Chap. II. BY M. DE CHATEAU-VIEUX.,; 251 



was cultivated in the new way, would have imagined the advantage 

 to be near fo great as it really is, had not the above comparifons 

 been likewife laid before them. If nothing but the hope of great 

 profit can recommend the new hulbandry to the general pradlice of 

 our farmers, the above calculations ought at once to determine them; 

 fince they here fee that the fame field produced much more grain in 

 five years, and even in four, when managed in the new way; than 

 it produced before in fixteen years, whilft cultivated according to the 

 old method. I confefs that when I firft began to praftife the new 

 hufbandry, I did not expedl fo great advantages. They might have 

 been greater ftill, if I had not committed in the firft years, faults 

 which confiderably diminiflied the crops of 1752 and 1753. Befides 

 thofe firft faults, I committed another which alfo greatly leflened my 

 crops. I was not aware that every f eld that is plowed deeper than it 

 has ufiially bec-n, often lofes of its fertility for fame years, unlefs it be 

 afified by a fiifficient quantity of manure. The new earth which is 

 brought up to the furface by thefe plowings, remains fo hard and 

 compaifl that it cannot be fit for the nourifliment of plants, till after 

 it has been well broken by repeated plowings, and as it were ripened 

 by the influence of the air, CSc. 



" This obfervation Avill be particularly ufeful to all beginners in 

 the new hufbandry. They muft not be furprized if their firft crops 

 do not anfwer their wilhes : but the deeper they plow at firft, the 

 greater fuccefs they mayjuftly exped: afterwards. In the mean 

 time they muft fuffer patiently the inconvenience I have been fpeak- 

 ing of, or remedy it by ufing a great deal of manure. 



" Would it be reafonable to defire greater advantages than thofe 

 we have proved above ? any man of fenfe may furely be fatisfied 

 with them. But by what fatality does it happen, that infinite num- 

 bers will not, or cannot fee them ? I know, for inftance, that except 

 a certain number of perfons who have ftudied the new hulbandry 

 thoroughly, or praiilifed it with care, it is generally thought in this 

 country, that the field No. 2. which I have been fpeaking of, has 

 produced me lefs corn than it would have done it it had continued to 

 be cultivated in the old way. Whence does this notion arife ? Surely 

 from this, that men are apt to judge too precipitately, without examining 

 fiificiently , or calculating right. Whoever really wilhes to be in- 

 formed, and defires to promote the public welfare, and his own 

 private good, may ealily attain thofe ends ; but it muft be by a 



K k 2 dif- 



