confufedly, or in Order : But there is a valt
Difference in the Diftribution of them ; for none or
the very leaff. Share of Beams is obtain'd by thofe
Parts which need the greater!: Share, in the confufed
Plants. And when the crural Parts, that mould f up-
port the whole Body of every Plant, are depriv'd of
their due Share of what is fo neceflary to ftrengthen
them, the Plants (like Animals in the fame Cafe) are
unable to (land.

But in drill'd Wheat, where the Plants ftand in a
regular Order, the Sun-beams are more duly diftri-
buted to all Parts of the Plants in the Ranks ; for
which Way foever the Rows are directed, if they be
ftrait, the Rays muft, lome time of the Day, fall on
the Intervals, and be reflected by the Ground, whence
the lower Parts of the Wheat-ftalks muft receive the
greater Share of Heat, being neareft to the Point of
Incidence, having no Weeds to fhadow them.

As to that Caufe of the Blight, viz. the Wheat's
dying before the full Time of its Pregnancy be ac-
complifh'd ; the Hoe removes all the Objections
againft planting early, and then it will bloflbm the
earlier : And it has vifibly kept Wheat green a whole
Week longer, than unho'd Wheat adjoining to it,
planted the fame Day.

The Antients were perfect Mafters of the Vine-
Hufbandry, which feems to' have fo engrofs'd their ru-
ral Studies, that it did not allow them fo much Re-
flection, as to apply the Ufe of thole Methods to the

L 4 Increafe

Ij2 Of B l i g h t. Chap. XI.

lncreafe of Bread, which they had difcover'd to be
moil: beneficial for the lncreafe of Wine. One Me-
thod was, to hoe the Vines after they had bloffom'd, in
order to fill the Fruit, as in Columella, Lib. iv. Cap.
2 8 . Convenit turn crebris FoJJionibus implere : nam fit
uberior Puheraticnibus. And if what Palladia s fays,
5f#. ix. be true of the Sarritions and Sarculations in
the Month of January ', and that if Beans do twice un-
dergo that fcratching Operation, they will produce
much Fruit, and fo large as to fill the Bumel almoft
as full when fhard as unmal'd.

Faba, fi bis farculetur, proficiet, cj? multum Frutlum
& maximum afferet, ut ad Menfuram Modii complendi
fre/a propemodum ficut integra refpondeat.

This is to be done when Beans are Four Fingers
high, and Corn when it has Four or Five Leaves to
a Plant; even then the Harrowing- work, tho' it tore
up iome of the Plants, yet it w7as obferv'd to do
Good againfl the Blight.

. Si ficcas Segetes farculaveris, aliquid contra Rubigi-
nemprajlitifti, maxime fi Ordeum fucum farrietur.

When the Antients obferv'd this, 'tis a Wonder they
did not plant their Corn fo as to be capable of re-
ceiving this Benefit in Perfection. They might have
imagin'd, that what was effectual againfl the Blight,
when the Corn was in Grafs, muff, in all Probability,
be much more effectual when in Ear.

But the moft general Blight that happens to Wheat
in cold Climates, is caufed by Infects, which (fome
think) are brought in the Air by an Eaft Wind ac-
companied with Moifture, a little before the Grain is
filling with that milky Juice, which afterwards har-
dens into Flour. Thefe Infects depofit their Eggs
within the outer Skin (or Rind) of the Stalks ; and
when the young ones are hatched, they feed on the
Parenchyma, and eat off many of the Veffels which
fhculd make and convey this Juice; and then the
Grain will be more orlefs thin, in Proportion to the

Numbef

Chap. XL Of Blight. 153

Number of VefTels eaten, and as the Infects happen
to come earlier or later-, for fometimes they come fo
late, that the Grain is fufficiently fili'd with the faid
milky Juice before the VefTels are eaten ; and then,
tho' the Straw appear thro' a Microfcope to have its
VefTels very much eaten and torn, and to be full of
black Spots (which Spots are nothing elfe but the
Excrements of thofe young Infects), yet the Grain is
plump, and not blighted, there being an Obfervation,
That the early fown Wheat generally efcapes this
Blight. And it has been feen, where one Part of a
Field is fown earlier than the other Part, without any
other Difference than the Time of fowing, that the
Grain of the lateft fown has been much blighted, and
the Grain of the earlier has efcaped the Blight, tho*
the Straw of both were equally eaten by the Infects.
Hence it may be inferr'd, that the Milk in the one
had receiv'd all the Nourifhment neceffary to its due
Confiftence, before the VefTels were deftroy'd ; but,
in the other, the VefTels, which mould have conti-
nued the Supply of Nourifhment for thickening the
Milk, being fpoil'd before they have finifh'd that
Office, it remains too thin -, and then the Grain, when
it hardeneth, fhrinks up, and is blighted -, yet the
Grain of one and the other are equally plump until
they become hard : The Difference therefore is only
in the Thicknefs of the Milk, that in the blighted
being more watery than the other.

The chief Argument to prove, that thefe Infects are
brought by an Eafl Wind, is, that the Wheat on the
Eafl Sides of Hedges are much blighted, when that
on the Weft Sides is not hurt : And as to the Objec-
tion, that they are bred in the Earth, and crawl thence
up the Stalks of the Wheat, becaufe fome Land is
much more fubject to produce blighted Wheat than
other Land is •, perhaps this Difference may be chiefly
owing to the different Situation of thofe Lands, as
fhey are opposed to the Eaft> or to the Wefi.

Another

154- Of Blight. Chap. XI,

Another Caufe why fome Wheat is more blighted
than other Wheat on the fame Land, is, the different
Condition in which the Infecls find it ; for the Rind
of that which is very ftrong and flourifhing (c) is
foft and tender ; into this they can eafily penetrate to
lay their Eggs ; but the Wheat that is poor and
yellow, has an hard tough £km (or Rind), into which
the Infects are not able to bore for the. Intromiflion
of their Eggs, and therefore can do it no Milchief.
It would be in vain to advife to prevent the Blight,
by driving to make the Wheat poor ; for tho' Po-
verty may preferve Wheat from this Blight, as well
as it does People from the Gout, yet that is a Remedy
which few take willingly againft either of thefe Dif-
eafes : But this, I think, might be poffible to remedy
it, if we could, from the flrongeft Wheat, take away
fo much Nourishment as to turn its Colour (d) a
little yellowifh juft before the Infects come (e) which
I fuppofe to be in Juney after the Ear is out, or at
lead fully formed.

Yet this can only be done in wide Intervals ; for,
unlefs the fine Earth can be thruft to fome confiderable
Diftance from the Roots after they are cut off, they
will foon fhtfot out again, and reach it, becoming
more vigorous thereby.

In dry Summers this Misfortune feldom happens,
much Heat, and very little Moilture, being moft agree-
able to the Conftitution of Wheat ; for then its Rind

(c) Some Sort of Land is more fubjeci to this Blight than
others ; in fiich, Lammas Wheat muft by no means bedn.ird late,

top thin, kfl u mould noc tiller till late in the Spring ; and
then, for want of a fufficient Quantity of Stalks to di.penie with
all the Nourifnment rais'd by the Hoe, may become too vigorous
and luxuriant, and be the more liable to the Injury of the Blight
or" In feel's.

(d) But this is a very difficult Matter.

(e) Whither thole Infects go, or where they refide, from the
Time of their eating their Way out of the Straw, until they re-
turn the next Year, I cannot learn.

3 is

Chap. XL O/Blight. 155

is more firm and hard, as it is, on the contrary, made
more foft and fpongy by too much Moifture.

The mod eafy and fure Remedy, that I have yet
found againft the Injury of thefe Infects, is, to plant
a Sort of Wheat that is lean: liable to be hurt by them ;
<viz. The White-cone (or bearded) Wheats which has
its Stalk or Straw like a Rufli, not hollow, but full of
Pith (except near the lower Part, and there 'tis very
thick and ftrong) : 'Tis probable it has Sap-Veffels
that lie deeper, ib as the young Infects cannot totally
deftroy them, as they do in other Wheat : For when
the Straw has the black Spots, which mew that the
Infects have been there bred, yet the Grain is plump,
when the Grey-cone and Lammas Wheat mixt with
it are blighted. This Difference might have been
from the different times of ripening, this being ripe
about a Week earlier than the Grey-cone, and later
than the Lammas: But its being planted together
both early and late, and at all Times of the Wheat-
feed Time, and this WThite-cone always efcaping with
its Grain unhurt, is an Argument, that 'tis naturally
fortify'd againft the Injury of thefe Infects, which in
wet Summers are fo pernicious to other Sorts of
Wheat; and I can impute it to no other Caufe than
the different Deepnefs of the VelTels, the Straw of
other WTheat being very much thinner, and hollow
from Top to Bottom ; - this having a fmall Hollow at
Bottom, and there the Thicknefs betwixt the outer
Skin and the Cavity is more than double to that ia
other Sorts of Wheat ; fo that I imagine, the Infects
reach only the outermoft Veffels, and enough of the
inner VeiTels are left untouch'd to fupply the Grain.

This Wheat makes very good Bread, if the Miller
does not grind it too fmall, or the Baker make his
Dough too hard, it requiring to be made fofter than
that of other Flour.

A Bufhel of this White-cone Wheat will make
more Bread than a Bufhel of Lammas, and of the

fame

IS6 Of Blight. Chap. XL

fame Goodnefs ; but it gives a little yellow Caflto the
Bread.

Ancfther Sort of lodging Blight there is, which
fume call Moar-Loore, and mofrly happens on light
Land- This is when the Earth, finking away from the
Roots, leaves the Bottom of the Stalk higher than
the fubfided Ground -, and then the Plant, having
only thefe naked Roots to fupport it (for which they
are too weak), falls down to the Earth.

To remedy this, turn a fhallow Furrow againft the
Rows, when they are flrong enough to bear it, and
when the Mould is very fine and dry ; then the Mo-
tion of the Stalks by the Wind will caufe fuch Earth
to run through the Rows, and fettle about the Roots,
and cover them (/).

I have never feen any drill'd Wheat fo much fpoiPd
by failing, as fewn Wheat fometimes is. The drill'd
never falls fo clofe to the Ground, but that the Air
enters into Hollows that are under it, and the Wind'
keeps the Ears in Motion. Notwithstanding all the
Precaution that can be ufed, in fome unfeafortable
Years Wheat will be blighted: I have known fuch a
general Blight, when fome of my Lammas_ Wheat,
planted late on blighting Land, was blighted, amongfl
the reft of my Neighbours, by the Infects, but the
Grain of the fown Wheat was vaftly more injured

(f) Some Land is very fubjeS to the Misfortune of expofing
the Roots, and therefore is lei's proper for Wheat ; for when the
Roots are left bare to the Air, they will be fh; ivelled, and unable
to fupport the Plants : And on fuch Land- the Wheat plants have
all iallen down, though in Number and Bignefs not fufficient to
have produced the Fourth Part of a tolerable Crop, if they had
flood. I am inclined to believe, that a thorough Tillage might be a
Remedy to fuch a loofe hollow Soil; for 'tis certain to a Demon-
firation, that it would render it more d&nfe, and increafe its fpe-
cific Gravity : But to enrich it fufhciently without Manure, the
Tillage mull pulverize it much more minutely, and expofe it
longer, than is required for the ftrongefi Land : The Fold alio will
be very helpful on fuch hollow Land.

than

Chap. XII. Of St. Foin. if

than that of the driil'd : The former was fo lights
that thegreateft Part was blown away in winnowing,
and the Remainder fo bad, that it was no: fit to make
Bread: The driil'd made as good Bread, and had
as much Flour in it, as the fown Wheat had, that
was not blighted •, far the Grains of the driil'd were
much larger than thofe of the fown •, being form'd to
have been twice as big as the Grains of Wheat gene-
rally are, had they not been blighted.

CHAP. XII.

Of St. Foin.

ST. Foin-, from the Country we brought it from,
is call'd French Grafs : And for its long Conti-
ance, fome having Jafted Forty Years, 'tis call'd
Evcrlafting Grafs, tho' it be not flriclly a Gramen.

'Tis call'd in French, Sain Foin, i. e. Sanum Fce-
num, from its Quality of Wholfomenefs, beyond the
other artificial GrafTes, green and dry. 'Tis alfo call'd
Sanclum Fcenum, Holy Hay.

'Tis a Plant fo generally known to every Body,
that there is no need to give any formal Description
of that Part of it which appears above-ground, It
has many red Flowers, fometimes leaving Ears Five
or Six Inches long : I have rneafured the Stalks, and
found them above Five Feet long, tho' they are com-
monly but about Two Feet.

The Reafon why St. Foin will, in poor Ground,
make a Forty times greater Increafe than the natural
Turf, is the prodigious Length (a) of its perpendi-
cular

(a) There is a vulgar Opinion, that St. Foin will not fucceed
on any Land, where there is not an under Stratum oi Stone or

Chalk,

158 Of St. Foin. Chap.XIL

cular Tap-foot: It is faid to defcend Twenty or
Thirty Feet. I have been inform'd, by a Perfon of'
undoubted Credit, that he has broken off one of thefe
Roots in a Pit, and meafured the Part broken off*
and found it fourteen Feet.

This Taproot has alfo a Multitude of very long
horizontal Roots at the upper Part thereof, which fill
all the upper Stratum, or Staple of the Ground; and
of thoufands of St. Foin Roots I have feen taken up,
I never found one that was without horizontal Roots
near the Surface, after one Summer's Growth; and
do much wonder how Mr. Kerkham fhould be fo mis-
taken, as to think they have none fuch.

Alio thefe Tap-roots have the horizontal ones alt
the Way down; but as they defcend, they are dill
lriorter and fhorter, as the uppermoft are always the
longell.

Any dry Ground may be made to produce this
noble Plant, be it never fo poor; but the richefl Soil
will yield the mod of ir, and the bed.

Chalk, to {lop the Roots from running deep; elfe, they fay, the
Plants fpend thernfelves in the Roots only, and cannot thrive in
thofe Parts of them which are above the Ground. I am almoft
aihamed to give an Anfwer to this.

'Tis certain that every Plant is nourilhed from its Roots (as an
Animal is by its Guts) ; and the more and larger Roots it has, the
more Nourilhment it receives, and profpers in proportion to it.
St. Foin always fucceeds where its Roots run deep; and when it
does not fucceed, it never lives to have long Roots; neither can there
ever be found a Plant of it, that lives fo long as to rvot deep in
a Soil that is improper for it: Therefore 'tis amazing to hear fuch
Reafoning from Men.

An under Stratum of very ftrong Clay, or other Earth, which
holds Water, may make a Soil improper for it; becaufe the
Water kills the Root, and never fuffers it to grow to Perfection,
or to attain to its natural Bulk. The belt St. Foin that ever I faw,
had nothing in the Soil to obftrucl: the Roots, and it has been
found to have Roots of a prodigious Depth. If there be Springs
near (or within feveral Feet of) the Surface of the Soil, St. Foin
will die therein in Winter, even after it has been vigorous in the
firft Summer ; and alfo after it hath produced a great Crop in the
fecond Summer,

If

Chap. XII. O/St. Foin. 150

If you venture to plant it with the Drill, accord-
ing to the Method wherein I have always had the
beft Succefs ; let the Land be well prepared before
you plant it. The Seed, if not well ordered, will
very little of it grow ; therefore 'tis convenient to try
it in the manner mention'd in the Chapter of Hoeing \
where are alfo Directions to find the proper Quantity
and Depth to plant it at : T have obferv'd, that the
Heads of thefe Seeds- are fo large, and their Necks
fo weak (b\ that if they lie much more than half an
Inch (c) deep, they are not able to rife through the
incumbent Mould ; or if they are not cover'd, they
will be malted (d). A Bufhel to an Acre is full twen-
ty Seeds to each fquare Foot, in all I try'd -, but there
is odds in the Largenefs of it, which makes fome
Difference in the Number.

The word Seafons to plant it are the Beginning of
Winter, and in the Drought of Summer. The beft
Seafon is early in the Spring.

'Tis the ftronger when planted alone, and when
no other Crop is fown with it (f).

(b) The Kernel or Seed, being much fwollen in the Ground,
I call the Head : This, when it reaches above the Ground, opens
in the Middle, and is formed into the Two firft Leaves ; the Hufk
always remaining at the fame Depth at which it is cover'd ; The
String that paffes from the Hufk to the Head, is the Neck;
which, when by its too great Length 'tis unable to fupport the
Head till it reaches to the Air, rifes up, and doubles above it;
and when it does fo, the Head, being turn'd with its Top down-
wards, never can rife any higher, but there rots in the Ground.

(c) In very light Land the Seed will come up from a greater
Depth ; but the moil fecure Way is, not to iufFer it to be cover'd
deep in any Land.

(dj We fay it is malted, when it lies above-ground, and fends
out its Root, which is killed by the Air. And whether we plant
bad Seed that does not grow, or good Seed buried or malted, the
Confequence will be much the fame, and the Ground may be
equally underftock'd with Plants.

( f ) The worft Crop that can be fown amongft St. Foin, is
Clover or Rye-Grafs j Barley or Oats continue but a little while

to

160 Qf St. F o i n. Chap. XIL

If Barley, Oats, or other Corn fown v/ith St. Foin,
do lodge, it will kill (g) the young St. Foin that is
under it : But then fo great a Crop of Corn will
certainly anfwer the very little Expence of drilling the
St. Foin again, either the next Year, or as foon as
the Corn i.s off the Ground.

St. Foin drill'd betwixt Rows of Barley or Oats,
always is ftronger than when drill'd amongft Corn
that is fown at random -, and therefore is in lefs Dan-
ger of being kill'd by the Lodging of the Corn ;
neither is the Corn in Rows fo liable to fall as the
other.

The Quantity of Seed to be drill'd on an Acre
will depend, in great Meafure, upon the Goodr.
it ; for in fome bad Seed, not more than One in Ten
will grow; and in good Seed, not One in Twenty
will mifs ; which is beft known by ftripping off the
Hulks of a certain Number of Seeds, and planting
the Kernels in Earth, in the manner directed for

to rob it ; but the other artificial GralTes rob it for a Year or Two,
until the artificial Failure is near loft ; and then the St. Foin ne-
ver arrives to half the Perfection as it will do when no other
Grafs is fown amongft it.

The Injury thefe Hay-crops do to the St. Foin is beft feen
wher^ fome Parts of the fame Field have them/ and the other
Parts are without them.

(g) When Barley, among which the St. Foin is planted in a
dry Summer, is great, there are few Farmers that know till the
next Spring, whether the St. Foin fucceeds or not ; becaufe the
young Plants are not then vifible ; unlefs it be to thofe who are
accuilomed to obferve them in all the Degrees of their Growth^
I have feen a Field of Ten Acres of fuch, wherein, after the
Barley was carried off, nothing appeared like St. Foin ; but
when by the Print of the Chanels I fearched diligently, I found
the fmall St. Foin Plants thick enough in the Rows; they had no
Leaves, they being cut off by the Scythe ; no Part of them that
was left had any Green Colour ; but from the Plants there came
out many Sprigs like Hog's Briftles, or like the Beard of Barley :
This whole Piece of St. Foin fuceeeded fo well, that the Third
Year its Crop was worth Three Pounds per Acre, the Land being
good.

finding

Chap. XII. Of St. Foin, 161

finding the proper Depth to plant at, which, in this
Cafe, let be half an Inch : This being done, the
Quality of the Seed will be known. But until fre-
quent Trials have furnifh'd Experience enough to
the Planter to know the Difference, let him obferve,
that the following are good Signs ; viz. The Hufk
6f a bright Colour, the Kernel plump, of a light-
grey or blue Colour, or fometimesof a mining black ;
yet the Seed may be good, tho' the Hufk is of a dark
Colour, if that is cauied by its receiving Rain in the
Field, and not by heating in a Heap, or in the Mow ;
and if you cut the Kernel off in the Middle, crofs-
ways, and find the Infide of a Greenifh frefh Co-
lour, it's furely good; but if of a yellowim Colour,
and friable about the Navel, and thin, or pitted, thefe
are Marks of bad Seed.

The Quantity, or rather Number of Seeds con-
venient to drill, ought to be computed by the Num-
ber of Plants (b) we propofe to have for making
the beft Crop, allowing for Cafualties (V).

In

(b) Not that we need to be fo exacl as to the Number of
Plants, whether they be Two, Three, or Four hundred upon a
fquare Perch. Neither is it poffible to know beforehand the pre-
cife Number of Plants that may live ; for fometimes the Grub
kills many, by eating off the firitTwo Leaves.

(c) Many even of the belt of Seeds, both fown and drill'd,
are liable to Cafualties, but not equally; for about Twenty-eight
Years ago, my Servants (being prime Seedfmen) had a Fancy in
my Abfence to try an Experiment of the Difference betwixt /ow-
ing and drilling of St. Foin ; and in the Middle of a large Field
of my beft Land they fow'd a fquare Piece of Three Acres, at
the Rate of One Bu(hel to an Acre, not doubting but, by their
ikill in fowing even, it would fucceed as well as if drill'd ;
but it fucceeded fo much againft their Expectation, that the
Land all round it, which was drill'd at the fame Time, with
the fame Proportion of the fame Seed, brought extraordinary
good Crops of St. Foin; but the fow'd Part was fo very thin,
that tho' it lay ftill with the reft for Eight Years, it never was a
Crop, there not being above Three or Four upon a fquare Perch,
taking the Three Acres all together; Not that it can be fuppofed*

M thac

1 62 Of St. Foin. Chap. XII.

In drilling St. Foin not to be ho'd, and before the
Ploughs of my Drill were fo perfect in making nar-
row Chanels as they are now (for, when the ChaneJs
were open, they had Six times the Breadth, wherein
Part of the Seed was wafted), then my Quantity was
One Bufhel to an Acre, fometimes Six Gallons.

But a fingle £cre (in the middle of a" large Field
of St. Foin) being drill'd late in OElober^ the frofty
Winter kill'd at lead Nineteen of Twenty Parts (d)
of that Bufhel. At firft it made fuch a poor Appear-
ance, that 'twas by mere Accident, or it had been
plow'd up for a Fallow ; but, miffing of that, a few
Plants were perceiv'd in the Summer, which by their
Singlenefs grew fo vigorous, and fo very large, that
the Second Year of Mowing it (e) produe'd a Crop
double to the reft of the fame Field, which was
drill'd in the Spring, with the fame Proportion of
Seed, and none of it kill'd : tho5 all this Field was a
J much better Crop than fome that was fown in the
common Manner, with Seven Bufhels to an Acre.
r I have generally obferv'd the thin ( f) to make the
^ beft Crop, after the Firft or Second Year.

I have

, that the fown would always meet with fo many Cafualtres- as this
did ; for then Eight Bufhels fown to an Acre might have been too
thin, and much thinner than all the reft of the Field was, tho*
drill'd with only One Bufhel to an Acre : And 'tis often feen,

, that when an Acre is fown with feven Bufhels o£ Seed, the &.
Foin is as much too thick, as that fown with One Bufhel was too-
thin.

I do not know, that of the many hundred Acres of St. Foin,
that have been drill'd for me, ever one Acre was too thin, except
when planted with Wheat: The voune Plants were kill'd by the
Frofk.

(d) But I believe, there might remain alive Three or Four
P lants to each fquare Yard, Handing fingle, and at pretty equal

Diflances.

(e) But Note, This Acre was dunged, and in better Order than
the reft.

. ( f ) But, notwithstanding I commend the Planting of St. Foin
thin, that moil of the Roots may be fingle ; yet I have Fields

that

Chap. XII. Of St. Foin. 163

I have alfo often obferv'd in Lands of St. Foin,
lying difperfed in a common Field (but where there
was not Common for Sheep), and where the Ends of
other Lands kept in Tillage, pointed againft the
Pieces of St. Foin, and the Horfes and Ploughs turn-
ing out upon the St. Foin (g) did plow and lcratch
out a Multitude of its Plants j fo that it was thought
to be fpoil'd, and Law-fuits were intended for Re-
compenceofthe Damage; that afterwards this fcratch'd
Part, fuppofed to be lpoii'd, became twice as good
as the reft of the fame Pieces, where the Ploughs did
not come to tear up any Plants.

The Reafon why the fingle St. Foin Plants make
the greatefl Crops, is, that the Quantity of the Crop
is always in Proportion to the Quantity of Nourifh-
ment it receives from the Earth •, and thofe Plants
which run deeped will receive moft; and fuch as
are fingle will run deeper than thofe which are not
fingle.

Alfo the fingle do fend out all round them ho-
rizontal Roots, proportionably ftronger and larger,
whereby they are better able to penetrate, and
extract more Nourifhment from the Staple, or upper
Stratum, than the other can do, if there be a compe-
tent Number ; which is, when ho'd, fewer than any-

that were drilPd with but Four Gallons of Seed to an Acre ; and
yet the Rows being Seven Inches afuhder, the Roois are fo thick
in them, that the Ground is cover'd with the St. Foin Plants,
which feem to be as thick (in Appearance; as moft Town St. Foin,
whereon Seven or Eight Bufhels are fown on an Acre. And I
have other Fields that were drilPd with about Two Gallons of
Seed to an Acre (which is Five Sdeds to each fquare Foot), the
Rows Sixteen Inches afunder, that produce better Crops, -tho* the
G10 iid be poorer. The drilFd St. Foin, being regular, is more
fingle, tho' as thick as the fown; and for that Reafon always
mar.es a better Crop, and lafts longer than the fown that is of
the lame Thicknefs, but irregular.

(g) This Plowing and Scratching was a fort of Hoeing, which
helped the St. Foin by a fmall Degree of Pulverauon, as well as
by making the Plants thinner.

M 2 body

\

1 6+ Of St. F 01 n. Chap. XIL

body imagines. 5Tis common to fee a fingfe St.
Foin have a bigger Tap-root than Twenty thick ones:
Their Length is in Proportion to their Bignefs :
Therefore that Tingle Plant may well be fuppofed to
have Twenty times more Depth of Earth to fupply it,
than all thofe Twenty fmall Roots can reach to. And
tho'" thefe under Strata are not fo rich as the upper •,
yet, never having, been drain'd by any Vegetable,
they do afford a very confiderable Quantity of Nou-
rifliment to thofe Roots which firft enter them.

The fmall thick Plants are fo far from equalling
the Product of the fingle, by their Excefs of Num-
ber, that the more they are, the fmaller, fhorter, and
weaker they become-, lefs Nourimment they have,
and the lefs Crop they produce; and are foon ftarv'd,
decay, and die, unlefs reliev'd by the Expence of fre-
quent Manure, or that the Soil be very rich.

Single Plants exceed the other by a Multitude of
Degrees, more than a Giant does a Dwarf, in Strength,
as well as Stature ; and therefore when natural Grafs
happens to come, are fo much the better able to fhift
amongft it.

The fmgk Plants feem alfo to exceed the other ia
their Longevity; for 'tis obferv'd, that all St. Foin
that has continu'd great for a good Number of Years
without Manure, has been fo fingle, that the Owners
have determined to plow it up at the Beginning, for
the Thinnefs of it.

How long this may laft by Culture, I can't tell j
but undoubtedly much longer than without it; and
I can fay, that I never knew a Plant of St. Foin die
a natural Death ; the mod common End of it is
Starving. And when an hundred thick Plants have
not the Nourishment which One fingle Plant has, 'tis
no Wonder that thefe (in a Croud (h) thus befieg'd
with Hunger) mould be ftarv'd before it.

(h) Sown Plants, when too thick, are crouded on every Side;
but thofe that are drilFd, have always Room enough on Tw©

Sides of them \ unlef* the Rows are too near together.

Chap. XII. Of St. Foin. 165

Another Advantage the fingle have, in refpect of
Moifture : Thefe reach to a Depth where that is never
wanting, even when the upper Stratum or Staple is
parch'd up, as appears by the Experiment of the
Mints, that if any Root of a Plant has Moifture,
that Root will communicate a Shar^ to all the
reft. Hence it is, that, in the drieft Summer, thefe
fzngle Plants make a great Crop,- when the other
yield next to nothing. I remember I once faw a
Farmer coming out of a Ground with a Load of St.
Foin Hay, which he aflured me was all he could
Hnd worth cutting, out of Forty Acres of this thick
fort, in full Perfection, Three Years after fowing : He
valued his Load at Three Pounds ; but withal laid it
came off fo much Ground, that the Expence of
Mowing, Raking, &c. was more than the Value j
when, in the very fame dry Summer, there was
Three Tun of St. Foin to an Acrt in a Field (/),
where it was drill'd fingle and regularly.

And I have often obferv'd, that where the Plants
are thin, the Second Crop of them fprings again im-
mediately after cutting.; when Plants that ftand thick
in the fame Ground, fpring not till Rain comes •, and
I have feen the thin grown high enough to cut the
Second time, before the other began to fpring.

The beft way to find what Number of thefe Plants it
is proper to have on a Perch of Ground, is to confider
what Quantity of Hay one large Plant will produce
(for, if cultivated, they will be all fuch).

Without Culture thefe Plants never attain to a
Fourth Part of the Bulk they do with it: Therefore
very few have feen any one Plant at its full Bignefs.
One Plant, well cultivated, has in the fame Ground

(i) This was on rich deep Land in Oxford/hire ; and the other
St. Foin, which was fo poor, was on thin Slate Land near
Caafiam in Wi'.tjbire in the Bath Road. It is now about Forty
Years fince.

M 2 made

1 66 Of S t. F o i n. Ghao. XII,

made a greater Produce, than One thoufand fmall
ones uncultivated.

But the Hay of a large Tingle cultivated Plant will
weigh more than half a Pound ; and i 12 Plants upon
a fquare Perch, weighing but a Quarter of a Pound
apiece one with another, amount to Two Tun to an
Acre.

If St. Foin be planted on feme forts of Land early,
in the Spring, and ho'd, it may bring a Crop the fame
Summer; for I once planted a few Seeds of it on
Jandy Ground in my Garden, at the End of Fe-
bruary , which produced large Plants above Two Feet
high, that went into BloiTom the following June\
tho' there was a fevere Froft in March, which kill'd
abundance of Wheat, yet did not hurt thefe Plants :
This -mews that St. Foin is a quick Grower, unlefs it
be planted on poor cold Ground, or for Want of
Culture.

And tho' the poor Land, and ill Management ge-
nerally allotted to it, caufe it to yield but One mow-
ing Crop a Year; yet it has yielded Two great ones
on rich fandy Land, even when fown in the common
ordinary matter.

Thin St. Foin cannot be expected to cover all the
Ground at firft, any more than an Orchard of Apple-
trees will, when firft planted at Thirty Feet D ilia nee
from each other every Way •, yet this is reckon'd a
proper Diitance to make a good and lafting Orchard.
But if thefe mould be planted at Three Feet Diftance,
as they ftancl in theNurfery, it would not be more
unreafonoble than the common Method of lowing St.
Foin is-, and there would be much the fame Confe-
rence in both, from covering all the Ground at firft
Planting-, except that the St. Foin, being abundantly
longer rooted downwards than Apple-trees are, has
the greater Difad vantage, when by its Thicknefs 'tis

prevented

Chap. XII. Of St < Foin. j67

prevented from growing to its full Bulk, and Length
of Roots (k).

The Difference is only this : People are accuftom'd
to fee Apple-trees planted at their due Diftance : but
few have feen St. Foin planted and cultivated at the
Diitance mod proper to St. Foin ; oj* ever confider'd
about it, fo much as to make the necerTary Trials.

' I have ccnftantly found, that, upon doubling any
Number of narrow Rows, having equal Number of
Plants in each Row, the Crops have been very much
diminifli'd ; and, upon leaving out every other Row,
that is, leffening the Number of Rows to half, the
Crops are increafed -, and where Two Rows are wide
afunder at one End of a Piece, and near at the other
End, the Plants are gradually lefs and lefs, as the
Rows approach nearer together.

We ought never to expect a full Crop of St. Foin
the Firft Year (/), if we intend to have good Crops
afterwards, and that it fhall continue to produce fuch,
for the fame Reafons that mud be given for planting
an Orchard at other Diftances than a Nurfery.

The common Error proceeds from miftaking the
Caufe of a great or fmall Crop.

Where the Spaces betwixt Rows are wide (if there
be not too many Plants in themj we always fee the
St. Foin grow large, and make the greateil Crop ;
but when 'tis young, or after cutting, we fee room

(k) Horizontal-rooted Plants fuffer no greater Injury by their
Paiture's being over- itock'd than Cattle do ; Ixcauie their Failure
lying near the Surface of the Ground, they have it all amongft
them : But St. Foin, and other long Tap-rcoted Plants fuffer yec
more, becaufe great Part of their over itock'd Pafture is loll by
them all, when they hinder one another from reaching down to
it, by Ihortening one another's Roots, which cney do when they
all become Dwarfs by reafon of their Over-thicknefs.

(I) But when it \\js been planted on rich fandy Lr.nd, and
proper, it has produced very great Crops the firft Year; but then
the Summer wherein it grew amongit the Barley, muft not be
reckoned as the iiril Year.

M 4 (as

i68 Of St. Foi.x Chap. XII.

(as we fanfy) for more of fuch. Plants, to make a yet
larger Crop ; not confide-'ng that 'tis the Widenefs
of thofe Spaces, and lefs Number of Plants, that
caufe the Crop to be fo large, there being more Fa-
ilure for thofe Plants.

Where thele Spaces are narrower, and the Rows
of equal Thicknefs, we fee the Plants lefs when
grown, and. that they make a lefs Cropj and yet
there feems to be room for more Rows, which we
fanfy might make the Crop larger, not confidering
that 'tis the Narrownefs of thofe Spaces that caufes
the Plants and Crop to be lefs, for want of fufficient
Pafture.

Thus, fondly increafing the Number of our Rows
and Plants, we bring our Crop (unlefs the Soil be
rich) to nothing, by too much over-flocking their
Paflure ; and, if that Pafture be over-flock'd, the
Crop will be diminifh'd more than in proportion tQ
that Over-charge ; for perhaps 'tis not impoffible to
prove (if we would be curious), that Plants, by
wanting a Fourth Part of their due Quantum of Nou-
rifhment, will be diminihYd to half (m) of the Bulk
they would have attained to, had they been fupply'd
with the other Fourth Patt.

I have obfervM ho'd St. Foin to grow mpre, ancj
increafe its Bulk more, in Two Weeks, than unho'd
St. Foin in the fame Ground (and without any other
Difference) hath done in Six Weeks-, and the quicker
it grows, by being better fed, the fweeter and richer
Food it will make for Cattle, whether it be fpent green
or dry (n).

( m) When Plants have not their dire Nourishment, they fuffer
the more by Cold and Drought ; fo that want of Nourifhment
diminifhing their Gr jjrth One-fourth, Cold, or Drought, or
bpch, may diminifh it another fourth.

(n) Cattle are the beii Judges of the Goodnefs of Grafs, and
they always ciioofe to feed en St Foin that is molt vigorous,
and refufe that which is poor and yellow. And the richeft
fweetefl: Gia.~s will always make the bell Hay; for the drying of
jt does not change the Quality of the Grafs.

At

Chap. XII, Of St. Foin. 169

At whatever Diftance the Rows be fet, if they
have too many Plants in them, the Crop will be very
much injured; and the greater the Excefs is beyond
the juft Number, the more void Space there will be
amongft them-, becaufe the fmaller the Plants are, the
lefs Ground they cover.

I have had the Experience of drilling at all Di-
stances, from Thirty-three Inches to Seven Inches,
betwixt the Rows-, and recommend the following
Diftance, for the different Methods of drilling; whe-
ther the St. Foin be defign'd for hoeing, or not. As,

Firft, For Herfe-hoeing% I thinly it is beft to drill
double Rows with Eight-inch Partitions, and Thirty-
inch Intervals; which need only be ho'd alternately, leav-
ing every other Interval for making the Hay thereon.

Indeed I have never yet had a whole Field of ho'd
St. Foin ; but have enough to fhew, that Horfe-hoe-
ing makes it ftrong upon very poor Land, and caufes
it to produce two Crops a Year upon indifferent Land.

It is not neceffary to hoe this every Year; but we
may intermit the Hoeing for three or four Years to-
gether, or more, if the Land be good.

Whilft the Plants are fmall the firft Year, Care muft
be taken not to cover them with the Plough : After-
wards there will be no great Danger, efpecially in Win-
ter, theEarth not being luffered to lie on them toolong.

Secondly, For Hand-hoeing^ drill the Rows Sixteen
Inches afunder, and fingle out the Plants, fo as to
make them Eight Inches apart at leaft in the Rows,
contriving rather to leave the Mafter-plants, than to
be exact in the Diftance : This muft be done whilft
they are very young, or in Summer ; elfe they will
come again that are cut off by the Hoe.

Laftly, when St. Foin is drilled without any In-
tention of hoeing, the beft Way (I think) is to plant
fingle Rows, at Eight Inches Diftance, with no
greater Quantity of Seed, than when the Rows are at
Sixteen Inches Diftance ; becaufe, by this Method, the

fame

> -

170 Of S r. Foin. Chap. XII.

fame Number of Plants in the Rows, that are but
Eight Inches apart:, will be much more Tingle, than
thofeiri the Rows at Sixteen Inches apart are, without
being fet out by the Hoe.

Which of thefe Methods foever is praclis'd, the
Land mould be made as clean from all Grafs, and as
well pulveriz'd, as poflible, before Drilling.

The Tines of the Driil-harrow mud exa&ly follow
the Shares, which leaving the Chanels open, the Tines
cover the Seed, fpme at -Bottom, and fome on each
Side -, fo that it is cqver'd very mallow, tho' it lies
deep within the Ground, where there is more Moi«
fU?re, than nearer to the upper level Surface : This
caufes the Seed to come up in dry Weather ; and yet
if is not in Danger* of being buried by a too great
Weight of Mould incumbent on it.
1 But take heed that no other Harrow come on it
2iter 5tis drill'd ; for that might bury it. I never care
to roll it at all, unlefson account of the Barley, and
then only in very dry Weather, with a light Roller,
lengthways of the Rows, immediately after 'tis drill'd ;
or elfe ftay Three Weeks afterwards before it be
roll'd, for fear of breaking off the Heads of the
young 5/. Foin.

Be fure to fuffer no Cattle to come on the young
St. Foin the firft Winter (a)9 after the Corn is cut

that

(a J The firft Winter is the Time to lay on Manure, after the
Crop or Corn is-off; fuch 2.5 Peat- JJbes, or the like; becaufe,
there -being no natural Grafs to partake of it, and the. Plants
being his, lefs will fupply them ; and becaufe, when made
ft roc £ in their Youth, they will come to greater Perfection:
But I never ufed any Manure on my St. Fein, becaufe mine'
generally had no Occafion for Manure before it was old;
find Soot is feldom to be had of fufficjent Quantity in the Coun-
tJff-t and little Coal is burnt hereabouts, except by the Smiths,
vyhofe JJbes are not good. The Price and Carriage of Peat-JJb
will be Ten Shillings for an Acre, which would yet be well be-
ftowed in a Place where Hay is vendible ; but, by reafon of the
great Quantity of watered Meadovys, and Plenty of St. Foin?
Clover, and Hay, railed of late Years by Farmers for their own

Vie,

Chap. XII. Of St. Foin. r7r

that grows amongft it •, their very Feet would injure
it, by treading the Ground hard, as well as their
Mouths by cropping it; Nor let any Sheep come at i
it, even in the following Summer and Winter.

One Acre of well-drilPd St. Foin, confidering the
different Goodnels of the Crops, and the Duration of
it, is generally worth Two Acres of fown St. Foin on
the fame Land, tho' the Expence of drilling be
Twenty Times iefs than the Expence of fowing it.

One of the Caufes why St. Foin, that is properly
drill'd, lafteth longer (b) without Manure than the
fown, is, That the former neither over nor under-
ftocks the Pafture; and the latter commonly, if not
always, doth one or the other, if not both; viz.
Plants too thick in fome Places, and too thin in
others; either 'tis not fmgle, but in Bunches ; or if
it be fingle, 'tis too thin; it being next to impoflible
to have the Plants come true and regular, or nearly
fo, by fowing at random. Plants too thick foon exhaull
the Failure they reach, which never is more than a
(mall Part of that below the Staple : When the Plants
are too thin, the St. Foin cannot be faid to laft at all,
beeaufe it never is a Crop,

They whoyW Eight or Ten Bufhels of good Seed
on an Acre, in a good Seafon, among their Corn,
with Intent that by itsThicknefs it mould kill other
Grafs, reduce their St. Foin almoft. to that poor Con-
dition I have feen it in, where it grows naturally

Ufe, here are nqw few or no Buyers of Hay, efpecially thefe
open Winters ; lb that laying out Money in that Manner would
be in Effect to buy what I cannot fell. I think it better to let a
little more Land lie ftill in St. Foin, than to be at the Expence of
Manure ; but yet fhall not neglect to ufe it, when I mall find it
likely to be profitable to me.

(h) I have now a great many fingle St, Foin Plants in my
Fields, that are near Thirty Years of Age, and yet Teem asyoiing
and vigorous as ever ; and yet it is common for thick St. Foin to
wear out in Nine or Ten Years, and in poor Land much fooner,
jf not often manured by Soot, Peat-Ajh, or Coal-JJh,

wild

i72 Of St. F o i n. Chap. XII.

wild without fowing or Tillage, upon the Calabrian
Hills near Croto : It makes there fuch a defpicable Ap-
pearance, that one would wonder how any body
ihould have taken it in their Head to propagate To
unpromifing a Plant -, and yet there has fcarce been an
Exotic brought to England in this or the laft Age,
capable of making a greater or more general Improve-
ment, were it duly cultivated.

Some think the Cyiijus would exceed it ; but I am
afraid the Labour of {hearing thofe Shrubs by the
Hands of Englijh Servants, would coil too much of
its Profit.

Luferne^ requiring more Culture, and being much
more difficult to be fitted with a proper Soil, never
can be fo general as Stt Foin.

But now let us confider the bell Methods of or-
dering St. Foin for Hay and Seed. The Profit of St.
Foin Fields, arifing from either of theie Ways, is a
great Advantage to their Owner, above that of na-
natural Meadows; for, if Meadow-hay cannot have
good Weather to be cut in its Seafon, it can ferve for
little other Ufe than as Dung, and yet the Expence
of mowing it, and carrying it off muff not be omitted.
But if there be not Weather to cut St. Foin before
blofToming, we may expect it till in Flower, or may
ftay till theBloffoms are off; and if it ftill rain on,
may Hand for Seed, and turn to as good Account as
any of the former : So that it has Four Chances to
One of the Meadow.

The elevated, but not mountainous, Situation of
the dry Land whereon St. Foin is moflly planted,
renders it fo commodious for making of Hay, that it
efcapes there the Injury of Weather, when Hay in
low Meadows is utterly fpoil'd.

On the high Ground the Wind will dry more in
an Hour, than on the Meadows in a whole Day.
The Sun too has a more benign Influence above, and
fends off the Dew about Tv/o Hours earlier in the

Morning,

Chap. XII. Of St. Foik. i73

Morning, and holds it up as much longer in the E-
vening. By thefe Advantages the St. Foin has the
more Time to dry, and is made with half the Expence
of Meadow-hay.

But before the Manner of making it be defcrib'd,
the proper Time of cutting it ought to be determin'd ;
and upon that depend the Degrees of its Excellence
f befides upon the Weather, which is not in our
Power) 5 for tho' all Sorts of this Hay, if well made,
be good, yet there is a vail Difference and Variety in
them.

The feveral Sorts may be principally diftinguifh'd
by the following Terms ; viz. Firft, The Virgin.
Secondly, The Blojfonfd. Thirdly, The Full-grown.
And, Fourthly, The Tbreflfd Hay,

The Firft of thefe is belt of all, beyond Compari-
fon ; and (except Luferne) has not in the World its
Equal. This muft be cut before the Bloffoms appear ;
For when itftands till full-blown, the moftfpirituous,
volatile, and nourifhing Parts of its Juices are fpent
on the next Generation ; and this being done all at
once, the Sap is much depauperated, and the St. Foin
can never recover that Richnefs it had in its Virgin
State. And tho', when in BlofTom, it be literally in
the Flower of its Age, 'tis really in the Declenjion of
it. If it be faid, that what is not in the Stalk is gone
into the Flower, 'tis a Miftake ; becaufe much the
greateft Part of its Quinteffence perfpires thence into
the Atmofphere.

And moreover. That all Vegetables are, in fome
Degree, weaken'd by the Action of continuing their
Kind, may be inferr'd from thofe Plants which will
live feveral Years, if not fuffer'd to blofTom; but,
whenever they bloiTom, it caufes their Death, tho*
in the firft Year of their Life. For in Plants (as Dr.
Willis obferves in Animals) Nature is more folicitous
to continue the Species, than for the Benefit of the
Individual.

4 Part

i74 Of St. Fcin; Chap.XIL

Part of a drill'd 6Y. i^i;; Ground was cut the Be-
ginning of May^ before blolloming (c) ; and from the
Time of cutting, until it was fet up in Ricks, being
about Ten Days, the Sun never mone upon it (d) ;
but the Weather was mifty : At iaft it was forc'd to be
carried together for fear of Rain, fo green, that out
of the largeft Stalks one might wring milky Juice ;
yet by making the Hay up in feveral little Ricks, and
drawing up a great ChafFBafket in the Middle of each,
its firing was prevented 5 but it look'd of a dark
Colour by heating; and was the very beft (e) Hay
that ever I had.

The other Part of the Ground was afterwards cut
in the Prime of its Flower, and made into Hay by
the Heat of the Sun, without Rain or Mift : This
came out of the Ricks at Winter with a much finer
Colour, and as fine a Smell as the Virgin Hay, but
did not come near it in fatting of Sheep, or keeping

(c.) By catting before blofioming, is not meant before any one
Bloffom appears ; for here and-therea Bud willbegin to open with
a red Colour long before the reft : Therefore, when we perceivS
only a very few BioiToms beginning to open (perhaps but Ons of
a Thoufaiidj, we regard them as none.

(d) This alio was an Advantage to this Hay ; lor Apothecaries
find, that Herbs dried in the Shade retain much more of their
Vinue than thefe dried in the Sun; but Farmers not having any
fuch Conveniency of drying their Hay in the Shade with Safety,
muft always choofe to dry it by the Sun ; becaufein cloudy Wea-
ther there is Danger of Rairi; and therefore fuch excellent Hay
muft be had by Chance j • for to be well made in the Shade, it
muft be in Danger of being fpoiled or damaged by Rain.

(e) This Hay, fo cut before bioffoming, has kept a Team of
working Stpne-horfes, round the Year, fat without Corn ; ard
when tried with Beans and Cats mixed with Cnalt. they refilled
it for this Hay. The fame fatted feme Sheep in the Winner, in a
Pen, with only it and Water ; they thrived faftcr than other Sheep
at the fame time fed with Peafe and Oats. The Hay was weighed
to them, and the clear Front amounted to Four Pounds per Tun.
They made no Wafte. Tho' the Stalks were of an extraordinary
Bignefs, they would break off fhort, being very brittle. Thi3
grew on rich Ground in Q?fordJkiri>.

Horfas

Chap. XII. OfB'T.Foi^. 175

Horfes fat at hard Work without: any Corn, as' the
Virgin Hay did.

This fuperfine Hay cannot well be had of popr
uncultivated (f) St. Foin: beeaufe that may not be
much above an Handful high, when 'tis in Condition
to be fo cut ; and would then make a very light Crop,
and would be a great while ere it fprang up again :
But the rich will have Two or Three Tun to an Acre,
and fpring again immediately for a fecond Crop ; io
that little or no Quantity would be loft by fo great an
Improvement of it's Quality. For ho'd St. Foin
upon a poor chalky Hill, cut at the fame time with
that uncultivated on a rich Valley, does in dry Wea-
ther grow again without Delay, when the Valley at-
tends a Month or more for a Rain, to excite its ve-
getative Motion.

This Hay the Owner (if he be wife) will not fell at
any common Price; but endeavour to have fome of
it every Year, if poiiible, for his own Ufe.

The Second Sort of St. Foin Hay is that cut in the
Flower; and tho' much inferior to the Virgin Hay, it
far exceeds any other Kind, as yet commonly propa-
gated in England-, and if it be a full Crop, by good
Culture, may amount to above three; Tun to an Acre,
This is that St. Foin which is mod commonly made ;
and the larger it is, the more nourifhing for Horfes,
I have known Farmers, after full Experience, go
Three Miles to fetch the largeft iralky St. Foin, when
they could have bought the fmall fine leafy Sort of
it at home, for the fame Price by the Tun.

The next and laft Sort of St. Foin that is cut only
for Hay, is, the full-grown, theBloffoms being gone,
or going off: This aifo is good Hay, tho' it fall
fhort, by many Degrees, of the other Two Sorts: It
makes a greater Crap than either of them, beeaufe it
grows to its full Bulk, and fhrinks little in drying.

(/) I reckon Manure of Peat-d/hes, Soot, or the like, to be a

Culture.

This

176 Of S t. F o i n. Chap. XIL

This gives the Owner a Third Chance of having
Weather to make good Hay, and fpins out the Hay-
Seafon 'till about Midfummer; and then in about a
Fortnight, or Three Weeks* after the Hay is finim'd,
the Seed is ripe. But, firft, of the manner of making
St. Foin Hay.

In a Day or Two after St. Foin is mow'd, it will,
in good Weather, be dry on the upper Side: Then
turn the Swarths, notfingly, but Two and Two to-
gether-, for by thus turning them in Pairs, there is a
double Space of Ground betwixt Pair and Pair, which
needs but once raking ; whereas, if the Swarths were
turn'd fingly, that is, all the fame Way, fuppofe to
the Eaft oxWeft^ then all the Ground will require to
be twice raked -3 at leaft, more of it, than the other
Way.

As foon as both Sides of the Swarths are dry from
Rain and Dew, make them up into little Cocks the
fame Day they are turn'd, if conveniently you can 5
for when 'tis in Cock, a lefs Part of it will be expofed
to the Injuries of the Night, than when in Swarth.

Dew, being of a nitrous penetrating Nature, enters
the Pores of thofe Plants it reaches, and during the
Night pofTeiTes the Room from whence fome Part of
the Juices is dry'd out: Thus it intimately mixes with
the remaining Sap •, and, when the Dew is again ex-
hal'd, it carries up moil of the vegetable Spirits along
with it, which might have been there fix'd, had they
not been taken away in that fubtile Vehicle.

If St. Foin be fpread very thin upon the Ground,
and fo remain for a Week in hot Weather, the Sun
and Dew will exhauft all its Juices, and leave it no
more Virtue than is in Straw.

Therefore tis bell to keep as much of our Hay as
we can from being expofed to the Dews, whilft 'tis
in making; and we have a better Opportunity of
doing it in this, than in natural Hay •, becaufe the
bigger the Cocks are, the lefs Superficies (in propor-
tion

Chap. XII. Cf § r. F o i n. i7j

tion to the Quantity they contain) will be expofed to
the Dew, and St. Foin may be fafely made in much
larger Cocks than natural Hay of equal Drynefs can,
which, finking down clofer, excludes the Air fo necef-
fary for keeping itfweet, that if the Weather prevents
its being frequently mov'd and open'd, it will ferment,
look yellow, and be fpoil'd; Againft this Misfortune
there is no Remedy, but to keep it in the leffer Cocks,
Until thoroughly dry. St. Foin Cocks (twice as big
as Cocks of natural Hay), by the lefs Flexibility of
the Stalk admitting the Air* will remain longer
without fermenting.

This being able to endure more Days unmov'd, is
alfoan Advantage upon another Account befides the
Weather; for tho' in other Countries, People are
not prohibited ufing the neceflary Labour on all Days
for preferving their Hay, even where the certainer
Weather makes it tefc neceflary than here, yet 'tis
otherwife in England-, where many a Thoufand Load
of natural Hay is fpoil'd by that Prohibition for want
bf being open'd ; and often, by the Lofs of one Day's
Work, the Farmer lofes his Charges, and Year's
Rent ; which fhews, that to make Hay while the Sun
fhines, is an exotic Proverb againft Engli/h Laws;
whereunto St. Foin being, in regard of Sundays and
Holidays, more conformable, ought to be the Hay
as proper to England as thofe Laws are.

But to return to our Hay-makers : When the firft
Cocks have flood one Night, if nothing hinder, let
them double, treble, or quadruple the Cocks, ac-
cording as all Circumftances require, in this manner;
viz. Spread Two, Three, or more, together, in a frefh.
Place; and after an Hour or Two turn them, and
make that Number up into one Cock •, but when the
Weather is doubtful, let not the Cocks be thrown or
fpread, but inlarge them, by fhaking feveral of them
into one; and thus hollowing them to let in the Air,
continue increafing their Bulk, and dirninifhing their

N Number

, 78 O/St.Foi n. Chap. XII.

Number daily, until they be fufficiently dry to be
carried to the Rick.

This I have found the moft fecure Way : Tho' it
be fomething longer in making, there is much lefs Dan-
ger than when a great Quantity of Hay is fpread at
once j for then a fudden Shower will do more Harm
to one Acre of that, than to Twenty Acres in Cock.

And the very bed Hay I ever knew in England^ was
of St. Foin made without ever fpreading, or the Sun's
mining on it. This Way, tho' it be longer ere finifh'd,
is done with lefs Labour than the other.

Not only a little Rain, but even a Mift, will turn
Clover Hay black-, but St. Foin will not with any
Weather turn black, until it be almoft rotten, its-
Leaves being thinner than thofe of Clover.

If St. Foin be laid up pretty green, it will take no
Damage, provided it be fet in fmall round Ricks, with
a large Bafket drawn up in the Middle of each, to
leave a Vent-hole there, thro' which the fuperfluous
Moifture of the Hay tranfpires.

As foon as its Heating is over, thefe Ricks ought to
be thatch'd; and all St. Foin Ricks, that are made
when the Hay is full dry'd in the Cocks, ought to be
thatch'd immediately after tat making them.

That which is laid up moft.dry'd, will come out of
the Rick of a green Colour, that which has much
heated in tht Rick, will have a brown Colour.

The Seed is a Fourth Chance the Owner has to
make Profit of his St. Foin: But this, if the Hoeing-
Hujbandry were general, would not be vendible in great
Quantities for planting; becaufe an ordinary Crop
of an Acre will produce Seed enough to drill an
Hundred Acres, which would not want replanting in
a long Time,

The other Uie then of this Seed is for Provender-,
and it has been afnrm'd by fome, who have made
Trials of ir, that Three Bufliels of good St. Foin

Seed

Chap.Xlt. Of St. F o i n. i79

Seed given to Horfes, will nourifh them as much as
Four Bufhels of Oats. When well order'd, it is fo
fweet, that moil Sorts of Cattle are greedy of it. I
never knew fo much of it given to Hogs, as to make
them become fat Bacon ; but I have known Hogs
made very good Pork with it, for an Experiment ;
and being valued at the Beginning of their feeding,
and the Pork by the Score when the Hogs were kill'd,
which, computed with the Quantity of Seed they eat,
did not amount to near the Value of the fame Seed
fold for fowing; that being Three Shillings^ Bufhel,
and the Profit made by giving it to the Hogs was but
Two Shillings a Bufhel.

The Goodnefs of the Seed, and of the Hay out of
which it is threfh'd, depends very much upon the
manner of ordering them.

This threfh'd Hay, when not damaged by wetWea-
ther, has been found more nourifhing to Horfes than
coarfe Water-meadow Hay -, and, when 'tis cut fmall
by an Engine, is good Food for Cattle, and much
better than Chaff of Corn.

It requires fome Experience in it, to know the moll
proper Degree of Ripenefs, at which the feeded St.
Ford ought to be cut ; for the Seed is never all ripe
together -, fome Ears bloflbm before others -, every
Ear begins blcffoming at the lower Part of it, and fo
continues gradually to do upward for many Days ;
and before the Flower is gone off the Top, the Bot-
tom of the Ear has almoft fiU'd the Seeds that grow
there •, fo that if we mould defer cutting until the top
Seeds are quite ripe, the lower, which are the beft,
would ihed, and be loft.

The beft time to cut is, when the greateft Part of
the Seed is well fill'd , the firft-blown ripe, and the
la ft blown beginning to be full.

The natural Colour of the Kernel, which is the
real Seed, is grey or bluiih when ripe ; and the Hufk,
which contains the Seed is, when ripe> of a brownilh

N 2 Colour,

] §0 Of St.? oi n. Chap. XIL

Colour. Both Hufk and Seed continue perfectly
green for fome time after full-grown ; and if you open
the Hufk, the Seed will appear exactly like a greet*
Pea when gather'd to boil, and will, like that, eafily
be fplit into Two Parts. Yet St. Foin Seed in this
green Plight will ripen after Cutting, have as fine a.
Colour, and be as good in all Refpects, as that which
was ripe before Cutting : Some, for want of obferving
this, have fufFer'd their Seed to (land fo long, till it
was all ripe, and loft in Cutting.

St. Foin Seed mould not be cut in the Heat of the
Day, whilft the Sun fh-ines out : for then much, even
of the unripe Sccd^ will (lied in Mowing: Therefore,
in very hot Weather, the Mower mould' begin to
work very early in the Morning, or rather in the
Night ; and when they perceive the Seed to matter,
leave off, and reft till towards the Evening.

After Cutting we muft obferve the fame Rule as in
mowing it; viz. not to make this Hay whilft the Sun
fhines,

Sometimes it may, if the Seed be pretty ripe, be
cock'd immediately after the Scythe i or if the Swarths
muft be turn'd, let it be done whilft they are moift;
not Two together, as in the other Hay aforemention'd.
If the Swarths be turn'd with the Rake's Handle, 'tis
beft to raife up the Ear-fides firft, and let the Stub-
fide reft on the Ground in turning; but if it be done
by the Rake's Teeth, then let them take hold on the
Stub-fide, the Ears bearing on the Earth in turning
over. But 'tis commonly Rain that occafions the
Swarths to want Turning (a).

If it be cock'd at all (b), the fooner 'tis made
into Cocks, the better j becaufe, if the Swarths be

dry,

(a) If the Swarths be not very great, we ne\'er tarn them at
all, becaufe the Sun or Wind will quickly dry them.

(b) Sometimes when we defign to threfh in the Field, we
irnkc no Cocks at all, and but only juil feparate the Swarths in

the

Chap. XII. Of St. Foin. 181

dry, much of the Seed will be loft in feparatlng them,
the Ears being entangled together. When moid, the
Seed flicks fails to the Ear ; but, when dry, will drop
out with the lead Touch or Shaking.

There are Two ways of threfhing it, the one in
the Field, the other in the Barn: The ftrft cannot
be done but in very fine Weather, and whilft zhQ
Sun mines in the Heat of the Day : The bed Man-
ner of this is, to have a large Sheet pegg'd down
to the Ground, for Two Men with their Flails to
threfh on : Two Perfons carry a fmall Sheet by its
Corners, and lay it down clofe to a large Cock, and,
with Two Sticks thruft under the Bottom of it,
gently turn it over, or lift it up upon the Sheet,
and carry and throw it on the great Sheet to ,the
Threfhers ; but when the Cocks are fmall, they car-
ry feveral at once, thrown upon the lit:le Sheet care-
fully with Forks ; thofe which are near, they carry to
the Threfhers with the Forks only. As fail as it is
threhYd, one Perfon (lands to take away the Hay,
and lay it into an Heap: And fometimes a Boy
ftands upon it, to make it into a fmall Rick of
about a Load. As often as the great Sheet is full,
they riddle it thro' a large Sieve to feparate the
Seed and Chaff from the broken Stalks, and put it
into Sacks to be carried into the Barn to be win-
riow'd.

Twp Threfhers will employ Two of thefe little
Sheets, and Four Perfons in bringing to them ; and
when the Cocks are threfh'd, which Hand at a con-
fiderable Diftance all round them, they remove the
Threfhing- meet to another Place. There belong to a
Set for one Threfhing- meet Seven or Eight Perfons ;
but the Number of Sheets mould be according to the

the Dew of the Morning dividing them into Parts of about
Two Feet in -.-rich Part. By this means the St. Foin is former
^ry'd, than when it lies thicker, as it mull do, if made into Cocks.

N 3 Ouan-

i S i Of S t. F o i n, Chap. XII.

Quantity to be thus threQYd: The fooner thele
thiefh'd Cocks are remov'd, and made into bigger
Ricks, the better ; and unlefs they be thatch'd, the
Rain will run a great Way into them, and fpoil the
»Hay, but they may be thatch'd with the Hay itfelf,
if there be not Straw convenient for it.

But the chiefeft Care yet remains ; and that is, to
cure the Seed : Ii: that be neglected, it will be of
little or no Value (a) 5 and the better it has efcap'd
the Wet in the Field, the fooner its own Spirits will
fpoil it in the Barn or Granary. I have known it lie
a Fortnight in Swarth, till the wet Weather has turn'd
the Husks quite black : This was threfh'd in the
Field, and immediately put into large Veflels, hold-
ing about Twenty Bufnels each. It had by being
often wet, and often dry, been fo exhaufled of its
fiery Spirits, that it remain'd cool in the Veffels,
without ever fermenting in the lead, till the next
Spring 5 and then it grew as well as ever any did that
was planted.

But of Seed threfh'd in the Field, without ever
being wetted, if it be immediately winnow'd, and
a finglc Buftiel laid in an Heap, or put into a Sack,

(a) But there is yet another Care to be taken of St. Foin Seed,
beiides the curing it i and that is, to keep it from Rats and Mice
after 'tis cured ; or elfe, if their Number be large, they will in a
Winter cat up all the Seed of a conquerable Quantity, leaving
only empty Hulks, which to the Eye appear the fame as when
the Seeds rue in them. A Man cannot without Difficulty take a
Seed out of its Hufk : but the Vermin arc fo dextrous at it, that
they will eat the Seed alntoft as fall out of the Hulks, as if they
were pulled out for them. I faw a Rat killed as he was running
from an Heap of it, fchat had Seven peeled Seeds in his Mouth not
fwallowed ; which is a Sign, that he was not long in taking them
pnt, They take than out (o cleverly, that the Hole in the Hu(k
fhuts itfeif tip when the Seed is out of it. Eut, if you feel the
Hufk between your Finger and Thumb, you will find it empty.
Alfo a Sackful or them j; very light; yet there have been fome i'o
jgnorant and incurious ai to fow fuck empty Huks for feveral
Years fucceiVivcly ; ivA none corning up, they concluded their
;.,.;nd to be improper toi St. Fo'n.

it

Chap. XII, O/St.Foin. 183

it will in few Days ferment to fuch a Degree, that the
greateft Part of it will lofe its vegetative Quality :
The larger the Heap, the worfe: During the Fermen-
tation it will be very hot, and fmeli lour.

Many, to prevent this, fpread it upon a Malt-Floor,
turning it often; or, when the Quantity is fmall, upon
a Barn-floor; but (till I find, that this Way a great
deal of it is fpoil'd ; for it will heat, tho' it be fpread
but an handful thick, and they never fpread it thin-
ner: Befides, they may mifs fome Hours of the right
times of turning it ; for it mud be done very often ;
it mould be ftirr'd in the Night as well as the Day,
until the Heating be over •, and yet, do what they can,
it never will keep its Colour, fo bright as that which
is well houfed, well dry'd, and threfh'd in the Win-
ter: For in the Barn the Stalks keep it hollow 5 there
are few Ears or Seeds that touch one another ; and
the Spirits have room to fly off by Degrees, the Air
entering to reeeive them.

The only Way I have found to imitate and equal
this, is to winnow it from the Sheet ; then lay a
Layer of Wheat-ftraw (or if that be wanting, of very
dry-threfh'd Hay) ; then fpread thereon a thin Layer
of Seed, and thus Stratum fuper Stratum, Six or Se-
ven Feet high, and as much in Breath ; then begin
another Stack ; let there be Straw enough, and do not
tread on the Stacks ; by this means the Seed mixing
with the Straw, will be kept cool, and come out in
the Spring with as green a Colour as when it was put
in, and not one Stcd of aThoufand will fail to grow
when planted. A little Barn-room will contain a great
Quantity in this Manner.

I have had above One hundred Quarters of clean
Seed thus manag'd in one Bay of a 1 mall Barn. We
do not flay to winnow it clean before we lay it up in
the Straw ; but only pafs it through a large Sieve, and
with the Van blow out the Chaff, and winnow, it
ctezn in the Spring.

N 4 This

I

j 84- O/St.Foin. Chap.XIL

This Field-threlhing requires extraordinary fine.
Sun-(hiny Weather, which forne Summers do not
afford at the Seafon, for threfhing a great Quantity
of it i for 'tis but a fmall Part of the Day in which
the Sztd can be th re hYd clean out. They who have
a fmall Quantity of it, do carry it into a Barn early
in the Morning, or even in the Night j whilfl the
Dew is on it •, for then the Seed (ticks fad to the Ear ;
As it dries, they threih it out; and if they cure it
Hgllj have thus fometirties good Seed, but generally
the Flay is fpoii'd.

There is one Method of faving all the Seed good,
and the Hay too, by carrying it unthrefh'd to the
Barn or Rick, in a particular Manner, tho' it be a
great Quantity, more than can prefently be threuYd ;
but muff, be laid up in Mows or Ricks, as Corn is.
Then if it be carry'd in, in the Dews or Damp, the
Hay is fureto be fpoii'd, if not both Hay and Seed:
When 'tis taken up dry, the Seed comes out with a
Touch, and the greater: Part is loft in pitching up
the Cocks, binding and jolting in carrying home.

