138 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



The barley wheat, sown on the 7th of July, was begun to be 

 transplanted on the 25th of August : that is 49 days after sowing. 

 The whole of the two acres was, at this tiine, so extremely thick, 

 that plants for many acres might have been well spared ; whilst 

 the thinning of this large seed bed will, no doubt, make it more 

 productive of corn. Alleys, in breadth about 15 inches, have 

 been opened in parallel lines six feet asunder. These alleys admit 

 air through the crop, and furnish numerous plants ; they also 

 form the paths for the men to enter, and thin the intermediate 

 beds ; which is tlius done without trampling the corn. 



About four acres have been already transplanted.* The plants 

 are remarkably fine, measuring 18 to 24 inches high, exclusive of 

 the root: each plant is the produce of one seed. Some were cut 

 at 6 inches above the root ; and others at 9 inches ; that is, just 

 beyond the spindle ; according to their size. I conceive th.it 

 presenting in this manner open tubes to the atmospheric air and 

 moisture and dews, will be advantageous, by admitting these 

 internally to the roots, which might be prevented in some mea- 

 sure, if the entire plants were set. These, at the extremities, are 

 apt to wither and dry, and consequently become less fit for 

 imbibing moisture ; which, at any rate, could only be received 

 externally on the leaves. The best of these two modes will also 

 be soon ascertained, as several hundred plants have been set out 

 in the state they were drawn from the seed bed : this will afford 

 a comparative experiment. 



the roots and stems, when strong, do not yield the proper nourishment ; or that it is 

 noxious to these insects to be deprived of the sun's warmth, and enveloped in damp and 

 moisture at the roots of green corn, the fact is, all that entered, only a few yards, were 

 found dead. 



* Transplanted wheat, at St. Helena, will not succeed, unless the season be wet for 

 some time after the plants are set out j and long continuance of very dry weather proved 

 fatal to this crop. 



