. The book of the farm : detailing the labors of the farmer, steward, plowman, hedger, cattle-man, shepherd, field-worker, and dairymaid. Agriculture. 378 THE BOOK OF THE FARM WINTER. Fig. 189. (84'1.) Sir Joseph Banks alludes to the filling up of drains in bo5:8, which had been execnted at preat expense at W'obuni, by the growth of the (Etpasetnm paluitrt). On examin ing the plant. Sir Joseph found " its stem under ground a yard or more in length, and in size like a packthread ; from this a root of twice the size of the stem runs horizontally in the ground, taking its origin f
. The book of the farm : detailing the labors of the farmer, steward, plowman, hedger, cattle-man, shepherd, field-worker, and dairymaid. Agriculture. 378 THE BOOK OF THE FARM WINTER. Fig. 189. (84'1.) Sir Joseph Banks alludes to the filling up of drains in bo5:8, which had been execnted at preat expense at W'obuni, by the growth of the (Etpasetnm paluitrt). On examin ing the plant. Sir Joseph found " its stem under ground a yard or more in length, and in size like a packthread ; from this a root of twice the size of the stem runs horizontally in the ground, taking its origin from a lower root, which strikes down perpendicularly to a depth I have not hitherto been able to trace, as thick as a small ;* I have frequently met with the roots or stems of the marestail un- der ground, which, on being bisected by the drains, poured out a constant run of water for some time, but, when fairly emptied of it, and no longer receiving sup- port by a due supply of moisture from above, they withered away. Although there is no doubt that, in the case mentioned by Sir Joseidi Banks, the rooU of the niaretitail jienetrated deeper than the drains, yet tlie circumstance of their sending ujjward shoot.'* which grow "along the openings left for the passage of water," proves that sufficient moisture had been left near the surface of the bog, notwith- standing llie draining, to supi)ort the plant in life ; in short, that the bog had been instifticienily draineii, otherwise the rivation of support by moisture to the stems at the surface would inevitably have destroyed the vitality of the roots below. [ii-t.) A plan similar to that described in (t'43) may be practiced on strong clay land. The open furrow is formed in the same manner witli the plow, and, being loft 10 in<' in width, the spade work is condu'.-ted in this manner: Leave a scarscment of 1 inch on each side of the open furrow left by the jilow. as seen be- low II a, tig. ]90, and cut ou
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectagriculture, bookyear
