Mechanical Science, 447 



for all that part manured by the yeast was covered with grass 

 of a deeper colour and more luxuriant growth than elsewhere ; 

 hence, it is probable, that yeast may in many cases be found a 

 very convenient, advantageous, and useful manure. 



4. Reaping of Corn. — The French claim the merit of a new 

 discovery, of great importance to agriculture and public ceco- 

 nomy in the advantages which, according to them, result from 

 the practice of reaping corn before it is perfectly ripe. This 

 theory, which has just been promulgated by M. Cadet de Vaux, 

 originates with M. Salles, of the Agricultural Society of Beziers. 

 The following are the particulars : — Corn, reaped eight days 

 before the usual time, is, in the first place, secured from the 

 dangers which threaten it at that time ; this is only accidental^ 

 but a positive advantage is, that the grain is fuller, larger, 

 finer, and that it is never attacked by the weevil. The truth of 

 thpse assertions has been proved by the most conclusive com- 

 parative experiments upon a piece of corn, one half of which 

 was reaped before the usual time, and the other half at the de- 

 gree of maturity fixed by the ordinary practice. The first 

 portion gave a hectolitre (26.4 gallons) of corn more for half a 

 hectar (5,980 square yards) of land. Afterwards an equal quan- 

 tity of floui from the wheat of each portion was made into 

 bread ; that of the corn reaped green, gave seven pounds of 

 bread more than the other in six decalitres (15.84 gallons). 

 Lastly, the weevil attacked the corn which was cut ripe ; the 

 other was exempt from it. The proper time for reaping is 

 when the grain, on being pressed between the fingers, has a 

 doughy appearance, like the crumb of bread just hot from the 

 oven, when pressed in the same manner. — New Monthly Maya- 

 zine, 1820, p. 447. 



5. Spade Husbandry. — A field of seven acres, situated in the 

 county of Surrey, in the last year, was prepared for barley by 

 the spade. The labourers employed, earned in the winter at 

 the rate of 15*. per week, 2d. per rod being given for digging, 



