Pp fae 7] 
vitriol as a preventative againft {mut, I was defirous 
to afcertain in what proportion it might, with fafety, 
be ufed; and therefore made the following ex- 
periments :— 
Aug. 28th, 1794. Chofe forty fine grains of 
new wheat, and divided them into eight parts: — 
uft, Steeped 20 hours in oil of vitriol only; 2d, 
Steeped 20 hours in oil of vitriol and water in 
equal quantities:—did not grow. In both thefe 
cafes the wheat was fufpended by liquid. 
3d, Steeped 20 hours in water with one-fifth oil 
of vitriol. 4th, sth, 6th, 7th, and 8th, with 
the proportion of 1-7th, 1-gth, 1-11th, 1-21, 
and 1-31 of ditto: role all grew well, as did 
Some unprepared. 
But I obferved that the plants from the prepared 
feed appeared to be the moft vigorous and handfome; 
and that the grubs which abounded in the ground, 
feemed to prefer them. 
Od. 16th. Being convinced, by the foregoing 
experiment, of the efficacy of the vitriolick acid in 
preventing {mut, I fteeped a great part of my feed 
wheat this year; the bag which was ufed for that 
purpofe burft on the roth, and let out about one 
gallon of the wheat, which remained in the tub rill 
this day, when, on taking it out I found it very foft 
and much fwoln, and I concluded that its vegetative 
power was deftroyed; I, however, fowed it wet, on 
a fmall parcel of ground, and raked it in by hand, 
and, 
