12 MR. neaviiall'b address. 



A piece I planted with fifteen different kinds, mixed, yielded a 

 bushel aud six quarts on half an acre, more than that planted with 

 one kind only, and weighed two pounds more to the bushel. 



But notwithstanding these experiments were made and reported 

 •with the doings of the Society, some six years ago, but few I be- 

 lieve have tried them ; for our farmers, whatever may be their re- 

 ligious or political creeds, are, as farmers, all conservatives; and 

 their extreme cautiousness generally prevents their adopting any 

 well tested experiment, until they can see grey hairs upon it.* 



It has generally been thought by farmers, that the ripest corn and 

 potatoes were the best for seed. But so far as my observation goes, 

 corn gathered soon after it is out of the milk, and is but partially 

 glazed, will vegetate and come up, about two days earlier than that 

 which is fully ripened in the field ; and as the most critical time for 

 the growing plant is while it lies buried in the earth, the sooner it is 

 up, the less danger in case of storms and wet weather. 



Potatoes, to raise seed, should be planted late in the season, that 

 their growth may be checked by the frost before they are ripe ; as 

 the unripe potatoes will produce an earlier and more abundant crop 

 than those fully ripened. 



The reports we have had upon manures, the process of making 

 composts, and the different materials adapted for the purpose, the 

 different kinds of manure, and their adaptedness to different soils, 

 leave but little further to be said upon the subject ; except per- 

 haps in their application. 



After the old mode of manuring in the hill, was succeeded by 

 ploughing and turning it under the furrow, we thought we had se- 

 cured it from waste, by evaporation, although applied in a coarse state; 

 but in this I am confident we were mistaken. There is no mode by 

 which manure may be applied to land, in a coarse, unbroken state, 

 and be preserved from waste, either by ploughing or harrowing. 



* Since tliis Address was delivered I have found in the Memoirs of tlie Philadelphia Society for 

 promoting Agriculture, a communication from John Lorrain, Esq., stating experiments made by 

 liim on mixed crops of Indian corn and potatoes. He says, '"he has frequently plajited Indian corn 

 in single rows, eight leet asunder, and dropped single corn two feet distant I'roni each other in rows 

 so as to stand in single plants ; when the corn was ridged, potatoes were planted in the clearing 

 out furrows which were filled with rotted diuig, and closed by two furrows, backed over llic pota- 

 toes by the plough. I have had repeatedly forty to fifty bushels of shelled corn, and one hundred 

 to one hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes, to the acre. In weigh, tlhe crop always exceeded the 

 best corn cultivated in the common M-ay. This mode was suggested to nie by General Wajuinc- 

 lo.N, who told nie he had great success in it.' 



