Capital TTo a Workman, who would make these Instruments, I would add the following Directions.

The First thing to be done for making the Drill, is to place half a Sheet of Paper to the Back of Plate 2. by pasting it on to its Margin; and likewise another half Sheet to Plate 3. in the same manner.

Then with a Needle prick through all the Out-lines of A, B, C, and D, in Fig. 2. which will mark out both Sides, and both Ends of the Mortise of the Turnep Drill-box. Also prick through the Out-lines of the great Hole in the middle of A, and of the elliptical Hole in B. Also prick the little Hole at E, in A; and at F, in B. Prick through the prick’d Line p q, in B; which is the Line to which the Setting-screw Fig. 6. or Fig. 12. that is to pass through the Hole in C, must be parallel.

When the Paper is taken off, cut out of it the said A, B, C, and D, by the Pricks made by the Needle.

Then cut the same in Pastboard, by laying these Pieces of Paper thereon (because Pastboard, being stiffer than Paper, will be more fit for the Use). Draw a Line with Ink on the pricked Line, p q.

The Hole in C must be something larger than in the Cut, because the Setting-screw must be so, being best to be of Brass, which is less apt to rust than Iron, of which Metal it was formerly made; but Brass, being weaker, requires the more of it to equal the Strength of Iron.

The Wreath, Fig. 14. is not necessary, because the Slider, Fig. 15. is sufficient without it; but then care must be taken, that the Edges of its Claws A B, which rub against the Cylinder of E, in Fig. 9. be taken off, to prevent their cutting it. This Slider is sometimes made of Brass, and sometimes of Iron.

Thus the Workman will have the Sides and Ends of the Turnep-mortise, which make the Whole of it, whereby he may make it exactly in soft Wood.

Fig. 7. called the inner Cylinder, being put into the Cylinder A, of the Steel Tongue, Fig. 4. whereby the Holes for the Axis of the Tongue, being the lower from the Top of the Mortise, do not only secure the Edges of the Mortise from breaking out, but also give room for the Flanches B, C, in Fig. 9. to be made to reach as far forwards as the Axis of the Tongue, and farther: Hereby the Hole, in the Bottom of the Hopper, may be as wide at the fore End, as at the pricked Line at the Letter B.

The Notches in the Spindle, Fig. 5. seem to appear deeper than is usual for Turnep-seed; but I remember I have drilled Furze-seed with a Turnep-drill without altering the Notches. As for the Shape of these Notches, they are so fully described in Fig. 6. and Fig. 8. of Plate 3. that I can add nothing to that Description; only that those being for the Wheat-drill, the Size of Notches for the Turnep-drill must be lesser in some proportion to the lesser Size of the Seed.

For making the Wheat-drill do the same as for the Turnep-drill. The Fig. 3. in Plate 2. is one Side of the Mortise, by which must be made Two in Pastboard. Fig. 10. in Plate 2. and Fig. 9. in Plate 3. are the Two Ends of it.

The Cover that prevents the Wheat from falling down on the hinder Side of the Spindle, is one intire Piece of Brass, which is marked B in Fig. 3. of Plate 3. but the Shape of it, with its Hole whereby it is held in by a Screw, is only seen in the Side, Fig. 3. of Plate 2. and there described by pricked Lines; and by pricking through them, the Shape of the End of the Cover may be taken, which Cover is of the same Shape from End to End.

The Joyner who cannot by these Additions, and the Explanations of the Plates, make these Drills in Wood, doth not deserve the Name of a Workman.

When he has once made them whole, he can easily make them in Halves like Fig. 8. in Plate 2.

By these Halves the Founder will make his Moulds proper for casting them in the best Brass. But in these Halves for Casting, there must be no other Holes, but the great Holes, and the Hole for the Setting-screw.

The great Hole in the Mould must be largest at E, in Fig. 9. Plate 2. and lesser in the Inside in Fig. 8. for as it must be of a conical Shape for making the Core, if it should be cast bigger within, when the Whitesmith bores it (as he must) to an exact Cylinder, the End E would be in Danger of bursting by the Force of the Boring, as it is much thinner than in the Mortise. And besides this, if there should be any little Flaw in the Edges of the Hole within the Mortise (which the Founder must avoid as much as possible), it may perhaps be bored out by means of the Hole’s being less there. The Hole must be something less in the Mould than its proper Size, even where it is largest; else it may happen, that in boring it to a true Cylinder it may become too big. And I believe, in the Cooling of the Brass, the Hole grows bigger as the Spindle grows less.

