S v-U LETTERS and PAPERS o N Agriculture, Planting, &c, ADDRESSED TO THE Bath and JVejl of England Society, • FOR THE ENCOUR AOKMINT OF Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. VOLUME IV. S.ll. LETTERS and PAPERS O N Agriculture,, Planting, &c< SELECTED FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF T H Bath and Weji of England Society FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND COMMERCE. VOL. IV. THE SECOND EDITION. BATH, PRINTED, BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY, BY R. CRUTTWELLJ AND SOLD BY C. DILLY, POULTRY, LONDON, AND BY THE BOOKSELLERS OF BATH, BRISTOL, SALISBURY, CLOCESTER, EXETER, &C. &C. M SCC XC11, C O N T E N O F VOLUME IV. IPAGg NTRODUCTION ix Letter from Dr. James Anderfon — ■ I Mifcellaneous Experiments and Obfervations on the Cul- ture of Potatoes, and fome other Plants. By Dr. James Anderfon - — — " 7 Paper I. On the Nature of the Seeds moil proper for being planted ibid. — *- II. On the Effefls of Cutting the Stems of Po- tatoes while growing, &c. ■ 38 — III. Of Ardent Spirits afforded by Potatoes — 49 ■ . IV. Of the Marks for diftinguiftring different Sorts of Potatoes from each other ; — its Utility, &c. 59 V. Of raifing Potatoes from Seed 68 ■ ■ VI. The Doctrine of feminal Varieties confidered 80 — VII. Of the Difeafe called the Curl in Potatoes, and fome other Particularities obfervable with regard to this Plant — — gz Conclufion — — — — — 107 On the moft practicable Method of fixing an equitable Commutation for Tithes in general throughout the Kingdom. By Mr. B.^Pryce — — 109 Strictures on the Husbandry of Turnips, or an Attempt to promote a fuccefsful Culture of that ufeful Root. By Mr. Wimpey — — ■ 1 37 Of the Neceffity of adapting the Crop to the Nature and Circumfhnces of the Land; with an Account of an Experiment to afcertain the Quantity of Butter and b 3 Cheefe [ vi ] PAGE Cheefe producible from a given Quantity of Milk. By the fame k ■ I r<) Practical Obfervations on fundry Letters in the Third Volume, and on the Benefit of Friendly Societies. By the Rev. Mr. Onley _ ij0 On the Culture and Management of Rhubarb in Tartary. By Dr. Father gill 1 80 On a more fpeedy Method of propagating Rhubarb. By Mr. Hayes 183 Account of a Plant of the Rheum Palmatum, grown at Boreatton, in Salop » 185 Obfervations on the Growth of fome Rhubarb. By Mr. George Poole ■ 187 On the Danger of ufing Lead, Copper, and Brafs VefTels, in Dairies. By Mr Hayes — — — 189 On the Culture of Rape or Cole Seed. By Mr. Hazard 195 On the Means of preferving Apple-Bloflbm and Orchard. from Injury. By Mr. Guile tt - 202 S uccefs of an Experiment of fumigating an Orchard. By the fame • ■ — 205 Means of infuring full Crops of Turnips. By the fame 207 On the Culture of Muftard; Remarks on the Trifolium Alpeftre ; on the Neceffity of Change of Artificial * Grafs Crops, &c. By the Rev. Mr. Onley — 212 Account of the Cultivation and Produce of a Crop of Buck-Wheat — — — 216 Defcription of the Conftru&ion and Ufe of a new Imple- • ment in Hufbandry, for Tranfplanting Turnips. By Mr. Kirkpatrick — — 226 On the Cultivation of Broad Clover. By Dr. James Anderfon — 229 Biihop of Killalue's Method of cultivating Potatoes 238 Obfervations on the Difeafe called the Wind in Sheep. By Mr. J. Webb 241 On the Cultivation of Apple-Trees. By Mr. Rd. Samuel 244 On the Degeneracy of Apples. By Mr. Daniel Grimwood 248 On the Culture of Parfnips. By Mr. J. Hazard — 250 [ vii ] page Account of the Culture, Expcnces, and Produce, of Pota- toes per Acre, about Ilford, and the adjacent Parifiies, fix Miles Eail of London. By Mr.Braines — 255 On the Depravation of Apple-Trees. By Mr. Edmund Gillingwmter ■ — — - 256 Obfervations on the fame. By Mr. Wagstaffe — 258 On the Cultivation of Flax and Hemp. By Mr, James Ellerker 261 Defcription of a Comb-Pot to be ufed with Pit Coal. Invent td by John AJbman 262 On the Diforder called the Blaft in Sheep. By Mr. Potticary 264 A Continuation of Experiments in the Drill Hufbandry. By Sir Jobu Anjirutbcr, bart. 266 Account of a Series of Experiments made by Mr. Bartlty, on his Farm near Briftol ■ " 273 ■ . Experiments on Deep Ploughing 274. — 1 . on Turnips ■ ■ 276 On the Culture of Flax — 277 • On Jerufalem Artichokes — 278 — — On Woad ■ 279 On Coriander Seed 280 On Brining Seed Wheat ■ 281 . On Spring Wheat 282 — — A Comparifon between Brining and not Brining 283 — — On recovering Smutty Wheat . ibid. — — On Canary Seed 285 On Anife ■ ibid. . On Potatoes 286 On Black Oats — 287 On the Black Rult in Wheat. By Mr. Baker — 288 Recipe for making Rennet for Checfe. By Mr. Crocker 290 On the Benefit of cultivating Parfnips and Burnet — 293 On the Ufe and Value of Turnip-rooted Cabbage. By Sir Thomas Bee-uor • ■ 296 On the Mangel-Wurzel, or Scarcity Root. By the fame 299 Experiments on various