C I20 ] 



In the above experiment, one thing occurred 

 which I mufl not omit, for it well deferves to be 

 noticed. One part of the ked was foaked in clear 

 wa^er only, the other in a flrong folution of fait and 

 water. I could perceive no difference in the plants 

 on a comparative view, from the time of their firft 

 coming up to the maturity of their growth, except 

 in their tillering. The plants in both experiments 

 were equally vigorous, equally tall and flrong, the 

 ears equally long, large and full, and the grains 

 equally plump and heavy ; but thofe fleeped in the 

 brine tillered out confiderably more, that is, put 

 out many more flalks, than thofe fleeped in water 

 only; confequently were much more produdlive. 

 What the fuperior fru6lification was owing to, is 

 well worth enquiry. The feed was out of the fame 

 ear, and though fet in two different pots, it was in 

 the fame earth, and tranfplanted into the fame 

 ground ; the culture in every refpe(5l the fame ; the 

 only difference was, in one the feed was fleeped in 

 .clear water 24 hours, and then planted; the other, 

 after being fleeped 24 hours in the fame water, 

 was fleeped 24 hours more in fait and water. The 

 queflion is then, and a very interefling one it is, 

 whether the fuperior fecundity of the latter was 

 owing to the feed being fleeped twice as long as 

 the other, or to its being impregnated with the fait 



ufed 



