'lected in the autumn of 1782. I had not an opportunity of seeing the plants, on the ground.

"The species was probably Nicotiana rustica, the English tobacco; so called from the circumstance of its being the first species cultivated in England.

"The seeds were procured at the seed shops, and handed about from one cultivator to another.

"The seed-bed as rich and fine as possible.

"The time of sowing, as soon as the weather became warm enough to make it vegetate; perhaps in April.

"When the seedling plants were strong enough to bear removing, they were transplanted from the seed-bed to the patch on which they were intended to stand.

"In the practice of one, they were planted out in quincunx manner, a foot asunder: in that of another, in rows two feet apart, and one foot asunder in the rows.

"In both cases they were carefully hoed, and kept free from weeds during the summer.

"In autumn, when the flowers began to drop off, they were cut, and dried in the shade.

"When dry, the leaves were picked off, and pressed down close, in casks or other vessels.

"The spring of 1782 being late, the plants did not, upon weak soils, reach maturity before the frosts began to set in. Hence a rich forcing soil seems to be necessary to the culture of tobacco, in this climate.

"The vegetation, however, may be greatly forwarded by forcing the seedling plants in a hot-bed, and transplanting them out as soon as the frosts of spring are over."

Since that time, it does not appear that any attempts have been made at the cultivation of tobacco. The people, paying obedience to laws passed many ages since, to encourage our tobacco plantations in America, have ceased to

cultivate

cultivate a plant to which our climate seems well adapted, and of which it might now be good policy to promote the cultivation, as we have long since lost the colonies, for the encouragement of which such rigorous laws were enacted, and which now stand on our books the instruments of persecution to the ignorant or unwary, and no longer of supposed public utility.

VETCHES AND LENTILS.

THESE are rarely sown as a crop, but the latter are sometimes sown along with beans, from which they are easily separated with a sieve; and it is thought they improve the quality of the straw.

Winter tares have only been sown by a very few individuals, so that I am not enabled, for want of instances within the district under survey, to say much respecting them; but in my own practice within the East Riding, they have answered extremely well.

MUSTARD.

A CONSIDERABLE quantity of mustard is sown in the neighbourhood of York, and fields of it may be met with in other parts of the Riding. It is prepared for use in the city of York, where there are mills and machinery for the purpose; and it is afterwards sold under the name of Durham mustard; being prepared after the manner there practised, or as was there first done.

Preparation. Mustard is sown either on land pared and burnt, or prepared and manured as for turnips.

Seed, and Time of Sowing.-Sow from one to two pecks per acre broadcast, in the early part of May.

Culture.--No culture whilst growing, except handweeding, if necessary.

Harvesting-Shorn with the sickle in September, and generally stacked in the field; and thrashed out upon a cloth, at the convenience of the farmer.

Produce.-Two quarters per acre, is thought a good

crop.

TEASLES.

Soil, and Preparation.-Teasles will only answer upon a strong soil if the land is fresh, they do not require much manure: they are frequently sown upon pared and burnt land, as well as upon land ploughed out of swarth, and also after a winter and spring fallow.

Seed, and Time of Sowing.-Sow from one to two pecks of seed per acre, a little before May-day.

Culture whilst growing.-The surface of the ground, to the depth of about one inch and a half, is turned over with spades three times, viz. in June, October, and about Lady-day, at an expence of about 20s, per acre each time.

The plants are set out at about a foot distance, in the first operation.

Harvesting, and preparing for Market.-They are fit to reap, in the latter end of August, or beginning of September: this is done by cutting them off with about nine inches of stalk, and at the expence of 6s. per thousand

bunches;

bunches; they are then tied up for 5s. per thousand; each

bunch containing ten teasles.

Produce.-Ten packs per acre is a good crop; each

pack containing 1350 bunches.

Price. From three to five guineas per pack.

CHAPTER VIII,

GRASS,

SECT. I. NATURAL MEADOWS AND PASTURES,

THE principal part of the grass-land in the North Riding, consists of old pasture and meadow, which is chiefly appropriated to the dairy. In most parts of this Riding, the dairy is a principal object of the farmer's attention; it is therefore natural to expect, that where grass is so prominent a feature in the cultivation of the district, that such district would excel in the management and improvement of that particular produce; but the reverse is the case with respect to most of the grazing parts of this Riding, and of the vale of York in particular; the fields there generally lie in broad lands, with very high ridges, the worst form possible; the consequence is, that the upper parts are over-run with moss, and the lower parts with rushes; and in case of drought, the ridges are much burnt, and do not so quickly receive advantage from rain, as when more level. The fields are also much over-run with thistles and ant-hills, and often with whins (furze); and the reason generally given for their lying in such a state is, that the occupiers are restricted from ploughing them out; but when the occupiers are also owners of the land, some other cause must be assigned for that effect; and this may frequently be found in their liability to the payment of tythes, the owner rather foregoing the profit