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climate and soil would produce it to advantage. No doubt, as your 

 observations while you were in the United States appear to have been 

 extensive and accurate, it did not escape you, that both winter and 

 spring barley are cultivated among us. TJifti latter is considered as 

 an uncertain crop south of New York, ancj!*^ have found it so on my 

 farms. Of the former I have not made sufficient trial to hazard an 

 opinion of success, About Philadelphia it succeeds well. 



The Eastern Shore bean, as it is denominated here, has obtained a 

 higher reputation than it deserves; and, like most things unnaturally 

 puffed, sinks into disrepute. Ten or more years ago, led away by 

 exaggerated accounts of its fertilizing quality, I was induced to give 

 a very high price for some of the seed; and, attending to the growth 

 in all its stages, I found that my own fields, which had been uncul- 

 tivated for two or three years, abounded with the same plants, without 

 perceiving any of those advantages, which had been attributed to them. 



I am not surprised that our mode of fencing should be disgusting 

 to a European eye. Happy would it have been for us, if it had appeared 

 so in our own eyes; for no sort of fencing is more expensive or waste- 

 ful of timber. I have been endeavouring for years to substitute live 

 fences in place of them; but my long absence from home has in this, as 

 in everything else, frustrated all my plans, that required time and 

 particular attention to effect them. I shall now, although it is too 

 late in the day for me to see the result, begin in good earnest to 

 ditch and hedge; the latter I am attempting with various things, but 

 believe none will be found better than cedar, although I have several 

 kinds of white thorn growing spontaneously on my ovm grounds. 



Rollers I have been in the constant use of for many years, in the ^ 

 way you mention, and find considerable benefit in passing them over 

 my winter grain in the spring, as soon as the ground will admit a 

 hoof on it. I use them also on spring grain and grass seeds, after 

 sowing and sometimes before, to reduce the clods v/hen the ground is ^ jn 

 rough. My clover generally is sown with spring grain; but, where the \^'^fj 

 ground is not too stiff and binding, it succeeds very well on wheat. . 

 Sown on a light snow in February, or the beginning of March, it sinks 

 with the snow and takes good root. And orchard grass, of all others, 

 is in my opinion the best mixture with clover; it blooms precisely at 

 the same time, rises quick again after cutting, stands thick, yields 

 well, and both horses and cattle are fond of it, green or in hay. 

 Alone, unless it is sown very thick, it is apt to form tussocks. If 

 of this, or any other seeds I can procure, you should be in want, I 

 shall have great pleasure in furnishing them. 



