On mid Garlkk. 1^3 



Remote benefits are seldom contemplated. It is not easy 

 to abandon habits ; and it seems that bad ones lay the 

 fastest hold. A neighbour (the late Mr. Thomas George) 

 had a field near to both Mr. Roberts and myself in ; 

 which he planted Indian corn, for many successive 

 years. In vain I endeavoured to dissuade him from 

 such injurious repetitions. Corn is an exhauster ; — '^ he 

 could remedy this by dung ;" — but his remedy failed as 

 to the corn ; though he enriched his field. The corn, 

 year after year, dwindled, till it had a stalk like small 

 bamboos^ and ears of the size oi nubbins ; many whereof 

 were entirely barren. He practically convinced himself 

 (an expensive mode of argument) and abandoned the 

 practice; which, he said, was supported by many instan- 

 ces of success. He never ya// ploughed m this field, nor 

 fallowed with the opening of the spring there, though 

 he did so in other fields. This field may be now view- 

 ed, and it will exhibit a plentiful cover of garlick ; the 

 repeated succession of Indian corn crops notwithstand- 

 ing. Yet his field was not impoverished ; for, by chang- 

 ing his course, a fine crop of wheat succeeded his aban- 

 donment of the Indian corn culture.^ — In many parts 

 of his agricultural operations, Mr. George had correct 



^ This having been the most decided proof of the neces- 

 sity of change oi crops I have known, I have mentioned it 

 on several occasions. But, so far from its having been the 

 only instance, that it is but one among very great numbers I 

 have seen, and could enumerate ; though none have occurred 

 jso strongly marked, because not so pertinaciously continued* 



R. P. 



