( "0 > 



to decay firft at the root, all the nourifhment 

 it can afterwards receive while it (lands uncut 

 muft be derived from the ftraw. The dews 

 may feed the grain at one time.; but, when 

 nearly ripe, and the root gone, the fun and 

 "wind have fo much power as to ripen it too 

 quickly, or to fcorch it up before its natural 

 period of maturity. How often do the old 

 farmers complain, that the feafon of harveft is 

 fo dry that the corn will all be fmall ! There 

 would be little caufe for this complaint, if they- 

 cut the corn earlier, and put the fheaves into 

 (looks in the field, which would fecure it from 

 the ir.tenfe heat of the fun, and from thofe vio- 

 lent winds that fo frequently occafion great 

 lories by fhaking the grain out of the ear be- 

 fore reaped. 



Once, by chance, riding on the road about 

 harveft-time, I faw a field of wheat that had 

 taken the mildew. This is known by the ftraw 

 being of a remarkably deep green, and, inftead 

 of dying, appearing to revive and acquire a 

 greater verdure; which plainly indicates that 

 the nutritive fap Magnates, and that the grain 

 receives from it no further nourifhment. Nor 

 does it, after fuch appearance comes on, ever 



receive 