Sets of Potatoes. By the fame 303 On Planting Wdc Lands. By Mr. Wagstaffe — 305 Vlll ] Defcription of the Model of a Machine for communica- ting Motion at a Diftance. By Mr. Hornblonver — 30S On the Importance of planting Timber-Trees. By Mr, Pa 337 Account of a Crop of Cabbages. By Mr. Vagg — — 341 On the Prefervation of the Health of Perfons employed in Agriculture, and on the Cure of the Difeafes inci- dent to that Way of Life. By Dr. Falconer — 347 — Advantages which Perfons employed in Agriculture poffefs in Point of Health — \ 351 — Diforders to which Agricultural Perfons are fubjett from the Nature of their Employment — 355 ■ Diforders to which Perfons employed in Agricul- ture are liable from their own Imprudence — 359 — Directions relative to the Prevention and Cure of Dif- orders incident to Perfons employed in Agriculture 366 — On the Cure of the Difeafes incident to an Agri- cultural Life 1 1 384 Report refpeding a trial of Ploughs in 1788 — 441 DIRECTIONS for PLACING the PLATES. Plate I. Containing Comb-Pot, Tranfplanter, and Icy Columns — 262 II. Mr. Winter's Patent Drill-Machine — . 322 «— III. Mr. Triffrfs Harrow and Drag ■ 330 INTRODUCTION. INTRODUCTION, THIS Society having, in its Book of Premiums for 1787, announced an intention of fbon publifhing a Fourth Vo- lume of Papers; the public had certainly a right to expeft an earlier fulfilment of that intention. For the delay, feveral reafons might be afligned; among which, and not the leaft operative, was the deceafe of Mr. Edmund Rack, the late ufeful and ingenious. Secre- tary of this Society. By that event was dif- folved an ideal arrangement of materials $ and even for fome time was fufpended, a certainty to whom fome few of the MSS. had been lent for perufal. On adverting, afterwards, to the promife of publication, fome of the moft a£tive Members of the Society, though agreeing Vol. IV. b on [ X ] on the propriety of printing a frefti volume, were perhaps lefs urgent than formerly about the expedition of the meafure. The abfence of many of the country gentlemen during the laft fummer, and the greater propriety of determining on the time of printing, when the Committees fhould be more united, was another reafon of a temporary delay. But this interval was not unoccupied with bufi- nefs of a fimilar nature, and of no inconfi- derable importance ; which was the fuperin- tendance of the prefs, through the printing a fecond edition of the former three volumes — all of which are now completely reprinted. Among the many proofs of the ufefulnefs of this Society, and the public refpeft which has been paid to its pad progrefs, the com- plete difpofal of the firft edition of thofe volumes, and the increafe of the public de- mand, make at once a convincing and a pleafing teftimony. But while the neceffity for a new edition of former volumes was flattering, • [ * ] flattering, due care to preferve a reputation for ufefulnefs became a new incentive to de- liberation and the proper choice of mate- rials. Of this deliberation and care, it is hoped the prefent volume will furnifh fome evidence. The caution which has been ufed, has given time for remarking the different opi- nions that have been imparted, by particular gentlemen on the general fubjedt of publica- tion ; and it may not be improper here to acquaint the public, that though this Society can never wifh to withhold thofe articles of pra&ical communication which it is its plan to encourage ', yet the importance of publijhing well appears too great to be hazarded by any arbitrary adherence to ftated periods. On a work like this, written by a variety of hands, and on an almoft equal variety of fubjedts, every man, who in connexion there- with confiders the fallibility of human (kill, and the varied complexion of the human b 2 mind, [ 4 ] mind, will anticipate criticifm. Neither from works of this fort, on which may poffibly de- pend the fuccefs or difappointment, profit or lofs, of fubfequent experiment, fhould the pa- trons of improvement wifh to have the ftric- tures of experience and intelligence averted. An ingenuous and candid reader will not be lefs thankful for a new hint, or a new refult of experiment, which he finds to be fraught with his own and the public advan- tage, becaufe it is not unaccompanied in the fame volume by inequality and imperfection! And in return for the liberality of re- ception which this Society is confident of finding with the public, we think it incum- bent upon us to give the following aflurance, viz. That the fterling worth of thofe ani- madverfions which proceed from real know- ledge, and from that zeal for the advance- ment of truth which this Society has mainly in view, will be ever gratefully diftinguifhed from the cafual cavils of inexperience, or ir- rational attachment to cuftom. The [ xiii I The firft