132 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



by simply applying a light to windward, and it completely 

 destroyed every v»'eed that grew, leaving the surface com- 

 pletely covered with ashes ; and the following crop, Avhich 

 was wheat, produced full five quarters per acre. This 

 excited further experiment, the result of which was, that in 

 the following season, the stubble having been partly plowed 

 in according to the common practice, and partly burned? 

 and the land sown wuth wheat, the crop produced eight 

 bushels per acre more on that portion which had been 

 burned, than on that which had been plowed in. The 

 same experiment was repeated, on different occasions, with 

 similar results ; and a following crop of oats having been 

 laid down with seeds, the clover was found perfectly 

 healthy, while that portion on which the burning of the 

 stubble had been omitted, was choked with weeds. It 

 must, however, be recollected, that if intended to have a 

 decided effect, the stubble must be left of a considerable 

 length, which will occasion a material deficiency of farm- 

 yard manure ; though the advantages will be gained of 

 saving the cost of moving the stubs, the seeds of weeds and 

 insects will be considerably destroyed, and the land will 

 be left unimpeded for the operation of the plow. 



" On the wolds of Lincolnshire, the practice of not only 

 burning the stubble, but even the straw of threshed grain, 

 has been carried, in many cases, to the extent of four to 

 six loads per acre ; and, as it is described in the report of the 

 county, has been attended, in all those instances, with 

 very decidedly good effect. It is even said to have been 

 found superior, in some comparative trials, to yard-dung, 

 in the respective rate of five tons of straw to ten of manure !" 



We frequently ride past immense piles of wheat straw, 

 encumbering the yard or field where it was threshed ; and 

 never without thinking upon the unthriftiness of a farmer 

 who ignorantly takes everything off his wheat land, re- 

 turns nothing to it, and is content with annually diminish- 

 ing crops. 