To avoid this Dilemma, a Perfon who happen'd
to have a great Crop of Seed on One hundred and
Fifty Acres together (and being by Weather delay'd
3tiil Wheat-harveft came on, fo that mod Labourers
went to Reaping) was fore'd to a Contrivance of
getting it in as follows; viz Three Waggons had
each a Board with an Hole in, fix'd crofs the Middle
of each Waggon, by Iron Pins, to the Top of the
Rades or Sides: There was a Crane which a Man
could lift, and fee into the Hole in the Board, and,
having an Iron Gudgeon at the Bottom, which went
into a Socket in the Bottom of the Waggon, would
furn quite round *. The Pofb of the Crane was Ten
peet Four Inches long, its Arm Four Fcqi Eight
Inches long, brae'd ♦, having a treble Pulley at the
End of it, and another tQ anfvyer it with an Hook,

About

Chap. XII. Of Sr. Foin. 185

About Forty Sheets were provided, capable cf
holding each One hundred and Fifty, or Two hun<-
dred Pounds Weight of it; thefe had Knots or But-
tons at the Corners and Middles, made by fewing
up a little Hay in thefe Knots, as big as Apples, into
Part of the Sheet ; for if any Buckle, or other thing,
be few'd to a Sheet plain, it will tear the Sheet.
Half thefe Buttons have Strings ty'd to them •, thefe
Sheets are fpread among the Cocks, fill'd by Two,
2nd ty'd up by Two other Perfons : There is alfo
a light Fir Ladder, wide at Bottom, the Top of it
faften'd by a Piece of Cord to the brace of the Crane:
they hitch the Hook of the lower Pulley to a fill'd
Sheet, and by a little Horfe at the End of the Pulley-
rope, draw it up Hiding on the Ladder ♦, 'tis up
jn a Moment: Then the Man who is below, hitches
the Crook of the Pulley to the lower Round of the
Ladder, and the Loader above pulls up the Ladder
from the Ground, till the Waggon comes to anr
pther Sheet. The Waggons are lengtjien'd by Cart-
Ladders before and behind, for the more eafy placing
.of the Sheets. When about Twelve or Fifteen of
them are loaded, they have a Rope fix'd to the
Fore-part of each Waggon, which they bring over
the Top of all the loaded Sheets, and wreft it at the
Tail, to hold on the Sheets faft from falling off with
Jolting. Then the Loader pulls out the Crane, and
puts it into the next Waggon in the fame Manner.
One Waggon is loading whilft another is empty-
ing in the Barn, by treble Pulleys likewife -, becaufe
'tis inconvenient to take it out of the Sheets by-
Prongs ; but the Pulleys will eafily draw off Two or
Three Sheets together. One Waggon is always go-
ing to the Field, or coming home. This Contri-
vance makes more Expedition than one would ima-
gine : Three Loads have been loaded, and fent off,
in the fame Time this way, that one Load of Hay
Jias been loading, binding, and raking off the Out-
fides

186 Of St. Foin. Chap. XII.

fides of it, in the next Ground, in the common
Way.

I will not relate the manner of making a Rick of
this Seed in its Hay, of monftrous Dimensions, by a
fort of Mail-pole Forty-four Feet high, with a Tea
Feet Crane at the Top, which made the fame Expe-
dition ; becaufe I think, that where fuch a Quantity
is, Dutch Barns with moving Roofs are better. Such
a Rick is troublefome to thatch, and the Wind has
more Power to blow the Thatch off fo high in the
Air, than if it were lower. Neither would I advife
any one to referve much more St. Foin for Threfh-
ing, than his Barn will contain ; becaufe tho' fome-
times it brings the greater! Profit by Threlhing, yet
fome Years 'tis apt to be blighted.

I have been told by my Neighbour, that he had %
Crop of Five Quarters of St. Foin Seed on an Acre ;
but the mofl Front that €ver I took notice of, was
on half an Acre, which was drill'd very thin, and
had no Crop of Corn with it; by which Advantage
it produc'd a good Crop of Seed the next Year after
It was planted, and the Third Year this Half- A ere
produc'd (as was try'd by a Wager) within a Trifle of
Two Quarters of Seed, which was fold for Two
Pounds and Ten Shillings : The threfh'd Hay of it
was fold in the Place for One Pound, and Two Quar-
ters of Chaff fold for Twelve Shillings \ in all Four
Pounds and Two Shillings. There was aifo a very
good Aftermath, which was worth the Charges of
Cutting and Threfhing: So that the clear Profit of
the One Year of this Half Acre of Ground amount-
ed to Four Pounds Two Shillings : And it was re-
markable, that at the fame Time the reft of the fame
Field, being in all Ten Acres, had a Crop of Barley
fown on Three Plowings, which (the Summer being
dry) was offered to be fold at One Pound per
Acre.

I believe

Chap. XII. Of St. Fo in. 187

I believe the greatefl Part of the St. Foin that is
fown, is fpoil'd by being indifcreetly fed by Sheep
(b) -, which Damage is occafion'd merely by fuffering
them to continue feeding it too long at a Time, efpe-
cially in the Spring •, for then the Sap moves quick,
and muft be depurated by the Leaves ; and as the
Sun's nearer Approach accelerates the Motion or Fer^
ment of the Juices, more Pabulum is receiv'd by the
Roots 5 but for want of Leaves to difcharge the Re-
crements, and enliven the Sap with nitro-aereous Par-
ticles (the Sheep devouring the Buds continually as
fad as they appear), the St. Foin's vital Flame (if I
may fo call it) is extinguinYd ; the Circulation
ceafing, the Sap ftagnates, and then it ends in Cor-
ruption (c). But let the Sheep eat it never fo low,
in a fhort time, without continuing thereon, or crop-
ping the next Buds which fucceed thofe they have
eaten, the Plants will recover and grow again as
vigoroufly as ever, and if with a Spade, in the Win-
ter you cut off the St. Foin Heads an Handful deep,
and take them away, together with their upper Earth,
the Wound in the remaining Root will heal, and fend
out more Heads as good as thofe cut off, if thofe
fecond Heads be preferv'd from Cattle, until they
attain to a Bignefs competent to bear Leaves fuffi-

(b) I never fuffer Sheep to come upon St. Foin, except be-
twixt Mowing-time and All-Saints. And there is fo much Dan-
ger of fpoiling St. Foin by the Fraud of Shepherds, that I knew
a Gentleman that bound his Tenant never to fuffer any Sheep to
come thereon ; and by this means his St. Foin continued in Per-
fection much longer than is ufual, where St. Foin is fuffer'd to be
fed by Sheep.

(c) Natural Grafs is not kili'd by conftant feeding, becanfeno
fort of Cattk can bite it fo low as to deprive it of all its Leaves;
and 'tis, like Eels, more tenacious of Life than the reft of its
Genius, and will fend out Leaves from the very Roots when rever-
fed, as is too often fcen where turffy Land is plow'd up in large
Furrows.

cient

*88 Of St. Foin. Chap. XIX,

■cient for the Ufe of the reviving Plants: Nay, I
have feen Plants of St. Foin cut off in the Winter a
Foot deep, and the Earth of that Depth taken away;
and the remaining Root recover'd, and grew to an
extraordinary Bignefs: But this was preferv'd from.
Cattle at firft.

I efteem St. Foin to be much more profitable
than Clover, becaufe St. Foin j.s never known to do
any perceivable Damage to the Corn amongft which
'tis planted ; but Clover often fpoils a Crop of Bar-
ley (a) \ and I have known, that the Crop of Barley
has been valued to have fuffer'd Four Pounds per
Acre Damage by a Crop of broad Clover's growing
in it in a wet Summer : In a dry Summer both Sorts
of Clover are apt to mifs growing ; and if it does
grow, and the next Summer (wherein it ought to be
a Crop) prove very dry, it fails on mod forts of
Land, tho' it was vigorous enough to fpoil the Barley
the Year it was fown .; at bell, 'tis of but very Ihort
Duration, and therefore is not to be depended on by
the Farmer, for maintaining his Cattle, which the
broad Clover will alfo kill, fometimes by caufing
them to fwell, unlefs great Care be taken to prevent
it. The broad Clover is efteem'd a foul Feed for
Horfes. The Hop Clover is gone out of the Ground
iboner than the broad Clover ; I never knew it cut
more than once : Indeed Cattle are never fwollen by
feeding on it; but then it affords but very little
Feeding for them, except the Land whereon it grows
be very rich.

St. Foin is obferv'd to enrich whatever Ground 'tis
planted on, tho' a Crop be taken off it yearly.

(a) But this Damage may be prevented by drilling the Clover
after the Barley is an Handful high or more j for then the Barley
will keep it under, and not fuffer it to grow to any confiderable
Bignefs till after Karveft ; nor will this Drill, being drawn by
Jdand, do any Damage to the Barley.

Poor

Chap. XII. Of St. F o i n. iSg

Poor Slate Land (a), when ic has borne Town Sr.
Foin for Six or Seven Years, being plow'd up, and
well till'd, produces Three Crops of Corn -3 and then
they fow it with St. Foin again.

Rich arable Land was planted with it, and mowM
annually with very great Crops ('twas drill'd in Nine-
inch Rows, with Six Gallons of Seed to an Acre ;
One Crop of it was fold at Four Foundsper Acre):
This, after about Seven Years, and in full Perfection,
was plow'd up by a Tenant, and continued for many
Years after fo rich, that, inftead of dunging or fal-
lowing it for Wheat, they were fore'd to fow that
upon Barley-ftubble, and to feed the Wheat with
Sheep in the Spring, to prevent its being too luxu-
ant.

But 'tis to be noted, that the Land mud be well
till'd at the breaking up of old St. Foin, or dk the
Firft Crops of Corn may be expected to fail : For I
knew a Tenant, who, the laft Year of his Term,
plow'd up a Field of St. Foin, that would have
yielded him Three Pounds per Acre; but, thinking to
make more Profit of it by Corn, he fow'd it with
White Oats upon once Plowing ; and it proving a dry
Summer, he loft his Plowing and Seed ; for he had
no Crop of Oats, and was fore'd to leave the Land as
a Fallow to his Succeflbr.

Many more Inftances there are of this Failure of
the Crop of Corn after St. Foin has been broken up,
and not well till'd.

(a) The Poverty of this fort of Land, lying upon Slate or
Stone, generally proceeds from the Thinnefs of ic ; and, if it were
thicker, it would be good Land : Much of this Earth, being di-
fperfed among the Crannies or Interfaces of the Slate and Scone
to a great Depth, is reach'd by the Tap-roots of the St. Foin, but
cannot be reach'd by the Roots of Corn ; and therefore, when
constantly kept in Tillage, is of fmall Value : Upon which Ac-
count fuch Land is greatly improveablc by St. Foin, even when
(own in the common manner.

4 When

1 90 Of Sr. Foin. Chap.XIL

When St. Foin is grown old, and worn out, as 'tis
faid to be when the artificial Pafture is gone, and the
natural Pafture is become infufficientfor the Number
of Plants that are on it, to be maintained •, and is fo
poor, that it produces no profitable Crop, fo that
the Ground is thought proper to be plow'd up, and
fown with Corn, in order to be replanted (a) ; the
moil effectual Way to bring it into Tilth fpeedily,
is, to plow it up in the Winter* with a Four-coulterd
Plough, and make it fit forTurnepsby the following
Seafon; and if the Turneps be well ho'd, and efpeci-
ally if fpent by Sheep on the Ground, 'twill be in
excellent Order to be fown with Barley the following
Spring; and then it may be drill'd with St. Foin
amongft the Barley.

To return to the Benefit Land receives by having
been planted fome Years with St. Foin : All the Ex-
perienc'd know, that Land is enriched by it; but they
do not agree upon the Reafon why.

They agree as to the c'Ot/, but not the Aiqti.

Some are of Opinion, 'tis becauie the St. Foiri
takes a different Sort of Nourifliment to that of

(a) Or if you perceive, that there is a competent Number of
Plants alive, and tolerably fingle; be they never fo poor, you
may recover them to a fiourifhing Condition in the following
manner, without replanting ; Pulverize the whole Field in Inter-
vals of about. Three Feet each, leaving betwixt every Two of
diem Four Feet Breadth of Ground unplow'd. When the Turf
of thefe Intervals, being cut by the Four couiter'd Plough, is
perfectly rotten, one Furrow made by any fort of Plough will
hoe one of thefe Intervals, by changing the whole Surface of it.
The poorer the Land is, the more Hoekiga will be required ; and
the oftener 'tis ho'd, with proper Interrr.imous the firk Year, the
ftronger the St. Foin will become, and the more Years it will
continue good, without a Repetition of Hoeing.

The Expence of this cannot be great ; becaufejhe F'.?ugh, in
hoeing an Acre in this manner Nine limes, travels no fa: "the*
than it mull to plow an Acre once in the common Manner.

I need not tell the Owner, that the Earth of thefe Intervals
tnuft be made level, befoiethe St, Fgin can be mowed*

Corn

Chap. XII. Of St. Foin. i9z

Corn : But that I think is difprov^d in the Chapter of
Change of Species, where 'tis fhevvn, that all Plants in
the fame Soil mud take the fame Food.

Mr. Kirkham thinks St. Foin has no collateral or
horizontal Roots in the upper Part of the Ground
where the Plough tills for Corn •, and therefore has
no Nourifhment from that Part of the Soil which
feeds the Corn. This would be a very good Account
for it, were it not utterly contrary to Matter of Fact,
as every one may fee.

But fo far it is right, that large {a) St. Foin draws
the greateft Part of its Nourifhment from below the
Reach of the Plough; and what Part it does receive
from the Staple is overbalanced by the Second Crop,
or Afcer-leafe, being fpent by Cattle on the Ground %
different from Corn, which is very near wholly main-
tained by the plow'd Part of the Earth, and is all
carry'd off.

For tho' the under Stratum of Earth be much
poorer than the upper ; yet that, never having been
drain'd by any fort of Vegetables, mud afford con-
siderable Nourimment to the Firft that comes there.

And befides, in fuch Land whofe Poverty proceeds

from the Rain's carrying its Riches too quickly down

through the upper Stratum, the under Stratum mud

be the richer (b) for receiving what the upper Stratum

-lets pafs un arretted.

(a) For large St. Foin, being fmgle, has large Roots, and very
long, which probably defcend Twenty Feet deep ; Now, if we
allow Four or Five Inches the Depth of the Staple, to afford a
Supply equal to Two Feet below it, taking the lower Nineteen
Feet Seven Inches together, upon this Computation, the Part be-
low the Staple gives the St. Foin about Nine Parts in Ten of its
Sultenance.

( b) In light poor Land the Water carrying fome impregnated
Earth along with it down iowe<- than it does in ftrong Land, that
is more tenacious oi fuch impregnated Particles, the under Strata
of ftrong Lard are likely to be poorer than thofe of light
Land.

'Tis

192 Of L u s e r n e. Chap. XIIL

5Tis well known, that many Eftates have been
much improv'd by St. Foin ; therefore there is no
occafion to mention Particulars. Only I will take
Notice, that the Firfl in England was one of about
One hundred and Forty Pounds per Annum , Town
with St. Foin, and fold for Fourteen Thoufand
Pounds ; and as I hear, continues, by the fame Im-
provement, flill of the fame Value. This is, I fup-
pofe, the fame that Mr. Kirkham mentions in Ox-
fordjbire.

Another Farm of Ten Pounds per Annum Rent,
which, whiJfl in Arable (a)> was like to have undone
the Tenant ; but being all planted with St. Foin by
the Owner, was lett at One hundred and Ten Pounds
per Annum, and prov'd a good Bargain-.

If it mould be afk'd, Why St. Foin is an Improve-
ment fo much greater in England, than in other
Countries ? it might be anfwer'd by fhewing thd
Reafon why Englijh Arable is of i'o ifi'uch lefs Value'
than Foreign (b) where the Land is of equal Good-
nefs, and the Corn produc'd of equal Price.

CHAP. XIII.

O/LUSESN E,

T A Luferne is that famous Herba Medica fo much
extoird by the Antients.
The high Efteem they had of its Ufe appears by
the extraordinary Pains they beftow'd on its Culture.

(a) Thefe Eftates confifted of thin Slate Land ; which before
it was planted with St. Foin, was valued at two Shillings per Acre,
and fome Part of it at One Shilling per Acre (as I have been in-
formed) ; and yet Oxen are wjII fatted by the St. Foin it produces.

(b) 'Tis doubtlefs from the extraordinary Price of Englijjb
Labour above that of other Countries, occafioned by EtigHJb
Statutes being in this Refpeft different from all other Laws in the
World.

Its

Chap. XIII. O/Luserne, 193

Its Leaves refemble thofe of Trefoil : It bears a
blue BlofTom very like to double Violets, leaving a
Pod like a Screw, which contains the Seeds about
the Bignefs of broad Clover, tho' longer, and more
of the Kidney-fhape.

The Stalks grow more perpendicular than any of
the other4 artificial Grades that I know, (lender, full
of Knots and Leaves: 'Tis of very near an equal
Bignefs from Bottom to Top : When cut, if vigo-
rous, the Stalks will fpringout again from the Stubs,
immediately below where the Scythe parted them ;
which makes them the fooner ready for another
Mowing ; an Advantage which no other Grafs has.

It has a Tap-root that penetrates deeper into the
Bowels of the Earth, than any other Vegetable fhe
produces.

Tho' one Luferne-root be much more taper than
another towards the upper Part of it, 'tis fometimes
feen, that a fingle ho'd Plant of it has many of thefe
perpendicular Roots, fome of them fpringing ouc
from the very Branches of its Crown.

Its Roots are abundantly longer than the Roots of
St. Foin : I have One that meafures very near Two
Inches Diameter : Thofe which are higher than the
Ground have a Bark like a Tree. Upon this account,
and by its Stalks fpringing again juft below the Place
where cutoff, and by the woody Hardnefs of its Stalks,
when they tland too long without cutting* it feems
that Luferne is of a Nature nearly approaching tothac
of a Shrub.

Luferne is the only Hay in the World that can
pretend to excel or equal St. Foin. I have known
Inftances of the pinguefying Virtue of this Medlca Hay,
that come up to the higher!: Encomiums given it by
the Romans >, which being to the Vulgar incredible,
I forbear to relate, but leave to be confirm'd by the
Experience of others, when it becomes frequent in
England,

O Luferne

294. 0/ L u s e r n e. Chap. XIIL

Lufeme in Grafs is much fweeter than St. Foin,
or any other artificial or natural Grafs. This, when
ho'd, may be given to Cattle cut green, for Six
Months ; but then Care muft be taken to (a) prevent
their Swelling by its Lufcioufnefs, and not to give
them too much at once, until they be accuflom'd to
it.

The Quantities of LuferneSeed annually imported^
and fown without Succefs, not dilcouraging People
from continuing its Importation, fhews there is more
need of a fuccefsful Way of Planting, than recom-
mending it in England,

I fhall take Notice of fome of the Rcafons why I
conclude there is no Hope of making any Improve-
ment by planting it in England* in any manner prac-
tis'd by the Antients or Moderns.

I wonder how any one mould attempt to plant it
here, who has feen in Columella^ and other Authors,
the Defcription of the manner the old Romans plant-
ed it in. They chofe out the very beft Land, that
was both pinguis and putris ; they dung'd and till'd
it to the greateft Perfection, and laid it out in Beds,
as we do for Onions or Afparagns -, they fow'd it

(a) The Swelling of Cattle by eating too much green Lufeme,
Clover, or Turnep-leaves, happens only to fuch as chew the
Cud, becaufe they fvvailow more in lefs Time than other Cattle
do ; and a large Quantity of fuch lufcious Greens being iwal-
-low'd by a Beail, fermenting to a great Degree, heats and ranges
the internal Air, which by its Spring becoming too flrong for
that Column of the Atmofphere that enters at the Trachea, it
prefles the Lungs againft the Thorax \o clofely, that the Weight
of the external Column is not of Force to open their Veficles,
and then the Circulation of the Blood is Itopt, and the Bead is
fir angled.

■ Moll Farmers know how to prevent the Swelling, fo that now-
adays it feldom happens ; but when it does, there is an erTeftuai
way of curing it, if taken in Time : They cut a Hole into the
Maw near the Back in a proper manner, whereat the rarified Air
rallies out, and the Lungs again perform their Action of Re--
fpiration. '

very

Chap. XIII. Of L us erne. Ipj

very thick, for that miferable Reafon of enabling it
by its Thicknefs the better to kill the Grafs. The
Beds being harrow'd very fine before Sowing, which
was in the End of April-, the Seed required to be
fpeedily cover'd, left the Sun's Heat fhould fpoil it.
But with what Inftrument muft it be cover'cl ? For,
after Sowing, the Place muft not be touch'd with
Iron. At medic a obruitur ncn aratro, fed ligneis
rafteltis. * M^V^-feed is cover'd, not with the

* Plough, but with little (or rather light) wooden
' Harrows.' Two Days Work (of a Team) were fpent
on this Harrowing of one Acre. Some time after it
came up, they fcratch'd it again and again with the
fame wooden Inftruments : This was call'd Sarrition t
Then by Runcation they weeded it over and over, Ne
alterius generis herba invalidam medicam perimat. \ Left

* other Grafs mould kill it whilft it was weak.' The
Firft Crop they let ftand till fome of the Seed fhat-
ter'd, to fill the Ground yet fuller of Plants : After
that they might cut it as young as they pleas'd ; but
muft be fure to water it often after cutting. Then
after a few Days, when it began to fpring, they repeat-
ed their Runcation : and fo continuing to weed out
all manner of Grafs for the Firft Two or Three Years,
it ufed to bring Four or Six Crops a Year, and laft
Ten Years.

Englijh Gardeners make Forty Pounds of an Acre
of Aiparagus, or Cabbage- plants, with half the La-
bour and Expence that was beftow'd on an Acre of
Roman Medica.

We know not the Price Hay and Grafs were at in
italy\ while the Roman Empire was in its Glory, and
Rome, then the Metropolis of the World, drew the
Riches of all Parts thither ; its Price muft be then
very high.

And the Romans had not only Servants, but plen-
ty of Slaves, for whom they had fcarce fufficient
Employment: This might leffen the Expence of this

O z tedious

i5>6 Of L u s e r n e. Chap. XllX%

tedious Method of Planting, and ordering the Me-
dica. But when the Romans were brought down to
the Level of other Nations, and in Danger of being
Siaves, inftead of having them ; and the Lands of
Italy came to -be cultivated by Italian Hands only;
they found fomething elfe more neceffary to employ
them in, than the Sarritions, Runcations, and Riga-
tions of the Mcdica. Their Labour being beftow'd
in getting Bread for themfclves, they fubftituted other
artificial Graffes of more eafy Culture, in the room
of Medica, for the Food of their Cattle. They were
fo bigotted to all the Superftitions of their Anceftors,
that they were content to lofe the Ufe of that mod
beneficial Plant, rather than attempt to cultivate it
by a new, tho' more rational Method, when they
were become unable any longer to continue it by the
old.

Thus, as I take it, Superflition has chafed Medica
from the Roman Territories, and fo little of it is plant-
ed there, that beyond the Alps I could not find one
whole Acre of it.

Luferne makes a great Improvement in the South
of France: There, when their low fandy Land is well
prepar'd, and very clean, they fow it alone, in
March, and at Michaelmas, as we do Clover: Their
fowing it at thofe Seafons is of a double Advantage :
Firit, it faves the Labour of watering it, which
would be impracticable for fo many thoufand Acres,
as there are planted. Secondly, Thole Seafons being
much moifter than that wherein the Romans fow'd it,
the Grub has Opportunity of eating more of it at
its firft coming up •, and often the Fro 11 kills fome
of it. By thefe Advantages the Ground is lefs over-
ftock'd.

The Summers there are much drier than in Italy,
fo that the Sun fcorches up the natural Grafs, and
fuffers it not to come to a Turf till after fome Years *
iiid therefore has lefs need of Weeding.

But.

Chap. XIII. O/Lusernf, . 197

But as that natural Grafs increafes, the Crops of
Luferne are proportionably diminifh'd : And tho'
Luferne is faid to laft Ten or Twelve Years ; yet it
is in Perfection only for a very few Years. WhiJftit
is at belt on their richeft Land, and in a kind Sum-
mer, they have at Seven Crops Ten Tuns to an Acre,
as I have computed them from the Relation of fome
of the Inhabitants of Pezenas. This was extraordi-
nary : for I obferv'd, that mod of their common
Crops made a very thin Swarth.

When the Ground begins to be turffy and hard,
many of the Luferne-plants die, and the reft fend up
very few Stalks : The People know this is the De-
ftruclion of it, and therefore I have ken fome of them,
in that Cafe, half-plow it, thinking thereby to deftroy
the Turf: This does for a time much ftrengthen the
Luferne-plants ; but it io much ftrengthens the Grafs
alfo, that the Turf grows the ftronger; and then
there is no Remedy but to plow it up, make the
Ground clean, and replant it.

In more Northern Climates, where it rains oftener,
the Ground fooner becomes hard •, and in the Land
otherwife moft proper for Luferne, the Grafs grows
infinitely fafter, and will be as ftrong a Turf in Two
Years, as in the hot Countries in Ten. Upon this
Account, about Paris, even near the Walls, they
plow up Luferne, and fow St. Foin in its room,
becaufe that endures Grafs and hard Ground better,
tho' it brings but One Crop a Year, or Two ac
moft.

And in many Places in Franche Comte and Switzer-
land ^ I have (een Luferne in the Corners of Vineyards,
not above Two or Three Perches together, which
they will at any Expence have to cure their Horfes
when fick ; fince they cannot obtain, by their Culture,
Quantities fufrlcient to maintain them as their ordina-
ry Food, there being too much Rain, and too little

O 3 of

X98 O/Luserne. Chap. XIIL

of the Sun's violent Heat, to prevent the fpeedy In-
creafe of Grafs amongft it.

How then can we expect Succefs in fowing it in
England, where Rains are yet more frequent, and the
Sun is weaker ? 'Tis not One Year in Ten, that the
natural Grafs is here fcorch'd up. In our rich Land
the Grafs comes to a Turf very foon, and poor Land
will not by the common Sowing bring Luferne to any
Perfection, tho' no Grafs mould annoy it.

I have here feen Part of a Meadow Bread- plow'd,
and, when the Turf was dead, dug up and planted as
a Garden: After it had been drilPd with Carrots, ho'd,
and made, in all Appearance, perfectly clean, it was
fown with Luferne, which came up and flouriuYd
very well the Firfh Year, and indifferently the Second;
but, after that, the Grafs came, and the Luferne grew
faint ; and in Three or Four Years time there was no
more left, but juft to mew by here-and-there a fingle
poor Stalk, that there had been Luferne fown, ex-
cept one Plant of it, which was cleanfed of Grafs the
Third Year-, and this recover'd, and fent up Abun-
dance of Stalks for Two Ye^rs after it •, and then the
Grafs returning, that Plant dwindled again.

I have often try'd it in the richer! Part of my
Garden, and conftantly find* that, however vigoroufly
it grows at the firft, yet it foon declines, when the
Grafs appears amongft it, which is always the fooner,
by how much the Soil (in England) is richer, unlefs
the Spade or Hoe prevent it.

Here have been alfo many Fields of a poorer white-
im Soil fown with it, which are not very fubject to
be over-run with Grafs, as the rich Land is; anc}
tho* thefe were fo well till'd as fcarce any Grafs ap-
pear'd, during the many Years the Luferne liv'd
therein, yet it never grew to any Perfection here
neither; nor was there any one Crop worth much
more than the Cutting, it was always fo poor, thin,
&nd fhort. And, by what Intelligence I can get, all

Ex-

Chap. XIII. Of Luserne. jgp

Experience proves, that every Soil in this Ifland is too
rich, too poor, or too cold, for the Luferne Improve-
ment by the common Husbandry.

I believe every one will be confirmed in this, who
fliall upon full Inquiry find, that, amongfr the great
Quantities which have been fown in this Kingdom
in that manner, never any of it was known to con-
tinue good and flourifhing Three Years ; and that,
on the contrary, never any one Plant of it in any
warm Soil, cultivated by the Hoeing manner, was
known to fail here, or in any other Country-, as long
as the Hoeing Cor Digging about it, which is equi-
valent,) was continued to it with proper Repeti-
tions.

A Multitude of fuch hoed Plants have I known,
and are now to be feen' in both poor and rich Lands:
Therefore it feems pofiible, that Thoufands of Eng-
lish Acres may be capable, by the Hoeing Culture,
to produce Crops of Luferne every Year for an Age.
For as the greater Moifture, and lefs intenfe Heat of
this Climate, are, upon the Accounts mentioned, in-
jurious to Luferne, yet this is only to fuch as is fown
and cultivated in the common Manner, becaufe our
Climate, upon the very fame Accounts, is very ad-
vantageous to hoed Luferne.

In hot Countries, when the Summer is drier than
ordinary, the Sun fo fcorches it, that they have fewer
and much poorer Crops, than in moifter Summers;
viz. only Four or Five, inftead of Six or Seven-, but,
in the dried Summer I ever knew in England, hoed
Luferne yielded the mcft Crops.

Our Summer Days are longer, have more of the
Sun's Warmth, and leis of his fiery Heat; he che-
rifhes, but never burns Luferne, or any other hoed
long Tap- rooted Plant in England.

The well hoed Earth, being open, receives and re-
tains the Dews •, the benign folar Influence is fuffi-
cient to put them in Motion, but not to exhale them

Q 4. from

2oo Of L us erne. Chap. XIIL

from thence. The Hoe prevents the Turf, which
would otherwife by its Blades or Roots intercept, ancj
return back the Dews into the Atmofphere, with the
A'fTi (lance of a moderate Heat. So that this Hufbandry
fecures Luferne from the Injury of a wet Summer,
and alio caufes the Rain-water to fink down more
fpeedily, and difperie its Riches all the Way of its
pafTage •, otherwile the Water would be more apt to
{land on the Surface, chill the Earth, and keep off
the Sun and Air from drying it: For, when the Sur-
face is dry and open, Luferne will bear a very great'
Degree of Heat, or grow with a mean one. I have
leen this hoed Luferne, in a fheltry PJace of my
Garden, fo much grown in a mild Winter, as to be
meafured Fourteen Inches and an half high at Ckrift-
mas; and a very large fingle Plant of it, which had
not been hoed for Two Years before, was laid bare
by digging out the Earth all around it a Foot deep,
to obferve the Manner ol its Tap-root ♦, and then the
Earth was thrown in again, and the Hole filled up.
This was on the Twenty-feventh or September. Upon
this mellowing of the Soil about it, it lent out more
Stalks in Qtlcber, than it had done in the whole ! um-
mer before; they grew very vigoroufly, until a great
Snow fell in December^ which alio preierved the Ver-
dure of them, till that was melted away, and a black
Froft came after it, and killed thofe Stalks. It is
probable this Plant fent out immediately new fibrous
horizontal Roots, which did grow apace to extract the
Nourifhment from this new-made Paicure, in pro-
portion to the quick Growth of the Stalks, which in
Summer have been meafured, and found to grow in
Height Three Inches and an half in a Night and a
Day •, this being almoft One Inch in Six Hours.

And it has been my Obfervation, that this Plant,
m hot and cold Countries, thrives both with a much
greater, or lefs Degree of Heat and Moifture, when
it is hoed:, for if it has Plenty of Nourifhment, which

Hoeing

Chap. XIII. O/Luserne. 20 r

Hoeing always gives it, a very little Heat above, and
the Moifture alone (which is never wanting to the
deep Tap-root) fuffice, and that Plenty of Food
enables it the better to endure the Extremes of either
Heat or Cold.

We need not much apprehend the Danger of £ng-
1'ijh Winters ; for Luferne will endure thofe which
are more rigorous. In the Principality of Neufckdtel
the Winters are fo fevere, as to kill all the Rofemary
Jeft abroad; yet Luferne furvives them there : This
proves it more hardy than Rofemary, which is plant-
ed for Hedges in England-, and here is fcarce twice in
an Age a Froft able to kill it.

I have one fingle Luferne-plant in a poor Arable
Field, that has itood the Teft of Two-and-twenty
Winters, befides the Feeding of Sheep at all Seafons,
and yet remains as flrong as ever. What Quantity
of Hay this Plant yearly produces, cannot be known,
becaufe at thofe times that Cattle are kept from it,
the Hares conftantly crop it, being fweeter than any
Other Grafs.

But this happens to be fortunately fituate, where
?tis not altogether deftitute of the Benefit of Hoeing.
'Tis in an Angle, where, every time the Field is till'd,
the Plough goes over it in turning from the Furrows
of one Land and one Flead-land ; but it is after the
Plough is lifted out of the Ground, and turned up
on one fide, fo that the Share only breaks the Turf
very fmall all around it, withoutplowing up the Plant:
Yet it has efcaped it fo narrowly, that the Fin of the
Plough-fhare has fplit it into Four Parts ; Three of
which remain, and grow never' the worfe, but the
Fourth is torn off, and the Wound healed up.

By the extreme hard Winter that happened about
the Year 1708, or 1709, fome of the Luferne in
Languedoc was killed: Yet this was no Argument of
its Tendernefs, but rather the contrary; becaufe then
all the Olive-trees and Walnut-trees were there killed,

tho*

2C2 OfLusERNE. Chap. XIIL

tho' the greateft Part of the Luferne efcaped unhurt:
And I did not hear one Walnut-tree was killed that
Winter in England. Perhaps thole in France, having
being accuftomed to much hotter Summers, were un-
able to endure the Rigour of the fame Winter, that
could do no Harm to the fame Species in England,
where our Winters do not feem to exceed fome of
theirs in Cold, fo much as their Summers do ours in
Heat. And fince the Extremes, are not fo far afunder
here, the fame Degree of Cold may to our Plants
feem tepid, which to thofe in Languedoc mull feem ri-
gorous, differing a more remote Degree from the op-
polite Extremity of Heat in Summer.

And, befides the Difference of Heat and Cold in
different Climates, there is another more neceffary to
be obfervcd ; and that is, the Difference of the Har-
dinefs in different Individuals of the fame Species :
The fame Froft that kills a faint languifhing Plant of
Luferne, will be defpifed by a robuft one, which,
being well fed by the Hoe, becomes a Giant cloath'd
and fenced with a thick Bark, that renders it impreg-
nable againft all Weather; its Hindis to it a Coat of
Mail or Buff, impenetrable by Froft: But the unhoed
is generally fmall and weak-, its thin tender Bark ex-
pofes it almoft naked to the Froft •, it being, for want
of a fufficient Pafture, itarv'd and half-dead already,
'tis the more eafiiy killed by the Cold.
. I formerly lived fome Years in Languedoc, where
are many Hundred Acres of Luferne ; and I never
could find a very large Plant amongfl it, unlefs in
fuch Pieces as had been plowed up, tilled, and fown
with Corn : Here indeed thole Plants that remained
(as always fome would do) grew to an extraordinary
Bulk ; and One of thofe fingle tilled Plants did feem
to produce a greater Quantity of Stalks, than Twenty
of fuch as had not been plowed up ; and as there were
no large Plants amongft the unplowed, fo there were
no fmall amongft the plowed ones. The fame thing

has

Chap. XIII. O/'Luserne. 203

has been obferved in all other Places where Luferne
has been plowed (a).

And in Will/hire feveral Grounds of it flood Tome
Years without ever coming to a Subftance to be of
any Value, tho' the Land was whitiih, and fcarce any
Grafs appeared amongft the Luferne ; and therefore
its Poornefs was thought to proceed from the Soil's
being improper •, but when it had been broken up,
and fown feveral Years with Corn, and afterwards
lain down with St. Foin, all the Luferne-plants which
remained (and they were many) grew large and ftrong,
mooting up a Yard in Height foon after the St. Foin
was cut; and if there had been a competent Number
of them undeftroyed by the Plough, they would have
yielded Crops of an extraordinary Value, where be-
fore Plowing it grew but few Inches above the
Ground.

It feems that in this fort of Land the Earth grows
flale, ere the Luferne arrives at a Tenth Part of its
Stature : But this is mod remarkable, that Tillage
transforms thofe Luferne-plants from Dwarfs to Gi-
ants; and then they are able to contend with, if not
conquer, fo itrong Plants as St. Foin is, tho' before
Plowing they were unable to refill the Depredations
of a few hairy Spires of Grafs.

Since Tillage can thus recover Luferne, after it has
long languifhed in the lowefl Ebb of Life, and reflore
it to Health, Youth, and Vigour, and augment its
Stature even after it has palled the Age of its full
Growth ; to what Bulk would it arrive, regularly
planted, and hoed from its Infancy to Maturity with-
out any Check to flint it !

We can never know how poor a Soil will bear this
Plant, unlefs it be tried by the Hoeing Culture.

For 'tis woncrous how fo great a Man as Dr.
F/codward mould imagine, that Difference of Soil

(a) This Plowing is a Hoeing to the Luferne.

fhould

S04 O^Luserne. Chap. XIII.

mould be the Reafon why Apples in Hereford/hire,
and Cherries in Kent, fucceed better than in other
Places, when in truth they are feen to profper as well
almoft all over England, where planted, cultivated,
and preferved.

I believe Plants arc more altered as to their Growth,
by being cultivated or not, than by Change of Cli-
mates differing in very many Degrees of Latitude.
I fay, in their Growth, not always in their Fruit; for
tho' a Peach-tree, well cultivated in a Standard, will
grow here vigoroufly, and be very beautiful ; yet
its Fruit will be of little Value, unlefs it be planted
againft a good Wall : So Luferne, unlefs cultivated
upon a well expofed Gravel, will yield little Seed in
England.

The Soil to plant it on is either an hot Gravel, a
very rich dry Sand, or fome other rich warm Land,
that ha^ not an under Stratum of Clay, nor is too
near the Springs of Water ; for, if the Earth below
be of a cold Nature, which I take to be occafioned
by its holding of Water, the Luferne will not long
profper therein, of whatever Sort the upper Stratum
of Earth may be: This* may be gueffed at by the Ve-
getables a Soil naturally produces, as Fern, and the
like; which, Mr. Evelyn obferves, do indicate a Soil
fubjecl to Extremities of Heat and Cold; and con-
demns fuch a Soil as accurfed. I agree to that Sen-
tence, as far as relates to Cold ; but am not fatisfied of
its abounding with Heat ; and I am fure I know fome
Land very fubjecl to Fern, which is very far from
being barren, when well cultivated, and well fuited
with Vegetables ; but, from among thefe, Luferne
muft be excluded.

Luferne in hot Countries grows beft near Rivers,
where its Roots reach the Water, which helps to mi-
tigate the exceMive Fleat of the Climate ; but here the
Heats are fo moderate, that if Luferne-roots are in
Water (lor 'tis that that makes Earth cold) it dimi-
3 nifhes

Chap. XIII. Of Luserne. 205-

nifties too much the juft Proportion of Heat, which
Luferne requires.

The natural Poornefs of an hot Gravel may be com-
penfated by Dung, more Heat, and the Benefit of the
Hoe.

The natural Richnefs of the other forts of Land
being increafed by hoeing and cleanfing it from
Grafs, Luferne will thrive therein with the leis Heat;
for what the Soil wants of one of thefe Two Quali-
ties, muft be made up with the other; and it has
grown high in hoed rich Ground at Chriftmas, when
that in Land of an hotter Nature, but poorer, has
not been able to peep out, for want of more Nourifh-
ment: So, if rich Land be clayey, very wet and cold,
tho* very rich, it requires much Heat, for as high a
Growth of Luferne at Midfummer.

The beft Seafon of planting it in England is in
Aprils after the Danger of Froft is over; for a fmall
Froft will deftroy the whole Crop, when the Plants
firft appear; and too much Wet, with cold Weather,
will rot the Seeds in the Ground ; ib that about the
Middle of April may be generally efteemed as the
bed Seafon for fowing this Seed.

The hoed Plants of Luferne having larger Roots,
and yielding more Crops than thole of St. Foin,
Reafon feems to require, that the Number of the
former be lefs.

But, on the other hand, if we confider, that as
the Luferne-roots exceed the St. Foin in Bignefs, fo
they alfo do in Length, by as great a Proportion ;
being generally lefs taper, and as they go deeper,
they have more Earth to nourifh them ; they alfo
require a better Soil, and more frequent Aids from
the Hoe; and, by their extraordinary quick Growth,
receive a fpeedier Relief from it, than the Roots of
St. Foin do.

Thus, if by reaching deeper in a better Soil, and
being more hoed, Luferne receives, from a fquare

Perch

206 C/^LtTSERNE. Chap. XIII;

Perch of Ground, Nourifh merit in a proportion
double to that whereby its Roots exceed thofe of St,
Foin in Bignefs, then I do not fee why we mould
not leave the Number of Luferne-plants double to the
Number of thofe we leave in St. Foin.

But if the Excefs of Nourilhment were no more
than the Excefs of Bignefs of Roots, 1 think an equal
Number of Plants fhould be left in Luferne, and in
St. Foin: Yet fmce the hot or cold Conftitution of a
Plant, and alfo the Quantity it can produce, ought
to be confidered, as well as its Bulk, in relation to
the Nourifhment it requires, more Trials are necef-
fary for determining the exact Number of Luferne-
plants proper to be placed on a fquare Perch, than
have been hitherto made.

Perhaps it will be thought heterodox to maintain
by any Arguments, that to err in falling fomewhat
fhort of the juft Number, is not of worfe Confe-
quence, than exceeding it.

Where they (land at Four or Five Inches afunder
in the Rows, 'tis obferved, that tho' the Intervals be-
twixt the Rows be wide, yet the Plants are much the
larger, and produce more that ftand in the outfide
Rows (the Ground without being clean) ; and efpe-
cially thofe at each End of the outfide Rows, that
is, the Corner-plants, are largeft of all. I need not
fay, that had all the other Plants as much Room and
Tillage as the Corner ones have, they would be as
large, and produce each as much Hay ; for thofe
which Hand perfectly fingle in Places by themfelves,
are feen to be larger, and produce more, than?
thofe Corner ones •, and of the larger and longer
Roots our Stock does confift, the more Nourifh-
ment they are capable of taking, as has been fnewn.
Where fome Plants of the Luferne have been planted
Two Feet afunder, in poor dry Land, which was
kept clean from Weeds, and frequently digged, each
Plant has fent forth upward of Three Hundred Stalks,

and

Chap. XIII. O/L-userne. 207

and thefe have been Six or Seven Inches high by the
Middle of March.

And it muft be likewife obferv'd, that the Crop
will be produc'd in Proportion to the Nourifhmenc
it receives; for if the moil gigantic Luferne plant,
which, when pamper'd by the Hoe, has made a.
Produce more like a Tree than an Herb, remains a
few Years without that or fome equivalent Culture,
it will by little and little ceafe to produce more than
a few poor fickly Stalks, juft to (hew its Species-, and
then, if this Culture be repeated, will recover its pri-
ftine Strength, and yield as great a Crop as ever;
but, if that be longer omitted, will die: TheVaftnefs
of its Root avails nothing, unlefs it has Food in pro-
portion to it.

Hence it appears, that the mo ft fatal Difeafe in-
cident to Luferne is ftarving, and that rarely fuffers
any of its Plants to arrive at the full Period of their
Growth or Age-, it prevents their Fertility even in
the Prime of their Youth, and kills them before
they have liv'd out Half, or perhaps the Tenth Part,
of their Days. How long its Life might otherwife be,
nobody knows, unlefs a Plant could be found to
die when well fed; for when it is, 'tis fo tenacious
of Life, that, I am told, beheading will not difpatch
it (a).

!Tis therefore necefTary, that our Rows be plac'd
at fuch a Diftance, as that their Intervals may be wide
enough for the Hoe-plough to raife an artificial
Pafture, fufricient to fuftain the Number of Plants in
them.

. Whoever mail make Trials of this Husbandry
(for that is all I propofe to others), I would advife
them to begin with Rows that have Intervals of
Thirty- three Inches; for, if they begin with much

(a) But I have cut off the Heads of fome myfelf to try, and
could not find that any one would fprout again, tho1 St. Fain will j
perhaps I tried at the wrong Seafon.

narrower

io8 O/Luserne. Chap. XIlL

narrower Diftances, they may be by that means dif-
appointed of Succefs : But tho' they mould after-
wards find a Way to hoe them at fomewhat nearer
Diftances ; yet the Lofs of a few Perches of Ground
would not be much; neither can they be wholly loft*
fince the Roots of thefe Plants may be prov'd to ex-
tend much farther horizontally, than from Row to
Row at that Diftance. And the wider the Intervals
are, the more Earth will be til I'd in a Perch of Ground;
becaufe Six Rows, which will be therein at Thirty-
three Inches Diftance, will admit the Hoe-plough to
till more Earth, than Nine Rows at Twenty -two
Inches Diftance from each other ■ And, befides, 'tis
not proper, that every time of hoeing, the Plough
mould come very near to the Plants, unlefs when
Grafs comes amongft them-, and then they may* in
Thirty-three Inch Spaces, be perfectly clcanfed in this
manner : viz. Plow a' good Furrow from each Side of
every Row ; and then with Harrows, or other Inftru-
ments proper for that Purpofe, going crofs them, you
will pull out both Earth and Grafs from betwixt the
Plants ; then, after a convenient Time, plow thefe
Furrows back again to the Rows,; this will in a man-^
ner tranfplant the upper Part of the Roots, and bury
the Grafs, tho' it be not dead, by lying open to be
dry'd by the Sun : Then harrow the Ground to break
it more, and to level it, and go once over it with a
very light Roller, to the End that the Hay may be
raked up the cleaner.

I am aware of the common Prejudice, which is,
that People, when they have never feen a Plantation
of thefe Plants in Perfection, are apt to form to
themfdves the Idea of fuch fmall ones as they have
been ufedtofee; and thence imagine it impoflible
that this f tho' a double) Number mould be fufficient
to make a Crop. But they might, with equal Rea-
fon, imagine the fame of Apple-rrees at a Year's
Growth, which are lefs than thefe at the fame Age;

and

s.

Chap.XIIL O/Luserne. 209

and fo plant a Thoufand Trees in the Room proper
for one. The Antients direct the Planting of Seven-
teen Cytifus Plants in a Perch of Ground ; and I do
not believe, that ever thofe Seventeen could yield a
Crop equal to Two hundred Twenty-four Luferne-
plants ; for as many Ounces of Hay as each of thefe
yields, fo many Ton of Hay will one Crop of an
Acre produce: Thus by weighing the Product of one
Plant (fuppcfing them all equal) the Quantity of the
Crop may be determin'd, and prov'd greater than
Fancy from their Number reprefents.

April 14. One fingle unho'd Plant of
Lufernc had Thirty-one Stalks, which, by V 23 o
Silver- Money, weigh'd green — J

24. The fame dried to Hay, weigh'd 6 6

14. The Stalks of one fingle ho'd Lu-7 r
feme-plant green, weigh'd — j

24. The fame dry'd — 14

14. Eighteen Inches in Length of £
Row, being five indifferent Plants, weigh'c
green one Pound and an half Avoirdupois

24. Dry'd to Hay, it weigh'd - — 28 6

25. One Foot of an ho'd Row, being'
One hundred and Sixty-Stalks of two
feme Plants of Six or Seven Years
weigh'd Two Pound green

But the fame dry'd, to the 9th of May, 1 r

weigh'd no more than — — 3

Which laft is about Three Tons to an Acre.

This I am certain of, that the lead competent
Number of Plants will bring the greateft Number of
Crops : fmce I fee the Stalks of a fingle ho'd Plant
grow higher in Fifteen Days, than one amongft near
Neighbours does in Thirty Days.

The greateft Difference between the Culture of this
and St. Foin is, that Luferne Rows mould be more
grown, before the Plants be made fingle in them by
the Hand-hoe, left the Fly fnould deftroy fome

P ' after*

!

being!
o Lu- 1

3 cld,f

210 O/Luserne. Chap. XIII.

afterwards, and then they might become too thin.
For Luferneis fometimes eaten by the Fly, as Turneps
are, tho' St. Foin be never liable to that Misfortune,
if fown in a proper Seafon. Luferne mud alfo be
more frequently ho'd (# ), in fome Proportion to the
more frequent Crops it produces.

I fhall not go about to compute the Difference of
Expence beftow'd in the Roman Culture and in this;
yet it will appear theirs was incomparably more
chargeable, and that the Excefs of Charge was occa-
lioned by their Error in the Theory of Hufbandry.

They fow'd it fo thick, that the Plants muft needs
be very fmall -, and when Ten of them were no bigger
than one good fingle ho'd Plant would have been,
in the fame Space or" the Earth's Surface, they could
have but a Ninth Part of the Earth's Depth, which
the one would have had. The Defect of Depth
muft be therefore made up, in fome Meafure, by the
extraordinary Richneis of the Surface. Upon this
Account few Lands were capable of bearing Medica.
Their fowino: it fo late made the firft Waterings ne-
celTary •, and the Shortneis of the Roots required the
repeated Rigations, after the Crops were cut : For

{a) The Hoe-plough is the Inftrument to bring it to Perfec-
tion : but then I doubt it mult lie llili fome Years, left the plowM
Earth injure the Hay that is made upon it; and when it is come
to a Turf, and the Luferne wants renewing, the Four coulter 'd
Plough is the only Inftrument that can prepare the Turf to be
kiTd, and cure the Luferne ; which Plough mull be ufed in the
following Manner: Turn its Furrows toward one Row, and from
the next ; that is? plow round one Row, and that will nnilli Two
Intervals, and fo on; and the next Plowing muft be towards
thofe Rows, from whence they were turrfd the fir ft time ; take
care the firft F ■ .. not "lie long enough on the Rows to kill

the Plants, which will be much longer in Winter than in Sum-
mer. But you may leave ewevy Third or Fourth Interval unhoed
for making the Hay on. which will be yet more beneficial, if the
SWarths in mowing mould fall thereon. This unhoed Interval
may be plowed when there is Occafion, and another left in its
ftcacl.

Columella

Chap. XIII. 0/ Luserne, 211

Columella faith in Lib. ii. Cap. \ i. Cum fecueris autem,
fepius eamrigato. But had it been cultivated by the
hoeing Method, the Tap-roots would have defce:;ded
as deep as a Well, and, from the Springs below,
have fent up Water to the Plants, befides what the
Hoe would have caufed the horizontal Roots to re-
ceive from Dews at the Surface above. At how much
a cheaper Rate Water is fupply'd by thefe Means,
than by carrying it perhaps a great Way, and then
fprinkling it by Hand ever the Beds, which were
made Ten feet wTide between Path and Path for that
Purpofe, let any one judge; as alfo what a labori-
ous Tafk it was to pick out the Grafs with Fingers
from amongft it, in the hard dry Ground in the Sum*,
mer, after mowing the Crop, as Columella directs in
hisforemention'd Chapter, which the Horfe4ioe would
have done with Eafe, at a Twentieth Part of that
Expence. However, fince they faw the Medica was
as impatient of Grafs as the Vineyards were, 'tis a
Wonder they did not give it the fame Culture with
the Bidens, which would have been much better and
cheaper, than to cleanfe the Medica with Fingers.
Indeed Fingers were made before the Bidens ; but
fare the Effect of its Ufe in raifing Juices to the
Vine, had infpired the Romans with more judicious
Speculations, than to give that for a Reafon why they
ho'd the Medica with their Fingers, rather than with
the Bidens.

Oh ! But this was made with Iron, and Medica
had, in thofe Times, an Antipathy to Iron; and.
after it was fown, the Place mult not be touch'd by
that Metal ; therefore the Seed mud not be cover5 d
with a Plough, nor with Iron Harrows. But if they
had made Trials enough, to know that half an Inch
was a proper Depth to cover this Seed at, thefe Vir-
tuofi would have been convine'd, that it had no lefs
Antipathy to thefe Inftruments, of what Matter fo-
ever they were made, if they bury'd it Five or Six

P 2 Inches

212 O/Luserne. Chap. XIII.

Inches deep, which the Plough muft do, and • the
Weight of Iron Harrows in fuch fine Ground not
much lefs. Had the Plough been all of Wood, the
Furrow would have lain never the lighter upon the
Seed •, and if the wooden Harrows had been loaded
with a Weight capable of prefling it down as deep,
it would have been no more able to rife, than if it
had been buried with Iron Harrows : This Columella
feems to be fenfible of, when he fays, Raftellis lig-
neis\ viz. That ic was not fufficient for them to be
made of Wood, unlefs they were diminutive •, for
then they were light ones. 'Tis probable the Plough
fuffer'd none to come up, and the heavy Harrows
very few, tho' perhaps Plants enough, had they cal-
culated what Number were fufficient: But unlefs the
Ground were cover'd with them at firft, it feems
they had not Patience to wait till the Plants grew
large enough, to fill it with a bare competent Num-
ber, and thought it not worth while to weed and water,
what they fanfied to be an infufficicient Number.
'Twas expected that the Thick nefs of the Plants
ihould help to kill the Grafs : Yet upon due Obferva-
tion 'tis found, that when their exceffive Numbers
have brought a Famine amongit them, they are forc'd
to prey upon one another ; and tho5 the ftronger fur-
vive, yet even thole are fo weaken'd by Hunger,
that they become the lefs able to contend with Grafs,
whofe good Fortune it was, that Superftition would
not permit the Romans to interpofe, by attacking it
with Iron Weapons.

I hope thefe Hints may be improv'd for the Abo-
lition of old Errors, and for the Difcovery of new
Truths; to the end that Luferne may be planted in
a more reafonable Method than has been commonly
practised : And when the Theory is true, 'tis im-
poffible the Practice fhould be falfe, if rightly ap-
ply'd ; but if it fail of Succefs, the Event will be a

Proof

Chap. XIII. O/Luserne, 213

Proof either of a Mifappheation, or that the Theory
is falfe.

Luferne {hould be order'd for Hay in the fame
Manner as is di reded for St. Foin in the foregoing
Chapter : But it mud be obferv'd, that Luferne is
more worded by being fuffer'd to furvive its Virgini-
ty before cutting •, and therefore the riched and mod
nourifhing Hay is cut whilft the Stalks are (ingle,
without any collateral Branches (hooting out of them;,
and when they are fo, neither BlolToms nor even their
Buds appear. But of that fown in the old Fafhion,
the lad Crops, for want of a new Supply of Nouriih-
ment, grow fo (lowly, that ere it is high enough to be
cut, the BlofToms are blown out, and the Stalks, tho'
very fmali, are become woody, hard, and dry, and
make the Hay nothing near lb nourifhing as that of
the firrt Crops.

But in that which is ho'd, the lad Crops of it will,
by virtue of the greater Quantity of Nourifhment it
receives, grow fader, and be of an Height (it to cut
before blofTbming, and thence being as young and
vigorous, make as good Hay as the fird Crops 5 fo
that Hoeing does not only procure more and larger
Crops, but atfo better Hay.

This is mod certain, that unlefs we can keep our
Luferne pretty clean from natural Grafs, we cannot
expecl it to fucceed, let the Soil be never fo
proper,

P 3 CHAP-

t "4 ]

CHAP, XIV.

Of Change ^Species.

I. Tkat Plants of the moft different Nature feed on
the fame Sort of Food,

II. That there is no Plant but what mtijlrob any other
Plant within its Reach,

III. That a Soil which is prefer to one Sort of Ve-
getable once, is, in Refpcti of the Sort cf Food it
gives, proper to it always,

T F any one of thefe Three Proportions be true, as
j| I hope to prove all of them are, then it will folT
low, that there is no need to change the Species of Ve-
getables from one Year to another, in refpecl to the
differ rent Food the fame Soil is, tho'faifely, fjppofed
to yield (a).

The common Opinion is contrary to all thefe (as
It muft be, if contrary to any one of them) : And
fince an Error in this fundamental Principle of Ve-
getation is of very ill Confequence-, and fince Dr.
Woodward, who has beenferviceabie in other refpects
(b) to this Art, has unhappily fallen in with the VuU
gar in this Point; his Arguments for this Error re*
quire to be anfwer'd in the firft Place.

(a) For if all Plants rob one another, it muft be becaufe they
all feed on the fame Sort of Food ; and, admitting they do, there
can be no Neccffity of changing the Species of them, from one
Soil to another; but the fame Quantity of the fame Food, with
the fame Heat and Moifture which maintains any Species one
Year, muft do it any other Year.

[b) By proving, in hi& Experiments, that Earth is the Pabulum
of PJanfc.

Chap. XI V. Of Change o/Species. 215

The Doctor fays (c) ' It is not poffible to imagine

« how one uniform, homogeneous Matter, having its

t Principles, or original Parts, all of the fame Sub-

c ftance, CprifUtution, Magnitude, Figure, and Gr^

* vity, fhould ever conftitute Bodies fo egregioufly
c unlike, in all thole Refpect.s, as Vegetables of dif-
c ferent Kinds are ; nay, even as the different I^arts
« of the feme Vegetable.

c That there fhould be that va'ft Difference iii
c them, in their feveral Constitutions, Makes, Pro-
c perties, and Effects, and yet all arife from the very
w fame Sort of Matter, would be very fcrange.'

Anfivcr. 'Tis very probable, that the terreftriai
Particles which conftitute Vegetables, tho' inconceiv-
abl < minute, may be ot great Variety of Figure, and
other Differences ; elfe they could not be capable of
the feveral Ferments, &c. they mud undergo in the
Veffels of Plants. Their Smalnefs can be no Objec-
tion to their Variety, fince even the Particles of Light
are of various Kinds.

But as the Doctor afferts, 6 That each Part of the

* fame Vegetable requires a peculiar fpecific Matter

* for its Formation and Nourishment •, and that there

* are very many and different Ingredients to go to the
c Compofition of the fame individual Plants •/

From hence mud be inferred, that the fame Plant
takes in very many and different Ingredients (and it
is proved, that no Plant refufes any Ingredient (d)
that is capable of entering its Roots. Tho' the ter-
reftrial Particles which nourifli Vegetables , be not
perfectly homogeneous -, yet moft of the various

(r) InPhilcf. Tranf. No. 253.

{d) Dr. Grew, in his Anatomy of Plants, by microfcopical
Infpection, found, that the outer Superficies of Roots was of a
fpongy Subftance; and 'tis well known, that no fuch Body can
refufe to imbibe whatever Liquor comes in Contact with it, but
Will by its fpringy Porofity abforb any fort of Moiiture.

P 4 Taftes

2i6 Of Change of 'Species. Chap. XIV.

Taftes and Flavours of Plants are made in and by
the VefTels (e).

^ Dodtor Woodward fays, < That Water will pafs
* Pores and Interlaces, that neither Air, nor any
\ other Fluid, will: This enables it to enter the fined
4 Tubes and VefTels of Plants, and to introduce the
« terreftrial Matter, conveying it to allParts of them ;
whilft each, by means of Organs 'tis endow'd with
for the Purpoie, intercepts, and aiTumes into itfelf,
fuch Particles as arefuitable to its own Nature (/)j
letting the reft pafs on through the common. Duffs*
Here then he fays plainly, That each Plant re-
ceives the terreftrial Matter in grofs, both fuitabie and

{e) We are convinced, that 'tis the VefTels of Plants that make
the different Flavours ;, becaufe there is none of thefe Flavours in
the Earth of which they are made, until that has enter'd and been
iiicer'd by the vegetable Vefiels.

{/) If the Doctor's Plants were fo nice in leaving vegetable^
Matter behind, quiet and und;jiurb\i, 'tis a Wonder they would
take up the mineral Matter, as, he fays, they did, that kill'd
ihcnv'Vlves with Nitre.

Thefe Plants might, with much left Difficulty, have diftinguifh'd
the mineral Matter from the vegetable Matter, than theypDuld.
diftinpuilh the different Particles of vegetable Matter from one
another, and muri have been very unwile to chufe out the Nitre
(their Poifon) from the Water and Earth, and to leave the vege-
table Particles behind; none of which could be fo improper to
them as the Nitre.

It may perhaps be objected, that fuch like pernicious Matter
kills a Plant by only destroying its Roots, and by clofing the
Pores ; which prevents the Nourifhment from entering to maintain
its Liie; and that fuch Matter doth not itfelf enter to aft as
Poifon upon the Sap, or upon the Vi.-iT.-U of the Body, or Leaves :
But it plainly appears that it dor.h enter, and act as Poifon ; for
fome of the Pvoots of a Mint, growing in Water, are put
Into fait Water, it kills the whole Plant, although the reft of the
Roots remaining in the ffefh Water were fufficient to maintain it,
if the other Roots had been cut off at the Time they were re-
el into the Salt Water ; and alfo all the Leaves, when dead,
vvi'l be full of Salt.

Or if the juice of wild Garlick-feed be made ufe of inftead of
t Water, it will have the fame Effect ; and every one of the
Mint- leaves will have a ftrong Vails of Garlick in it.

unfuit-r

Chap. XIV. Of Change ofS pecies, 217

nnfuitable to its Nature, retains the fuitable Particles
for its Augment, and the unfuitable lets pafs through
it. And in another Place he lays they are exhal'd
into the Atmofphere.

And this will appear to be the true Cafe of Plants ;
and directly contradicts what he advances, in faying,
« That each Sort of Grain takes forth that peculiar
f Matter that is proper for its own Nourimment.

* Firft, the Wheat draws off thofe Particles that fuit

* the Body of that Plant, the reft lying all quiet and

* undifturb'd the while. And when the Earth has
' yielded up all them, thofe that are proper for Bar-

* ley, a different Grain, femaii hind, till the
c fucceflive Crops of that Corn fetch c tern forth too;
« and fo the Oats and Peafe in their turn, till, in fine,

* all is carried off.'

In the former Paragraph he fays, each Plant lets
pafs through it the reft of the Particles that are noc
fuitable to its own Nature. In the latter Paragraph
he fays, That each leaves the unfuitable all behind for
another Sort; and fo on.

Both cannot be true.

If the latter were true, Change of Sorts would be

as neceffary as it is commonly thought. But if the

former be true, as I hope to prove it is, then there

can be no Ufe of changing of Sorts in Refpect of

' different Nourishment.

If in this Series of Crops each Sort were fo juft
as to take only fuch Particles, as are peculiarly pro-
per to it, letting all the reft alone to the other Sorts
to which they belonged, as the Doctor imagines ;
then it would be equal to them all, which of the
Sorts were fown firft or laft : But let the Wheat be
fown after the Barley, Peafe, and Oats, inftead of
being fown before them, and then it would evi-
dently appear, by that ftarv'd Crop of Wheat,
either that fome or all of thofe other Grains had
violated this natural Probity, or elfe that Nature

has

2i8 Of Change of§ ? e. c i & s, Chap. XIV.

has given to Vegetables no fuch Law of Meum and
*Tuum (g).

If thefe Things were, as the Doctor affirms, why-
do Farmers lofe a Year's Rent, and be at the Charge
of fallowing and manuring their Land, after fo few
Crops ; fmce there are many more Sorts of Grain as
different from thefe and one another, as thofe are which
they ufually fow?

They fti.ll find, that the firft Crops are beft ; and
the longer they continue fowing, the worft the laft
Crops will prove, be they of never fo different a Spe-
cies ; unlefs the Land were not in fo good Tilth for
the firft Crop as for the fubfequent •, or unlefs the laft
fown be of a more robuft Species.

This Matter might be eafily clear'd, could we per-
fectly know the Nature of thofe fup'pofed unfuitable
(h) Particles ; but, in Truth, there is no more to

be

(g) A Charlock could not rob a Turnep, and ftarve it, more
than ieveral Turneps can do, unlefs the Charlock did take from
it the fame Particles which would nourifh a Turnep ; and unlefs
the Charlock did devour a greater Quantity of thai NourifhpsienC
than feveral Turneps could take.

Flax, Oats, and Poppy, could not burn or wafte the Soil, and
make it lefs able to produce fucceeding Crops of different Spe-
cies, unlefs they did exhauil: the fame Particles which would have
nourifh'd Plants of different Species : For let the Quantity of
Particles thefe Burners take be never fo great, the following Crops
would not mifs them, or fuffer any Damage by the Want or Lofs
of them, were they not the fame Particles which would have
nourifhed thofe Crops, if the Burners had left them behind,
quiet and undifrurbed. Neither could Weeds be of any Prejudice
to Corn, if they did draw off thofe Particles only that fuit the
Bodies of Weeds, the reft lying all quiet and undifiurhed the while.
But conftant Experience fhews. that all Sorts of Weeds, more or
lefs, diminifh the Crop of Corn.

[h) But we muft not conclude, that thefe Particles, which pafs
through a Plant (being a vaftly greater Quantity than thofe that
abide in it for its Augment), are all unfuitable, becaufe no one of
them happens to hit upon a fit Nidus : For fince the Life of Ani-
mals depends upon that of Plants, 'tis not unreafonable to
imagine, that Nature may have provided a confiderable Over-
plus

Chap. XIV. Of Change ^Species. 219

be known of fuch of them, than that they are carried
away by the Atmofphere to a Diftance, accor lire? to
the Velocity of the Air; perhaps feveral Miles T,
at leaft, never like to return to the Spot of Ground
from whence the Plants have raifed them.

But fuppofe thefe caft-off Particles * re, when
taken in, unfit for the Nourifhment of any manner
of Vegetables : Then the Doclor muft fanfy the Wheat
to be of a very fcrupulous Confcience, to feed on
thefe Particles, which were neither fit for its own
Nourifhment, nor of any other Plant ; and at the
fame time to forbear to take the Food of Barley, Peafe,
and Oats, letting that lie ftiil and undijturb'd the while*
as he fays it does, tho' he gives no manner of Reafon
for it.

'Tis needlefs to bring ftronger Arguments, than the
Doctor's Experiments afford, againft his own vulgar
Opinion, of Plants diftinguifhing the particular Sore
of terreftrial Matter, that, he fays, is proper to each
Sort of Vegetable* in thefe Words ; viz. c Each Sort
■ takes forth that peculiar Matter that is proper for its
t own N ou rifhment, the reft lying all quiet andundifturtfd
c the while.

He fays, that great Part of the terreftrial Matter,
mixed with the Water, pafles up ;nto the Plant along
with it; which it could not do, 11 only the peculiar
Matter, proper to each Plant, did pais up into it:
And after he has fhewed how apt the vegetable Mat-
ter is to attend Water in all its Motions, and to fol-
low it into each of its RecefTes ; being by no Filia-
tions or Percolations wholly feparabie from it , 'tis
ftrang;e he mould think that each Plant leaves the
greater!: Part of it behind, fepara:ed from the Water
* which the Plant imbibes.

plus for maintaining the Life of individual Plants, when (he has
provided luch an innumerable Overplus for continuing every
Species of Animals.

There

2 20 Of Change of Species. Chap. XIV.

