164 E ^P E RI jM E N T S N WH EAT, Part II; 



fhares, are two inftruments- which I have invented this year. I have 

 found them extremely iifeful to give the two lafl: ftirrings, better, 

 and in lefs time than our other inftruments. The reader may not 

 be diCpleafed to knmv what firft fet me upon contriving them. 



" One cannot enter properly into the fpirit of the newhufbandry, 

 without being thoroughly convineed that the earth cannot be too 

 minutely divided : I will even fay, till it is reduced to a perfect pow- 

 der; and that when orre has been fo happy as to- attain this point, it 

 muft be kept in that ftate. This will always be done beft, by ufing- 

 the moft proper inftruments. 



" I obfcrved one day, whilft I was hoeing my wheat, my plough- 

 being then at work, and the earth in a very loofe ftate, that every 

 time the alleys were ftirred-, they were thrown into- a different form : 

 for it is necefliiry fometimes to make a deep furrow in the middle of 

 the alleys, and at other times to raife a ridge in them ; and yet, in 

 whatever form the alleys were, I had only my plough to perfornv 

 thefe diiferent operations. It did notfeem to me reafonable to fup- 

 pofe, that twofo difrereM works couldbe done equally well- with one 

 and the fame inftrument: whence I concluded that it was neceflary 

 to have an inftrument for each of thefe purpofes. 



*' Ifoon found v/hat I wanted. The cultivator with mould-boards 

 opens a large furrow in the middle of the alleys, by turning over the 

 earth at- the fame time to both fides. The plough with two ftiares, 

 on the contrary, at the fame time takes up the earth on both fides,, 

 and'tarns'it into- the furrow, which- it fills, and thereby lays the 

 fou-ndatibn of' a new bed. 



*' Thefe inftruments have this farther advantage, that, without- 

 requiring a greater number of oxen or horfcs, they perform- as mucb- 

 work at once going-over the ground^ as the plough can do in tvvo> 

 and fometimes three operations. I return to my experiment. 



*' On- the twenty-third of June, the wheat fuftained a violent hur- 

 ricane, which lafted an hour. Several great pear-trees were blown 

 down in my orchards, and many large branches were broke oft' from 

 other trees. 



" On the eighth of July, a fcorching wind blew, which ft:ied a 

 great deal of the ripe corn. 



" On the ninth-, the wheat was reaped. 



*' A month after harveft, it vv'as threftied. 



"This field yielded 1575 pounds of wheat ; deducing frona 

 which the 34 pounds 1-4 ounces ufed for feed, the neat produce 



re- 



