the Ravages of Slugs, Grubs, $c. 77" 



the late sown wheats, and that such as are sown early, receive little or 

 no injury. When the grain has arrived at a certain degree of hard- 

 ness and consistency, (which may he the case, with the early sown 

 wheats, before the insect has made any material progress, or even 

 commenced its operations,) the plant is not so liable to be injured. 



Conclusion. 



It is much to be lamented, that so important an object as the means 

 of preventing the destruction of our most valuable crops of grain, 

 should not have attracted the attention of Government ; by whose 

 means, discoveries might be made, which can never be expected from 

 private exertions. By public encouragement, the inquiry would be 

 carried on with energy, and probed to the bottom ; and the most ef- 

 fectual means of preventing the mischief, would probably be ascertain- 

 ed. What subject can be compared to it in point of importance ? 

 At present, we are liable every year, not only to the loss of some mil- 

 lions worth of grain, but to all the mischiefs of scarcity, and even of 

 famine. These would not probably be experienced in this country, 

 were the ravages of insects, and the destruction by the mildew * pre- 

 vented ; objects which are certainly in a great measure attainable, if 

 the inquiries regarding them were prosecuted with vigour, and if no 

 expense were spared in collecting facts, and ascertaining, by careful 

 experiments, the means by which such frightful losses might be pre- 

 vented. 



No. V. 



PROGRESS OF A SHORT-HORNED BULLOCK. 



The following account of the progress of a short-horned bullock, 

 was drawn up, at my particular request, by C. Mason, Esq. of Clif- 

 ton, near Rushyford, in the county of Durham, and throws much 

 light on a curious and most interesting subject, the expense and pro- 

 fit of breeding that species of stock. 



* The writer of this paper, from his zeal to promote the improvement of Bri- 

 tish agriculture, was led personally to examine the husbandry of the Nether- 

 lands. He there found, that The Rust" or mildew, which frequently occa- 

 sions such devastation to the crops of wheat in England, was scarcely known. 

 He prevailed on the Board of Agriculture, to offer premiums for the best ac- 

 counts of Flemish husbandry ; and regarding that point in particular, several 

 valuable papers were sent over ; but unfortunately, about the time they arrived, 

 Government had resolved to abolish the Board, and actually sent all the papers 

 belonging to that institution, (and these most valuable documents nmong the 

 rest), la the Tower of London, where they still remain, carefully locked up, as. 

 if information that might prevent the miseries of scarcity or famine was unfit to 

 be promulgated, and should be carefully concealed from the public eye. 