Article in this Volume, the com- munication of a Gentleman of large experi- ence in rural fcience, is long and elaborate. But as the fubjecl: is confeffedly of great im- portance in the prefent improved fyftem of cultivation, it is prefumed that no apology can be neceflary for inferting, at large, a piece which is evidently the refult of un- common ingenuity, and practical obfervation. The value of Potatoes, both as an article of hufbandry, and general confumption in fa- milies, is now fo fully eftablifhed, that no argument is required to enforce it. The feries of fafts, thus given by Dr. Anderson, and interfperfed with numerous remarks re- fusing from thofe facts, it is prefumed, will throw very confiderable light on the pro- perties and value of the root in queftion. And if fome experiments fhould be found of comparatively lefs importance than others, and fome conjectures of a lefs certain ten- dency, the Society cannot but be allured, that a large tribute of public praife will be paid to the [ xiv ] the author of the effay : — a man, who, while eminently converfant in the abftrufe and ele- gant departments of fcience, could devote fo much time and pains to the culture of a fingle root; but a root on which the fubfiftence and comfort of a large part of the poor of thefe kingdoms has been known to depend. The piece on the fubjeft of a Commutation for Tithesy by Mr. Benjamin Pryce, has been honoured with a public mark of this Society's approbation. The fubje£l, with re- lation to agricultural improvements in this nation, is of the firft collateral importance. And though it may poffibly be obje&ed, that any alteration in the prefent fyftem of Church eftablifhment is not an objeft of contempla- tion within the province of an agricultural fociety, nor a fubjeft on which fuch an aflb- ciation may be fully qualified to judge; yet is it unqueftionably a fubjeft, on which any body of men, as well as any individual, has a right to form and to give an opinion. The influence which any fyftem, for tithing the produce [ xv ] produce of hujbandry, muft have upon its progrefs, will be ever proportioned to the wifdom or imperfe&ion of the fyftem fo eftablifhed. And in general, though the body of farmers fhould be allowed to be per- fonally interejied in fhifting the burden which lies immediately upon them, it may be alfo fairly allowed that they are the beft judges of the irkfomcnefs of the mode whereby they are taxed in their labour. In the prefent age of liberal enquiry, which has reached the minds of intelligent farmers, as well as other citizens of the realm, there are not wanting many among them, who fully difcriminate between the prefent legal rights of the clergy, and the erroneous ideas of re- ligion and policy which gave rife to the pecu- liarities of thofe rights. They are convinced, in common with all men of fenfe and reflec- tion, that while it is their prefent duty to pay the clergy their due, according to the legal eftablifhment, and to give them as little trou- ble as poflible in the payment; yet that th^y arc [ xvi ] are warranted in complaining of a fyllem, which both in its nature and tendency is un- equal, inconvenient, and vexatious. — Hence it is not unnatural for fuch a Society as this to countenance a difcuflion of fuch a topic, and to confider itfelf as acting the part of a common friend to the Clergy and the Laity, by endeavouring to point out a mode of fupport for the former, more equal and righteous among themfelves, more compatible with the principles of peace, more promotive of uni- verfal improvement, and, which is efpecially defirable, lefs invidious to the claimant, , Such were the views of this Society in of- fering a premium for the beft-written paper on the fubjefb of a Commutation for Tithes: and though the Society is not fo fanguine as to expeft, that through their means a national tithe revolution fhall be brought about -, yet have they a hope, that, by agitating the fub- jeft, the attention of ingenious men, both in ^nd out of parliament, may be the more ex- cited I Xvii ] cited to attempt fome poffible improvement, where improvement is fo much to be wifhed. The two next following papers, from the ingenious Mr. Wimpey, refpe&ing the cul- ture of Turnips, the management of the Dairy, &c. are inferted as practical treatifes, on fub- je£ts of eftablifhed importance j and it ispre- fumed they will not be found to diminifh the reputation of their intelligent author. On the former fubject much has been written in detached publications 3 and from the import- ance of the Turnip hufoandry, both as a fyf- tem of cultivating the foil, and as an abund- ant fource of food for cattle, too much praife cannot be eafily bellowed. It were much to be wifhed, that the ex- ample of Mr. Wimpey may excite other Gentlemen, equally capable of reflection