60 On Plaister of Paris. 



in the habit of re-planting their corn it may be service- 

 able; but as I always tar\ mine and so have no occasion 



manure some part of a field with other substances, and plais- 

 ter the rest, to compare the produce. This should be done 

 for a coarse of three or vour years, as in one or two seasons 

 the weather may be more favorable to dung, &c. than plais- 

 ter, or vice versa. My observations in general are against 

 this opinion ; though I have, at times, thought the plant had 

 a greater proportion of the benefit of he gyps, than the ears. 

 Great attention should be paid to destroy the suckers ; w^hick 

 draw off the supplies both irom plants and ears. 



R. P. 

 jTarring the seed corn is good against mice and birds, though 

 it sometimes indurates and prevents the germ rom shooting; 

 but the cut-worm, or grub ;=^ will, notwithstanding, cut off 

 many of the young shoots above ground. A decoction ol hel- 

 lebore, mxed with sulphur, soot, and a little nitre, is equal- 

 ly offensive to vermin ; and if the seed, after berng soaked 

 in th:s mixture, is encrusted with plaister, it remarkably 

 forwards the growth. As to re-planting, it seldoms comes to 

 much. Transplanting o plants raised in the garden, or any 

 clean and r ch corner o the field, is much more el gible. This 

 is easijy managed, by sowing in dr Us a small quantity of 

 corn, at the time of plantmg the field. If the plants are not 

 wanted, the loss, or trouble, is inconsiderable. Plants may also 

 be had vTom hills in which too many seeds have been drop- 

 ped. It is too common to have more plants in a hill than are 



* Many persons aver, that furrow ing out their fields in squares, and leaving the balks un- 

 ploughed, tili tht com itqiiirt s that tliey so should be, etfectually ^awls against the grubs ; which 

 feed or. thf grass and roots in the hi.lks. It may be so, but this uniislit s an excuse to slovenly 

 fannei-s, ai;d precludes .all ploughing, and perfect cleaning the soil. The remedy, or preventive, 

 is woi-se than the disease. 



R. P. 

 September, 1810. 



