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Article XXVII. 



On the life of Fern-Aflies as a Manure for 

 Wheat Land. 



^g' 10, 1779. 

 Gentlemen, 



FOR feveral years pad I have entertained a no- 

 tion, that fern being burnt upon a fallow- 

 ground would produce an excellent drefling for 

 turnips and wheat -, but have had no opportunity of 

 making ufe of it myfelf, nor could I prevail till 

 lately on either of the numerous farmers to whom 

 I have mentioned it, to give it one trial. 



. The allies of fern are,fl;rpnger than any other, 

 and muft confequently, on account of the great 

 quantity of falts it contains, be of infinite fervice ia 

 promoting vegetation. 



I have great reafon to believe, that fire has a 

 beneficial effe6l on land, by reducing many parts 

 of it to a more proper ftate for diftributing its 

 nutritive particles to the roots of plants. It muft 

 alfo deftroy a great part of the roots and feeds of 

 all kinds of weeds which may be in the ground, 

 and confequently, in that refped, of very eflfential 

 fervice. 



