Listing ; Wheat Steeps. 233 



ber, highly useful, thus collected. These would be lost, 

 if written communications were expected ; for none such 

 would be made. Several instances of listing, or throw- 

 ing furrows together, and leaving balks for the grubs to 

 feed on, were stated. This slovenly practice had suc- 

 ceeded in some instances, but in others it had entirely 

 failed. So that vicious husbandry meets with the fate of 

 moral vices, — it does not always succeed : and in that 

 case adds self reproach to disappointment ; the more bitter 

 when nothing is gained by the reprehensible endeavour. 



One member had been in the practice, (not approved,) 

 of planting Indian corn in a field wherein corn had been 

 the preceding year. He stated that the grub never an- 

 noyed him ; and supposed his escape to be owing to the 

 parent of the grub preferring soddy ground to that loose 

 by the tillage and cleanliness of the corn crop of the pre- 

 ceding year. 



One member had a smutty crop of wheat on his low 

 ground ; but the grain was fair and free from smut on 

 the hilly part of the same field : the seed of the whole be- 

 ing alike. Query, Why ? 



I had steeped in a solution of copperas, as directed by 

 the Flemish receipt, published in Sir J. Sinclair^ Tour 

 through Flanders, a bushel of my seed wheat, last fall. 

 Another bushel, I wetted and rolled in plaster. The 

 straw of both was very fair, and perceptibly brighter than 

 that of the rest of the crop, which was all good. But 

 that rolled in plaster was far better headed, and in every 

 way superior. A small part of my farm I reserve, for 

 culture under my own direction. 



I should have mentioned, that the crops of corn are not 

 generally good ; having been much injured bv the grub. 



2P 



