itjl Of! the Effc^ of Trojl on Growitig Corns, Ijfc, Aug* 



of cold that wc are acquainted with in this country, can of itfelf 

 prevent the filling of com, or render it unfit for feed •, but it is to 

 be remarked, that if a fevere froft fet in during the night, and 

 continue through the next day, or days, without any abatement, 

 bu: what is occafioned by a hot fun, that the heat through the 

 day, unlefs the dew or rine, left by the froll at night, has been 

 carried oif early in the morning by a breeze of wind acting upon 

 tlie grain in its unrTp:ned ilatc, has fuch a powerful eifeci upon 

 the growijig, and even the ripening corn, as to prevent its farther 

 fdling, and render it totally unfit for feed. But, howe\'cr fevere 

 the froft be during the night, if it go oiF next day without fun- 

 fhinc, it does not alFc£l the corn in the fmallcll degree. It does 

 not even hurt potato Hems, * which are much more eafily injured. 

 For it has been often obfcrved, that thofe, from which the rays 

 of the fun were obilrut^ted by the branches of a tree, or by any 

 other intervening object, v/ere perfectly fafe, while the reft of the 

 field wa» entirely dcflroyed. Upon this hypothefis, therefore, 

 that froft: becomes injurious to corn, only by being fuccecded by 

 funfhine, all the obfervations in tlie remainder of this ElTay will 

 folcly depend. 



I may here inquire, in what (Inges of vegetation, or ap- 

 proaching ripenefs, the worft efFe61:s are to be apprehended ? On 

 this point, it may be obferved, in general, that in none of the 

 ftagjs of grov/th, or approaching ripenefs, are the crops fecure 

 from the injuries of fevere froil, 'when attended through the 

 day with clear funfhine. But corn in its green or milky ft ate will 

 refift it more than when riper or farther advanced. Experience 

 ihows, that while oats remain uncut, even though fully ripe, 

 they are not altogether without the reach of damage, at lead for 

 feed. No injury is fuftained in this ft:ate, in point of mealing, or 

 for any other purpofe, but rather the contrary ; as, by the froft^ 

 they acquire a whiter and brighter colour •, are rendered drier and 

 harder ; come fooner into the ftackyard, and are lets apt to heat, 

 than would otherwife have been the cafe. Grain, in its progref- 

 five ftate of filling, and the farther it advances towards ripe- 

 nefs, is fo much the more apt to be hurt by froft:, which in- 

 ftantly checks it from filling any more, and renders it at the fame 

 time unfit for feed. Of this, I had full demonftration in 1783, 

 having fown very fine looking oats, well kept, and weighing from 

 14 to 15 ftone per boll, a weight almofl equal to the average o£ 



good 



* Peas and Potatoes arc much eafier hurt by froft, than any of the 

 white fpecies of grain. Any moderate degree of froft will afFcft thefe 

 prcclfely as above ; but a very fevere froil vrill hurt the former, cvcrs 

 tithottt clear funfhine. 



