104 O F S T E E P S. Parti. 



that each digging' fenfibly gave frefh vigour to the plants, and that 

 the flalks, which were fix feet high, were not laid. 



M. Donat fays, he has made trials of thefe mixtures, from the ufe 

 of which fo much is promifed : but he acknowledges that he thinks 

 them of no other fervice, than to amufe the curious, who do not 

 regret expence. As the authors of them boaft that all kinds of foils, 

 whether good, bad, or indifferent, whether well or ill plowed, whe- 

 ther refted or not refled, will produce ten times more than in the 

 common way ; M. Donat fowed a large extent of gi'ound, fome 

 good, fome bad, fome well, and fome ill plowed, &c. He made 

 the lye himfelf, was prefent when the feed was fowed, and took 

 care that no circamflance was negledted. But notwithftanding all 

 his care, his crop was far from anfwering their promifes. 



The good, well cultivated foil, produced fine wheat; but not 

 extraordinary in point of quantity. The only advantage was in the 

 faving of the feed. 



The poor ill cultivated land, and that which had not been refled, 

 produced very little grain : and the very bad foil, nothing at all. 

 Thefe experiments convinced M. Donat, that the fureft means of 

 obtaining good crops, is, to have the ground in good condition. 

 This is the principle on which the new hufbandry is founded. It 

 offers nothing marvellous, or contrary to the mofl ancient precepts 

 of good hufbandry. 



Thefe experiments of M. Donat's feem fufficient to prove the 

 inefficacy of thefe pretended fecrets. However, experiments of this 

 kind Ihould be continued on a double account ; firft, to take off a 

 prejudice which feems to gain ground, though it be not founded on 

 any rational principle ; and next, to be well affured whether thefe 

 preparations do produce any fenfible effedl. Experiments feldom 

 prove ufelefs to careful accurate obfervers. If they do not always 

 anfwer the end propofed, at leaft they fometimes lead the way to 

 other important difcoveries. 



CHAP. XVII. 

 Of JV E E D S. 



L ANT S that grow in any ground, different from thofe which 

 are intended to be cultivated in it, are called weeds. 

 They exhauft the earth, as much as the moft ufeful plants : 



nay, 



P 



