124 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



ing a very heavy wheat or oat stubble on a bottom-land 

 field, which made it very hard for the plow, he burned it 

 over ; but a smart thunder-storm coming suddenly up, the 

 fire was extinguished, leaving about five acres in the middle 

 of the piece, unburned. The whole field was then plowed. 

 It was found that the soil in the part burned over was more 

 firm, and moist, all the ensuing summer ; and the corn more 

 even, and darker colored, than that upon the five acres 

 which escaped the fire, and whose stubble had been plowed 

 in. 



At all events, there can be no doubt that wood-ashes 

 would be very advantageous to bottom lands. And we are 

 persuaded that such soils may be kept in wheat and corn 

 for any length of time, if thus managed. In conclusion, 

 corn your bottom-lands till they are too light, hogging 

 instead of harvesting them ; then put in wheat or oats j 

 leave the stubble long, burn it over, and put it into wheat 

 again, or to corn, as the case may be. 



CULTIVATION OF WHEAT. 



THEKE are two opinions which will prevent any attempt 

 to improve the cultivation of wheat, or, indeed, of anything 

 else. The first is the opinion that, what are called wheat- 

 lands^ yield enough at any rate : the second is the opinion 

 of those who own a soil not naturally good for wheat, that 

 there is no use in trying to raise much to the acre. We 

 suppose tli at wheat will not average more than twelve bush 

 els to the acre, as it is now cultivated in some parts. At 

 that rate, and with too low prices, it is not worth cultiva 

 tion for commercial purposes. The cost of seed, of labor 

 in preparing the soil, putting in the crop, harvesting, thresh 

 ing, and carrying it to market, is greater than the value of 

 the crop. At fifty cents a bushel, and twelve bushels to the 