There are, doubtlefs, more than a Million of Sorts
of Plants, all of which would have taken up the
Water, and had each as much Right to its Share, or
proper Matter in it, as the Doctor's Plants had ; and
then there would be but a very fmall (or- a Millionth)
Part of it proper to each of his Plants: And thefe
leaving all the reft behind, both of the Water where-
with the Giafles at firft were filled, when the Plants
were put into them •, and alfo of all the additional
Water daily fupply'd into them afterwards; I fay, fo
much more terreftrial Matter brought into thefe
Giafles, in Proportion to the added Water, and fo
very fmall a Part as could be proper to each ofjiis
plants being carried oft; there muft have rernain'd in
thefe Giafles a much greater Quantity of terreftrial
Matter at the End of the Experiment, than remained
in the Giafles F or G, which had no Plants in them,
nor any Water added to, or diminifhed from them ;
but the quite contrary appear'd. 6 An :! the Water in

* the Giafles F and G, at the End of the Experiment,
6 exhibited a larger Quantity of terreftrial Matter,

* than any of thole that had Plants in them did. The
c Sediment at the Bottom of the Giafles was greater,

* and the Nubecula diffufed thro' the Body of the

* Water thicker.' Had the Cataputia infum'd, with
the Two thoufand Five hundred and One Grains of
Water, no more than its proper Share of the vegeta-
ble Matter, it could not have attained thence an In-
creafe of Three Grains and a Quarter, nor even the
Thoufandth Part of One Grain. But he found ' this
4 terreftrial Matter, contained in all Water, to be of

* Two Kinds : The one properly, a vegetable Matter,
1 but confifting of very different Particles ; fome of
c which are proper for the Nourifhment of fome

* kind of Plants, others for different Sorts,5 &c.
This, indeed, would havebeenamoft wonderful

Difcovery, and might have given us a great Light,
if he had told us in what Language and Character

thefe

Chap. XIV. Of Change of Species. 221

thefe proper Differences were ftamp'd or written upon
the vegetable Particles ; which Particles themfelves,
he fays, were fcarce vifible. Certainly it muff, be a
great Art (much beyond that of Dr. JVallis) to decy-
pher the Language of Plants, from invifible Cha-
racters.

But that this Dream may deceive none, except fuch
who are very fond of old Errors, there is an Experi-
mentum Cruris which may convince them ; viz. At the
proper Seafon, tap a Birch-tree in the Body or Boughs,
and you may have thence a large Quantity of clear
Liquor, very little altered from Water ; and you may
fee, that every other Species of Plants, that will grow
in Water, will receive this •, live and grow in it, as
well as in common WTater. You may make a like
Experiment by tapping other Trees, or by Water
difiilled from Vegetables ; and you will find no Species
of Plants, into which this Water will not enter, and
pafs through it, and nourifh it too; unlefs it be fuch a
Species as requires more Heat than Water admits ; or
unlefs the peculiar VefTels of that it has firft paffed
through, have fo altered the vegetable Particles con-
tained in that Water, as that it acts as Poifon upon
fome other particular Species.

The Doctor concludes, ' That Water is only the
c Agent that conveys the vegetable Matter to the

* Bodies of Plants, that introduces and diftributes
c it to their feverai Parts for their Nourifhment :

* That Matter is fluggiffi and inactive, and would
c lie eternally confin'd to its Beds of Earth, without

* ever advancing up into Plants, did not Water, or
c fome like Instrument, fetch it forth, and carry it
c unto them.'

That Water is very capable of the Office cf a Car-
rier to Plants, I think the Doctor has made molt
evident ; but as to the Office of fuch an Agent as
his Hypothefis beftows upon it, it feems impoffible
to be executed by Water. For it cannot be imagined,

that

222 Of Change of Species. Chap. XIV.

that Water, being itfelf but mere homogenial Matter,
void of all Degrees of- Life, mould diftinguifh each
Particle of vegetable Matter, proper and peculiar to
every different Species of Plants, which are innumera-
ble ; and when 'tis to act for the Wheat, to find out
all the Particles proper to that fort of Grain, to roufe
only thofe particular Sluggards from their Beds of
Earth, letting all the reft lie quiet and undifturbed
the while. This Agent frees the Wheat- Particles
from their Confinement, and conveys, introduces, and
diftributes them, and only them, into the feveral
Farts of the Wheat.

Since 'tis unreafonable to believe, that Water can
have fuch extraordinary Skill in Botany, or in Micro-
graphy, as to be qualified for a furncient Agent in
fuch an abftrufe Matter, I conceive Water to be on-
ly an Inff.ru ment or Vehicle, which takes up indiffe-
rently any Particles it meets with (and is able to carry),
and advances them (or the Pabulum they yieldj up
into the Firft Plant, whofe Root it comes in Con-
tact with •, and that every Plant it meets with does
accept thereof, without diftinguifhing any different
Sorts or Properties in them, until they be fo far in-
troduc'd and advanc'd up into the vegetable Veffels,
that it would be in vain to diftinguifh them ; for
whether the terreftrial Matter, Plants imbibe with
the Water, will kill or nourifh them, appears by its
Effects; but which cannot be foreknown or prevented
without the Help of Faculties, which Plants are not
endow'd with.

Mr. Bradley feems to have carried this Error farther
than any Author ever did before; but he fupports it
by Affirmations only, or by fuch Arguments (I can-
not fay Reafons-, for no Reafon can be againft any
Truth) as go near to confute the very Opinion he
pretends to advance by them.

He afcribes to Vegetables the Senfe of Tafte, by
which he thinks they take fuch Nourifhment as is

moft

Chap. XIV. Of Change o/Species, 223

mod agreeable to their refpective Natures, refuting
the reft ; and will rather ftarve, than eat what is dis-
agreeable to their Palate.

In the Preface to his Vol. I. Page 10. of his Hufi
iandry and Gardening, he fays, ■ They feed as dir-
' ferently as Horfes do from Dogs, or Dogs from

* Fifh.'

But what does he mean by this Inftance, Vol. I. p. 39,
viz.* That Thyme, and other Aromatics, being planted
c near an Apricot-tree, would deftroy that Tree?5 Does
it not help to confirm, that every Plant does not draw
exactly the fame Share of Nourifhment ?

I believe there is no need for him to give more In-
ftances to difprove his AfTertion than this one. His
Conclufion, taken by itfelf, is fofar right; viz. c That
' if the Nourifhment the Earth afforded to the Thyme

* and Apricot-tree, had been divided into Two

* Shares, both could not have had them.'

But this his Inftance proves, That thofe Aroma-
tics robb'd the Apricot-tree of fo much of its Share
as to ftarve it ; and that they, tho' of fo very dif-
ferent a Nature, did draw from the Earth the fame
Nourifhment which the Apricot-tree mould have
taken for its Support, had not the Aromatics been too
hard for it, in drawing it off for their own Mainte-
nance:

Unlefs he believes, that all the Juices of the Aro-
matics were as Poifon to the Apricot -, and that,
according to my Experiment of the Mint, fome of
their Roots might difcharge fome kind of Moifture
in dry Weather, given them by others, that had it
for their Ufe ; and that tat Apricot-roots, mingling
with them, might imbibe enough of that Liquor, al-
tered fufficiently by their Veflels, to poifon and kill
the Tree.

But then, where was the Tree's diftinguifhing
Palate ? Why did it not refufe this Juice, which was
fo difagreeabJe as to kill it ? And as to his Notion of

Vege-

224 Of Change ^Species, Chap. XIV,

Vegetables having Palates, let us fee how it agrees
with what he affirms.

4 That 'tis the Veffels of Plants that make, by

* their Filtrations, Percolations, &c. all the different

* Taftes and Flavours of the Matter, which is the
' Aliment of Plants -, and that, before it be by them

* fo filtred, &c. it is only a Fund of infipid Subftance,

* capable of being altered by fuch VefTels, into any
' Form, Colour, or Flavour.'

And Vol. I. p. 38. c The different Strainers, or
c VefTels of the leveral Plants, growing upon that

* Spot of Earth, thus impregnated with Salts, alter
4 thofe Salts or Juices, according to the feveral Fi-

* gures or Dimenfions of their Strainers •, fo that one

* Plant varies, in Tafte and Smell, from others, tho*

* all draw their Nourifhment from the fame Stock
' lodged in the Eaith.' See Mr. Bradley's Palates of
Plants, and the infipid Subftance he allots them to
diftinguifh the Tafte of, how they agree.

They muft, it feems, within their own Bodies,
give the Flavour to this infipid Subftance, before their
Palates can be of any Ufe -, and, even then, 'tis im-
pofiible to be of any Ufe, but in the manner of the
the Dog returning to his Vomit.

They would have as much Occafion for the Senfc
of Smelling, as of Tafte; but, after all, of what Ufe
could either of the Two be to Plants, without local
Motion of their Roots ? which they are fo deftitute of,
that no Mouth of a Root can ever remove itfelf
from the very Point where it was firft formed, becaufe
a Root has all its longitudinal Increafe at the very-
End ; for, lhould the Spaces betwixt the Branchings
increafe in Length, thofe Branches would be broken
off, and left behind, or elfe drawn out of their Ca-
vities ; which muft deftroy the Plant. All the Branches,
except the foremoft, would be found with their Ex-
tremities pointing towards the Stem ; the contrary of

which

Chap. XIV. Of Change of Species. i2 y

which Pofture they are feen to have: And if they
moved backwards, that would have much the fame
Effect on all the collateral Branchings to deftroy them.
Smeli and Tafte then could be of no manner of Ufe
to Vegetables, if they had them •, they would have
no Remedy or Pofiibility to mend themfelves from
the fame Mouths, removing to fearch out ocher Food,
in cafe they had Power to diflike or ret ufe what was
offered them.

Therefore the crude Earth, being their Food, fim-
ple and free from any Alterations by VeiTels, remain-
ing infipid, cannot give, neither can Plants receive,
require, or make ufe of, any Variety from it, as Ani-
mals do from their Diet. It would be loft upon them,
and Nature would have acted in vain, to give Smell
and Tafte to Vegetables, and nothing but infipid
Earth for an Object of them ; or to give them a
charming Variety of Relifh and Savour in their Food,
without giving them Senfes necefTary to perceive or
enjoy them ; which would be like Light and Colours
to the Blind, Sound and Mufic to the Deaf, or like
giving Eyes and Ears to Animals, without Light or
Sound to affect them.

The Mouths of Plants, fituate in the convex Su-
perficies of Roots, are analogous to the Lacteals, or
Mouths, in the concave Superficies of the Inteftines
of Animals.

Thefe fpongy Superficies of animal Guts, and
vegetable Roots, have no more Tafte or Power of
refufing whatever comes in Contact with them, the
one than the ether.

The free open Air would be equally injurious to
both •, and if expofed to it, it would dry and clofe up
the fine Orifices in Guts and Roots : Therefore Na-
ture has guarded both from it.

Nature has alfo provided for the Prefervation of
both Vegetables and Animals (I do not fay equally)

Q^ in

226 Of Cha?ige of Species. Chap. XIV.

in refpect of their Food ; which might poifon them,
or might not be fit to nouriili them.

The Security of Plants (the beft that can be) is
their Food itfelf, Earth -, which, having been altered
by no VefTels, is always fafe and nourishing to them ;
For a Plant is never known to be poifoned by its own
natural Soil, nor ftarved, if it were enough of it, with
the requifite Quantities of Heat and Moifture.

Roots, being therefore the Guts of Plants, have no
need to be guarded by Senfes ; and all the Parts and
PafTages, which ferve to diftinguilh and prepare the
Food of Animals, before it reach the Guts, are omit-
ted in Plants, and not at all neceffary to them.

But as the Food of mod Animals is Earth, very
varioufly changed and modified by vegetable or ani-
mal VelTels, or by both, and fome of it is made
wholfome, fome poifonpus -, fo that if this doubtful
Food mould be committed to the Interlines, without
Examination, as the pure unaltered Earth is to Roots,
there would, in all Probability, be very few Animals
living in the World, except there be any that feed
on Earth at fir ft Hand only, as Plants do.

Therefore, left this Food, fo much more refined
than that of Plants, fhould, by that very means,
become a fatal Curfe, inftead of a Bleffing to Ani-
mals,'Nature has endowed them with Smell and Tafte,
as Sentinels, without whole Scrutiny thefe various
uncertain Ingredients are not admitted to come where
they can enter the Lacteals, and to diftinguilh, at a
fufficient Diftance, what is wholfome and friendly,
from what is hurtful ; for when 'tis once paffed out
of the Stomach into the Guts, 'tis too late to have
Benefit from Emetics ; its Venom muft then be im-
bibed by the Lacteal Mouths, and mix with the Blood,
as that mud mix with the Sap, which comes in Con-
tact with the Lacteals in the Superficies of Roots,
Nature having left this unguarded.

Yet

Chap.. XIV. Vf Change of Specie s. 227

Yet Plants feem to be better fecured by the Salu-
brity and Simplicity of their Food, than Animals are
by their Senfes : To compenfate that Inequality of
Danger-, Animals have Pleafure from their Senfes,
except fome miferable Animals (and fuch there are)
that have more Pain than Pleafure from them. But
I fuppofe, more Animals than Plants are poifon'd ;
and that a poifonous Animal is lefs fatal to a Plant,
than a poiionous Plant is to an Animal.

It being fufficientiy proved, that every fort of Ve-
getables, growing in the fame Soil, takes, and is nou-
rifhed, by the fame Sort of Food ; it follows from
hence, that the beneficial Change of Sorts of Seeds
or Plants, we fee in the common Hufbandry, is not
from t\\Q Quality of the Sorts of Food, but from other
Caufes ; fuch as,

I. Quantity of the Food.
II. Conftitution of the Plants*
III. Quantity of the "Tillage.

In Dr. Woodward's Cafe, upon his Hypothefis, the
Three Proportions of Seeds, viz. Barley, Oats, and
Peafe, might be fown all together in the fame Acre
of Ground, the fame Year, and make Three as good
Crops as if fown fingly in Three fucceffive Years,
and his Two Crops of Wheat in one Year likewife.
But every Farmer can tell, that thefe Three Propor-
tions of Seed would not yield half the Crop together,
as one would do fmgle ; and would fcarce produce
more than to mew what Grains were fown, and which,
of the Sorts were the ilrongefl, and the mod able
Robber.

Though this Failure would, in Truth, be from no
other Caufe than want of the fufticient Quantity of
Food, which thoie Three Crops required ; yet, per-
haps, the Doctor might think, that all Three Crops
might fucceed together very well, taking each its
proper Nourifhment, were it not for want of Room,
Air, and Sun.

0^2 I have

228 Of Change 0/"$ pecies, Chap. XIV,

I have been credibly inform'd, that on One Perch
of Ground there has grown a Bufhel of Corn, which
is Twenty Quarters to an Acre. Mr. Houghton relates
Twenty -fix, and even Thirty Quarters, of Wheat on
One Acre. There have certainly grown Twelve Quar-
ters of Barley to an Acre, throughout a whole Field :
Therefore, unlefs a Crop exceed the lead of thefe, or
indeed the greateft of them (if the Relation be true),
a Crop cannot fail for want of Room ; for one Acre
(be it of what Nature it will, as to the Soil of it)
mull: have as much room for a Crop to grow on, as
any other Acre.

Then there was room for all Dr. Woodward's
Three Crops together, to produce as much as Three
common Crops do. Yet all thefe together will fcarce
yield one Quarter of Corn, tho* there is room, at
leaft, for Twelve.

The fame Air and Sun that had Room to do their
Office to Mr. Houghton's Acre, why mould they not
have Room to do the fame to Doctor Woodward's
Acre, when the Three Crops growing on it at once,
through pretty good ones, might require lefs Room
than Mr. Houghton's Crop did ?

I perceive that thofe Authors, who explain Vege-
tation^ by faying the Earth imbibes certain Qualities
from the Air, and by fpecirk Qualities, and the like,
do alfo lay a great Strefs upon the perpendkidar
Growth of Vegetables ; feeming to fanfy there is little
c\(e necefTary to a good Crop, but Room.

Mr. Bradley, in his Arguments concerning the Va-
lue of an Hili, does implicitly fay as much.

But if they would but confider the Diameters of
the Stems, with the Meafure of the Surface of an Acre,
they would be convinced, that many, even of Mr.
Houghton's Crops, might ftand in a perpendicular
Pofture upon an Acre, and Room be left.

One true Caufe of a Crop's failing, is want of a
Quantity of Food to maintain the Quantity of Vege-
tables, which the Food mould nourifh.

Chap. XIV. Of Change of Species. 229

When the Quantity of Food which is fufficientfor
another Species (that requires lefs), but not for that
which Jaft grew, to grow again the next Year, then
that other is beneficial to be planted after it.

The Second true Caufe is from the Conftitution of
Plants ; fome require more Food than others, and
fome are of a frronger Make, and better able to pe-
netrate the Earth, and forage for themfelves.

Therefore Oats may fucceed a Crop of Wheat on
flrong Land, with once plowing, when Barley will
not* becaufe Barley is not fo well able to penetrate as
Oats, or Beans, or Peafe, are.

So a Pear-tree may fucceed a Plum-tree, when
another Plum-tree cannot •, becaufe a Pear is a much
flronger Tree, and grows to a much greater Bulk ; fo
inclined to be a Giant, that 'tis hard to make it a
Dwarf; and will penetrate and force its Way thro*
the untill'd Earth, where the other cannot ; being of
a weaker and lefs robuft Conftitution, not fo well able
to fhift for itfelf.

The Pear could penetrate Pores, that the other
could not. Mr. Evelyn fays, in his Difcourfe of
Foreft-trees, * That a Pear will ftrike Root thro* the
1 roughed and moil impenetrable Rocks and Clifts

* of Stone itfelf.* He fays likewife, in his Pomona,

* That Pears will thrive where neither Apple or other

* Fruit could in Appearance be expected.'

I can fcarce think, that a large Plant takes in
larger Particles than a fmall one, for its Nourifhment :
If it did, I can't believe, that the Thyme could
have ftarv'd the Apricot-tree; it muft have left the
larger Particles of Food for that Tree, which pro-
bably would have fufficed to keep it alive : I rather
think, that great and fmail Plants are fuftain'd by
the fame minute Particles ; for, as the fine Particles
of Oats will nourifh an Ox, fo they will nourifh a
Tom- tit, or a Mite.

Q^ 3 Sonae

23 o Of Change of Species. Chap. XIV.

w Some Plants are of an hotter Conftitution, and have
a quicker Digeftion, like Cormorants or Pigeons^
devouring more greedily, and a greater Quantity of
Food, than thofe of a colder Temperature, of equal
Bulk, whole Sap, having a more languid Motion, in
proportion to the lefs Degree of Heat in it, fends off
fewer Recrements ; and therefore a lefs Supply of Food
is required in their room. This may make fome Differ-
ence in the one's fucceeding the other ^ becaufe the
hot-conftitution'd leaves not enough for its own
Species to fucceed again, but leaves enough for a
Species of a colder Conftitution to fucceed it.
i But the Third and chiefeft Caufe of the Benefit of
changing Sorts is Quantity of Tillage, in proportion
to which the Food will be produced.

The true Caufe why Wheat is not (efpecially on
any ftrong Soil) to be fown immediately after Wheat,
is, That the firft Wheat (lauding almofl a Year on
the Ground, by which it mud grow harder -, and'
Wheat Seed-time being foon after Harveft in Eng-
land, there is not Space of Time to till the Land fo
much as a fecond Crop of Wheat requires.

Tho' fometimes in poorer Land, that is lighter,
Wheat has fucceeded Wheat with tolerable Succefs;
when I have feen, on very rich ftrong Land, the firft
Crop loft by being much too big, and one following
it immediately, quite loft by the Pcornefs of it, and
not worth cutting.

This was enough to fitisfy, that the Tillage which
was fo much eafier performed in lefs Time, fufficed
for the light Land, but not for the ftrong : and, if
the ftrong Land could have been brought into as
good Tilth as the light (like as in the new Hufbandry
it may), it would have produced a much better fecond
Crop than the light Land did.

From ail that has been (aid, thefe may be laid
down as Maxims -, viz. That the fame Quantity of

Tillage

Chap. XIV. Of Change df S pe ci e i 231

Tillage will produce the fame Quantity of Food in -
the fame Land (a) ; and that the fame Quantity of
Food will maintain the fame Quantity of Vegetables.

aTis ken, that the fame Sort of Weeds, which
once come naturally in a Soil, if fuffer'd to grow,
will always profper in proportion to the Tillage and
Manure beftow'd upon it, without any Change. And
fo are all manner of Plants, that have been yet try'd
by the new Hufbandry, feen to do.

A Vineyard, if not tilled, will foon decay, even
in rich Ground, as may be feen in thofe in France \
lying intermingled as our Lands do in common Fields.
Thofe Lands of Vines, which by reafon of fome
Law-fuit depending about the Property of them, or
otherwife, lie a Year or two untilled, produce no
Grapes, fend out no Shoots hardly : the Leaves look
yellow, and feem dead, in Comparifon of thofe on
each Side of them; which, being tilled, are full of
Fruit, fend out an hundred times more Wood, and
their Leaves are large and fiourifhing •, and continue
to do the fame annually for Ages, if the Plough or
Hoe do not neglect them.

No Change of Sorts is needful in them, if the fame
annual Quantity of Tillage (which appears to provide
the fame annual Quantity ofFood) be continued to the
Vines.

But what in the Vineyards proves this Thefis moil
fully is, That where they conitantly till the low Vines

(a) And ceteris paribus ; for when the Land has been more
exhaufted, more Tillage (or Dung) or Reft will be required to
produce the fame Quantity of Food, than when the Land hath
been lefs exhaufted. By Tillage is here meant, not only the
Number of Plowings, but the Degree of Divifionor Pulveration
of the Soil ; or, if perchance the Soil is extraordinary much ex-
haufted by many Crops, without proper Tillage between them,
the greater Degree of Pulveration, by Plowing or Dung (which
is only a Succeda?:eum of Tillage), and alfo a longer Time of Ex-
pofure, may be neceftary to counterpoife that extraordinary Ex-
hauftion.

QL 4 with

232 Of Change of § peci-e s. Chap. XIV.

with the Plough, which is almoft the fame with the
Hoe-plough, the Stems are planted about Four Feet
afunder, chequer wife; fo that they plow them Four
ways. When any of thefe Plants happen to die, new
ones are immediately planted in their room, and ex-
actly in the Points or Angles where the other have
rotted ; elfe, if planted out of thofe Angles, they
would ftand in the Way of the Plough : Thefe young
Vines, I fay, fo planted in the very Graves, as it were,
of their PredeceiTors, grow, thrive, and profper well,
the Soil being thus conftantly tilled: And if a Plum-
tree, or any other Plant, had fuch Tillage, it might
as well fucceed one of its own Species, as thofe Vines
do.

3Tis obferved, that White-thorns will not profper,
fet in the Gaps of a White thorn Hedge : But I have
feen the Banks of fuch Gaps dug and thrown down
one Summer, and made up again, and White-thorns
there replanted the following Winter, with good
Succefs.

But note, That the annual plowing the Vines is
more beneficial than the one Summer Tillage of the
Banks, the Vines having it repeated to them yearly.

I have, by Experience and Obfervation, found it to
be a Rule, That long Tap-rooted Plants, as Clover
and St. Foin, will not fucceed immediately after
thofe of their own or any other Species of long Tap-
roots, fo well as after horizontal-rooted Plants -, but,
on the contrary, horizontal will fucceed thofe Tap-
roots as well or better than they will fucceed hori-
zontal.

I confefs, this Obfervation did, for a great while,
cheat me into the common Belief, That different
Species of Plants feed on different Food; till I was
delivered from that Error, by taking Notice, that
thofe Tap-roots would thrive exceedingly well after
Turneps, which have alfo pretty long Tap-roots,
though Turneps never thrive well immediately after

Clover,

Chap. XIV. Of Change of S? ec ie s. 233

Clover (a), or St. Foin : I found the true Caufe of
this Exception to that Rule to be chiefly the differ-
ent Tillage (b).

Land muft be well tilled for Turneps, which alfo
are commonly hoed ; they (land fcarce ever above
Three-quarters of a Year, and are then fed on the
Ground; and then the fucceeding Crop of Corn has,
by that means, the Benefit of twice as much Tillage
from the Hoe, as otherwife would be given to it ;
and the Broad Clover, or St. Foin, fown with the
Corn (if the Corn be notfo big as to kill it), will en-
joy, in its Turn, a Proportion of the extraordinary
Tillage, and of the Dung of Cattle, which feed the
Turneps, and thrive accordingly: But Broad Clover
and St. Foin, being perennial Plants, Hand on the
Ground fo long, that it lies feveral Years untilled ;
io that Turneps, fown immediately after thefe, do
fail, for want of their due Tillage, for which there
is not fulBcient time, by plowing often enough •, be-
caufe, by the common Ploughs, it requires Two or
Three Years to make it fine enough for Turneps, or
for a Repetition of Clover, or St. Foin, in ftrong or
fwerdy Land.

Another Reafon why any Crop fucceeds well after
Turneps (and befides their being fpent on the Ground
where they grow) is their cold Conftitution, by which
they are maintained with lefs Food than another Plant
of the fame Bulk.

The Parenchyma, or flefhy Part of a Turnep, con-
fiding of a watry Subftance, which cools the VefTels,
whereby the Sap's Motion is very flow, in propor-
tion to the very low Degree of Heat it has, and

(a) But when Clover has been fed by Cattle, the Ground being
good, and well tilled, Turneps may thrive immediately after Clo-
ver : Therefore this is an Exception to the general Rule.

< b) \ ery mellow rich Land is fo full of vegetable Food, that
*ti$ an Exception to moft Rules ; and therefore I fpeak not of
that.

fends

234 Qf Change of Species. Chap. XIV.

fends off its Recrements in the fame Proportion like-
wife; and therefore requires the lefs of the terrene
Nourishment to fupply thofe Recrements.

This is feen, when a Bufhel of Turneps, mixed
with a Quantity of Wheaten Flour, is made into
Bread, and well baked : This Bufhel of Turneps
gives but few Ounces Increafe in Weight, more than
the fame Quantity of Wheaten Flour made into
Bread, and baked without any Turneps. This fhews
there is in a Turnep very little Earth (which is the
mod: permanent Subftance of a PlantJ ; the Oven
difcharges in Vapour near all but the largeft VefTels:
Its earthly Subftance being fo fmall, is a Proof 'tis
maintained by a fmall Quantity of Earth: and, upon
that Account alfo, of lefs Damage to the next Crop
than another Plant would be, which required more of
the folid Nourifhment to conititute its firmer Body,
as a Charlock does-, for when a Charlock comes up,
contiguous to, and at the fame time with a Turnep,
it does fo rob the Turnep, that it attains not to be of
the Weight of Five Ounces ; when a fingle Turnep,
having no more Scope of Ground, and, in all refpedts
(but the Vicinity of the Charlock), equal, weighs
Five Pounds, yet that Charlock does not weigh One
Pound.

And where Three Turneps coming up, and grow-
ing thus contiguous, will weigh Four Pounds ; a
Charlock joined with Two or Three Turneps, all
together, will be lefs than one Pound, upon no lefs
Space of Ground.

This Obfervation cannot be made, except where
Turneps are drilled in Rows ; and there 'tis eafy to
demonftrate, that a Charlock, during the time of its
fhort Life, draws much more Earth than a Turnep of
equal Bulk, from an equal Quantity of Ground (c).

The

(c) 'Tis certain that Turneps, when they ftand for Seed, fuck

and impoverish the Ground exceedingly : For though they are of

/ 4

Chap. XIV. Of Change of S p e c i e s. 2 3 5

The true Caufe why Clover and St. Foin do not
fucceed fo well after their own refpective Species, or
that of each other, as Corn, &c. can, is, that they
take great Part of their Nourishment from below the
Plough's Reach, fo as that under Earth cannot be
tilled deep enough, but the upper Part may be tilled
deep enough for the horizontal Roots of Corn, ferV.
towards which, the Rotting of the Clover and St.
Foin Roots, when cut off by the Plough, do not a
little contribute (d) ; And there's no doubt but that, if

the

a cold Conflitution, and confequently confume lefs Food than
Plants of an hotter Conflitution, and of the fame Bulk; yet thefe
Seed-turneps being of fo vail a Bulk, as fometimes Eighty Quar-
ters of their Roots grow on an Acre, and their Sralks have been
jneafured Seven Feet high, and their Roots having continued at
near their full Bignefs for about Ten Months together, and then
carried off, they drain the Land more than a Crop of other Ve-
getables of a lefs Bulk, and an hotter Conflitution, and which
live a lefs time ; or than Wheat, which, though it lives as long,
is very fmall, except in the Fou1 laft Monrhs.

(d) That the Rotting of vegetable Roots in the Ground doth
ferment therein, and improve it for horizontal-rooted Plants, I
am convinced by an Accident; <vi%. My Man had plowed off the
fcarth clofe to the Rows in a Field of extraordinary large Tur-
neps defigned for Seed. Tnis Earth was negledled to be thrown
hack to the Rows, until a fevere Frofl in the Winter came, and
killed the Turneps ; upon which, in the Spring, the Field was
fown with Barley upon the Level, with only once plowing, and
that crols-ways of the Rows The Turneps had flood fo wide
afunder, that the Spot whereon each had rotted, appeared like
the Spot whereon an Horfe had urined in till'd Ground, and was
o,f a deeper Colour, and much higher, than the Bailey that grew
round thofe Spots ; and yet none of it was poor. As the Roots
of Clover, and St. Foin, are very much lefs ; yet the greater
Number rotting in plowed Ground mufl be of great TJie to a fol-
lowing Crop of Corn.

I will here relate Two Examples of this in St. Foin : The one
is, That a Field of Twenty -live Acres drilled with St. Foin, ex-
cept Three Acres in the Middle of it, which was, at the fame
time, fown with Hop- Clover; after Eight Years the whole Field
was plowed up by a Tenant, and fown with Corn: The St. Foin
had been mowed yeajly, as the Hob-Clover was not mowed at

all,

236 Of Change of S p e c i e s. Chap. X1V\

the under Earth could be as well tilled for the Tap-
roots, as the upper Earth is for the horizontal, the
Tap-roots would fucceed one another as well as the
horizontal would fucceed them, or thofe of their
own Species, or as the Tap-roots do the horizon-
tal.

all, but fed by Horfes teddered {or flaked) thereon the Firfl and
Second Years; and after that had nothing on it but poor natural
Grafs.

The whole Field was managed alike, when plowed up; but the
Three Acres produced vifibly worfe Crops of Corn than the reft
all round it, which had produced St. Foin.

The other Example or Inftance was, Where an Acre, Part of
a Field, was, by a Fancy, drilled with St. Foin in fingle Rows,
about Thirty-three Inches afunder, but was never hoed : After
Seven Years it was plowed up with the reft of the Field crofs the
Rows, and fown with Oats upon the Back Three Months after
plowing. Thefe Rows were as vifible in the Oats, as if the St.
Foin had been ftill remaining there: The Oats in the Rows where
the St. Foin had been, looked of a deep green flourifhing Colour,
at flrft coming up, and until they were about half a Foot high,
and the Spaces between them looked yellowifh ; but afterwards
the Difference of their Colour difappeared, all the Crop being
very good. Upon this I imputed it to the Rotting of the Roots,
which by their Singlenefs were very large; and when the differ-
ent Colours difappeared, I fuppofe the FvOOts of all the Oats had
reached to the Benefit of the rotted Roots, which might alfo be
then fpread farther into the Spaces; and I doubt not but that the
Rotting of Broad Clover-roots has the fame Effect as of St. Foin,
for manuring of Land, efpecially when the Roots are large.

Some have obje&ed againft this Opinion, and fay the Effect
was rather to be imputed to the Rows of St. Foin fhadowing the
Earth under them, or elfe from their keeping the Earth under them
free from Couch-grafs, of which the Intervals were full : But I
think it more probable, that the Couch-grafs, having very long
horizontal Roots, might draw Nourifhment from the Earth under
the Rows, and from the Intervals equally.

And as to the Shadow of the Rows, tho\ for the Firfl and Se-
cond Years, the St. Foin Plants were very large ; yet, being af-
terwards, for Five or Six Years, until plowed up, conftantly fed
by Cattle, and being more fweet, was eaten very low, whilft the
Couch-grafs remained intire in the Intervals, and fhadowed them
more than the Earth of the Rows was fhadowed by the St. Foin :
Befrdes, the rotten Turneps, which were freed from both thefe
Gbjecliont, had the fame EfTeft on the Barley, as the St. Foin had
on the Oats.

The

Chap. XIV. Of Change of 'Species, ztf

The under Earth, in fome time, is replenilhed by
what the Rains leave, when they fink through it ;
and then Tap-rooted Plants may be there nourifhed
again, tho' the upper Earth be drained by the Corn;
fo that no Change is fo beneficial, as that betwixt
Tap-rooted Plants, and thofe which have only hori-
zontal ones. The former are provided for by Rains,
though not fo fpeedily as the latter are by Tillage and
Hoeing.

Paftures require no Change of Herbs ; becaufe
they have annually the fame Supply of Food from
the Dunging of Cattle that feed on them, and from
the Benefit of the Atmofphere.

Meadows hold out without Change of Species of
Grafs, tho' a Crop be carried off every Year \ the
Richnefs of that Soil, with the Help of the Atmo-
fphere, Dung of Cattle in feeding the After-Crop,
or elfe Flooding, from the overflowing of fome
River, fome, or all of which, fupply the Place of
the Plough to a Meadow.

Woods alfo hold out beyond Memory or Tradi-
tion, without changing Sorts of Trees ; and this by
the Leaves, and perhaps old Wood, rotting on the
Soil annually, which operate as a Manure; becaufe,
as has been faid, Earth which has once paffed any
VefTels, is fo changed, that, for a long time after, it
does not retain its Homogeneity (e) fo much as to
mix with pure Earth* without fermenting •, and by
the Defcent of the Atmofphere, the Trees fhadowing
the Soil, to prevent the Re-afcent of what that brings
down -, all this, refembiing Tillage, continually di-
vides the Soil, and renews the Food equal to the Con-
fumption of it made by the Wood.

And the laft Argument I (hall attempt to bring
for Confirmation of all I have advanced, is that

(e) Not that the Particles of Earth are ftrictfy homogeneous,
but chat :hey are much lefs heterogeneous, before they arc altered
by Vefiels, than afterwards,

which

238 Of Change ^Individuals. Chap. XV^

which proves both the Truth and Ufe of the reft $
viz. That when any Sort of Vegetable* by the due
Degrees of Heat and Moifture it requires, is agree-
able to a Soil, it may, by the new Horfe-hoeing
Hufbandry, be continued without ever changing the
Species.

chap. xv.

Of Change of Individuals.

SEEDS, in their natural Climate, do not dege-
nerate, unleis Culture has improved them ; and
then, upon Omiffion of that Culture, they return to
their nrft natural State.

As the Benefit of changing of Species of Seeds is
from Difference of Tillage, fo the Benefit of chang-
ing Individuals of the lame Species appears to be
from thofe Caufes which are, generally, themfelves,
the ErTecls of different Climates, fuch as Heat and
Moifture, which may alfo vary very much in the
fame Latitude and Neighbourhood ; as the fame
Mountain in the Country of the Mogul (related by
Mr. Evelyn 1 from Monfieur Bernier), on the South
Side produces Indian Plants, and on the North Side
European Plants, from different Expofures \ and fome
Land, retaining Water longer, "is colder; fome, fuf-
fering it to pais down quicker, and by the Nature
and Figure of its Parts, caufes fuch a Refraction and
Reflexion of the Sun's Rays, which give a great
Warmth, as in Sand, and gravelly Grounds, that are
well fituate, and have an under Stratum of fome
Sort of hollow Matter, next under the Staple (a),

(a) This hollow Matter !ers the Water pafs down the fooner
from the Surface, whereby the Staple of the Ground becomes the
drier, and coniequently warmer.

5 or

Chap. XV. Of Change of Individuals. 3 29

or upper Stratum, wherein the Plough is exer-
cifed.

This beneficial Change of Individuals feems rather
to be from the forementioned Caufes, than from
Change of Food ; and thefe Caufes fhew their Ef-
ficacy, chiefly in the Generation or Fcetation of
thofe Seeds ; as Flax-feed brought from Holland,
and fown here, will bring as fine Flax as there; but
the very next Generation of it coarfer, and fo dege-
nerating gradually, after Two or Three Defcents,
becomes no better than the common ordinary Sort;
yet its Food is the fame, when the Flax is fine, as
when 'ti* coarfe.

And fo it is, when Individuals of Wheat arc
changed; So Silk-worms, hatched and bred in France,
of Eggs or Seed brought from Itafyi will make as
fine Silk as the Italian ; but the Eggs of thefe laid
in France and their IfTue, will make no better Silk
than the French; though their Food be from Leaves
of the fame Mulberry-trees, when they make fine Silk
and coarfe : Therefore 'tis from the Climate, where
the Eggs are impregnated, not where they have their
Incubation or Food, when hatched, and fed to their
Lives End, that this Difference happens.

Common Barley, fown once in the burning Sand
at Patney in JViltJbire, will, for many Years after, if
fown on indifferent warm Ground, be ripe Two or
Three Weeks fooner than any other (b)9 which has

never

(^ ) Earley is far from being improved by becoming rath-ripe;.
for it lofes more good Qualities than it gets by being fown at Fat-
nty : Tis fo tender, that if it be fown early, the Froil is apt to
kill it ; or if it be fown late in May, on the fame Day, and in
the fame Soil, with the fame Sort of Barley that is not rath-ripe,
it will be much thinner bodied than the late ripe ; and befides,
if it happens to have any Check by Cold or Drought, it never
recovers it as the other doth, at what time foever it is fown. It
is now, I am informed, gone out of Fafhion, and very few Far-
mas have fown it of late Years. I know a little Parifa, that.

J

24$ Of Change ^Individuals. Chap. XV,

never been impregnate at Patney: But if Town a De*
gree farther North, on cold clayey Land, will, in
Two or Three Years, lofe this Quality, and become
as late ripe as any other.

Indeed Patney is far from improving the Species of
Barley, except we think it improved by becoming
more weak and tender, and fhorter-lived ; which lail>
mentioned Quality fits it for fuch Countries, where
the Summers are too fhort for other Barley to ripen.

The Grains or Seeds of Vegetables are their Eggs;
and the individual Plants, immediately proceeding
from them, have not only the Virtues they received
in Embryo (or rather in plantulis), but the Difeafes
alfo •, for when fmutty Wheat is fown, unlefs the
Year prove very favourable, the Crop will be fmutty;
which is an evident Token of mala ftamina.

The fmutty Grains will not grow *, for they turn
to a black Powder: But when fome of thefe are in a
Crop, then, to be fure, many of the reft are infected;
and the Difeafe will fhew itfelf in the next Generation,
or Defcent of it, if the Year wherein 'tis planted
prove a wet one.

Weeds, and their Seed, -in the Fields where they
grow naturally, for Time immemorial, come to as
great Perfection as ever, without Change of Soil.

Thefe Weeds, with Acorns, and other Marts,
Crabs, Sloes, Hips, and Haws, are thought to have
been, originally, the only natural Product of our
Climate: Therefore other Plants being Exotics, many
of them, as to their Iudividuals, require Culture and
Change of Soil, without which they are liable more
or lefs to degenerate.

But to fay, that the Soil can caufe Wheat to dege-
nerate into Rye, or convert Rye into Wheat, is what

I believe, formerly loft about Two hundred Pounds per Ann. by
lowing rath-ripe Barley: But long and dear Experience hath now
convinced them of their Error, and obliged them totaily to dif-
ufe it.

reflects

Chap. XVI. Of R i d g e s. 241

reflects upon the Credit of Lauremhergius : 'Tis as
eafy to believe, that an Horfe, by feeding in a certain
Pafture, will degenerate into a Bull, and in other
Pafture revert to an Horfe again ; thefe are fcarce of
more different Species than Wheat and Rye are: If
the different Soil of Wittemberg and fhuringia change
one Species, they may the other*

CHAP. XVL

Of Ridges.

THE Method of plowing Land up into Ridges
is a particular Sort of Tillage; the chief Ufe
of which is, the Alteration it makes in the Degrees
of Heat and Moifture, being two of the grand Re-
quifites of Vegetation ; for very different Degrees of
thefe are neceffary to different Species of Vegetables.

Thofe Vegetables commonly fown in our Fields,
require a middle Degree of both, not being able to
live on the Sides of perpendicular Walls in hot Coun-
tries, nor under Water in cold ones, neither are they
amphibious, but mufl have a Surface of Earth not
covered, nor much foak'd with Water, which de-
prives them of their neceffary Degree of Heat, and
caufes them to languifh. The Symptoms of their
DHeafe are a pale or yellow Colour in their Leaves,
and a Ceffation of Growth, and Death enfues as fure
as from a Dropfy.

The only Remedy to prevent this Difeafe in Plants
is, to lay fuch wet Land up into Ridges, that the Wa-
ter may run off into the Furrows, and be convey'd
by Ditches or Drains into fome River.

The more a Soil is fi! I'd with Water, the lefs Heat
it will have.

R • The

242 O/Ridges. Chap. XVI.

The Two Sorts of Land moft liable to be over-
glutted with Water, are Hills, whereof the Upper
Stratum (or Staple) is Mould lying upon a Second
Stratum of Clay •,

And generally all ftrong deep Land.

Hills are made wet and fpewy by the Rain-water
which falls thereon, and foaks into them as into other
Land ; but being ftopp'd by the Clay lying next the
Surface or Staple, cannot enter the Clay ; and for
want of Entrance, fpreads itfelf upon it-, and as
Water naturally tends downwards, it is by the in-
cumbent Mould partly ftopp'd in its Defcent from
the upper towards the lower Side of an Hill •, and
beino- follow 'd and prefs'd on by more Water from
above, is forced to rife up into the Mould lying upon
it, which it fills as a Cittern does a Fountain (or Jet
d'Eau). The Land of fuch an Hill is not the leis wet
or fpewy for being laid up in Ridges, if they be
made from the higher to the lower Part of the Field ;
for the Force of the Water's Weight continued will
raife it fo, as to caufe it to iffue out at the very Tops
of thofe Ridges ; the Earth becomes a fort of Pap or
Batter, and being like a Quagmire, in going over it,
the Feet of Men and Cattle fink in till they come to
the Clav.

There are two Methods -of draining fuch a wet
Hill : The one is to dig many Trenches, crofs the
Hill horizontally (a), and either fill them up with
Stones loofe or archwife, through which the Water,
when it foaks into the Trenches, may run off at one
or both Ends of them into fome Ditch, which is lower,

(a) For it* they are made with the Defcent, and not acrofs it,
then they will be parallel to the Rills of Water, that run upon the
Surface of the Clay under the Staple (or upper Stratum of Mould),
and would be no more efFeclual for draining the Hill, than the
Jigging of one River parallel to another, without joining it m
any Part, would be effectual for draining the other River of its
Water. ,

and

Chap. XVI. 0/ Ridges. 243

and carries it away ; then they cover the Trenches
with Mould, and plow over them as in dry level
Ground.

This Method has been found effectual for a time,
but not of long Continuance ; for the Trenches are
apt to be ftopp'd up, and then the Springs break
out again as before : Befides, this is a very chargeable
Work, and in many Places the Expence of it may
almoft equal the Purchafe of the Land.

Therefore 'tis a better Method to plow the Ridges
crofs the Hill almoft horizontally, that their parting
Furrows, lying open, may each ferve as a Drain to the
Ridge next below it •, for when the Plough has made
the Bottom of thefe horizontal Furrows a few Inches
deeper than the Surface of the Clay, the Water will
run to their Ends very fecurely, without nfing into
the Mould, provided no Part of the Furrows be
lower than their Ends.

Thefe parting Furrows, and their Ridges, mud be
made more or lefs oblique, according to the Form
and Declivity of the Hill ; but the more horizontal
they are, the fooner the Rain-water will run off the
Lands ; for in that Cafe it will run to the Furrows,
and reach them at right Angles, which it will not do
when the Ridges (or Lands) are oblique; and there-
fore the Water's Courfe crofs the Lands will be
longer (a). Every one of thefe horizontal Trenches

receives

fa) The natural Courfe of Water being downwards, it would
always run by the neareit Way to the Bottom of the Hill, if no-
thing ftopt it ; but the Water runs from an Hill in Two Manners ;
Wf'z. Upon the Surface of the Staple, and upon the Surface of
the Clay that is under the Staple ; that which runs under keeps
its ftrait Courfe from the Top to the Bottom of an Hill, under a
Ridge that is made exactly with the Defcent of the Kill, except
that Part of the Water that rifes up into the Mould, and a very
little that foaks into the Furrows , for when the Furrows are not
made exadly with the Defcent, the more oblique they are to the
Deicent, the longer will be the Water's Courfe under the Ridges ;
and the ihorter, as they are nearer being at Right Angles to the

R 2 . Defcent.

244 Of Ridges. Chap. XVI.

receives all the Water from the Rills, or little Gutters,
wherein the Water runs betwixt the Mould and the
Clay ; thefe are all cut off by the Trenches, which
receive the Water at their upper Sides, and carry in
away, as the Trunks of Lead plac'd under the Eaves
of a Ho Life do carry away the Rain-water.

If there were no other Manner of plowing Ridges
on the Sides of Hills than what is commonly prac-
tifed on the Plains, this Method of leaving open Fur-
rows (or Drains on Declivities) would be impracti-
cable ; becaufe the Plough could not turn up the
Furrows againfb the Hill, and againfl the Ridge alfo,
from the lower Side of it : But the eafy Remedy
againfl that Inconvenience is, to plow fuch Ridges in
Pairs, without throwing any Earth into the Trenches,
and then the Ridges will be plain a-top, and the
Rain-water will run fpeedily downward to the next
Trench, and thence to the Head-land, and fo out of
the Field. Thefe Trenches will be made, as well as
kept always open, by this plowing in Pairs ; and is
abundantly more eafy than the Way of plowing
Ridges fingly. This plowing in Pairs prevents alfo
another Inconveniency, which would otherwife happen
to thefe horizontal Ridges ; and that is, they being
higheft in the Middle, the Rain-water could not run
freely from the upper Half of a Ridge towards the
next Furrow below it, but would be apt to fink in
there, and foak thro' the Ridge ; but when Ridges
lie in Pairs, the Water will run off from a whole
Ridge, as well as off the lower Half of a Ridge that
is plow'd fingly, and higheft in the Middle.

Befcent. 'Tis alfo the fame with the Water that falls upon the
Surface of the Ridges; for the more horizontal they are, the
Ihorter its Courfe will be from them to the Furrows, which carry
it off; and the lefs of the Water will fink into the Ridges, the
lefs oblique and the nearer to Right Angles to the Defcent they
are made.

Note,

\

Chap. XVI. O/Ridges. 24 f

Note, That every time of plowing, the Pairs muft:
be changed, fo that the Furrow, which had Two
Ridges turned towards it one time, muft have Two
turned from it the next time : This Method keeps the
Surfaces of all the Ridges (or Lands) pretty near
even (a).

Farmers are at more Trouble and Pains to drown
fuch Land (it being common to break their Horfes
Wind in plowing up Hill) than they would be at, if
they laid their Ridges in the abovefaid Manner,
which would effectually make them dry. Many
hundred Acres of good Ground are fpoiled ; and
many a good Horfe, in plowing againfl the Hill, and
againft all Reafon, Demonflration, and Experience
too ; which might be learned even from the Iri/b9
who drain their Bogs, and make them fruitful, whilft
fome Evglifh bellow much Labour to drown and make
barren many of their Hills, which would more eafi-
ly be made dry and fertile.

I have obferved, that thofe Places of fuch an Hill,
that, when plowed with the Defcent, were the wetted,
and never produced any thing that was fown on
them, became the very richeft, when made dry by
plowing crofs the Defcent. This (hews that Water
does not impoverifh Land, but the contrary ; tho',
whilft it ftands thereon, it prevents the Heat which
is neceftary to the Production of mod Sorts of Ve-
getables : And where it runs fwiftly, it carries much
Earth away with it ; where it runs flowly, it depofits
and leaves much behind it,

Though in all Places, where this Way of making
the Ridges crofs the Defcent of Hills is pradifed,
the Land becomes dry -, yet very few Farmers will

(a) Note, This cannot be done on an Hill, whofe Declivity is
-fo great, that the Plough is not able to turn a Furrow againft it.
But in tnis Cafe, perhaps, it may be fufficient to plow the Ridges
cbliquely enough for the Furrow to be turned bo:h Ways.

R 3 alter

n6 Of Ridges. Chap. XVI,

alter their old Method (a) ; no, not even to try the
Experiment ; but ftill complain their Gronnd is fo
wet and fpewy, that it brings them little or no Pro-
fit; and if the Year prove moid, they are great Lofers
by fowing it (£).

(a) But fome of late are convinced, by obferving that an Hill
of mine has been made dry by this means for Fourteen Years
paft, which before was always more wet and fpewy than any
Field in the Neighbourhood ; and from the time of inclofmg it
out of an Heath (or Common), and the converting it to arable,
which was about Seventy Years ago, it had been reputed as little
better than barren, on account of its Wetnefs ; and that it has
been the moft profitable Field of my Farm ever fmce it has been
under this new Management. I have alfo another Field, that lies
about a Mile and an half from me : It doth not belong to the
Farm where I live, but was thrown upon my Hands, no Tenant
caring to rent it, becaufe great Part of it was full of Springs, and
barren ; This alfo, having been kept in Lands plowed crofs the;
Defcent (which is but a fmall Declivity), is become dry: And
now the moil prejudiced Farmers agree, that keeping the Lands
or Ridges of wet Ground always crofs the Defcent doth cure its
Spewinefs. Hereupon fome have attempted to put this Method
in Practice on their wet Land ; and, after it has been well tilled
up Hi 1 and down, have plowed itthelaft time for fowing of Wheat
in flat Lands crofs the Defcent ; but by Mifmanagement their
Furrows are higher at each End than the Middle, fo that none
of the Water can run oft* either downwards or lideways, or any
other Way.

Had the Furrows carried off the Water at both or either of
their Ends, it might have been effectual, notwithflanding the
broad Lands, becaufe their Ground hath a much lefs Declivity,
and is much lefs fpewy, than my Hill was : They will doubtlefs
find their Miftake, and amend it, having a Precedent before their
Eyes ; but if they had none within their own Infpeftion, I que-
flion whether this IvJifnanagement might not difcourage them
from profecating their Project any further.

[b, Remember, in making Pvidges of ail Sorts, and of whaN
foever Figure the Piece is, that no Ridge ought to have any more
Furrows at one End, than at the other End ; for if there be, the
Plough muft be turned in the Middle of the Piece, which will
caufe the Land to be trodden by the Horfes ; but if each End have
an equal Number of Furrows, the Horfes in turning will tread
only upon the Head lands, which may be plowed afterwards ; or
if delign'd to be Horfe-ho*d, the Head-lands ihould be narrow,
and not plowed at all.

The.

Chap. XVI. Of R i d g e s. 247

The Benefit of laying up ftrong deep Land into
Ridges is very great-, tho* there be no Springs in it,
as are in the Hills aforementioned.

This Land, when it lies flat, and is plowed fome-
times one Way, fometimes the other, by crofs-plow-
ing, retains the Rain-water a long time foaking into
it ; by that Misfortune, the Plough is kept out Two
or Three Weeks longer than if the fame were in
round Ridges; nay, fometimes its Flatnefs keeps it
from drying till the Seafon of plowing, and even of
fowing too, be loft.

The Reafons commonly given againft fuch Ridges
are thefe following.

I. 'They prevent the fanfied Benefit of cr of s -plow-
ing.

II. Farmers think they lofe Tart of their Ground, by
leaving more Furrows betwixt Ridges, than when
they lay their hand flat, where the Lands are made
much larger than round Ridges can conveniently
be -, and becaufe alfo the Furrows betwixt Ridges
muft be broader, and lie open ; but the other they
fill up by the Harrows.

The firft of thefe 1 have already anfwered elfe-
where, by (hewing, that Crofs-plowing is oftener in-
jurious than beneficial.

The Second I fhall fufficiently confute, if I can
make appear, that no Ground is loft, but much may
be gained, by Ridges.

What I mean by gaining of Ground, is the in-
creasing of the Earth's Surface : For if a flat Piece be
plow'd up into Ridges, and if in each Sixteen Feet
Breadth there be an empty Furrow of Two Feet ;
and yet, by the Height and Roundnefs of the Ridges,
they have Eighteen Feet of Surface capable of pro-
ducing Corn, equally to Eighteen Feet whilft the
Piece was flat -, there will be one Eighth Part of pro-
fitable Ground or Surface gain'd, more than it had
R 4 when

248 Of R i d g e s. Chap. XVI,

when level ; and this, I believe, Experience will prove,
if the thing were well examined into.

But againft this Increafe of profitable Ground,
there is an Objection, which I muft not call a frivo-
lous one, in refpedt to the Authors who bring it ;
yet, I hope, the Defire of finding the Truth will
juftify me to examine it; and the Arguments brought
to fuftain it.

This Opinion of theirs is founded upon their No-
tion (which I think very erroneous) of the perpendi-
cular Growth of Vegetables; and is, by Mr. Bradley, &t
in its beft Light, in his Vol. I. Pag. 8. ufque ad Pag. 1 3.
and in his Cuts, reprefenting Three Hills ; but his
Arguments feem to be fuch as all Arguments are,
which pretend to prove a thing to be what it is not j
viz. Sophiflicalones.

The Hypothefis he endeavours to prove, is in Pag.
8. thus: * An Hill may contain Four equal Sides,

* which meet in a Point at the Top -, but the Contents
4 of thefe Four Sides can produce no more, either of
4 Grain or Trees, than the plain Ground, upon which
4 the Hill Hands, or has at its Bafe : and yet, by the
4 Meafure of the Sides, we find twice the Number of
4 Acres, Roods, and Poles, which meafure in the
4 Bafe, or Ground- plat ; and therefore Page 9. Hills

* are worth no more than half their Superficial Mea-
4 fure \ i. e. Two Acres upon the Side of the Hill to
4 pay as much as one upon the Plain, provided the
4 Soil of both is equally rich.'

To prove it, he gives an Example in Fig. III. of
Buildings upon an Hill ; (hewing, that the Two Sides
of the Hill will only bear the fame Number of Houfes,
that may Hand in the Line at the Bafe.

This is foreign to the Queftion, of how much
Grain, or how many Trees, the Hill will produce.
For Vegetables, being fed by the Earth, require much
more of its Surface to nourim them, than is necefTary
for them to ftand on , but Buildings require no more

of

Chap. XVI. O/Ridges. 249

of the Surface but Room to Hand on : Therefore no
fuch Argument, taken from Buildings, can be appli-
ed to Vegetables.

This Argument of Mr. Bradley's gives no more
Satisfaction to the Queftion about producing of Ve-
getables, than a Grazier would do, being afked, how
many Oxen a certain Pafture-ground would maintain,
if he mould anfwer, by fatisfyingyou with the Num-
ber of Churches which might (land thereon.

The like Anfwer, in effect, may be given to the
Argument in Fig. IV. of the Pales •, only he has for-
got to fhew, that to mound over the Hill would re-
quire double the Rails, or double the Hedge-wood
(except Stakes) as to mound the Bale-, if it did not, the
Hill would be yet of the more Value, becaufe thereon
more Surface might be fenced in at lefs Expence.

In his Fig. II. he gives no good Reaion why the
Hill mould not bear twice the Number of Trees as
the Bafe can do •, for there is as much Room for
Two hundred Trees on the Hill, as for One hundred
on the Bafe, becaufe he allows the Surface- to be
double to that of the Bale. He ought to meaiure
the Diftances of the Trees on the Hill, by a Line
parallel to the Surface they grow on, as well as he
does the Diftances of thole below.

And fuppofe the Row at the Bafe, together with
the Surface they grow on, were rais'd up, fo that it
fliould become parallel to half the Row on the Hill,
would not the Trees in the Bafe Row be twice as near
to one another as the Trees in the Hill Row are ?
And fuppole a Line had been ty'd from the Tops of
all the lower Trees, before the Row was fo rais'd up
at one End, and then, after the Situation of the
Row was fo alter'd, if by this Line the Trees mould
be pull'd from being perpendicular to the Surface they
grow on, and made to ftand oblique to that, and per-
pendicular to the Horizon, as the upper Trees are ;
would the Diftances of the Trees from one another be

alter'd

5 f o OfRiDGES. Chap. XVL

alter'd by this Change of Fofture ? No, for their Bot-
toms would beat the fame Diftances, becaufe not re-
moved ; and their Tops, becaufe the fame Line holds
them, at the fame Diftances in both Poftures.

Mr. Bradley's Lines, drawn from the Trees below,
which are one Perch afunder, make the Two Rows
of Trees falfly feem to be at equal Diftances, becaufe
thefe Lines are parallel to each other : But this is a
Deceit; for, in Truth, the Diftances of the Trees
are not meafured by the Diftances of thofe Lines, but
by the extreme Points at the Ends of the Lines (a) ;
and thofe Two Points above, where the Lines cut
the Row obliquely, and at unequal Angles are twice
as far afunder as the endmoft or extreme Points below
are, where the Lines cut the Row at right Angles.
Hence may be inferr'd, that there is Room for twice
as many Trees to grow on the Hill as on the Bafe,
and twice as much Grain for the fame Reafon ; be-
caufe- there is twice the Surface for the Roots to
fpread in. And fince Mr. Bradley allows the Hill to
contain Two Perches to One of the Bafe, and the
Soil of both to be of equal Goodnefs \ and yet affirms,
that the Two can produce no more of Grain or
Trees than the one Perch can ; I cannot fee, why
it fhould not be as realonable to fay, that Two Quar-
ters of Oats will maintain an Horfe no longer, nor
better, than One Quarter of Oats, of equal Good-
nefs, will do.

In Page 13. he concludes thus: c That Hills, in
f their Meafure, contain only as much profitable
c Land as the Plain or Plat of Ground they ftand

* upon ; and as a Proof of that, all Vegetables or

* Plants have an erect Method of Growth.'

This Proof of Mr. Bradley's is founded upon an
Argument which has no Confequence, unlefs it were

(a) Thefe upper Trees are meafured by the unequal Length
of the Lines, not by their parallel Diftance, as the lower Trees
?re i therefore his Meafure is a Quibble.

firft

Chap. XVI. Of Ridges. 251

firffc proved, that the Surface of Earth could produce
and maintain as many Vegetables or Plants as could
ftand thereon in an erect Pofture; which Supposition
is as impoflible, as that half an Acre mould produce
and maintain and Hecatomb, without Mr. Bradley's
teaching Oxen to live upon Air for their Food, as he
thinks Van Helmonfs Tree did.

All expert Hufbandmen muft needs be convinced,
that the greateft Crop of Vegetables that ever grew,
might ftand in an erect Pofture, upon a twentieth
(and I may fay the Hundredth) Pare of the Surface that
produced it; therefore there muft be Nineteen Parts
for the Roots to fpread, unoccupied by the Trunks
Stems, or Stalks.

And tiio5 it be true, than an Hill will fupport no
more of thefe, than its Bafe, when placed in an
erect Pofture, clofe together, as in a Sheaf; yet
this clofe Pofition is only proper for them when they
are dead, and require no more Nourifhment than
Houfes and Pales do ; and confequently require no
Room but to ftand on. Therefore this Argument
of Mr. Bradley's muft not be admitted in vegetative
Growth, where there is always required Nineteen
times more Room in the Surface, for the Ufe of the
Roots, than what the Stems, Trunks, or Stalks, do
pofiefs upon it : And the more Room there is tor the
Roots, the greater Number of Plants may be pro-
duced.

Neither can I admit, that all Vegetables or Plants
have an erect Method of Growth ; becaufe the con-
trary is feen in Chamomile, and divers other Vege-
tables, whichhave an horizontal Method of Growth.

But what is more material to this Purpofe, to be
obferved, is, that all Vegetables have horizontal
Roots, and Roots parallel to the Earth's Surface or
Superficies; and unlefs thofe Roots have a fufficient
Superficies of Earth to range in, for Nourifhment
of a Plant, the Stem and Branches cannot profper,

what-

252 Of Ridges. Chap XVI.

whatever be their Method of Growth above the
Earth-, and if there be not a due Quantity of Food
for the Roots within the Earth, a very little Space
may contain the external Parts of Vegetables upon it.

From what has been faid, I think we may conclude,
that Mr. Bradley's Hill may produce more Vegeta-
bles than the Bale whereon it ftands; and therefore
it is of more Value than half its fuperficial Meafure ;
t. e. Two Acres on the Hill are worth more than one
Acre on the Plain, the Soil being equally rich, as he
allows it to be, in his Cafe.

Now, indeed, whether Mr. Bradley might not
poflibly be deceived in his Opinion of the equal
Richnefs of his Hill, and his Plain, I will notdifpute:
I will only fay this, that 'tis generally otherwife.
But where a Plain is plow'd up into moderate Ridges,
their Height being in proportion to the Depth of
the Staple, below which the Plough muft take nothing
into the Ridges, the Soil is equally rich, whether it be
plowed plain, or ridged up. And as the Surface is in
the Ridges increafed, there is nothing in all Mr.
Bradley's Arguments, that fhews, why that increafed
Surface ihould not produce more Vegetables than the
fame Earth could do whilft it was level.

There are other Reafons why it fhould produce
more when ridged (a), befides the Increafe of Sur-
face i as,

I. 9Tis then more free from the Injuries of too
much Water,

(a) To the Three we may add a Fourth Reafon, vix. the
railing the Thicknefs of the Staple in the Ridges, keeping the
Surface drier in wet Weather, and moifter at the Bottom of the
Staple in dry Weather. And I have feen Barley that was drilled
on my raifed little Ridges flourifh in a dry Summer on the Brow
of my chalky Hill, and on my lowed Land in wet Weather,
when the Barley hand-fown contiguous to it on each Side thofe
Ridges, fown on the Level the fame Day that the Ridges were
drilled, have looked yellow and ficklyj and yet it is not wet
Land.

ii

Chap. XVI. O/Ridges. 253

II. 3Tis better protetled againft cold Winds ; becaufe
the Ridges are a Shelter to one another.

III. If the Surface be much exhaujled, by too frequent
Sowing j the Ridges may be made juft where the
Furrows were> and then the Surface will be intirely
changed.

The following general Rules ought to be obferved
about Ridges ; viz.

That, as to their Height, regard mud: be had to
the Nature of the Soil, in its difficult AdmifTion of
Water ; for the greater that is, the greater Declivities
the Ridges fhould have; and then, if the Soil be not
deep, they fhould generally be made the narrower.

There is one thing which Mr. Bradley takes no
notice of; viz. That no more of the Rain, or other
Benefits of the Atmofphere, which defcend perpen-
dicularly, can fall on an Hill, or on a Ridge, than
what would fall on the Bafe, or Ground-plot. But
'tis probable, that more of the fine Vapour, which
fwims in the Current of the Air horizontally, does flrike
and break againft thofe Eminences, and lb make an
Equivalent (b), except that it runs off more quickly.

Notwithftanding all I have here faid, in behalf of
Ridges, I muft confefs, that, for my Hoeing-Huf-
bandry, I fhould prefer Land that is naturally dry
enough, without a Neceffity of being laid up in any
larger or higher Ridges than what may contain
Six Feet in Breadth (7), that Size being the largeft
that is proper for the regular Operation of the Horfe-
hoe.

CHAR

(b) But though Ridges do alter or increafe the Surface, the
Quantity of Soil or Earth remaining the fame as on the Level,
and of no greater Depth than can be tilled, it may produce equal
Crops of Corn with the Level, and no more ; except from the
Advantage the Ridges may give it in lying drier.

(c) Since the Printing of my Eflay, 1 find, upon Trial, that
thefe narrow Ridges are as effectual as any for carrying the Water
off from my clayey Hill; and that they be made much lefs

horizontal

[ SJ+ ]

CHAP. XVII.

Of Differences between the Old and the New
Hulbandry.

i

i

N order to make a Companion between the Hoe-
ing-Hufbandry, and the old Way, there are Four
Things, whereof the Differences ought to be very
well confidered.

I. The Expence
II. The Goodnefs \- of a Crop,

III. The Certainty

IV. The Condition in which the Land is left after
a Crop,

The Prone or Lofs arifing from Land, is not to be
computed, only from the Value of the Crop it pro-
duces ; but from its Value, after all Expences of Seed,
Tillage, &c. are deducted.

Thus, when an Acre brings a Crop worth Four
Pounds^ and the Expences thereof amount to Five
Pounds, the Owner's Lofs is One Pound-, and when an
Acre brings a Crop which yields Thirty Shillings, and
the Expence amounts to no more than Ten Shillings^
the Owner receives One Pounds clear Profit, from this
Acre's very fmali Crop, as the other lofes One Pound
by his greater Crop.

horizontal than broad Ridges, whereby their Furrows are the
more ealily turnea upwards againitthe Declivity.

I have not tried any narrower Ridge than that of Six Feet upon
this Hill ; But 1 have had full Experience of Five-feet and of
Four-feet Ridges upon other Land ; and find that all Sizes of
thefe narrow Ridges are very advantageous, even where the Crop
is to be fovvn upon the Level ; for fewer Furrows are neceffary
for the Tilling of an Acre, when 'tis kept in iuch Ridges, than
in broad Lands ; and after wet Weather the Ridges will be fit to
be plowed much fooner than level Ground.

The

Ch. XVII. Of Differences betwee?t, tkc. 255

The ufual Expences of an Acre of Wheat, fown in the
old Huibandry, in the Country 'where i live, is, in
in fome Places, for Two Bujhels and an half of Seed ;
in other Places Four Bujhels and an half ; the leaft of
thefe Quantities at Three Shillings per Bufhel, being the
prefent Price, is Seven Shillings and Six-pence. For
Three Plowings, Harrowing, and Sowing, Sixteen
Shillings ; but if plowed Four times, which is better.
One Pound. For Thirty Load of Dung, to a Statute
Acre, is Two Founds Five Shillings. For Carriage
cf the Dung, according to the Diftance, from Two Shil-
lings to Six-pence the Load, One Shilling being the
Price moft common, is One Pound Ten Shillings.
The Price for Weeding is very uncertain ; it has fome-
times coft Twelve Shillings, fometimes Two Shillings
per Acre.

/. s. d.
Fa Seed and Tillage, nothing can bel ^

abated of — — — y *

For the Weeding, one Tear with 1
another, is more than « — — y
For the Rent of the Tear's Fallow 00 i© co

For the Dung , 'tis in fome. Places a~\
little cheaper, neither do they al- I
ways lay on quite fo much ; there- [
fore abating 15s. in that Article, j °2 I0 °°
we may well fet Dung and Car-
riage at — — — J

Reaping commonly 5s. fometimes lefs 00 04 06

Total 04 10 00

Folding of Land with Sheep is reckoned abundantly
cheaper than Cart-dung; but this is to be queftioned,
becaufe much Land muft lie fiill for keeping a Flock
(unlefs there be Downs) -, and for their whole Tear's
keeping, with both Grafs and Hay, there are but Three
Months of the Twelve wherein the Fold is of any con-
fiderable Value 5 this makes the Price of their Manure
5 2ua-.

