584 Additions and Corrections
ground. Mr. Boys in his valuable Report of the Agriculture of the County of Kent, alfo obferves that this implement may be advantageoufly employed for clearing fum-
, ner fallows from weeds. When well made it cofis about two guineas.
n
Nidget.—This tool is formed of a triangular fhape, and of different fizes, ac- cording to the diftances‘of the alleys in which it is to be made ufe of,. with crofs bars or beams, in which are fixed a number of hoes in proportion to the breadth of the intervals between the rows of hops, fo that its hinder part, which. is the wideft, may pafs without doing any mifchief to the binds on each fide. The hindermoft beam has fixed to it a pair of handles, by which the machine is directed in its opera- tion.
The implement is drawn by one horfe, managed by a boy; and two acres may in this way be cleanfed ina day. Care Ree however be taken, when ufing it, that in finifhing, the alleys be all croffed in the fame direction, in order that every part of the furface, except e fpaces which the hills occupy, may be cut over. The hills are to be afterwards rendered clean by means of hand-hoeing. It will be necefary to continue the ufe of this intirument as occafion may require, until the branches of the hops are put forth in fuch a manner as to prevent the horfe from going along the alleys. By this means hop. grounds may be kept clean and in order at a much lefs expenfe than by hand-hoeing, or even digging them in the fummer.
The principal circumftance to be attended to in the management of the nidget, is that of guarding againtt its damaging the binds by coming too near the poles.
Hop-Harrow.—By fome hop-planters this tool is ufed after the nidget, for ren- dering the ground fill finer; it is conftrucied nearly in the form of the nidget, but with a fmall wheel in the front, in order to go round at the ends of the plantation more readily. A pairof handles are fixed on behind, by which it is guided in the alleys, and kept from bruifing the binds, by the perfon who holds them. Imple- ments of this kind, when properly made, coft from thirty to forty fhillings.
Mr. Middleton, in his Report of the County of Middlefex, alfo fpeaks of an‘in- firument, in ufe by Mr. Maynard, for cleaning hop-grounds, which refembles the fnow-plough: in fhape it is an equilateral triangle, the fides of which are four feet long, and the front ones fhod with old fcythes; the whole being firongly framed in order that it may be loaded when employed. He obferves that “‘ by drawing it once in a place, in the intervals between the rows, it renders them perfeétly clean, and as fmooth as the well-rolled walk of a pleafure-ground, and earths up the rows by the fame operation, which, about ten days afterwards, are
safily made into hills with fpades.”
Peeler.—The peeler is made ufe of for forming holes for the hop-poles; it is a
5-


