^8 Remarks on different Grains. 



came to their full growth too rapidly, when the wea- 

 ther became warm. We have suftered little by mildew 

 or blight, but the Hessian fly has infested some of my 

 neighbours' fields. Some farmers, not accustomed to 

 heavy and luxuriant crops, say, " Give me straw in 

 plenty, and I will ensure enough grain." I have never 

 observed the soundness of this remark. Land apply- 

 ing its powers to a crop of straw, has the less to give 

 to the ear. The heads of my grain have been invaria- 

 bly the smallest, when the straw was the most luxuri- 

 ant and rank. Tlie falling of the crop, too, is not the 

 least of the evils of over abundant straw. Sowing 

 too much seed encreases the numbers, but not the 

 strength of the stalks. I was, in my youth, an advo- 

 cate for three pecks of seed per acre. I now think five 

 (or six at the utmost) pecks sufficient. 



Contrary to all expectation, at the opening of this sin- 

 gularly unpromising season, my crops of grass have 

 been abundant beyond most former years. I believe 

 the grass crops have, every where, been good : espe- 

 cially on high grounds. My watered meadows are in, 

 ferior to other grass lands. The season operated on 

 them very unfavourably. Labourers are more scarce 

 than they have been for many years. The causes may 

 be readily assigned. R. P. 



POSTSCRIPT. 



November 1, 1812. Syrian^ Smyrjia^ or Jerusalem 

 Wheat, Ble d'Ahondancc. 



To this grain I have now given the fairest experi. 

 tnent within my power, but I do not think the field in- 