and experiment, to bend their attention to the properties and management of this delicate plant j till, if poffible, fuch a knowledge of jt may be obtained, as to enable the farmer to xviii jo guard it more effe6hially from its grand , enemy the fly; by the ravages of which fo much real calamity is frequently produced. Of the latter fubjeft, treated by Mr. Wim- pey, it would be needlefs to expatiate on its general utility. The enormous advance of the prices of butter and cheefe, efpecially the latter, within the laft very few years, has rendered an enquiry into the general con- du£l of the Dairy, and of Dairy farming, particularly commendable; and it muft give the Society and the Public great pleafure to find, that men of Mr. Wimpey's abilities and information turn their attention to a de- partment of rural ceconomy, fo much con- ne&ed with the comfortable fupply of the rich and the poor man's table. The extrafts of letters from Sir Thomas Beevor are interefting in their kind, as might be expedted from the elegant pen of fo accu- rate an experimentalift ; and it is not with- out reafon that we hope to receive from Sir Thomas, as well as from feveral other Gen- tlemen, [ xix ] tlemen, another year, fuch accounts of the nature and effe&s of the Mangel JVurzel, as a vegetable for the table, and a food for diffe- rent kinds of cattle, as may determine the value of this new and celebrated exotic* To Dr. Fothergill, and Mr. Hayes, for their laudable attention to the cultivation of Rhubarb-, and to the latter Gentleman for his other communications, the Society, on the public behalf, has been laid under new obligations. The remarks on Fruit Threes, from Mr. Grimwood, Mr. Samuel, Mr. Gilling- water, and our fcientific correfpondent Mr. Gullet, will be found interefting, not only to the lovers of horticulture in particular, but to our country readers in general. • It is with pleafure the Society embraces this opportunity of paying a full tribute of refpecl to Dr. Lettsom, (though not an. immediate correfpondent on the fubjec"t) for that fteady and laud- able zeal which he has (hewn for the introduction of fo promising a root into this country. By fuch generous exertions, whenever well directed, an individual may fecure, even againft the force of prejudice, the molt lalting advantages to his fellow -citizens, and to pofterity. To [ xx ] To the experienced and accurate Mr. Onley, of Stijied-hall in EfTex, the Society owes many thanks for his prefent and part favours, and folicits the continuance of his correfpondence. When Gentlemen of fuch pradtical knowledge, and exaft obfervation, are difpofed to favour inftitutions of this kind with their fupport, we may hope to gratify the public attention with a beneficial and lafting effeft. To Sir John Anstruther, the Society continues to be indebted for careful records of experiments, in a branch of hufbandry growing into general efteem, and which can never be better recommended than by repeated experiment, calculation, and comparifon. To Mr. Nehemiah Bartley, no fmall fhare of commendation is due, as well for the variety of his ufeful experiments, as for the candour and liberality with which he im- parts them. The [ xxi ] The correfpondence of Mifs Henrietta Rhodes, whofe attentive obfervation and ju-' dicious opinions do equal credit to herfelf and her fex, the public cannot be wanting to value j and this Society wifhes her continued remarks on the curious fubject of her parti- cular attention. Mr. Winter's own publication has anti- cipated what we might otherwife have had pleafure in communicating from his pen; but too much credit cannot be given him for his praftical exertions, and endeavours to promote the Drill hufbandry. His drilling machine, of which we give a reprefentation by his own plate, promifes much utility on lands favourable to fuch a mode of crop- ping ; and the public has great reafon to ex- pert the gradual advancement of this mode, through different paFts of the kingdom, to the great increafe and perfeftion of the dif- ferent fpecies of grain, as well as the faving of prodigious quantities of feed, heretofore loft to the nation. The [ xxii ] The Reverend Mr. Cook, (a defcription of whofe drilling machine was given in our laft volume) having furniihed for this publication an ample account of the fuccefs attending the ufe of that machine; we infert the fame on a principle of impartial juftice to him, and of unbiafled attention to the public advantage. To Mr. Woodbine, Mr.WAGSTAFFE,Mr. Crocker, Mr. Hazard, Mr. Webb, Mr.PoT- ticary, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Triffry, Mr. Baker, and various other correfpondents whofe names do not appear, the Society owes a return of acknowledge- ments for their obliging mifcellaneous com-, munications -, — fuch acknowledgments are cordially