Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/120

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
100]
C R O
C R O

alternately; the former being the most abundant, but the latter the most profitable, from the saving of tillage.

10. That four crops of beans, and one of wheat, even with the drawback of one year's cabbages, is the third course in profit; and the land will be left in such order, as to make it perhaps the first.

11. That the most unproductive, and in a still greater degree, the more unprofitable courses, are those in which turnips, cabbages, and potatoes most frequently occur.

12. That, on such new land, oats are the best white grain that can be sown, as they yield very extraordinary and valuable crops.

The same intelligent cultivator, consequently, recommends the following course, which is calculated to prove the most profitable:

1. Beans. 5. Beans.
2. Oats. 6. Oats.
3. Beans. 7. Clover.
4. Oats. 8. Beans.
9. Wheat.

The profit of beans in every rotation, by which the soil is not exhausted, is decisive; and oats are far more productive than either barley or wheat, while the old turf is decaying; because clover will revive the fertility, which beans in the 8th year will not lessen; and wheat cannot fail, after those two successive ameliorating crops, to yield a plentiful harvest. In justice to Mr. Young, we shall observe, that he proposes such a rotation only for new land, as there are, circumstances that would render it inapplicable to other fields. For many interesting particulars, relative to this great subject, we must refer the reader to the 23d vol. of Annals of Agriculture, in which he will find it minutely and perspicuously treated.

CROSS-WORT, or Mugweed, Galium cruciatum, v. Valantia, cruciata, L. an indigenous perennial plant, growing on hedge-banks, and in meadows. It produces yellow flowers which blow from May to July, and are succeeded by seeds. A decoction of this plant in wine has been recommended as an excellent vulnerary and detergent, and is said to be of great efficacy in attenuating and expectorating tough humours.—The bones of animals, fed on the roots of the cross-wort, acquire a red tinge; and wool may be dyed of a similar colour, both by the roots and leaves.

CROUP, a violent inflammation of the throat in children under twelve years of age, prevalent chiefly on the sea-coast, in cold and wet seasons. It is attended with a peculiar croaking sound of the voice; a sense of straitness about the throat, difficult breathing, and fever.

If the croup be not speedily relieved, it obstructs the passage of the air, and suffocates the patient. Hence the legs ought to be immersed in warm water, and afterwards mustard with vinegar, or horse-radish, applied to the soles of the feet, the neck, or between the shoulders. Laxative clysters should also be administered, without delay (see Clyster, p. 14); and the child be kept cool rather than warm, and receive no other but vegetable food and diluent, slightly acidulated, drink. No medicines can with safety be given internally, without medical advice; but a dram of asafœtida, camphor, or a few spoonfuls of the expressed juice of garlic, may be dissolved in each injection, which should be repeated every four or six hours.

Those who are peculiarly liable

to