iSoj. On the Rfffcl of FroJI on Groiv'mg <jc>r/js, ^.c. 



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all years when a fcvere froll fcts in early in tlic fcafon, as was thi^ 

 cafe in both the years above mentioned, the only hope of feed is 

 from oats produeed on fields either of a welt or north expofnre. 

 Immediately after a fevere froll, and bright funlliine fuceeeding, 

 any field of oats affe^led by it, will be known by the diflereiice o^ 

 its appearance. It receives a bluifh, fpeckled colour, different 

 from what it had before, and alfo fron» what it would have at- 

 tained in the courfe of riper.ing. Should rain fall foon after, as 

 it frequently does, and the crop recover its former appearance, 

 remain green, and in a filling ftate ; in that cafe, it has tlirown off 

 ihe froit, and there remains no danger. But if, after the rain, 

 (if any does fall), it retain the froited colour, and ripen faft, it is 

 by no means to be trufted for feed. This is the only fure crite- 

 rion whereby one can pofitively judge, whether oats that have 

 come under a fevere frcfl are to be fit for i^ced or not. For it 

 may be taken as a certain fa61:, that whatever degree of frcfl puts 

 a ftop to the farther filling of grain, hurts or deflroys its vegeta- 

 ting powers, and thereby renders it quite unfit for (ccd. 



With regard to oats that are ill filled, or ill ripened, by a late 

 and unfavourable fcafon or fituation, I have obferyed, that, they 

 may be ufed for (eedf and are only rendered unfit, from being 

 overlieated in the llackyard, or from vegetating before or after reap- 

 ing, or from frofl. If oats have been overheated in the flnckyard, 

 whether weak or flrong, they mull thereby be confiderably hurt, 

 and are of courfe very unflife to be trufted for feed. I know^ 

 this opinion is different from that of many refpetlable farmers, 

 who do not mind what they call a fmall heat in the Hack. But ai; 

 a flack heats very unequally, fome of it to a great dej^ree, iome 

 of it Icfs, and perhaps fome part not at all ; wherever tlie heat had 

 gone fo far as to difcolour the oats, or any of them, they ought to 

 be reje6led for feed; and the doing fo will be juilified by experi- 

 ence again with regard to fuch as are vegetated or fprUng before 

 or after reaping. The danger here is m.ore applicable- to flrong 

 than weak, oats. If, on account of warm, rainy weather, in 

 harveft, a field of oats, fully ripe, be prevented from being cut, 

 even though they be not lodged, they will fometimes vegetate, 

 and that very g(,":;erally, though in fuch a- fmall degree as not 

 to be perceived without very clofe infpe£lion. Thefe^ if ufed 

 for feed, will prove very defe(Eiive, and the caufe of their 

 failure may never perhaps be known. Oats vegetating after be^ 

 ing cut, as they fpring fartlier and more unequally, are eafily dif- 

 covered, though both the one and the other difappear upon being 

 fully dried. This, in a warm, rainy harvefl, perhaps requires 

 more attention than is generally imagined. Some part of a crop 

 cf oats 15 found weak, that is, deficient in weight, and not come 



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