For the Hole of the Setting-screw, lay on upon the dark Part of Fig. 8. one of the Pastboard-sides; and from the black Line p q, draw a Line coincident to it as on the Brass, for making the half Hole A by; and the other Half of it on the opposite Half-side.

These Pastboards will be very useful to the Whitesmith, for directing him to find the Places where the Holes for the Axis of the Tongue, and those for screwing the Two Halves of the Mortise together, are to be made. I advise against boring the great Hole with a Tool (a Bit) with more than Four Edges; for it would be apt to tear the Brass.

The great Hole of the Turnep-drill is bored with Tools like those wherewith a Gun is bored. But the Wheat-drill is bored with a Screw-stock, whose Edges are made sharp for that Purpose, and may be set wider or narrower at Pleasure: It is put into the Hole along with an half-round Piece of Wood, the lower End of the Stock being set fast in a Vice: The whole Seed-box (for it must always be screwed together before it is bored), being put on the End of the Stock (made taper a little way for entering), is turned round it by a long wooden Spanner, which hath a Notch in the middle of it, to receive the whole Seed-box, in order to bore it by turning it round upon the Stock.

The Brass ought to be of the best Sort, which will be easy to file, and yet not mix with baser Metal.

The Seed-boxes may be cast whole by these Moulds; but I prefer those that are screwed together, for several Reasons, which I have not time now to write.

There is a Turnep Seed-box come to my Hands that was made by Pretenders; I wish it is the only one made in the same manner; for it is useless; the Notches in the Spindle are much shorter than the Breadth of the Mortise; at each End of the Notches is a deep Chanel (as deep as the Bottom of the Notches) quite round the Spindle, instead of a Mark, which should be but just visible for cutting the Notches; and instead of a tender Steel Spring, there is a strong Piece of Iron without Elasticity. By means of this Iron, the Machine grinds the Seed, instead of drilling it.

What I shall here add concerning the Wheat-drill, is some Alterations in Fig. 21. of Plate 4. viz. The fore Share and Sheat must be left out for drilling Wheat, up more middle Rows being used. And the Two Beams B B in the Plough, Fig. 1. must be set to make Chanels Ten Inches asunder. And the double Hopper, Fig. 15. must be set nearer together, so as the Seed may fall into the middle of the Funnels of the Beams.

Tho’ there is no Necessity of Marking-wheels for guiding the Drill-horse upon Ridges; yet they are very useful for holding the Drill steady, and to prevent its tottering, which without the Marking-wheels, and the fore Hopper, it is apt to do, when the Shares stand so near together as Ten Inches; and on a narrow Ridge one of the hinder Wheels might run off to the Furrow, and draw the Shares after it, if the Drill were not kept steady by the Marking-wheels, and by their Hopper, which takes hold of the single Standard by Fig. 22. as is seen in Fig. 21. in Plate 4. But there should not be so much room in it on each Side of the Standard, left the Plough by that means should have too much room to totter, now the Shares are so near together.

The Marking-wheels must be set at the Distance of the Breadth of Two Ridges, which, as we now make them, is about Nine Feet and an half from Wheel to Wheel.

The Brass Box may be taken out of the fore Hopper: And tho’ that Hopper be of no Use to the double Row, except as is abovesaid; yet if there should be Occasion to press the Marking-wheels deeper into the Ground for keeping the Plough the more steady in its Course, it may be usefully filled with Earth, or other Matter, sufficient for that Purpose. And besides, it may serve to plant Three Rows of St. Foin, when the fore Share and Sheat are put in, and the Beams and hinder Hopper set a Foot or Eighteen Inches wider, and the Marking-wheels at their due Distance, as is directed in the Essay. Thus the same Drill may plant Wheat and St. Foin.

A Drill for the double Rows might be made with a single hinder Hopper, instead of the double one. And there is a Contrivance to supply the Use of the fore Hopper for keeping the Plough steady, and more easy to make than that Hopper; but this cannot be described by Words without Cuts.

The Lime wherewith the brined Wheat is dried, receiving some of the Salts from the Brine, will stick in the Notches of the Spindle; yet never makes any Stoppage to their Delivery of the Seed; but every Year we clean the Notches from the Lime with a Chissel, and, if it were done oftener, it would not be amiss.

