Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/500

468] by which it is accommodated to the height of the hands of the person drawing, and room is allowed for the movement of a wheel.

The farther end of the opposite beam is held by another person, who guides the hoe, and regulates the depth to which it penetrates the ground, while he at the same time assists its action by pushing it forward. The fore-end of this beam is also divided so as to admit a wheel to run between the sides, which serves to adjust the depth, and to ease the draught, in working the implement.

Mr. M''s hoes are made of cast-iron, and fixed in a mortice in the hinder beam, by means of a proper wedge: they may be made of different forms or dimensions, in proportion as is required by the peculiar nature of the work.

The design of this contrivance is to clear land from weeds, and to loosen the soil in the intermediate spaces of pulse or grain, sown in equi-distant rows, while the plants are at the same time sufficiently earthed up, in consequence of which they vegetate with increased luxuriance.

It is calculated to effect these objects in an eminent degree, and, from the simplicity of its construction, and the facility with which it is worked, it claims the attention of enlightened agriculturists.  HOEING, or, in the drill-husbandry, is the breaking or dividing of the soil by tillage, while the corn, or other plants, are growing; it differs from the common mode of cultivation, which is always performed before the grain, &c. is sown, and is far more beneficial to the crop than any other method.

Horse-hoeing is practicable only on lands that are easily ploughed; and it is from inattention to this circumstance, that it has not been attended with success, and has, in many parts of England, fallen into contempt.

Having already, p. 171 of this volume, described Mr. 's ingenious horse-hoe, and given ample directions for its use, we shall, in this place, mention only such implements as have not been specified in the article, and which merit particular notice.

A horse-hoe on a new plan was contrived a few years since by the ingenious Mr., whose inventions we have had frequent occasion to mention. It is made wholly of iron (including the carriage); and consists of two common plough-shares, which work from twenty to twenty-four inches of ground in breadth, accordingly as they are winged. These are fixed by means of wedges into a twisted beam, and the whole is put together with such strength, that they may be worked with four horses, at any depth required. Mr. applies his hoe to various purposes, but chiefly to the eradicating of pea, bean, and other stubbles, in order to prepare them for the plough; and so effectually does the implement answer, that the corn may be sown, even though the soil should not have been previously ploughed.

In the 2d vol. of Dr. 's Recreations in Agriculture, we meet with an account of an improved method of horse-hoeing; which is stated to be performed in the most perfect manner, merely by the aid of a double-mould-board-plough. It is particularly calculated for the clearing of weeds, &c. from cabbages, round which the earth is heaped,