Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, first edition - Volume I, A-B.pdf/77

 A G R I C U L T U R E. -Si 1 The fandy-fsll which is compofed of flinty particles, 'eafily receives- and tranfmits water; and confequently is Sect. IV. Of the Impediments to Vehot capable of containing a fufficient quantity for promogetation. ting the growth of plants: Its particles do not adhere, and is therefore unable to fupport plants that have few ■i. Weeds, as an Impediment to Vegetation. roots and grow high. Belides, it is firfjeptible of greater heat from the fun than any othgr foil, which is apt to Every vegetable that grows in afield, different from pare!*! the plants. As this foil contains no oil, it mult the particular plant that is intended to be cultivated, may be very defective in vegetable food; and, as it has no be called a vjeed. abforbent quality, it will receive but a fmall fupply from Weeds injure the plants we defire to cultivate, by robthe air. them of part of their nourifhment, and by preventing From the qualities of this foil, the manures moll pro- bing the fpreading of their roots. Some weeds, as quicken■per for it are eafily difeovered. = Clay will make it firmer, ing grafs, extend and interweave their roots in fuch a and enable it to retain the water; but clay contains litthat it is difficult to pulverife the foil by tillage. tle vegetable food. Dung will fupply it with the food manner It is therefore of great importance to the farmer to know of plants; but will not render it firm, or make it retain how may be dedroyed. Weeds are generally diwater, Mofs will help it to retain water, and fupply it videdweeds three claffes, viz. thofe that are propagated with vegetable food; but will not make it firmer. A by theinto feed mixture of clay and dung, or of clay and mofs,. feems and ffirubs. ; thofe that are propagated by the roots; therefore to be the moft proper manure for this foil. The qualities of a fandy foi,l compofed of broken that are propagated by fliclls, are-nearly the fame with thofe of the former Of deflroying Weeds Seed. kind. The only differences are, that it ferments with acids,- contains oil, and is capable of being' diflblved. Weeds are very different in their natures. Some, Hence this foil mud have h larger quantity of vegetable if prevented from vegetating,-die in a few years by lying food, andn xture muft alfo receive a greater fupply from the moid in the earth ; others will lie many years in this a clay, orforofthismofsfoil:andBut clay,if fituation, without lofing the power of vegetating. isir.-~.Aj likewHe ^ the mod^ dung-and proper manure The fird kind may be dedroyed, by turning the land any fubdance could be found that could reduce the par- infeded with them into graft Jor five or fix years; and ticles of the fliells to a date of puprefaftion, it would kinds may be rooted out by allowing them to vegebe preferable to any thing hitherto known for improving both tate, and then tearing up the young plants before they a foil of this kind. begin to flower. In order to promote the vegetation of the weeds that are intended to be dedroyed, the land ought to be well Of the Moffy Soil. ploughed; if a little dung, or other manure, be applied, Moss principally confids either of Jive or at lead the crop of" weeds will be increafed, and their dedrucuncorrupted vegetables. It mud therefore have fait and . tion will be rendered more general. oil in its compofition. It does not eafily putrefy, and Several weeds, as the thidle, dandelion, rag-weed, ire. prevents other bodies from putrefying. It fwells with . are furniffied with a kind of down, by which they float in the air, and are:carried to great didances by the wind. water like a fpunge, and does not eafily part with it. To render the mofly foil fit for nourifhing plants, the Farmers ffiould be as careful to root out all weeds of -vegetables in it mull be reduced to a date of putrefa&icn. this kind from the roots of hedges, banks of fences, <bc. This will not only fupply it with vegetable food, but as from their arable land; for although they may have Jikewife render it firmer, and make it more eafily part the appearance of being inoffendve in that fituation, they with water. Hence thole manure's which ferment mod are trarffported from thence in great quantities by the violently with acids, as the clay and done marles, feem wind into the adjacent fields. to be the mod proper for this foil. Thefe marles will There is another great fource of weeds, but too little not only raife a violent fermentation, but fill up the attended to by farmers. It is a general practice, to throw the feeds that are feparated from the corn in winpores, and make the foil more folid. When the mofs is nowing upon the dung-hill; and by this means they aredeep, or has not a folid bottom, lime is improper, becaufe it will foon penetrate beyond the reach of the carried out with the dung, and again fown upon the land. plough-; but, if it has a folid bottom, lime will anfwer very well. are propagated by It is improper to fow upon this foil till the fermen- Of deflroying Weedsthe that Rost. tation raifed by the manure is completely finilhed; for There are many different kinds of weeds propagated the violence of the fermentation fometimes throws the by the roots. Some of them infed land that is in tilfeeds, a (id even the roots, out of the ground. Frequent ploughings make the moffy foil run much lage, and others land that is in graft. into weeds; and from this circumdance, the praciice of Thole that infefi: land in tillage may be deftroyed by ploughing it but feidom is found to anfwer better. turning it into graft for fome years. This is the moff / effectual