AND FARMING PRODUCE. 307 



barley. But as most of this kind of grain in this 

 country is employed for malting ; and as fully 

 ripening makes less difference in the farinaceous 

 than in the azotised portions, the consequence is 

 of no moment. Indeed, according to the present 

 state of the excise laws, malsters are almost 

 compelled to use fully ripened grain ; otherwise 

 they run great risk of over malting ; since they 

 are bound to their very time in making their 

 malt. The riper the grain, the slower germina- 

 tion is in commencing, and the more tardy in 

 going on. A fact not to be overlooked at present, 

 because it shows us, that grain gathered when 

 most profitable for food, is also best for sowing ; 

 in that it germinates sooner, and pushes on more 

 vigorously. Such advantages may be but scarcely 

 apparent ; yet, in the aggregate they are mighty 

 in their results. All maximums are made up 

 from the summation of almost imperceptible 

 minims. And were it not so, a knowledge of 

 such matters is of vast moment ; because it 

 enables the farmer to know what he is about ; to 

 assign reasons, to calculate ends, and to lay 

 down his plans judiciously, as every man ought 

 to do, who is master of his business; and expects 

 such success as he deserves, to follow as the 

 result of his labours. 



