TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. [ 83 



evident that the rains, or moisture, from the atmospliere, would 

 generally penetrate beyond the reach of the powerful heats. Thus 

 a sufficiency of moisture would be secured for the purposes of 

 vegetation ; and when young grass, or any other crop, shall 

 have covered this surface of the soil, it would be a further security 

 and protection in retaining the moisture. 



It is evident therefore, that ploughing the old pastures, and 

 raking out the old roots, or tufted grass, and burning them, and 

 then harrowing the lands, will be a vast improvement, particularly 

 in those parts of the island which are the soonest affected by the 

 absence of rains. 



This mode of improvement, which could not be costly, after a 

 little practice in ploughing, would evidently be the best means 

 of securing good crops of grass, and thereby averting the effects 

 of seasons of drought. 



In confirmation of what I have already stated, in pages 24 to 

 28 of the Laws and Ordinances, upon the advantages of raising 

 green corn crops for feeding cattle, I will here relate the com- 

 plete success which has attended Colonel Brough ton's experiment 

 at Long Wood. 



About ten acres of oats were sown on the 1st of August, 1810, 

 and although there has been very little rain since that time, the 

 crop is green and beautiful ; whilst all the pastures have been 

 severely afflicted by the heats. The corn is now about three or 

 four feet high, very thick and just coming into ear. Colonel 

 Broughton, Mr. Porteous, and myself, had yesterday in our 

 presence cut down a square rod (that is, a square 16^^ feet). This 

 produce of exceeding fine fodder weighed 227 pounds, which 

 multiplied by 160 (the number of square rods in an acre), gives 

 36,320 pounds, or 16 tons and a quarter per acre. The whole 

 of the crop in its present green state, is immediately to be cut 



