156 EXPERIMENTS ON WHEAT, Part If. 



only in the new hufbandry : for in that alone each bed has the 

 number of plants it can properly nourifh; which is the fource 

 of plenty. 



" The hrfl means is, to make the plants produce a. great number 

 ofllalks. 

 . " The fecond is, to make each llalk bear a large ear. 



** The third is, to make each ear be quite full of plump grain. 



'' Thefe effecfls cannot be obtained in the old hufbandry, becaufe 

 they can only be procured by frequently flirring the earth. 



" All my experiments this year, fliew the truth of this : but 

 efpecially the experiments No. I. and II. 



" It is therefore by flirring the alleys while the plants are yet 

 young "and growing, that we can make them produce a iiimiber of 

 j}alksy caufe thofe Jlalks to bear large ears, and Jill each ear with large 

 plump grain. But to obtain thefe advantages, it is of great con- 

 fequence that the hoeings be performed at proper feafons; each 

 having its peculiar effefts. 



" The plowing before winter, is intended to draia off" the water, 

 which if it fhould remain long near the plants, would chill and 

 greatly hurt them, and to lay up the earth to be i7ioiildcred by the 

 •winter s froji. It is hereby enabled the better to fiipply the plants 

 with their neceffary food in the fpring. This may be done at the 

 farmer's conveniency, from the time that the plants have three or 

 four blades, till the froft fets in : and even in the winter, if it does 

 not freeze, plowing will always be of fervice. 



" The firft plowing after winter, is of great importance. 'T/J- 

 to this that ive owe the number of Jlalks which the plants produce. 

 That it may have this effe<£l, it mufl be performed as foon as the 

 fevere colds are paft ; and, at lateft, as foon as the plants begin to 

 ihoot. If it be delayed longer, it will contribute very little to- 

 wards their branching. It will ferve only to make the llalks grow . 

 longer. If any new ones llioot out, they will not thrive fo well as 

 the firft ; and therefore it is of great confequence that they ilioot 

 out all together. 



" The hoeings that are performed from this time, till the wheat 

 .has dene bloiToraing, jirengthen the plants, lengthen the Jlalks, and 

 enlarge the ears. The feafon of thefe hoeings is not fo exa<ftly 

 limited as that of the former, and the frequency of them will 

 depend greatly on the ftate of the ground : for it muft not be 

 touched when it is too moift. If the feafon is kindly, they may 



be 



