Chap.II, BY M. DE CHATEAU-VIEUX. ^07 



moifture all around it, in whatever manner it gets there, mult liirely 

 be very prejudicial to the grain ; and the longer it ftays there, the 

 more hurt it mull: do. We have feen fuch continual rains in fome 

 years, that, for feveral days together, even the outfide of the ears could 

 not be wiped dry, but they have remained wet lb long that the corn 

 has fprouted while it liood upon the ground. But, without fuppoling 

 the mifchief to be always fo great; wet, by remaining too long upon 

 the grain, may, in fome meafure, rufl it a little, as it rufts ftraw while 

 landing. I have feen this happen ; though indeed but feldom. 



" The imperfe(5lion that is often found in the quality of the grain, 

 and its fometimes lefs pleafing tafte, may, with great probability, 

 be imputed to this cafe : and perhaps it may be found upon ftridier 

 inquiries than thofe I have hitherto been able to make, that the 

 moifture too long retained round the grain, towards the latter end of 

 its growth, and particularly that of cold dews, is the real caufe of 

 the fatal and fudden changes \^'hich often befall wheat in grain, a , 

 little before harveft, and rob us of the beft part of a crop which : 

 was juft before thought to be quite out of danger. 



" When the wheat is inclined, its ftalks bent downwards arch- - 

 wife, and the point of the ears turned towards the ground, it is 

 plain that no v/et, either of rain or dews, can fo eafily get at the 

 grain, and that only the outer furface of the hufks will be imme- - 

 diately touched by it : the water, not being able in this fituation to 

 glide in between the interfaces of the hufks, will drip down from 

 one hufk to another till it comes to the point, and then fall to 

 the ground. Thefe hufks are foon dried again ; and the ears which 

 grow in this manner are much lefs expofed to the confequences of 

 the wet, than thofe which remain in a perpendicular fituation ; and 

 confequently their grain ought to be better conditioned. 



" This advantage can be enjoyed only in the new hufbandry : for 

 in the old way, the wheat is either lodged quite fiat, or ftands quite 

 upright : fcarce any of its ftalks are ftrong enough to fupport the- 

 fmall weight of the ear, when bent and inclined towards the earth, ■ 



A.R" 



