48 



Some excellent oljservations on the subject of ploughing — ^the 

 best method of increasing the quantity, and improving the quali- 

 ty, of manures — and the cultivation of root crops, and other 

 green food, for feeding cattle — contained in the addresses of the 

 Hon. President of this Society, render it unnecessary for me 

 to call your attention at this time to these subjects of primary 

 importance to every farmer. 



On the subject of Wheat, to what is said in the above men- 

 tioned addresses, I will add a few observations. Although the 

 cultivation of this most valuable grain has been generally aban- 

 doned on account of the uncertainty of obtaining a crop, it is, I 

 must think, still deserving attention. Is it not surprising that a 

 plant, which comes to perfection both at the north and south 

 of us, cannot be advantageously cultivated here ? Is it not evi- 

 dent that the failure must be owing, not to the climate, but to 

 some defect in the preparation, or constituent parts of the soil ? 

 If so, these defects can be remedied. Perhaps the following 

 facts, stated by that distinguished scientific English farmer. Dr. 

 James Anderson, will furnish all the hints necessary to ensure 

 success. He states, ^' that a field of good arable land, a mellow 

 loam, in Aberdeenshire, which had long been under culture, was 

 subjected to a thorough summer fallow, to get rid of the weeds ; 

 and a moderate dressing of lime and some dung was given it at the 

 same time. The whole field was sown wilh wheat at the proper 

 season, which sprung up equally in every part of it. For some 

 time no difference was perceivable in the appearance of crop 

 over the whole. By and by it was observed that the wheat, 

 ou a small portion of the field which by accident had not had 

 any lime put upon it, became pale and sickly : while the crop 

 on other parts of the field advanced luxuriantly, it dwindled on 

 this particular patch more and more until about the beginning of 

 May : the whole had then died quite out, and not one stalk of 

 wheat was to be found upon it, though the weeds, in conse- 

 quence of the richness of the soil, grew there with extreme 

 luxuriance. Perhaps the proportion of lime did not in this case 

 amount to more than one thousandth part of the whole ; yet the 

 qualities of the soil were thereby totally altered, insomuch that, 

 .though before the application of that dressing the soil was inca- 



