Chap. II.] RcTA Baga culture. 77 



of earth, as much manure may be got up on the land 

 for half a dollar. I made an experiment last summer, 

 which convinces me, that, if the spent ashes be received 

 as a gift at three miles' distance of land-carriage, they 

 are not a gift worth accepting. But, this experiment 

 Avas upon a small scale ; and, therefore, I will not now 

 speak positively on the subject. 



100. I am now preparing to make a perfect trial of 

 these ashes. I have just ploughed up a piece of ground, 

 in which, a few years ago, Indian Corn was planted, 

 and produced, as I am assured, only stalks, and those 

 not more than two feet high. The ground has, every 

 year since, borne a crop of weeds, rough grass, and 

 briars, or brambles. The piece is about ten acres. I 

 intend to have Indian com on it ; and, my manure 

 shall be made on the spot, and consist of nothing but 

 burnt earth. If I have a decent crop of Indian corn 

 on this land so manured, it will, I think, puzzle my 

 good neighbours to give a good reason for their going 

 Jive miles for spent ashes. 



101. Whether I succeed, or not, I will give an ac- 

 count of my experiment. This I know, that I, in the 

 year 1815, burnt ashes, in one heap, to the amount of 

 about two hundred English cart-loads, each load hold- 

 ing about forty bushels. I should not suppose, that 

 the burning cost me more than ^ue dollars; and there 

 they were upon the spot, in the very field, where they 

 were used. As to their effect, I used them for the 

 transplanted Ruta Baga and Mangel Wurzel, and they 

 produced full as great an effect as the yard-dung used 

 on the same land. This process of burning earth into 

 ashes, without suffering the smoke to escape, during any 

 part of the process, is a discovery of Irish origin. It 

 was pointed out to me by Mr. William Gauntlett 

 of Winchester, late a Commissary with the army in 

 Spain. To this gentleman I also owe, England owes, 

 and I hope America will owe, the best sort of hogs, that 

 are, I believe, in the world. I was wholly unacquainted 

 with Mr. Gauntlett, till the summer of 1815, when, 

 happening to pass by my farm, he saw my hogs, cows, 

 &c. and, when he came by my house he called, and 

 told me, that he had observed, that 1 wanted only a 



