AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM 85^. 



though it be adsnitedj that any given quantity of hind, in 

 the latter, vvii! produce more straw, than the same quan- > 

 tity i^ the forward, it does not i"ol!ow,'that the same ef- 

 fect would flow, from a given quantity of hibour ; be- 

 cause the savings of labour, being equal to the defici- 

 ency of straws, may be converted to tJie increase of the 

 crop, and thus more than compensate for that dcticiency. 

 Besides, if these ai'gumcnts are just, they exiiibit an ar- 

 ticle of agricultural econom}', of great importance. The 

 %vho!e labour of removing the surpUis of straw, produced 

 by the latter, beyond the forward wheat — of converting 

 it. into manure — and of restoring it to the soil, is saved, 

 and nothing is lost by the soil from ths saving, because 

 the forward wheat does not take this surplus from the soil. 



The shortness of tiie ear, is the next o!)ject of consi- 

 deration, as it obviously j)rognosticates a diminution of 

 the crop. 



It is evident, tliat an ear, one third longer, if >vell filled 

 taust produce the most wheat. But it cannot be con- 

 cluded from hence, that an equal quantity of land, or of 

 labour, %vill produce more latter than forward wheat. 

 Because, 



1. As to the land, it may bear being sown one third 

 thicker in forward w!)eat, than in latter, and if so, the 

 objection arising Irom a deficiency of straw, is also re- 

 moved. But if witJi an equal quantity of seed, the crop 

 of giain will be equal, and rhe land can bear a proportion 

 of the forward seed beyond the latter, it follows that the 

 crop per acre of the forward wheat will be greater. 

 Whilst it will impoverish the soil less, by reason of being 

 separated from it soonest. Nor is this improbable, be- 

 cause all the exclusive casualties to wliich the latter 

 \vheat is liable, ought to be taken into the computation. 

 And because the grain of the forward wheat^ is almost 

 invariably best filled and heaviest. 



2., Should this expectation turn out to be groundless 

 as to an equal quantity ct'lund, yet it may be safldy af- 

 firmed, that an equal quantity cflubour, v/ould- nt least 

 produce an equality in the crops, boih as to grain and 

 Straw. More ground might be kept iu tliiage, because 