There is an Accident that may possibly happen, but never to a careful Driller; viz. a large Clod may some way be thrown into a Funnel of the Beam of the Plough, either by a Wheel, or by the Paddle that cleanses the Sheats from the Dirt that sticks to them when the Earth is wet. This may stop the Wheat from falling out of the Funnel into the Trunk; and then, so far as the Plough, goes thus stopped, the Chanel will have no Seed in it; but the Driller that follows may take it out immediately, which if he should neglect to do for never so little a Distance, he ought to stop the Plough whilst he supplies the Chanel with Seed from his Hand as far as it is empty. When there is any Danger of this, as in very rough cloddy Ground, it is best to take off the Drill-harrow, to the end that the Chanel may lie open for receiving the Seed from the Hand. But if the Ends of the Hopper reach below the Funnels, and they are otherwise defended, as they may be, this Accident can never happen.

When the Drill-harrow is taken off, the best way for taking up the Plough to turn it, is to bore a Hole of about half an Inch Diameter in the End of each Beam behind the Funnels, and fasten a Withe into these Holes; by which Withe the Driller very conveniently takes hold with one Hand, and lifts up the Plough, laying his other Hand on the Hopper to keep it steady. This Method of taking up the Plough hath been often used for the Wheat-drill, and for the Turnep-drill; and in the latter the Hole in the one Beam holds the Withe as well as do the Two Holes in the former.

There are new Editions of some of these Engines, which cannot be fully described without more Plates; but since those already described are found by Experience to be sufficient for the Purposes they were designed for, new Editions of them are not necessary, tho’ convenient in many respects.

Reason will easily make Additions to the Instruments when they are necessary; as when more than one Brass Spindle is to be turned by one or each Wheel for planting Clover amongst Barley after it is come up. ’Tis done by a very light Plough, drawn by a Man: It plants Four Rows at once Eight Inches asunder: The Shares are very short and narrow, and so are the Sheats and Trunks. ’Tis not difficult to put on a Crank at the other End of the Brass Spindle, in the same manner that the Handle that winds up a Jack is put on, and to fasten it at the Hole at I in Fig. 5. of Plate 2. This Crank must, at its first turning, before it turns up towards the Letter H, of the same Fig. be long enough to reach to within an Inch of the Fork of the Second Spindle. Thus each Wheel may turn several Spindles, and then this Drill may plant many Rows of Seeds at once.

When you plant Rows nearer together than Eight Inches, it is best that the Plough have Two Ranks of Shares and Hoppers, else the Earth may be driven before the Shares; but with Two Racks of them, they will not be more apt to drive the Earth before them in making Rows at Four Inches asunder, than at Eight, when there is only a single Rank of Shares.

But I think this near Distance of Four Inches cannot be proper for any Sort of Seeds, except Flax-seed; and even for that Seed not necessary. If the Land be made fine, a single Rank of Shares will go very well to plant Rows at Seven Inches asunder.

I had formerly a Drill-Plough for drilling across very high round Ridges for Hand-hoeing, where Horse-hoeing is impracticable: It had no Limbers; but it had little Ground-wrists to make open Chanels, and had Handles behind it, whereby the Driller raised up the Tail of the Plough, when it was passing the Summit of the Ridge. There were neither Funnels nor Trunks; for these would hinder the Seed from falling into the Chanels, both by the Plough’s going up and down the Ridge. The Hopper was drawn by the Plough in such a manner, that in passing all Parts of the Ridge the Wheels were not raised from the Ground: The Chanels were equally supplied with Seed throughout: It planted Four Rows at once, at a Foot asunder. I used this Drill-Plough 30 Years ago in Oxfordshire: I have no such Ridges here, nor consequently any Occasion of such an Instrument; and did not make Cuts of it, because it is not useful for Horse-hoeing. I only mention it here for the Benefit of those who have a mind to plant such Ridges regularly with an Engine: I hope their own Reason will enable them to contrive such a Plough, especially now they have the manner of making the Drill, Hopper, &c. shewn to them.

I have made a very material Addition to the Hoe-Plough, of Plate 6. viz. At the fore End of the Beam Fig. 2. is the Hole I, by which alone let the Plough be drawn, leaving out the Hole H; instead of the Hole G make a Mortise, Three or Four Inches long, and as broad as the Thickness of the Iron Pin, the End and Nut of which are seen at C, in Fig. 1. This Pin should be more than half an Inch Diameter, and square at that End that goes into the Mortise; let the hinder End of the Mortise just appear behind the Plank, when the Beam is at right Angles with it.

