377
The expcnce of this operation must vary, according to cir-cumstances in the soil and crop, and to the exuberance ofweeds. A first hand-hoeing to a crop of turnips, ruta-baga,or beans, may cost from two shillings and sixpence to fiveshillings an acre. Going over them a second time, may bedone from a shilling to half-a-crown ; and if necessary to runthem over a third time, one shilling an acre may suffice. Inbeans, as the hoe cannot be admitted among the rows, thehand must be applied to draw out the weeds which are theresituated.
SECT. XI.
OF WEEDING.
In
ft
fi
y *
As it is intended to discuss this subject in a separate divi-sion of this Report, it is not deemed necessary to enlargeupon it here; yet as an indispensable concomitant of all goodhusbandry, some notices may be proper in this place.—Strict impartiality requires it to be stated in the outset, thatthis important process is too much neglected in Scotland ,even in those districts which are in other respects exceeding-ly well cultivated. Extensive tracts of excellent arable land,capable of bearing heavy crops of grain and cultivated her-bage, are to be seen in many places disgracefully overwhelm-ed by vast quantities of weeds, especially by varieties of radish,rape and mustard, besides other more humble plants, as chick-weed, yarrow, fat-hen, bind-weed, together with differentkinds of thistles and other plants; by all which the grain cropsare deprived of a large proportion of the moisture and nou-rishment they would otherwise derive from the soil, to themanifest and large diminution of useful produce, both in re-gard to quantity and quality of grain and straw. Were hus-