returned, whatever reafons may have induced an omiffion of fome articles, both well intended and refpeftably written, Laftly, we have to acknowledge very parti- cular obligations to Dr. Falconer, for the excellent Eflfay with which this volume con- cludes . The co-incidence of the Do£tor 's de- fign [ xxiii ] fign with the public views of this Society, is fufficiently obvious. The prefervation of a clafs of men who are the hands and finews of national ftrength, is a firft object of found policy, as well as of genuine benevolence. If that praife be juft, which has been fully beftowed on a fentiment of Goldsmith, " But a bold peafantry, their country's pride, " If once deftroyed, can never be fupplied," we cannot be too ftudious of preferving their health and vigour. And while many of our readers will be pleafed and inftru&ed by the Do&or's judicious counfel, his piece will be confidered as highly worthy the adoption of the Society, and worthy himfelf as one of its original founders. To conclude. Though the Society can- not undertake to vouch for the perfect accu- racy of every account, nor for the juftice of every opinion contained in the mafs of ma- terials, which from time to time we may be able to lay before the public $ yet may we reafonably [ xxiv ] reafonably hope, that the continued commu- nications of our correfpondents, on various important matters, will be found an accumu- lation of fcience either immediately obvious, or remotely tending to national good. And if, in fome unavoidable inftances, an inequa- lity of intrinfic knowledge fliould be difco- vered, it is but the inequality of human en- deavours, ever to be expected. Thofe Gentlemen, who, from their own praftice and fagacity, are the beft qualified to difcriminate between truth and error, will ever be found the moft difpofed to candour. And while every man defirous of improve- ment iii rural purfuits will make trial of a new procefs with caution; any new acqui- fitions of agricultural fkill, which may take their rife even from the fuggeftions of theory, will be defervedly confidered as fo many tef- timonials to the public benefit of eftablifh- ments like this. Bath, May i, 1788. LETTERS LETTERS TO THE BATH AND WEST GF ENGLAND AGRICULTURE SOCIETY. 7i the Secretary. Sir, IObferve with pleafure that the Society inftitiited at Bath, for the encouragement of Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, continues to publifh many valuable letters and papers commu- nicated by gentlemen in every part of this ifland. And as I am difpofed to believe that thefe papers are very generally read, I have been induced to communicate to you the refult of a few experiments I have made on the culture of Potatoes, which con- tain fome difcoveries that fuch friends as I have imparted them to think of great importance. If the Gentlemen of your Society fhall view them in the fame light, and think them worthy a place in their next volume, thefe papers are much at thsir fervice. Vol. IV. B Having C I ] Having attended very particularly to the fubje<2: of agriculture for many years paft, I have obferved with not lefs concern than amazement, the fmall advances that have been made in this ufeful art, when compared with that of other arts of lefs ge- neral utility, and have endeavoured to inveftigate the caufe of this phenomenon. I find it lefs diffi- cult to difcover the caufe of this ftationary ftate of our knowledge, than it is to remove the obftructions that ftand in the way. Without entering here upon the queftion at large, I fhall content myfelf with obferving, that the length of time necefiary for making an experiment in agriculture, and the dif- ficulty of difcovering all the circumftances that may vary its refuk, are among the chief caufes of the fmall progrefs that has been made in this ufeful and necefiary art. Man, impatient of delay, and anxious to get forward, becomes tired of the fnail- like progrefs he mud make if he were to fubmit all his facts to the teft of experiment. To avoid that tirefome progrefs, men in general have been willing to admit experience as a mode of acquiring know- ledge on this fubject, fufficiently accurate for all the purpofes of life. Among practical farmers this is fo much the cafe, that they rely entirely on experience as an infallible guide, and condemn experiments as abfurd [ 3 1 nbflird and unneceflary* By thi6 means the fubjdcT: is only imperfe&ly inveftigated, and uncertainty pervades every department of it. In compliance with common cuftom, by expe- rience I here mean thofe general obfervations, col- lected from an extenfive courfe of practice, which, by frequently recurring, have made a deep and lading impreflion on the mind ; and by experiment, I mean thofc fpecial trials that have been made to afcertain particular fads with accuracy. In the firft cafe, fads are