126 On the Stunt in Wheat. 



had recourse to the memoirs of the Philadelphia Agricul- 

 tural Society, which gave to me its first character. I con- 

 tinued to sow it the two succeeding years, the last of 

 which it had so rapidly spread, as to cover forty acres that 

 barely returned the seed. The profits of the farm being 

 considerably diminished, I determined to change my 

 seed, disposing of every bushel, and purchased one huiv 

 dred bushels of what is known here by the blue stem 

 wheat, grown thirty miles distant. I sowed a part of it 

 on the two acres ; the sedge first appeared, and a better 

 crop both as to quantity and quality I never cut : the 

 same has been continued on the unproductive forty acres 

 mentioned, and the residue of the field, producing most 

 abundantly and to the entire extinction of the sedge ; all 

 which I think forcibly urge the expediency of a frequent 

 change of seed, the neglect of which no doubt is general- 

 ly the cause of disease in the crops, and ruin to the far- 

 mer. The loss I sustained had induced me to advertise 

 my farm for sale, presuming it was irrecoverable : no 

 purchaser offering, it has reassumed in my estimation its 

 original worth.* 



With sentiments of respect, 

 I am, Dear Sir, 



With great consideration and esteem, 

 Your obedient servant, 



Thos. Plater. 

 Hon. Wm. Tilghman, Esq. 



* See my remarks on this subject, in a note, folio 25, which should 

 have had my signature j not for its weight, but my responsibility. 



R. Peteks. 