00 02 00

2 §6 Of Differences between the Ch. XVII*

'quadruple to what it zvould be, if equally good all the
Tear, like Car t- dung : And folding 'Sheep yield little
Profit, hefides their Dung ; becaufe the Wool of a
Flock, except it be a large one, will fcarce pay the
Shepherd and the Shearers. But there is another thing
yet, which more inhances the Price of Sheep-Dung ;
and that is, the dunging the Land with their Bodies^
when they all die of the Rot, which happens too fre-
quently in many Places •, and then the whole Crop of
Corn mufi go to purchafe another Flock, which may
have the fame Fate the enfuing Tear, if the Summer
prove wet \ and ' fo may the Fanner be ferved for fever al
"more fucceffive Tears, unlefs he ftoould break, and
another take his Placey or that dry Summers come in
time to prevent it. To avoid this Misfortune, he would
be glad to purchafe Cart-dung at the highejl Price, for
fupplying the Place of his Fold -, but 'tis o?ily near Cities,
and great Towns, thai a fufficient Quantity can be pro-
cured.

But, fuppofrng the Price of Dunging to be only Two
Popjids Ten Shillings, and the general Expence of an
Acve of Wheat, when fown, at Three Shillings per
Bujhel, to be Four Pounds Ten Shillings, with the Tear's
Rent of the Fallow,

The Expences of planting an Acre of Wheat in
the Hoeing-Hufbandry, is Three Pecks of (a) of Seed*
at Three Shillings per Bufhel, is Two Shillings and
Three-pence. The whole Tillage, if done by Horfes,
would be Eight Shillings ; becaufe. our Two Plowings,
and Six Hoeings (b), are equal to Two Plowings ;

(a) Sometimes half a Bufhel is the moll jaft Quantity of Seed*
to drill on an Acre.

(b) But we fometimes plow our Six-feet Ridges before Dril^
ling, at Five or Six Furrows, which is a Furrow or Two more
than I have reckoned ; But we do not always hoe Six times after-
wards. But it is better for fucceffive Wheat- crops to bellow the
Labour of as many Hoeings as amount to three plain Plowings
in a Year, it being a greater Damage to omit one neceffary Hoe-
ing, than is the Expence of feveral Hoeings,

the

Ch. X VII. Old and New Hufbahdry. i 57

the common Price whereof is Four Shillings each;
but this we diminim half, when done by Oxen kept
on St. Foin, in this manner ; viz. Land worth 'Thirty
Shillings Rent, drill'd with St. Foin, will well main-
tain an Ox a Year (a)9 and fometimes Hay will be
left to pay for the Making: We cannot therefore allow
more than One Shilling a Week for his Work, becaufe,
his Keeping comes but to Seven-pence a Week round
the Year.

In plain Plowing, Six Feet contains Eight Furrows 5
but we plow a Six-feet Ridge at Four Furrows,
becaufe in this there are Two Furrows cover'd in the
Middle of it, and one on each Side of it lies open.
Now what we call one Hoeing, is only Two Furrows
of this Ridge, which is equal to a Fourth Part of one
plain Plowing; fo that the Hoeing of- Four Acres
requires an equal Number of Furrows with one Acre
that is plow'd plain, and equal Time to do it in (ex-
cept that the Land, that is kept in Hoeing, works
much eafier than that which is not).

All the Tillage we ever bellow upon a Crop of
Wheat that follows a ho'd Crop, is equal to Eight
Hoeings (b) ; Two of which may require Four Oxen
each, One of them Three Oxen, and the other Five
Hoeings Two Oxen each. However, allow Three
Oxen to each fingle Hoeing, taking them all one
with another, which is Three Oxen more than it
comes to in the Whole.

(a ) Or an Ox may be well kept Nine Months, with an Acre of
indifferent Horfe-ho'd Turneps ; and if we value them only at
the Expence and Rent of the Land, this will be a yec cheaper
Way of maintaining Oxen. Upon more Experience it is found, that
St. Foin Hay alone, or with a fmall Quantity of Turneps, is beft
for working Oxen in the Winter ; but a Plenty of Turneps with
the fame Hay is better for fatting Oxen that do not work.

(b) But the Number of Oxen required will be according to
their Bignefs and Strength, and to the Depth and Strength of the
Soil, which alfo will be the eafier Draught for the Oxen, the
oftenerthe Intervals are hoed.

S Begin

258 Of Differences between the Ch. XVII.

Begin at Five in the Morning, and in about Six
Hours you may hoe Three Acres, being equal in
Furrows to Three R.ood; i. e. Three Quarters of aa
Acre. Then turn the Oxen to Grafs, and after refl-
ing, eating, and drinking, Two Hours and an half,
with another Set of Oxen begin Hoeing again ; and
by or before half an Hour after Seven at Night,
another like Quantity may be ho'd. Thefe are the
Hours the Statute has appointed all Labourers to
work, during the Summer Half-year.

To hoe thefe Six Acres a Day, each Set of Oxen
draw the Plough only Eight Miles and a Quarter,
which they may very well do in Five Hours ; and
then the Holder and Driver will be at their Work of
Plowing Ten Hours, and will have Four Flours and
an half to reft, 65V.

The Expence then of hoeing Six Acres in a Day,
in this manner, may be accounted, at One Shilling
the Man that holds the Plough, Six-pence the Boy
that drives the Plough, One Shilling for the Six Oxen,
and Six-pence for keeping the Tackle in Repair. The
whole Sum for hoeing thefe Six Acres is ^hree Shil-
lings^ being Six-pence per Acre (a).

They who follow the old Huibandry cannot keep
Oxen lb cheap, becaufe they can do nothing without
the Fold, and Storc-fheep will ipoil the St. Foin..
They may almoft as well keep Foxes and Geeie to-
gether, as Store-fheep and good St. Foin. Befides,
the lowed St. Foin cofl Ten times as much the Plant-
ing as drill'd St. Foin does, and mult be frequently
manured, or elfe it will foon decay ; efpecially upon
all iorts ot chalky Land, whereon 'tis moil commonly
town. The

(a) But where thefe is not the Convenience of keeping Oxen,
the Price of Hoeing with Hoiies is One Shilling each time.

When a Roller is ufed, which is lefs than a Hoeing, becaufe
ore Perfon to lead is enough, and that may be a Boy ; and once
in an Interval may iuflice ; then 'tis lefs Labour than half a Hoe-
ing ; and for this we may well abate One Hoeing of the Eighu

Ch. XVII. Old and New Hufbandry. 2 59

The Expence of drilling cannot be much ♦, for as
we can hoe Six Acres a Day, at Two Furrows on
each Six-feet Ridge, fo we may drill Twenty-four
Acres a Day, with a Drill that plants Two of thofe
Ridges at once -, and this we may reckon a Peny Half-
peny an Acre. But becaufe we find it lefs Trouble to
drill Tingle Ridges, we will fet the Drilling, at moft8
Six-pence per Acre.

As every fucceflive Crop (if well managed,) is
more free from Weeds than the preceding Crop 5
I will {hz it all together at Six-pence (a) an Acre for
Weeding (b).

For a Boy or a Woman to follow the Hoe-plough,
to uncover the young Wheat, when any Clods of
Earth happen to fall on it, for which Trouble there
is feldom necefTary above once (c) to a Crop, Two-
pence an Acre. One Peny is too much for Brine and
Lime for an Acre.

Reaping this Wheat is not worth above half as
much as the Reaping of a fown Crop of equal Value;
becaufe the drill'd (landing upon about a Sixth Part
of the Ground, a Reaper may cut almoftas much of
the Row at one Stroke, at he could at Six, if the
fame flood difperfed alt over the Ground, as the
fowcd does ; and becaufe he who reaps fowed Wheat,

(a) This is when the Land has been well cleanfed of Weeds
in the preceding Crop, or Fallow, or both.

(b) This may be enough, if the Land be welF cleanfed the Year
before, and confidering that feverai Years in fuch there is no Oc-
cafion for Weeding at all : Andas this Calculation is comparative
with the old Way, we mould examine the Price of weeding the
fown Corn, which by the beft Information I can get, was in the
Year 1735. about 4*. per Acre for Weeding of Barley ; and of
Wheat, round about where I live, about 6 s. and in Wiitjbire,
15 s. per Acre for their Wheat, among!! which much Damage
is done by theWeeder's Feet, and yet fome Weeds are left.

(c) But this Expence being fo fmall, 'tis better that a Perfofi
mould follow at every Hoeing, where we fufpedt, that any Da-
mage may happen from any Earth's falling on, or prefhng too
hard againlt fome of the Plants.

S 2 muft

160 Of Differences between the Ck. XVII.

mud reap the Weeds along with the Wheat; but the
drilled has no Weeds 5 and befides, there go a greater
Quantity of Straw, and more Sheaves, to a Buihel
of the fowed, than of the drilled (a). And fince
fome Hundred Acres of drilled Wheat have been
reaped at Two Shillings and Six-pence per Acre, I will
count that to be the Price.

The whole Expence of an Acre of drilled Wheat.

I s. d.

For Seed — — — — — 00 02 03

For Tillage — — — — Co 04 00

For Drilling — — — — 00 00 06

For Weeding — — — — 00 00 06

For Uncovering — — — 00 00 02

For Brine and Lime — — 00 00 01

For Reaping — — — - — 00 02 06

Total 00 10 00
The Expence of an Acre of")

fowed Wheat is — -*- j
To which mud be added, for the 7

Years Rent of the Fallow j

04 00 00
00 10 00

Total 04 10 00

If I have reckoned the Expence of the drilled at
the loweft Price, to bring it to an even Sum ; I have
alio abated in the other more than the whole Expence
of the drilled amounts unto.

And thus the Expence of a drilled Crop of Wheat
is but the Ninth Part of the Expence of a Crop fown
in the common Manner.

5Tis alfo fome Advantage, that lefs Stock is re-
quired where no Store-fheep are ufed.

(a) One Sheaf of the latter will yield more Wheat than Two
of the former of equal Diameter.

11.

Ch.XVII. Old and New Hufbandry. 261

II. Of the different Goodnefs of a Crop.

The Goodnefs of a Crop confifts in the Quality of
it, as well as the Quantity \ and Wheat being the moft
ufeful Grain, a Crop of this is better than a Crop of
any other Corn, and the ho'd Wheat has larger Ears
(and a fuller Body) than fow'd Wheat. We can have
more of it, becaufe the fame Land will produce it
every Year, and even Land, which, by the Old
Hufbandry, would not be made to bear Wheat at
all: So that, in many Places, the New Hufbandry
can raife Ten Acres of Wheat for One that the Old
can do : becaufe where Land is poor, they fow but a
Tenth Part of it with Wheat.

We do not pretend, that we have always greater
Crops, or fo great asfome fown Crops are, efpecially
if thofe mention'd by Mr. Houghton be not miftaken.

The greater! Produce I ever had from a fingle
Yard in Length of a double Row, was Eighteen
Ounces: The Partition of this being Six Inches, and
the Interval Thirty Inches, was, by Computation,
Ten Quarters (or Eighty Bufhelsj to an Acre.

I had alio Twenty Ounces to a like Yard of a
Third fucceflive Crop of Wheat ; but this being a
treble Row, and the Partitions and Interval being
wider, and fuppofed to be in all Six Feet, was com-
puted to Six Quarters to an Acre. And if thefe Rows
had been better order'd than they were, and the
Earth richer, and more pulveriz'd, more Stalks
would have tillered out, and more Ears would have
attained their full Size, and have equall'd the beft,
which mud have made a much greater Crop than ei-
ther of thefe were.

But to compare the different Profit, we may pro-
ceed thus : The Rent and Expence of a drill'd Acre
being One Pound, and of a fow'd Acre Five Pounds ;
One Quarter of Corn, produced by the drill'd, bears
an equal Proportion in Profit to the One Pound, as
Five Quarters, produced by the other, do to the Five
S 3 Pounds,

262 Of Differences between the Ch. XVII,

Pounds. As fuppofe it be of Wheat, at Two Shil-
lings and Six-pence a Bufhel, there is neither Gain
nor Lofs in the one nor the other Acre? though the
former yield but One Quarter, and the other Fivej
but if the drill'd Acre yield Two Quarters, and the
fow'd Acre Four Quarters at the fame Price, the
drill'd brings the Farmer One Pound clear Profit,. and
the fown, by its Four Quarters, brings the other One
Pound Lofs. Likewife fuppofe the drilling Farmer
to have his Five Pounds laid out on Five Acres of
Wheat, and the other to have his Five Pounds laid
put on One dung'd Acre ; then let the Wheat they
produce be at what Price it will, if the Five Acres,
have an equal Crop to the one Acre, the Gain or
Lofs muft be equal : But when Wheat is cheap, as
we fay it is when fold at Two and Six-pence a Bufhel,
then if the Farmer, who follows the old Method, has
Five Quarters on his Acre, he mud fell it all to pay-
his Rent and Expence ; but the other having Five
Quarters on each of his Five Acres, the Crop of One
of them will pay the Rent and Expence of all his
Five Acres (a)9 and he may keep the remaining
Twenty Quarters, till he can fell them at Five Shil-
lings a Bufliel, which amounts to Forty Pounds,
wherewith he may be able to buy Four of his Five
Acres at Twenty Years Purchafe, out of One Year's,
Crop, whilft the Farmer whopurfues the old Method,
muft be content to have only his Labour for his
Travel ; or if he pretends to keep his Wheat till he
fells it at Five Shillings a Bufhel, he commonly runs
in Debt to his Neighbours, and in Arrear of his Rent;
and if the Markets do not rife in time, or if his Crops

(a) Or fuppofe a drill'd Acre to produce no more than One
Third of the fow'd Acre's Crop, vvhofe Expence is Five times as
sicch as of the drill'd, 'tis much more profitable, becaufe a Third
©f Five Founds is One Pound Thirteen and Four-pence ; and a
Fifth of the Rent and Expence being only One Pound, fuch
drill'd Acre pays the Owner Thirteen and Four- pence more Profit,
Khan the other which brines a Crop treble to the drill'd.

fail

Ch. XVII. Old and New Hafoandry. 2 %$

fail in the Interim, his Landlord feizes on his S:
and then he knows not how it may be fold 5 Actions
are brought again ft him * the Bailiffs and Attorneys
pull him to Pieces ; and then he is undone (a).
III. The Certainty of a Crop,

The Certainty of a Crop is much to be regarded,
it being better to be fecure of a moderate Crop, than
to have but a mere Hazard of a great one. The
Fanner who adheres to the old Method is often de-
ceiv'd in his Expectation, when his Crop at coming
into Ear is very big, as well as when 'tis in Danger
of beinortoo little. Our hoeing Farmer is much lefs
liable to the Hazard of either of thoie Extremes ; for
when his Wheat is big, 'tis not apt to lodge or fall
down, which Accident is ufually the utter Ruin of the
other -, he is free from the Caufes which make the
contrary Crop too little.

A very effectual Means to prevent the failing of a
Crop of Wheat, is to plow the pulveriz'd Earth for
Seed early, and when 'tis dry. The early Seafon alfo
is more likely to be dry than the latter Seafon is.

1. The Advocate for the old Method is commonly
late in his /owing -, becau/e he can't /allow his
Ground early, /or /ear 0/ killing the Couch, and
other Grafs that maintains his folding Sheep, which

2 . are fo necejfary to his Hujbandry : And when 'tis
fow' d late, it muft not be fow'd dry, for then the

3. Winter might kill the young Wheat. Neither can he
at that tune plcw dry, and fow wet, becaufe he com-
monly fows under Furrow ; that is, fows the Seed
fir ft, and plows it in as /aft as 'tis /own. If he

4. fows early (as he may if he will) in light Land, he
muft not fow dry, /or fear the Poppies and other
Weeds ftoould grow, and devour his Crop ; and if his

5. Land be ftrong, let it be /own early, wet or dry (tho'

(a) Tho' only Five Acres and one Acre be put, yet we may
imagine them Two hundred and Fifty., and Fifty to enrich the one,
or break the other Farmer.

S 4

264 °f Differences between the Ch. XVII.

wet is worft\ 'tis apt to grow fo ftale and hard by
Spring? that his Crop is in Danger of Jlarving, unlefs
the Land be very rich, or much dung'd: and then the
Winter arid Spring proving kind, it may not be in lefs
Danger of being fo big as to fall down, and be fpoif d.

6. Another thing is, that though he had no other Impedi-
ment againft plowing dry, and fowing wet, 'tis feU
" dom that he has time to do it in \ for he muft plow all
his Ground, which is Eight Furrrows in Six Feet ;

y. and, whiljl it is wet, mufi lie ft ill with his Plough,
When he fows under Furrow, he fears to plow
deep, left he bury too much of his Seed -, and if he

$. plows Jhallow, his Crop lofes the Benefit of deep
plowing, which is very great. When he ftizvs upon

q. Furrow (that is after 9tis plow'd) he muft harrow the
Ground level to cover the Seed -, and that expofes the
Wheat the more to the cold Winds, and fuffers the
Snow to be blown off it, and the Water to lie longer on
it -, all which are great Injuries to it.
Our Hoeing Hufbandry is different in all of the

fore-mentioned Particulars.

1. We can plow the Two Furrows whereon thq
next Qrop is to ftand, immediately after the prefent
Crop is off.

2. We have no Ufe of the Fold ; becaufe our
Ground has annually a Crop growing on it, and it
muft lie ftill a Year, if we would told it, and that
Crop would be loft; and all the Good the Fold could
do to the Land, would be only to help to pulverize
at for one fingle Crop •, its Benefit not lading to the
Second Year. And fo we fhould be certain of lofing
one Crop for the very uncertain Hopes of procuring
one the enfuing Year by the Fold -, when 'tis mani-
feft by the adjoining Crops, that we can have a much
better Crop every Year, without a Fold, or any other
Manure.

3. We can plow dry, and drill wet, without any
planner of Inconvenience.

4. He

Chap. XVII. Old and New Hufbandry. z 6j

4. He fears the Weeds will grow, and deftroy his
Crop : We hope they will grow, to the end we may
deftroy them (a).

5. We do not fear to plant our Wheat early (Co
that we plow dry), becaufe we can help the Hardnefs
or Stalenefs of the Land by Hoeing.

6. The Two Furrows of every Ridge whereon the
Rows are to be drilled, we plow dry -, and if the
Weather prove wet before thefe are all finifhed, we
can plow the other Two Furrows up to them, until
it be dry enough to return to our plowing the firfl
Two Furrows •, and after finifhing them, let the
Weather be wet or dry, we can plow the laft Two
Furrows. We can plow our Two Furrows in the
Fourth Part of the Time they can plow their Eight,
which they mud plow dry all of them, in every Six
Feet •, for they cannot plow part dry, and the reft
when 'tis wer, as we can.

7. We never plant our Seed under Furrow, but
place it juft at the Depth which we judge mofl pro-
per -, and that is pretty mallow, about Two Inches
.deep •, and then there is no Danger of burying it.

8. We not only plow a deep Furrow, but alfo
plow to the Depth of Two Furrows ; that is, we
trench-plow where the Land will allow it (b) ; and
we have the greateft Convenience imaginable for do-
ing this, becaufe there are Two of our Four Furrows

(a) For, before they grow, they cannot be killed ; but if they
are all killed as foon as they appear, there will be no Danger of
their exhaufting the Land, or re-itocking it with their Seed; and
'tis our Fault if we drill more than we can keep clean from Weeds
by the Horfe-hoe, Hand- hoe, and Hands; the Firft for the In-
tervals, the Second for the Partitions, and the Third for the
Rows ; By the Two former, as foon after they appear as they
can ; but by the laft, when they are grown high enough to be
conveniently taken hold of.

(b) Very little of my Land will admit the Plough to go the
Depth of Two common Furrows without reaching the Chalk ;
But deep Land may be eafily thus Trench-plowed with great Ad-
vantage; and even when there is only the Depth of a fingle Fur-
row, that may fornetimes be advantageoufly plowed at twice.

always

2.66 Of Differences between the Chap. XVII.

always lying open ; and Two plowed Farrows (that
is, one plowed under another) are as much more
advantageous for the nourifhing a Crop, as Two
Bufhels of Oats are better than one for nourifhing an
Horfe : Or if the Staple of the Land be too thin or
(hallow, wc can help it by raifing the Ridges prepared
for the Rows the higher above the Level.

9. We alfo raife an high Ridge in the Middle of
each Interval above the Wheat before Winter, to pro-
tect it from the cold Winds, and to prevent the Snow
from being driven away by them. And the Furrows
or Trenches, from whence the Earth of thefe Ridges
is taken, ferve to drain off the Water from the
Wheat, fo that, being drier, it mull be warmer
than the harrowed Wheat, which has neither Furrows
to keep it dry, nor Fridges to ilielter it (a)9 as every
Row of ours has on both Sides of it.
I V. The Condition in ivbicb the Land is left after a Crop.

The different Condition the Land is left in after a
Crop (b)y by the one and the other Hufbandry, is

not

(a) This is a Miftake ; for the Ridges in the Middle of the
Intervals do not always, nor often in tnin fhallow Land lie high
enough to make a Shelter to the Rows, they being higher: But
when Wheat is drilled on the Level, 'tis fheitered by the Ridgea
raifed in the Intervals : But we never weed or hand- hoe Wheat
before the Spring.

(b) if indifferent Land be well pulverized by the Plough for
one whole Year, it will produce a good Crop : But then, if, in-
itead of being fown, it be kept pulverized on for another Year
without being exhaufied by any Vegetables, it will acquire from
the Atmofphere an extraordinary great Degree of Fertility more
than it had before fuch Second Year's Puiveration and CJnex-
Lauftion. This being granted, which no Man of Experience can
deny, what Reafon can there be why fuch a Number of Plants,
competent for a profitable Crop, may not be maintained on it the
Second Year, that may keep the Degree of their Exhauftion in
^Equilibria with that Degree of Fertility, which the fame Land
had acquired at the End of the Firft Year of its Puiveration, the
fame Degree of Puiveration being continued to it by Hoeing in
the Second Year ? Cr why may it not produce annual Crops al-
ways, if the fame Equilibrium be continually kept ? Two unan-
swerable

Chap. XVII. Old and New Hufbandry. 267

not lefs confiderable than the different Profit of the
Crop.

A Piece of Eleven Acres of a poor, thin, chalky-
Hill was fown with Barley in the common Manner,
after a hoed Crop of Wheat; and produced full Five
Quarters and an half to each Acre (reckoning the
Tythe); which was much more than any Land in all
the Neighbourhood yielded the fame Year -, tho'
fome of it be fo rich, as that One Acre is worth
Three Acres of this Land: And no Man living can
remember, that ever this produced above half fuch
a Crop before, even when the beft of the common
Management has been bellowed upon it.

A Field, that is a fort of an Heath-ground, ufed
to bring fuch poor Crops of Corn, that heretofore
the Parfon carried away a whole Crop of Oats from
it, believing it had been only his Tythe. The bed
Management that ever they did or could bellow upon
it, was to let it reft Two or Three Years, and then
fallow and dung it, and fow it with Wheat, next to
that with Barley and Clover, and then let it reft
again •, but I cannot hear of any good Crop that it
ever produced by this or any other of their Methods;
'twas ftill reckoned fo poor, that nobody cared to
rent it. They faid Dung and Labour were thrown
away upon it, then immediately after Two fown Crops
of black Oats had been taken off it, the laft of which
was fcarce worth the mowing, it was put into the

fwerable Reafons may be given why this Equilibrium cannot be
kept in the random Sowing, as it may in the Hoeing Method ;
njiz. Firil, In the former, the Land is by the Number of fown
Plants and Weeds much more (we may fuppofe at leaft Five times
more) exhauJled : And, Secondly, No Pulveration is continued
to the Soil, whilft the Crop is on it ; which is that Part of the
Year wherein is the moil proper (if not the only proper) Seafon
for pulverking. Therefore, allowing, that, in the random way,
a Soil cannot, for want of Quantity of vegetable Food, conti-
nue to produce annual Crops without Manure, or perhaps with
it ; yet that is no Reafon why it may not produce them in the
Hoeing Culture duly performed.

3 Hoeing

2 63 Of Differences between the Chap. XVII.

Hoeing Management \ and when Three hoed Crops
(a) had been taken from it, it was fown with Barley,
and brought a very good Crop, much better than
ever it was known to yield before \ and then a good
Crop of hoed Wheat fucceeded the Barley, and then
it was again fown with Barley, upon the Wheat- Hub-
ble ♦, and that alfo was better than the Barley it ufed
to produce.

Now all the Farmers of the Neighbourhood af-
firm, that it is impofiible but that this muft be very
rich Ground, becaufe they have feen it produce Six
Crops in Six Years, without Dung or Fallow, and
never one of them fail. But, alas ! this different
Reputation they give to the Land, does not at ail
belong to it, but to the different Sorts of Hufbandry ;
for the Nature of it cannot be altered but by that,
the Crops being all carried off it, and nothing added
to fupply the Subftance thofe Crops take from it,
except (what Mr. Evelyn calls) the celeftial Influ-
ences \ and that thefe are received by the Earth, in
proportion to the Degrees of its Pulveration.

A Field was drilled with Barley after an hoedrCrop;
and another adjoining to it on the fame Side of the fame
poor Hill, and exactly the fame Sort of Land, was
drilled with Barley alio, Part of it after the fown Crop,
the fame Day with the ether ; there was only this
Difference in the Soil, that the former of thefe had
no manner of Compoit on it for many Years before,
and the latter was dunged the Year before : Yet its
Crop was not near fo good as that which followed the
hoed Crop (b) ; tho* the latter had twice the Plow-
ing that the former had before drilling, and the fame
Hoeings afterwards -9 viz. Each was hoed Three times.
A Field of about Seventeen Acres was Summer-
fallowed, and drilled with Wheat ; and with the Hoe-
ing brought a very good Crop (except Part of it,

{a) Thefe Three hoed Crops were of Turneps and Potatoes
\b) This was a Wheat Crop, and often well hoed,

which

Chap. XVII. Old and New Huibandry 260

which being eaten by trefpaffing Sheep in the Winter,
was fomewhat blighted) ♦, the Michaelmas after that
was taken off, the fame Field was drilled again with
Wheat, upon the Stubble of the former, and hoed:
This Second Crop was a good one, fcarce any in the
Neighbourhood better. A Piece of Wheat adjoining
to it, on the very fame Sort of Land (except that
this latter was always reckoned better, being thicker
in Mould above the Chalk), fovvn at the fame time
on dunged Fallows, and the Ground always dunged
once in Three Years; yet this Crop failed fo much,
as to be judged, by fome Farmers, not to exceed the
Tythe of the other : That the hoed Field has re-
ceived no Dung or Manure for many Years paft, is
becaufe it lies out of the Reach for carrying of Cart-
Dung, and no Fold being kept on my Farm : But I
cannot fay, I think there was quite fo much Odds
betwixt this Second undunged hoed Crop and the
fown ; yet this is certain, that the former is a good,
and the latter a very bad Crop.

I could give many more Inftances of the fame Kind,
where hoed Crops and fown Crops have fucceeded
better after hoed Crops than after fown Crops, and
never yet have feen the contrary ; and therefore am
convinced, that the Hoeing (a) (if it be duly per-
formed) enriches the Soil more than Dung and Fal-
lows, and leaves the Land in a much better Condition
for a fucceeding Crop. The Reafon I take to be very

{a) This is more efpecially meant of Fallows in the common
Husbandry, and a moderate Quantity of common Dung, or the
Fold : And there may be fuch a poor Sand, or other barrenifh
Soil, fo fubje<ft to Conftipation in the Winter, as to require Dung
when planted with Wheat, there being no general Rule without
Exceptions; and 'tis impoflible for me to know the Number of
thefe Exceptions. Well it is for the Hoer, whofe Land is of fuch
a kind, that he can keep it in Heart without Dung by Hoeing ,
for when he has no Fold, he plows his Ground with Oxen, and
plants it moftly with Wheat, the Straw ^hereof being for other
Ufes, he can make but very little Dung.

obvious;

270 Of Differences between the Chap. XV XI.

obvious: The artificial Pafture of Plants is made and
increafed by Pulveration only, and nothing elfe there
is in our Power to enrich our Ground, but to pulve-
rize it (a)9 and keep it from being exhaufted by Ve-
getables.

(a) Thele Two are all we have in our Power; for pulverizing
includes an Expofure to the Atmofphere; without which, I think,
it cannot be reduced to Particles minute enough, or have their
Superficies fo impregnated as to become a fertile Pafture for
Plants. The Experiment related by Mr. Evelyn of artificial Pul-
veration, feems to prove fuch an Expofure neceffary ; as alfo the
frequent turning (or inceftantly agitating) that fine Duft for a
Year, before the barren exhaufted Earth was made rich and pro-
lific ; For, befides the Benefit of Pulveration and Impregnation,
Land is more enriched in proportion to the Time of Expofure,
during which it is free from Exhauftion, and continually receiving
from the Atmofphere : Therefore frequent Turning and Expofure
are both contained in the Words pulverize, and not exhauft ; and
to comply with the latter, we fhould endeavour, that our Land
may be never exhaufted by any other Plants than by thofe we
would propagate, and by no more of them neither, than what are
neceftary for producing a reafonable Crop ; which, upon full
Trial, will be found a very fmall Number in comparifon to thofe
that are commonly fown ; and then, if the Supply from the At-
mofphere by Help of the Pulveration exceeds the Exhauftion, the
Land will become richer, tho' conftant Crops are produced of the
fame Species ; as in the Vineyards ; and the Soil of thefe is fo
much improved by a bare competent Exhauftion, and the ufual
Pulveration, that after producing good annual Crops without
Durfg, until Age has killed the Vines, they leave the Soil better
than they found it; and better than contiguous Land of the fame
Sort kept in arable Field-culture.

By Palveration are meant all the Benefits of it that accrue to
the Pafture of Plants ; and by Exhauftion, all the Injuries that
can be done to that Pafture, except Burning. And as the Benefits
of Pulveration vifibly continue for feveral Years, fo do the In-
juries of Exhauftion ; which appear by the Ends of fome of my
Rows that have been cleanfed of Weeds in their Partitions by the
Hand-hoe, and the other Ends of the fame Rows not cleanfed ;
the Difference is vifible in the Colour of the Wheat in the Third
and Fourth following Crops, equally managed ; and this is no
more to be wondered at, than that Two unequal Sums, being
equally increafed or diminifhed, fhould remain unequal, until an
Addition to the letter, or a Subtraction from the greater, be
made ; which, in cafe of the Soil, muft be either by a greater
Pulveration, or a lefTer Exhauftion. Tis by this that both Ends

of

Chap. XVII. Old and New Hufbandry. 27 1
getables (a). Superinduclions of Earth are an Addi-
tion of more Ground, or changing it, and are more
properly purchafing than cultivating.

of thefe Rows in time become equal : For tho' Ten Plant? that
produce an Ounce of Wheat, iniume more Pabulum than one
Plant that produces the fame Quantity (the Reafon for which 13
given in the Note on p. i 21 ,) ; yet a Plant that produces Six or
Seven Drams, infumes lefs than one that produces an Ounce ; for
a Plant which produces Six Drams of Wheat cannot be a poor
one, and therefore infumes no more Pabulum than in proportion
to its Augment and Product. Thus the Soil of thole Ends,
which, by being doubly exhaufted by Weeds and Wheat plants,
was made poorer, gradually recovers an Equality with the other
Ends, by being for feveral Years lefs exhaufted than the other
Ends are by larger Plants, whilft the Number of Plants, and the
Pulveration of each, are equal.

To the Reafons already given there is another to be added,
why Horfe hoed Wheat exhaufts the Soil lefs than fown Crops,
where the Product of Wheat produced by each is equal: Which
Reafon is, that the former has much lefs Straw than the latter ;
as appears by the different Quantities of Grain that a Sheaf of
each of equal Diameter yields ; one of the former yielding ge-
nerally double to one of the latter ; for a Sheaf of the fown has
not only more fmail Under-ears, but alio its belt Ears bear a lefs
Proportion to their Straw than the other ; for a Straw of fown
Wheat Six Feet high, I have found to have an Ear but of half
the Size of an Ear of drilled Wrheat on a Stalk Five Feet high,
having meafured both of them Handing in the Field, and rubbed
out the Grain of them. This Difference I impute to the different
Suppiy of Nourilhment at the time when the Ears are forming.

Thus the fown Crop exhaufts a Soil much more by its greater
Quantity of Straw.

And this is one Reafon why annual Crops of fown Wheat can-
not fucceed as Crops of Horfe hoed Wheat do. There mull be
Dung and Fallow to repair the Exhauftion of the fown ; neither
of which are necefi'ary for Crops of the Horfe -hoed.

(a) it may be afeed, How 'tis poffible that Eight Hoeings,
which are but equal, in Labour, to Two plain Plowings, mould
fo much exceed Three plain Plowings, as to procure as good or
a better Crop without Manure, than the common Three Plowings
can do with Manure, and enrich the Land alio.

The Anfwer is, That each Hoeing of the Five or Six being
done to the Wheat-plants, though it does no: clean plow the
whole Interval underneath, yet it changeth the whole external
Superficies (or Surface) thereof, whereby it becomes impregnare

b.-

272 Of Differences beween the Chap. XVJL

Their One Tear's Tillage, which is but Two PUr&ihgi

before Seed-time, commonly makes but little Duft ; and
that which it does make, has but a Jhort time to lie expofed
for Impregnation \ and after the Wheat is fown, the
Land lies unmoved for near Twelve Months, all the
while gradually lofing its Pafture, by fub/iding, and
by being continually exhaufted in feeding a treble Stock
of Wheat-plants, and a Stock of Weeds, which are
fometimes a greater Stock. This puts the Advocates
for the old Method upon a Neceffity of ufing of Dung,
which is, at befi, but a Succedaneum of the Hoe-,
for it depends chiefly on the Weather, and other Acci-
dents, whether it may prove fufficient by Fermentation
to pulverize in the Spring, or no : And it is a Queftion
whether it will equal Two additional (a) Hoeings, or
but one ; tho\ as I have computed it> one Dunging cofts
the Price of One hundred Hoeings.

When they have done all they can, the Pafture
they raife is generally too little for the Stock that
is to be maintained upon it, and much the greater!:
Part of the Wheat-plants are ftarved -, for from
Twenty Gallons of Seed they fow on an Acre, they
receive commonly no more than Twenty Bufhels (b)
of Wheat in their Crop, which is but an Increafe of
Eight Grains for one : Nov/, confidering how many
Grains there are in one good Ear, and how many Ears

by the nitrous Air, as much as if it were all clean plowed at the
time of every Hoeing, and the Weeds are as much {lifted, or
fuffocated.

(a) Additional, becaufe there mud flrftbe feveral Hoeings to
make our treble Row equal to an undunged Six-feet Ridge of
fdwn Wheat.

(b) And they have oftener lefs than Sixteen Bufhels ; and in
the Harveft 1735, a fubilantial experienced Farmer had no more
than Four Bufhels of Wheat to an Acre throughout a Field of
Forty Acres, being robbed by Poppies; and I have known a Crop
that has amounted to do more than Two Bufhels to an Acre, and
fome Crops lefs, tho1 dunged and fallowed ; fo that, taking the
common fown Crops of Wheat one with another, they are thought
not to amount to Sixteen. Bufhels to an Acre, communilus anni?.

on

Ch. XVII. -Old and New Husbandry. 273

on one Plant, we find, that there is not One Plant in
in Xen that lives till Harveft, even when there has
not been Froft in the Winter fufEcient tolcill any of
them ; or if we count the Number of Plants that come
up on a certain Meafure of Ground, and count them
again in the Spring, and likcwife at Harveft, we (hall
be fatisfied, that moft or all of the Plants that are
miMing, could die by no other Accident than want of
Nourilnment.

They are obliged to fow this great Quantity of Seed,
to the end that the Wheat, by the great Number of
Plants, may be the better able to contend with the
Weeds ; and yet, too often, at Harveft, we fee a
great Crop of Weeds, and very little Wheat among
them. Therefore this Failure, being infufficient to
maintain the prefent Crop, without ftarving the great-
eft Part of its Plants, is likely to be leisabie to main-,
tain a fubfequent Crop, than that Pafture which is noc
io much exhaufted.

When their Crop of Wheat is much lefs than ours,
their Vacancies, if computed all together, may be
greater than thofe of our Partitions and Intervals ;
theirs, by being irregular, ferve chiefly for the Pro-
tection of Weeds *, for they cannot be plow'd out,
without deftroying the Corn, any more than Cannons
firing at a Breach, whereon both Sides are contending,
can kill Enemies, and not Friends.

Their Plants ftand on the Ground in a confufed
manner, like a Rabble; ours like a difciplin'd Army :
We make the moft of our Ground ; for we can, if
we pleafe, cleanfe the Partitions with a Hand-hoe (£);
and for the reft, if the Soil be deep enough to be
cirill'd on the Level (V), in treble Rows, the Par-

(b) Of all annual Weeds.

(c) This is only put as a Suppofition ; for I have for thefe
Jeveral Years left off drilling on the Level, and do advife again ft
\t; becaufe altho1 Mould fhould not be wanting for the Partitions
jn deep rich Land, yet it is much more difficult to toe on the
Level, than on Ridges.

T tttfani

274 Of Differences between the Ch. XVII.

titions at Six Inches (d\ the Intervals Five Feet •,
Five Parts in Six of the whole Field may be pulve-
riz'd every Year, and at proper times all round the
Year.

The Partions being one Sixth-part for the Crop to
Hand on, and to be nourifhcd in the Winter, one
other Sixth-part being well pulveriz'd, may be jfuffi-
cient to nourifh it from thence till Harveft (e) \ the
Remainder, being Two-thirds of the Whole, may be
kept unexhaufted, the One-third for one Year, and
the other Third of it Two Years •, all kept open for
the Reception of the Benefits defcending from above,
during ib long a time ; whilfl the lowed Land is fhut
againft them every Summer, except the little time in
which it is fallow'd, once in Three Years, and a little,
perhaps, whilft they plow it for Barley in the Winter,
which is a Seafon feldom proper for pulverizing the
Ground.

Their Land mud have been exhaufted as well by
thofe fupernumerary Plants of Wheat, while they
lived, as by thofe that remain for the Crop, and by
the Weeds. Our Land muft be much lefs exhaufted,
when it has never above one Third-part of the Wheat-
plants to nourifh that they have, and generally no
Weeds -, Co that our ho'd Land having much more
vegetable Pafture made, and continually renewed,
to ib much a lefs Stock of Plants (f), muft needs be

(d) But when it is drilled upon Ridges, the Proportion is lefs,
by how much the Partitions, being thicker in Mould, contain
more than a Sixth-part of' the whole Six Feet of Earth, and the
Proportion of unexhaufted Earth will be alter'd likewife ; and I
only mention thefe Distances to avoid Fractions.

(e) This may be done, tho"1 the Roots of a competent Number
of Plants run through the Whole, in the manner herein befora
explained.

if) Therefore, whenever a Soil receives more Supplies of fine
Earth from the Atmofphere, than is exhaufted by all the Plants
that grow in the Soil, it becomes richer; but if the contrary, then
it becomes poorer.

left,

Ch> XVII. Old WNew Husbandry. 275

left, by every Crop, in a much better Condition than
theirs is left, in by any one of their fovvn Crops,
altho' our Crops of Corn at Harveft be better than
theirs (g).

They objecT: againft us, laying, That fometimes
the Hoeing makes Wheat too iirong and grofs,
whereby it becomes the more liable to the Blacks (or
Blight of Infecls) : But this is the Fault of the Hoer i
for he may choofe whether he will make it too ftrong^
becaufe he may apply his Hoeings at proper times
only, and apportion the Mourifhment to the Number
and Bulk of his Plants. However, by this Objection
they allow, that the Floe can give Nourilhment
enough, and therefore they cannot maintain, that there
is a Neceflky of Dung (h) in the Hoeing-Hufbandry ;

and

(g) On an undung'd low Six feet Ridge, we have Three Rows,
Eight Inches afunder, all which being equal, during the Winter,
out each of the Two outfide Rows at Harveft producing Ten
times as much Wheat as the middle Row doth, all Three together
produce a Quantity equal to One-and-twenty of this middle
Row. Now, fuppohng the Roots of this Row not to reach through
the outfide Rows, fo as to receive any Benefit from the ho'd Inter-
vals, then this Row might only be equal to one of Nine Rows,
which mould have been drilled Eight Inches afunder on this
Ridge, and then our Three would only be equal to Twenty-one
of fuch Nine Rows. But fince it can be demonitrated, that the
Roots of our middle Row do pafs through both the outfide Rows
far into the ho'd Intervals, we may well fuppofe it to be at leaft
double to what it would have been, if it had no Benefit from the
Hoeing, and then our Three will be equal to Forty-two of fuch
Nine unho'd Rows. Thus our Crop is Thirty-three in Forty-
two (oralmofl Four Parts in Five) increafed by the Hoeing; for
though many Fields of Wheat have been drilled all over in Rows
Eight Inches afunder, it never has been judged, in Twenty Years
Experience, that a Crop fo planted, though not ho'd, was, by its
Evennefs and Regularity, lefs, ceteris paribus, than a Crop fown
a random.

[b) As for the Quantity of vegetable Matter of Dung, when
reduced to Earth by Putrefaction, it is very inconftderable, and#
of many forrs of Manure, next to nothing.

The aim -ft only Ufe of all Manure is the fame as of Tillage j

viz. the Pulveration it makes by Fermentation, as Tillage doth

T 2 ' by

276 Of Differences between the Ch. XVII.

and that, if our Crops of Wheat fhould happen to
fuffer, by being too ftrong, our Lofs will be lefs
than theirs, when that is too ftrong, fince it will coft
them Nine times our Expence to make it fo.

A Second Objection is, That as Hoeing makes
poor Land become rich enough to bear good Crops
of Wheat for feveral Years fucceflively, the fame mud
needs make very good Land become too rich for
Wheat. I anfwer, That if poflibly it mould fo hap-
pen, there are Two Remedies to be ufed in fuch a
Cafe; the one is to plant it with Beans, or fome
other Vegetables, which cannot be over- nourished,
asTurneps, Carrots, Cabbages, and fuch-like, which
are excellent Food for fatting of Cattle ; or elfe they
may make ufe of the other infallible Remedy, when
that rich Land, by producing Crops every Year in
the Hoeing-Hufbandry, is grown too vigorous and
refty, they may foon take down its Mettle, by fow-
Ing it a few Years in their old Hufbandry, which will
fill it again with a new Stock of Weeds, that will
fuck it out of Heart, and exhauft more of its Vigour,
than the Dung (z), that helps to produce them, can
reftore.

There is a Third Objection, and that is, That the
Benefit of fome Ground is loft where the Hoe- plough
turns at each End of the Lands : But this cannot be
much, if any, Damage ; becaufe about Four Square

by Attriti n or Contunon ; and with thefe Differences, that Dung,
which is the moil common Manure, is apt to increafe Weeds, a
Tillage (of which Hoeing is chief) deftroys them, and Manure is
fcanty in mod Places, but Tillage may be had every-where. An-
other Difference is, the vail Difproportion of the Price of Manure
and that of Tillage.

Note, As we have no way to enrich the Soil, but by Pulvera-
tion of Manure, or of Initruments, or of both ; fo Nature has
ordainNd, that the Soil (hall be exhauited by nothing, but by the
Roots of Plants.

(?) Dung made of the Straw of fowii Corn generally abounds
with the Seed of Weeds,

Perch

Chap. XVIII. Of Ploughs. 277

Perch to a Statute Acre is fufficient for this Purpofe ;
and that, at the Rate of Ten Shillings Rent, comes
to but Three-pence^ tho' this varies, according as the
Piece is longer or fhorter ; and iuppofmg the mod
to be Eight Perch, that is but Six-pence per Acre ;
and that is not loft neither % for whether it be of
natural or artificial Grafs, the Hoe-plough, in turn-
ing on it, will fcratch it, and leave fome Earth on
it, which will enrich it fo much, that it may be worth
its Rent for Baiting of Horfes or Oxen upon it. And
befldes, thefe Ends are commonly near Quick-hedges
or Trees, which do foexhauft it, that when no Cattle
come there to manure it, 'tis not worth the Labour
of plowing it.

CHAP. XVIII.

O/Ploughs,

BY what means Ploughs and Tillage itfelf came
at firft to be invented is uncertain; therefore
we are at Liberty to guefs : And it feems moft proba-
ble, that it was, like moft other Inventions, found
out by Accident, and that the firft Tillers or Plowers
of the Ground were Hogs : Men in thofe Days,
having fufficient Leifure for Speculation, obferv'd,
that when any fort of Seed happen'd to fall on a
Spot of Ground well routed up by the Swine (which
Inftincthad inftru&ed to dig in Search of their Food),
it grew and profpered much better than in the whole
unbroken Turf. This Obfervation mufl naturally in-
duce rational Creatures to the Contrivance of fome
Inftrument, which might imitate, if not excel Brutes
in this Operation of breaking and dividing the Sur-
face of the Earth, in order to increafe and better its
Product.

T 3 That

*;3 O/Plo ug h s. Chap. XlTtl.

That fome fuch Accident gave Men the Firft Hints
of original Agriculture ', may be inferr'd from the
very little (or no) Probability of its being invented
originally upon Arguments which might convince the
Underftanding (by juft Conclufions from Ideas of the
Earth and Vegetation) of any reafonable Grounds to
hope, that the -Effect of increafing the Earth's Pro-
duce fhould follow the Caufe of Tillage; or, in other
Words, why it mould produce more when tilled than
when untilled. Therefore it is very unlikely, that
Men fhould bedn to take Pains to till the Land
without any Sort of Reafon why they did it. And
no fuch Reafon could they have before the Invention*
as they had afterwards: For when they accidentally
faw that Effect follow that Caufe, then they were
well convinced it did fo. But tho' this Argument,
viz. Tillage increafes the Product of the Earth, be-
caufe it does, has been fufficient to continue the
Practice of Tillage ever fince; yet it is impoflable
for the Inventors to have had this Argument before
the Invention, in cafe it had been invented by Men,
and not fortuitouily difcover'd.

Had there ever been extant any other or better Ar-
guments, whereon this Practice, 10 ufeful to Man-
kind, was founded ; lure, fome of all the great and
learned Authors, who have written on this Subject,
Would have mention'd them. Philofophers, Orators,
and Poets, have treated of it in the fame Theory by
which it was firft difcover'd, and by no other •, 'viz.
Land produces more when tilled ; and fome feem to
fay, the more it is tilled, the more it produces. It
does, becauie it does; not a Word of thePafture of
Plants, or any thing like it. So that all the antient
Scriptores de re rufticd have done, was only to keep
that Theory in the fame Degree of Perfection in
Which the firft Difcoverers received it.

The bridled Animals broke up the Ground, be-
caufe they ufed to find their Food there by digging ;

Chap. XVIII. O/Ploughs. 279

Men till it, becaufe they find Tillage procures them
better Food than Acorns.

The Reafons are the fame for one and the other.

Thefe Writers, afham'dto acknowlege fo noble a
Difcovery to be owing to fo mean a Foundation,
make no mention of the true Teachers, but attribute
the Invention to Ceres, a Goddefsof their own make-
ing ; fhe, as they pretend, firft taught the Art of
Tillage. With this Fable they were fo well pleafed,
that they never attempted to improve that Art, left
they mould derogate from the Divinity of Ceres, in
fuppofing her Invention imperfect.

With what Inftrument Men firft tilled the Ground
we don't know exactly; but there may be Reafons to
believe it was with the Spade, and probably a wood-
en one, and very rough.

For whilft People liv'd on Acorns, there was no
need of the Smith ; fuch Food required no Knives for
eating it, nor was it worth while to make Swords to
fight for it ; and without Iron the Spade could not
be well hewn, or fhap'd •, but if it had been fuch as
it is at prefent, there never was any thing comparable
to it, for the true Ufe of Tillage. Yet the Spade
could not make that Expedition, which was neceffary
when Tillage became general in the Fields ; and
therefore in time the Spade came wholly to be appro-
priate to the moft perfect Sort of Tillage in the
Garden. Then the Plough fupply'd the Place of
the Spade in the Field; and tho' it could not (fuch as
it was) till the Land near fo well, yet it could till
ten times more of it, and with leis human Labour.

Why they did not improve the Plough, fo that it
might alfo till as well as the Spade, feems owing to
their Primitive Theory, which gave no Mathematical
Reafon to (hew wherein the true Method of Tillage
didconfift; viz. in dividing the Earth into many
Parts, to increafe its internal Superficies, which is the
Paiture of Plants.

T 4 The

j>8o O/.Ploughs. Chap. XVIII,

The Difference betwixt the Operation of the Spade,
&nd that of the common Plough, is only this -, that
the former commonly divides the Soil into fmaller
Pieces, and goes deeper.

How eafy and natural it is to contrive a Flough
that may equal the Spade, if not exceed it, in going
deeper, and cutting the Soil into fmaller Pieces, than
the Spade commonly does, I leave to the judgment
of thofe who have feen the Four-coulter'd Plough.

The Plough defcrib'd by Virgil had no Coulter 3
Neither do 1 remember to have feen any Coulter in
Italy, or the South of France-, and, as I have been
informed, the Ploughs in Greece, and all the Eaft,
are of much the fame Fafnion : Neither is it practi-
cable to ufe a Coulter in fuch a Plough 5 becaufe the
Share does not cut the Bottom of the Furrow hori-
zontally, but obliquely ; in going one way, it turns
off the Furrow to the right Hand -, but in coming
back, it turns it to the Left {a). Therefore, if it
had a Coulter, it muff have been on the wrong Side
every other Furrow : And befides, as the Handle
(for it has but one) always holds the Plough towards
one Side, with the Bottom of the Share towards the
Unplow'd Land, it would caufe the Coulter to go
much too low when it went on the Furrow-fide, and
it would not touch the Ground, when it went on the
Land-fide.

'Tis a great Miftake in thofe who fay Virgil's
Plough had Two Earth-boards ; for it had none at
all; but the Share itfelf always going obliquely, ferved
inftead of an Earth-board •, and the Two Ears, which
were the Corners of a Piece of Wood lying under

[a) Note, This EnJIern Plough always goes forward, and re-
turns back in the fame Furrow, making only one Land of a
whole Field : Thouch it turns its one Furrow towards the Right,
and the other towards the Left of the Holder; yet every Furrow
13 turned towards the fame Point of the Compafs, as when we
toiow with a Turn-wriit Plough.

the

Chap. XVIII. Of Ploughs. 281

the Share, did the Office of Ground-wrefts : This
Fafhion continues to this Day in thofe Countries, and
in Languedoc.

This fort of Plough performs tolerably when
Ground is fine, and makes a fhift to break up light
Land; and I could never find any other Land there;
I am fure none comparable to ours for Strength: And
it would be next to impoflible, to break up fuch as
we in England call ftrong Land with it.

I do not find, that the Arable Lands about Rome
are ever fuffered to lie ftill long enough to come to a
Turf-, but I have obferved in the low rich Lands in
the Calabria 's, fubjecl to the Invafions of the Turks ,
that there is Turf, and that thefe Ploughs go over
the Land Two or Three times before the Turf of it
is all broken, tho9 the Soil be a very mellow Sort
of Garden-mould. Having no Coulters to cut it,
they break and tear Turf into little Pieces. This
was done in the Month of November ; and had I not
feen Men and Oxen at the Work, or had there been
Oaks in the Place, I fhould rather have thought that
Tillage performed by a Race of the firft Teachers of
it, in muzzling Acorns, than by Ploughs. Howe-
ver, the Mould being naturally very mellow, when
the Turf is broken with iliallow Plowing, they can
plow deeper afterwards.

The Englijh Ploughs are very different from the
Eajlern*, as in general the Soil is.

Thefe, when well made, cut off the Furrow at
the Bottom horizontally ; and therefore, it being
as thick on the Land-fide as on the Furrow- fide,
the Plough cannot break it off from the whole Land,
at fuch aThicknefs (being Six times greater than the
Eajiern Ploughs have to break off J, and muii: of Ne-
cefiity have a Coulter to cut it off": By this means
the Furrow is turned perfectly whole, and no Part of
the Turf of it broken ; and if it lie long without
new turning, the Grafs from the Edges will fpread,

and

282 Of Ploughs. Chap. XVIII.

and form a new Turf (or SwerdJ on the other Side,
which was the Bottom of the Furrow before turning,
but is now become the Surface of the Earth, and
may foon become greener with Grafs than before
Plowing ; and often the very Roots fend up new
Heads to help to flock the reverfed Furrow, the for-
mer Heads being converted into Roots, fo that it is
doubly cloathed and braced on both Sides, or, as
it were, kay'd together, firm and folid, almoft as a
Plank ; it may be drawn from one Side of a Field
to the other without breaking, and might pofllbly
be made ufe of, inrtead of Virgil's Crates Viminea^
for harrowing or fmoothing of fine-tilled Ground ;
but not without much Time, Labour, and Difficulty,
can it be made fuch itfelf.

If you plow whole ftrong turfy Furrows crofs-ways,
as Virgil directs, and as it is too commonly pra61ifed,
the Coulter cannot eafily cut them, becaufe, being
Joofe underneath, they do not make a fufficient Re-
fiflance or PrefTure again it its Edge, but move before
it, and fo are apt to be drawn and driven up into
Heaps, with their Surfaces lying all manner of Ways,
and fituate in all manner of Poitures : So the Turf,
which is not turned, continuing in the open Air,
grows on, and with its vigorous Roots holds the
Earth faft together, and will not fuffer the neceffary
Divifion to be made, which would be, if the Turf
were rotten, and which is the End of all Tillage,
viz. to increafe the Pasture of Plants.

Next,fome have vafl heavy Drags, with great long
Iron Tines in them ; and tho' thefe huge broken
Pieces of Furrows, being loofer than before, require
keener Edges to cut them \ yet thefe Drag-tines have
no Edge at all, but are as blunt as the Furrows they
fhould cut. Thefe Drags draw them fometimes into
larger Heaps, leaving the under Stratum bare betwixt
them, only making offfome of their Mould in tum-
bling them about, and fcratching their Surfaces,

without

Chap. XVIII. Of Ploughs. 283

without reducing them to a moderate Finenefs, until
this ill- broken Land has, for above a Year, and
fometimes longer, entertained Ploughs, Cattle, and
Men, with a frequent laborious Exercife, for which
they are obliged to the one Coulter.

If the Soil be fhallow, it may be broken up with a
narrow Furrow, which will the fooner be brought
in Tilth; but if it be a deep Soil, the Furrows muft
be proportionably large, or elfe a Part of the good
Mould muft be left under unmoved, and fo loft; for
a narrow Furrow cannot be plowed deep, becaufe
the Plough will continually flip out from the hard
Land toward the Right-hand, unlefs the rifing Fur-
row be of fufficient Weight to prefs the Plough to-
wards the Left, and keep it in its Work : The deeper
you plow, the greater Weight is required to prefs
it ; fo that the deeper your Land is, the worfe (or into
the larger Furrows) muft it be broken up with one
Coulter, infomuch that, if the Land be ftrong (as
moil deep Ground in England is), it is a Work of
fome Years to conquer it, after it has been refted.
And often it happens, that the exceffive Charge of
this Tillage reduces the Profit of rich Land below
that of poor.

This gives an Opportunity to deceitful Servants,
of impofing upon their ignorant Mafters. They
plow fuch deep Land with a fmall fhallow Furrow,
to the end the Turf and Furrows may be broken, and
made fine the fooner ; pretending they will plow it
deeper the next time (which is called Stirring), which
thefe Rogues know very well cannot be done, and
intend no more than that the Plough coming the
eafler after the Horfes, their Coats may mine the
better ; and tho' there be no Crop at Harvefl, they
muft have Four Meals a Day all the Year, and extra-
vagant Wages at Michaelmas , or at any time of the
Year, when they think fit to mifbehave themfelves.

This

284 °f Ploughs. Chap. XVIII.

This fort of Land mud not be ftirred, /. e . plowed
the Second time in wet Weather; for that will caufc
the Grafs and Weeds to multiply, befides the tread-
ing the Ground into hard Dabs, &c. And, in dry
Weather, the Plough will never enter any deeper
than it went the firft time ; the Refiftance below be-
ing fo much more than the PrefTure above, the Plough
will rife up continually ; or, if it goes deep enough
for the Weight of Earth to keep it down, another
Inconvenience will follow, which is that mentioned
by Columella , Page 47. §uod omnis humus, quamvis
Itetijfima^ tamen inferiorem partem jejuniorem habet,
eamque attrahunt excitata majores glebae ; quo evenit,
at infcecundior materia mifia pinguiori fegetem minus
uberem reddat. The vulgar Englijh Phrafe is, It
fpaults up from below the Staple. Hence the trea-
cherous Plowman is fecure of an eafy Summer's
Work, if he can perfuade his Mailer to fuffer him
to fallow the Ground with a fhallow Furrow.

Another way to conquer a ftrong Turf is, to plow
it firft with a Breafl-plough, very thin ; and, when the
Swerd is rotten, then plow it at the proper Depth :
But this Method is (befides the extraordinary Charge
of it) liable to other great Misfortunes. If the Turf
be pared up in Winter, or early in the Spring, it, is a
Chance but the Rains caufe it to grow ftronger than
before, infread of its Rotting.

And if it be pared later, tho* dry Weather do fol-
low, and continue long enough to kill the Turf, yet
this lofes time ; the Seafon of plowing is retarded ;
for all the Staple flill remains unfilled ; and, before
that can be well done, the Year is too far fpent for
lowing it with Wheat, which is the mod proper
Grain for fuch ftrong Land (a) ; and few will have
Patience to wait, and plow on till another Wheat-feed

(a) Befides, moft ftrong Land has Stones in it, which will not
admit the Uie of the Breait-ploughv

time.

Chap. XVIII. Of Ploughs. 28?

time. The dry Weather alfo, which in Summer
kills the Swerd, renders the Plowing obnoxious to
moft or all the Evils afore-mentioned.

A Farmer inquires concerning the Four-coulter
Plough, as in the following Dialogue.

Farm. What muft we do then ? Muft we have re-
courfe to the Spade for breaking up our rich, ftrong^
fwerdy Land ?

Refp. If you can procure Men to dig it faithfully
in Pieces, not above Two Inches and an half thick,
at the Price of about Eight Shillings per Acre, it
would do very well, and anfwer all the Ends of Till-
age; but, tho' you bargain with them to dig it at
that Size for Three Pounds per Acre, you will find,
upon Examination, moft of the Pieces or Spits,
which are dug out of your Sight, to be of twice
that Thicknefs. And no great Quantities can be
this way managed, altho' the Price of Corn mould
anfwer fuch an extravagant Expence.

Farm. Since it is fo difficult to bring our ftrong Land
into Tilths after it has refted, that it cannot be fpeedily
done by a Plough without a Coulter, or by one with a
Coulter, in wet Weather or dry, nor with a Breaft-
plough, without a certain Expence, and an uncertain
Succefsi the Spade is too chargeable a Tillage for the
Field : It feems to me, upon the Whole, that we are
Lofers by this inaratas gratia terras, unlefs we could con-
trive fome other Method of reducing it fo oner, and with
lefs Charge, into Tilth ; for I obferve, that, when we
fow it upon the Back, the Corn and Grafs (or Couch),
coming both together, exhauft the Ground fo much, that
by that time we can (which is about Three Tears) re-
duce the great Lumps to a tolerable Finenefs, it grows
full of Grafs and Weeds {which we call Foul), and lofes
that Fertility we expected it /hould acquire by Reft, be-
comings
4

2U Of Ploughs. Chap. XVIII.

comings in our Terms, both cut of Tilth, and out of
Heart,

Refp. If you know all this to be true, and that
without a Coulter you cannot break it up at all •, and
that with one Coulter you cannot any way cut .the
Furrow fmall enough, or lefs than Ten Inches broad;
why do not you cut it with Four Coulters, which will
reduce the fame Furrow into Four equal Parts, of
Two Inches and an half each in Breadth, and of the
Depth of the Staple, thoJ that mould be Two Spit,
or Sixteen Inches deep ?

Farm. How can that be done ?

Refp. Every jot as eafily as with one Coulter :
For, before the Furrow is raifed by the Share, it lies
fart, and makes a fufficient Refiftance equally againft
the Edges of all the Coulters *, tho', after it be raifed
and loofe, it yields and recedes every way, except
downwards ; fo that it cannot be cut by any Edge,
but fuch as attacks it perpendicularly from above, as
that of the Spade does.

Farm. This feems to me reafonable*, and, having very
lately heard talk of this Plough, I would gladly knozv
more of it.

Refp. The Furrow, being cut into Four Parts, has
not only Four times the Superficies on the Eight Sides
which it would have had on Two Sides ; but ft is
alfo more divided crofs-ways ; viz. The Ground-
wreft prefies and breaks the lower (or Right-hand)
Quarter ; the other Three Quarters, in rifing and
coming over the Earth-board, mult make a crooked
Line about a Fourth longer than the ftrait one they
made before moved; therefore their Thinnefs not be-
ing able to hold them together, they are broken into
many more Pieces, for want of Tenacity to extend to
a longer Line, contrary to a whole Furrow, whole
great Breadth enables it to flretch and extend from a
Jhorter to a longer Line, without breaking; and, as

ic

Chap. XVIII. Of Ploughs. h%7

it is turned off, the Parts are drawn together again by
the Spring of the Turf or Swerd (a), and fo remain
whole after Plowing. Thus the Four-coultered Plow-
can divide the Soil into above Twenty times more
Parts than the common Plough ; and fometimes,
when the Earth is of a right Temper betwixt wet and
dry, the Earth-board, in turning the Furrows off,
will break them into Duft, having more Superficies
than is made by Four common Plowings; and it is
impoffible there mould be any large Pieces amongft
it.

Now, what a prodigious Advantage rnurx the In-
fluences of the Atmofphere have upon thefe fmall
Parts, for making a further Divifion of them ! Frofl,
Water, Drought, and nitrous Air, eafily penetrate to
their very Centers, which cannot in the largeft of
them be more than one Inch and a Quarter diftant
from their Superficies. This Advantage, with a few
fubfequent common Plowings, performed in proper
Seafons, refolves the Earth almoft all to a^owder.
The Swerd, fome being immerfed or buried and
mixed among fo great a Proportion of Mould, is foon
rotten and loft ; fome of the Swerd lying loofe a-top,
the Earth prefently drops out of it ; and then the
Roots are dried up, and die. Thus is the whole
Staple of the Ground brought into perfect Tilth in

(a) A fwerdy Furrow cut ojT by only one Coulter, being
whole, is apt to ft and up on its Edge, or lie hollow ; and then,
being open to the Air, it does not rot; but when it is cut by fe-
veral Coulters, it has not Strength to fupport itfelf, it falls down,
lies clofe to the Earth under it, and, excluding the free Air from
the Turf, it foon becomes rotten. And for killing the Turf of
fwerdy Land is the chief Ufa of the Four-coultered Plough : For
doing of which there is this Advantage, that as in a whole Fur-
row there are often Strings of Couch-grafs, Three or Four Feet
long ; but, when cut by this Plough, there is fcarce a String left
of one Foot long: And thefe Strings being apt to fend cut Roots
from every Knot or Joint, the fhorter they are cut, the more
they will be expofed to the Air and Sun, which will kill them
the fooner.

a very

288 Of Ploughs. Chap. XVIII.

a very fliort time beyond what the Spade ever does
in fuch fwerdy Land.

Farm. What fort of Weather is bejl for ufing this
Plough ?

Refp. Any Weather, except the Ground be fo dry
and hard that the Plough cannot enter it ; but it is
very proper to be done, when the Earth is fo wet,
that by no means it ought to be plowed with any
other Plough ; for it never can be too moift for this,
unlefs the Cattle which draw it be mired ; becaufe,
tho' all the Cattle mould not go in the Furrow, yet
their Treadings are cut fo fmall by the Coulters, that
the Earth is not kept from dilfolving, as when turn-
ed oft whole in common Tillage. 'Tis obferved,
that the Incifions made by the Coulters on fwerdy
Land, will not heal, or fo clofe up, but that they
will open again by the next Plowing* though it be a
great while after. A Farmer who ufes this Plough,
may till in all Weathers and all Seafons of the Year,
either in fallowing with this, which is beft in wet, or
in itirring with the common ones, which muft be
done in dry Weather; and when the Ground is broken
up with this, it may be ftirred in the dried Weather
that can be, without the Danger of tearing (or fpault-
ing) up of the under Stratum along with the Staple,
becaufe this is all broken before, and then no more
can rife with it ; as it does to the Ruin of the Soil,
when in common Tillage they go deeper the Second
time than the Firft : Alfo, if there be a Neceffity of
ftirring forne fort of Land when it is wet, it ought
either to be done with this Plough, or elfe with a
common one drawn by a fingle Row of Cattle tread*
ing all in the Furrow ; for tho* fome Land be very
fine, yet, when plowed by a double Row of Cattle
in wet Weather, it will be made into large Pieces by
the Treading, and perhaps not diffolve again in a
long time : Therefore it is better to be prevented.

Farm,

Chap. XVIII. Of Ploughs. 289

Farm, I perceive this Plough lays the Foundation
for all good Hufoandry ; and there can be no other way
io bring Land into perfeel Tilth in fo [hort a 5 ime^ or

( with fo little Expence. And I am convine'd, that no
Farmer ought to be without it^ who defires to be free

1 from the Danger of his Land being ever^ out of Tilth :
But I have heard it objeffed^ that it is harder to draw
than the common Ploughs ; and that its Beam being longer^
upon account of the Four Coulters ', // lies farther behind^
and comes harder after the Horfes.

Refp. I mud confefs, there is fomething in that
Objection ; for this Plough, being fomething longer,
may be a little the harder Draught-, and alfo its
Weight and Strength mud bear a Proportion to the
Length of it. But this fmall Increafe of the Draught
would have been a much ftronger (if not a fatal) Ob-
jection, had that Cuftom been general^ of Horfes
drawing by their Tails, as 'tis faid to have been for-
merly in fome Places, for then, perhaps, afufHcienC
Strength of Horfes could not be applied to the plough.
But in Countries where Traces are in Ufe, every
Horfe of the Team may draw the Plough equally,
and then there will be no other Inconvenience, befides
the adding one Horfe, or keeping a ftronger Team:
And he cannot be wife, who would iofe the Profit
of his Land, for the Odds of fometimes adding a
Horfe to his Plough. And I am very certain, that
this Plough requires a much lefs Strength of Cattle
to draw it in moid Weather, which is the mo ft pro-
per to ufe it in, than to draw a common Plough in
the fame Ground, and at the fame -Depth, in dry
Weather ; and can feldom be ufed fafely in any other.
And the Vulgar, who have always a wrong Caufe
ready at hand to apply to every thing, impute that

- Draught to the Fafhion of the Plough, which ought
to be imputed to its going deeper *, and this great
Depth at which 'tis capable of plowing, viz. Two

U SpiC

npo O/Ploughs. Chap. XVIIL

Spit deep, is one extraordinary Benefit of it, thoJ it
may, on Occafion, go as fhallow as any.