admitted as proved by the frequency of their recurrence, and the fuppofed notoriety of their correfpondence with each other, without being fub- je&ed to any other criterion of accuracy but a ge- neral recollection of their frequency and univerfality. In the laft cafe, like mathematical truths, nothing is admitted till it be clearly proved. Upon a fair in- veftigation it will appear that a practical farmer, in different circumftances, mud fometimes place reli- ance on the one, and fometimes on the other of thefe two modes of acquiring knowledge ; and that with- out the aid of both, he never can underftand his bu- finefs compleatly. The bufinefs of a practical farmer naturally di- vides itfelf into two branches. One that embraces B 2 the [ 4 ] the (Economical detail of the operations of hufban- dry; the other relates to that degree of fcientifick knowledge which directs to thofe operations that ought to be performed. In the firft fenfe he may be compared to a mafon, in the laft to an architect of a new building. Now, though it fhould be ad- mitted, that, by a conftant courfe of attentive expe- rience, a man may in time acquire fuch a knowledge of the detail of the practical operations of husban- dry as could not otherwife be obtained, and might thus come to know, by a fort of mechanical habi- tude, without much forethought or reflection, the various obft ructions that ufually occur in the courfe of bufinefs, and the eafieft means of furmounting them; — though he may come to know in what man- ner to conduct his different operations, fo as not to interfere with, or to interrupt one another, and be thus able to make fuch ufe of time, as that none of it be either mifapplied or loft by the different per- fons he has occafion to employs — yet all thefe al- lude only to the firft department of bufinefs, which, of whatever importance it may be to the fuccefs of thofe who follow the bufinefs of agriculture for a fubfiftence, is only a part of that profeffioni and much knowledge remains to be acquired in the other department of agriculture, with regard to which [ 5 3 which experience would ferve but as a very imper- fect inftru&or. It is indeed impoflible for any man who pra&ifes agriculture to avoid obferving, that better or worfe crops may be obtained from the fame field in diffe- rent circumftances, and that certain foils are better adapted to yield good crops of one kind of produce than of odiers. It is as impoflible for a man, whofe fubfiftence depends upon the produce of his fields, to avoid forming conjectures as to the caufes of thefe diverfitiesj and in the courfe of a long and attentive obfervation it muft probably happen, that fome of thefe conjeftures may be right. But as this judgment is formed merely from a complex view of the whole, in which a great variety of particulars are blended indifcriminately together, it is impoflible for the mind to diftinguifti in this way, with any degree of certainty, thofe circumftances that are of ejfential from thofe that are of trivial importance. The im- agination is thus left at full freedom to exert its in- fluence; and ill-grounded theories fo warp the mind as to make it believe that it fees certain fa6ts as clearly proved, which are nothing elfe but a fpecious delufion. Nor is it pofllble ever to corredt the falfe judgments that are thus formed, but by calling in the aid of experiment; which, by carefully fepa- B 3 rating [ 6 J rating cveiy circumftance that can in any cafe affect the refult, and viewing it diftinct and apart from all others, gives full room to perceive what degree of weight it ought to have in every practical cafe, and to fhew how far it is either effential or unimportant. The experiments which accompany this letter, and the obfervations that refult from them, fuffi- ciently evince the juftnefs of thefe remarks, and afford a very convincing proof of the neceffity of fubjecting the different cafes that daily occur in agriculture to the teft of accurate experiment, if ever we hope to obtain fuch a thorough knowledge of facts as to introduce that degree of fleadinefs in the practice of husbandry, of the want of which we have ft ill reafon fo juftly to complain. I hope any apology for the trouble I now give you will be unneceffary. I remain, with great re- flect for the worthy members of yqur Society, Sir, Your moil obedient, and mod humble fervant, Cotfield, near Leith, JAMES ANDERSON, Nov, 28, 1786. Article [ 7 ] Article I. Mifcellaneous Experiments and Obfervations on the Culture of Potatoes, and feme other Plants; written originally in the year 1778, with feme additional Remarks of a later date. By James Anderson, L. L. D. F. R. & and F.S.A. Scot. PAPER FIRST. ON THE NATURE OF THE SEEDS MOST PROPER FOR BEING PLANTED, THE Potatoe has been cultivated in Britain for half a century paft, with great