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along in the furrow, with the top on the furrow-slice, at a distance of 

 a foot apart, as fast as a man could walk ; and soon following with a 

 plough and covering them. It is well to go over the ground with a 

 hoe to relieve plants that may be too deeply buried, and to cover 

 those which may by accident have been left exposed. They are al- 

 most certain to live ; and I have thought the work not more than to 

 thin them out when they are sowed thickly, where they are to stand. 

 There is an additional advantage in this method, that the plants may 

 be forwarded in the nursery, when it is not in your power to prepare 

 the land in season for sowing the crop where they are intended to 

 stand. I am not able to say whether the sugar-beet is as tenacious 

 of life ; but the experiments of Mr. Ashburner lead to such a pre- 

 sumption. 



4. Oats. — John M. Hurlbut in Great Barrington, whose estab- 

 lishment within and without doors is a beautiful pattern of exact, 

 neat, and profitable husbandry rarely eqnalled, is of opinion that oats 

 should be sown just at the time when the grass starts vigorously. 

 The crop is injuriously affected from too early or too late planting. 



5. Wheat. — The Messrs. Spurrs and Messrs. Curtis of Shef- 

 field, Messrs. Bacon of Richmond, John L. Cooper and Philo 

 Parks of Sheffield, John M. Hurlbut and Ralph Taylor of Great 

 Barrington, Eldad Post of Lenox, and others, have used lime for 

 wheat without any perceptible advantage. Ralph Taylor has applied 

 lime to his land at the rate of 200 bushels to the acre, and harrowed 

 it in, but now after three or four years, perceives no benefit. These 

 gentlemen, Claudius Wheeler of Great Barrington, and a host of 

 others all hold the opinion that the blasting of wheat depends upon 

 atmospheric influences ; the condition of the weather in certain stages 

 of the growth of the wheat, rather than upon any condition of the soil. 

 The great consideration to which the opinions of these gentlemen 

 are entitled, will be acknowledged by those who know them. I do not 

 mention their experience as at all decisive of the inutility of lime ; but 

 as showing in how great obscurity the subject is involved, and how 

 much need there is of farther inquiries and experiments of an exact 

 character. 



