Chap. II. -BY M. DE CHATEAU-VIEUX, 205 



•advantage in this hufbandry, which indeed I fufpecled from my 

 'j;,very firft experiments. It is of importance to take notice of it 

 here. 



" All the experiments that have been' made by different perfons, 

 and in different places, have fliewn us, that wheat cultivated in the 

 new way is very little apt to lodge ; • that the great ftrength of its 

 ftalk fupports it,- and that it refifts the force of the wind much 

 better than the common wheat, the ftalks of which almoft always 

 give way in ftormy weather. 



'• It muft however be owned, that the wheat of the new culture 

 is not abfolutely able to refift extremely violent winds accompanied 

 with great rain. But would anyone have expedled that the accident 

 I am going to fpeak of, far from hurting the wheat, feemed to me to 

 be of great fervice to it, particularly in very rainy years, or when 

 cold dews fall towards the time of its ripening ? 



" I obferved, in the account of my experiments in 1752, that my 

 wheat was not lodged ; but that fome of it was bent, without fuffer- - 

 ing any damage thereby. I added, that I imagined it might be offer-- - 

 vice to the wheat not to remain always in an exaSlly perpendicular fitua'- 

 tion. I purpofed watching clofely what eftecft the lituation of this 

 would have. I could not be fatisfied in this in 1753 ; but the year 

 1754 furnifhed me with obfervations, and afforded me advantages 

 with refpeit to the quality of wheat,which it is always of very great 

 fervice to know. 



" Wheat grows up and fhoots almoft perpendicularly : it does not 

 alter this direction, unlefs it meets with fome obilacle : the moft for- 

 midable is a violent wind, accompanied with great and heavy rains 

 which lodge it. Every one knows, that when wheat is lodged foon 

 after it has done bloffoming, it yields fcarce any grain, and that what 

 it does yield is very fmall and Ihrivelled, and contains very little flour : 

 a manifeft, and oftentimes very confiderable lofs. 



" The wheat that is only bent, continues to grow in that fitua- 

 tion : its ears fwell and fill equally with grain to the very point, 

 abounding plentifully with good and very nourifliing flour. Thus 

 no lofs is fuftained in this cafe ; and this inclined lituation of the 

 ftalk does not at all interrupt the funftions of the nutritive juices, as 

 in v/heat that is lodged. The growth of the plants in this lituation, 

 proves plainly that their vegetation is not fiopt.. 



" This bending of the ftalks no way hinders a fkilful and careful 

 hulbandman from giving another plowing, if it he necelfary. I had 



k 