By means of this Mortise there may be many more Holes through the Plank without Danger of splitting into one another the Holes in the Beam, which must answer those in the Plank.

Draw many Lines from the Middle of the foremost Hole of the Plank to the hinder Edge of it, at (suppose) a quarter of an Inch from one another there; and then bore a Hole in that Part of each Line that is least apt to break into the next Hole to it.

Every System of Holes in the Plank will have like Benefit of being increased in their Number by the Convenience of this Mortise; without which it is impossible to have so great Variety of turning the Point of the Share to make the Share go parallel to the Horse-path.

The Board described in p. 403. we now use very seldom in Hoeing of Wheat.

Explanation of Plate VII.

Fig. 1. shews the Plank and the Harrow of the latest and best Drill-plough, most simple, and accommodated to the present Practice of planting double Rows.

A is the Plank, with all its Mortises and Holes; b is the Mortise into which the Tenon of the fore Sheat of the Drill-plough, for planting treble Rows, was fastened; d is the square Hole for receiving the Seed from a Hole of the same Shape and Size in the Bottom of the Funnel.

When the Sheat is taken out of the Mortise b, and another Sheat is made exactly the same with that, place them in the Mortises a a, and make the Two square Holes c c behind them, for their Funnels to stand on. Make the Mortise e, which is to hold the single Standard that is to hold up the fore Hopper in the treble Drill, and in this to guide the Wheels also, instead of Wreaths, that in the treble Drill are put on the Spindle bearing against the Insides of the double Standards; for in this the Shares being but Ten Inches asunder, and at such a Distance from each of the Wheels, that neither of them doth by rising lift up a Share perceptibly; but if the Shares were wide asunder, or there were more of them reaching nearer to the Ends of the Plank, a Wheel might rise up, and lift a Share out of the Ground, if guided by the single Standard and Hopper, as in this. The single Standard is shewn in Plate 4. Fig. 10. but this has no Fork at its Bottom, as that has. This has only a single Tenon, and is shouldered before, behind, and on each Side, to hold it the more firm and steady, when tightly pinned down by Two Pins underneath the Plank. The Dimensions of this Standard are the same with those of the other; but the Shoulders must not increase the Thickness of the Standard any higher than the Tops of the Funnels.

The Four other square Holes, viz. f with another behind it, and g with one before it, are for the double Standards, which are to be well shouldered, or braced on the Side of each that is next to the End of the Plank, and on the Outside. There is no need of Shoulder or Brace on the Sides where the Spindle is placed, or on the Side next to the Middle of the Plank.

The Four round Holes h i k l are those thro’ which the Four Pins pass that hold on the Limbers, and the Piece A, in Fig. 2. and the other of the same Sort in Fig. 4.

Fig. 2. and 4. shew how the Harrow’s Leg B is held to the Piece A, by the Pin C. The Letters a b shew the Holes through which the Pins do pass to screw the Piece A up to the Plank, and the Limbers for guiding the Harrow. This Piece A is somewhat longer than the Breadth of the Plank; it is about Two Inches thick, and Two and an half in Depth. The Pin Fig. 3. goes through this Piece near the Bottom of its fore End, whereby the Harrow tines have the more room to rise up, without being held down by the Legs pressing against the Plank.

Fig. 3. is the Pin C, of Fig. 2. a is its Head, b its round Part, whereon the Harrow moves; c is its square Part, that prevents its turning, which by the Motion of the Harrow would unscrew the Nut d, and cause it to come off of the Screw e, and be lost.

The Harrow is also shewn in Fig. 1. as it is guided by the Pieces before described: B is its Head, that holds the Tines D D, drawn by the Legs C C. Tho’ these Legs in Plano seem in their Middle to crook sideways, yet when out of Perspective, their Middles crook only downwards; which is to give the greater Length to the Tines, and the more room for them to move up.