The Draught is not fo much inereafed by adding
Three Coulters, as may be imagined ; for when the
Ground is moift, the Incifions are eafily made by the
Edges ; and when they are cut fmall, the Furrows
rife much more eafily upon the Share and Earth-
Board, than if whole.

Farm. If this Plough be fo beneficial, having fo
many Advantages, and only the Two Inconveniencies,
one of requiring a little more Strength to draw it, and
the other its being unfit for dry- hard Ground, I wonder
why it is not become more common ?

Refp. It has been ufed with very great Succefs for
thefe feveral Years laft pad, but never like to be
common, unlefs it be defcribed in a more geometrical
Manner, than any Plough has hitherto been \ for the
Plough-wrights find it difficult enough to make a
common Plough with one Coulter to perform as it
ought, for want of the neceffary Rules of their Art.
It is upon this Account that the Two-couker'dPloughs
are ufed in few Places, though they have been found
of excellent Ufe, and have been formerly common:
But, alas! when the Makers, who by their diligent
Study and much Practice had attained the Perfection
of their Art, died for want of learning to write their
Rules mathematically, and mew how the mechanical
Powers were applicable to them, the Art was in a
Manner loft, at the Death of thofe Artifts ; and then
the unfkilful Plough-wrights, deftitute of the true
Rules, were not able to make a Two-coulter'd Plough
to perform well, and then it was left off. Very
lately 'tis revived, fince the Three and Four-coulter'd
ones have been ufed ; from whence fome have made
a Shift to take the Rules of placing Two Coulters
into a Plough, and they begin to be common again ;
and, no doubt, will ceafe again as foon as the Rules
are forgot.

'Tis

Chap. XVIII. Of Ploughs. 201

'Tis ftrange that no Author mould have written
fully of the Fabric of Ploughs ! Men of the greateft
Learning have fpent their Time in contriving Inftru-
ments to meafure the immenfe Diftance of the Stars,
and in finding out the Dimenfions, and even Weight,
of the Planets : They think it more eligible to fTudy
the Art of plowing the Sea with Ships, than of til-
ling the Land with Ploughs ; they beftow the utmoit
of their Skill, learnedly, to pervert the natural Ufe
of all the Elements for Deftruclion of their own Spe-
cies, by the bloody Art of War. Some wafte their
whole Lives in ftudying how to arm Death with new
Engines of Horror, and inventing an infinite Variety
of Slaughter; but think it beneath Men of Learning
(who only are capable of doing it) to employ their
learned Labours in the Invention of new (or even im-
proving the old) Inftrumentsfor increasing of Bread.

The eafieft Method of perpetuating the Ufe pf
the many coulter'd Ploughs, and other newly-in-
vented Inftruments of Hufbandry, is by Models, i. e.
the Things themfelves in little; and thefe may be all
portable even in a Man's Pocket : Every Part muft
be fully defcribed, with the true Dimenfions, and the
mathematical Reafons, on which their Contrivance is
founded. Dire&ions alfo for ufing them muft be given
at the fame time that their Manner of making is de-
fcribed. In fome, the very Hories which draw muft be
reprefented, to fhew the manner of fixing the Horfes,
and the Traces: Cautions againft all the Errors that
may happen by the want of Experience in the Makers
or Ufers, muft be given.

When this is done, and the Rules put into a Method,
the new Hoeing- Hufbandry, in all its Branches, will be
much more eafy and certain than the old ; becaufe
there are no mathematical Rulesextant in any Method;
and a Man may praclife the old random Hufbandry
all his Life, without attaining fo much Certainty in
Agriculture as may be learned in a few Hours from
iuch a Treati ie. U2 The

292 The Four-coulter d Plough. Chap. XIX.

The Rules, indeed, require much Labour, Study,
and Experience, to compofe them •, but when finifh'd,
will be moft eafy to praclife : Like the Rules for
meafuring Timber; their Ule is, at firft Sight, eafy
to every Carpenter, and to moil Artificers who work
in Wood -, but no illiterate Perfon is able to compofe
thofe Rules, or to meafure Timber without them.

CHAP. XIX.

The t)efcriptio?i of a Four-coulter'd Plough.

-O defcribe all Parts of a Plough geometrically,
J|[ would require more Time and Learning than
J am Mailer of: Therefore leaving that to be done by
fomebody elfe, who is better qualified for it, I mail
at prefent attempt little more than what relates to the
Three added Coulters.

In Plate i. Fig. i. is the Portrait of a common
Two-wheel'd Plough ufed in Berk/hire, HampJIoire^
Oxford/hire, and Wiltjhire^ and in mod other Coun-
tries of South- Britain; and is generally efleemed the
befl Plough for all Sorts of Land, except fuch miry
Clays that flick to the Wheels, and clog them up, fo
as they cannot turn round.

But they have, in fome Places, a Contrivance to
prevent this Inconvenience-, which is done by wind-
ing Thumb-ropes of Straw about the Iron Circles of
the Wheels, and about the Spokes. The Wheels
preffing againft the Ground, the Thumb-ropes are
diflended on each Side : which Motion throws off the
Dirt, and prevents its flicking to the Wheels, which
it would otherwife do.

'Tis commonly divided into Two Parts ; viz, the
Plough -head-, and the Plough-tail.

The Plough-head contains the Two Wheels A, B,
and their Axis or Spindle of Iron palling thro' the

Box

Chap. XIX. Tbe Fcur-coulterd Plough. 293
Box C, turning round both therein, and in the
Wheels ; the Two Crow-ftaves D, D, faftened into
the Box perpendicularly, and having in each Two
Rows of Holes, whereby to raiie or link the Beam,
by pinning up or down the Pillow E, to increafe or
diminifh the Depth of the Furrow ; the Gallows F,
thro' which the Crow-ftaves pafs at top, by Mortifes,
into which they are pinned ; G the Wilds with its
Links and Crooks of Iron, whereby the whole Plough
is drawn ; H the Two-chain, which faftens the
Plough-tail to the Plough-head, by the Collar I at one
End, and by the other End pafllng thro' a Hole in the
Middle of the Box, is pinned in by the Stake K ;
L the Bridle-chain, one End whereof is faftened to the
Beam by a Pin, and the other End to the Top of the
Stake, which Stake is held up to the left Crow-ftafF,
by the With M, palling round it above, and under
the End of the Gallows below ; or inftead of this
With, by a Piece of Cord, and fometimes by the
End of the Bridle-chain, when that is long enough.

The Plough-tail confifts of the Beam N : the Coul-
ter O; the Share P •, and the Sheat Q^ the Hinder-
Jfheat R, pafting thro5 the Beam near its End-, S the
fhort Handle, faftened to the Top of the Hinder-
fheat by a Pin, and to the Top of the Sheat by an-
other Pin -, T the Drock which belongs to the right
Side of the Plough-tail, and whereto the Ground-
wrift V is faften'd ; as is the Earth-board, whofe
Fore-part W is feen before the Sheat; and alfo the
long Handle X, whofe Fore-part Y appears before the
Sheat, and is faften'd to the Drock by a Pin at a9 the
other End of which Pin goes into the Beam. Z is
the double Retch, which holds up the Sheat, arid
pafTes through the Beam to be faften'd by its Screws
and Nuts at b and c.

But without intrenching much farther upon the
common Piough-wrighi's Art, whole Trade is his
Living, I'll haften to fhew the necellary Difference

U 3 there

294 The Four-coulter d Plough. Chap. XIX.

there is betwixt the common Plough, and the Four-
coulter Plough, beginning with Fig. 2. where it is
reprefented as (landing upon a level Surface.

Fig. 2. And, Firft, The Beam differs in Length,
being Ten Feet Four Inches long, as the other Plough-
beam is but Eight Feet ; it differs in Shape, as the
other is (trait from one End to the other, but this is
flrait only from a to £, and thence turns up of a fud-
den, in the manner that is (hewn in the Cut; fo that
a Line let down perpendicular, from the Corner at <z,
to the even Surface whereon the Plough Rands, would
be Eleven Inches and an half, which is its Height in
that Place; and, if another Line were let down, from
the turning of the Beam at Z>, to the fame Surface,
it would be One Foot Eight Inches and an half*,,
which is the Height that the Beam (lands from the
Ground, at that Part ; and a Third Line let down to
the Surface, from the Bottom of the Beam, at that
Part which bears upon the Pillow, will (hew the Beam
to be Two Feet Ten Inches high above the Surface
in that Part.

From the End a, to the Back-part of the firft
Coulter, is Three Feet Two Inches; from thence, to
the Back of the next Coulter, is Thirteen Inches ;
thence to the Third, Thirteen Inches; and from thence
to the Fourth, the fame. From a to b is Seven
Feet.

This Crookednefs of the Beam is to avoid the too
great Length of the foremoft Coulters, which would
be neceflary if the Beam was flrait ; and then, un-
lefs they were vaftly thick and heavy, they would be
apt to bend, and the Point of "the Fourth would be
at fo great a Diflance from its Coulter-hole, that it
would have the greater Power to loofen the Wedges,
whereby the Coulter would rife up out of its Work,
as it never doth when the Beam is made in this bend-
ing Manner. This Beam is made either of Afh,
which is the lighted, or of Oak, which is the molt

durable!

Chap. XIX. The Four-coulter d Plough. 29 jT

durable. Its Depth and Breadth may vary, accord-
ing to the heavier or lighter Soil it is to till •, but this
before us is in Depth Five Inches at the firft Coulter-
hole, and in Breadth Four Inches.

Fig. 4. Is the Sheat Qjn Fig. 1. (broad Seven
Inches) with the Iron Retch on it, the left Leg of
which Retch mud ftand foremoft, to the end that
the Edge of its Fore-part, that is flat, may fit clofe
to the Wood of the Sheat: This Retch holds the
Sheat faft up to the Beam by its Nuts and Screws ;
as alfo doth a Pin driven into the Hole a, which
Plole being a fmall Part of it within the Beam, the
Pin being driven into the Hole, draws up the Sheat
very tight to the Beam. The principal thing to be
taken notice of here, is the Angle b c d9 which fhews
the Elevation of the Sheat ; the Line c dis fuppofed
to be equal with the Bottom of the Share (or rather
with the plain Surface whereon it ftands) ; when this
Angle at c is larger than of Forty-five Degrees, a
common Plough never goes well : In my Four-coulter
Plough I choofe to have it of Forty-two or Forty-
three at the moil.

Fig. 5. Is the Share ; a is the End of the Point ;
b is the Tail of the Share, long from a to b Three
Feet Nine Inches; c the Fin ^ d the Socket, into
which the Bottom of the Sheat enters ; e a thin Plate
of Iron riveted to the Tail of the Share : By this
Plate, the Tail of the Share is held to the hinder
Sheat, as at d in Fig. 1. by a fmall Iron Pin with
a Screw at its End, and a Nut fcrew'd on it on the
inner or right Side of that Sheat. From a to f is the
Point, long about Three Inches and an half, flat un-
derneath, and round at Top : It mould be of hard
Steel underneath. From / to c is the Edge of the
Fin, which mould be well fteeled; the Length of it
is uncertain, but it fhould never make a lefs Angle at
/ than it appears to make in this Fig. The Socket
is a Mortife of 'about a Foot long, at the upper Part,

U4 Two

2p6 The Four-coulter d Plough. Chap. XIX.

Two Inches deep : The Fore-end of this Mortife
mult not be perpendicular, but oblique, conformable
to the Fore-part of the Sheat which enters it ; the
upper Edge of which Fore-part muit always bear
againit the Sheat at e in Fig. 4. but if this End of the
Socket fhould not be quite fo oblique as the Sheat, it
may be help'd, by taking off a little of the Wood at'
the Point c.

Fig. 6. Shews the Share, with its right Side up-
wards, in the fame Poflure as when it piows ; whofe
Side a b fhould be perfectly (trait, but its under
Side at r, which is its Neck, fhould be a little hol-
low from the Ground, but never more than half an
Inch in any Plough, and a Quarter of an Inch in a
Four-coulter Plough -, fo that the Share, when it is
firlt made, ftanding upon its Bottom, bears upon the
level Surface only in Three Places -, viz. at the very
Point a9 at the Tail £, and at the Corner of the
Fin d.

Fig. 7. Is the Share, turn'd Bottom upwards; and
fhews the Concavity of the Fin at a\ which mult be
greateft in a ftony rubbly Soil.

Fig. 8. Shews the Share, the right Side upwards,
but leaning towards the Left.

In placing of the Share rightly upon the Sheat,
confifts the well going of a Plough, and is the moft
difficult Part of a Plough- wright's Trade, and is very
difficult to be (hewn. Suppofing the Axis of the
ftrait Beam, and the left Side of the Share, to be
both horizontal, they muft never be parallel to each
other \ for if they were, the Tail of the Share, bear-
ing againit the Side of the Trench, as much as the
Point, would, caufe the Point to incline to the right
Hand, and go out of the Ground into the Furrow.
If the Point of the Share fhould be fet, fo that its
Side mould make an Angle on the right Side of the
Axis of the Beam, this Inconvenience would be much
greater ; and if its Point fnould incline much to the

5 Leftg

Chap. XIX. The Four-coulter d Plough, 297

Left, and make too large an Angle on that Side
with the Axis of the Beam, the Plough would run
quite to the left Hand ; and if the Holder, to pre-
vent its running out of the Ground, turns the upper
Part of his Plough towards the left Hand, the Fin
of the Share will rife up, and cut the Furrow diago^
nally (a)> leaving it half unplow'd -, befide, the
Plough will rife up at the Tail, and go all upon the
Point of the Share : To avoid thefe Inconveniences,
the flrait Side of the Share muft make an Angle on
the left Side of the Beam, but fo very acute, that
the Tail of the Share may only prefs lels againfl the
Side of the Trench than the Point does. This An-
gle is fhewn by the prick'd Lines at the Bottom of
Fig. 1. where the prick'd Line £ f is fuppofed to be

{a) This is the greated Misfortune incident to a common Two-
wheeled Plough, and happens generally by the Fault of the
Maker, though lbrnetimes by the Plowman's fettmg it (o, that
the Point of the Share turns too much to the Left. I have (een
Xand plowed in this manner, where not half of it has been
moved, nor better tided than by Raftering, not only cut diago-
nally, but alfo half the Surface hath remained whole, where
when the Earth that was thrown on it was removed, the Weeds
appeared unhurt on the unplowed Surface. In this Cafe, they
for a Re edy fet the Plough to go deeper ; and then, if it go
deep enough tor the Fin to cut off the Furrow at a juft Depth, the
Point will ;jo below the Staple, which may ruin the Soil, unlefs
it be very deep

When our Englijh Ploughs go in this manner, they make much
worfe Work than the BaJUrt Ploughs, that have no Coulter; for
thefe, contrar) to ours, though they always cut their Furrow di-
agonally, cut it thin on that Side from which it is turned, as our
bad Ploughs leave it thin on that Side towards which it is turned.
The Earth the Eafrerns leave by their Diagonal in one Furrow,
is tak« n off by the next ; but ours leaving Part of their Furrow
behind them, on the Side next to the plowed Part of the Field,
come at it no more ; but the other can plow cleaner, their Diago-
nal being contrary to ours, which leaves the Trench deepelt on
the Side next to the unplowed Part of the Field ; but unlefs the
Fin of the Four-coufrered Plough go parallel to the Surface of the
Earth, it will not plough at all ; or will leave Two or .Three of
its Four Furrows untouched.

the

2 o 8 The Four-coulter d Plough. Chap . XIXP

the Axis of the Beam let down to the Surface, and
the prick' d Line g f parallel to the left Side of the
Share; but this Angle will vary as thofe Two prick'd
Lines are produc'd forwards to the Fore-end of a
long and a fhort Beam, keeping the fame Subtenfe:
For Plough-wrights always take this Subtenfe at the
Fore-end of a Beam, whether it be a long Beam or
fhort one; and it is the Subtenfe eg, that determines
the Inclination the Point of the Share muft have to.,
ward the left Hand. Plough-wrights differ much in
this Matter ; but, by what I can learn by thofe that
make the Ploughs I fee perform the beft, this Sub-
tenfe at the Fore-end of an Eight-feet Beam mould
never be more than one Inch and an half ; and by full
Experience I find, that whether the Beam be long or
fhort, the Subtenfe muft be the fame ; for when my
Plough-wrights take this Subtenfe at Eight Feet from
the Tail, when they make my Four-coulter Plough,
whofeBeam is Ten Feet Four Inches long, the Point
of the Share will incline too much to the Left, and
it will not go well until this Fault be mended, by
taking the fame Subtenfe quite at the End of the
Beam ; which makes the mentioned Angle more
acute.

Fig. g. Shews the right-hand Side, and upper Side
of the Four-coulter Plough, of which V the Iron
Ground-wrift is (hewn in Fig. 9. long Two Feet Five
Inches, deep at the End b Four Inches, and Three-
eighths of an Inch thick, except at the End a, where
it is thin enough to bend, fo as to fit clofe to the
Share, as at e, in Fig. 6. The Ground-wrift has
Four fmall Holes near its End a^ into one of which
goes a Nail, to fallen it to the Sheat, thro' the long
Hole in the Side of the Socket of the Share, as at
a, in Fig. 10. and then it will ftand in the Pofture
(hewn by e /, in Fig. 6. From the Outfide of the
Ground-wrift at/, to the Outfide of the Share at b^
is Eleven Inches and an half, which is the Width of

the

Chap. XIX. "The Four-coulter d Plough. 299

the lower Part of the Plough-tail at the Ground; the
Ground-wrift has feveral Holes at the upper Side
of its broadeft End, as at b, in Fig 9, by which it
is nailed to the lower Part of the Drock T, as in
Fig. 3. which Drock with its Perforations is fhewn in
Fig. 11.

Fig. iz. Is the Earth-board, with its Infide up-
wards ; the Notch a b (hews the Rifing of the Wood,
which takes hold of the Edge of the Sheat, to hold
it the firmer, to which it is fattened by the Holes c
and d -9 and at the other End it is fattened to the
Drock, at the Hole e. All which is km as it ftands
mark'd with W, in Fig. 3. But this Pin, with
which it is fattened to the Drock, is bigger in the
Middle than at each End-, which prevents the Earth-
board from coming near the Drock : By this Pin,
the Earth-board is fet at a greater or lefs Diftance
from the Drock, as there is Occafion to throw off
the Furrow farther from the Plough at fome times
than at others : It always ftands confiderably farther
.out on the right Hand than the Ground-wrift does,
which is one Reafon that the Drock is made crooked,
bending outwards in that Part.

The long Handle X is Fig. 13. long Five Feet
Four Inches, broad in the wideft Part Four Inches,
pinned to the Sheat thro' the Holes a b, and pinned
to the Drock through the Hole c.

The fhort Handle S is Fig. 14. and is long Three
Feet Nine Inches, pinned to the hinder Sheat (being
Fig* 1 5-) by the Hole a^ and to the Top of the Fore-
fheat above the Beam by the Hole b.

The Handles are made fo long, for the more eafy
guiding of the Plough ; but the lazy Ploughman is
apt to cut them off fhorter, clofe up to the Plough,
to the end that, bearing his whole Weight thereon,
he may in a manner ride inftead of walking ; but if
he mould thus ride on long Handles, he would tilt up
the Fore-end of the Beam, and saife the Share out of
the Ground. The

3 c o . The Four-coulter -d Plough, Chap . XIX.

The chief, and mod indefpenfably neceiTary thing
to be obierved, is, to /place the Four Coulters in fuch
a manner, that the Four imaginary Planes defcribed
by the Edges of the Four Coulters, as the Plough
/noves forwards, be all of them parallel to each other,
or very nearly fo -9 for if any one of them mould be
much inclined to, or recede from, either of the other
three, they could not enter the Ground together. In
order to place them thus, the Coulter-holes mull be
made through the Beam, in the manner as they are
ihewn in Fig. 3. viz. the Second Coulter-hole is Two
Inches and an half more on the Right than the Firf]:,
the Third, Two and an half more on the right Hand
than the Second, and the Fourth, Two Inches and
an half more on the right Hand than the Third, con-
formable to the Four Incifions or Cuts they are to
make in a Ten-inch Furrow : And becaufe no fingie
Beam is broad enough to hold the Four Coulter-holes
at this Diftance, we are forced to add the Piece fhewn
in Fig, 16. The Second Hole is made Part in the
Beam, and Part in this Piece; the Third and Fourth
are made wholly in this Piece, in which a, if, c, are
the Ends of the Three Screws, which faften the Piece
to the right Side of the Beam by their Nuts.

The Diftance of Two Inches and an half, by
which each of the Three added Coulters (land more
to the right Hand than* that immediately behind it,
mud be reckoned from the Middle of one Hole to
the Middle of the other.

The Fore-part of every Hole muft incline a little
towards the Left ; fo that the Backs of the Coulters
may not bear againft the left Side of the Incifions
made by the Edges.

Each Hole, being a Mortife, is one Inch and a
quarter wide, with its Two oppofite Sides parallel
from Top to Bottom ; each of theft Mortifes, or
Holes, *are long at Top Three Inches and an half, and
at Bottom Three Inches; the Back-part, or Hinder-
end a

Chap. XIX". The Four- coulter d Plough. 301

end, of each Coulter-hole is not perpendicular, but
oblique, and determines the Obliquity of the Stand-
ing of the Coulter, which is wedged tight up to it
by the Poll-wedge f, Fig. 1. as all Coulters are.

Fig. 17* Is a Coulter ; a b is its Length, being
Two Feet Eight Inches, before it is worn \ e d is its
Edge, Sixteen Inches long •, d c is the Length of its
Handle, Sixteen Inches •, this is made thus long, at
fir ft, to ftand above the Plough, that it may be driven
down lower, according as the Point wears fhorter ;
this Handle is One Inch and Seven Eighths broad,
and Seven Eighths of an Inch thick, equally thro'
its whole Length: Its Breadth and Thicknefs might
be defcribed by a rectangled Parallelogram.

In all Ploughs this firft Coulter is, or ought to be,
placed in the Beam in manner following ; viz. its
Back to bear againfl the Back of th^ Coulter-hole, its
right Side above to bear againfl the upper Edge of the
Coulter-hole, and its left Sice to bear againfl the
lower Edge of the Coulter-hole j fo that always Three
Wedges at leafc will be neceftary to hold the Coulter;
the Poll-wedge before it, as at /, in Fig. 1. another
"Wedge on the left Side of it aJDOve, and a Third on
the right Side underneath: The Coulter-hole muft
be fo made, that the Coulter (landing thus acrofs the
Hole, its Point may incline fo much towards the Left,
as to be about Two Inches and an half farther to the
Left (a) than the Point of the Share, if it were driven
down as low as it ; but it never ought to be fo low
in any Plough : As to its bearing forwards, the Point
of the Coulter mould never be before the Middle
of the Point of the Share : What Angle the Coulter
would make with the Bottom of the Share, may be
feen by the Poilure it ftands in, in Fig. 1. If it
fhould be let much more obliquely, it would have a

(a) I find that fomeumes it is neeefTary in fome of thefe
Ploughs for the Point of this Coulter to Hand yet farther on the
Left of the Share's Point.

greater

jo2 The Four-coulter d Plough. Chap. XIX,

greater Force to raife up the Poll-wedge, and get
loofe.

The Three added Coulters fhould ftand in the fame
Pofture with this already defcribed, in regard to the
Inclination of their Points towards the Left : And
this is a very great Advantage to them ; for by this
means, when the Fin is rais'd up, by turningthe Han-
dles towards the Left, their Points do not rife out of
the Ground on the right Hand, as they would do
without this defcribed Inclination towards the Left;
but in regard to their Pointing forwards, I find it
bed, that every one of the Three fhould be a little
more perpendicular than that next behind it. So the
Coulter 4 fbands the neareft to Perpendicular of any
of them. By this means there being more Room be-
twixt them above than below, they are the more eafily
freed from the Turf, whenever the Pieces, being co-
vered with a great Quantity of Couch-grafs, or the
like, rife up betwixt them : which tho5 this feldom
happens, makes a Neceflity for a Man, or a Boy, to
go on the Side with a forked Stick, to pufh out the
Turf and Grafs, which might otherwife fill the Spaces
betwixt the Coulters, and raife up the Plough out of
its Work.

'Tis to be obferved, that none of thefe Coulters
ought to defcend fo low as the Bottom of the Share,
except when you plow very mallow : 'Tis always
fufricient that they cut through the Turf, let the
Plough go never fo deep in the Ground.

It is neceflary alfo, that when you plow very mal-
low, the Fin of the Share be broad enough to cut off
the Fourth Piece or Furrow ; elfe that, lying fait,
will be apt to raife up the Ground-wrifl, and throw
out the Plough: But when you plow deep, the Ground-
wrifl wiJ.1 break off this Fourth Furrow, altho' the
Fin be not broad enough to reach it.

Sometimes the Firft or left Furrow is apt to come
through betwixt the Firft Coulter and the Sheat, and

fo

Chap. XIX. The Four-coulter d Plough. 303

*o falls on the left-hand Side of the Plough : This is
no Injury; but yet it is prevented, by letting the Se-
cond Coulter (land a lighter higher than the Third ;
and then the Second Furrow, holding the Firft at its
Bottom, will carry it over, together with kklf, on
the right Side by the Earth-board ; but yet never fet
this, or any of the Three added Coulters, fo high
that they may not cut through the Turf. But as for
the firft Coulter, tho' it mould cut but an Inch or
Two within the Ground, the Share will break off the
firft Furrow in raifing it up.

Remember, as often as the Point of any Coulter
is worn too fhort, that you drive down the Coulter
with a large Hammer, carried for that Purpofe; and
when it is driven low enough, faften the Wedges
again, fo as to keep the Coulters in their right Poftures,
that their Incifions may be all of them equidi-
"iant.

Fig. iS. Is a Nut, with Two of its oppofite Cor-

lers turn'd up, by which it is driven round by 'a

lammer, and has fo great a Force, that Three of

:hem, with their Screws properly placed, hold the

'iece, Fig. 16. as fa ft to the Plough-beam, as if they

>oth were made of one Piece of Wood ; but as

often as the Wood fhrinks in dry Weather, the Nuts

muft be fcrew'd farther on, both here and in all other

Places where they areufed: particularly, thole which

hold up the Retch ; for if the Sheat fhould once get

loofe, there is no Cure but by a new one.

Betwixt this Nut and the Wood, there fhould be a
thin Iron Bolfter, about the Thicknefs of a Shilling,
broader than the Nut, to prevent the Nut from eating
into the Wood, efpecially when it is to be often fcrew'd,
as on the Retch of thefe Ploughs, and molt of all on
the Hoe-plough-, but fometimes we ufe a Piece of
Shoe-leather inftead of an Iron Bolfter.

Note, There muft be Iron Plates upon all the
Coulter-holes both above and below, Three of which

arc

3 04 $fo Four-coulter d Plough. Chap. XI X"*

are feen on the Piece in Fig. 16. There is no need
to fay how they mud be nailed on with maay Naiis
made for the Purpofe.

Fig. 19. Is the Iron Collar, fattened to the Beam
by Two fhort Crooks A, B, which take hold of Two
fborcPins driven into the Plough juft behind the Se-
cond Coulter-hole, one on one Side, and the other on
the other Side of the Beam. The Crook A is feen
on the left Side of the Beam near r, in Fig. 2. the
Crook B doing the fame on the other Side of the
Beam, which is feen near a, in Fig. 3. C is the
Crook (for its Shape called a C) which holds the Tow-
chain to the Collar by the Link D, being Part of the
laid Chain taking hold of its Fore-claw ; the other
Claw taking hold of one of the Five Notches of the
Collar: This Collar is partly feen at d, in Fig. 2.
Both the Claws of the Crook (or C) turn upwards, fo
that they cannot take hold of any thing that may rife
under the Plough : The Ufe of the Notches is to
help the Direction of the Point of the Share, which
has been defcribed by the priclrd Lines under Fig. 1.
As the Point of the Share wears, it inclines a little
more towards the Right, and is remedied by moving
the Crook into a Notch nearer to the Left, which
will direct the Point a little more towards the Left :
This is more eafy to be done here than in the common
Plough, whofe Collar moves round the Beam : We
can, by changing the Crook from one Notch to an-
other, incline the Point of the Share towards the
Pvight or Left at Pleafure. The Length of each
Side of this Collar is a Foot long.

The Tow-chain is befl feen in Fig. 3. where the
Link Y is that which paffes thro5 the Box, and is pin-
ned in by the Stake, as has been fhewn in Fig. 1.
which Stake is commonly nailed to the Box, to pre-
vent its rifing up. When we would draw up the
Plough a little nearer to the Crow-ftaves, we take
hold of the Crook by a Second or Third Link.

Note,

Chap . XIX. The Four-coutter V Plough. 3 c f

Note* That the fhortening of the Chain does alfo a
little incline the Point of the' Share towards the Left*

Fig. 20. is the Iron-wilds. The Leg A is of one
Piece with that which has the Notch, and that pafTes
thro' the Leg B by the Loop at a\ both which Legs
pafs thro' the Box, and are pinned in behind it, by
thecrooked Pins C, D. This Figure is feen with its
Crooks on it* both in Fig. 1. and Fig. 2. Notey
That the Holes in the Box, thro' which thefe Legs
pafs, mufl not be made at right Angles with the Box$
but mull incline upwards, fo that the Fore-part of
the Wilds may be higher than the Hinder-part, or
elfe the Upper-part of the Crow-ftaves would ieaa
quite back when the Plough is drawn. If the Beafts
that draw immediately next to the Plough be very
high, their Traces muft be the longer -, elk they ai>l
the Wilds making too fmall an Angle with the Tow-
chain at the Box, when they draw hard, the Wheels
will rife from the Ground, and be apt to overturn :
This Angle I fuppofe fhould not be lefs than of 160
Degrees* and the Angle made by the Tow-chain or
Traces that are drawn by the Cattle that go before
them, will make an Angle with the Tow-chain at
the Box yet much more obtufe. The Ufe of thefe
Notches in the Wilds is, to give the Plough a broader
or narrower Furrow : If the Links are moved to the
Notches on the right Hand, it brings the Wheels
towards the left Fland, which gives a greater Furrow ;
and when the Links are moved towards the left
Hand, it gives a lefs Furrow, by bringing the Wheels
towards the right Hand.

The Diftance betwixt the Two Legs of the Wilds
is Eight Inches and an half* the Length of the Legs
is Nineteen Inches. They muft be of convenient
Strength. The Links being placed in Notches diftant
from one another, prevents one Wheel fromadvance-
ing before the other -> which would happen, if the
Links were both in One Notch, or in Two adjoining

X Notches,

3 o& The- Fcur-ccidterd Plough. Chap. XIX ^

Notches, except they were middle Notches r TheSr
Links are each Six Inches and an half long.

E is the Ring, by which the Two Links, and the-
Two Crooks F and G, are held together, and oa
which they all move.

The Height ©f the Wheals in Fig. 2. The left-
hand Wheel is Twenty Inche3 Diameter ^ the Dia-
meter of the right Wheel is Two Feer Three Inches;;
die Diftance the Wheels are fet from each other at the
Ground, is Two Feet Five Inches and an half-, the
Crow- (laves are One Foot Eleven Inches high, from
the Box to the Gallows; they both ftaod perpendicu-
lar to the Box, and the Diftance between the Crow-
ilaves is Ten Inches and an half. The Pillow is pin-
ned up at its Ends by Two fmall Iron Pins, which
ase chained to it, that if they drop, they may not be
.loft. Thefe appear in Fig. 1. and Fig. 2. The
Height from the level Surface,, up to the Flole in the
Box, where the Tow-chain pafTes through it, is Thir-
teen Inches (being Two Inche3 below the Holes, of
the Wilds, on the Hinder-fide of the Box) ; the
Height at the other End, where the Crook of the
Collar takes hold of the Pin in the Beam at r, in Fig* 2*
is Twenty Inches high above the fame level Surface ,.
and (hews how much the Chain defcends forward, for
drawing down the Plough, and by which Defcent
may be known what An^le the Chain would make
with the Surface, if it were produced forwards in a:
ftrait Line; which is a thing material for the good
going of a Plough ; and fo is the Angle the Tow-
chain makes with the Beam : About the Middle of
this Tow-chain, there fhouid be a Swivel, whereby
cne End of the Chain may turn without the other.

•When this Four coulter Plough is made, I would
advife, that it be tried with only the fait Coulter, be-
fore the other Three are pot in ; for if the Plough'
does not go well with One Coulter, it is not likely it
ihouid go well with Four; and I never yet have leen

or.

i

Chap'.' XX, Of the Drill-Boxes. 307

or heard of any that went well with One Coulter, that
did not alfo go well with Four, being placed as is
here directed.

The Proofs of a Plough's performing well are
ihefe; viz. If it makes a Furrow of an equal Depth
on the right Hand and on the left, and turns it off
fairly: If, in its going, the Tail of the Share, and
the Bottom of the Drock, bear againft the Bottom of
the Furrow, and if it goes eafy in the Hands of the
Holder, without preffing one Arm more than the
other, then the Plough is certainly a good one.

ThePloughman who is accuftom'd to a Two-wheePd
Plough, never fuffers the Wheels to overturn, in
turning out at the Land's End, from one Furrow to
another; for which Purpofe, after hg has lifted the
Plough a little round, he has a Knack of holding up
the Crow-ftaves with the End of the Beam, by preff-
ing his Hand hard againft the Handle, whilft the
Plough lies down on one Side, until the Horfes, the
Wheels, and the Plough, come near to a Line in the
Beginning of the Furrow ; and then he lifts up his
Plough, and goes on.

CHAP. xx,

Of the Drill-Boxes,

TH E Drill is the Engine that plants our Com
and other Seeds in Rows : It makes the Chanels,
fows the Seed into them, and covers them at the
fame time, with great Exactnefs and Expedition.

The principal Parts of the Drill are, the Seed-box,1
the Hopper, and the Plough, with its Harrow.

Of theie the Seed-box is the Chief: It meafures
(or rather numbers) out the Seed which it receives

X 2 from

3c8 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap XX.

from the Hopper : It is for this Purpofe as an arti-
ficial Hand, which performs the Tafk of delivering
out the Seed, more equally than can be done by a
natural Hand.

It is defcribed, together with fome of its Appur-
tenances, in Plates 2 and 3.

The Mortise.

As the Seed-box is the principal Fart of a Drill,
fo is the Mortife the principal Part of the Seed-box.

The following Descriptions fhew how this Mortife
differs from a common Mortife.

Fig. 1. Plate 2. fhews both the upper and lower
Edges of a Turnep-Seed-box, and the Manner how
they are pofited one over another, a b c d is a rectan-
gled Parallelogram, and fhews the upper Edges (or
Top) of the Mortife. e j g h% being a Figure of
the fame Denomination with the former, is the lower
Edges (or Bottom) of the Mortife. The Line e h is
tho. Length of the lower Edge of the Hinder-end of
the Mortife. a d is the upper Edge of the Hinder-end
of the Mortife, and pofited juft over the lower Edge of
the fame End. The Space between the Line a br
and the Line e /, fhews half the Excefs whereby the-
Bottom of the Mortrfe exceeds the Top in Breadth ;
as the Space on the oppofite Side, betwixt the Line
c d> and the Line g b, fhews the other Half of that
Excefs, both which Halves, taken together, fhew
the whole Bevel (or Angle of Inclination) defcribed
in Fig. 2. That Part of the Line a b> from the
Angle at b to the Line/ £, which interfecls it, fhews
the Excefs whereby the Top of the Mortife exceeds
the Bottom in Length.

Fig. 2. Is the Mortife cut down by its Four Cor-
ners, and laid open, a be dls-d Trapezium, with
Two parallel Sides, and mark'd A, the right Sid^
of the Mortife -, its oppofite Side e f g by mark'd B,

the

Chap. XX. Of the Drill- Boxes. 309

the left Side of the Mortife ; the Areas of both being
true Planes {a).

dikh Shew the Fore-end of the Mortife, mafk'd C.
dime fhew the Hinder-end of the Mortife, mark'd D.
a d h e fhew the Bottom of the Mortife already de-
fcribed in Fig. 1. If thefe oppofite Sides and Ends
were all raifed up, until the Angle at £join the Angle
at /, and that at m join /, and that at g join k, and
that /join f, the Top of the Mortife would be form-
ed, and the fame with the Parallelogram ab c d9 in
Fig. 1. and then the intire Mortife of the Turnep
Seed-box would appear in its true Form, (landing
upon its Bottom.

This differs from a common Mortife, in that it is
impoffible to fit it with a Tenon ; becaufe it is narrower
above, and fhorter below, as in Fig. 1 .

The Areas, or imaginary Planes, of the Top and
Bottom of the Mortife, are parallel to each other, but
not equal.

Its Two oppofite Sides are equal, but not parallel,
by reafon of their Inclination to each other upwards,
which is the Bevel hereafter to be defcribed.

The Two Ends are neither parallel nor equal, be-
caufe the Hinder-end D is perpendicular to the Top
and Bottom, and the Fore^end oblique, and there-
fore longer.

(a) Take care that thefe oppofite Sides be fare to be true
Planes, especially all that Part of their Areas, that is before the
tranfverfe Axes of their Ellipfes herein after defcribed ; for mould
they be otherwife, the Bevel of the Mortife would be fpoiled,
and fo would the Ellipfes, and the acute Triangles, on the Sides
of the Tongue ; which how neceffary they are to be true, is
fhewn in the proper Place. Workmen are very apt to fail in this
when they file by Hand, and make thefe Sides of the Mortife
convex inftead of plane. Therefore this might be done with
lefs Difficulty, and more Exadlnefs, with a File placed in a Frame,
whereby it might move upon a true Level without rifing or finking
of either End.

X 3 When

3 io Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX.

When Two oppofite Sides, or Surfaces, are in-
clined to each other upwards, I call that Inclination
a- Bevel ; but when they are inclined downwards, I
cali it a Bevel revers- d.

The Line a e7 being the Bottom, or Bafe, of the
Hinder-end D, by being longer than the line / w,
ihews that the Mortife is bevel.

The Two prick'd Lines m n and / o9 with the.
Line lmy and Fart of the Line a e, make a rectangled
Parallelogram, which fhews the exact Depth of the
Mortife, and forms on each Side of it a reftangled
Triangle, the one m e #, and the other / o a •, which
Triangles being fimilar and equal, and their acutq
Angles at / and m being each of Four Degrees, make
the whole Bevel, or Inclination of the Sides of the
Mortife, to be of Eight Degrees, their Hypothenufes
being the fame with the Sides of the Mortife.

This End D, being raifed up to its Place, will be
at right Angles with the Plane of the Top and of the
Bottom of the Mortife ; which, being both rectan-
gled Parallelograms, prove that Bevel, or Angle of
Inclination, to be the fame from one End to the
other of the Sides, which Sides are the Hypothenufes
of thofe Two Triangles : But this could not be proved
by the Triangles in the oppofite End C j becaufe the
Bafes being the fame with the other, and having their
Legs longer, the vertical Angles at k and/ are more
acute. The Legs are longer; becaufe the End C,
when in its Place, is not at right Angles with the Top
and Bottom of the Mortife, as the End D is.

The next thing to be defcribed in the Mortife, is
the Bore, great Hole, or Perforation ; which is beft
ihewn in the Side of a Mortife of a Wheat-drill,
"being larger, as in Fig. 3. wherein c e b d is the!
great Hole, and is a Section qf an hollow Cylinder,
that paries through the Mortife, with its Axis parallel
to the Edges of the Ends of the Mortife: This

Cylinder,

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. . 311

Cylinder, being cut by the Side of the Mortife ob~
-liquely, and not parallel to its Bale, is an Ellipfe.

The prick'd curve Line is a Circle parallel to the
Bafe of the Cylinder., and the curve Line b d c e is
•the Ellipfis; and this Curve is more or lefs elliptical
(or oval) in proportion to the Angle of Inclination,
•or Bevel, of the Sides of the Mortife.

Of this Ellipfe the Jongeft Diameter (or Axis tranf-
lerjus) b c is at right Angles with the upper and
lower Edges of the Sides of the Mortife.

Its fhorteft Diameter (or Axis remits) d £, is the
Diameter of the Cylinder, bifecling the Axis iranj-
verjus at right Angles in. the Centre a j and is in this
Figure one Inch and an half.

This Ellipfe being concentric with the Circle, the
Letters is the Centre of both.

The Semi-ellipfis c e b is the Part of chief Ufe *,
and therefore the Edge muil of Necefiity be fmooth,
and without Flaws, as muft the Surfaces of the Sides
of the Mortife betwixt the Ellipfe and the Fore-end.

The Tongue of the Seed- box (Plate 3. Fig. 1,)
differs from that in the Sound-board of an Organ
X from which I took the Idea of it) in Shape, in Si-
tuation, and in the Manner of its being fix'd to the
Mortife.

The Tongue, in the Organ, is on its Surface a
long Square, or reclangied Parallelogram, a little
'broader and longer than the Mortife (or Grove) ir
fhuts againft ; but this Tongue on its upper Surface,
which is here turned downwards, being a Plane, is a
Trapezium, of the fame Shape with the Fore-end of
the Mortife juft now defcribed, except that the Tongue
has a lefs Bevel.

The Situation of that in the Organ 4s on the Out-
fide of the Mortife, which it fruits by its Spring
behind it, and opens immediately by the Finger of
the Organift prefling down the Key to let in the com-
breffed Air to its Pipes; but this Tongue is fituate

X 4 with id

312 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX.

within the Mortife of the Seed-box, and placed al-
rnofi, in a manner, diagonally ; for, had it been pla-
ced like the other, the Seed getting betwixt it and the
Edges of the Mortife, would not have given Way tp
its Shutting fas the Air does to the other), but have
kt pt it always open ; which would have render'd it
ufelefs for fowine; of Seeds.

The Manner of fattening the Organ-tcngue to its
Mortife is by Parchment and Leather glu'd to its
Surface, and alfo to the Sound-board, at its End
which is oppo&te to that prefTed open by the Key,
and fnut by the Spring-, but this our Tongue is held
within the Mortife, and moves on an Axis, which
paiTes thro' its upper and narrower End, which Axis
is the Pin A f which mutt be exactly parallel to the
Edge of the End of the Mortife j, and alio thro' the
Hole/ in Fig. 3- in Plate 2. which is iecn in its
Piace at A in Fig. 3. Plate 3. and like wife through
both Sides of the Mortife near their upper Ecges,
and as near the Fore-end of the Mortife as may be,
without the Tongue's rubbing agajnft the faid Fore-
end.

The Breadth of the Tongue muft be conformed tQ
the Breadth and Ejevel of the Mortife, and when it is
on its Axis, it being raifed tight up as far as the
fhort prick'd Line / m in Fig. 3. Plate 2. being Oner
eighth Part of the great Hole, and being there, you
fee its upper Edges touch both Sides of the Mortife
by their whole Length: Then it is rightly made: and
by this touching both Sides of the Mortife tightly and
clofely, when raifed pp to that Degree, it appears*
that the Two upper Edges of the Sides of the Tongue
are inclined to each other in an Angle that is more
acute, by about One-third, than is the Angle of In-
clination of the Sides of the Mortife.

Hence, when the Tongue is kt down to its Place,
there will be on each Side of it an empty Space, be-
twixt it and the Mortife^ of the Form of a very

acutfe

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 315

acute Triangle, whofe vertical Angle is more or lefs
acute, according as the Tongue approaches nearer to,
or recedes farther from the Spindle.

This Fig. 1. Plate 3. is the brafs Tongue with its
Backrfide upwards. The Two outer Lines a b and
c d are the Edges of the upper Surface (tho' turned
downwards in this Figure), which are inclined to each
other, as afore- mentioned-, but the Two inner Lines
e f and g h are nearer to each other, whereby this
under Surface is narrower than the upper: Both muft
be plain Surfaces, but the upper and its Two Edges
yery free from Flaws, and lmooth, or polifhed.

The Reafon why the under Surface is narrower
than the upper, is to preferve the Bevel of the empty
Triangle : For though the Bevel of the Sides of the
Mortife would be fufficient for this, if both Sides
of the Tongue were fure to keep equally diftant from
the Spindle ; yet as the Tongue never is fo tight on
its Axis, but that fometimes one Corner of it may
be nearer to the Spindle than the other, in this Cafe,
that Side which is neareft to the Spindle would reverie
that Bevel, fo as to make the fmall empty Space that
is betwixt the Mortife and the Tongue, wider above
than underneath.

C C are the Two little Knobs that prevent the
Spring from flipping to either Side, and are at the
Diftance from one another of the Breadth of the
Spring.

Fig. 2. fnews one Side, and the Thicknefs of the
Tongue the other Side, being the fame, a b mews
the polifhed Surface (being a true Plane,), whereon
the Seed runs down to the Spindle, c d the Back-
fide, which lies turned uppermoft in Fig. 1. bed
fhews one End of the hollo w Cylinder of the Tongue,
thro3 which its Axis paries.

The Length of the Tongue mud be fuch, as will
reach lower than juft to touch the Bottom of the

great

5 14 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX,

great Hole as a Tangent : for, if it be not longer
than that, it might happen, that when the Mortife is
empty of Seed, and tfie Tongue fet up clofe, a
Wheel might, in Turning, or .other wife, go a little
backwards, and caufe a Notch of the Spindle to take
Jiold of the End or the Tongue, and tear it out of
the Mortife: Therefore let the Tongue reach a little
below the Spindle, as the pricked Line g hy in Fig.
3. of Plate 2. doth.

As for the Pofture in which the Tongue ought to
Hand in the Mortife, it is fhewn by the Three pricked
Lines in Fig. 3. Plate 2. where the pricked Line
g h makes an Angle of Forty-five Degrees, being
the nearefl that it can Hand to the Spindle ; the
pricked Line i h makes a fomewhat greater Angle,
and it is a mean (or middle) Diflance from the
Spindle; and the pricked Line k h is fuppofed to be
its greateft Pittance, where the Tongue makes its
greatefl Angle with the Top and Bottom of the Mor-
tife. If the Tongue flood lb obliquely as to make an
Angle much lefs than Forty-Five, the Tongue would
rife too much againft the Bevel of the Mortife, and
the Spring would have the greater Difficulty in re-
turning it to its Place, when driven back by the Force
of the Notches.

And befide, when the Tongue flood wide from
the Spindle, there might be lb much Room betwixt
it and the Sides of the Mortife, that fome Szedz
might fall thro' there.

The Steel Spring is D, properly placed upon the
Back of the Tongue, in Fig. 1. Plate 3.

At firft, I made the Spring double, i. e. with Two
Legs, in Imitation of that in the Organ, and faflened
mto its Tongue, much after the fame manner as the
Spring of the Organ is into its Tongue or Flap,
which prevents the comprefTed Air from palling out
of the Sound-board, -except whilft the Key is thruft

down

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 3 1 $

down by the Finger of the Player ; but the Drill-
fpring requiring to be of a vaftly greater Strength
than that, I made it of Steel, of the Breadth of half
an Inch, inftead of Brafs Wire : This performed very
well, and feveral Drills are yet extant, that have only
this Sort pf Springs : Yet I found there was great
Difficulty to fet the Legs at their due Diftance from
each other ; for their Seafoning would alter them
from what they were, whilft the Steel was foft :
They alfo took up too much Room in the upper
Part of the Mortife. Then, to remedy thefe Incon-
veniencies, I made it fingle, with only one Leg,
which by full Experience is found to be much better
than the double one ; it does not contain a Fourth
Part of the Metal, and is mod eafily made, requiring
none of that Trouble and Nicety that the double
Spring doth. I fhall therefore give a Defcription of
the fingle Spring only.

B, the End of the Screw, which holds the Spring
to the Tongue, thro' a Hole near the upper End of
the Spring; D, the Middle, againft which the End
of the Setting- fcrew bears.

Its Length is almoft the whole Length of the
Tongue ; the End E reaching very near to the
Jower End of the Tongue, and the End B is as near
the upper End of the Tongue ; as it can be placed
without touching the Cylinder of the Tongue.

The Breadth is ufually about half an Inch ; the
Thicknefs muft be in proportion to its other Dimen-
sions, and according to the Degree of StifFnefs re-
quired.

The longer it is, the thicker it muft be, to have
thft fame StifFnefs; but the broader it is, the thinner
it muft be of the fame Length; fo that it is hard
to determine its Thicknefs. It is made ftifFer or
ftronger by being cut fhorter ; it is made weaker,
or lefs ftiff, by filing or grinding it either thinner or
narrower,

The

3 1 6 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX.

The common Thicknefs is about that of a Shil-
ling (a).

The Degrees of Stiffnefs are meafured in this
manner ; viz. Fix Two Boards together, leaving a
Chink betwixt them, in one Place of an Inch long;
lay the Spring (when feafoned acrofs this Chink) with
its Middle exactly over it •, then put a String over
the Spring, which may pafs with both Ends thro*
the Chink, and tie fo much Weight to the Ends of
the String under the Boards, that will pull down the
Middle of the Spring, till it touch the Chink, and is
ftrait with both its Ends ; This will fhew the Degree
of Stiffnefs. But note, That the Spring muft be
crooked, and bear only upon its Ends, with the hol-
low Side upwards.

If ten or a dozen Pounds Weight pull it down to
the Board, it is a good Degree of Stiffnefs, for a
large Box : We are not confined to be very nice or .
exact in the Degree of Stiffnefs; for by our Fingers
prefiing it, we that are pracYifed in it, know well
enough, whether a Spring be of a fufficient Degree
of Stiffnefs, without weighing it ; but for fuch who
are unacquainted with them, it is bed not to truft
to Guefs, but Weights; and to adjuft the Stiffnefs to
that of a Spring, that has been known to perform
well.

The Spring muft bear againft the Back of the
Tongue at each End, and lie hollow in the Middle:
But the Degree of Hollownefs of the Spring is very
material ; for thereon depends the Diftance of the
Tongue's Motion towards the Spindle by Force of
the Spring, and back again quite to the Setting-fcrew,
by the Seed that is preffed againft it by Force of
the Notches, when they are moved by the Wheels ;
becaufe the more the Spring is curved, the farther

(a) Not quite fo thick as a milled Shilling, but rather of an
c\d broad ftamped Shilling, which is a little thinner.

Will

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 317

will it thruft the Tongue from its Middle, if its
Strength be fuperior to the Force that refills it, as
it ought to be when a Notch is pafled and before the
next: This Motion of the Tongue is called its Play.

In order to meafure the Diftance (or Quantity) of
this Motion, we muft confider, that the Tongue,
moving on its Axis above, defcribes with its lower
End the Arch of a Circle, the Chord of which Arch
is the Meafure required.

To meafure this by the Angle the Tongue makes
at its Centre, would be no Rule for making Boxes ;
becaufe fome Tongues are longer, fome fhorter, in
proportion to the different Diameters of the Spindles
they move againft ; and yet the Play of the fhorteft
muft be as much as that of the longeft, that is, it
muft defcribe as great an Arch at the Place of Pref-
igure (defcribed in Fig. 3. Plate 2.) ; and therefore the
fhorteft Tongue would make the greateft Angle.

A fhort and eafy Way, then, for a Mechanic to
meafure, is thus : Screw in the Setting-fcrew until
the Tongue come within a quarter of an Inch of
touching the Spindle ; then take out the Spindle,
and from the Centre of the Hole draw a Line on the
Side of the Mortife, perpendicular to the Tongue,
and at the Tongue's Edge make a Mark with the
Compaffes, or a Pen •, then force back the Tongue
againft the Setting-fcrew as far as it wiil go (that is,
until the Spring touch the whole Back of the
Tongue) ; produce the faid Line to the fame Edge
of the Tongue, or fet the End of the Rule thereon,
and draw another Line, by the Rule, from the Mark
to the Edge of the Tongue, when fartheft back, and
there make the fecond Mark. The Ruler ufed this
Way will fhew both the Perpendicular, and the Mea-
fure.

But yet a quicker Way is, to fet the Tongue, by
the Setting-fcrew up to the Edge of the Hole ; and,
when it is forced back, meafure from the Tongue

3 tQ

3 i8 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX,

to the neareft Part of the Hole, which will ever be
a perpendicular Line drawn from the Centre of the
Hole to the Place of PrefTure above-mentioned, and
make another Mark there : Now the Diftance be-
tween thefe Two Marks is the Meafure (near enough)
of the Tongue's Play at the Place of PrefTure. Tho9
this Line drawn on the Side of the Mortife be not
exactly perpendicular to the Surface of the Tongue,
but only to its Edge -, yet the Difference is next to
nothing, and not to be regarded.

If its Meafure be a quarter of an Inch, it is what
Experience fhews to be of a good Size for all Corn
and Peas; a little lefs is no Harm, but greater is the
mod fatal Error, into which moft of the Pretenders
to the making of this Machine have fallen; they give
the Tongue half an Inch, fometimes Three quarters
of an Inch Play. The Miichief of this Error is yet
farther increafed, if the Spring be weak, it the Mor-
tife have too great a Bevel, or if the Angle made by
the Tongue at the upper Edge of the Mortife be too
acute.

When the Tongue has too great Play, the Sc^d
is apt to be turned out too fail, or elfe too lie y,
in fpite of the Driller. For when the Tongue is
let at its due Diftance from the Spindle, and is thruft
quite back by the Seed prefTed againft it by the
Turning of the Notches ; but the Spring being un-
able to return the Tongue to its former Place at fuch
a Diftance, at the time of pafling the Intervals which
are betwixt the Notches •, then the Space between the
Spindle and the Tongue being too open, the Seed is"
lent down too faft.

To prevent that, they kt up the Tongue to the
Spindle ; and then, as often as the Spring happens
to overcome the Force of the Seed's PrefTure (as
fometimes it will),, it is fent out too flowly.

The Inequality of the Running of the S^d makes
fuch Boxes ufelefs, which the Expence of Two-pence

(for

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes, 319

(for another Spring, or new Seafoning of that) ac
jnoft would rectify, if the Maker underftood how
to mend his own Work. If time did permit, more
fhould be faid on this Point, becaufe 1 find it is the
Tons Afini of a Workman. Sometimes it may be
prevented, when the Spring is too hollow, and gives
too much Play. Screw the Screw, that holds it on
the Tongue, down clofer, fo that the lower Part of
the Screw's Head prefs againfl the Spring, and there-
by force its Middle nearer to the Tongue, until you
find its Play leiTened to its juft Diftance.

The Spring, remaining in this compreiTed State,
has loft the weakeft, and retains only the ftrongeft.
Part of its elaftic Force. Therefore, if you find it
then too ftiff, make it weaker by Filing or Grinding,
or elk put another into its Place, which is honeftly
worth no more than Two-pence.

This Holding-fcrew has a pretty broad Head, and
is fcrewed in by a Notch, like the Screw-pin of a
Gun-lock.

The Hole in the Spring muff, be fomewhat bigger
than the Holding- fere w, becaufe the Spring muft
have room to move and play thereon.

If the Middle of the Spring were againfl: the Mid-
dle of that Part of the Tongue, that is betwixt its
Axis and the Place of PrefTure, the Diftance of the
Spring's Hollownefs would be juft half the Diftance
of the Spring's Play, to wit, the One-eighth Part of
an Inch •, but as the Spring does not quite reach up
to the Axis, and reaches much below the Place of
PrefTure, the Hollownefs at the Place where the Set-
ting-fcrew bears againfl the Middle of the Spring at
D, is considerably nearer to the Place of PrefTure
than to the Axis cf the Tongue -, this Hollownefs of
the Spring at the Setting-fcrew may be fomething
more than the One-eighth Part of an Inch, to give
the Spring a Quarter of an Inch. Play : but it feldom
has fo much.

£20 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX,

Fig. 4. in Plate 2. mews the Length and Thick-
nefs of the Steel Spring of a Turnep Seed-box : This
ierves both for a Tongue and Spring : It is made
firft ftrait, and then the narrowefl End of it is turned
round, till it reach to j, and forms the Cylinder A*
thro' which its Axis paffes ; but is not welded 6r
joined to the other Part of the Spring at a : It is
placed in the Box with the Cylinder Part underneath.
The Face of this Spring is feen upon its Axis, mark'd
K. in Fig. 5. Its Axis is to pafs thro' the Hole E,
and fcrew into the Hole F, in Fig. 2, as is feen more
plainly ac a in Fig. 9.

As the Top of every Tongue ought to be even
with the upper Edges of the Mortife, the Thicknefs
of the Cylinder of the Brafs Tongue caufes the Hole
in the Sides of the Mortife, into which it is held by
its Axis, to be far enough from the Edges of the
Mortife, to be bored and fcrewed without Danger
of breaking the faid Edges •, but the Spring of the
Turnep-drill being fo very thin, there is fome Dif*
faculty in making the Hole fo high, and near the
Edges : To prevent which Danger, Fig. J. fhews
the End of a fmall hollow Cylinder of Iron or Brafs,
of the Thicknefs of the Mortife j which, being put
into the Cylinder A, in Fig. 4. raifes the Spring,
higher above the Hole ; fo that it may be made as
low in a Turnep Mortife, as that is which holds the
Brafs Tongue in the Wheat-drill. But we do not
always ufe this inner Cylinder (a) ; but mud then
take the more Care in boring the Hole, or el'fe it will
burfb out at the Edges of the Mortife.

Its Shape muft conform to that of the Brafs-
Tongue already defcribed.

fa) For, inftead of this, we may nfe a Bit of Woolen Cloth of
the Breadth of the Mortife, glued on to the Bottom of the Hop-
per, which, filling the Vacuity above the Steel Tongue, prevents
any Seed from running over it, though the Holes are bored as low
in the Mortife as if the Cylinder Fig. 7. were to be uied.

The

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 3 2 1

The Degree of its Stiffnefs is known by weighing,
as has been directed for the other Spring •, and being
laid with its Face downwards over a Chink, with a
fmall Piece of Wood of the Thicknefs of a Barley-
corn at Each end, and a String taking hold of its
Middle, and defending thro' the Chink, the Weight
of Five Pounds, tied to the End of the String, will
juft bend the Spring* till it touch the Edges of the
Chink ; and this is the Stiffnefs of a Spring that has
performed well, for many Years, in drilling of Tur-
nep-feed.

The Setting-Screw.

Fig. 6. is the Iron Setting-fcrew, which paffes
thro' the Hole in the Fore-end of the Mortife, Fig. t.
and paffes up to the Middle of the Spring by the
prick'd Line p q in the fame Figure. The Ufe of
this Setting-fcrew is, to increafe or diminifh the Pro-
portion of Seed to be turned out by the Notches ;
and this it does by forcing up the Spring and Tongue
(where there is one) nearer to, or farther from the
Spindle, whereby the Seed-paffage is made wider of
narrower, as is fhewn by the Three prick'd Lines in
Fig. 2. and Fig. 3.

Obferve, that the prick'd Line p q, Fig. 2. (being
the Mortife of the Turnep-box) Hands higher than
the fame Line doth in Fig. 3. v/hich is the Mortife of
the Wheat-box. The Reafon of this Difference is,
becaufe the Spring in the Wheat-box bears at its lower
End againft the Tongue below the Seed-paffage, and
at its upper End below the Axis of the Tongue,
whereby the Middle of that Spring is lower than the
Spring of the Turnep-box, v/hich, being both Spring
and Tongue, bears againft its Axis above, and agaimt
the Seed-paffage below; therefore its Middle is higher.
This Setting-fcrew mould be placed perpendicular to
the Tongue when at its mean or middle Didance
from the Spindle, which may be fuppofed to be the

Y mi c die-

322 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX.

middlemoft of the Three mentioned prick'd Lines.
This Setting-fcrew ought to be fmooth and round at
its End, which bears againft the Spring ; for, if it
mould have iharp Corners or Edges, the Spring
might be wounded by them, and in time might break
there, being prefs'd by every Notch that turns againft
it; and, as I have computed it, a Spring undergoes
One hundred thoufand of thefe Preftlires in one Day's
Work; and yet, in my whole Practice, I have had
only one Spring broken, and that was in drilling a
large Sort of Peas with a Wheat-drill, and was oc-
cafioned by a jagged End of die Setting-fcrew,
which was not placed perpendicular to the Spring*
by which means the rough End of the Screw made
Scratches againft it a Quarter of an Inch long, and
fo deep, that the Spring broke off there : Let not this
Setting-fcrew be any longer than juft to force the
Tongue up to the Spindle ; for, if it mould be longer,
an ignorant Driller might happen, by the Force of"
the Screw, to break the Tongue, or its Axis; but
in the Turnep-drill, which has only a Spring inftead
of a Tongue, the Setting-fcrew may be a Thread or
Two longer ; becaufe the Spring will yield a little to
ir, after it touches the Spindle, and is fometimes of
Ufe in that refpect, when the Notches are too large.
This Screw muft be of fuch a Bignefs, that it may
not be in Danger of bending ; for if it* mould be
bent, it could not be fcrew'd up with any Certainty,
becaufe its End, being crooked, would be below its
Place at one Half-turn, and above it at the other
Half-turn, and fo the Spring might be fet farther
from the Spindle inftead of nearer, and nearer in-
jftead of farther, by the Crookednefs of the Setting-
fcrew. Its Head may be made with a Notch in it,
to be fcrew'd in with a Knife, or eife with a Head
like a T$ to be turn'd with the Fingers, which I think
is beft, efpecially for a Wheat-drill; becaufe as the
Brine and Lime, which ftick on the Wheat, grow

5 drier,

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 323

drier, it v/ill run fatter-, and therefore the Setting-
fcrew muft be frequently fcrew'd in to leffen the Seed-
paflage.

The Seed-pafTage, or Place of Preffure, is where
the Seed paries down betwixt the Spindle and the
Tongue -, and is in that Part where they are neareft
together-, for there the Seed is prefs'd harder! by the
Force of the Notches, which carry it down : And this
Paflage is higher or lower, as the Tongue ftands
nearer or farther from the Spindle ; for as it flands
wider, it becomes nearer to perpendicular to the Top
bf the Moriife, and then the Seed-paffage is higher ;
and when it ftands neareft to the Spindle, then the
Seed-pafTage is loweft. This appears in Fig, 3. by
the Three prick'd Lines a #, a 0, and a p.

The Spindle, with its Notches, is belt fhewn where
it is large, and made of Wood, as that of the Wheat
Seed-box ; it is a folid Cylinder that pafTes thro', and
fills the great Hole, or hollow Cylinder, of the Seed-
box ; it is of various Lengths, according to the
Diftance its Wheels go afunder \ it is always in large
Boxes the Axis of Two Wheels, and turns round
with them, as the Axis of the One Wheel of a
Wheelbarrow does with that : Thefe Wheels, by their
Circumferences, meafure out the Ground over which
they carry the Seed-box, and, by the Notches in their
Axis, deliver down the Seed equally, whether they
move fwift or flow ; becaufe an equal Number of
Notchfuls of Seed will be deliver'd thro* the Sezd-
pafTage at each Revolution of the Wheels.

TheNotches refemble thofe in theHinder-Cylinder
of a Cyder- mill, which break the Apples by turn-
ing againft the Notches of the .Fore-cylinder, as our
Notches turn againft the Tongue-, and bruife the Ap-
ples which come betwixt them, as our Notches might
fomctimes bruife foft Seeds, if the Tongue flood clofe
to the Notches, without any Spring behind it to give
Way to their Prefiure, and return the Tongue again

S3 o-

Y 2 to

3 24 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX.

to its Place, at every Interval betwixt Notch and
Notch.

The bell Way, that I can think of, to fhew the
making of thefe Notches, is by a Section of the
Spindle at right Angles, in the Middle of the Notches,
as in Fig. 4. of Plate 3. which is a Circle whofe
Circumference is cut off by Six Notches j which
fhew the different Sort of Notches, that increafe or
diminifh the Proportion of Seed to be carried thro3
the Seed-pafTage by them: The Length of the
Notches we never alter; but make them always pa-
rallel to the Axis of the Spindle, and of the Length
of the Diftance there is between the lower Ends of
the oppofite Axes tranfverfi of the Ellipfes, or great
Holes, of the Mortife \ for if any Part of the Surface
of the Soindle mould be betwixt the End of a Notch
and the Hole, one or more Seeds coming betwixt
that Surface and the Tongue, might hold it open, and
prevent its prefiing againft the Notch, to hold the
Seed therein from falling without the Turning of the
Wheels.

This Proportion of Seed is alter'd by the Number
of Notches, and by their Depth or Breadth, or by
both, b c is the Depth of a Notch, which we call
its Side; and is that which takes hold of the Seed,
and carries it down thro' the Seed-palTage. The
Manner of cutting this is feen by its being a Portion
of the Radius A c. The Bottom of a Notch is made
in different Forms {a) : As, firlt, it may be convex,

as

(a) The convex Form is bed for turning out a great Propor-
tion of Seed; becaufe fucli a Bottom may be broader than one of
any other Form, in a Notch of the fame Depth and Capacity y
-and fuch a Notch, having its Capacity more in Breadth than Depth,
will be lefs liable to let fall any Seed without the Turning of
the Wheels, than a Notch that is deeper and narrower, except it
be very narrow, which it cannot be for throwing out a large Pro-
portion of Seed ; for a great Number of Notches cannot have
altogether the fame Capacity as a letter Number of the fame

Depth

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 325

as is (hewn by the curve Line b d. We may enlarge
the Capacity of this Notch, by taking off the Con-
vexity of its Bottom, as in the Bottom of the Notch
{hewn by the Line e f\ and if we would increafe it
more, we make it concave, as g h.

But of whatever Sort or Dimenfions one Notch
is made, all the reft mould be the fame exactly ; and
confequently, the Interfaces (or Intervals) between
Notch and Notch, of which the Line / c, being an
Arch of the Circle, is the Breadth, muft be equal (a),
and cannot be otherwife, if the Notches are all equal
and equidiftant, as they appear in the adjoining Fig. 5.
which is a Section like the former, and fhews Six In-
tervals, with their Six Notches, of the Size wherewith
we drill St. Foin with high Wheels • but when we
would drill very thin, it is better to have but Four or
Five Notches inftead of Six.

