24 Account of Sedge Wheat, fcfc. 



thin, and the crop was indifferent ; but it was not stunt. 

 ed. In 1812 I sowed it with red-chaff smooth wheat 

 from Delaware, in April 1813 it was all destroyed. I 

 ploughed it up, planted it in Indian corn, and sowed it with 

 smooth wheat from Wye$ and had in 1814 a very abun- 

 dant crop of straw. In 1815 the field opposite to this lot 

 produced a crop of red wheat, but about two acres ad- 

 joining the lot, only divided by the public road was very 

 much injured. 



I have known stiff and light, wet and dry, soils affect- 

 ed with this disease, where manure had not been applied; 

 and I have stated these facts, which have occurred on my 

 own lands, to shew the whimsical character of the dis- 

 ease, to invite observation and experiment, to discover 

 its cause. I believe it to be a worm, and, as far as my 

 observations have extended, I have never, in any instance, 

 known it to be distributed in the manure, which I have 

 generally applied to such parts of my land as most re- 

 quired it. 



I will observe Sir, that my inquiries on this subject, 

 have not coroborated my own observations. I have been 

 informed by one gentleman, that a crop of oats, by ano- 

 ther that a crop of Buckwheat, and by a third, that lime- 

 ing his stunted ground had cured the disease. The oat 

 crop has not succeeded with me ; the buckwheat I have 

 not tried, but I would rather suppose the gentlemen mis- 

 took the complaint. The lime I have more confidence 

 in, but the remedy here where lime is very dear, would 

 be impracticable. Mr. Binns, of Virginia, has recom- 

 mended sprinkling brimstone over, or around the spots 

 affected : but that application would be too expensive, 

 and I believe would be ineffectual. 



