196 Season 0/I8I6. 



tions, and indeed far exceed them. I had a field of corn 

 ploughed last fall, late in the season, it having been a clo- 

 ver field, with a view of preventing the grub, or cut 

 worm, from destroying the corn plant, this spring, but I 

 find that the worm is even worse in this field, thus pre- 

 pared, than it is in fields that were broke up early in the 

 spring for corn. If this hasty communication can possi- 

 bly be of any service to the important interests of agri- 

 culture, I shall be happy in having contributed my mite. 

 Very respectfully, 



Your obedient humble servant, 



John Gardner.* 

 Mr. Roberts Vaux. 



* It is unfortunate, that in the practice of an art in which man- 

 kind, in a state of civilization, are so much interested; there 

 should be not only adverse opinions, but clashing facts. It must 

 be from the balance of the latter only, that a profitable result can 

 be established. Nor can we be so well informed, as we ought, of 

 the circumstances and steps, under and by which, the conclusion, 

 as to even the alleged fact, is arrived at. Much inquiry is now 

 in progress on the subject of fall ploughing, as it affects the cut 

 worm. In itself, if no such enemy to our corn crops existed, it 

 is of essential use ; not only as it meliorates the soil, but for- 

 wards the business of a farmer, by performing a preparatory ope- 

 ration to planting, at a time of more leisure than the opening of 

 spring generally admits. It will be found, however, that the ba- 

 lance of facts is favourable to the practice of fall ploughing, well 

 executed ; and especially, if lime be applied, and well harrowed 

 in ; at a season when it is placed in a situation to have its caus- 

 ticity subdued, by the ensuing winter. Some who plough deep and 

 well in the spring, find lime to operate so as to repel or destroy the 

 grub, in a great degree. But the fact, of fall ploughing being a re- 

 medy, or preventive, (and it may not be the sole preventive, or re- 

 medy,) is all essential. It may not always succeed ; nor does any 

 other agricultural operation. The cut worms may be, as they ha\ ' 