Fig. 6. {hews a Notch of the Spindle, a b is the
upper Edge of the Side of the Notch, being always
an acute folid Angle, c d is the Edge of its Bottom,
being always an obtufe Angle, e f is the Angle
made by the Side and Bottom, and is always fhorter
than the aforefaid Two Edges, by reafon of the
Obliquity of the Two Ends -, this Angle is never
obtufe, except when the Bottom of the Notch is con-
cave. Thefe Three Lines muft be parallel to the Axis
of the Spindle,

Fig. 7. is one End of the afore-defcribed Notch 5
the Line a b being joined to the Line / d of Fig. 6*

Depth may. The concave Notch, if it were as broad as the
convex may be, would make the Interlace, that is before it,
liable to be broken out, and fo Two Notches would become One;
but the Convexity of the other fupports the Interface like an
Arch, and for that Reafon may be made to reach almoll quite to
the Notch that is before it, without that Danger.

(a) But thefe cannot be equal, unlefs the Notches are ail of
equal Breadth, and equidiftant from one another; and if they are
Oihcrwife, the Seed will not be equally delivered to the Ground.
Y3 and

3 2 6 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX.

and the Line a c, being joined to the Line b f in
Fig. 6. would be the End of that Notch in its pro-
per Poflure \ and then the Line b c, being an Arch
of the cylindrical Spindle, would be the Edge of the
upper End of the Notch, a b c, being the Area of
this End, is a Plane, and, when in its Place, makes
an Angle of Forty-five Degrees with the Axis of the
Spindle. The other End is the fame with this in all
refpecls, except that, being oppofite to it, it is in-
clined to it in an Angle of Ninety Degrees, at the
bottom Angle of the Notch, at the Line e f in
Fig. 6.

Fig. 8. is a Notch lying with its Ends near it, and
is of the fame Dimenfions with thofe appearing in
the Seed-box, Fig. 3.

The Cover B appears with its upper Surface rightly
placed in the Mortife, in Fig. 3. of Plate 3. where
its Breadth is fhewn to be the fame with that of the
Mortife •, but its Shape, and other Dimenfions, are
ted feen in Fig. 3. of Plate 2. where f t is its
Length, and reaches from the Hinder-end of the
Mortife, to within the Tenth of an Inch of the upper
End of the JxTs iranfuerfus of the Ellipfis ; its
greater!: Depth is from v to w9 and is made fo deep,
that its Bottom, at w% bearing againft the End of
the Mortife, may prevent its Point, which is at /,
from finking down to touch the Spindle, which it
neither muft do, nor be fo high above it as to ftifTer
a Seed to pafs between the Spindle and it, tho' the Seed
is not apt to pafs that Way, becaufe the Notches throw
it forwards from the Cover, z is the Hole, thro'
which an Iron Screw-pin paries, and fcrews into the
oppofite Sides of the Mortife, to hold it firm in its
Place : 3Tis made fo thin betwixt x and y both for
Lightnefs, and that the Seed may come the more
freely to the Notches, without Danger of Arching
at that End. Xhe Ufe of the Cover is to prevent any
Seed from falling down behind the Spindle.

F&

Chap. XX. Of the Drill- Boxes. 3 27

Fig. 10. Plate 2. is the Fore-end of a Wheat
Mortife, with its Hole A, thro' which the Setting-
fcrew is fcrew'd, and paries up to the Back of the
Tongue by the Line qr in Fig. 3.

Fig. 9. in Plate 3. is the hinder End of a Wheat
Mortife, which by its prick'd Lines, and the Two
right-angled Triangles they make, fhews the Bevel
of the Mortife, and alfo its Depth j it alfo fhews the
Difference of the Bevel of the Mortife, and that of
the Tongue, Fig. 1. which is placed againft it:
Theie Figures having been already demonflrated in
the Defcription of the Turnep Mortife, and in thefe,
1 need fay no more of it, but that I think thefe laft-
mention'd Figures fufficient Directions for under-
standing and making the Mortife of a Wheat-drill.

Fig. 3. of Plate 3. exhibits to View a Wheat Seed-
box, with its Appurtenances, {landing upon its
Bottom ; B the Brafs Cover ; C the Tongue hanging
upon its Axis ; c the End of the Iron Screw that
holds on the Spring, coming thro' the Tongue, and
filed fmooth with it ; ^, 0, #, are Three Notches of
the Spindle, with their bevel Ends ; by £, are Two
Interfaces betwixt the Notches.

Hitherto we have been fpeaking of the Parts
contained in the Wheat Seed-box ; let us now come
to the Parts containing : As, nrft, d efg is the upper
Surface of the Brafs Seed-box, mewing the Top of
the Mortife, and what it contains \h h h, and b b b9
fhew the Ends of the hollow Cylinder, and its Bafes
coming out on each Side, farther than the Box ; for
if it did not project farther out than the Sides of the
Box, the Surface of it would be fo narrow, that it
would cut the wooden Spindle by the Friction made
between it and the Spindle ; but the Surface, being
qf this Breadth, never wears into tffe Spindle, but
makes it fmooth and mining ; i i /*, and *' i /, fhew a
foreign of the wooden Spindle (of an Inch and an

Y 4 half

328 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX.

half Diameter) coming out of the hollow Cylinder, oa
each Side of the Brals Box.

The Spindle is kept from moving end-ways, by
Wreaths, in the fame manner as the Axis of a
Wheelbarrow is ; which Wreaths mall be defcribed
together with the Hopper, k is the Hole by which
the Fore-end of the Seed-box is held up to the Bot-
tom of the Hopper, by a Screw and Nut. / is the
Hole where the Hinder-end of the Box is held up,
in the fame manner as the Fore-end is. mn op fhew
where the Two Halves of the Seed-box are joined
together. ' *

Fig. 10. mews the Outfide of One Half of the
Brafs Seed-box. AAA fhew the Thicknefs of the
projecting Bafe of the hollow Cylinder, which is
made the thicker, to the end that the Hole may be
bored large, and made an Inch and Three Quarters
Diameter, when a Spindle that is to go therein is re-
quired to be of that Bignefs, by reafon of its extra-
ordinary Length, as it is in the Fore-hopper of the
Wheat-drill. B C fhews the Thicknefs of the Ends;
of the Seed-box, whereby it is held up to the Bot-
tom of the Hopper ; if they are not quite a quarter
of an Inch thick, they will be flrong enough ; efpe-
cially C, which is the hindermoft, and which is never
pull'd down by the Turning of the Spindle, but is
rather raifed up by it.

D is the Head of the Counter-fcrew, to be turn'd
by the Fingers, to prefsagainft the Side of the Setting-
fcrew, to keep it from turning of itfelf, when it is
worn loofe.

E is the Hole for the Axis of the Tongue. F is
the Hole of an Iron Screw-pin, which both holds
the Cover to its Place, and alfo the Two Halves of
the Box together. G is the Hole for another Screw-
pin, which holds the Two Sides of the Box together.
H and I are Holes for Two other Screw-pins, which
flkewife hold the Two Halves of the Box together.,

and

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 329

and are placed one above, and the other below, the
Setting-fcrew ; for otherwife that Screw, and its
Counter-fcrew, might force open the Joining of the
Box, and then the Setting-fcrew might be loofe, and
the Bevel of the Box might be altered ; but thefe
Screws, being one on each Side of it, prevent this
Inconvenience.

Fig. 8. in Plate 2. is one Half of a Brafs Turnep
Seed-box, lying with its Infide uppermofr., which
fhews the left Side of the Mortife, and half the Fore-
end, and half the Hinder-end, of the Mortife, and
half of each Screw-pin Hole, by which it is held up
to the Bottom of the Hopper. A is half the Hole
of the Setting-fcrew, fhewing in the Middle of it
the End of the Counter-fcrew. B is half the Hole,
by which the Steel Spring-cover is held in with 3
Screw. All the other Holes are for the fame Pur-
pofes, as have been fhewn in the Wheat Seed-box.

Fig. 9. is the whole Turnep Seed-box, Handing
upon its Bottom -, Part of [its Steel Spring-tongue
appears in its Place, as alfo fome of the Notches of
the Spindle ; but more efpecially the Cover A, which
differs from the Cover of the Wheat Mortife, this
being a very thin Spring, whofe lower End juft
reaches to touch (but not to bear upon) the Spindle
at the upper End of the tranfverfe Axes of the Ellip-
fes -, the Mortife being filed away at the End, in
order that the upper End of this Spring, and the
Screw which holds it, may not lie above the upper
Surface of the Box. This Spring is made very weak,
to the end that, if by any Chance a (oft Seed mould
{lick in a Notch, and be turned round, this Spring
might fuffer it to pafs by without breaking it. B, C,
are the Two Flanks or Sides, made neceffarily of this
Breadth, for bearing againft the Wood of the Bottom
of the Hopper, to prevent the Seed from falling out
betwixt the Wood and the Brafs, and that the Hole
in the Hopper may be broader than this narrow Mor-
tife

5;o Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX,

tife of the Seed-box, The left Flank B, being next
the wide Side of the Hopper, lies all open, except on
the outfide of the pricked Lines, where it is covered
by the Wood of the End of the Hopper, when it is
fcrewed on to its Place ; but the Plapch C, on the
right Side, will be all covered by the End of the
Box, that will ftand upon it, and will reach to the
pricked Line that touches the Edge of the Mortife.
E) is the End of the Setting-fcrew, appearing in its
Place with a Notch, whereby it is to be turned by a
Knife ; but I think it better to have an End like a T,
to be turned with the Fingers. E is one End of the
hollow Cylinder, which projects beyond the Flanch,
that there may be more Room for the Crank to turn
(without ftriking againft the End of the Hopper, or
againft the Flanch) on the Outfide of the Box or
Hopper \ and for that, the longer this Cylinder is,
the better the Brafs Spindle will turn in it.

Fig. ii. is the Spring-cover, with its Hole, where-
by it is fcrewed into its Place, as it is (qqh marked A%
in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12. is the Setting-fcrew pointing againft its
Hole, its Head being flat, that it may be turned by
the Finger and Thumb.

Fig. 13. is the Counter-fcrew, to be turned in the
fame manner.

Fig. 5. fhews the Brafs Spindle of the Turnep
Seed-box, and the Manner of turning it againft its
Steel Tongue, or Spring ; which Manner is different
from that of turning the larger Spindles for Boxes
of a larger Size, fuch as the Wheat Seed-box.

This Spindle (a), being but half an Inch Diameter,
is too fmall to be turned by the Two Wheels, as,

the

(a) I believe, if it were lefs by a Fourth or Third of its Di-
ame:er, it might be better, as being more proportionable to the
Smalnefs of the Turnep-feed. I have had the Mortife much
wider ; but it cannot well be made much narrower. wHilil the

Toreufc

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. ^ x

the larger Spindles are; not only becaufe it would be
in Danger of breaking by the Weight of the Hop-
per, and by the Twilling (or Wrenching) of the
Wheels; but alfo becaufe it would foon become loofe,
by wearing the hollow Cylinder thro' which it paffes;
and it would be apt to open the Brafs Flanches from
the Bottom of the Hopper, whereby the Seed might
runout, befidefeveral other Inconveniencies; all which
are prevented by turning the Spindle in the manner
fhewn in this Figure ; for here the Spindle never
preiTes againft the hollow Cylinder, with any greater
Force than that of its own Weight, which is fo very
little, that the Friction made by it is next to nothing.
A the Spindle, exactly fitting the Bore of the hoJr
low Cylinder; which, when it enters the faid Cylinder
at its left End, in Fig. 9. will be flopped by the
Wreath B B B; which Wreath, being circular, is cafb
on the Spindle, and is Part of it ; the other End of
the Spindle will then appear without the right-hand
End of the faid hollow Cylinder, at E in Fig. 9,
and is kept there by the Wreath Fig. 14. which is to
be put on upon the End of the Spindle, until it come
to the Shoulder at #, which Shoulder is exaclly even
with the End of the hollow Cylinder ; fo that this
Wreath will touch the End of the faid Cylinder by-
its whole Surface. Then, to fix in this Wreath from
coming off, we make ufe of the Slider, Fig. 15. whole
Two Claws A, B, being thruft down by the Two
Notches of the Spindle, at b and c9 until its other Part

Tongue is of this Fafnion ; for this Steel Tongue, if narrower,
would either be too ftiff, or elfe apt to break, nor would there be
Room in the Mortife for a fufficient Setting-fcrew to follow it.
But there is another Faihion, wherein a narrower Brafs Tongue
has a broad Spring behind it; and when it is in this Manner, the
Mortife may be a Fourth of the Breadth of this. I have had
many of thefe when I made my Boxes in Wood ; but cannot de-
scribe them by thefe Cuts ; neither are fuch narrow Mortifes ne-
cefiary, unlefs it were for drilling Tobacco feed, Thyme-feed, or
fome other Sort of an extraordinary Smalr^efs.

c.

332 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX.

C, which is perpendicular to its Claws, comes down
to the Fiat of the Spindle, and environs one half of
the Hole, covering the Part of the Flat which ap-
pears of a darker Colour; and then the upper Part of C,
in Fig. 15. makes one level Surface with the Flat D
of the Spindle ; and then the Iron Fork E, being
fcrewed into the Hole F, holds down the Slider fait,
fo that it cannot rife up ; and then the Spindle, be-
ing in its Place, will run round without moving end-
ways, being confined by thefe Wreaths.

The Spindle being thus placed, fo that it may turn
eafily, we place the Seed-box upon its Flanches with
its Bottom upwards; and then fetting one (harp Point
of a Pair of CompafTes, or fome fuch Inftrument,
upon the Spindle, within the Mortife, clofe to the
Edge of the Hole or Ellipfe at the End of the tranf-
verfe Ax, turn round the Spindle, until the faid Point
makes a Mark round the Spindle, which will be a
Circle; by the fame means make fuch another Mark
at the oppofite Ax; then unfcrew the Fork, and take
out the Slider, pull off the Wreath, and take out the
Spindle, and cut the Notches between the Two faid
Circles and Marks ; the Edges of the Ends of the
Notches mufl be Arches of ^ thefe Circles. Thefe
Notches mould differ from thofe already defcribed in
the Wheat-drill, in nothing but the Smalnefs of their
Dimenfions; their Depth mould be about the Thick-
nefs of a Turnep-feed, or lbmething deeper. The
Breadth of their Bottoms is uncertain, and mufl be
greater or lefs according to their greater or lefs Num-
ber; but we commonly have Seven or Eight Notches*
and make them about the Breadth in which they ap-
pear in this Figure; but whatever their Number be,
they mud be all equal, and fo mufl all their Inters
flices.

G is the End of a wooden Spindle, thro' which
paffes the Iron Crank H. and is fattened to it by its
Screw and Nut, at d ; Part of which Crank enters

the

Chap. XX. Of the Drill- Boxes. 333

the Wood at e9 which prevents its Turning in the
Spindle.

This Crank, by its other End, patting thro' the
Two Legs of the Fork E, and equally diftant from
the Top and Bottom of it, turns the Spindle by the
Motion of the Wheel which is fixed on the other
End of the wooden Spindle. If this Crank were to
turn the Spindle by a fmgkPin, inftead of this Fork,
the Sttd could never be delivered out equally to the
Ground •, for as foon as the Pin began to defcend,
and decline from being perpendicular to the Horizon,
it would, by its own Weight falling down, turn the
Spindle half round in a Moment, and there remain
with its other End downwards perpendicular to the
Horizon under the Spindle, until the Crank reached
it there, and fo no Seed would be turned out by one
Semicircle of the Wheel, and a double Proportion
would be turned out to the Land that was meafured
by the other Semicircle •, but the hinder Leg of the
Fork, bearing againft the hinder Part of the Crank,
prevents this Inconvenience.

The Line / g is Part of the Surface of a Board,
thro' which the wooden Spindle paiTes, and by which
it is held in its Place j as (hall be fhewn hereafter.

The Axis of this wooden Spindle ought to fall
into a Line with the Axis of this Brafs Spindle; but,
unlefs Care be taken to prevent it, the wooden Spindle
will fo much wear the Hole thro' which it paiTes, and
be worn by it, as to have Room in the Hole to de-
viate from this Exa&nefs, and may defcend fo low,
that the Crank may come out of the Ends of the
Fork ; and for this Reafon it is, that the Fork is
made fo long as it is-, but when this wooden Spindle
does, by the Contrivances hereafter fhewn, keep its
Axis in a Line with the Axis of the Brafs Spindle,
or very nearly fo, then the Legs of the Fork need be
no longer than half an Inch 5 and in that Cafe, the
Joint of the Crank, which is perpendicular to the

Spindle,

334 &/ $* Drill- Boxes. Chap. XX.

Spindle, mud be (hotter, or dfe defcend deeper into
the Wood, ft> that its End, which turns the Fork,
may be in the Middle betwixt its Bottom and the
End of its Legs.

The Uie of the other End of the Spindle is this :
When we have a mind that it mould be turned by the
left Wheel inftead of the right, we fcrew in the Fork
into the Hole I, and place a (hort Screw in the room
Of the Fork, to hold down the Slider.

Note, It is not abfolutely necefTary, that the hol-
low Cylinder, which appears on the Sides of the
Seed-box, mould both, or either of them, project
farther than the Flanches ; but I think it better that
k fliould do fo, at lead, on that Side which is next
to the Fork.

This Cylinder mould be bored as true, and as even,
as the Barrel of a Fufil is bored : and the Edges and
Surfaces of its Ends mufl: be fmooth, and without
Jaggs, to the end that the Wreaths may turn glibly
sgainft them.

The Figure or Shape of all Sorts of Seeds difpofes
them, more or lefs, to form an Arch, when they are
preffed from above, and confined on all Sides.

The mod effectual Way to prevent this is, to take
care, whenever many Seeds are to defcend together
by their own Gravity thro' a narrow Paffage, that
fuch Paffage be never narrower downwards than up-
wards j but, on the contrary, that it be wider down-
wards, on fome or one of its Sides ; in which Cafe^
if the Surfaces of all the Sides of this Paffage be
fmooth, it is impofiible, that Seeds mould of them-
felves form an Arch therein.

On this Maxim depends the infallible Performance
of a Drill, and from hence are derived the Ufes o!
the Bevel of the Mortife : What I mean by the Word
Bevel, in general, has been already defined.

The Bevel of the Mortife of the Seed-box is that
Inclination of its Sides, whereby it is wider down-

wards,

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 337

wards, and narrower upwards-, by which means the
Seed is prevented from arching in the Mortife before
it defcends to the Notches of the Spindle. And this
is the Firfl Ufe of our Bevel; for this Arching might
happen in the Mortife, if the Planes of its Sides were
parallel to each other-, and would be unavoidable, if
their Inclination were downwards, as it is upwards ;
but thefe Planes opening downwards, the lower the
Seed defcends, the more Room it has to expand •, fa
that the very Weight, which would otherwife caufe
it to arch and flop, does by means of this Bevel force
it to defcend to the Notches, and then it is fafe from
all manner of Danger of flopping. The Ends of
the Mortife are at fuch a great Diftance from each
other, and the Cover io very thin, as to lie aimofb
even with the upper Part of the Spindle, that the
Seed can never form an Arch that way; or, if it did,
the continual Motion of the Tongue would immedi-
ately break it down at the Fore-end of the Mortife.

The Second Ufe of this Bevel is, that it gives
room for the Tongue to be in the fame manner bevel,
tho' in a lefs Degree : By this means, the Seed cannot
by any Impediment be flopped in its oblique Defcent
to the Notches, from the Fore-end, and all that other
Length of the Mortife, along and upon the Surface
of the Tongue.

But if the Mortife had not this, Bevel, the Tongue
could not have it ; for then either the upper Surface
of the Tongue mud have no Bevel at all, which
would deftroy the Two empty Triangles which ought
to be on its Sides ; or elfe it mufl have a Bevel the
contrary Way (i. e. a Bevel reverfed), and be narrower
downwards than upwards, which would caufe the
Seed to arch thereon, and hinder its free Defcent to
the Notches.

A Third great Ufe of this Bevel is, that, befides
the Bevel of the Tongue aforementioned, it gives
place for Two empty Triangles, one on each Side the

Tongue,

336 Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap XX,

Tongue, which have each its vertical Angle extremely
acute at the Axis of the Tongue, and have their
Bafes at the Bottom of the Mortife, and of the
Tongue : Thefe Triangles are alfo Bevels, which con-
fill of the Difference, or Complement, of the Bevel
of the Tongue, and that of the Mortife, the latter
being about One-third greater than the former ; i. e.
One-third of the whole Bevel of the Mortife is di-
vided between thefe Two Triangles, to each a Sixth
Part; fo that if the Angle of Inclination of the Sides
of the Mortife were Nine Degrees, then the vertical
Angle of each of thefe empty Triangles would be of
One Degree and Thirty Minutes, and Six Degrees,
would be left for the Bevel of the Tongue. And
thefe triangular Spaces help to fecure the free Motion
of the Tongue, and free Defcent of the Seed down
its Surface ; becaufe they permit no Impediment to
lodge in them, they being, by means of the Bevel
of the Mortife, wider downwards* both obliquely
arid perpendicularly, fo that no Duft, nor whatever
elfe happens to get in betwixt the Tongue and the
Side of the Mortife, can re it there ; for it will be
immediately removed thence by the Motion of the
Tongue, and its own Gravity, and either thrown
perpendicularly down, or elfe obliquely to the
Notches, and the firft Notch that takes it will carry
it out at the Seed-pailage.

The Fourth Ufe of the Bevel is, that thereby the
Sections of the hollow Cylinder (before defcribed) do
form Eilipfes inftead of Circles ; which they muft
have been, if cut parallel to the Bafes of that Cylin-
der ; and the Sections muft have been thus parallel,
had the Mortife been without any Bevel.

Now the Two Semi-eliipfes, which are on the
Fore-fides of their longed. Axes or Diameters, and
next to the Tongue, are oppofite to, and do ftiil
uniformly depart from each other, even from the
upper End of their faid longed Axis, until they

arrive

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 3 3 7

arrive at the lower End of the fame Axis, which is
below the Seed-pafTage, as its upper End is very near
the Cover.

This Opening of thefe oppofite Semi-ellipfes
makes it impoflible for any thing, of itfelf, to get
into the remaining Parts of this hollow Cylinder,
betwixt them and the folid Cylinder, call'd the Spindle,
which turns continually therein, when the Wheels are
going : For you will fee, that if you make a Mark
on the Spindle* clofe to the Side of the Mortife, at
the upper End of the longeli Ax of the Ellipfe ; and
then turn the Spindle until this Mark come againft
the lower End of the fame Ax ; and there make an-
other Mark on the Spindle, clofe to the Side of the
Mortife; and draw a Line from one Mark to the other,
parallel to the Ax of the Spindle, which will be the
Meafure of that Part of the Bevel of the Diameter
of the Hole ; every Point in this Line will, by an
intire Revolution of the Spindle, generate a Circle,
which will cut the Ellipfe in Two Places, once on
the Forefide of its longed Axis, and once on the
Back-fide or hinder Half of it -, and that all thefe
Points, in this Surface of the Spindle, defcribed by
thefe Circles, will enter the Hole, by the faid hinder
Semi-ellipfe, as the Spindle there turns upwards (as
it always does.); and they will all again come out on
the fore Semi-ellipfe, as they defcend towards the
lower End of the faid Ax of the Ellipfe.

As thefe Points thus come out of the Hole, or
(if I may uie the Expreflion) as they emerge, they
oppofe every thing that would enter the Hole, they
Hill moving from the Hole, and pufh away from it
whatever they meet; nay, if any thing were in the
Hole, thefe Points (whereof this Surface confifts)
would bring it out by this Semi-ellipfe, which is al-
ways prefs'd by the Seed when the Drill is at Work;
but as thefe Points immerge by the other Semi-ellipfis
which U behind the Spindle, they can carry wi:h

Z them

338 Of the Brill-Boxes. Chap. XX,

them into the Hole nothing but Air, becaufe the Co^
ver never fuffers any thing elfe to come there from
above; and the Seed falls out of the Notches by its
own Gravity* juft before it reaches the lower End of
the tranfverfe Ax, being the Place where the oppofite
Ellipfes are farther! afunder ; and none of it is ever
carried fo far back as the hinder Semi- ellipfes \ and
therefore nothing can be carried into the Hole from
below.

Thus that Part of the Surface of the Spindle will
keep the Hole empty and clear, before ever any
Notches are cut *, but when the Notches are made on
the Spindle, they have yet a much greater Force to
drive and expel whatever would enter the Hole, their
Shape being fuch as nothing can enter againft their
bevel Ends; but what is at their Ends will be thrown
prefently into the Mortife; infomuch that when a
Spindle has been too little for the Hole by a Quarter
of an Inch, that is, a fixth Part of the Diameter of
the Hole, it will perform very well in drilling large
Species of Seeds ; and when the Mortife is run empty,
nothing at all is found in the Hole, it being thus
kept void and clean by the Notches.

Note, That what is here, and elfe where, faid of
the Ellipfe of the one Side of the Mortife, muft be
underftood the fame of its oppofite Ellipfe, on the
oppofite Side of the Mortife.

All thefe Advantages accruing from this Bevel of

the Mortife, I believe that, without it, all Attempts
of making a Machine to perform the Work, which this
does, would have been vain.

There is alfo within the Mortife unavoidably an-
other Bevel, which is as the Reverfe of the former,
and notwithstanding is as ufeful ; and this Bevel is,
the Inclination which Part ot" the curvilineal Surface of
the Spindle, beginning a little above the fore End of
the fhorteft Diameter of the Ellipfes, and defcending
down to the Seed-paflage, has to the lower Part of

the

s

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 339

the Surface of the Tongue oppofite againft it. Thefe
Two Surfaces meeting one another below, when the
Tongue is fet up clofe to the Spindle, form a mix'd
Angle, which flops up the Seed-pafTage, except
when a Notch comes againft it.

When the Tongue is fet from the Spindle, to the
Diflance of feveral Diameters of one of the Seeds
that are to be drill'd, this revers'd Bevel caufes the
Seed to arch at the Seed-pafTage, and flop there, till
the Notches force it thro', which would, without this
Arching, fall out by its own Gravity, without the
Turning of the Wheels.

The Seed arches here the more firmly, the more it
is prefs'd upon by the incumbent Seed from above it;
and the former Bevel (which I call the Bevel of the
Mortife) permits the incumbent Weight to prefs the
harder on the Seed that is near the Seed-pafTage ; and
this might be reckon'd a fifth Ufe of the former
Bevel : For as it prevents the Seed from arching in
any other Part of the Mortife, fo it does, by the
fame means, caufe it to arch the more ftrongly at the
Seed-pafTage, which is fcmetimes (viz, when the
Tongue muft be fet wide) as necefTary, as it is for
it to efcape arching before it comes thither. And
the more ftrongly this Arch prefTes againft the Tongue,
the more the Tongue by its Spring prefTes againft it ;
and this Preflure being reciprocal and equal, the Seed
cannot fall out fpontaneoufly •, for when the PafTage
is thus wide, if you throw into the Mortife a few
Seeds, fuppofe Five or Six at a time only, they will
all pafs through immediately, without any Motion
of the Wheels ; but if you throw in a large Quantity
together, there will only a few of the lowermoft fall
through, unlefs the Wheels do turn and throw them
down by the force of the Notches.

Indeed we do not care to fet the Tongue fo very
wide from the Spindle, unlefs it be when we are ob-
liged to plant a very much larger Proportion of Seed

Z 2 than

34-o Of the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX,

than the Notches are defign'd for, and when we have*
no Opportunity of changing the Wheels for fuch as
are lower, nor of changing the Spindle for another
that has greater or more Notches in it.

Four-and-twenty Gallons of large Peas are as pro-
per a Proportion to drill on an Acre, as Six Gallons
of Wheat are.

There are divers Ways to vary (*. e. increafe ordi-
rriinifh) the Proportion of Seed ; as, Firft, by the
Setting-fcrew, with which we can, without any In-
con veniency, fet the Tongue fo far from the Spindle,
as to permit one Round of the Notches to turn out
Four times the Quantity, as it will do when the
Tongue is fet clofe up to the Spindle ; and thus we
can vary the Proportion by innumerable intermediate
Degrees.

Next, if we would increafe the Proportion yet
Farther, we can inlarge the Notches ; but we cannot
add to their Number, unlefs there be room to double
It, by making a new Notch between every Two ;
but we cannot diminifh the Proportion of Seed by
the fame Notches, becaufe they cannot be madelelfer
or fewer.

If we would make any other Alteration in the Pro-
portion of Seed by the Notches, it muftbe done by
making another Set of them ; which we may do, be-
caufe the wooden Spindle may have Three Rows of
Notches in it, of which we may ufe either, by move-
ing the Wreaths and Wheels towards one End or the
other of the wooden Spindle ; as fhall be fhewn in
the Defcriptions of the Hoppers.

But as for the Brafs Spindle of the Turnep-drill*
we can have but one Set of Notches in it (a) : And

there*

(a) But by putting on a Wreath (that is a little broader than
the Mortife) upon the Spindle (made longer for that Purpofe) we
can, by changing this Wreath from one End of the Spindle to
the other, have Two fets of Notches of different Sizes, and of

different

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 341

therefore, tho' we can increafe the Proportion of Seed
by enlarging the Notches, or perhaps by doubling

their

different Numbers in it: Or if we would have Three Sets, we
need only make Ufe of Two fuch Wreaths, and let the Spindle
be long enough to receive them. So we may ufe which Set we
pleafe.

Tho' feveral Sets of Notches may be ufeful to thofe who drill
many Sorts of fine Seeds different in Magnitude in a very great
Degree; yet I never found more than one Set of Notches neceflary
in this Spindle.

Nor have I ufed any more than one Set of Notches in one Mor-
tife of any Sort ; but in a wide Mortife, there may be made a
double Set of Notches, corTifting of Two Rows, all of equal
Bignefs, and half of the Length, and double the Number of a
fingle Row, one End of each Notch reaching to the Middle of
the Mortife, and pointing againft the End of an Interface, that
is between Two of its oppofite Notches.

Jf ever there fliall be Occafion for this Sort of Notches, it mufl
be when a great Proportion of Seed is to be drill'd by a fmall
Spindle, and low Wheels : The Smalnefs of the Spindle may
not, by a fingle Set, admit of a fufticient Number of Notches (of
a proper Bignefs) in its Circurnfeience ; not that a double Set, by-
its double Number, will throw down a greater Quantity of Seed
than a fingle Set of the fame Width and Depth, but a lefs Quan-
tity ; But it may be feared, that a very fmall Number of Notches
might not fpread the Seed fo much as to caufe it to lie even in the
Chanels, one Notchful falling all to the Ground, before any o£
the next Notchful reaches it, which would make Chafms or Gaps
in the Row cf Corn or Legumes: This, fuch a double Number
of Notches will certainly prevent.

It would feem, that the higher the Wheels, the more need there
mould be for this double Set of Notches : But it appears to be
otherwife ; for the greater Diftance the Seed has to fall, the more
it fpreads, and ftrikes oftener againft the Funnel and Trunk; and
by that means a Notch from high Wheels will, with the fame
Quantity of Seed, fupply a greater Length of the Chanel (or
Furrow) than a Notch will from low Wheels.

In all my Practice I never had any Occafion for fuch a double
Set of Notches, either with high or low Wheels, or even when
I drilled into open Chanels, without Funnels or Trunks to my
Drill-plough ; and yet my Rows of St. Foin, and of Corn, were
always free from Gaps, being equally fupply'd with Seed from
one End to the other.

If ever there is Occafion for more than a fingle Set, it mufl be
for Beans, for which alfo 1 think a large Spindle is better than a

Z 3 double

34* Of t7°e Drill-Boxes. Ghap. XX.

their Number ; yet we cannot lefTen the Proportion
of Seed by the Notches, unleis we have a new Set of
them, and that will occafion a Neceffity of having
another Spindle ; but, as to the Setting- fcrew of the
Turnep-drill, it will increafe the Proportion of Seed,
with the fame Notches, much more than the Setting-
fcrew of the Wheat-drill will do.

The other Way of varying the Proportion of Seed,
in the fame Boxes, is by the Diameter of the Wheels,
when we can alter them ; for Wheels, of what Dia-
meter foever they are, muff, turn round all the Notches,
at one Revolution ; fo that Wheels of Twenty Inches
Diameter will deliver out a third Part more Seed than
Wheels of Thirty Inches Diameter, into the fame
Length of the Chanels; but we feldom have any
Occafion to alter the Wheels, unlefs it be on account
of planting a Species of Seed of a different Magni-
tude, as the largeft Sort of Peas, and fmall-grain'd
Wheat, or St. Foin Seed are.

Thefe are all the Ways we have to alter the Pro-
portion of Seed, we drill with the fame Seed-boxes -,

double Set of Notches in a fmall one one. The largeft Spindle I
have known made, is of Two Inches and an half Diameter, and
that only for Horfe-Beans.

The bcft Sort of Notches for a double Set are thofe which
have convex Bottoms ; becaufe fuch are lefs liable to drop their
Seeds without the turning of the Wheels, than any other Sort :
And a double Set muft be in greater Danger of this, as the
Tongue is always hindered from prefiing fo clofely againft any
Notch, being held open by the Seeds on the oppofite Interftice ;
which is contrary to a fingle Set, where no Seed can lodge at
cither End of a Notch, to hold open the Tongue, or hinder its
preffing againft it.

Note, When I made my Boxes of Wood, I had double Boxes,
with a Partition between fuch a double Set of Notches ; but never
made fuch in Brafs, not knowing whether that Partition, by its
Thinnefs of hard Metal, might not cut the Spindle :. Yet I never
found any Occafion for a double Row of Notches. I made thofe
double Boxes only for drilling Two Sorts of Seeds at once into the
lame Chanel.

thefe

Chap. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes. 343

thefe Two Sizes, already defcribed, being fufficient
for all Sorts of Corn and Seeds which we commonly
fow, from Marrow-peas to Turnep-feed ; but, for
drilling of Beans, the Boxes muft be larger, and are,
commonly made of Wood, the Spindle Two Inches
Diameter, or more, and the Boxes Two Inches wide :
Where note, That this lncreafing of the Width of
the Mortife, from an Inch and an half, to Two Inches,
increafes the Quantity of Seed to almoft double ; be-
caufe this Half Inch is all added to the Middle of the
Notches, where they are deeper than their Ends-, the
Bevel of which takes up a confiderable Part of the
Length of the Notches. For Beans, they alfo con-
trive to have their Wheels as low as conveniently they
can. Thefe Wooden Drills are now become common
in many Places.

The Wooden and Brafs Seed-boxes differ not in
any of the mod effential Parts of them ; only the
Wooden Box muft be thicker, as the Wood is not fo
flrong as Brafs ; the Spring is made ftrait inftead of
crooked ; and, being let into the Back of the Wooden
Tongue, bears againft it at each End •, and the Chanel,
into which it is placed, being made hollow in the
Middle, the Spring has its Play there, and muft be
ftiffer and have a little more Play in the Bean-drill,
than in any leffer Seed-box.

I, at firft, made all my Seed-boxes of dry Box-
tree Wood, which performed very well, and are ftill
ufed: But, a few Years ago, a Gentleman advifed me
to make them in Brafs ; the doing of which has put
me to a great deal of Trouble and Expence, for want
of underftanding the Founder's Art : Yet this I do not
repent, becaufe they are, in fome refpect, better than
thofe made in Wood; efpecially to thofe who do not
well underftand their Fabric; for, to fuch, the Swell-
ing and Shrinking of the Wood was inconvenient
in fmall Boxes : And I now am told, that they are
caft in London of the belt Brafs, at the Price of One

Z 4 Shilling

344 °f the Drill-Boxes. Chap. XX,

Shilling per Pound, and fo fmooth as to require very
little filing. And thefe Brafs Boxes being alfo more
lading than Wood, and not much more expenfive,
when Workmen know how to make them, 1 think
It not worth while to give any particular Directions
for making them in Wood.

As to the Spindles of the Turnep-boxes, I have
often made them with a mix'd Metal, of half Pewter,
and half Spelter, which perform very well, and are
eafily made-, becaufe this Metal will melt, almoft as
foon as Lead, in a Fire-fhovel, to be caft in a Mould ->
but Brafs will not melt without a Crucible.

The firfl Idea that I form'd of this Machine, was
thus : I imagin'd the Mortife, or Groove, brought
from the Sound-board of an Organ, together with
the Tongue and Spring, all of them much alter'd ;
the Mortife having an Hole therein, and put on upon
one of the Iron Gudgeons of the Wheelbarrow ;
which Gudgeon being enlarg'd to an Inch and an half
Diameter, having on it the Notches of the Cylinder
of a Cyder-mill, on that Part of it which mould be
within the Mortife, and this Mortife made in the Ear
of the Wheelbarrow ("thro' which the Gudgeon ufually
paffes), made broad enough for the Purpofe ; this I
hoped, for any thing I faw to the contrary, might
perform this Work of Drilling ; and herein I was not
deceived.

As for placing a Box over this Mortife to carry a
fufficient Quantity of Seed, it was a thing fo obvious,
that it occafion'd very little Thought ; and an Inftru-
ment for making the Chanels, not much more •, nei-
ther for applying Two Wheels, one at each End of
the Axis, inflead of the fingle Wheel in the Middle
of the Axis of the Wheelbarrow,

At firft my Plough made open Chanels, and was
very rude, being compofed of Four rough Pieces of
Planks, of littleValue, held together by Three Shoots,
©r Pieces of Wood, which held them at a Foot Di-

ftance

Chap. XXI. Of the Wheat-Drill. 345

fiance one from the other : Thefe Pieces, being cut
fharp at Bottom-, made the Chanels tolerably well in
fine Ground. But I foon contrived a Plough with
Four Iron Shares, to make Chanels in any Ground:
This drew a Hopper after it, having Four Seed-boxes
at its Bottom, carried on a Spindle by Two low
Wheels, which had Liberty to rife and fink by the
Clods that they pafs'd over: The Seed-boxes delivered
their Seed immediately into the open Chanels.

This Plough and Hopper were drawn by an Horfe,
and the Seed, lying open in the Chanels, was covered
fometimes by a very light Harrow, and fometimes by
an Hurdle ftuck with Bufhes underneath it.

I foon improv'd this Plough to perform better,
and to make Six Chanels at once, and fometimes a
great many more.

This Plough and Hopper, with their Improve-*
rnents and Alterations^ arefhewn in Plates 4. and 5.

CHAR XXI,

Of the Wheat-DrilL

piG. 1. in Plate 4. is the Drill-plough, which makes
the Chanels for a treble Row of Wheat, at
Seven-inch Partitions, and covers the Seed by the
Harrow which moves on its Beams. A, is the Plank,
Three Feet and an half long, Eight Inches and an.
half broad, one Inch and a quarter thick; its upper
and under Surfaces are true Planes. B, B, the Two
Beams, each Two Feet Four Inches long, Two Inches
Three quarters broad, and Two Inches and a quarter
deep, {landing under the Plank at right Angles with
it, and held up to it by the Four Screws and Nuts
f?>. & a>. 0* the one being at the fame Diftance from

the

3 46 Of the Wheat-Drill Chap. XXL

the right, as the other is from the left End of the
Plank.

This Plough makes its Chanels by Three Sheats,
and their Shares and Trunks ; the Firft or Foremoft
of which Sheats (lands under the Middle of the
Plank, with Part of it appearing at b\ and is fully
defcrib'd in Fig. 2, where A is the Tenon, of a con-
venient Size, Two Inches broad between Shoulder
and Shoulder, Three quarters of an Inch thick : It
is driven into the Plank thro' a Mortife, and pinn'd
up by its Hole : It (lands thus obliquely, and point-
ing forwards, that it may (land the more out of the
Way of the Funnel. The Shoulder at a is a quarter
of an Inch. The hinder Shoulder, from the Tenon
to the Angle at £, is Three quarters of an Inch. The
Depth of the Back of the Sheat, and Thicknefs of the
Share, when it is on, from b to c, is Nine Inches and
a quarter ; and the Angle at c mull be a right Angle,
contrary to the Opinion of fome, who fanly it ought
to be acute, fuppofing that when this Angle is right,
whilfl the Seed is defcending by the Back of the Sheat,
the Plough, as it moves forwards, would get before
the Seed, and fo it might fall to the Ground behind
the Trunk •, but this Miftake is for want of confider-
ino- the vaft Difproportion between the Celerity of the
Seed's defcending near the Earth, and the (low Pro-
grefs of the Plough ; the Seed defcending at the Rate
of Sixteen Feet in a Second of Time, and the Plough
proceeding but about Three Miles an Hour, does not
advance the Thicknefs of a Seed, whilft it is falling
to the Gtound by the whole Depth of the Sheat.

The Thicknefs of the Sheat is an Inch, at its upper
Part. The reft of it is to be no thicker than the
Breadth of the Share.

Fig. 3. "is the Share, lying Bottom upwards. ah
its Point, b the Socket, Three Inches long, Seven
Sixteenths of an Inch broad, c is the Hole, by which
it is faftened up ta the Sheat. d is another Hole,
which is never made uk of, except when the Share^

beine

Chap. XXL Of the Wheat-Drill 347

fceing faften'dup by the other Hole, inclines to either
Side -, then we draw it right by a Nail driven into this
Hole, e, e, are Two very fmall Notches, into which
the Sides of the Trunk are jointed, to protect them
from being torn out by the Earth or Stones that might
rub againft them, f is the Tail of the Share, which,
when it is in its Place, will make the right Angle before
defcribed in Fig. 2. and from which Tail, to the Fore-
part of the Socket, is the Length of the Bottom of
the Sheat, viz. Six Inches and an half. The Breadth
pf the Share Three quarters of an Inch.

Fig. 4. fhews one Side of the Share. Theprick'd
Line a e fhews the Bevel of the Fore-end of the
Socket^ the upper Edge of which mu ft bear upon the
Fore-part of the Sheat below / in Fig. 2. and the
pther Part of the Share will bear againft the Bottom
pf the Sheat, from d to r, and will befaftened up by
a flat Nail, pamng thro5 the foremoft Hole of the Share,
and entering the Hole g in the Sheat ; which Nail
being bended in the faid Hole (which Holefhould be
at leaft an Inch Diameter) will hold the Share faft to
the Sheat ; and, by unbending this Nail, the Share
may be eafily taken off, upon Occafion, without da-
maging the Sheat. Note, This Hole in the Share
ought to be wider below than above, and the Head
pf the Nail of the fame Shape; or elfe, as the Share
wears thinner, it might come off. The prick'd Line,
near the Fore-part of the Sheat, fhews where a Shoul-
der muft be cut on each Side of it, becaufe otherwife
the Sheat, being thicker than the Breadth of the Socket
of the Share, could not enter it : But take care, that
the Share do not bear againft thefe Shoulders.

Fig. 5. is one Side of the Trunk, being a thin
Plate of Iron, and is often made of the Blade of an
old Scythe : It is to be riveted on to one Side of the
Sheat, to another of the fame on the oppofite Side,
by Three Rivets pafling thro' them both, with the
Sheat in the Middle of them \ which1 Holes appear

both

343 Of the Wheat-Drill. Chap. XXI.

both in the Plate and in the Sheat. Thefe thus rivet-
ed on do form the Trunk at the Back of the Sheat.
The whole Breadth of this Plate is an Inch and
Three quarters ; but Three-eighths of an Inch being
riveted on to the Sheat, there remains but an Inch
and Three-eighths for the Trunk. The Length of
the Plate is the fame with the Depth of the Sheat
and Share, except that it fhould not reach to the Bot-
tom of the Share, by about the Thicknefs of a Barley-
corn, to the end that it may not bear againft the
Ground, as the Share doth. The Notch at the Bot-
tom of the Plate is that which anfwers the Notch in
the Tail of the Share : The Corner of the Plate at
a we make a little roundifh, that it may not wear
againft the Ground.

This Plate thus riveted on the Sheat, and another of
the fame Form on the other Side oppofite to it, com-
pofe the Trunk, which is Fig. 6. ad is the Edge a b of
the Plate Fig. 5. b c is the like Edge of the oppofite
Side of the Trunk. A is the Back of the Sheat,
which, together with the Tail of the Share when in its
Place, makes the Fore- part or Length of the Trunk.
The Thicknefs of this Back of the Sheat is the Width
of the Trunk ; and from this Back of the Sheat to
the faid Edges of the Plates, may be call'd the Depth
of the Trunk. The upper Ends of thefe Two Plates
a and b we fpread open a quarter of an Inch wider,
for half an Inch down, than the reft of the Trunk,
for the more free Reception of the Seed from the
Hole of the Funnel : We like wife take care, that the
Two lower hinder Concerns of the Trunk do not in-
cline to one another, to make the Trunk narrower
than the Back of the Sheat, left the Earth mould be
held in by them, and fill the Bottom of the Trunk.

Fig. 7. is one of the hinder Sheats, and appears,
in part, at c in Fig. 1 . It is faftened into one of the
Beams by its Tenon, which, being driven into a Mor-
tife, is pinntl in by a Pin palling thro' the Beam, and

thq

Chap. XXL Of the Wheat-Drill. 34^

the Tenon cut off even with the upper Surface of the
Beam: This Tenon ftands more oblique than that of
the fore Sheat, that there may be the more Wood
between its Mortifeandthe Funnel, its hinder Shoulder
being fhort: Its fore Shoulder at a muft be very fhort,
not above the Eighth of an Inch ; but its Shoulder
b Three quarters of an Inch. The Tenon is alfo
fhoulder'd on each Side, as well as before and behind.
The.Thicknefs of this Sheat mould be greater than
that of the Fore-meat, becaufe it is much narrower. *
The Depth of this Sheat, is lefs than the Fore-fheat,
by the Depth of the Beam : It is, in all other refpedts,
the fame with the Fore-fheat, except that it and its
Share are fhorter. The Socket of this Share is but
an Inch and One-eighth long, its Breadth half an
Inch, and from the Fore-part of the Bottom of the
Socket to the End of its Tail, but three Inches. Its
Point from the Socket at Bottom is but Three quarters
of an Inch, whereas the Point of the Fore-fhare is an
Inch and Three quarters: There is but one Hole
whereby the Share is faftened up to the Sheat. Its
Trunk is no wider than the other \ for we cut a Rab-
bet on each Side of the Sheat, that the Plates, which
are the Sides of the Trunk, may come within Three
quarters of an Inch of one another. Its Tenon, being
narrower than the Tenon of the Fore-meat, muft be
thicker than it.

The other Hinder-meat, and all its Accoutrements,
muft be the fame as this of Fig. 7.

The Workman muft take care, that the Tenons of
the Sheats be not made crofs the Grain of the Wood;
and therefore muft make them of crooked Timber.

Fig. 8. fhews how the Share is made of Four Pieces ;
of which a is a Piece of Sceel for the Point, its larger
End being cut bevel for the Shape of the Fore-end of
the Socket, b is a Piece of Iron for the other End
of the Share, from the Socket to the Tail : The other
Two Pieces c and d are the Iron Sides, which, being

welded

3 jo Of the Wheat-Drill Chap. XXI.

welded on to the other Two Pieces* and cut off to
the Length, form the Share, with its Socket, more
exact than it can be made out of one Piece of Iron.

Now we return to the firft Figure ; where the Fore-
fheat being flx'd up at equal Diftance from each End
of the Plank, and as near to the hinder Edges of it
as can be, allowing room for the Funnel G to ftand
with the Fore-fide of its Hole, to make one Surface
with the Back of the Sheat, and for the hinder Part
of the Trunk not to reach the Edge of the Plank,
there muft be alfo room for the Fore-ftandard D to
fland perpendicular to the Plank, acrofs the Tenon of
the Sheat.

This Standard being clofe to the Fore-fide of the
Fore Hopper, there muft be fo much room between
it and the Hole of the Funnel, that the Seed may drop
from the Seed-box into the Middle of this Hole.
Thus much for placing the Fore-fheat.

Next, for the Two hinder Sheats ; they muft be
placed at equal Diftance from the Sides of the Beams,
and fo near to the hinder Ends of the Beams, that
there may be room to make the Funnels in them, and
their Tenons to come up between their refpective
Funnels E and F, and their refpeclive Standards G and
H, which Standards muft be fet perpendicular to the
Beams.

The Diftance of thefe Sheats from the Plank muft
be fuch, that the Wheels of the hinder Hopper may
not ftrike againft the Plank, nor againft the Spindle
of the fore Hopper; and the Semidiameters of thefe
Wheels being Eleven Inches, there ought to be a Foot
between the Centre of each Wheel and the Plank •, but
we fometimes cut Notches in the Plank, to prevent
the Circle of the Wheels from coming too near the
Plank.

For the nearer the hinder Sheats ftand to the Plank,
the better; but thefe Beams may be placed nearer to,
or farther from the Plank, by their Screws and Nuts,
at Pleafure. Thele

Chap. XXI. Of the Wheat-Brill 55?

Thefe Beams muft be fet at fuch a Diftance from
one another, that the Shares may be Fifteen Inches
afunder from the Infide of one to the Outfide of the
other.

To try whether all thefe Sheats and Shares are truly-
placed, fetthe Plough upon a level Surface; and then,
if they be right, the Fore-fhare will touch the Surface
by its Point and Tail, and likewife the hinder Sheats
will do the fame ;'• except that fome Workmen will
have it, that the Plough goes better, when the Tails
of the hinder Sheats are a Barley-corn's Thicknefs
higher than their Points ; and then their Tails will
want fo much of touching the Surface.

The Shares muft be all of them parallel to the
Beams, and confequently to one another.

The Chanel made by the fore Share and Sheat for
the middle Row, being at equal Diftance between the
Two hinder Sheats, is covered by them, they raifing
the Mould over the Seed from each Side of this
Chanel.

The Harrow I is drawn by the Beams, to which
it is fattened to their Infides ztd and e, having each a
fmali Iron Pin, paffing thro' each End of the Legs of
the Harrow, and thro' the Beams -, each having a Nut
on the Outfides of the Beams, and being fquare in
the Beams, that they may not turn therein to loofen
their Nuts ; but are round near their Heads, that the
Harrow may eafily move thereon.

The round Ends of the Legs of the Harrow are
put thro' its Head I, at the round Holes / and g -9
and pinned in behind it, to the end that either Tine
of the Harrow may defcend at the fame time that the
other riles, where the Ground is uneven.

The Two wooden Tines K and L are pinned in
above the Head, and have each of them a Shoulder
underneath. They ftand Hoping •, fo that if they take
hold of any Clods, they do not drive them before
them, but rife over them, They are of a convenient

Length,

3 p Of the meat-Drill. Chap. XXI 4

Length, to give room for the Harrow to fink and
rife, without raifing up the Shares -, and to give them
the more room to move : The Legs of the Harrow
are crook'd downwards in the Middle.

The Diftance of thefe Tines from each other is
Twenty-two Inches ; fo that each Tine going Three
Inches and an half on the Outfide of each Chanel that
is next it, fills it up with Earth upon the Seed, from
the Outrides of it •, which caufes the Rows to corns
up fomething nearer the inner Sides of the Chanels,
than to the outer Sides, from whence the Earth is
brought into them by the Tines-, and the Two outer
Rows by this means come up at Fourteen Inches
afunder, tho' the Chanels were Fifteen Inches afunder*

This way of covering adds more Mould to the Top
of a Ridge; whereas, if the Chanels were covered by
Tines going within or between them, the Mould
would be thrown down from the Top of the Ridge :
And thefe Tines ftand with their Edges and Points
inclining outwards, by which means they bring in the
more Earth to the Chanels.

If we find, that the Harrow is too light, we tie a
Stone upon it, to make it heavier; and fometimes we
fix a fmall Box of Board on the Middle of it, to hold
Clods of Earth for that Purpofe.

The fore Funnel C has its upper Edges Two Inches
high above the Surface of the Plank. It is Five Inches
Square at Top ; its Four oppofite Sides being Planes
equally inclin'd to each other downwards, until they,
end at the Hole in the Bottom of the Funnel, which
Hole is continued quite thro5 the Plank into the
Trunk. The Shape of this Hole is fhewn in Fig. 9,
where the Four Lines a />, b c, c d, and d #, each
Line being Three quarters of an Inch, make a true;
Square, and are the upper Edges of the Hole. The
Three prick'd Lines ef, fgy and g b, being each of
them longer than the former, tho' as little as poflible,
make the Three lower Edges of the Hole ; which be-
ing

Chap. XXI. Of the Wheat-Drill. 3 53

ing thus wider below than above* and having all its
Sides true Planes and fmooth, it is impofiible for the
Seed to arch therein. The fore Side of this Hole is
perpendicular to the upper and lower Surfaces of the
Plank, and, together with the Back of the Sheatj
makes one Plane Surface.

When we drill a large Species of Seed, as Peas or
Oats, we can make this Hole a full Inch fquare at
Top, and of the fame Shape wider at Bottom •, which
tho' it be wider than the Trunk, except at its Top*
the Seed will not arch there, becauie there is room
behind, the Plates being broader than the Sides of the
Hole ; for there can be no Arching in the Trunk,
unlefs the Seed were confrVd behind as well as on each
Side.

The Holes of our Funnels ous;ht to be of the fame
Shape with this defcribed; tho*, as I am inform'd,
the Pretenders to the making of this Plough make
the Holes of their Funnels the Reverfe of this; which
being wrong-way upwards, the Seed is apt to arch in
them, except the Holes are very large.

Of this Plough, Fig. 1. the Two hinder Funnels
E and F differ from the fore Funnel (which has been
defcribed), firft, in Dimenfions ; thefe not being fo
deep, becaufe they being made in the very Beams,
their upper Edges are in the upper Surface of the
Beams, and their Holes at the Bottom, being about
the Eighth of an Inch deep. The Depth of the
Funnels mud want the Eighth of an Inch of the
Thicknefs of the Beams ; but we make each Funnel
an Inch and a quarter broader at Top than its Beam,
by adding a Piece of Wood to each Side of its
Beam, which reaches down about half-way its Thick-
nefs ; and thefe Pieces being firmly fix'd on by Nails,
to the Sides of each Beam, the Legs of the Harrow
take hold of thefe Pieces, which are in the Infide
of thefe Beams. When the Plough is taken up to be
turn'd, the Man who turns it takes held of the

A a Heatf

354 Of the meat-Drill Chap. XXI ,

Head of the Harrow with one Hand, and lays the
other upon the Hopper, or Spindle, to keep it level9
and to prevent either of the fore Wheels from ftriking
agairift the Ground, whilft the Plough is turning
round.

Another Difference there is between the Shape of
thele hinder Funnels from that of the former, to wit,
That each fore Side of the hinder Trunks muft not
be quite ib oblique as the reft-, becaufe then the upper
Edge of thele fore Sides might be too near the Tenons
of the Sheats, and there might not be fufficient Wood
betwixt them, to prevent the Sheats from being torn
out j a thing which has never happened, that I know
of. We fometimes make thefe hinder Funnels of a
roundifh Shape, like a Cone inverted ; except that the
Part which is next the Shcat, is not ib oblique as the
reft, for the Reafon already given.

The only Advantage propofed by this roundifb
Shape is, that there is lefs Wood taken out than
from the fquare Corners, and therefore more Wood
for the added Pieces to be faftened to the Beams, than
in the fquare Funnels.

M and N are Two< Pieces of Wood, each Eleven
Inches long, Two Inches broad, and Two Inches
thick : Thefe are krew'd on near each End of the
Plank, by Two Screws and Nuts each: They ftand
parallel to the other Beams, and have each a double
Standard or Fork, O and P, in them, perpendicular
to the Plank -, by which Standards the fore Hopper is
drawn and guided, in the manner as is feen in
Fig. 21.

Thefe Standards ought to be braced (or fpurr'd)
before and behind, and on their Outfides ; they never
being preiVd inwards, have no occafion of Braces
there : Thefe are to be fo placed, that when the Spindle
is in their Forks, it may be exactly over the Hole of
the Funnel, fo that the Seed may drop into the Mid-
dle of it, when the Plough ftands upon an horizontal
6 Surface,.

Chap. XXI. Of the Wheat-Brill 555

Surface, the Spindle being alio exaclly parallel to the
fore Edge of the Plank.

Fig. 10. is D in the Plough Fig. 1. It is Two
Feet long, Two Inches broad in its narrowed Part,
and half an Inch thick in the thinneft Part, and Two
Inches at its Shoulders above the Plank. It is pinn'd
thro' the Plank before the Funnel, having one of its
Legs on each Side the Tenon of the Sheat : It ftands
perpendicular to the Plank : Its only Ufe is to hold
the fore Hopper from turning upon the Spindle, be-
ing put thro' a thing (Fig. 22.) like the Carrier of a
Latch, nail'd on to the upper Part of the fore Side
of the fore Hopper, in which thing this Standard has
room to play, or move fide-ways, to the end that
either Wheel may rife up.

Fig. 11. is one of the hinder Standards, which
being placed in the Beam, as G or H, perpendicular
to it, is driven into a Mortife, and pinn'd into the
Beam. It has a Shoulder behind, and another before,
and a Third on its Outfide ; which Shoulders ferve
inflead of Braces, to keep it from moving backwards,
forwards, or outwards : It is Two Feet Four Inches
long, Two Inches broad, and an Inch thick : It is
placed with its broad or flat Sides towards the Sides
of the Beams. It is made fo thin, becaufe it mould
have the more room for the Hopper to play on it ;
and therefore muft have its Strength in its Breadth.
The Part at a muft ftand foremoft.

The Standards G and H are both alike, except as
they are oppofite : Their Ufe is to draw, guide, and
hold up the hinder Hopper : They are to be placed
perpendicular to' the Beams, and at equal Diftance
from each Side of thofe Beams, and at fuch a Diftance
before the Funnels, that v/hen the fore Side cf the
Hooper by its whole Length bears againft the hinder
Surface of the Standards, the Seed may drop into the
Middle of both Furinels, the Plough ftanding upon
an horizontal Surface*

A a 2 Be

3$6 Of the Wheat-Drill Chap. XXI-

Be fure to take care, that the Sheats, Funnels, and
Standards, be fo placed, that the Spindle of the Hop-
per may be at right Angles with the Beams.

Q^ and R Part of the Limbers, which are alfo
called Shafts, Sharps, and Thills \ from whence the
Horfe that goes in them is calPd a Thiller. Thefe
Limbers are fcrew'd down to the Plank, by Two
Screws and Nuts each. The Limbers are kept at
their due Diftance by the Bar S ;• near each End of
which Bar, there is a Staple with a Crook underneath
each Limber, to which is hitch'd, or fattened, a Link
of each Trace, for drawing the Plough. This Bar
is parallel to the Plank, and Seven Inches and an
half before its fore Edge.

The Limbers mud be mounted higher or lower at
their fore Ends, according to the Height of the Horfe
that draws in them ; and this may be done by the
Screws that hold them to the Plank, and by cutting
away the Wood at the Two hinder Screws, or at the
Two foremoft Screws, or by Wedges.

Every Workman knows how to team the Limbers*,
that is,' to place them fo on the Plank, that the Path
of the Horfe, which goes in the Middle betwixt them,
may be parallel to aril the Shares, and fo that a Line,
drawn rn the Middle of this Path, might fall into a
ftrait Line with the fore Share, Handing on the fame
even Surface with the Path; for otherwife the Plough
will not follow directly after the Horfe, but will in-
cline to one Side.

The Ufe of the Trunks of this Plough is for make-
rng the Chanels narrow, of whatfoever Depth they
are : But, without Trunks, the Chanels muft be made
wide by Ground-wnfts, which fpread the Sides of
the Chanels wide afunder, to the end that they may
He open for receiving of the Seed ; and the deeper
they are, the wider they muft be : By this Width of a
Chanel, the Seed in it is with mare Difficulty cover'd,
and the Chanel fill'd with the large ft Clods, and the

Seed

Chap. XXI. Of the Wheat-Drill. 3i7

Seed comes up of a great Breadth, perhaps Three or
Four Inches wide, fo that the Weeds coming therein
are hard to be gotten out.

To avoid thefe Inconveniences of wide Chaneis, I
contrived Trunks like thofe defcribed, except that
they were but Five or Six Inches high; and the Tops
of their Plates, bending outwards from each other,
form'd Two Sides of a Funnel ; and the Wood be-
tween the Two Plates, being cut bevel at the Top,
was as the fore Side of a Funnel to this Trunk: It
was open behind from Top to Bottom : The Wheels
were low, and the Seed-boxes narrow : The Seed in
thefe Chaneis was eafily cover'd, efpecially thofe Sorts
which were fown in dry Weather ; for then the fined
Mould would run in9 and cover the Seed, as foon as
the Trunks were pad it.

The Seed in fuch a narrow Chanel comes up in a
Line, where the Row not being above a Quarter of an
Inch broad, fcarce any Weeds CGmein it; and when
the Weather is dry9 the Earth of the Chanel not lying
open to be dry'd, the Seed comes up the fooner.

I had Two Reafons for making of thefe Trunks
higher, as they are now ufed : The one was, to avoid
the too great Length of the Shares; and my other
Reafon was, that with thofe low Trunks, and long
Shares, there could not be Two Ranks of Shares,
and their Hoppers in the Plough, which are neceffary
for making very narrow Partitions, and abfolutely ne-
ceffary for planting this treble Row of Wheat ; for if
Three Shares for making the Seven-inch Partitions
were placed in one Rank, the Mould (which is always
moifl: or wet, when we plant Wheat) would be driven
before the Shares, there not being room for it to pais
betwixt them.

Fig. 12. is one End of the hinder Hopper [aid
open. I call it one End (altho' it be an irttire Bo>;
by itfelf) becaufe this Hopper is fuppofed to have
its middle Part cut out, to have a clearer Sight of the

A a 3 Pic

358 Of the meat-Drill Chap. XXL

Plough, and fore Hopper; as is feen in Fig. 15. which
is the whole Hopper in Two Parts. In this Fig. 12,
A is the Infide of one End of the Hopper, made with
feveral Pieces of half-inch Elm-board nail'd on to
the Pod c a, on the fore Side j which Poft is a little
more than half an Inch fquare, and Seventeen Inches
and Three quarters long, being the Depth of that
Part of the Hopper which holds the Seed. B is the
fore Side of this Hopper ; which muft be nail'd on
to the faid Poft, being of the fame Length with it,
and Four Inches broad, and half an Inch thick-, and
this is the Part which on its Outfide goes againft the
right-hand Standard of the Plough, when it is at
Work. The other Poft b d> of the fame Thicknefs
\vith the former, is nail'd in within half an Inch of
the oppofite Edge of this End ; to which Poft alfo
C being nail'd, makes the hinder Side of this Part
of the Hopper. C is Four Inches broad, and half an
Inch thick ; and both it, and the Poft to which it is to
be nail'd, are fomething longer than its oppofite Side,
becaufe the Side B makes right Angles with the Top
and Bottom of the Hopper; but the hinder Side C
makes oblique Angles with the Top and Bottom of
the Hopper ; and the Reafon of this is, becaufe when
the Hopper is full of Seed,* it may be equally pois'd
on the Spindle; which it could not be without this
Bevel, unlefs the Bottom of the Hopper did come as
much behind the Spindle as before it ; and that would
hinder the Perfon that follows the Drill, from feeing
the Seed fallout of the Seed-box into the Funnel ;
and that Part of the Bottom which is before the Spin-
die cannot be made fhorter, becaufe that Part of the
Seed-box which is before the Spindle, is (upon account
of its Tongue) much longer than the Part of it which
is behind the Spindle. *Tis true that when the Hop-
per is empty of Seed, it cannot be thus pois'd -9 but
then, being {o light, it does not require it. e fg b is
a Piece of a B.oard, nail'd on to that Part of tne End

A,

Chap. XXL Of the Wheat-Brill 3 50

A, which is below the Bottom of the Cavity which
holds the Seed, and is commonly plac'd a little crofs
the Grain of the Board to which it is nail'd, and
ferves to ftrengthen it, and keeps the Hole i from
fplitting. . The upper Edge e f of this added Piece
of Board is exactly the Length of the Bottom of
the Hopper, wherero the Brafs Seed-box is fattened ;
and this Bottom, together with its Seed-box under it,
being put into its Place, bears upon this Piece from e
to /, which holds up the right Side of the Bottom,
and keeps it from finking downwards ; as the lower-
Ends of the Two mention'd Pofls, and the fore and
hinder Side B and C nail'd to them, prevent its rifing
upwards.

The Manner of making the Hole i is as follows:
Place the Seed-box with its fore End at e, and hinder
End at/, with the Bafe of its Cylinder (or great Hole)
againft this added Piece of Board, and its upper Edge
exactly the Height of the Edge*?/; then, with a Pair
of Companies put thro' the Cylinder of the Seed-box,
mark round the inner Edge of its Bafe upon the
added Board ; then take off the Seed-box, and find
the Centre of the mark'd Circle ; and then with a
Tool call'd a Centre-bit, of the right Size, bore the
Hole quite thro' the double Board ; and this Hole will
be in the right Place, and of the fame Diameter with
the Spindle -, but in cafe there is to be a Brafs Wreath
on that Part of the Spindle which is to turn in this
Hole, then the Hole mutt be bor'd of the fame Dia-
meter with that Part of the Wreath which is to enter
it; and that may be perhaps near a quarter of an Inch
longer than the Diameter of the Spindle, upon which
it is fattened.

This End A, thus bor'd and fhap'd, is a Pattern for
its Oppofite, and for the other Two Oppofites of the
other Cavity, which holds the Seed at the other End
of the Hopper.

A a 4 When

360 Of the Wheat-Drill Chap. XXI

When the Oppofite of A (with the Two Pods
whereto the fore Side B, and the hinder Side C, are
nail'd, and having a like Piece of Board in its lower
Part with a like Hole in it) is abided, and when the
Bottom (Four Inches broad), with its Seed-box under
it, is thruft in at/ by the prick'd Lines, until it reach
e, bearing on one Side upon the Piece of Board efg b>
and the other Edge of the Bottom bearing in like
manner upon the oppofite Piece, then this Cavity of
the Hopper, which will contain about Two Gallons
of Seeds, will be finiuYd.

Note, The Bottom muft make a right Angle with
the Two fore Pods, having the Side B perpendicular
to it.

D is a Part of the Board which comes out farther
than the Hopper, in order to hold a Bar at£; which
being fattened there, and in like manner to the Oppo-
fite of this Board, this Bar bearing againft the fore
Part of the Standard, the Hopper and its Wheels are
in part drawn by it.

Into the Notch / is fattened one End of a long Bar,
which pafTes the whole Length of the Hopper, and
holds the upper Part of its Two Cavities in their
Places, as is ken mark'd D, in Fig. 15.

E is Part of the Board which comes before the
Hopper, and whereto one End of a Piece of Wood
is fattened by Nails or Screws, which bearing againft
the fore Part of the Standard, and againft its In fide,
the Hopper is in part drawn and guided by it, as
fhall be (hewn in Fig. 15.

