Chap. II. BY M. DE CHATEAU- VIEUX. 223 



calculations of the articles II. V. and VI. This demonrcnition is 

 fully confirmed by the experiments of 1754, the produdls of which 

 were greater, and their refults ftill more favourable to the new- 

 method. 



*' What has been already faid on this important fubjeft, fliews, 

 what the neceffary operations are, how eafily they may be perform- 

 ed, and what are the points which merit mofl attention. The 

 theory of the new hufbandry is now fully proved by experiments ; 

 and that great principle, the neceflity of preparing the earth well 

 by proper iHrrings, fo clearly demonftrated, that it would be need- 

 Jefs to iniifl any longer on it. 



" But the fowing of the land, which is of the utmofi; importance 

 to the fuccefs of the crops, depends greatly on the time and feafon 

 when it is performed, and the care with which it is done. We 

 ihall therefore give fome obfervations on that head. 



" The three moft effential things which conftitute a good fowing, 

 feem to me to be, next to the proper preparation of the earth, firft, 

 the time of fowing ; fecondly, the choice of the feed ; and third- 

 ly, the due temperature of the feafon, with refpedt to heat or. 

 cold, drought, or wet ; all which greatly influence the ftate of the 

 earth. 



" With regard to the time of fowing, I fay, it Is better to fow 

 early, than too late, provided the feafon Avill admit of it. The 

 plants are better able to refift the feverity of the winter, after they 

 have acquired a certain degree of ftrength. There have been years 

 in which fields fowed very late, for inftance in December, have done 

 extremely well : but that ought not to be made a general rule : ex- 

 perience fhewing that fuch late fowings very feidom anfv/er. 



" By too early fowing, the corn is equally expofed to other dan- 

 gers. The ftalks which Ihoot up before winter, cannot well bear 

 hard frofts, which would do no hurt to the wheat when but in blades. 

 I obferved, in the two lafl years, 1753 and 1754, that the firft fovN'n 

 wheat, which was attacked bv the rr/Jl in autumn, was much more 

 hurt by it than any other. Therefore, I think the beft time for 

 fowing, in fuch a climate as Geneva, is, from the 2oLh of Augufl:, 

 to the end of September. If, however, it fhould not be prn«5licable 

 to fow all the lands within that time, the firft fortnight in Ocftober 

 may likewife be taken in : but this I would not advife, except in a 

 cafe of necefi"ity. If all the land Ihould not be fownv/ithin that 

 time, I think one might expect a better crop by deferring to fow 



till 