advan- tage to the community 5 but many parti- culars refpedting its culture are ftill involved in un- certainty. To point out the means by which that uncertainty may, in fome cafes, be removed, is the chief defign of the following eflay. §• I. Among other particulars, it ftill remains a doubt with practical farmers, whether it is mod pro- fitable to ufe fmall potatoes uncut for feed, or large B 4 ones [ 8 ] ones cut into pieces. This does not indeed appear to be a matter of doubt with any one individual, if Jie alone fhould be confulted on this head j but the uncertainty appears when many are confulted. Every one is ready to decide pofitively in favour of one or other of thefe modes of practice; but when the votes are collected, it is found that they are nearly equally divided between the two; and when enquiry is made into the reafons on which thefe oppofite opinions are founded, it appears that they reft upon no better foundation than theoretical conjectures : for I have never been able to learn, upon the moft attentive enquiry, that a fingle comparative trial has been made with a view to afcertain this fact. The culture of this plant never attracted my own particular attention till lately, and therefore I never did think of afcer- taining this fact by experiment till the year 1776, at which time the following comparative trial was, made with that intention, Experiment First. April 26, 1776, Four rows of potatoes were planted in a piece of garden ground, without dung, for the fake of the experiment ; there being no variation of foil in any part of the experiment ground. Thefe four experimental rows were planted contiguous to one another, and at equal diftances ; other potatoes were planted on each fide, of them, at the fame diftance as they were from each other, / [ 9 ] to render all thefe rows as much alike each other as pof- fible in all refpe&s. The four experimental rows confided of plants of the following kinds : I ft row. Small potatoes planted whole. 2d. Potatoes fomewhat larger than the former, cut into two equal parts, $d. Pieces cut from the fmall end of large potatoes, with one eye in each. 4/£. Pieces cut from the large end of the fame potatoe, with one eye in each. To underftand the meaning of the laft part of the expe- riment, it is neceflary to obferve, that the kind of potatoe ufed in this experiment (and in all the other experiments in this eflay, where not othcrwife related) was that com- monly known here by the name of the white kidney potatoe. The bulbs of this kind of potatoe are ufually of an oblong fhape, flatted a little, having one end confiderably fmaller than the other : the colour yellowifh white, without any tinge of rednefs. The fmall end of this potatoe, which is always oppofite to the umbilical eye, by which* it ad- heres to the ftem, is ufually filled with a clufter of bud- eyes, very clofe upon one another ; fo that the flices taken from this end, with a fmgle eye in each, are of neceffity very fmall ; whereas thofe that are cut from the oppofite end, in which the eyes are placed much thinner, are al- ways of a much larger fize, Thefe potatoes were properly hoed, and kept free from weeds during the fummer, and on the 30th of O&ober they were dug up, and, after being properly cleaned, the weight [ 10 ] weight of the produce of the refpeclive rows was found to be as under, in avoirdupoife weight. lb, oz. lb. oz. i/? row , - 2d - 1 8 o 1 $d rowy - - 16 13 1 4rZ> - - - 12 Si " 36 4 The difference between the produce of the third and the fourth rows appeared to me aftonifhing : and as the plants in the fourth row confuted of much larger pieces^ and as thofe in the third row were fmaller than any of the others, this experiment feemed to indicate, that the weight of the produce depended in a great meafure on the weight of the feed planted. It likewife feemed, from this experiment, that whole potatoes might in fome cafes be more profitable for feed, and in others lefs fo, than cuttings ; for the firft row ex- ceeded the fecond and third, though it fell greatly fhort of the fourth. The cuttings in the fourth row were much larger, and thofe in the third much fmaller than the whole potatoes in the firft. It deferves to be remarked, that the vigour of the ftems ©f each of thefe rows was nearly in proportion to the weight of produce above ftated. It is alfo of importance to remark, that although the foil, at the time of planting, was in every refpeft equal through the whole of the experiment ground ; yet, at the time of taking up the plants, that part on which the fourth row grew, was in much better order, and feemed to be much richer, than that where the others had grown , efpecially the third, It t » 1 It is likewife worth noting, that a row of the potatoes which grew befide thefc, having been taken up by itfelf, and the bulbs