Fig. 13. fhews the Outfide of the Figure laft de-
fcrib'd. A is the Standard by which this End of the
Hopper is drawn, in the manner as it is here placed.
B is one End of the Spindle patting thro' the Hopper
and Seed-box. C the Bottom, having the Seed-box
fattened on to it, with one Screw before, and another
behind, with their Nuts underneath, and the Heads
of their Screws very thin, and the Pins fquare at,

Top,

Chap. XXI. Of the ft> heat-Drill. 3 6 r

Top, that they may not turn in the Wood ; and
their Heads muft either be let into the Wood, even
with the Surface, or ejfe the Sides B C of the Hop^
per muft be cut for thefe Heads of the Screws to pafs
in under them.

This bottom Board, which holds the brafs Seed*-
box, is Four Inches broad, and full half an Inch
;hick, and at each End a quarter of an Inch longer
than the Seed-box : This Piece is firft thruft in Aid-
ing upon the Two added Pieces of Board, until its
fore End comes under the fore Side of the Hopper,
and its hinder End under the hinder Side •, then fet-
ting the Hopper with its Bottom upwards, the Spindle
being thro' the Seed-box, and Holes of the Hopper,
we hold the Seed-box hard upon the Bottom, at equal
Piftance from each End of it, whilft the Holes are
bored thro' the Bottom, by the Holes at each End of
the Seed-box ; and then the Screws, being put thro',
fcrew on the Box-, and when that is done, we make
a Mark upon the bottom Board, with the Compafifes,
pn each Side of the Brafs Box, beginning from the
Ends of the Axis of the Tongue, reaching as far
backwards as is the Length of the Mortife : Thefe
Two Lines or Marks are a Direction for cutting the
Hole in the Bottom of the Hopper, thro' which the
Seed defcends into the Seed-box •, then we pull out
the Spindle, then draw out the Bottom, take off the
Seed-box, and cut the Hole in the Bottom in the
manner I will now defcribe in Fig. 14. where the Two
pricked Lines a b and c d are the lower Edges of the
Hole, and the fame with the Two Lines mentioned
to be marked by the Sides of the Seed-box. The
pricked Line a d9 being at right Angles with the Two
former, is the lower Edge of the fore End of the
Jiole, and exactly over the Axis of the Tongue, and
parallel to it. The pricked Line b c is the lower Edge
of the hinder End of the Hole, which is juft over
;he hinder End of the Mortife, and parallel and equal

to

362 Of the Wheat-Drill. Chap. XXI.

to the laft-mentioned pricked Line : Thefe Four
pricked Lines are the lower Edges of this Hole,
contiguous to the Seed-box. The Two Lines e f
and g h are the upper Edges of the Sides of the
Hole, which, being farther afunder than the lower
Edges, make the reverfe Bevel of this Hole ; which
may be determined by this, that the Surface between
thefe Two upper and lower Edges, being Planes, are
inclined to one another downwards, in an Angle of
about One hundred and Thirty Degrees. The Two
Lines e bzndfg, at right Angles with the Two laft-
mentioned Lines, make the upper Edges of the Ends
of this Hole j and, being nearer together, than the
pricked Lines under them, the plane Surfaces, be-
twixt thefe Two Lines and thofe Two pricked Lines,
friew the Bevel of the Ends of thefe, which are in-
clined to each other upwards in an Angle of about
Sixty-five Degrees.

This double Bevel effectually prevents the Seed
from arching in the Hole, before it gets into the
Mortife of the Seed-box ; and alfo, the Two upper
Edges of the Ends of the Hole being nearer together
than the lower, there is the more Wood left between
thefe Edges and the Screws, which hold the Box to
the Bottom, whereby the Board is lefs apt to fplit.

Then the Box being fcrewed on to the Bottom, and
thruft again into its Place, the Spindle, palTing thro*
both the Hopper and the Box, keeps the Bottom in
its Place : Then D, in Fig. 1 3. is the imaginary Plane
of the Top or Mouth of the Hopper, being a rect-
angled Parallelogram, and parallel to the Bottom,
to which the fore End is perpendicular, and a rectan-
gled Parallelogram of the fame Breadth.

Fig. 15. fhews the fore Side of the whole hinder
Hopper, with its Two Cavities, and all its Accoutre-
ments, except the Wheels ; the Two Ends A and B
being exactly alike, having each of them its Seed-box
at the Bottom, in the fame manner as in the one has
been dcfcribed. The Bar D holds together the upper

Parts

Chap. XXL Of the Wheat-Drill • 363

Parts of this double Hopper at a right Diftance, which
is, when there is Ten Inches clear room betwixt the
Two fingle ones. The Spindle E, palling thro5 the
Whole, holds the Two fingle Hoppers by Four
Wreaths, at the fame Diftance below, as they are
held by the Bar above.

Thefe Four Wreaths are fcrewed on to the Spindle,
to keep it from moving towards either End, as well
as to hold the Hoppers in their Places : Two of which
Wreaths are feen at a and b, and the other Two are
placed on the Outfides, as thefe Two are on the In-
fides. Before we proceed any farther in this Figure,
it will be proper to fhew the Wreaths, which are of
Two Sorts.

The one in Fig. 16. where A is its Hollow, which
is circular, and muft be of the fame Diameter with
the Spindle; and, being thruft on upon the Spindle,
till it touch the Board, is fattened to the Spindle by
a fmall Screw thro' each of its oppofite Holes, a b
fhews the Breadth of this Wreath, whether it be made
of Brafs or Wood : It is little more than half an Inch.
b c d is the Part of it that goes againft the Board :
The Thicknefs of the Surface of this End which goes
againft the Board, is a quarter of an Inch, if made
with Brafs ; but if with Wood, half an Inch ; but
the Thicknefs of its other End a e f is lefs than its
End b c dy by which means the Screws are the more
eafily turned in,

Fig. 17. fhews the other Sort of Wreath, which
is always made in Brafs : Its Cavity is a hollow Cylin-
der like the former : When it is on the Spindle, its
End a b c is thruft into the Hole of the Board (made
wider for the Purpofe) until d e f come clofe to the
Board, and (top it from entering any farther 9 then
We fcrew it on to the Spindle by the Holes, as the
other Sort of Wreath is defcribed to be fcrewed.

This is the beft Sort of Wreath ; becaufe it keeps
the Spindle from wearing againft the Edges of the

Hole,

364 Of the Wheat-Drill Chap. XXL

Hole, and then the Spindle never has any Fri&ion
againft the Wood in any Part of it -, but the other
Sort are more eafily made {efpecially of Wood),
and the Spindle will laft a great while in them-, or if
it be worn out, the Expence of Three-pence or Four-
pence will purchafe a new Spindle.

Now I muft return to Fig. 15. where the Spindle
E having its Four Wreaths fixt on it, we turn it
round with our Hand, to fee whether the Wreaths are
put on true ; and when they are fo, neither the Spin-
dle, nor the Hoppers, can move end- ways : Tho* the
Spindle be pretty hard to turn round, the Wheels will
foon caufe it to turn eafily. Whilft the Spindle is in
this Pofture, we turn the Hopper Bottom upwards,
and mark the Spindle for cutting the Notches in the
manner before directed \ and then we take off the
Spindle, and cut the Notches, and alfo cut each End
of the Spindle fquare, up to a Shoulder at each End,
fo that the Wheels may come eafily on without knock-
ing or thrufting •, and then we return the Spindle to
its Place, and put on the Wheels, pinning them on
with each a long Nail, which beiog crooked at the
Ends, prevent it from falling out, but may be very
eafily pulled out with the Claws of a Hammer-, but
we muft take care, that neither the fquare Ends of
the Spindle, nor the fquare Holes in the Naves (or
Hubs) of the Wheels (into which they enter), be ta-
per ; for, if they are taper, the Wheels will be apt to
work themfelves off.

The Piece of Wood, Fig. 18. is that which goes
over the Standard, and, being placed in the Hopper,
as F. in Fig. 15. draws that Part of the Hopper by
its Infide a b bearing againft the fore Part of the
Standard •, and that Part of it from b to cy being the
Breadth of the Standard, bears againft its inner Infide,
to prevent the Hopper from going any farther towards
that End. This Piece of Wood is faftened to the
Boards of the Hopper, either by Screws or Nails:

This

Chap. XXI. Of the Wheat-Drill $6f

This Piece, from d to ?, muft be of fuch a-Thiclc-
nefs, that the Standard, bearing againft its Infide b c>
may be equidiftant from each Board, to which this
Piece is fattened. The Part, or fore Side of this
Piece f g9 muft be the Length of the Diftance be-
tween Board and Board, to which it is fattened ; and
that is exactly Four Inches. Its Thicknefs and Depth
muft be fuch as may make it ftrong enough for the
Purpofes intended:

The Piece marked Fig. 19. is the Oppofite of the
former, and to be placed in the fame manner, and
as it is feen marked G in Fig. 15. observing always,
that the Part of it, which holds the Hopper from
moving end- ways, muft always be on the Infide of
the Standard •, for, if thefe Pieces mould bear againft
the Outfides of the Standards, the Hopper could have
no Play upon them, nor could either of the Wheels
rife up without raifing the Share (that was next to it)
out of the Ground •, but, being thus placed, either
Wheel may rife without the other, and without rail-
ing the Share.

I fay more of this, becaufe it is a Point wherein
young Workmen are apt to miftake.

Thus having fhewn, in Fig. 15. how the Hopper
is guided and drawn at the lower Part, I come next
to fhew how it is held and drawn at its upper Part ;
for which the Piece of Wood, Fig. 20. being a com-
petent Breadth and Thicknefs, Four Inches long, is
fixt in between the Boards with Nails or Screws-, and
is H in Fig. 15. The Standard patting up betwixt
this and the fore Side of the Hopper, its fore Surface
bearing againft this Bar, and its hinder Surface againft
the Hopper •, fo that the Hopper may rife and frnk
eafily upon the Standard at Top, being in the Middle
on the fore Side of the Hopper ; there will be an equal
Diftance of each Side, for either Wheel to rife, with-
out the Standard ftriking againft the Sides of the
Hopper to hinder its rifing. There is another Bar

equal

-66 Of the Wheat-Brill Chap. XXL

equal to this, and has the fame Office, at the other
End of the Hopper; marked I. Likewife the Bar D
is of the fame Ufe with thefe mentioned fhort Bars,
and they help to ftrengthen one another.

When the Wheels are put on till they reach near
to the Wreaths, they will {land with their Rings, or
Circles, Two Feet Three Inches afunder.

We fet them as near together as, conveniently we
can; becaufe when they are too wide, they are apt to
draw the Plough towards one Side or" the Ridge ; and
fometimes, when the Ridge is high, the Hopper might
bear upon the Funnels; and then the Wheels, being
carried above the Ground, would not turn to bring:
out the Seed : And that thefe Wheels may come the
nearer together, their Spokes are fet almoft perpen-
dicular-, lb that the Wheels are not concave, as other
Wheels are. This Hopper is (hewn, put on upon its
Standards, in its Place, in Fig. 21. where the men-
tioned Bar D, which holds the Hopper together at
Top, is ken, as alfo the Four Wreaths, and likewife
the hinder End of the Seed-boxes Handing over the
Funnels, with their Trunks underneath them. Here
alio the back Part of the fore Hopper is feen, with
its Seed-box (landing over the fore Funnel : Its
Mouth alfo is feen at A; as alfo the Top of its fore
Side held up by the thing (Fig. 21.) like the Carrier
of a Larch, with the Nails in it, which fatten it to
the Top of the fore Side of the Hopper, and give
room for either of its Wheels to rife.

This fore Hopper may eafily be defcribed by the
Figure of a Box, like the other already defcribed, at
its Ends, which are of the fame Shape with the Infide
of the Box, Fig. 12. but much lower, being Seven
Inches and an half deep, and Sixteen Inches long ;
and the Breadth of its Bottom is determined by the
Length of the Seed-box, and a little wider at Top,
on account of the Bevel which poifes it : It carries
no more Seed th^n one End of the hinder Hopper ;

but

Chap XXI. Of the Wheat-Drill 367

but it is capable of holding more; but we do not fill
it quite, left fome of the Seed fhould fly over in
jolting, its Mouth being fo much longer than the
other.

This Hopper is kept in its Place, from moving
end-ways upon the Spindle, by a Wreath fixed to the
Spindle at each End of the Box, in the fame manner
as has been defcribed for holding the other Hopper.
The Wreaths moft proper for this Purpofe are the
Sort defcribed in Fig. 1 7. but the other Sort defcribed
in Fig. 16. and even made with Wood, will fuffice *,
but then we muft take care to make the Hole at the
End of the Hopper of a confiderable Thicknefs, that
it may not wear the Spindle, which, by reafon of its
great Length, is the more liable to bend, and be cut
by the Edges of the Holes ; which Cutting cannot be
prevented but by the Thicknefs of the Holes, or by
fuch Wreaths as that of Fig* 17.

We fometimes make this Hopper exactly like a
common Box, without any Part of its Ends defend-
ing below the Bottom; and, in that Cafe, we place a
narrower Piece of Board at each End of the Hopper*
like that of Fig. 23. in which Figure, the Hole A
being put on upon the Spindle, the Piece of Board
is fattened on by a Screw and Nut thro' the Hole B,
near the Top of the End of the Hopper, and by an-
other Screw and Nut thro' the Hole C, near the Bot-
tom of the Hopper. Another fuch a Piece of Board,.
fixed on in the fame manner to the oppofite End of
the Hopper, holds this long Hopper parallel to its
Spindle, that paries thro' the Holes of thefe Two
Pieces, and thro' the Brafs Seed- box, which is fixed
up to the Bottom, in the Middle betwixt them.

There are Two Methods for letting the Seed pafs
from a long Hopper into the Seed-box. The firft is
that of cutting the Hole through its Bottom, in the
manner that has been fhewn in Fig. 14. The other
is that which cannot be ufed rn a Hopper fo fhort as

the

3 6$ Of the Wheat-Drill. Chap. XXL

the Boxes of our hinder Hoppers are ; but in the
fore Hopper* or any other long Hopper, we can
place the Brafs Seed-box to a Bottom made for the
Purpofe, like that in Fig, 24. where there is a Piece
of Board on the fore Part of the Hopper from End
to End, as a £, and another on the hinder Part of
the Hopper, as c d. Then the fore Part of the Brafs
Seed-box, being placed under the Piece a b, is fcrewed
up to it at <?, and the hinder Part of the Seed-box
under c d fcrewed up to it at/-, then the Bottom of
the Hopper, being open in the Middle, is (hut by very
thin Boards, ^ and h, fixed up to the mentioned Pieces :
Thefe Boards having their upper Surface even with
the upper Edges of the Brafs Box* the Seed can no
way arch in coming into the Mortife of the Seed-box.
Whichever of thefe Two Methods be made ufe of,
in a long Hopper, the Bottom muft be fixed to the
Two Sides, by fmall Bars of Wood of about Three
quarters of an Inch fquare, to which the Bottom and
Sides are faflened by Nails, in the manner that the
Ends and Sides of the hinder Hoppers are faftened to
their Polls, which (land in their Corners.

We take the fame Method for cutting the Notches
in this Spindle, as has been defcribed tor cutting the
Notches in the other Spindle.

But obferve, That the great Length of this Spin-
dle requires it to be the larger -, and we make it of an
Inch and Three quarters Diameter, the other being
only an Inch and an half: We therefore bore the great
Hole or Cylinder of its Brafs Seed-box a quarter
of an Inch in Diameter larger than of the Brafs Seed-
boxes of the hinder Hoppers ; and we commonly
make a Notch more in the Circumference of this
Spindle, becaufe the Semidiameters of its Wheels
muft be as much greater than of the hinder Wheels,
as is the Thicknefs of the Plank, and the Ends of
the Limbers which are betwixt this Spindle and the
i;pper Surface of the Two Beams.

Wc

Chap. XXI. Of the Wheat-Drill 3 69

We make all our Spindles of clear-quarter'd Afh,
without Knots or Crooks •, and when they are well
dry'd, and made perfectly round, and of equal Dia-
meter from one End to the other, by the Prong-
maker, we pay a Peny per Foot for them at the
firffc Hand, and they will now-and-then have fome~
thing more for the largeft Size ; but we are only
curious to have the middle Part of this long Spindle
exact ; for we graft on a Piece at each End, which
does not require any Exactnefs: The Graftings are
feen at a a at one End, and b b at the other End of
the Spindle (in this Fig. 21..) by Four flattifh Iron
Rings driven on upon the grafted Parts, as they appear
under thofe Letters in the Middle. Between each Pair
of thefe Rings, we drive a fmall Iron Pin thro' the
Joints at c and at d9 to keep the Grafts from feparating
end-ways -, and if they are not tight enough, we make
them fo, by Wedges driven in betwixt them and the
Spindle.

This fore Hopper is drawn by the Spindle, and the
Spindle is drawn by the Two double Standards B and
C, betwixt whofe Forks it is placed, as appears in
this Figure; the Diftance between each Fork, or
double Standard, being exactly the Diameter of the
Spindle, fo that the Spindle may have juft room to
rife and fink there, and no more.

The Hopper and Spindle are guided, or kept in
their Place, from moving end-ways, by Two Wreaths
fcrew'd on to the Spindle, the one at e> and the
other at /; each of which Wreaths, bearing againfi
the Surfaces of both the Legs of each double Standard,
on the Sides next to the Hopper, prevent the Spin-
dle and Hopper from moving towards either End ;
and yet admit the Wheels, or either of them, to rife
and fink without raifing either Side of the Plough,
contrary to what would happen, if the Wreaths were
placed on the Outrides of the Standards next to the
Wheels.

B b Wfi

3yo Of the Wheat-Drill Chap. XXL

We make thefe Wreaths a little different from the
other Sort of Wreaths, which turn againft the Holes;
we make them of a greater Diameter, left they fhould
at any time get in betwixt the Legs of the double
Standards, in cafe the Standards mould be loofe, or
bend : Therefore we make the Diameter of each of
thefe Wreaths, at lead, Two Inches and Three quar-
ters : We always make them of Wood, and of a pe-
culiar Shape, takingoff their Edges next the Standards,
which Edges would be an Impediment to the Rifing
of one End of the Spindle without the other. So
that, for making thefe Wreaths, we may form a Piece
of Wood of the Shape of a Skittle-bowl (or an ob-
late Spheroid J having an Inch and Three-quarter
Hole bor'd thro' its Middle, and then cut by its
Diameter (which is about Three Inches) in Two
Halves, each of which will be one of thefe Wreaths;
and they mud be placed on the Spindle, with their
convex Sides bearing againft their respective Standards.

The Diameter of the fore Wheels is about Thirty
Inches, as the Diameter of the hinder Wheels is about
Twenty-two.

The fore Spindle mould be of fuch a Length, that
its fquare Ends, E and F, may come out Three or
Four Inches farther than the Hubs (or Stocks) of the
Wheels; fo that there may be room to fhift the
Wheels towards either End, for making feveral Sets
of Notches, for the Ufe of the Seed- box.

Obferve, Tho* the fore Hopper is drawn by its
Spindle, yet the hinder Spindle is drawn by its
Hopper.

The Reafon of this great Diftance between the
Two fore Wheels is not fo much for their ferving
as Marking Wheels to this particular Drill ; which be-
ing drawn only upon a Ridge, its 1 op is a fufficient
Direction for leading the Horfe to keep the Rows pa-
rallel to one another, if the Ridges are fo-, but if the
Wheels were much nearer together than they are, and

5 y<*

Chap. XXI. Of (he Wheat-Drill 3 ; 1

yet more than Six Feet afunder, the Wheels going on
the Sides of the next Ridges would be apt to turn
the Drill out of the Horfe-path towards one Side,
not permitting the Drill to follow directly after the
Horfe ; and if the Wheels mould ftand at Six or
Seven Feet Diftance from one another, then they
mud go in the Furrows which are on each Side of the
Six-feet Ridge: This would occafion their Hopper
to bear upon the Plank, which would carry theWheels
above the Ground, and no Seed would be turned out
of the Hopper, unlefs the Wheels were of an extra-
ordinary Height (a)-, and the Height requir'd for
them would be very uncertain, fome Furrows being
much deeper than others ; but the Tops of con-
tiguous Ridges are generally of an equal Height,
whether the Furrows betwixt them be deep or mallow ;
for we feldom make Ridges of an unequal Height
in the fame Field : Therefore there can be no need to
change the Height of our Wheels, that are to go
upon the Middle of the Ridges; but if they went in
the Furrows they muft be of a different Height

fa) Notwithstanding the Reafons given, and that I have never
ufed Wheels of fuch an Height as might be neceffary for going
in the Furrows, yet it may not be amiis to try fuch; becaufewith
them the Spindle needeth not to be more than half the Length of
one that is carried by low Wheels : And high Wheels will allow
the Funnel to be much larger, fo that altho' the Spindle go higher
from it, no Seed will drop befide a large Funnel; but there is
not room for a large one under low Wheels.

J did not think it neceffary to defcribe the Manner of making
Drill-wheels any otherways than by fhewing them in the P latest
but I will obferve here, that they are to be made very light : One
of mine, that is 30 Inches high, weighs Five Pounds and an half;
it has a Circle or Ring of Iron, whofe Depth is half an Inch, and
its Thicknefs a quarter of an Inch ; alfo very thin Iron Stock-
bands to hold the Nave or Stock from fplitting. The Circle is
held on the Spokes by fmall flat Iron Pins on each Side ; and each
Spoke has a Ring of Iron to fecure its End from being fpiit by
driving in of the Pins. V/e alfo make the Drill-wheels lefs
concave than other Wheels are.

B b 2 when

372. Of the Wheat-Drill Chap. XXI.

when ufed for drilling of high Ridges, from what
would be required when ufed tor drilling low Ridges.
One Reafon why the hinder Shares are fhorter than
the fore Share (and confequently the lore Part of their
Sheatslefs oblique) is, that they maybe fet the nearer
to the Plank-, and I have had a Drill with Five Shares
in the Plank, Fourteen Inches afunder, and Four of
thefe hinder Sheats following in another Rank, whofe
Shares werelefs than Three Inches long-, fo that their
Beams v/ere fet fo far forwards, that one Hopper (by
a Contrivance that carried the Seed forwards to the
fore Rank, and backwards to the other Rank) fup-
ply'd the Seed to both- Ranks of Trunks, and
planted St. Foin in Rows Seven Inches afunder, when
the Ground was too rough to be planted with Rows
at that Diftance bv one Rank of Shares.

It may be objected, that the fore Part of thefe
hinder Sheats might not be oblique enough to raife
up the Strings of Roots or Stubble, which might come
acrofs them in their Way ^ but this Inconvenience is
remedied by the greater Obliquity of the fore Sheat
(or Sheats), which clears the Way for the hinder
Sheats, by raifing out of the Ground fuch Strings, &c.
which might annoy them ; efpecially, in this Wheat-
drill, where the fore Share fo clears the way of the
hinder Shares, that they can take hold of no String
in the Ground, except of the Ends of fuch which
the fore Share has loofen'd; and they hanging fafter
in the Ground by their other Ends, the hinder Shares
(lip by them without taking hold of them *, and the
Harrow-tines, going after fo near to the Chanels of
the hinder Sheats, by the fame means efcape alfo
from hanging in fuch Strings.

The Reafons for placing the One Share and One
Hopper before, and the Two behind, in this Wheat-
drill, are fo many, and fo obvious, that it would be
but lofing of Time to mention them.

The

Chap. XXI. Gf the Wheat-Drill 373

The Limbers G and PJ, we make of Afpen, Pop-
lar, or Willow, for Lightnefs ; we make them as
fmall and light as we can, allowing them convenient
Strength ; and the fhorter they are, the more exactly
the Drill will follow the Horfe, without the Hand of
him, that follows the Drill, whofe chief Bufinefs is,
with the Paddle to keep all the Shares and Tines from
being clogged up by the Dirt flicking to them, and
alfo to obferve whether the Seed be delivered equally
and juftly to all the Chanels.

Thefe Limbers mould approach fo near together
at their fore Parts, near the Chain, that there may be
none or very little room betwixt the Limbers and the
Horfe •, and therefore muft be nearer together for a
very little Horfe than for a great one : The Horfe,
which I have ufed in all my Drills for thefe many
Years pad, is a little one, about Thirteen Hands
high; and the fore Part of my Drill-limbers are Twenty
Inches wide afunder at the Chain.

Atg on the Outfide of the Limber G, is a fmall
Staple driven in, having one Link on it, which holds
a fmall Hook, which, taking hold of different Links
of the very fmall Chain I, raifes or finks the fore
Part of the Plough to different Heights. But take
care to fet it at fuch a Degree, that the fore and
hinder Share may go equally deep in the Ground;
and when they do fo, the fore Part of the Limbers
ought to be higher than the Traces which draw them.

At h in the Limber H, is driven another Staple,
which holds the other End of the Chain ; or elfe, in*
Head of a Chain, v/e may make ufe of a Piece of
Cord, one End of which put thro* this Staple, and
ty'd to the Limber, and a Piece of Chain of half a
dozen Links, faften'd to the other End of fuch a
Cord, will ferve as well as a whole Chain, for raifing
and finking the Limbers.

He who can by thefe Directions make this Wheats

drill, may very eafily make any other Sort of Drill,

B b 3 for

374 °f the Wheat-Brill Chap. XXL

for planting any Sort of Corn, or other Seeds that
are near about the Bignefs of Seeds of Corn : He may
make it with a fingle Row of Sheats, by placing as
many of thefe fore Sheats as he pleafes in the Plank,
which may be longer or fhorter, as he thinks fit 5 and
he may add a Beam betwixt every Two of them,
with a Sheat in it, like thefe hinder Sheats; and then
the Drill will be double, having Two Ranks of Shares.
But I muft advife him never to make a Drill with
more Shares than will be contain'd in Four Feet
Breadth, that is, from the outermoft on the right
Hand, to the outermoft on the left Hand ; for mould
the Drill be broader, fome of the Shares might pafs
over hollow Places of the Ground without reaching
them, and then the Seed falling on the Ground would
beuncover'd in fuch low Places.

To a Drill that plants upon the Level, Marking-
wheels are neceffary, to the End that every Row may
be at its due Diftance : As in a Drill with Five Shares,
for planting Rows Eight Inches afunder, Four of the
Fivecannoterr, hecaule Four equal Spaces are included
betwixt the Five Shares -, but the Fifth (which we
call the parting Space) being on the Outfide uncon-
fin'd, would icarce ever be equal, were it not kept
equal by the Help of the Marking-wheels. The Rule
for fetting of thefe is thus : We compute altogether
the Five Spaces belonging to the Five Rows ; which
being in all Forty Inches, we fet the Marking-wheels
Eighty Inches afunder, that is, double the Diftance of
all the Spaces, each Wheel being equidiftant to the
Middle of the Drill, which Middle being exactly over
the Horfe-path, when the Drill is turn'd, the Horfe
goes bactc upon the Track of one of thefe Wheels,
making his Path exaftiy Forty Inches diftant from
his laft Path : By this means alfo the Rows of the
whole Field may be kept equidfftanr, and parallel to
one another •, fo that it would be difficu t for an Eye
to diftinguifh the parting Rows from the reft.

But

Chap. XXI. Of the Wheat-Drill 3 7 f

But when Two different Sorts of Seed are planted,
fuppofe a Row of St. Foin betwixt every Row of
Barley, the Rows of which being Eight Inches afunder,
and the Barley drilPd by the fore Hopper into the
Chanels made by the five Shares, and the St. Foin
drill'd from the hinder Hopper into the Chanels
made by Six Shares, the Marking-wheels mull beat
no greater Diftance than thofe above-mention'd, where
there are only Five Shares ; becaufe one of the Six,
which are for the St. Foin, muff always return in the
fame Chanel, going twice therein ; for One Row of
Barley would be miffing, in cafe the parting Space
mould be made by this Sixth Share ; and that parting
Space would have no Barley in it. Therefore it is
a Rule, that whenfoever Two Sorts of Seeds are drill'd,
the Rows of one Sort betwixt the Rows of the other
there mud be an odd Share in the Drill, which mud
go twice in one Chanel, and the Diftance of the Mark-
ing-wheels muft be accounted from that Rank of
Shares which are the feweft : It muft alfo be contriv'd
in this Cafe, that each outermoft Seed-box muft de-
liver but half the Quantity of Seed that each of the
inner Seed-boxes do : becaufe the outer ones going:
twice in a Place, their Chanels would otherwife have
a Quantity of Seed double to the reft.

In a Drill that has Two Spindles, we place the
Marking-wheels on the foremoft, which upon their
Account is the longeft ; but if we mould ufe the
Wheels of the hinder Spindle as Marking-wheels,
then that muft be the longeft, and fo the fore Wheels
ftheir Semidiameters being much longer than the
Semidiameters of the hinder Wheels, and their Spin-i-
dles fhorter) would ftrike againft the hinder Spindle,
unlefs it were fet farther back than is convenient.

When Ground is harrow'd the laft time before it
is to be drill'd, we contrive that the Harrows may not
go directly towards the fame Point that the Drill is
to go, left the Track of the Marking-wheel mould

B b 4 be

37^ Of the Wheat-Drill Chap. XXI.

be exactly parallel with the Track of the Harrow-
tines, which might make it difficult to diftinguifh the
Track of the Wheel from that of the Harrow-tine.

He that has not a great Quantity of. Ground to
plant with St. Foin, and does not plant it betwixt
Rows of Corn, will have occafion for no other Drill
than this Wheat-drill, defcrib'd in Fig. 21. He may
plant his Rows at Fifteen Inches afunder, by the hinder
Hopper, and its Shares, without removing them, the
fore Hopper being taken off; or elfe you may plant
Three Rows at Sixteen Inches afnnder, by fetting the
Beams, and their Seed-boxes and Hoppers, at Thirty-
two Inches afunder inftead of Fifteen, equidiftant
from the fore Share : and then the Marking- wheels,
which are thole of the fore Spindle, muft be Eight
Feet afunder; to wit, double to the Spaces of the
Three Shares, which are Three times Sixteen Inches
(or Four Feet) •, or you may fet the Two hinder
Beams, &c. at what Diftance you pleafe, fetting the
Marking-wheels to correfpond with them; but then
the Harrow muff, be alter'd, and both its Legs and
Tines mud: change their Places in the Head, the Legs
for guiding it exactly, and the Tines to follow in all
the Three Rows, which will require a third Tine to
be added in the Middle, between the other Two.
But without any other Alteration than that of taking
off the fore Hopper, and that of leffening the Seed-
paffages of the hinder Hopper by the Setting-fcrews ;
my Man planted me feveral Acres of St. Foin with
my Wheat-driil Two Years ago, the Rows being all
Fourteen Inches afunder : It is now an extraordinary
good Crop. ,

In cafe the Shares, being only Three, fhould in
fine Ground go fo deep as to endanger the Burying
of the Seed, the beft Remedy to prevent this fatal
Misfortune is, to place a triangular Piece of Wood,
like thofe in Figures 25. and 26. the firft of which
(hews one Side thereof, with the Nail by which it is

to

Chap. XXI. Of the Wheat-Brill. 3 77

to be nail'd into the lower Part of the Trunk, with
its mod acute Angle upper mod-, the other in Fig. 26.
(hews the fame, and its Back- fide a £, that is to be
nail'd to the Back of the Shear, being of the fame
Breadth with it ; its Bottom b c being the Breadth of
the Plates, on their Infide, the Angle c coming out
backwards, juft as far as the Plates: The Depth of
this Piece from a to c is uncertain, becaufe the Plates
of fome Trunks are broader than of others. The
Ufe of this Piece is, to fill up the lower Part of the
Trunk ; fo that the Seed, dropping upon the oblique
Side of this Piece of Wood, may by it be turn'd
into the Chanel, after fo much Mould is fallen in it,
as will fufflciently leflen its Depth, whereby the Danger
of burying the Seed is avoided : And fuch a Piece of
Wood placed into each Trunk, I think, is preferable
to Ground-wrids, which are commonly ufed for this
Purpofe; becaufe the Ground- wrifts leave the Chanels
too wide and open.

But when only the Two hinder Sheats are ufed for
St. Foin, we can make their Chanels the fhallower,
by finking the Limbers by their Chain, fo much as
that, the Plough bearing moil upon the fore Share,
the hinder Shares will go the fhallower.

When we drill hilly Ground, both up and down,
we cover the hinder Parts of all the Trunks, from
their Tops, to within Two or Three Inches of the
Ground, to prevent the Seed's falling out far behind
the Trunk, in going up Hill ; and this we do either
by a "Piece of Leather nail'd to each Side of a Sheat,
the Middle of the Leather bearing againft the hinder
Part of the Plates (or Trunk); oriometimes, inilead
of Leather, we ufe Tin.

Every Trunk being thus inclos'd behind, we can
clrill up and down an hill of a moderate Afcent; but
when it is very deep, we never drill any thing but
§t. Foin on it, and that by a Drill made for the Pur-
pofe3 fo very light, that a Man may carry it up the
* Hi!}

378 Of the TuYnep-Britt. Chap. XXII.

Hill on his Back, and draw it down after him : This
Drill has Five or Six Sheats in one Row (with the
Harrow behind them). Their Shares being extremely
fhort, the Standards which draw the Hopper muft be
fet perpendicular to the Horizon, when the Drill is
coming down, rather than to the Surface of the Side
of the Hill : The Funnels muft alfo correfpond with
the Standards.

Some, inftead of thefe Sheats, make ufe of hollow
wooden Harrow-tines, thro' which the Seed defcends:
But thefe I do not approve of; becaufe where the
Ground is hard, and not fine, they rife up, and make
no Chanels for the Seed \ and then it lying uncover'd
will be malted.

When a Drill has only one Rank of Shares, we
fcrew on the Harrow by its Legs, to the Infide of the
Two outfide Sheats, as near as we can to their fore
Shoulders, leaving fufricient room for the Harrow to
rife and fink, in the fame manner as when it is drawn
by the Beams.

CHAP. XXII.

Of the Turnep-DrtiL

PLATE 5. mews the whole Mounting of a
Turnep-drill. Fig. 1. is a Plough, but little differ-
ing from the Drill-plough laft inentioned. A, A, are
the Two Limbers, differing in nothing from the other,
except that they are lighter, not being above Two
Inches Diameter, behind the Bar: They are drawn in
the fame manner as the other. Their Bar B is diftant
from the Plank Three Inches, being fhoulder'd at
each End, with a very thin fiat Tenon, palling thro5
each Limber, and pinn'd on their Outrides, as at a a,
We do not pin in this Bar thro' the Limbers, left the

Holes

Chap. XXIL Of the Turnup-Drill 3 79

Holes fhould make thefe very fmall Limbers the
weaker in that Part. C, the Plank, Two Feet and
an Inch long, Five Inches broad, and an Inch and a
quarter thick. D, D, the Two double Standards,
or Two Pair of Standards, placed into the Plank
with Shoulders above, and Tenons pinn'd underneath
the Plank, and are Thirteen Inches high above it :
Thefe ferve for a Pair of Marking-wheels, when
Turneps are drill'd on the Level, to keep the Rows
all parallel, and at what Diftance you pleafe, by
fetting them according to the Rule already laid down.

Sometimes we place the double Standards into the
Plank of the Wheat-drill, in the fame manner that
thefe are placed.

We take off the inner Edge of each Standard at
the Top, as at b b and b b, for the more eafy Admifiion
of the Spindle of the Marking-wheels into the Forks:
This Spindle is kept in its Place by Two of the fame
fort of Wreaths, and placed in the fame manner as
thofe defcrib'd for the fore Hopper of the Wheat-
drill.

Such Marking-wheels are necefTary for drilling upon
the Level ♦, but not for drilling upon Ridges.

E is the Beam, Two Feet Two Inches and an half
long, Four Inches broad, and Two Inches thick: It
is thus broad, that the Screws which hold on the crofs
Piece F, may be farther afunder : The Screws mud
be placed as near as may be to the Oiitfides of the
Beam, and at equal Diftance from each Side of the
crofs Piece; by which means the Standards are kept
the firmer from Turning.

The Diftance between the Plank and the crofs Piece
is Eleven Inches. The Bteadth of the crofs Piece is
Two Inches and a quarter. This crofs Piece is (hewn
apart in Fig. 2. where its Two Standards A B, are each
Seventeen Inches long Cor high), and each on its fore
Side and hinder Side One Inch and a quarter broad,
and nearly Three quarters of an Inch thick : They are

ihoulder'd

580 Of the Turnep-DrilL Chap. XXIL

fhoulder'd and pinn'd into the crofs Piece at a b. The
crofs Piece is Thirteen Inches and an half long, and
one Inch and a quarter thick in the Middle from c to
4, but for about an Inch on the Infide of each Standard
is Two Inches and an half thick, that the Standards
may have the more Wood to fupportthem, and that
the Hopper, bearing upon the thicker Parts of the
crofs Piece, may be held up above the Funnel, that
the Fork of the brafs Spindle may not ftrike againft
it, when the Plough is taken up to be tum'd, there
being a litde more than a quarter of an Inch of the
Breadth of the crofs Piece behind the Standard, for
the Hopper to reft on.

The whole Diftance between the Standards is
Nine Inches and a quarter. The Standards muft be
exactly perpendicular to their crofs Piece : Their
Tops are drawn up each to a Point, as at e and /,
by which the Hopper is the more eafiiy put on upon
them.

The Funnel, Sheat, Share, and Trunk, are the
fame as thofe in the Wheat- drill, except a few Dik
ferences: As G in pig. I. is the fame as the fore
Sheat of the Wheat- drill, with its Accoutrements;
only it is lower, being but Eight Inches high from
the Bottom of the Share up to the Beam-, and the
Plates of the Trunk- are fomewhat narrower: Its
Tenon paries thro* the Beam, and comes up above it,
betwixt the Funnel and the crofs Piece; and there is
pinn'd in thro' its Hole above the Beam. There is
no want of Wood behind the Sheat, the Funnel not
being cut in the Beam, but placed upon it.

The Funnel is (hewn apart in Fig. 3. and is Two
Inches deep, Four Inches fquare at Top ; its Four
Sides terminating at an Hole in the Bottom, half an
Inch broad from a to £, and near an Inch long from
ftod-9 which Length is divided in the Middle, by
the upper Edge of a Brafs Spout, which divides the
Hole into Two equal Parts (or Holes), each of which

is

Chap. XXII. , Of the Turnep-DrilL 381

is about half an Inch fquare; this Funnel being
fcrew'd on upon the Beam by Two Wood Screws,
entering at Two oppofke Corners of the Funnel, as
at c d in Fig. 1. fo that the Seed may drop from the
Seed-box upon the right Side of the Funnel at e9
which being about half an Inch diftant from the Par-
tition, and equidiftant from both Holes, the Seed
rebounding is pretty equally diltributed to each of the
Holes.

The fore Part of the foremofi Hole being equal
with the Back of the Sheat, the Beam being cut thro';
fo that the Back of the Sheat, and the fore Part of
the Hole thro' the Beam, and the fore Part of this
Hole, make one plain Surface, whereby the Seed
that falls into this foremofi Hole, defcends to the
Ground, near the Back of the Sheat, thro' the Trunk.

And the Seed which falls into the hinder Hole, is
convey'd obliquely backwards thro' Part of the Beam,
by a fhort thin Brafs Spout, whofe Diameter in the
Infide is fomewhat more than half an Inch; but the
fore Part of it, which divides the Two Holes, de-
fcends firft perpendicularly half an Inch, and then
turns off backwards, and there the Spout begins to
be round: Its joining is on its hinder Part, to the end
that the Seed, never running upon it, cannot be
ftopp'd by it. The lower End of this Spout ends at
the lower Surface of the Beam, a little behind the
Plates of the Trunk, which Hole is feen at a in Fig. 4.
where this Hole delivers the Seed down into the
Spout A, when it is drawn up into its Place by the
String B drawn thro' the Hole at b in the End of the
Beam, and there tied until it ftand in the Poflure in
which it is feen at/ in Fig. 1.

The Shape of this Spout is better feen at Fig. 5.
where A is the Spouc, Four Inches long, a full Inch
Diameter in the Infide : Its lower End is circular; but
its upper End B is cut at oblique Angles, fo that when
k is drawn up to its Place, its Edges will touch the

lower

382 Of the Turnep-Drill. Chap. XXIL

lower Surface of the Beam, and inclofe the lower
End of the other Spout within it: It is made of thin
hammer'd Brafs (as is the other). The Edges of the
Piece of Brafs, which make this Spout, arejoin'don
its hinder Part, for the fame Reafon that they are fo
in the other Spout. At b there is a Jag cut in one
of thefe Edges, and rais'd upwards, by which Jag the
String being tied on the Spout juft below, is hindered
from flipping upwards.

Joining to the higher! Part, and made with Part of
the fame Piece of Brafs, turn'd back from the End of
the Spout, is its Hinge C, near Three quarters of an
Inch long in its Hollow.

D is a thin Piece of Iron, half an Inch broad, and
a little longer than the Top of the Sheat, by which
the Spout is held up : This Piece of Iron is riveted
by a Rivet pafling thro' an Hole at c, and thro' the
Sheat, juft before the Trunk, and thro' another Piece
of Iron on theoppofite Side; both the Pieces of Iron,
with their upper Edges touching the Beam, being
thus riveted to the Sheat.

The Spout is pinned in by the Screw E, pafling as
by the prick'd Line F thro' the Hole G, and alfo
thro' the Hinge C, and fcrew'd into the Hole of the
oppofite Piece of Iron, correfponding with the Hole
G ; and then it will appear as in Fig. 4.

Inftead of thefe Pieces of Iron, we ibmetimes ufe
Pieces of Wood, a little broader and thicker, nail'd
on the Sheat.

The Ufe of this Spout is for carrying half of the
Seed backwards, fo that it may drop upon the Cha-
nel, after the Earth is fallen into it : By this means
the Seed lying very (hallow, being only cover'd by
a little Earth rais'd by the Harrow, by its Shallowness
comes up in moift Weather, fooner than the other
half, which lies deeper in the Ground; but if the
Weather be dry when planted, the deeper half, by the
Moifture of the Earth from the Dews, will come up

firft,

Chap. XXIL. Of the Turnep-Drill 3S3

firft, and the (hallow half will not come up till Rain
come to moiften it ; fo that by the (hallow or deep,
the Turnep-fly is generally difappointed.

Fig. 6. (hews one of the Tines of a Drill-harrow
made of Wood : Its Edge a b is made roundifh at b9
by which means it raifes the Earth on its Sides; but
does not drive it before : This Edge from a to b is
Six Inches long ; from b to f, being its Bottom, is
One Inch and a quarter; from c to d is the Back, an
Inch and an half thick at Top, gradually tapering
downwards to c, where it is half an Inch thick, being
fhoulder'd all round : It has a flat Tenon A, which
paries thro' a Mortife in the Harrow-head ; the Length
of which Mortife is parallel with the Length of the
Harrow-head, into which it is held by a Pin, paffing
thro' the Hole of the Tenon, above the Harrow; as
may be feen in Fig. 7. at a ; and its Fellow at b.

Thefe Two Tines are Eight Inches afunder at their
Points, and Six Inches and a quarter afunder at their
upper Parts, juft under the Harrow- head. The fore
Edge of the Tine A inclines a little to the Left, as
the Edge of the Tine B doth to the Right.

Fig. 8. (hews one of the Legs of the Harrow.
At a is feen the round Tenon, which paifes thro* the
Harrow-head up to its Shoulder, and is pinned in thro*
an Hole of the Tenon juft behind the Harrow-head;
upon this Tenon the Harrow-head may turn : The
other End has an Hole at b, thro' which it is pinned
on to the Beam. The Length of the Leg from the
Shoulder at a, to the Hole at b, is Twenty Inches:
Its Thickneis is an Inch and a quarter, and its Breadth
an Inch. The Two Legs are feen mark'd C, D, in
Fig. 7. They bend down in the Middle, to give the
Harrow the more room for rifing and finking ; they
are parallel to each other, and diftant a little more
than the Breadth of the Beam, that they may have
Liberty to move thereon, when one End of the Har-
row-head finks lower than the ether, by the Uneven-
nefs of the Ground, The

384 Of the Turnep-DrilL Chap. XXIL

The Harrow is pinned on to the Beam by the Iron
Pin, Fig. 9. paffing thro' the Hole of the Leg at g$
and thro' the Beam, and alfo thro' the other Leg on
the other Side of the Beam, where the Screw at the
End of the Pin has a Nut fcrew'd on it. This Pin
is round from its Head ail the Way thro' the firft
Harrow-leg^ and thro' the Beam \ but all that Part
of the Pin, which is in that Leg againft which the
Nut is fcrew'd, mud be fquare •, whereby that Part
being bigger than the round Part of the Pin, and
than the Hole in the lafb-mention'd Leg, cannot turn
in the Hole of that Leg ; for if it did, the Nut would
be foon unfcrew'd by the Motion of the Harrow ; but
the Pin muft have room to turn in the other Leg, and
in the Beam. This fquare Part of the Pin is {^n
at a, Fig. 9. The whole Length of the Pin, from
its Plead to the End or the fquare Part at a, where the
Screw begins, is of the Thicknefs of the Two Legs,
and of the Breadth of the Beam.

We fometimes let the Legs of the Harrow Two
Inches wider afunder, by making them each an Inch
thicker at their fore Ends in their Infide, and ready-
ing Five or Six Inches behind their Iron Pin : Thefe
thicker Parts, bearing againft the Beam, keep the
hinder Part of each Harrow-leg an Inch diftantfrom
the Sides of the Beam, whereby the Harrow-legs are
Six Inches afunder, inftead of Four, by means of
thefe added ThickneiTes.

When a Drill is taken up to be turn'd, the Perfon
that does -it, takes hold of the Harrow-head, and lifts
it up: The Legs of the Harrow, bearing againft the
crois Piece, fupport the whole Weight of the Drill.

WThen the Harrow does not go deep enough, wc
tie a Stone upon the Middle of the Harrow-head, by
a String that palles thro' the rloles at h. All the Wood
of this Plough and Harrow is Afli, except the
Limbers.

The

Chap. XXII. Of the Turnep-Britt. 3 8 f

The Hopper of the Turnep-drill is very different
from thofe already defcribed • It confifts of a Box
placed into the Middle of a Carriage; which Box is
defcribed in all its Parts, lying open With their Infides
upwards in Fig. 1 6. A is the fore Side of the Box,
Five Inches and an half deep, and Six Inches and an
half long. B, the hinder Side of the Box, oppofite
to the former* and of equal Di mentions.

Each End of the Box is made wich Three Pieces
of Board, of which C the uppermoft is Three Inches
and a quarter deep, and Five Inches long; which
Length is the Breadth of thelnfideof the Box. The
End of the Piece C, when in its Place, ftands againft
the prick'd Line a b in the fore Side A ; the other
End (landing againft the prick'd Lines in B, which
is oppofite to, and correfponds with* the prick'd
Line ab\ the fore Side, and hinder Side, being lcrew'd
to the Ends of this Piece by Four Screws.

The Piece D is Two Inches and a quarter broad,
and of the fame Length with the Piece C, and fcrew'd
up to the Bottom of it with Two Screws, and then
its End will bear againft the prick'd Line b c> and
that which is oppofite to it in the Side B.

E is the lower Piece of this End, and an Inch and
a quarter broad : Its End is to ftand againft the prick'd
Line c dy and its other End at the oppofite prick'd
Line in B. The Piece D muft be fcrew'd upon the
upper Edge of the Piece E, as the Bottom F muft
be fcrew'd up to its under Edge, which will ftand
upon the prick'd Line e /. The Three Pieces G, H,
I, being oppofite to C, D, E, and of the fame Di-
menfions with them, placed in the fame manner,
make the other End of this Box. Atg in the Bottom
F, appears the Hole which is over the Mortife of the
Brafs Seed- box, the Shape and Size of whkh Hole
may be feen by the prick'd Lines upon the Flanches
B, C, of Fig. 9. in Plate 2. The foremoft End of
Which Hole reaches aimoft as far forwards as th

Cc End

386 Of the Tiirnep- Brill Chap. XXII.

End of the Axis of the Tongue of the Brafs Seed-
box, and its hinder End almoft as far as the hinder
End of its Cover {a). The Bottom F, being of the
fame Length, with C, D, E, and their Oppofites,
bears againil the prick'd Line d h of the fore Side
A, and againft the oppofite prick'd Line of B. The
Length of this Bottom F is the Breadth of the Infidc
of the Box, and its Breadth reaches to the outer Edges
of the Pieces E and I, being Three Inches and an
half.

All the Jointings of thefe Pieces muft be at right
Angles, and fo clofe, that no Seed may run out at
them. All the Pieces are of Board, full half-inch
thick, except the Bottom, which is thinner.

Fig. ii. fhews the Bottom of the Box with its
under Side uppermoft, where the light Part A is the
Bottom-board, covering the Two End-boards, E and I,
in Fig. 10. The dark Parts B and C are the under
Sides of D and H, in Fig. 10. At a is the fore End
of the Brafs Seed-box fcrew'd up to this Bottom-
board. At b is the hinder End of the Brafs Seed-box
fcrew'd up in like manner, the outer Edge of the
Flanch of the Seed-box being even with the Edge of
the Bottom- board. The End of the Brafs Spindle,
with its Fork, appears at C.

Fig. 12. fhews this Box Handing upon its Bottom,
with its hinder Side laid open. At a is the Hole in
the Bottom, under which the Brafs Seed-box is faften'd,
with fmalllron Screws, fquare near the Heads, pair-
ing thro' the Bottom, and thro' the Holes at each
End of the Brafs Box, with their Nuts underneath.

(a) Commonly it reaches within half a quarter of an Inch;
but if it mould only reach within a quarter of an Inch of them,
\l would not have that ill Confeijuence at that Diftance, as the
fame Pofition would have in the large Seed-boxes; for, in them,
the Seed would, in fuch Cale, be apt to bear againil the Bottom
of the Hopper, and obftruft the Motion of the Brafs Tongue,
which final! Seeds cannot do in the Turnep-feed Box,

4 The

Chap. XXII. Of the Tumep-Dri!!. 3 S7

The Pins mud touch all the Sides of the Holes in
the Brafs, to prevent the Seed-box from moving any
Way.

A is the fore Side of the Box. B the hinder Side
lying down. C is the Piece H of Fig. 10. which
makes a fort of Shelf in the Box at its left End. D
at the right End makes another like Shelf, underneath
which, the Fork of the Brafs Spindle is turn'd by the
Crank in the End of <he wooden (falfe) Spindle. By
means of thefe Shelves, there is room for the Two
wooden falfe Spindles to come the further into the
Carriage, without leflening the upper Part of the
Box. E and F are the Two Ends of the upper Part
of the Box, made by the Two Pieces G and C of
Fig. 10. When the hinder Side B is rais'd up, and
fcrew'd to thefe Ends, the Box is complete.

We put a Lid upon this Box, which is hing'd on
to its right or left End. This Box (having the Brafs
Seed-box at its Bottom,) is to be placed into the Middle
of a Frame or Carriage.

Fig. 13. mews the Infide of the Carriage tying
down. A is the hinder Side, Eighteen Inches long,
Dove-tails and all, and Six Inches broad. B the fore
Side of the fame Length with the hinder Side, and
Eleven Inches broad. This Five Inches greater Breadth
than the hinder Part is, becaufe a greater Height is
required on the fore Side, on account of the Hopper's
being drawn, and the Plough held up by that and the
Pieces that mud be flx'd to it. C, D, are its Two
Ends, Six Inches long, befide their Dove-tails, and
Six Inches broad. E and F are Two Pieces each Six
Inches long, whofe Ends are to Hand againft the
prick'd Lines a b and c d of the hinder Side, and
their other Ends againft the prick'd Lines in the fore
Side, which are oppofue to thefe. The Breadth of
each of thefe Pieces is Four Inches : When they are in
their Places, their lower Edges come even with the
Bottom of the Carriage. Their Ufe is to fupporc

C c 2 th-

3?8 Of the Turnep- Drill Chap. XXIL

the Ends of the Spindles which come juft thro' their
Holes, after each of them have paiTed their Hole at
its refpective End of the Carriage.

All this Carriage is made of Board full half-inch
thick •, The Ends C and D are made of double
Thicknefs by another Piece of Board added to each,
that covers all their Infides, except their Dove-tails.
Thefe Boards with which they are lin'd, are nail'd to
them, with their Grain going a different Way, and
eroding the Grain of the Board at the End, either
at right or oblique Angles. This prevents the Holes
from fplitting out, and makes the Holes of a double
Thicknefs ; whereby the Spindle is the lefs worn by
them, in cafe there are no Brafs Wreaths to enter
them.

The middle Pieces E and F are lin'd by their whole
Surfaces, in the fame Manner as the Infides of the
Ends are lin'd.

When thefe Ends and middle Pieces are in their
Places, a wooden Cylinder, of the exact Diameter of
the Holes, is thruft thro' all Four, to hold them exactly
true, whilft the Ends and middle Pieces are all fcrew'd
fait into their Places.

The prick'd Lines are drawn all round the Carriage,
thro* the Centres of the Holes, and at equal Diftance
from the Bottom of the Carriage, which is an Inch
and Three quarters, and the One-eighth of an Inch.
This prick'd Line is a Direction how high to nail on
the Ledgers G and H, whereon the Box is to (land ;
and the Diftance the upper Surface of the Ledger
muft be above the prick'd Line, is the Semidiameter
of the Brafs Spindle; and the Thicknefs of the Brafs
Box above the Spindle, or which is the fame thing,
the Diftance between the Centre of the great Hole
of the Brafs Seed-box, and the Plane of the Top of
its Mortife, being half an Inch and half a quarter,
ftrike a Line above the prick'd Line parallel to it, at
this Diftance above, and then nail on the Ledger,

with

Chap. XXII. Of the Turntf-DriB. 3S9

with its upper Edge at this Line. This, with its
oppofite Ledger plac'd in the fame manner, will flip*
port the Box with the Axis of the Spindle of the S-ed-
box, at equal Height with the Centres of the Holes
of the Carriage •, fo that if thofe Holes are parallel to,
and equidiiiant from the fore Side and hinder Side of
the Carriage, and the Axis of the Brafs Spindle be
placed in the like manner parallel to, and equidiftant
from the fore Side and hinder Side of the Box ; then
when the Box is thruil down in its Place, upon thefe
Ledgers, and the wooden (falfe) Spindles are placed
into their Holes, their Axis will fall into a (trait Line
with the Axis of the Brafs Spindle, as they ought.

Fig. 14. mews the Carriage laid open. A is its
back Side lying down. B is its fore Side (landing up.
C is the fquare End of the left (falfe) Spindle, whereon
a Wheel is to be put up to the Shoulders of the Spin-
dle, quite clofe to the Ends of the Carriage. This
Spindle, being an Inch and an half Diameter, is held
in its Place, and kept from moving end-ways, by Two
Wreaths ; the one at a9 bearing againft thelnfide of
the End of the Carriage, the other Wreath at £, bear-
ing againft the left Side of the middle Piece ; which
Wreath keeps the Spindle from moving towards the
right Hand, as the other does from moving towards
the left. D is the fquare End of the other wooden
Spindle, whereon a Wheel mull be placed in the fame
manner as the other Wheel. This Spindle is kept
from moving end-ways by Two Wreaths, in the
fame manner as the other Spindle is; but this right-
hand Spindle, being that which turns the Brafs Spin-
dle by its Crank, which enters the Fork, fhould have
its Wreaths of Brafs, like thofe defcrib'd in Fig. 17.
Plate 4. Part of which Wreaths entering about Three
quarters of an Inch into the Hole of the End and
middle Part of the Carriage, being firmly fcrew'd on
to the Spindle, prevent the Friction that would other-
wife be betwixt the Wood of the Spindle, and the

C c 3 Wood

390 Of the Turnep-Dritt. Chap. XXII.

Wood of the Holes ; which Friction wearing the
Wood of both* would in time caufe the Spindle to
be loofe in its Holes, whereby its Axis would deviate
from the (trait Line it (hould make with the Axis of
the Brafs Spindle, and make an Angle with it ; and
then the Crank would change its Place in the Fork at
every Revolution of the Wheels; and if the Hole
ihould be worn very wide, and the Spindle worn much
leis, the Grank might let go the Fork •, but when the
Wood is of this Thicknefs, and each Hole has Wood
in it, with its Grains pointing different ways, it would
be many Years before the Holes would become large
enough for this to happen, tho' only wooden Wreaths
were ufed ; and as to the Two Wreaths of the left
Spindle, they may be of Wood, becaufe tho' that
Spindle (hould grow loofe, it is no Damage; for it
only ferves to bear up that End of the Carriage ; but
he that has this Sort of Brafs Wreaths for the hinder
Hopper o'f a Wheat-drill, may take them thence, and
place them upon thefe Spindles, and remove them
again to the Wheat-drill when that is ufed; for that
and the Turnep-drill are very rarely, or never, ufed
at the fame time.

E is the Iron Crank, plac'd into the falfe Spindle,
in the manner (hewn at H in Fig* 5. of Plate 2. for
turning the Brafs Spindle by its Fork; but take care
that the End of this wooden Spindle do not approach
nearer to the End of the Brafs Spindle than the Di-
stance of half an Inch, left, if the inner Wreath (hould
grow loofe, the wooden Spindle might bear fo hard
againft the Brafs one, as to wrench the Seed-box down
from the Wood, and then the Seed might run out
betwixt the Seed-box and the Bottom to which it is
fcrew'd.

When the hinder Side A is fcrew'd up againft the
Ends and middle Pieces, then the Box defcrib'd, be-
ing thrult down into the Carriage, and (tanding upon
the defcrib'd Ledgers, and at that Diftanceirqm each

End

t!hap. XXII. Oftk Turnep-DriU. 391

End of the Carriage, that the Seed may drop on the
Side of the Funnel, as is before defcrib'd ; the Box
is kept in its Place by one Screw paffing thro' its Back,
and the back Side of the Carriage.

The Notch F is cut in the Bottom of the hinder
Side of the Carriage, up to the Bottom of the Led-
ger, for the Convenience of feeing the Seed drop into
the Funnel.

The round Notch G is made in the Bottom of the
fore Side of the Carriage, to make room for one's
Hand to go in there, and turn the Setting-fcrew
without taking off the Hopper from the Standards.-

This Box and Carriage, fo fix'd together, compofe
the Turnep-hopper, which is drawn and guided, and
alfo holds up the Plough, by' Two hollow Pieces of
Wood fcrew'd on to the Outride of the fore Part of
the Carriage ; their Ends H and I appearing a little-
above the Carriage.

One of thefe hollow Pieces of Wood is fliewn in
Fig. 15. The Breadth of its Hollow mu-ft conform' to*
the Breadth of the Standards, Which are One Inch
and a quarter broad ; but we mufl allow about a
quarter of an Inch more in the Ho!low-for the Swelling
of the Wood. The Depth of the Hollow mufl be
the Thicknefs of the Standard that is to go in it,
allowing about the Eighth of an Inch for the Swelling
of the Wood. The HoJlow mould be a little deeper in
the Middle than at each End ; becaufe the Standard
ought not to bear againft any things except at or near
the upper and lower Part of the Carriage. Altho'
the End of thefe Pieces come a little higher than the
Carriage in this Hopper, yet I think it is better that
thefe hollow Pieces come no higher than even with
the Top, nor defcend any lower than even with the
Bottom of the Carriage; and then the Length of each
of thefe Pieces need be no more than Eleven Inches,
which is the whole Depth of the Carriage^

C c 4 The

3p i Of the Turnep- Drill. Chap. XX TT

The Wood on each Side of the Hollow, fufficient
for the Holes a, a, a, <z, muft be ab-ut h inch

broad. The beft way for fixing chem on, is-whiift the
Standards are in them, ^taring a fmall Piece of V\
at each Corner of the Hollow, betwixt the Standard
3nd the Wood, to the end that there may be no more
room on one Side of a Standard than on the other
Side; then fcrew them on (parallel to and equidiftant
from their refpe&ive Ends of the Carriage) by Fr ur
fmall Screws each, the one at r, <:, c, <:, and the other
at d> dy with Two below •, the Heads of thefe Screws
being on the Infide of the Carriage, and their Nuts
on the Outfides of the hollow Pieces ; then pull out
thofe little Pieces of Wood, that were to ke^p the
Standards in tne Middle of the Hollows, whiift the
Holes for the Screws were bored, and then the Turnep-
Hopper is finifhcd, and being put on upon the Stan-
dards A, B, in Fig. 16. is ready to go to Work;
and in this figure the whole Turnep^drill may be
hec\ as in. the Profpect of a Perfon following it at
Work, except that this Figure has not the double
Standard, nor Marking- wheels; becaufe we never ufe
them for drilling-Turneps, except it be on the Level,
"which we very rarely do.

The Circles of the Wheels of this Hopper go Twenty
five Inches afunder ; were they farther afunder, they
would not go io well upon the Ridges ; or were they
nearer together, they might not hold up the Plough
fo fleadily, but that one Wheel might happen to be
rais'd from the Ground, by the defending of the op-
pofite Limber; and if it fhould happen to be the
Wheel that turns the Crank, no Seed would be de-
liver'd out whiift the Wheel was rais'd above the
Ground ; fometimes we ufe Wheels of Twenty-fix
Inches Diameter, fometimes Thirty, and at intermedin
#te Diameters, with this Hopper.

The beft Wood for making all Sorts of Hoppers
is Walnut-tree or Elm; our Beams and Standards we
pf Am. Whac

Chap. XXII. Of the Turnep- Drill ^3

What is meant by Wood-fcrews, are taper Sc w?
made with Iron, having very deep Threads, whei eby
they hold-fall when fcrewed into Wood, and their
Points will enter into fbft Wood without boring y
Hole for them into the Wood they are to take hold
of; but near their Heads they are round, and have
no Thread, and that Part of them muft always be in
a bored Hole thro' that Part of a Board that is to be
drawn clofe.

If the Standards fnould be much fwollen by being
wet, it may be proper to anoint them with Soap,

In drilling, when the Wind is very itrong, and the
Hopper goes high above the Funnel, the Seed might
be blown over it, if we did not take care to guard
it from the Force of the Wind ; and for doing this
there are many Ways: Sometimes we nail a Piece of
Linen Cloth round the Ends, and the fore Side of the
Hopper •, or elfe we nail on a Piece of old Hat, or
Shoe-leather, round the Edges of the Funnel, to raife
it higher -, or if the Hopper go a great deal above the
Trunk, we nail up a Pipe of Leather to the wooden
Bottom of the Box, which Pipe, being about an Inch
wide at Bottom, protects the Seed from the Wind,
till it arrives fo near the Funnel, that the Wind can-
not blow it over.

If we would have a long Hopper, to plant many
Rows at once, of Clover or other fine Seeds, it is
eafy to make each of thefe wooden (falfe) Spindles
turn Two or Three Brafs or Iron Spindles; but then,
as in all other Cafes; where the fame Hopper is to
fupply more than one Chanel with S^d, each of its
Wheels muft have Liberty to rife without the other,
as thofe of the hinder Hopper of the Wheat-drill
do,

CHAP.

[ 394 J

CHAR XXIII.

Of the Hoe-Ploug h, &c.

pLATE 6. Fig. i. is the Hoe-Plough in a tide
View. A is the Beam and Plough-tail, being
much the fame with that of the common Plough de-
fcribed in Fig. i. of Plate i. The Beam of fuch a
common Plough, being cut off, and fcrewed up to
this Plank, and its Limbers, might make a Hoe-
Plough. The Share of this, from its Tail to the fore
Part of its Socket, is Two JFeet One Inch long, and
from thence to the End of the Point, Ten Inches and
an half: This is the Meafure of the under Side of the
Share. B is the Plank, Two Feet Seven Inches and
an half long, Two Inches and an half thick, and
Nine Inches broad. C, D, are the Nuts of the Two
Screw-pins, which hold up the Beam to the Plank.
E is the Nut of the Draw-pin, which Pin has a
Crook underneath, whereto one of the Links of the
fhort Chain of the Whipper is fattened for drawing
the Plough; the only Uie of this Nut is, to hold the
Pin from dropping out by its own Weight, and that
of the Chain and Whipper; but often, to avoid the
Trouble of fcrewing and unfcrewing the Nut, we
fupply its Ufe by a fquare Pin a little bigger than the
Hole, which we drive up by an Hammer, fo tight,
that it may not drop out of itfelf ; but can eafily be
driven out by a few Blows of the Hammer, as often
as it is necefTary to remove it into another Hole.
F, G, are the Two Limbers-, they are fcrewed on to
the Plank by Four Screws and N uts : The under Sur-
face of the Limbers by their whole Length are parallel
to the Plank, and to the upper Surface of the fore

End

Chap. XXIII. Of the Hoe-Plough, &c. 395

End of the Beam, contrary to the manner of placing
the Limbers of the Drill Ploughs ; becaufe their Planks
being always parallel to the Bottom of their Shares,
if their Limbers were parallel to their Beams, as thefc
are, the fore Ends of their Limbers would not be
elevated higher than the Plank, but would go within
a Foot of the Ground, inftead of being elevated
almoft as high as the Horfes that draw them ; and
the upper and under Surfaces of thL Plank muil not
be parallel to the Share, but muft make the fame
Angle with it as its Limbers and Beam do.

Thefe Limbers ought to crook outwards from each
other all the Way, till they come within about a Foot
of the Chain, much more than the Drill-Limbers
need to do ; becaufe the Middle of the Plank of the
Drill follows directly after the Horfe, but the Middle
of the Plank of the Hoe-Plough very feldom does;
and therefore there muft be the more room betwixt
thefe Limbers. Likewife there muft be the more room
betwixt the fore Part of the Limbers, becaufe often-
times the right Limber muft be raifed, and the left
depreiTed, in holding the Plough towards the left
Side (for if it ihould be held towards the right Side,
the Share would go upon the Fin, and its Point be
raifed out of the Ground, unlefs it were on a Surface
that had a Declivity towards the Right). The Di-
ftance between the fore Ends of thefe Limbers is
Two Feet Eight Inches.

The Strength and StifTnefs of thefe Limbers muft
be fuch, that there may be no Bending betwixt their
fore Ends and the Tail of the Beam -, for if they be
too weak, fo as to yield to the Weight of the Furrow,
the Point of the Share will defcend into the Ground,
and its Tail will rife up, and then the Plough cannot
go well. The ihorter they are, the ftronger and
ftifter will they be, of the fame Thicknefs. We may
make them juft of fuch a Length, that there may be
room for the Horfe before the Bar H (which holds
the Limbers at their due Diftance), Thefe are from

their

3<>6 Of the Hoe-Plough, &c. Chap. XXIII.

their Ends to the Bar, Four Feet Ten Inches long
and from thence to the Plank Ten Inches, and Three
Inches and an half fquare at the Bar.

