Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, first edition - Volume I, A-B.pdf/87

 A G R I C U L T U R E. 59 over, keep the harrows in their proper place. Others A light fpungy foil can hardly get too much harrowcouple the harrows in fuch a manner as to allow them ing ; for the more it is harrowed, it becomes the firiher. to go before and fall back of each other, and at the fame But if the foil be Hiff, the lefs harrowing it gets, the better, provided the purpofes propofed can be anfwered. time turn upon a hinge. When ftiff land is ploughed wet, it rifes in large The common method of harrowing after the feed is fown, is firfl along the ridges, then acrofs, and then apieces, which, when dry, become fo hard, that the long again. When the ridges are flat, they maybe harcommon harrows make no impreffiori on them. To rerowed either along or acrofs; and the work may be beduce this kind of land, a large harrow, called a break, gun or ended either way. But when the ridges are has been contrived. The break-harrow is fometimes made of the fame figure with the common harrow, and Heep, it is improper to begin by harrowing acrofs, befometimes in a triangular form. Both kinds are made caufe too much of the feed will be drawn into the furheavier or lighter according to the nature of the foil for rows. Which they are intended. Some of them are fo heavy as to require fix or eight cattle to draw them. But the Of the Roller. heavieft kind are very improper for land infefted with large faft Hones ; becaufe their weight hinders them from The roller is intended for fmoothing the furface, and flarting over the Hones; and therefore they are often in making the land firmer. Rollers are fometimes made of Hone, fometimes of wood, and fometimes of iron : but danger of being torn afunder by the cattle. There is another harrow, which, though little ufed, the only eflential difference of rollers lies in their weight. will be found to be very ufeful in many cafes. It is of As rollers, in different circumflances, require to be the fame form with the common harrow, but much lighter and heavier, they are generally confiru&ed fo broader. The bulls are at a greater diHance, and con- that their weight can Cither be augmented or diminiflied. fcquently' the teeth thinner placed ; the teeth are longer The common roller, in turning, is very fevere upon than thofe of the common harrow, but very little thick- the cattle, for it does not move on its axis, but is drager ; and thofe in the fore-part Hope forward. It is made ged along the furface. To remove this inconvenience, of fuch a weight as to be eafily drawn by a couple of a roller has lately been conflrufted with a divifion in the horfes. This harrow goes deeper, opens land better, middle, as if two rollers were joined together. In fcovers the feed deeper, and is more proper for tearing turning, both parts of this roller move round their axis, the one forward, and the other back. up roots than the common harrow. The French harrow is of a triangular form, with a joint near the angle, to which the draught is fixed. It Of Rolling. has two handles, by which it is either made to go deep br fhallow, as occafion requires. Its principal ufe is to Rolling is pradtifed with advantage, both on land level Heep ridges, which it does mod eflefiually. It is lying in grafs, and in tillage. It preffes down moledrawn acrofs the ridges: When, at the crown of the hills, fmooths the furface, and makes paHure-grafs Hool, ridge, by preffing on the handles, the harrow finks down, and grow thicker. and carries earth along with it to the furrows; and, Rolling upon land in tillage, not only fmooths the furWhen at the furrow*, by lifting up the handles, the har- face, but breaks clods that the harrow cannot reduce. row is brought out of the ground, and leaves the earth In a light foil, the roller fliould be applied immediately behind. This operation, however, is extremely impro- after the feed is fown; it is peculiarly ufeful to this fier, unlefs the land be in a very dry fituation, and not kind of foil, by condenfing and making it firmer. iable to be damaged by water. , Of Sowing. Of Harrowing. It is remarked by farmers, that the corn which is earHarrowing fmooths the furface, deHroys weeds, Jitfl fown is in general fooriefl ripe. However, as this and covers the feed after it is fawn. operation depends on the nature of the weather, and a When the intention of harrowing is to deHroy root- number other circumHances, no precife time can be weeds, the harrows fhould be drawn acrofs the ridges. fixed forofperforming it. However, if fuch weeds are not fully tofn up, the liar- The pradticC of fbwing oats, barley, &c. at rowing, by filling up the hollows, and defending the different times of the year, wheat, feems not to depend fo much toots from the drought, rather promotes their grov/th. on the different natures of thefe grains, on the inconFor this reafon, harrowing is improper for deilroying veniencies which would attend the fowingasthem at the root-weeds, excepting after a fpring-fallow, when the fame time. It may however be obferved, thatallwheat, land is foon after to be ploughed for feed. the only grain in this country which is fown before winBut the fmoother the furface is made, and the more be fown as early as poflible, that its roots and the mold is broke, the vegetation of the feed-weeds is ter, fhould may be put forth before the frofl comes on. the more effeftually promoted, and of courfe they are leaves niofl common method of fowing is by the hand. the more liable to be defiroyed by harrowing. If the Themethod requires great fkill and addrefs in the fower: feafon be favourable, the land may be harrowed feveral This lor, at the fame time that he gives his arm a circular times, and as many crops of weeds deflroyed. motion, to cafl the feed with Hrength, he mufl open his hand