Fig. 5. is the Spindle in Three Parts. A is the middle Part, wherein are the Notches b b. This is best to be of Oak, or some other hard Wood, in which the Edges of the Notches are less apt to wear than in softer Wood; but I have had a Set that have lasted the Drilling of 120 Acres, when made of Ash. B and C are the Two other Parts: D and E are their Ends, whereon the Wheels are put. The Holes h h h h, and the same in the other End under the Letter E, are for setting the Wheels at different Distances, in order for making new Notches, or for different-sized Ridges: The Wheels are held in their Places by long Nails put through some of these Holes, and clenched upon the Iron Stock-bonds to prevent their falling out. These Ends B and C need not be cut to a Square; except just enough to prevent the Wheels from turning on the Spindle.

These Three Parts are grafted together by Help of the hollow Cylinder Fig. 6. which, being put on upon the Joint f, of the Spindle Fig. 5. holds the Parts A and B together by the Two Pins a a, passing through the Cylinder near its Ends, and through the Holes k and g.

This Joint may be in another manner; viz. One Part of the Spindle may enter into the other by cutting it to a square Peg of an Inch long, and ³⁄₄ths Diameter, entering an Hole that fits it, at the End of the other Part.

These Pins will be best to have Screws at their Ends with Nuts to them; and then they need not be so tight in the Holes, and may be the more easily taken out, when the Part B is to be taken off for avoiding Obstructions in drilling an outside Ridge.

The Cylinder is a Foot long, and about half an Inch thick, bound with an Iron Ferrel at each End; and if there were another in the Middle, it might be the stronger.

Place the Cylinder on the Outside of the Spindle, the Joint f being exactly against the Middle of the Cylinder; and mark at each End of it, in order to see when it is in its right Place; and after it is put on and pinned, mark likewise on the Spindle the exact Places of the Holes, for the more easy finding them every Time the Cylinder is put on.

Another Cylinder must be on the Joint c, held together by Pins passing thro’ the Holes i and d, in the same manner, and for the same Purpose, as the other Joint already described.

The Spindle ought to be of equal Diameter with the Bore of the Seed-boxes, thro’ which it is to pass; but this I find, needs not be quite an Inch and ³⁄₄ths; it may want an 8th of it, even in this long Spindle.

Fig. 7. is one of the Pins which hold the Cylinder in its Place, as has been said; a is its Head; b the Stalk, which would be better to be a Screw at its lower End, whereon to screw a Nut; but then the Stalk must be square at the Head.

Fig. 8. is a Sheat with its Trunk and Share of the Drill-plough, which has been described in Plates 4. and 5. but the Shape of the Share, as it rises at the Socket, is more plainly seen in this Figure.

Fig. 9. is the whole Wheat-drill, which at present I use for planting the double Row. A is the Hopper, rising and sinking on the single Standard B, which holds it up. C is the thing like the Carrier of a Latch, described by Fig. 22. in Plate 4. I need say no more for describing this Drill, than to shew how it differs from that described in Plate 4. viz. This Hopper has Two of these Carriers, the one near its Top, like the other; and another near its Bottom, which keeps the Plough from rising at either End, without the rising of either End of the Hopper, which is no Inconvenience here; because the Two Shares, being but Ten Inches asunder, are almost the same as one; so that at the Distance the Wheels stand from each other, the rising of one Wheel doth not lift up the Share that is next to it perceptibly; as it would do if the Shares were farther asunder, or the Wheels nearer together.

This Hopper holds twice as much Seed as the single fore Hopper did, viz. half a Bushel; and is divided into Two equal Parts by the Partition e, whereby the Driller sees whether the Seed is discharged equally; and if he perceives that one Part of the Hopper runs out faster than the other, he must adjust them by the Setting-screws.

The Funnels a a, which receive the Seed from the Hopper, and convey it down into the Trunks c c, appear under the Hopper, as doth also Part of the Hole d, whereon the Funnel stood when the fore Hopper was single. D shews the Cylinder upon the grafted Spindle at one End, as F shews where the other End with its Cylinder and Wheel is taken off. The Ends of the Piece A, which guide the Harrow, appear behind the Plank at f f. At g in the Harrow-head is a Hole exactly in the Middle between the Tines, for tying on a Stone when the Harrow is too light for the Soil. Note, This Hole must follow exactly after the Middle of the Plank, i. e. between the Two Shares at an equal Distance from each.

Observe, that the Legs of this Harrow go thro’ the Head on the Outsides of the Tines, as in the treble Drill they go thro’ on the Inside of the Tines. Instead of the wooden Tines, may be put in common Iron Tines of a proper Length.