I is the Whipper. K, L, are its Notches, where*
unto the Traces both of the ThilJer, and of the
Horfe next before him, are fattened. The Length
of the Whipper is uncertain ; but when we hoe be-
twixt Rows, when the Plants are grown high, we
make it as fhort as it can be, without galling the
Horfe's Legs by the Traces.

We fet this Plough to go deeper or mallower by
the Chain of the Limbers ; the changing of whofe
Links to the Crook M has the fame Effect as change-
ing the Pins to different Holes of the Crow-ftaves of
a common Plough.

Fig. 2. is the Beam with its Mortife and Holes; its
Crooking down at the Tail is not very material; but
it caufes the hinder Sheat to be a little the fhorter be-
low the Beam, whereby it may be fomething the
lighter, and yet of the fame Strength as if it were
longer. Its whole Length is Four Feet Ten Inches:
We make its Breadth and Thicknefs fuch, that it
may be as light as it can be without Bending. A is
the Mortife thro' which the hinder Sheat paffes. B is
the Mortife for the fore Shear, upon which it is pinned
up. C is a Hole in the Beam, into which the End of
the left Handle being driven, holds it from moving,
and is the bed: Manner of fattening this Handle of a
Plough. D, E, are the Holes, thro' which the Two
Legs of the double Retch pafs, and are there held up
by their Nuts. F is the Coulter-hole. G is the hinder
Hole, by which the Plough is held up to the Plank,
H and I are the Two foremoft Holes of the Beam,
thro' one or the other of which paries the Pin which
holds the Beam to the fore Part of the Plank. Thefe
Holes mutt be made as near together as they can be,
without Danger of fplitting them one into another ;
to pre\ ent which there are feveral Ways: The one is
by driving in Two fquare Pins crofs the Beam, under

the

Chap. XXIII. Of the Hoe-Plough, &c. 59y

the pricked Line a b, before the Holes are bored,
which will prevent the Grain of the Wood from being
forced out of one Hole into the other; or thefe Holes
may be plated with Iron above and below, which will
have the fame Effect, and then there need not be
more than One Inch between Hole and Hole.

Fig. 3. is the Plank apart, which by its Holes, and
pricked Lines, fliews the different Manner of placing
the Beam, a, a, a, ay are the Four Hoks for fcrew-
ing down the Limbers to the Plank.

Suppoling the Path of the Horfe to be a ftrait Line,
and the pricked Line h i (which is at right Angles
with the Plank, and equidiflant from each Limber J
to go exactly over it, without making any Angle on
either Side of it ; then the Beam mud be placed at
right Angles with the Plank, to the End that the
Share may go parallel to the Horfe-path, excepting
that very fmall Inclination that its Point has to the left,
fhewn by the pricked Lines in Fig. 1. of Plate 1. But
this Plough feldom follows the Horfe in that manner.
The faid pricked Line h i generally makes Angles
with the Horfe-path ; elfe when the Beam flood near
the left Limber, and the Draw-pin near the right
Limber in the Hole 9. (which it mull: do to keep the
Share parallel to the Horfe-path) the Weight of the
right End of the Plank and its Limber would be too
heavy for the right Hand of the Holder to manage;
and if the Draw-pin be removed (fuppofe) to Hole 7.
the Parallelifm of the Share with the Horfe-path will
be loft, and the Point of the Share may be inclined
too much towards the Left; and when a Furrow is to
be plowed on the right Side of the Horfe-path, the
Beam muft be removed nearer to the Middle of the
Plank, and the Draw-pin muft be placed on the left
Side of the Beam, fuppofe to the Hole 2. This will
bring the greateft Part of the Plank to the right Side
of the Horfe-path ; and then the Share, flanding at
right Angles with the Plank, will make a very large

Angle

-Hoe-Plough, &c. Chap. XXIII.
Angle with the Horfe-path, and then the Plough will
not perform at all. Therefore it being necefTary, that
the Share always go parallel to the Horfe-path, and
often as necefTary that the Plank go at oblique Angles
to the Horfe-path ; it follows then that the Beam fland
at oblique Angles with the Plank, to preferve the Pa-
rallelifm to the Horfe-path ; and this cannot be done
but by the Holes which are fhewn under the pricked
Lines which crofs the Plank.

The Holes A, B, C, are thofe to one of which
the Beam is icrewed up by its Hole G, in Fig. 2.
Thefe Holes are made as near to the hinder Edge of
the Plank, as they can fafely be, without Danger of
tearing out; which is generally about an Inch diftant
from the faid Edge.

Every one of thefe Ploles are anfwered by Three
others, near the fore Edge of the Plank, as the Hole
B has, at the fore Edge of the Plank, the Holes D,
E, F. D, E belong to the Hole I of the Beam
Fig. 2. Thefe Two Holes are made as near together
as they can be without breaking into one another.
F anfwers the Hole H in Fig. 2. and is made between
D and E, as near them as fafely it can.

When the Beam is fcrewed up at B and F, and
makes the fame Angles with the Plank, as the pricked
Line be doth ; then the Draw-pin {landing in the
Hole 8 or 9, will bring the Plough lb much to the
Left, that the Share will point too much towards the
Right; then remove the fore End of the Beam to the
Hole D, and then the Beam will make the fame Angle
with the'Plank as the pricked Line c d, which may
bring the Share to be parallel to the Horfe-path nearly
enough : But if the Draw-pin mould be placed in the
Hole 1. then the Plank would go fo much on the
Right of the Horfe-path, that the Share would point
vafily too much towards the Left, ftanding in either
of thefe Two Pofitions : Therefore the roremoft Pin
mud be removed to the Hole E, and then the Beam

being

Chap. XXIII. Of f.fe Hoe-Plough, &c. 399

being at the fame Angles with the Plank as the
pricked Line / g, it may be parallel to the Horfe-
path, or fo nearly, that by removing the Draw-pin
one Hole, it may be made perfectly fo.

Note, That tho' here are but Nine Holes for the
Draw-pin ; yet we ufually make many more in our
Planks : And fometimes by changing the Draw-pin
either Way into another Hole, tho' that Hole be but
an Inch diltanc from the former, the Share is brought
right without any Inconvenience.

The Holes A and C have each of them their oppo-
fite Holes, which (when the Beam is placed into either
of the Two) have the fame Effecl, for keeping the
Share parallel to the Horfe-path, as the Hole B and
its Three oppofite Holes have ; and if either of the
Holes belonging to A, B, or C, fhould not bring the
Beam fufficiently oblique to the Plank, for the Share
to be parallel to the Horfe-path, when the Draw-pin
is in fome one particular Hole, then there may be an*
other Hole bored before, on the Right or Left, for
the fore Pin to pafs thro' by the Hole H of the Beam
Fig. 2. which will incline the Beam a little more to
the Right or Left, as occafion requires ; and if none
of all thefe be furncient, the Plank may be turned the
other Side upwards *, and the Beam being faflened
there by the hinder Screw into any one of thofe Holes,
which vvere next to the fore Edge of the Plank before
it was reverfed, there may be a new Set of Holes to
anfwer the fore Pin, of which that which was an hin-
der Hole before the Plank was reverfed, may be one.
Thefe may fet the Beam at different Angles from any
of the, nrfl Holes ; fo that there may be at one End
of the Plank Six Syftems of Holes, Three on the
one Side, and Three on the other-, and if we have a
mind to make yet more various Pofmons of the
Plough, we may turn the Plank, End for End, and
there make Six different Syftems of Holes.

But,

400 Of the Hoe-Plough, &c. Chap. XXIII.

But, inftead of turning the Plank, it would be
better to have a Fourth Hole in the Beam, ftanding
as near to the hinder Hole as H doth to the fore
Hole ; to anfwer which Fourth Hole, there may be
Two Holes in the Plank, one at each Side of the hin-
der Hole of every Syftem at proper Diftances, to fet
the Plough ftill at more different Angles with the
Plank ; and thefe, I believe, will be more conveni-
ent for the Purpofe than the different Holes in the
fore Part of the Plank, it being eafier to remove the
hinder Screw than the fore Screw; becaufe if the
Plank and Limbers are not held up by fomebody,
whilft the fore Pin is out, their Weight will wrench
out the hinder Hole of the Plank by that Screw; but
whilft the hinder Screw is out, there is no need of hold-
ing up the Plank, becaufe its Weight, bearing upon
the Beam, cannot injure the foremoft Hole, whilft the
Limbers bear upon the Horfe. Upon this account,
I wonder we had not made the Holes, for changing
the Pofition of the Beam, at the hinder Part of the
Plank rather than the fore Part; which convinces me,
that new Inftruments are feidom perfect in the Be-
ginning.

We can alfo alter the Standing of the Beam, by
cutting away the Wood on one Side of an Hole, and
placing a Wedge on the oppofite Side of the Pin.

The Holder may make fome Alteration in the
Going of the Plough by the Handles.

The Reafon we never fet the Beam on the right
Half of the Plank is, that the Plough always turns
its Furrow towards the Right-hand ; and the ftrait
Side of the Share and the Coulter never go fo near
to a Row on the Right-hand, by the Breadth of Two
Furrows, as it does to a Row on the Left-hand.

If by the Drawing of the fore Horfe or Horfes,
the Plough fhould bear too hard upon the Thiller, it
may be helped by making a Row of Holes near the
hinder Side of the Plank, for the Draw-pin, inftead

of

Chap. XXIII. Of the Hoe-Plough, &c. 401

of thofe ifi the Middle 5 for the farther backwards
the Draw-pin is plac'd, the lefs will the Limbers bear
on the Thiller, efpecially when drawn by more Horfes
than one-, becaufe the fore Horfes draw the Limbers
more downwards than the Thiller doth, as may be
ieen in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. (hews the manner how the Hoe-plough is
drawn, and how the Traces are fix'd to it. The Traces
of both Horfes are faftened to the Notches of the
Ends of the Whipper at a and b. The Traces of the
Thiller by their fore Part are faftened to an Hook, or
Ring, on the Wood of the Collar, as is ufual for
other Thillers •, and the fore Part of the next Horfe's
Traces is fafiened to his Collar in like manner; but
thefe Traces; being twice as long as thofe of the Thiller,
mud be held up in the Middle by a Piece of Cord or
Chain, as at c] where one End of it is faftened to the
Trace, and paffes over the Top of the Collar, behind
one of the Hames, and before the other to keep it
from flipping backwards or forwards •, its other End
is faftened to the Opofite Trace on the other Side, as
this End is at c; This prevents the Chain from
falling down, and getting under the Horfe's Legs in
turning; but beware that this String or Chain be not
fo fhort as to hold up the Traces higher than their
ftrait Line; for that would preis upon the Collar, and
gall the Thiller, befides occafioning the Plough to be
drawn too much upwards; for this drawing of the
fore Horfe by a different Line from that of the Thiller,
is a great Advantage for keeping the Plough the firmer
into the Ground.

If there is another Horfe, his Traces are faftened
at the Collar of the Second, in the fame manner as in.
drawing of a Waggon.

When we hoe betwixt Rows, where the Plants are
very high, as thofe of Turnep-feed, which are much
higher than the Horfes, to turn a new Furrow up to
the Row, when there is a Trench in the Middle of the
Interval, where the Horfes muft go, we find it beft:

Dd to

40Z Of the Hoe-Plough, &c. Chap. XXIII.

to place the Beam by the Holes B and E, in Fig. 3.
and the Draw-pin near the left Limber, which brings
the Tail of the Plough to the Right-hand, and the
fore Ends of the Limbers being towards the Left, the
End of the right Limber (by turning the Handles a
little to the Left) bears againft the wooden Saddle at
d, and cannot hitch into or take hold of any of the
Plants to tear them. And that no Part of the Limber
may take hold of any Plant, we make it very fmooth
from one End to the other ; and cutoff the Corner of
the Plank equal with the Limber, that the Plants may
flip by it without hanging in it, or being broken by it.
The Whipper (landing towards the left End of the
Plank, its End b does not reach fo far towards the
right as to take hold of the Plants, its End a being
over the Interval, where no Plams are; and to keep
its right End the more out of Danger of hurting the
Plants, we place the Hook of its Chain nearer to-
wards this End, by which means the left End, be-
coming heavier, finks lower, and raifes the right End
higher ; and the higher it is, the more fecure the Plants
will be from it; becaufe they are held off by the
Limber above.

This way my Turnep-feed has been ho'd, when
one would have thought it impoffible for a Plough
and Horfes to go betwixt the Rows without deftroy-
ing the Crop. Almoft in this manner we give our
Wheat the laft Hoeing, to turn the Furrow a Second
time towards the Row. When the Plants of the Rows
are very high, the Driver muft go in the next Interval,
on the Left of the Plough; and the Holder has a Cord,
like the Reins of a Bridle, which he lays over th«
End of the Draw-pin, which keeps it from falling
down, until he has occafion to ufe it for guiding or
turning the Thiller.

When we turn the Furrow from the Row (which
will then be ever on the left Side of the Plough), the
Plough muft be fet in a very different and contrary

Poll u re >

Chap. XXIII. Of the Hoe-Plough, Gfr. 403
Pofture; but then the Plants commonly being low,
there is no Danger of the Whipper's or Limber's
hitching or taking hold of them ; but the Driver muft
take care, that he does not tread on them, nor fuffer
any of the Horfes to do fo; and they of thernfelves,
when they are not blind, take all the Care they can
to avoid it ; and I obferve, that the Plants are oftener
injured by the Driver, than by the Horfes.

'Tis in this Jail-mentioned manner of Hoeing,
when we go very near to the young Plants, the Firil
or Second time, that we muft take care of burying
them with the Earth, which (efpecially when dry and
fine) is apt to run over to the left Side of the Plough ;
this we can in great meafure prevent, when the Ground
is clean, by nailing with Three or Four Nails a very
thin fquare Piece of Board to the Sheat, with one
Corner bearing at, or below, a, in Fig. 1. and its
other lower Corner bearing on the Back of the Coul-
ter on its left Side at £, its upper Corner reaching to
c or higher ; its fore End is ty'd on to the Coulter by
a leathern Thong paffing thro' an Hole very near the
End of the Board. The lower Edge of the Board muft
come no lower than the prlck'd Line <2, £, which,
at £, is j uft even with the Surface of the Ground, be-
fore it is rais'd by the Share -9 for if this Board mould
be fet down too near the Share, the Plough would not
go ; but, being fet in this manner, it prevents the
Earth (when never fo much pulveriz'd in the drieft
Weather) from running over upon the Plants to bury
.hem, tho' the Plough go very near them; except in
this cafe, we never ule a Board, the Earth running over
to the left Side, being often advantageous in Hoeing ;
for it changes more Surface of the Ground, than if it
went all to the right ; and when in Summer we hoe
from the Wheat-rows, not going very near to the
grown Plants, this Earth that runs over the Share to
the Leftj helps to mend fuch Places where the Furrow

D d 2 was

404 Of the Hoe-Plough, &c. Chap. XXIII.

was not thrown up clofe enough to the Row by the
precedent Hoeing.

The firft time we turn a Furrow towards the Row,
the Hories go in the Trench near to it, and the
Plough (lands on the left Side of the Horfe-path,
almoft in the fame manner as when the Furrow is turn'd
from the Row; but we very often make ufe of a com-
mon Plough, for throwing down the Ridge, which
has lain all the Winter in the Middle of the Interval.
One Wheel, going on each Side of that Ridge, holds
that Plough to a great Exacftnefs for fplitting this
Ridge into Halves, which the Earth-board, being fet
out for that Purpofe, throws up to the Row on each
Side of the Interval.

We alfo very often make ufe of the Two-wheel'd
Plough, for railing up the Ridges, whereon we drill
the Rows; not but that the Hoe- Plough will do every
thing that is necefTary to our Hufbandry : Yet the com-
mon Ploughs being heavier than weufually make our
Hoe-Ploughs, they by their Weight, and Help of
their Wheels goa little fteadier: and befides the Plough-
men, being more accuflom'd to them, prefer them be-
fore all other, where their Wheels are of no Prejudice.

I never law neater Ridges rais'd by any Plough,
than by the Hoe-Plough, nor finer Plowing ; and I
believe that were it made as heavy, and as ftrong, it
would outdo the Swing-Plough, in plowing miry
Clays, where Plough-wheels cannot go; but I, have-
ing no fuch Land, have never made any Hoe-Plough
heavy enough for it. However, I am convinced, by
the many Trials which I have feen, that no other
Plough can be ufed for every Horfe- hoeing Operation,
fo effectually as this I have now defcrib'd.

The making the Hoe-plough is not difficult for a
good Workman ; and a few of the Holes for letting
the Beam are fufricient, provided they are made in
their proper Places, which is impoflible for me to
defence exactly in a Number that is no more than

neceflary?

Chap.XXIIL Of the Hoe-Plough, &c. 405

neceflary ; becaufe the Diflance the Plough aiuft go
from the Horfe-path on either Side, is uncertain, as
the Largenefs or the Depth of the Furrow is ; and
for that Reafon, it is as impoflible for me direct the
Ploughman to the particular Angles, at which lift
Beam muft be fet with the Plank, to keep the Share
parallel to the Horfe-path, as it is to direct a Fidler,
how far he muft turn his Pegs to give his Strings their
due Tenfion for bringing them all in Tune, which
without a Peg to each String could never be done;
but when he has his juft Number of Pegs, his Ear
will direct him in turning them, till his Fiddle is in
Tune ; fo the Ploughman by his Eyes, his Feeling,
and his Reafon, muft be directed in the fetting his
Plough; but without a competent Number of Holes,
he can no more do it than a Mufician can tune Four
Strings upon one Peg. And I am told, that fome
Pretenders to making the Floe-Plough have fix'd its
Beam to the Plank immoveable, which makes it as
ufelefs for hoeing betwixt Rows, as a Violin with but
one Peg to its Four Strings would be for playing a
Sonata.

Fig. 5. mews the Sort of Yoke, that is us'd on
every Ox that draws in a fingle File, as they always
muft when they work with the Hoe-plough ; but after
they have been accuftom'd to draw double (i. e. Two
abreaft) they muft be practised for about a Week to
draw fingle, before they are fet to Hoeing ; for other-
wife they will be apt to demolim the Rows, one run-
ing off to the right-hand, expecting his Fellow to
come up v/ith him on the Left, and another will run
off on the Left to make room for his Companion to
go abreaft with him on the Right, endeavouring to
go in the manner in which they us'd to be placed for
drawing in Pairs.

I fuppofe I need not give any Caution about muz-
ling the Oxen when they hoe; becaufe they will eat
fche Plants as foan as they come an Inch above the
P d 3 Ground,

^o6 Of *& Hoe-Plough, &c\ Chap. XXIII.

Ground, and that will fhew the Neceffity of it; but
there is no occafion to muzzle the Horfes until the
Plants are grown as high as their Nofes, when rein'd
up, as in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6. is an Inftrument of Pulveration, which
might have been fufficiently defcrib'd by its Matter,
Weight and Dimenfions, without any Portrait, were
it not to fhew the particular Manner of drawing it?
being very different from that of a common Roller,
whofe Frame is difficult to make, and coflly \ but
this, being only Three Feet long, is drawn by a
fimple Pair of Limbers, held together, by the Two
Bars A and B, firmly pinn'd in at their Ends.

Its Gudgeons mud not come out beyond the outer
Surface of the Limbers, left they mould take hold of
the Plants, when drawn in the Intervals ; alfo the
hinder Ends of the Limbers, behind the Gudgeon,
fhould crook a little upwards, for the fame Reafon.

This Stone Cylinder is Two Feet and an half Dia-
meter, and weighs Eleven hundred Weight befides
the Limbers. It mufl never be us'd but in the drieft
Weather, when neither the Plough nor Harrow can
break the Clods ; and then being fo very ponderous
and fhort, it crufhes them to Powder, or into fuch
very fmall Pieces, that a very little Rain, or even the
Dews (if plentiful), will diflblve them.

I have had great Benefit by this Roller in preparing
my Ridges for Turneps. The Weather proving dry
at Midfummer (which is the belt Seaibn for planting
them), the Land was in Pieces like Horfe-heads, i~Q
that there was no Hope of reducing them fit for plant-
ing with Turneps that Year; the Gods being fo very
large, that they would require fo many Viciffitudes of
wet and dry Weather to flack, them; but this Inftru-
ment crufh'd them fmall, and the Plough following
it immediately, the Ridges were harrow'd and drilFd
wich very good Succefs.

I

Chap. XXIII. Of the Hoe-Plough, &c. 407

I have alfo made ufe of it for the fame Purpofe in
the Middle of a cloddy Field, where it pulveriz'd
the Clods fo effectually, that the Benefit of it might
be plainly diftinguifh'd by the Colour and Strength
of the Two following Crops, different from the other
Parts of the Field adjoining on both Sides, whereon
the Roller was not drawn.

But crufhing has fuch a contrary Effecl from fqueez-
ing, that if this Roller fhould be us'd when the Land
is moift, it would be very pernicious, by unpulverizin^
it ; of which I am fo cautious, that fometimes I let
the Roller lie ftill for a whole Year together.

There is alfo a long triangular Harrow, which is
fometimes ufeful in the Intervals when the Earth is of
a right Temper betwixt wet and dry ; but there is no
need to defcribe it, and I fcarce ufe it once in Two or
Three Years.

The Diameters of the wooden and iron Pins and
Screws, with their Holes, and the Sizes of the Nails
to be made ufe of in all the defcrib'd Inftruments, I
leave to the Difcretion of the Workmen, who, if they
are Matters of their feveral Trades, cannot be ignorant
of fuch Matters.

Fig. 7. and Fig. 8. (hew the Lands of Turneps
mention'd at the Beginning of this Work.

Qd* AN

[

2

A N

APPENDIX

CONCERNING

fbc making of the Drill, and the Hoe-
Plough, &c.

O a Workman, who would make thefe
Inftru merits, I would add the following
Directions.

The Firft thing to be done for making
the Drill, is to place halt a Sheet of Paper to the
Back of Plate 2. by parting it on to its Margin ; and
iikewife another half Sheet to Plate 3. in the fame
manner.

Then with a Needle prick through all the Out-lines,
of A, B, C, and D, in Fig> 2. which will mark out
both Sides, and both Ends of the Mortife of the
Turnep Drill- box. Alio pri.ck through the Out-lines
of the great Hole in the middle of A, and of the
elliptical Hole in B. Alio prick the little Hole at E*
in A ; and at F, in B. Prick through the prick'd
Line/> q, in B; which is the Line to which the Set-
ling-fcrevv Fig. 6. or Fig. 12. that is to pafs thorough
the Hole in C, muft be parallel.

When the Paper is taken off, cut out of it the faid
A7 B, C, and D, by the Pricks made by the Needle.
Then cut the fame in Paftboard, by laying thefe
Pieces of Paper thereon ( becaufePaftboard3 being fl ifTer

than

APPENDIX. 409

fcnan Paper, will be more fit for the Ufe). Draw a
•Line with Ink on the pricked Line, -p q.

The Hole in C muft be fomething larger than in
the Cut, becaufe the Setting-fcrew muft be fo, being
bed to be of Brafs, which is Ms apt to ruft than Iron,
of which Metal it was formerly made; but Brafs,
being weaker, requires the more of it to equal the
Strength of Iron.

The Wreath, Fig. 14. is not neceffary, becaufe the
Slider, Fig. 15. is fufrlcient without it; but then care
muft be taken, that the Edges of its Claws A B,
which rub againft the Cylinder of E, in Fig. 9. be
taken off, to prevent their cutting it. This Slider is
fometimes made of Brafs, and fometimes of Iron.

Thus the Workman will have the Sides and Ends
of the Turnep-mortife, which make the Whole of it,
whereby he may make it exactly in foft Wood.

Fig. 7. called the inner Cylinder, being put into
the Cylinder A, of the Steel Tongue, Fig. 4. where-
by the Holes for the Axis of the Tongue, being the
lower from the Top of the Mortife, do not only
fecure the Edges of the Mortife from breaking out,
but alfo give room for the Flanches B, C, in Fig. 9.
to be madft to reach as far forwards as the Axis of the
Tongue, and farther : Hereby the Hole, in the Bot-
tom of the Hopper, may be as wide at the fore End,
as at the pricked Line at the Letter B.

The Notches in the Spindle, Fig. 5. feem to appear
deeper than is ufual for Turnep-feed; but I remember
I have drilled Furze-feed with a Turnep-drill without
altering the Notches. As for the Shape of theie
Notches, they are fo fully defcribed in Fig. 6. and
Fig. 8. of Plate 3. that I can add nothing to that De-
fcription ; only that thofe being for the Wheat-drill,
the Size ot Notches for the Turnep-drill muft be ieffer
in fome proportion to the Ieffer Size of the Seed,

For making the Wheat-drill do the fame as for
fhe Turnep-drill. The Fig. 3. in Plate 2. is one Side

of

4io APPENDIX.

of the Mortife* by whick muft be made Two in Paft-
bpard. Fig. 10. in Plate 2. and Fig. 9. in Plate 3.
are the Two Ends of it.

The Cover that prevents the Wheat from falling
down on the hinder Side of the Spindle, is one intire
Piece of Brafs, which is marked B in Fig. 3. of
Plate 3. but the Shape of it, with its Hole whereby
it is held in by a Screw, is only feen in the Side,
Fig. 3. of Plate 2. and there defcribed by pricked
Lines ; and by pricking through them, the Shape of
the End of the Cover may be taken, which Cover
k of the fame Shape from End to End.

The Joyner who cannot by thefe Additions, and
the Explanations of the Plates, make thefe Drills in
Wood, doth not deferve the Name of a Workman.

When he has once made them whole, he can eafily
make them in Halves like Fig. 8. in Plate 2.

By thefe Halves the Founder will make his Moulds
proper for calling them in the bed Brafs. But in
thefe Halves for Cafting, there mint be no other
Holes, but the great Holes, and the Hole for the
Setting-fcrew.

The great Hole in the Mould muft be largeft at E,
in Fig. 9. Plate 2. and lefler in the Infide in Fig. 8.
for as it muft be of a conical Shape for making the
Core, if it fhould be caft bigger within, when the
Whitefmith bores it (as he muft) to an exact Cy-
linder, the End E would be in Danger of burfting by
the Force of the Boring, as it is much thinner than in
the Mortife. And befides this, if there mould be any
little Flaw in the Edges of the Hole within the Mor-
tife (which theFounder muft avoid as much aspofiible),
it may perhaps be bored out by means of the Hole's
being lefs there. The Hole muft be fomething lefs in
the Mould than its proper Size, even where it is largeft ;
elfe it may happen, that in boring it to a true Cylin-
der it may become too big. And I believe, in the
Cooling of the Brafs, the Hole grows bigger as the
Spindle grows lefs. For

APPENDIX. 411

For the Hole of the Setting-fcrew, lay on upon
8ie dark Part of Fig. 8. one of the Paftboard- fides;
and from the black Line p9 q> draw a Line coincident
to it as on the Brafs, for making the half Hole A by,
and the other Half of it on the oppofite Half fide.

Thefe Paftboards will be very ufeful to the White-
frnith, for directing him to find the Places where the
Holes for the Axis of the Tongue, and thofe for
fcrewing the Two Halves of the Mortife together,
are to be made. I advife againft boring the great
Hole with a Tool (a Bit) with more than Four
Edges ; for it would be apt to tear the Brafs.

The great Hole of the Turnep-drill is bored with
Tools like thofe wherewith a Gun is bored. But the
"Wheat-drill is bored with a Screw-ftock, whofe Edges
are madefharp for that Purpofe, and may be fet wider
or narrower at Pleafure: It is put into the Hole along
with an half-round Piece of Wood, the lower End of
the Stock being fet fad: in a Vice : The whole Seed-
box (for it mull always be fcrewed together before it
is bored), being put on the End of the Stock (made
taper a little way for entering), is turned round it by
a long wooden Spanner, which hath a Notch in the
middle of it, to receive the whole Seed- box, in order
to bore it by turning it round upon the Stock.

The Brafs ought to be of the Deft Sort, which will
be eafy to file, and yet not mix with baler Metal.

The Seed-boxes may be cafl whole by thefe Moulds;
but I prefer thole that are icrewed together, for feveral
Reafons, which I have not time now to write.

There is a Turnep Seed-box come to my Hands
that was made by Pretenders ; I wifh it is the only one
made in the fame manner j for it is ufelefs •, the
Notches in the Spindle are much fhorter than the
Breadth of the Mortiie; at each End of the Notches
is a deep Chanel (as deep as the Bottom of the Notches)
quite round the Spindle, infteau of a Mark, which
$1011 Id be but juft vifible for cutting the Notches ;

3 and

4i2 A P P E N D I X.

and inftead of a tender Steel Spring, there is a ftrong
Piece of Iron without Elafticity. By means of this
Iron, the Machine grinds the Seed, inftead of drill-
ing it.

What I (hall here add concerning the Wheat-drill, is
fome Alterations in Fig. 21. of Plate 4. viz. The fore
Share and Sheat muft be left out for drilling Wheat,
no more middle Rows being ufed. And the Two
Beams B B in the Plough, Fig. 1. muft be fet to make
Chanels Ten Inches afunder. And the double Hopper,
Fig. 15. muft be fet nearer together, fo as the Seed
may fall into the middle of the Funnels of the Beams.
Tho' there is no NecefHty of Marking-wheels for
guiding the Drill-horfe upon Ridges •, yet they are
very ufeful for holding the Drill fteady, and to pre-
vent its tottering, which without the Marking-wheels,
and the fore Hopper, it is apt to do, when the Shares
ftand fo near together as Ten Inches j and on a nar-
row Ridge one of the hinder Wheels might run off to
the Furrow, and draw the Shares after it, if the Drill
were not kept fteady by the Marking -wheels, and by
their Hopper, which takes hold of the flngle Stan-
dard by Fig. 22. as is feen in Fig. 21. in Plate 4.
But there fhould not be fo much room in it on each
Side of the Standard, left the Plough by that means
mould have too much room to totter, now the
Shares are fo near together.

The Marking-wheels muft be fet at the Diftance
of the Breadth of Two Ridges, which, as we now
make them, is about Nine Feet and an half from
Wheel to Wheel.

The Brafs Box may be taken out of the fore Hop-
per : And tho* that Hopper be of no Ufe to the dou-
ble Row, except as is abovefaid -, yet if there fhould
be Occafion to prefs the Marking-wheels deeper into
the Ground for keeping the Plough the more fteady
in its Courfe, it may be ufeful ly filled with Earth, or
other Matter, fufikient for that Purpofe. And b«-

ildes,

APPENDIX, 4r3

fides, it may ferve to plant Three Rows of St. Foin,
when the fore Share and Sheat are put in, and the
Beams and hinder Hopper fet a Foot or Eighteen
Inches wider, and the Marking-wheels at their due
Diflance, as is directed in the Effay. Thus the fame
Drill may plant Wheat and St. Foin.

A Drill for the double Rows might be made wid*
a fingle hinder Hopper, inftead of the double one.
And there is a Contrivance to fupply the Ufe of the
fore Hopper for keeping the Plough fleady, and
more eafy to make than that Hopper; but this can?-
not be defcribed by Words without Cuts.

The Lime wherewith the brined Wheat is dried,
receiving fome of the Salts from the Brine, will flick
in the Notches of the Spindle ; yet never makes any
Stoppage to their Delivery of the Seed ; but every
Year we clean the Notches from the Lime with a
ChifTel, and, if it were done oftener, it would not be
amifs.

There is an Accident that may poflibly happen,
but never to a careful Driller ; viz. a large Clod may
fome way be thrown into a Funnel of the Beam of
the Plough, either by a Wheel, or by the Paddle that
cleanfes the Sheats from the Dirt that flicks to them
when the Earth is wet. This may flop the Wheat
from falling out of the Funnel into the Trunk ; and
then, f6 far as the Plough goes thus flopped, the
Chanel will have no Seed in it ; but the Driller that
follows may take it out immediately, which if he
mould neglect to do for never fo little a Diftance, he
ought to flop the Plough whilfl he fupplics the Chanel
with Seed from his Hand as far as it is empty. When
there is any Danger of this, as in very rough cloddy
Ground, it is befl to take off the Drill-harrow, to the
end that the Chanel may lie open for receiving the
Seed from the Hand. But if the Ends of the Hopper
reach below the Funnels, and they are otherwife de-
fended, as they may be, thisAccident can never hap-
pen. When

4i4 APPENDIX.

When the Dtill-harrow is taken off, the faeft way
for taking Tip the Plough to turn it, is to bore a Hold
of about half an Inch Diameter in the End of each
Beam behind the Funnels, and fallen a Withe into
thefe Holes ; by which Withe the Driller very con-
veniently takes hold with one Hand, and lifts up the
Plough, laying his other Hand on the Hopper to
keep it fteady. This Method of taking up the Plough
hath been often ufed for the Wheat-drill, and for the
Turnep-drill ; and in the latter the Hole in the one
Beam holds the Withe as well as do the Two Holes
in the former.

There are new Editions of fome of thefe Engines,
which cannot be fully defcribed without more Plates ;
but fince thofe already defcribed are found by Expe-
rience to be fufficient for the Purpofes they were de-
figned for, new Editions of them are not neceiTary,
tho' convenient in many refpefts.

Reafon will eafily make Additions to the Inftru-
ments when they are neceflary ; as when more than
one Brafs Spindle is to be turned by one or each Wheel
for planting Clover amongft Barley after it is come up.
*Tis done by a very light Plough, drawn by a Man:
It plants Four Rows at once Eight Inches afunder :
The Shares are very fhort and narrow, and fo are the
Sheats and Trunks. 'Tis not difficult to put on a
Crank at the other End of the Brafs Spindle, in the
fame manner that the Handle that winds up a Jack
is put on, and to fatten it at the Hole at I in Fig. 5.
of Plate 2. This Crank mud, at its firft turning,
before it turns up towards the Letter H, of the fame
Fig. be long enough to reach to within an Inch of the'
Fork of the Second Spindle. Thus each Wheel may
turn feveral Spindles, and then this Drill may plant
many Rows of Seeds at once.

When you plant Rows nearer together than Eight
Inches, it is bed that the Plough have Two Ranks of
Shares and Hoppers, elfe the Earth may be driven

before

APPENDIX, 4i5

before the Shares; but with Two Racks of them,
they will not be more apt to drive the Earth before
them in making Rows at Four Inches afunder, than
at Eight, when there is only a fingle Rank of Shares.

But I think this near Diftance of Four Inches can*
not be proper for any Sort of Seeds, except Flax-feed;
and even for that Seed not neceffary. If the Land
be made fine, a fingle Rank of Shares will go very-
well to plant Rows at Seven Inches afunder.

I had formerly a Drill-Plough for drilling acrofs
very high round Ridges for Hand-hoeing, where
Horfe-hoeing is impracticable : It had no Limbers ;
but it had little Ground-wrifcs to make open Chanels,
and had Handles behind it, whereby the Driller raifed
up the Tail of the Plough, when it was palling the
Summit of the Ridge. There were neither Funnels
nor Trunks ; for thefe would hinder the Seed from
falling into the Chanels, both by the Plough's going
up and down the Ridge. The Hopper was drawn by
the Plough in fuch a manner, that in paffing all Parts
of the Ridge the Wheels were not raifed from the
Ground ; The Chanels were equally fupplied with
Seed throughout : It planted Four Rows at once, at
a Foot afunder. I ufed this Drill-Plough 30 Years
ago in Oxford/hire : I have no fuch Ridges here, nor
confequently any Occafion of fuch an Inftrument ;
and did not make Cuts of it, becaufe it is not ufeful
for Horfe-hoeing. I only mention it here for the
Benefit of thofe who have a mind to plant fuch Ridges
regularly with an Engine : I hope their own Reafon
will enable them to contrive fuch a Plough, efpeci-
ally now they have the manner of making the Drill,
Hopper, &c. fhewn to them,

I have made a very material Addition to the Hoe-
Plough, of Plate 6. viz* At the fore End of the
Beam Fig. 2. is the Hole I, by which alone let the
Plough be drawn, leaving out the Hole H ; inftead
of the Hole G make a Mortife, Three or Four Inches

long,

Sf« APPEND! X.

long, and as broad as the Thicknefs of the Iron Fittj
the End and Nut of which are feen at C, in Fig. i„
This Pin Ihould be more than half an Inch Diameter,
and fquare at that End that goes into the Mortife ;'
let the hinder End of the Mortife juil appear behind
the Plank, when the Beam is at right Angles with it.

By means of this Mortife there may be many more
Holes through the Plank without Danger of fplitting-
into one another the Holes* in the Beam, which muft
anfvver thofe in the Plank.-

Draw many Lines from the Middle of the foremoftV
Hole of the Plank to the hinder Edge of it, at (fup-
pofe) a quarter of an Inch from one another there ?
*nd then bore a Hole In that Part of each Line that
is leaff. apt to break into the next Hole to k.

Every Syftem of Holes in the Plank will have like
Benefit of being increafed in their Number by the
Convenience of this Mortife; without which it is in>
pofhble to have fo great Variety of turning the Point
of the Share to make the Share go parallel to the'
Horfe-path.

The Board defcribed in p. 403. we now ufe very
feldom in Hoeing of Wheat.

Explanation of Plate \TL

FIG. 1. mews the Plank and the Harrow of the
latefl and belt Drill-plough, moil fimple, and
accommodated to the preknt Practice of planting
double Rows.

A is the Plank, with all its Mortifes and Holes;
b is the Mortife into which the Tenon of the fore
Sheat of the Drill-plough, for planting treble Rows,'
was fattened ; d is the fquare Hole for receiving the"
Seed from a Hole of the fame Shape and Size in the.
Bottom of the Funnel.

When the Sheat is taken out of the Mortife % and
another Sheat is made exactly the fame with that,
place them in the Mortify a a^ and make the Two

fquare

APPENDIX. 417

fquare Holes c c behind them, for their Funnels to
(land on. Make the Mortife e, which is to hold the
fingle Standard that is to hold up the fore Hopper in
the treble Drill, and in this to guide the Wheels alio,
inftead of Wreaths, that in the treble Drill are put on
the Spindle bearing againft the Infides of the double
Standards-, for in this the Shares being but Ten Inches
afunder, and at fuch a Diftance from each of the
Wheels, that neither of them doth by rifing lift up a
Share perceptibly; but if the Shares were wide afun-
der, or there were more of them reaching nearer to
the Ends of the Plank, a Wheel might rife up, and
lift a Share out of the Ground, if guided by the fingle
Standard and Hopper, as in this. The fingle Standard
is fhewn in Plate 4. Fig. 10. but this has no Fork
at its Bottom, as that has. This has only a fingle
Tenon, and is mouldered before, behind, and on each
Side, to hold it the more firm and Heady, when tightly
pinned down by Two Pins underneath the Plank. The
Dimenfions of this Standard are the fame with thofe
of the other •, but the Shou-lders muft not increafe the
Thicknefs of the Standard any higher than the Tops
of the Funnels.

The Four other fquare Holes, viz. f with another
behind it, and g with one before it, are tor thQ
double Standards, which are to be well mouldered,
or braced on the Side of each that is next to the
End of the Plank, and on theOutfide. There is no
need of Shoulder or Brace on the Sides where the
Spindle is placed, or on the Side next to the Middle
of the Plank.

The Four round Holes b i k I are thofe thro*
which the Four Pins pafs that hold on the Limbers,
and the Piece A, in Fig. 2. and the other of the
fame Sort in Fig, 4.

Fig. 2. and 4. fhew how the Harrow's Leg B is
held to the Piece A, by the Pin C. The Letters a b
Ihew the Holes through which the Pins do pafs to

E e fcrew

4i8 APPENDIX.

fcrew the Piece A up to the Plank, and the Limbers
for guiding the Harrow. This Piece A is fomewhaC
longer than the Breadth of the Plank •, it is about
Two Inches thick, and Two and an half in Depth,
The Pin Fig. 3. goes through this Piece near the
Bottom of its fore End, whereby the Harrow tines
have the more room to rife up, without being held
down by the Legs prefling againfl: the Plank.

Fig. 3: is the Pin C, of Fig. 2. a is its Head, b
its round Part, whereon the Harrow moves ; c is its
fquare Part, that prevents its turning, which by the
Motion of the Harrow would unfcrew the Nut d, and
caufe it to come off of the Screw e9 and be loft.

The Harrow is alfo fhewn in Fig. 1. as it is guided
by the Pieces before defcribed : B is its Head, that
holds the Tines D D, drawn by the Legs C C. Tho*
thefe Legs in Piano feem in their Middle to crook
fideways, yet when out of Perfpective, their Middles
crook only downwards 5 which is to give the greater
Length to the Tines, and the more room for them to
move up.

Fig. 5. is the Spindle in Three Parts . A is the mid-
dle Part, wherein are the Notches b b. This is bed
to be of Oak, or fome other hard Wood, in which
the Edges of the Notches are lefs apt to wear than in
fofter Wood ; but I have had a Set that have lafted
the Drilling of 120 Acres, when made of Aft. B
and C are the Two other Parts : D and E are their
Ends, whereon the Wheels are put. The Holes
h h h b9 and the fame in the other End under the
Letter E, are for fetting the Wheels at different Dis-
tances, in order for making new Notches, or for dif*
ferent-fized Ridges : The Wheels are held in their
Places by long Nails put through fome of thefe
Holes, and clenched upon the Iron Stock-bonds to
prevent their falling out. Thefe Ends B and C need
not be cut to a Square ; except juft enough to pre-
vent the Wheels from turning on the Spindle.

Thefe

APPENDIX. 419

Thefe Three Parts are grafted together by HeJp of
the hollow Cylinder Fig. 6. which, being put on upon
the Joint/, of the Spindle F/g-. 5. holds the Parts A
and B together by the Two Pins a a, paffing through
the Cylinder near its Ends, and through the Holes
k and g.

This Joint may be in another manner •, viz. One
Part of the Spindle may enter into the other by cut-
ting it to a fquare Peg of an Inch long, and 3«4ths
Diameter, entering an Hole that fits it, at the End
of the other Part.

Thefe Pins will be beft to have Screws at their
Ends with Nuts to them ; and then they need not be
io tight in the Holes, and may be the more eafily
taken out, when the Part B is to be taken off for
avoiding Obftructions in drilling an outfide Ridge.

The Cylinder is a Foot long, and about half an
Inch thick, bound with an Iron Ferrel at each End ;
and if there were another in the Middle, it might be
the ftronger.

Place the Cylinder on the Outfide of the Spindle,
the Joint/ being exactly againft the Middle of the
Cylinder -, and mark at each End of it, in order to
fee when it is in its right Place-, and after it is put on
and pinned, mark likewife on the Spindle the exact
Places of the Holes, for the more eafy finding them
every Time the Cylinder is put on.

Another Cylinder muft be on the Joint r, held to-
gether by Pins pafiing thro* the Holes i and d, in the
fame manner, and for the fame Purpofe, as the other
Joint already defcribed.

The Spindle ought to be of equal Diameter with
the Bore of the Seed-boxes, thro* which it is to pais;
but this I find, needs not be quite an Inch and 3-4ths ;
it may want an 8th of it, even in this long Spindle.

Fig. 7. is one of the Pins which hold the Cylinder

in its Place, as has been faid •, a is its Head ; b the

Stalk, which would be better to be a Screw at its

E e 2 lower

4ao APPENDIX.

lower End, whereon to fcrew a Nut; but then the

Stalk mult be fquare at the Head.

Fig. 8. is a Sheat with its Trunk and Share of the
Drill-plough, which has been defcribed in Plates 4.
and /;. but the Shape of the Share, as it rifes at the
Socket, is more plainly feen in this Figure.

Fig. 9. is the whole Wheat-drill, which at prefent I
ufe for planting the double Row. A is the Hopper,
rifing and finking on the fingle Standard B, which
holds it up. C is the thing like the Carrier of a Latch,
defcribed by Fig. 22. in Plate 4. I need fay no more
for defcribing this Drill, than to mew how it differs
from that defcribed in Plate 4. viz. This Hopper
has Two of thefe Carriers, the one near its Top, like
the others and another near its Bottom, which keeps
the Plough from rifing at either End, without the
ri{ing of either End of the Hopper, which is no In-
convenience here •, becaufe the Two Shares, being
but Ten Inches afunder, are almoft the lame as one;
fo that at the Diftance the Wheels (land from each
other, the rifing of one Wheel doth not lift up the
Share that is next to it perceptibly -, as it would do
if the Shares were farther afunder, or the Wheels
nearer together.

This Hopper holds twice as much Seed as the
fingle fore Hopper did, viz. half a Bufhel ; and is
divided into Two equal Parts by the Partition <?,
whereby the Driller fees whether the Seed is dif-
charged equally ; and if he perceives that one Part
of the Hopper runs out fafter than the other, he mufl
adjuft them by the Setting-fcrews.

The Funnels a a, which receive the Seed from the
Hopper, and convey it down into the Trunks c c,
appear under the Hopper, as doth alfo Part of the
Hole i, whereon the Funnel flood when the lore
Hopper was fingle. D mews the Cylinder upon the
grafted Spindle at one End, as F iliews where the
other End with its Cylinder and Wheel is taken off.
5 The

APPENDIX. 421

The Ends of the Piece A, which guide the Harrow,
appear behind the Plank at//. Atg in the Harrow-
head is a Hole exactly in the Middle between the
Tines, for tying on a Stone when the Harrow is too
light for the Soil. Note, This Hole muft follow ex-
actly after the Middle of the Plank, i. e. between the
Two Shares at an equal Diflance from each.

Obferve, that the Legs of this Harrow go thro*
the Head on the Outfides of the Tines, as in the
treble Drill they go thro' on the Infide of the Tines.
Inftead of the wooden Tines, may be put in com-
mon Iron Tines of a proper Length.

The Two Hooks whereby the Plough is drawn are
at h h. 'Tis bed for the Ends of the Hooks to turn
upwards, fo that the Links of the Chain-traces, that
are to be put on them, may not be apt to drop
off. Take care that thefe Traces be of an equal
Length, which may be eafily made even by the Links
that are put on thefe Hooks.

Note, The Links of the Piece of Chain, whereby
the Plough is made to go deeper or fhallower, may
be very fmall, and by no means in the Proportion
they bear to the Limbers in the Cut. There need not
be above Four or Five Links. If there be occafion
to raife or fink the Limbers more than that Number
will reach, the Cord may be tied longer or fhorter on
the other Limber. And when there is not the Con-
venience of Chain-traces, they may be fupplied by a
few Iron Links at the Ends of Hempen Traces.

Fig. 10. is the Shape of a wooden Wreath, which
(when the Shares ftand wider afunder, or when there
are more than Two of them, fo that they come nearer
to the Ends of the Plank, this Wreath) is neceffary to
be put on the Spindle, the End a bearing againft-the
Infide of the double Standards, and the End b being
towards the Hopper. 'Tis fixt to the Spindle by the
Screw c, which mould not enter the Spindle above
half an Inch deep. There may be another like Screw
E e 3 to

422 APPENDIX.

to enter in the fame manner on the oppofite Side of
this Wreath There muft be in this cafe another
Wreath the fame of this to bear againft the other
double Standards. And when thefe Wreaths are
ufed, the Hopper muft have only the upper Carrier
C ; the lower one muft be taken off. But in this our
Drill for planting Wheat, no Wreaths muft be on
the Spindle, except thofe at b b, which are to hold
the Hopper from moving endways. And thefe may
be of the Sort above defcribed, the End a bearing
againft the Hopper.

F'g. 1 1. is the Beam of the Hoe-plough defcribed
in Plate VI. Fig, 2. with no other Alteration than
leaving out the Hole H, and the pricked Line be-
tween it and the Hole I ; and changing the Hole G
into a Mortife. The pricked Line a b reprefents the
hinder Edge of the Plank, behind which appears a
very fmali Part of a Mortife. See ^.415, 416.

Fig. 12. is the Plank, which is Fig. 3. in Plate VI*
The Improvement of it in this Figure is defcribed in
p. 415, 416.

An Appendix to Chap. IX. of Wheat, p. 138. contain*
ing Memoranda for the Praclifers of this Hufbandry.

AT the Second Hoeing the Plough goes in the
Furrow of the Firft, making it deeper, and
nearer to the Wheat. The Third Hoeing fills up
this Furrow -, and then, at the Fourth Hoeing, the
Plough goes in the fame Place as the Second, turning
the Mould into the Interval. aTis remarkable that
though the Furrows of the Second and Fourth Hoe-
ings be deep, and near to the Rows, feeming to de-
prive the Wheat of the Mould which fhould nourifh
it, whereby one would imagine, that thefe Furrows
lying long open fhould weaken or ftarve it; yet it is
juft the contrary ; for it grows the more vigorous :
And it is the Obfervation of my Ploughmen, that

they

APPENDIX. 423

they cannot at thefe Hoeings go too near to the
Rows, unlefs the Plough fhould tear out the Plants.

If I may prefume to aflign the Caufe of this fur-
prifing Effect, it is, in my Opinion, the following •,
viz. This open Furrow has a double Surface of Earth,
which by the Nitre of the contiguous Atmofphere, is
pulverized to a great Degree of Minutenefs near the
Row. The Roots that the Plough cuts off on the
perpendicular Side of the Furrow, fend out new Fi-
bres to receive the Pabulum from this new-made Paf-
ture ; and alfo Part of this fuperfine Powder is con-
tinually falling down into the Bottom of the Furrow,
and there gives a very quick Growth to thofe Roots
that are next it, and a quick PafTage through it into
the Earth of the Interval, where they take likewife
the Benefit of the other Side of this pulverized Fur-
row. When it is faid, that Air kills Roots, it muft
not be underftood, that it kills a Plant, unlefs all, or
almolt all, its Root is expofed to it, as it is not in
this Cafe. Some think there are Roots that run ho-
rizontally below the Plough into the Interval ; but
of this I am not convinced.

sTis not often that we hoe above Four times ; and
then the Furrow is turned towards the Row at the
Third time only.

There being no Danger from thefe Furrows lying
long open, we are not confined to any precife Dif-
tance between the times of Hoeing, for which we
need only regard the Weather, the Weeds, and our
own Convenience of Opportunity and Leifure.

*Tis an Advantage when thefe Furrows lie open
on each Side of the double Row till Harveft ; for
then there need only Two Furrows to be plowed on
a Ridge to throw down the Partition in order for
planting the next Crop ; but if at the lad Hoeing
the Furrows are turned towards the Row, they mull
be plowed back again after Harveft before the Parti-
tion can be plowed : This requires double the time
E e 4

424 A P P E N D I X,

of the other ; and the fooner the Partitions are
plowed, the more time they will have to be pulve-
rized before they are replanted. Indeed this Advan-
tage is only when the Rows are to be planted where
they were the Year before-, for this is rather aDifad-
vantage when they are to be planted in the Intervals,
"Whether thefe Furrows lying long open next the
Rows in very hot dry Climates may be prejudicial^
cannot be known, but by Trials.

As from the external Superficies of an Acre of
Pafture on a rich Soil, Animals take more Pabulum
than of an Acre on a poor Soil ; fo Vegetables take
more Pabulum from the internal Superficies of a rich
Acre than of a poor one ; the Pulveration, or Su-
perficies of Parts, being equal. See p. 44, 45,
From whence there is no Encouragement for mak-
ing Trials on very poor Land.

'Tis no great Matter whether the Rows are drilled
on the Partitions, or the Intervals •, for the Crops of
a Field, Four Years fucceflively drilled on the Par-
titions, were very good. After the Partitions had
been plowed, and lam open till the Weather made
them pulverizable by the Harrows, and then turned
together by Furrows larger than thofe which opened
them, much Earth of the Intervals was mixed with
them. This is the ftrongeft and loweft Ground I
have ; and if there mould be much wet Weather
after Plarveft, it is fo long in drying, that we take
the firft Opportunity the Weather allows for planting
the Wheat, which is generally done in the above
manner\ becaufe it is the fhortefi ; but, without
fome fuch Reafon to the contrary, I prefer planting
the Rows on the precedent Intervals.

My Field, whereon is now the Thirteenth Crop of
Wheat, has (hewn that the Rows may fuccefsfully
ftand upon any Part of the Ground. The Ridges of
this Field were for the Twelfth Crop, changed from
Six Feet to Four Feet Six Inches : In order for this

Alteration,

APPENDIX. 42 j

Alteration, the Ridges were plowed down, and the
whole Field was plowed crofs-ways of the Ridges for
making them level ; and then the next Ridges were
laid out the fame way as the former, but One Foot
Four Inches narrower ; and the double Rows drilled
on their Tops, whereby of confequence there muft
be fome Rows (landing on every Part of the Ground,
both on the former Partitions, and on every Part of
the Intervals : Notwithstanding this, there was no
manner of Difference in the Goodnefs of the Rows,
and the whole Field was in every Part of it equal,
and the beft, 1 believe, that ever grew on it. It has
now the Thirteenth Crop, likely to be very good,
tho' the Land was not plowed crofs-ways.

The proper Times for Plowings and Hoeings de-
pending upon the Weather, and other Circumftances,
cannot be directed but by the Reafon and Experience
of the Practifer, as has been faid.

The Number of Ridges being increafed, as their
Breadth is now diminifhed, occafions fomewhat the
more Plough-work 9 we likewife ufe more Hand-
work than formerly; but the Profit of this increafed
Labour is more than double to the Expence of it.

The Decline of the Woolen Manufacture furnifhes
us at this time with Plenty of Hand-hoers and Weed-
ers; becaufe they can earn much more by working
in the Field than by Spinning at home.

'Tis betrer to make Fifteen Ridges on an Acre,
than to leave any Earth unmoved by the Hoe-plough
in the Middle. of the Intervals •, but when Plough-
men, by Practice, understand well to ufe the Hoe-
plough, they will plow the Intervals clean, tho' the
Ridges are only Fourteen on an Acre,

Bearded Wheat is in this Country called Cone, and
that which has no Beard Lammas. I obferved formerly
the Bread of White-cone had a little yellowifh Call,
which I now fufpect was from the Mill-ftones ; for I
have feen it be very white thefe many Years, fince

the

426 APPENDIX.

the Millers know better how to grind this Wheat.
Cone wheat Weftwards yields Six-pence a Bufhel more
than Lammas \ but towards London the contrary.

The Reafons why a whole Field of Wheat doth
not produce a Crop equal in proportion to a Yard or
Perch cut, rubbed out, and weighed immediately
upon the Spot, may be, becaufe the Grain of the
Field lying to fweat in the Mow, lofes confiderably
of its Weight and Meafure. There is alfo fome loft
in the Field by Reapers, and by Leafers *, and fome
is by Threfhers thrown out of the Barn ; and fome
of them are found to have Contrivances to carry
home with them at Night, Part of the Wheat they
threfh in the Day. I fay nothing of thofe Thieves,
who in Harveft rob the Field in the Dark; tho' they
are not very uncommon.

I miffed of making my propofed Experiment of
the fingle Row, after I had prepared for it by plow-
ing out one of the double in feveral Places for that
Purpofe *, but, in the Hurry of Harveft, they were
cut together with the reft, without making any Tri-
al; as mould have been made, if my Illnefs had not
prevented my Attendance in the Field at the time of
Reaping.

The Practice and Inftruments that are left off for
better in their room, as the Quadruple and Treble
Rows, &c. are ftill ufeful to be (hewn, in order to
deter others from going into an inferior Method that
is now exploded •, for fome might think it an Im-
provement of the double Rows, &c. by their own
Invention, if they fhould not know it had been al~
ready tried,

INDEX,

INDEX.

/JRtificial Pafture of Plants exceeds the Natural p. 27,

Atmofphere, by Rain and Dews, reimburfes the pulverized
Earth 7°> 127

B

Barley, a hoed Plant of it produced Fifty large Ears 65
Barley drilled on Ridges mull: be reaped 6$

But needs not be bound up in Sheaves - - ibid.
Barley is the worfe for Seed by being fown at Patney

240

Blight, the true Caufes of it - - 144, <bc.

Remedies againft the Blight * - 149, he.

Breajl-V lough infufftcient for Tillage of ftrong turfy Land

284
C
Change of Species of Plants not neceffary on account of dif-
ferent Nourifhinent - - - 217, he.
Change of the Individuals of fome Species of Plants, why
ufeful - _._-- 239
Clover, Broad, a Damage to Barley when fown amongft it

1 38

A Remedy againft it ibid.

Cytifus, why it cannot be {o great an Improvement in Eng-

land as St. Foin - • » - - 172

D

Dung, in what manner 'tis beneficial • 29, he.

Dungis-tfee Putrefaction of Earth altered by VeiTels 31

It may afford fome Warmth in Winter, but is fometimes

injurious by its Hollownefs 34

A confiderable Quantity of Dung is neceflary to the Old

Hufbandry, but not to the New - - 33

Pung, when reduced by a thorough Putrefaction, is next

to nothing - - - - - 275

Why Dung is not injurious to Corn, he. - 33

Pung,

428 INDEX.

Dung, why more beneficial to Turneps than to other
Plants 88

Grofs Dung, why it mould be prohibited the Kitchen-
Garden - - - 30, <bc*
E
Earth, the Price of a Foot of it, and of a Row 124, 125
Particles of Earth much more heterogeneous after pa/ling
Ve/Tels - - - - 237
Effluvia of Animal Bodies noxious - - 32
Equivocal Generation difproved * - 78, 79
Exhaufiion - - - - 270, 271

F
Food, or Pabulum of Plants, what it is • 15, (be,

Frojl, how it is advantageous - - 116

Furrow - - - - - 114

Furrows lying long open next the Rows of Wheat bene-
ficial; and the Caufe of it - 422, 423
G
Grafs, natural, why not killed by conftant Feeding 187

H

Harrowing, how injurious - - 46

Of harrowing Wheat-Ridges - 100, 101, 103

Heat, the very leafl: Degree of it hard to diftinguifh from the

very leafl Degree of Cold - - 34

Hills, Mr. Bradley's quibbling Arguments about them an-

fwered - - - - 248

Wet Hills made dry by plowing them crofs the Defcent

241 —247

Hoeing in general defined 47

Its Ufes and Benefit - - - 47 — 73

The Error of fanfying that Hoeing lets in the Drought 52

Hoed Plants do not impoverifh Land, as fown Plants do 7 1

Horfe-hoeing : Mr. Evelyn s Obfervation of an Orchard, kept

in Tillage, coming to Perfection in half the time of one

not plowed 57

Horfe-hoeing fupplies the Ufe of local Motion to Plants 64

It equals Dung - - - . - 70, 94, 269

Its Benefits difcovered by Change of Colour of the Plants

next to it - - - - • - 51

Companion of it with Hand-hoeing 49

Some general Directions for performing the Horfe-hoeing

Hufbandry 57, 6c. 114, 6c.

I

Interval, what it is - - - - - 61

Wide Intervals 72, 122, 6c.

The

INDEX. 429

The Reafon why Intervals may be narrower for Barley than

for Wheat 62

L J

Land ftrong and light ... 38, 6c.

No one Arable Land exceeds another above twenty times

in Richnefs 44

Land burnt becomes next to barren 40

Land without Cement is unfit for Tillage - 44

Land that is unfit for Horfe-hoeing - 72

Luferne defcribed - - - - 103

The Goodnefs of Luferne ... jfcj.

The AntientsSuperftition concerning it 194, 6c. 210, 6c.

Swelling of Cattle by eating Luferne when green 194

Why Luferne is more proper for the Hoeing Hufbandry

than the common Huibandry in England 199, 6c.

The Soil moil proper for Luferne - - 204

Directions about planting Luferne - 205, 6c.

Luferne decays as natural Grafs increafes amongft it 197,

6c. 213
M
Mints, feveral Experiments made on them - 8, 6c.
Qbfervation upon thofe Experiments, and Inferences from

them 11, 6c.

N
New and Old Hufbandry, the Differences between them

254, 6c.

Objections likely to prepofTefs People's Minds againft making
Trials of the Horfe-hoeing Hufbandry anfwered 64,

6c. 129, 6c.

P

Paftiire of Plants defcribed - - - 22, 6c.

How the Vegetable Pafture differs from the Vegetable

Pabulum ------ 22

The artificial Pafture of Plants vafUy exceeds the natural

27., 6c.
Plants, annual, that live the longeft, have moft need of hoe-

ing 92

They are more altered, as to their Growth, by Culture
than by Climate 204

There is no need to change the Species of Plants in Huf-
bandry, on account of their fuppofed different Nourifh-
ment - 214, 6c.

Dr. Woodward's Arguments for the vulgar Opinion in this
Matter anfwered - - . - 2I4> &Cw

9 Mr.

43<> INDEX.

Mr. Bradley's Arguments for the fame vulgar Opinion a~fi*
fwered ----- 222

Mr. Bradley's Arguments from the perpendicular Growth
of Plants anfwered - - 66, 6c. 228, 6c.

Why long tap-rooted Plants do not fucceed (o well after
one another, as they do after thofe that are not tap^
rooted ------ 232

Individuals of feverai Species (or Sorts) of Plants, are be-
neficially changed - - - 238, 6c.
Partition, what it is - - - - - 61

The Width of Partitions in the lateft Practice 108, 6c.
Ploughs - - - - - - 277, 6c,

Hoe-Plough 394, 6c.

Quick-lime for drying of brined Wheat to drill - 141

R

Ridges ; the Methods and Reafons for making them 24 1

Ridges of Six Feet, Reafons for leaving them off 108, 6c.

Roller, when injurious - - - • 46

Rooks, to prevent their Damage * - 107, 6c.

Roots, their Defcription - - - - 1, 6c.

Several Ways to difcover their horizontal Extent 2, 6c.

The Caufe of People's being deceived in the Extent of

Roots 5

Great Length of Roots neceflary, on account of their

Office 7

How Roots and Guts agree, and wherein they differ 6,

6c.
How Roots take in the Pabulum - - - 4 *
Roots have a Communication in all their Cavities 1 3

Roots fupply each other reciprocally with Water and Food

ibid.

Roots cannot eafily penetrate, unlefs the Land be opened

by Tillage ------ 6

The Rotting of the Roots of broad Clover, and St. Foin,
is a Manure to Land - - - - 234

Rows, the Inconveniencies of too many or too few on an Acre

122, 6c.
Reafons for leaving off the middle Row 108, 6c.

'Tis no great Odds whether the Rows of Wheat, 6c. Hand
on the precedent Partitions, or the Intervals 424

Rows too near, and mixed Crops, difcarded - 62
Single Row propofed for Smyrna Wheat 136, 6c.

Double, Treble, and even Quadruple Rows, are each
called One Row - - - - 62

SSt.

INDEX. 43t

V s

Sh Foin, its Defcription and Names - - 157

Directions for planting and ordering it - 1 59. 6c.
St. Foin, and other long tap-rooted Plants, fuffer more by
their Pafture's being overlooked, than other Plants do 1 67
Directions about St. Foin Hay - - 173, 6c*

Quantity of St. Foin on an Acre * - 186

Why St. Foin makes a forty times greater Crop on poor
Land, than its natural Grafs or Turf - 157

Directions for faving St. Foin Seed - 178, 6c.

Of feeding St. Foin by Sheep - - - 187

St. Foin Plants not killed by cutting off their Heads 188
St. Foin takes Nine Parts in Ten of its Nourifhment be-
low the Staple of the Land - - - 191
Of breaking up old St. Foin - - - 189
Great Improvement made on Arable Land by St. Foin

188, 6c.
Sarriiion - - - - - - 53, 6c.

Seeds, in their natural Climate do not degenerate 238, 6c
Caufes why Seeds, as to their Individuals, do degenerate

vbid.
How to know the moft proper Depth to plant all forts of

Seeds at 58, 6c.

Some forts of Seeds come in the Air, or by Birds 78

Sheep, how injurious to drilled Wheat - - 149

Smiittinefs of Wheat - - - - - 130

The Caufes of Smuttinefs ... "ibid.

The Cure of Smuttinefs ... ibid. <frCc

Srils differ chiefly in refpect of Heat and Moiflure 20, 21

A Soil can be exhaufted by nothing but Roots 276

There is no way for us to enrich a Soil but by Pulveration,

and keeping it from being exhaufted by Vegetables ibid.

Stratum : The Under Stratum of light Land may be richer

than that of ftrong Land - - ioi, 238,

T

Tillage beneficial to all Sorts of Land - 36, 6c.

Tillage can never make Land too fine - 44

Tillage of the low Vineyards - - 56, 6c.

Inefficient Tillage, how 'tis injurious 40

Tillage can pulverize as well as Dung - 35, 6c.

The Plough, in Field- tillage, why preferable to the Spade

280
The fame Quantity of Tillage will produce the fame Quan-
tity of Food, 6c. - - - 230, 6c.

Tranf*

432 I N D E X.

Tranffilanting • 4#

Trees, the Damage they do to Crops is by robbing, as Weeds

only ... 74

The Reafon why fome forts of Trees endure hard Winters

better in England than in Languedoc - 202

Trials unexpenfive propofed - - * 133, 6c*

Turneps, the Soil moft proper for them * * 79

Directions concerning them 80

Advantage of drilling and horfe-hoeing of Turneps ibid.

Several manners of fpending Turneps by Sheep 90

V
Veerings and Hentings - * - 123, isc.
•Vineyards owe their great Products to the Hoe-tillage ; and
from them the Author firft took his Scheme 56, isc.
W
Water ^ how injurious, and how beneficial, to Wheat 97
Weeds, their Definition - - - - - 73
Weeds pernicious in feveral refpects * ibid. isc.
Their Robbing proved by Experiment - 74
Why the Race of Weeds cannot be extirpated by the com-
mon Hulbandry 75

The Race of Weeds moft likely to be extirpated by hoeing

77
Weeds cannot be killed before they grow - 129

Wheat, why it requires hoeing more than Spring-Corn 92, isc.
Directions about drilling and hoeing of Wheat See Chap. ix»
How a Wheat-Crop is augmented - 119, isc.

Of feeding Wheat by Sheep - - 148, isc.

Wheat Ears will be large or fmall, in proportion to the
Nourifhment given to their Plants - - 119

Wheat-ears do not lodge, by reafon of their Weight

148, 149
Of weighing the Product of a Yard or Perch of a Row of

Wheat ' 129, 6t.

Cone Wheat and Lammas Wheat, their Difference 425
Smyrna Wheat - - - 104, 136, isc.

Of keeping of Wheat by drying it - - 131

Some Land unfit for Wheat - - - 117

The time proper for Hand-hoeing of Wheat - 132
Winter, what time is meant by it - - - 115

FINIS.