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General David Humphreys, President of the Connecticut 

 Society of Agriculture, to Judge Peters, President of 

 the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, 

 respecting the effect of the Season of 1816. 



Humphrey sville, Conn, Dec, 1816. 



Dear Sir, 



In acknowledging the receipt of your respected com. 

 munication of the 30th of October, in which several very 

 interesting questions are proposed, respecting the extra- 

 ordinary season of 1816, I can only answer in part, and 

 refer you to some anticipated facts and observations, on 

 the same subject, in an article, inserted at the close of our 

 Agricultural and Economical Almanack for 1817. 



The principal injury done by early and late frosts, fell 

 on our most important crop, Indian corn. Of this, there 

 is not more than half the usual quantity ; and, in many 

 places in this neighbourhood, not more than a quarter 

 part sufficiently hard and ripe for being manufactured 

 into meal. That which is unripe, mouldy or soft, when 

 given as feed to hogs and cattle, has little tending to 

 fatten them. Mixing and grinding it with oil cake, has 

 been found the best mode of using it. 



Grasses, for pasturage and hay, have been diminished 

 by the drought about 50 per cent. The hay is estimated 

 to be nearly 25 per cent better than it is in wet seasons ; 

 containing considerably more nutriment, and having 



been well cured. 



All kinds of grain were a longer time than usual in till- 

 ing and ripening ; which is considered one reason, why 

 those which came to maturity are more than commonly 



