Chap. I. BY M. DE LA CROIX. 12.^ 



tioned, towards the end of July, and fent it in September to Her- 

 meville, a village about nine miles from Verdun. I agreed with the 

 farmer of an eilate which I have there, for three arpents of land, 

 on which I purpofed to make my trials *. 



" This fpot had received the ufual plowings in the common way, 

 I divided it into four almofl: equal parts ; one of which I dellin'd to 

 be fowed in the old way ; the fecond, to be fowed in equally dillant 

 rows with the drill-plough ; the third, to be laid out in beds five 

 feet wide ; and the fourth, in beds of fix feet. 



" I was prefent whilil the firft four or five beds were made ; and 

 after marking out the others, left the iinilhing of them to my far- 

 mer, not imagining he could miflake : however, he did ; fo that I 

 had in all twenty-five beds, ^7;::. but three of fix feet, and twentv- 

 two of five feet. 



" We fowed the next day, which was the fifteenth of September, 

 the weather being very fine. We began with the beds, twenty-two 

 of which were fowed with three rows, and three with fix. Thefe 

 beds took up an arpent and an half of ground, and 21 pounds, one 

 ounce and two pennyv/cights of feed. 



" Immediately after, I ibwed in the common way the fpot pre- 

 pared for that purpofe, with 63 pounds, 4 ounces, and 2 penny- 

 weights of feed. 



*' Whilft this part was harrowing, the third fpot was fowed in 

 equally difi:ant rows with the drill-plough, and took up 25 pounds, 

 5 ounces of feed. 



" All thefe operations were performed in three hours and an half. 

 I was furpriled at the eafe with which they were executed, confidering 

 that this was the firft time we had ufed, or even feen a drill-plough. 

 The only fault I found in it, was, that it bruifed and ground fome 

 of the grains. However, my ground was fufficiently ftock'd with 

 plants, excepting the part that was fowed in equally diflant rows, in 

 which there were here and there fome chafms, occafioned by our 

 not having kept the drill in a parallel direction in fome places. 



" Some time after, I gave dirediions for making a fmall plough 

 vi^ith one wheel, to turn up my alleys. Unfortunately, this inftrument 

 could not be got ready before the rains which began in October i 

 fo that I could not give the latter plowings which I intended. How- 

 ever, only two or three of my beds fuffered at one end, where the 

 ground had not Hope enough for the water to run off. 



" The 



* The (jrpent contsirs 484CO rqu:ire French feet, which are equal to 5 1695 Englifh 

 fquau feet, or to i r.u.e; 79 jjolcsj 9 paces, i yard, and 2I fq .are feet of our meafare. 



