1840. 



SENATE— No. 36. 



193 



formed, which are commonly those nearest the root, were reserved ; 

 and when about the quantity of a peck was fully ripe, they were gath- 

 ered on the same day. The largest and fairest of seeds were planted 

 the next year, and the first-formed pods reserved as before. The same 

 method has been pursued without any variation, till the present year ; 

 by means of which, whilst the bean has not degenerated in its quality, 

 the ripening of the seeds has been forwarded twenty -six days ; as will 

 appear from the following table. 



The first column denotes the time of planting the seeds; the se- 

 cond, that of gathering the seeds, which were first ripe; and the third, 

 the number of days which elapsed between the time of planting and 

 the time of gathering. 



As in the second and following years, I anticipated the time of 

 planting the seeds, (by which means fourteen days have been gained, 

 in addition to the twenty-six noted above,) to determine what effect 

 later planting would produce, by giving the seeds more advantage from 

 the heat of summer, in the years 1804 and 1805,1 put into the ground 

 a quantity of seed, about a week later than that which was first planted. 

 The event which took place, is exhibited in the following table. 



As very little time has been gained in the present and in the pre- 

 ceding year, I suppose 1 have now reached, or nearly reached, the ne 

 plus ultra. I delay not, therefore, to communicate to the Trustees 

 25 