The Two Hooks whereby the Plough is drawn are at h h. ’Tis best for the Ends of the Hooks to turn upwards, so that the Links of the Chain-traces, that are to be put on them, may not be apt to drop off. Take care that these Traces be of an equal Length, which may be easily made even by the Links that are put on these Hooks.

Note, The Links of the Piece of Chain, whereby the Plough is made to go deeper or shallower, may be very small, and by no means in the Proportion they bear to the Limbers in the Cut. There need not be above Four or Five Links. If there be occasion to raise or sink the Limbers more than that Number will reach, the Cord may be tied longer or shorter on the other Limber. And when there is not the Convenience of Chain-traces, they may be supplied by a few Iron Links at the Ends of Hempen Traces.

Fig. 10. is the Shape of a wooden Wreath, which (when the Shares stand wider asunder, or when there are more than Two of them, so that they come nearer to the Ends of the Plank, this Wreath) is necessary to be put on the Spindle, the End a bearing against the Inside of the double Standards, and the End b being towards the Hopper. ’Tis fixt to the Spindle by the Screw c, which should not enter the Spindle above half an Inch deep. There may be another like Screw to enter in the same manner on the opposite Side of this Wreath. There must be in this case another Wreath the same of this to bear against the other double Standards. And when these Wreaths are used, the Hopper must have only the upper Carrier C; the lower one must be taken off. But in this our Drill for planting Wheat, no Wreaths must be on the Spindle, except those at b b, which are to hold the Hopper from moving endways. And these may be of the Sort above described, the End a bearing against the Hopper.

Fig. 11. is the Beam of the Hoe-plough described in Plate VI. Fig. 2. with no other Alteration than leaving out the Hole H, and the pricked Line between it and the Hole I; and changing the Hole G into a Mortise. The pricked Line a b represents the hinder Edge of the Plank, behind which appears a very small Part of a Mortise. See p. 415, 416.

Fig. 12. is the Plank, which is Fig. 3. in Plate VI. The Improvement of it in this Figure is described in p. 415, 416.

An Appendix to Chap. IX. of Wheat, p. 138. containing Memoranda for the Practisers of this Husbandry.

At the Second Hoeing the Plough goes in the Furrow of the First, making it deeper, and nearer to the Wheat. The Third Hoeing fills up this Furrow; and then, at the Fourth Hoeing, the Plough goes in the same Place as the Second, turning the Mould into the Interval. ’Tis remarkable that though the Furrows of the Second and Fourth Hoeings be deep, and near to the Rows, seeming to deprive the Wheat of the Mould which should nourish it, whereby one would imagine, that these Furrows lying long open should weaken or starve it; yet it is just the contrary; for it grows the more vigorous: And it is the Observation of my Ploughmen, that they cannot at these Hoeings go too near to the Rows, unless the Plough should tear out the Plants.

If I may presume to assign the Cause of this surprising Effect, it is, in my Opinion, the following; viz. This open Furrow has a double Surface of Earth, which by the Nitre of the contiguous Atmosphere, is pulverized to a great Degree of Minuteness near the Row. The Roots that the Plough cuts off on the perpendicular Side of the Furrow, send out new Fibres to receive the Pabulum from this new-made Pasture; and also Part of this superfine Powder is continually falling down into the Bottom of the Furrow, and there gives a very quick Growth to those Roots that are next it, and a quick Passage through it into the Earth of the Interval, where they take likewise the Benefit of the other Side of this pulverized Furrow. When it is said, that Air kills Roots, it must not be understood, that it kills a Plant, unless all, or almost all, its Root is exposed to it, as it is not in this Case. Some think there are Roots that run horizontally below the Plough into the Interval; but of this I am not convinced.

’Tis not often that we hoe above Four times; and then the Furrow is turned towards the Row at the Third time only.

There being no Danger from these Furrows lying long open, we are not confined to any precise Distance between the times of Hoeing, for which we need only regard the Weather, the Weeds, and our own Convenience of Opportunity and Leisure.

’Tis an Advantage when these Furrows lie open on each Side of the double Row till Harvest; for then there need only Two Furrows to be plowed on a Ridge to throw down the Partition in order for planting the next Crop; but if at the last Hoeing the Furrows are turned towards the Row, they must be plowed back again after Harvest before the Partition can be plowed: This requires double the time of the other; and the sooner the Partitions are plowed, the more time they will have to be pulverized before they are replanted. Indeed this Advantage is only when the Rows are to be planted where they were the Year before; for this is rather a Disadvantage when they are to be planted in the Intervals. Whether these Furrows lying long open next the Rows in very hot dry Climates may be prejudicial, cannot be known, but by Trials.

