148 RUTA BAGA CULTURE. [PART I. 



bushels do not cost less than ten dollars. I am 

 of opinion, that, by the burning of earth, as 

 much manure may be got upon the land for 

 half a dollar. I made an experiment last sum 

 mer, 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 accept 

 ing. But, this experiment was upon a small 

 scale ; and, therefore, I will not now speak 

 positively on the subject. 



1 00. I am now preparing to make a perfect 

 trial of these ashes. I have just ploughed up 

 a piece of ground, in whkh, a few years ago, 

 Indian Corn was planted, and produced, as I 

 am assured, only stalks, and those not more 

 thantwofeet 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 corn 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 neigh 

 bours to give a good reason for their going five 

 miles for spent ashes. 



101. Whether I succeed, or not, I will give 

 an account 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 holding about 



