ON RYE. 65 



its growth as usual ; and on the 18th and 19th of June it was 

 carefully ploughed in. The second crop was ploughed in on the 

 6th and 7th of August. On the 14th and 15th of September it 

 was sowed in the usual manner, namely, a small strip of land 

 was ploughed and the seed sown immediately upon the furrow, 

 and then harrowed in. Then another strip of land was ploughed, 

 and so on until the whole was completed. One bushel per acre 

 was sowed as usual. The seed was originally obtained from a 

 fanner in this vicinity, and I suppose is similar to that which is 

 generally used. We have never prepared our seed in any man- 

 ner, but have directed our attention solely to the preparation of 

 the land. And to this we attribute our success. Owing to the 

 unusual severity of the winter, the crop was considerably w^inter 

 killed, but recovered very soon in the spring, excepting in the 

 midfurrows. There, as the land lies very level, the water settled 

 and so completely destroyed the rye that they continued bare 

 the whole season. This would of course cause some diminution 

 in the crop ; perhaps a bushel or two. The rye was reaped 

 at the usual season, and, as the weather was favorable, immedi- 

 ately put into the barn. The land contained one acre and thir- 

 teen rods and yielded forty-six bushels and three -pecks. A re- 

 marTcably fine sample. 



In entering a claim for your premium, I would ask your atten- 

 tion particularly to the process of cultivation. It is I believe en- 

 tirely new ; and capable of general application. 



Sowing the seed immediately after the plough, we consider 

 very advantageous to the crop. The soil being then moist, 

 causes the seed to spring immediately, and gives a forwardness 

 and vigor to the plants which they ever after retain. 



The process of ploughing in three crops of weeds before the 

 seed is sown, very much enriches the soil. It would be alto- 

 gether unnecessary to attempt to refute the notion, that by such a 

 process nothing more is applied to the soil, than was before de- 

 rived from it. If one could not discover by the light which 

 Chemistry has shed upon the subject of Agriculture, sufficient 

 7'efl5ons for the contrary conclusion, observation, one would think, 

 would be sufficient to convince any intelligent man of the fact. 

 9 



