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Sect. XVI. 3.3. 



OF 



SEEDS. 



447 



even in 



0£lober, when the Ice was three fourths of an incH thick. 

 He felecled feveral ftalks of oats of nearly equal fulnefs, cut half of 

 them, and marked the remainder, which continued fourteen days 



longer in the field j after being 



weighed ; and eleven of thofe granis 



o 



dry, the grains of each parcel were 



which had remained In the 



t> 



field, weighed thirty of thofe which had been cut a fortnight fooner. 



- 



This Important experiment (hould teach our farmers not to cut 

 their peas and beans too early In inclement autumns; which are fo 



frequently feen to become fhrunk and fhrlvelled In the barn or gra- 

 nary, and Inclined to rot from deficient ripenefs, and confequent 



foftnefs or molflure ; and thus contain much lefs flour in proportion 

 to the hufk or bran. 



3. The wheat produced after land has been much limed, is believ- 

 ed to be thinner Iklnned, and to yield more good meal, than other 

 wheat, and to make better bread. See Sed. X. 6. 7. On this ac- 

 count 1 fuppofe one ufe of lime Is to forward the ripening of feeds by 

 converting their mucilage fooner Into ftarch or oil ; as according to 

 the experiments of M. Parmentler the goodnefs of bread depends 



y 



if the ftarch taken from eight pounds of raw potatoes 



much on the quantity of flarch contained in it ; who found, that 



by grating 



them into cold water, was mixed with eight pounds of boiled pota- 

 toes, as good bread might be produced as from wheat flour. See 

 Sea.VJ. 3. 



\ 



4. The feeds of fome plants, which alfo propagate themfelves by- 

 bulbs at their roots, will not ripen In this climate naturally, as the 

 orclils ; but are faid to ripen, if the new bulb be cut off early in the 

 feafon ; or if the propagation by their roots be retarded or prevented 

 by confining them in garden-pots, as the lily of the valley ; and It is 

 probable, thai: ihe feeds of potatoes might be rendered more perfectly 

 ripe, and in confequencc better for the cultivation of new varieties ; 

 if the young roots were taken away early in the feafon from that,, 

 which is to bear feed j or if they were confined in garden pots.. 



7 



If 



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