1 8 03- On the Effcci of Frojl on Groiuing Corns, ^c. 177 



obferved, that frofl increafes the whitenefs and brightnefs of 

 oats. Therefore, the white coloured oats, in which there 

 is little or no yellow, and where there are few or no green 

 pointed grains to be found, arc pofitively to be rejected for 

 feed. It may eafily be believed, thit in a late Tind bdckward 

 year, none of the oats will acquire that fine white and bright 

 colour which they poflefs only in an early and favourable feafon, 

 unlefs it be occafioned by fome forti^^n caule. Now, it is cer- 

 tain, that it is occafioned by the fro(l. The yellow looking oats, 

 with a great many green points, cnn ah^ne be depended on for 

 feed, even though they be found boih light and foh, which ia 

 bad years, is very generally the cafe, \n this choice, however, 

 one has to combat and to conquer prejudice, and ought to be 

 directed only by judgement. This will no doubt occafion a 

 very great ftruggle ; nor will prejudice perhaps be entirely over- 

 come, till a few difappointments are met with, which will fhow 

 the fuperiority of the latter kind of grain in the cleareil light. 

 Upon digging up the frofled feed in 1783, from under the 

 ground, I found one uniform characlerlilic in the whole of it, 

 which was, that none of the points of the oat where the feed 

 is lodged, (which is oppofite to that where the beard grows), 

 had fwellcd or expanded in the fmalleft degree, notwithftanding 

 the fwelling, or even growth of the oat, in other refpe(Sls. This 

 led me to conjecture that this point in all frofted oats would be 

 hard, and refilt the touch on prefiure ; and upon trying the oats 

 of that year which remained, by that rule, I found them anfwer 

 exa<£lly, as it has done in other years, when the froft has had the 

 fame effedt upon them. By prelTmg oats much frofled, in this 

 manner, I have often i^zn that part containing the feed fly off 

 altogether, leaving the reft of the pickle otherwife complete. 

 In examining oats for feed by this rule, it is necefTary to take 

 off the huflc, and prefs the forefaid point againft fome hard 

 fubftance, fuch as the nail of one's thumb. The refiftance at 

 the very point is the criterion ; for fuch as are unfound will re- 

 fift the preflure, notwithllanding that every part of the grain ex- 

 cept the point may be abfolutely foft. 



B. K. 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMER S MAGAZINE. 



On Britljh Op'mm, 

 Sir, 



It IS now known beyond a doubt, that as good opium may be 

 Colle£led in this country, from xhc^apaver fomntferuin^ as what 



conies 



