Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/501

Rh heaped, so as to make those plants thrive with uncommon luxuriance. For a minute account of this operation, the reader will consult the work before quoted; where its superiority over Mr. 's horse-hoeing system is pointed out, and the subject illustrated with cuts.

The best season for hoeing good land is, two or three days after rain has fallen, or as soon after as the soil will notad herenot adhere [sic] to the hoe, when at work. Light, dry lands, indeed, may be dressed at almost any time; but the season for hoeing strong clay-soils, is very frequently short and precarious. Hence it will be useful to point out the proper juncture. There is a period between the time of the clay-soils running together so as to form puddles, in consequence of superfluous moisture, and that of their consolidating into hard cakes from great drought; when they are sufficiently tractable. This is the proper season; and whatever land is then hoed, will not cake together, till it has been again penetrated by rain; in which case the operation is to be repeated at the time just mentioned, and as often as is necessary, till the growing crop begins to cover the soil; when it will in a manner screen the surface of the land against the intense heat of the sun; and consequently in a great measure prevent the inconveniencies attendant on the consolidation of the soil, during dry weather.

By this successive hoeing, the land will be brought into a high state of improvement; and, if the weather prove favourable, good crops will be obtained, while, by a contrary practice, the soil is rendered useless; and, from the stagnation of the water, becomes a public nuisance.  HOG, or Sus, L. a genus of animals consisting of six species, the most remarkable of which is the scrofa, or Common Hog. Its body is covered with bristles, and it has two large teeth, both in the upper and lower jaw. In a wild state, this creature is of a dark brinded colour, and beneath the bristles is a short soft hair; its ears are more diminutive than those of tame hogs, which are long, sharp-pointed, and hang down; the colour of the latter is generally white, though sometimes mixed with other shades.

The hog is proverbially the most rude and brutal of quadrupeds; its habits are gross, and such is its gluttony, that it devours every thing indiscriminately. But, though it be the most impure and filthy of animals, its sordidness is useful, inasmuch as it swallows with avidity, refuse and offal of every kind, so that matters which would become a nuisance, are converted into the richest nutriment.

Sows generally breed at the age of 18 months, or two years, and bring forth from five to ten or more pigs, twice in the year, after a gestation of four months.

As hogs, from their voracious nature, will eat almost every thing, they are very generally reared in all situations, being quickly and cheaply fattened.—In miry and marshy grounds, where they delight to wallow, they devour frogs, fern, the roots of rushes, sedge, &c. In the drier countries, they feed on hips, haws, sloes, crabs, beech-mast, chesnuts, acorns, &c. on the last of which they thrive exceedingly. Of late years, however, the management of these animals has become an object of attention. Clover, potatoes, turnips, cabbages,