Chap, n. BY M. t>E CM ATE AU-VIEUX. 275 



bandry is lefs profitable than the new, in which the field intended 

 to be fown is firft laid out in beds : for, after fliewing that lands 

 fo laid out and fown, produce confiderably more than thofe which 

 are fown only in equally diilant rows, with the drill-plough, as 

 has been demonftrated in the foregoing article ; and likewife, that 

 thefe laft produce confiderably more than they ufed to do in the old 

 hufbandryj the fuperiority of the crops which the beds afford, will 

 certainly appear flill more ftriking, and no doubt will remain of 

 the excellence of the new culture. 



" To this end we fhall compare the neat produce of the three 

 farms mentioned in the foregoing article, this year 1756, with that 

 of the fields which I have laid out in beds. 



" In confequence of the general opinion, that dung, or any other 

 kind of manure, contributes greatly to fertilize land, and makes it 

 produce more than it would otherwife ; it is to be obferved in the 

 fi.rH: place, that part of the land of the three farms was dunged, and 

 that my fields, cultivated in beds, had not had any dung or other 

 manure for many years. 



" Secondly, that the lands of the three farms are alv/ays fallowed 

 every fecond year ; whereas my fields have been fowed every year 

 fince they firft began to be cultivated in the new way, and have 

 already borne feveral fucceflive crops. 



" Thirdly, it fliould be confidered, that the year 1756 was ex- 

 tremely rainy : a circumilance by no means favourable to flrong 

 ftiif foils, like mine ; and at the farne time rather beneficial than 

 hurtful to the tljree farms, a great part of which is light land, which 

 requires frequent rain. 



*' Laflly, the reader will remember, that about a third part of 

 the fecond farm was overflowed, whereby the crop was diminifhed : 

 but on the other hand, I think this damage is pretty nearly com- 

 penfated by the accidents which happened to my field, (experiment 

 No. IV. fp. 2^2. J which certainly leflened the crop confiderably. 



" Thefe refleclions feemed to me neceflary, in order to give a juft 

 idea of the comparifon I am going to make, which, I believe, will 

 be fufficient to prove what I purpofed to fhew. ' ■ '-•- 



N n 2 Com- 



