1^6 On mid Garlick. 



of winter grain— the most valuable but the most 

 dominant exhauster — A further practical answer, is at- 

 tempted in what follow^s hereafter* 



Mr. Roberts, wliose farming and management is ge- 

 nerally exemplary, candidly gives the preference to an 

 open fallow ; though he has been in the habit of sowing 

 wheat after oats. See our memoirs, page 100. But not 

 having, for several past seasons, had encouraging wheat 

 crops, he has this year sow^n on an open or clear fallow. 

 Killing garlick and his demand for oats, form his apo- 

 logy for sowing them heretofore. 



Wheat greatly exhausts ; but it occupies the ground 

 long, and draws its supplies, gradually, and extensively. 

 Its roots delight to penetrate and spread, beneath the 

 soil stirred by the plough. It does not injure the vege- 

 table mould like oats ; — rapid in their growth, with shal- 

 low and superficial roots, numerous and peculiarly 

 fibrous. When cut for hay, oats do not in any great de- 

 gree exhaust: nor does any crop till it perfects its seed. 



I have now a fme field (small but well tilled) of wheat. 

 Two years ago it was so infested w4th garlick, that the 

 hay, in winter, was unfit for my cows ; as it gave their 

 milk a most disgusting taste. In 1807 I gave it a fall 

 ploughing; and in the spring of 1808 I ploughed it 

 again ; as early as the frost permitted. At the usual 

 time (the beginning of May) I planted liidian corn ; 

 which I so well attended, that not a weed was to be 

 seen. My crop of corn was remarkably abundant ; 

 though the season was unfavourable. I cut oft' the corn 

 stalks, and hauled them into the barn yard, as 1 usually do, 

 for manure. — 1 fall ploughed it again ; and limed light- 

 ly. Wishing to cover my fallow in the spring, and, by 



