[ton] 
and, to my great furprize, in a fhort time found, 
from the quantity of plants on the ground, that it 
mutt nearly all have grown. 
Od. 21/2, 1795. Steeped one bufhel of wheat 
20 hours in oil of vitriol and water, in the propor- 
tion of 1 to 30; and by means of a bafket, drained 
the liquid from it, intending to have fown it the 
next morning, but a very heavy rain falling pre- 
vented the feed being fown till the 26th; during 
which time the feed became nearly dry, and had not 
{prouted, though fome of the fame wheat, fteeped 
in water only, and not otherwife under the fame 
circumftances, had grown half an inch or more, 
The vitriolated feed was fown on half an acre of 
Jand at the time above-mentioned, but did not 
come up till the adjoining lands were all green, and 
not more than 1-4th of it ever came up at all; and 
the plants were poor and weak fora length of time. 
From the foregoing experiments, it appears, 
1ft, That the diforder is communicated by infeétion ; 
ad, That the vitriolick acid deftroys that infection; 
3d, That the quantity fufficient is as 1 to 30; 
4th, That a much greater proportion may be 
ufed with fafety; 
sth, That the feed fhould not be fuffered to dry 
after it is taken out of the fteep; but may remain 
in it fome time without danger. 
Iam, &c. &c. 
JAMES GORDON, jun. 
