On Wild Garlick. 128 
Remoie benefits are seldom contemplated. It.is not easy 
to abandon habits ; and it seems that bad ones lay the 
fastest hold. A neighbour (the late Mr. Thomas George) 
had a ficld near to both Mr. Roberts and myself in; 
which he planted Indian corn, for many successive 
years. In vain I endeavoured to dissuade him from 
such injurious repetitions. Corn is an exhauster ;—‘“‘ he 
could remedy this by dung ;”—but his remedy failed as 
to the corn; though he enriched his field. The corn, 
year after year, dwindled, till it had a stalk like small 
bamboos, and ears of the size of nubbins ; many whereof 
were entirely barren. He practically convinced himself - 
(an expensive mode of argument) and abandoned the 
practice; which, he said, was supported by many instan- 
ces of success. He never fall ploughed in this field, nor 
fallowed with the opening of the spring there, though 
he did so in other fields. This field may be now view- 
ed, and it will exhibit a plentiful cover of garlick ; the 
repeated succession of Indian corn crops notwithstand- 
ing. Yet his field was not impoverished ; for, by chang- 
ing his course, a fine crop of wheat succeeded his aban- 
donment of the Indian corn culture.*—In many parts 
of his agricultural operations, Mr. George had correct 
* This having been the most decided proof of the neces- 
sity of change of crops I have known, I have mentioned it 
on several occasions. But, so far from its having been the 
only instance, that it is but one among very great numbers I 
have seen, and could enumerate ; though none have occurred 
so strongly marked, because not so pertinaciously continued. 
R. P. 
