TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 105 



This crop was sown on the 27th June 1811, and therefore had 

 been 126 days in the soil. The drills in which the seeds were 

 planted were three feet asunder ; and the seeds were so close as 

 to touch each other. This appeared to me injudicious — because 

 the intervals between the rows exposed too much naked surface 

 to the sun's rays, and the young plants coming up too thick must 

 rob each other of nourishment, and consequently retard their 

 growth. I therefore directed the gardener to prepare a bed for 

 a different mode of culture. 



I have found by experience that on this island, it is of much 

 importance to make a crop cover the ground as speedily as pos- 

 sible. When this is effected, as the soil is shaded, the moisture 

 cannot be easily exhaled — and every passing shower, as well as 

 dews, are of great service ; because they descend to the roots, and 

 promote vegetation. On the contrary, the dews or light rains 

 falling upon a naked interval, produce no effect upon the crop ; 

 for they are immediately taken up in the day by the sun's heat, 

 and by the drying winds. This is the case even on those days 

 when occasionally several drizzling rains, or light showers have 

 fallen : and that these are of no real benefit may be observed by 

 the pastures, where no improvement is seen until they have been 

 well soaked by heavy rains. 



In the bed, which was prepared, drills at 15 inches asunder 

 were opened about three inches deep ; and the beans put in at 

 three inches from each other ; they were then covered with the 

 soil. 



This experiment was begun on the 9th of January 1812. On 

 the 19th the young plants were finely come up ; and on the 20th 

 of February there were some in blossom. They were uncommonly 

 exuberant and strong — and had much larger leaves, and were in 

 every respect greatly superior to an adjoining crop, sown nine 



P 