As from the external Superficies of an Acre of Pasture on a rich Soil, Animals take more Pabulum than of an Acre on a poor Soil; so Vegetables take more Pabulum from the internal Superficies of a rich Acre than of a poor one; the Pulveration, or Superficies of Parts, being equal. See p. 44, 45. From whence there is no Encouragement for making Trials on very poor Land.

’Tis no great Matter whether the Rows are drilled on the Partitions, or the Intervals; for the Crops of a Field, Four Years successively drilled on the Partitions, were very good. After the Partitions had been plowed, and lain open till the Weather made them pulverizable by the Harrows, and then turned together by Furrows larger than those which opened them, much Earth of the Intervals was mixed with them. This is the strongest and lowest Ground I have; and if there should be much wet Weather after Harvest, it is so long in drying, that we take the first Opportunity the Weather allows for planting the Wheat, which is generally done in the above manner, because it is the shortest; but, without some such Reason to the contrary, I prefer planting the Rows on the precedent Intervals.

My Field, whereon is now the Thirteenth Crop of Wheat, has shewn that the Rows may successfully stand upon any Part of the Ground. The Ridges of this Field were for the Twelfth Crop, changed from Six Feet to Four Feet Six Inches: In order for this Alteration, the Ridges were plowed down, and the whole Field was plowed cross-ways of the Ridges for making them level; and then the next Ridges were laid out the same way as the former, but One Foot Four Inches narrower; and the double Rows drilled on their Tops, whereby of consequence there must be some Rows standing on every Part of the Ground, both on the former Partitions, and on every Part of the Intervals: Notwithstanding this, there was no manner of Difference in the Goodness of the Rows, and the whole Field was in every Part of it equal, and the best, I believe, that ever grew on it. It has now the Thirteenth Crop, likely to be very good, tho’ the Land was not plowed cross-ways.

The proper Times for Plowings and Hoeings depending upon the Weather, and other Circumstances, cannot be directed but by the Reason and Experience of the Practiser, as has been said.

The Number of Ridges being increased, as their Breadth is now diminished, occasions somewhat the more Plough-work, we likewise use more Handwork than formerly; but the Profit of this increased Labour is more than double to the Expence of it.

The Decline of the Woolen Manufacture furnishes us at this time with Plenty of Hand-hoers and Weeders; because they can earn much more by working in the Field than by Spinning at home.

’Tis better to make Fifteen Ridges on an Acre, than to leave any Earth unmoved by the Hoe-plough in the Middle of the Intervals; but when Ploughmen, by Practice, understand well to use the Hoe-plough, they will plow the Intervals clean, tho’ the Ridges are only Fourteen on an Acre.

Bearded Wheat is in this Country called Cone, and that which has no Beard Lammas. I observed formerly the Bread of White-cone had a little yellowish Cast, which I now suspect was from the Mill-stones; for I have seen it be very white these many Years, since the Millers know better how to grind this Wheat. Cone wheat Westwards yields Six-pence a Bushel more than Lammas; but towards London the contrary.

The Reasons why a whole Field of Wheat doth not produce a Crop equal in proportion to a Yard or Perch cut, rubbed out, and weighed immediately upon the Spot, may be, because the Grain of the Field lying to sweat in the Mow, loses considerably of its Weight and Measure. There is also some lost in the Field by Reapers, and by Leasers; and some is by Threshers thrown out of the Barn; and some of them are found to have Contrivances to carry home with them at Night, Part of the Wheat they thresh in the Day. I say nothing of those Thieves, who in Harvest rob the Field in the Dark; tho’ they are not very uncommon.

I missed of making my proposed Experiment of the single Row, after I had prepared for it by plowing out one of the double in several Places for that Purpose; but, in the Hurry of Harvest, they were cut together with the rest, without making any Trial; as should have been made, if my Illness had not prevented my Attendance in the Field at the time of Reaping.

The Practice and Instruments that are left off for better in their room, as the Quadruple and Treble Rows, &c. are still useful to be shewn, in order to deter others from going into an inferior Method that is now exploded; for some might think it an Improvement of the double Rows, &c. by their own Invention, if they should not know it had been already tried.