( 104 9 
tation of crops, the necessity for this, is in a great 
degree obviated, and two ploughings of a clover 
jay are in general amply sufficient. Still, this takes 
for granted, that these ploughings are well perform- 
ed; that noclods are to be seen, and the field pre- 
sents an unbroken surface of mellow and finely pul- 
verised earth. 
2d. Of the choice and preparation of seed. 
Seed should be taken from some fine crop of the 
. preceding year,(1) which shall. have mpened tho- 
roughly and. been well preserved. This, after pass- 
ing two or three times through the fanning mill, 
should be carefully washed in clean water, and again 
in water in which a quantity of fresh lime has been 
slacked ; or (if lime cannot be had) in which clean 
and recent wood ashes have been leached. ‘This 
washing, as we have already suggested, should never 
be omitted; because, besides detecting the shrunk 
or shrivelled grains, and many seeds of other plants 
(which will float on the surface of the water) it en- 
tirely removes the. dust of smut and rust, &c. and 
thus prevents their propagation.(2) Our next step 
(1) A great variety of experiments shew, that wheat preserves its germinating 
faculties, under circumstances apparently very unfavorable, aad that it may even be 
sown to advantage, after several years keeping, after a slight degree of malting in 
the sheaf, or the stack, and after having been subjected to a high degree of artificial 
heat. We mention this fact, however, not to invite to a selection of seed grains, of 
either of these descriptions, but to assure the farmer, that where better cannot be 
had, he may employ such, for that purpose, without apprehending a total loss of his 
time and labor. 
(2) Smut, charbon and rust in grain, were (according to the old philosophy) at- 
tributed to storms, or other particular state of the atmosphere; but Mess. Tillet, 
Tessier, B. Prevot and Decandolle have shown, that the two former of these dis- 
eases are produced by an intestinal parasite, of the uredo or mushroom family, the 
progress of which is much promoted by humidity and shade. Analogy fayors the 
opinion, that rust owes its origin to the same cause. The remedy for all is the same ; 
