218 Season of 1816. 



part of the country, I shall continue to sow it, on account 

 of its great productiveness. I have never had the smut 

 in it yet. Four years ago I let Mr. Richard P. Barton 

 have thirty bushels, to get in seed, which produced a fine 

 wholesome crop, but the proceeds of the next sowing, 

 from the same wheat, were very much smutted. Query, 

 How can this be accounted for? 4th. With respect to 

 the stunt, I have said already that we scarcely know it. 

 5th. With respect to the grub worm, which has scourg- 

 ed us severely, I can give you but one experimental 

 remedy, — picking them out of the hill of corn, and 

 killing them ; this is laborious, but certain. We find 

 that no ground is always exempt from the worm, ex- 

 cept it be new ground. Wheat stubble is frequently 

 destroyed, when clover land escapes. Fall ploughing 

 fails when spring succeeds. I have lost twenty acres 

 this season, not being able to keep the worms out of 

 more than forty acres. 6th. The philosophy of the cut 

 worm is but little known here. We want spirited in- 

 quirers on those subjects. Should I be able to get any 

 useful hints about them, I shall communicate them. 

 Yours with regard and respect, 



R. K. Meade. 

 Hon. Richard Peters. 



Many years ago I had heard much of the Jones's wheat, (now 

 called Lawler,) as to its capacity to resist the fly. I procured 

 the best seed ; and faithfully cultivated it, during several years. 

 I never have been injured by the fly, in any degree equal to ma- 

 ny others. I did not perceive the advantages, on this account, 

 this wheat is said now to possess. I abandoned it entirely, as un- 

 productive. It grew in single stems $ and I lost more by scanty 

 crops of this wheat, than I had ever suffered by the ravages of 

 the fly. R - Peters. 



