E 310 } 



the foil. Every feed commonly produces more 

 than one plant, fometimes three or four, fo that it 

 is necefifaiy to draw up the fmalled, about ten days 

 after they appear above the ground, when fown in 

 this manner. , 



May 26th, the firfl crop of leaves was gathered, 

 being then at their full growth, and more than a 

 foot long, many meafuring eighteen inches. A 

 frefh crop of leaves was conftantly colle6Led after- 

 wards, every ten days or a fortnight, during the 

 fummer and autumn, until frofts fomewhat re- 

 tarded their vegetation. The laft crop of leaves is 

 not yet gathered. 



The land, being very full of weeds and couch 

 grafs, was obliged to be hoed three times during the 

 fumrher, notwithftanding the amazing luxuriancy 

 of the plants, which covered all the ground; this 

 foulnefs of the ground, together with the drynefs of 

 the firft part of the feafon, prevented the roots from 

 gaining their ufual magnitude ; none of mine having 

 exceeded fix pounds in weight. 



The firft attempt, in difpofing of the leaves^ 

 was to offer them to fome milch cows, which fee} 

 iJpon them with great avidity, and even preferred 

 them to clover, or any thing elfe that could be 



giveft 



