Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/83

65&#93; LAN Ground, thus rpanaged, has been found to be wel] calculated for buck-wheat ; — the expence of ma- nuring it with clay, or marl, varies from 2l. to 41. per acre, according to the distance at which those sub- stances are carried from the pits. In the 13 th vol. of the Transac- tions of the Society for the Encou- ragement of Arts, &:c. JVIr. Rich. E.AMSDES Bramley communicates the most beneiicial method of cul- tivating meadow or pasture land, that is over-run with coarse grasses, or which is either naturally, or has from neglect become, rough and uneven. — The first process he states to be paring, after which a small trench should be dug, in which a row of pota toe- sets may be planted, and slightly covered with the sods, serving as a nourishment to the rising crop, while they greatly con- tribute to form a light soil. The ground is next to be com- pletely cleaned by ploughing, har- rowing, &c. ; then sown either with oats or barley in the ensuing" spring} after which sixteen bushels of hay, and ten pounds of clover- seeds per acre, should be uniformly Scattered, and harrowed in. Thus, the soil will be rendered very fertile for the culture of corn, or other grain; and Mr. Bramley adds, that the paring and digging (which cost upon an average about 31. 12s. per acre) ijfford so decided an ad- vantage to the crop, as amply to compensate tor the additional ex- pence : besides, the land will after- wards be ready for cabbages, car- rots, or onions, in case such crops should be wanted ; and, if there be any inequalities in the ground, they will, by thii management, be speedi- ly remedied. For the most efFe»5lual metliod •f breaking up and mejigratjng KO. IX.— VOL. Ill, LAN [65 marshy, or moorish soils, the reader will consult the articles Marsh and Moor. In the year l/Og, a patent was granted to a Mr. Hayes, for bis invention of various machines or implements for agricultural pur- poses, upon a new construction. These are applicable to the tillage and culture of every kind (f soil ^ but, as they are too numerous to be detailed here, and as the manufac- ture of them is confi ned to the paten- tee, ^ve purposely omit their specifi- cation, and refer the inquisitive reader to the 12th vol. of the Eeper- tory of Arts, &-. where the various articles are minutely described, and illusbrated by an engraving. LAND-DITCHING, or Hol- low-draining, is practised chief- ly in the counties of Essex and Hertford. It consists in diogiiiij both mam and side--drain5, similar to those generally adopted in drain- ing land : the former are usually made from 22 to 24 inches, the latter from 20 to 22 inches, in depth. The soil is previously ploughed ; and the length to which the main drains may be protracted, without a vent, depends upon the situation of tlic land : when it has a regular declivity, the most pro- per method will be to carry olf as much water as possible, by means of side-drains ; but, if the ground be irregular, it will be requisite to form additional main-drains, so that every advantage may be derived from the vailies, into which the latter must often be conduced to a considerable extent. The length of the side-drains varies according to the elevadon of the soil : in general, they need not be more than one rod apart from each other ; though, in very loose or porous grounds, they may be F ' du2