cleaned, was found to weigh 23 pounds. Thefe were from feed cut in the ordinary random way. §. II. As the foregoing experiment feemed to point to- wards an important difcovery with regard to the culture of this valuable plant, I refolved to repeat it next feafon with dill greater accuracy, which was accordingly done as under. Experiment Second. In the month of April, 1777, a piece of ground was prepared for the experiment. This had been in grafs fome years, and now got a flight kind of trenching barely to cover the fward, without any dung. It was found that this fmall piece of ground could contain exactly twenty plants in length, at fixteen inches from each other ; and it was divided into rows croffing thefe at right angles, at the diftance of fixteen inches from each other alfo ; fo that the plants ftood in fquare fixteen inches from one another, in every direction. The fbil of this patch was thin and poor, infomuch, that when in grafs, the crop was fo fcanty as fcarcely to admit of being cut with the fcythe ; but no dung was put upon it, on account of the difficulty of fprcading it fo equally as not to affect the accuracy of the experiment. On the 5th of May, twenty plants of each of the fol- lowing kinds were provided and planted, each kind by »t- fclf, in afingle row; all the plants in each row being, as nearly as poflible, of one fize. A row of potatoes cut pro- mifcuoufly E » ] mifcuoufly having been firft planted next the edge of the plot for the fake of accuracy. iff row. Small potatoes whole. The twenty) «»»«» plants together weighed - - S 5i 2d. Small potatoes cut in two - - - 3i 2d. Small pieces cut from the fmall end of large? x potatoes, with one eye in each - 3 4th. Pieces of an equal fize with the former, cut } out of the large end of large potatoes, with> if one eye in each J [N. B. Though it was not expecled that any difference could arife from the difference of circumftances here notedy yet as this had never been afcertained by experi- ment, the fad was not certainly ejlablijhed. This trial was meant to give it the certainty wanted.'] -x vuntn. fame potatoes that were employed in No. 3 I 261 6th. Large potatoes, from which all the eyes had been cut out, fave one about the middle part of the bulb - $th. Large pieces cut from the great end of the fame potatoes that were employed and 4, having only one eye in each, ] yth. Large potatoes with one eye only, left in 7 the fmall end of the bulb, - - J I23* 2th. Large potatoes planted whole, as nearly") as could be got, of an equal fize with the [ 124! former, J [N. B. No. 6 and 7 were intended to difcover whether the produce continued to increafe with the weight of the feed planted. The leaving only one eye was intended U [ '3 1 to make theft plants refemble, as nearly as poJJible> thofe in No. 5. The variation between No. 6 and 7 was with the fame view as that in No. 3 and 4. No. 8 was intended to difcover if plants are damaged in any refpeflfor feed merely by being wounded^ and what is the refult of planting feeds with many or few eyes.'] Experiment Third. On the fame patch of ground that was prepared for the foregoing experiment, and immediately contiguous to the 8th row in the preceding experiment, (one row only inter- vening, which will be afterwards taken notice of) was planted on the fame day with them, feven other rows of feeds, being each of them exactly of the fame fize and weight with the foregoing ; fo that it was an exact repe- tition of the fame experiment, intended to fave time. The only difference between them was, that the feventh row was here entirely omitted for want of room. The general refult of thefe two experiments was as under ; the upper- moft row of figures, where double, denoting the refult of experiment 2d, and the undermoft of experiment 3d. No. of No. of rows, feeds that ger- minated. ift, id, 4th, 6th, 7th, Sth, ill] m m m i-r Weight of feed. lb. oz. 5i 3* if I* 16 7 iof 7 "! 7 »i No. of roots produced. Average »31 {"si urn** iJ5l*» <4i Weight of the produce of each row. lb. oz. {! {I p h {3 *2} lk {» l\\ Average weight of the pro- duce. lb. oz. 7 6 IS! xof From t 14 ] From thcfc two experiments thus carefully collected it appears, that there is fuch a near coincidence between the produce of the correfponding rows in each experiment, as gives us reafon to believe, that the average obtained from each row is nearly what would refult in general' practice from planting feeds, correfponding to thofe planted in each of thefe rows rcfpe&ively j fo that the corollaries deducible from thence may be admitted as general rules in practice. §. III. It may, in the flrft place, be inferred, by a care- ful review of thefe two experiments, that the pro- duce is not materially offered by planting for feed, either whole potatoes or cuttings, or large or /mall potatoes merely as fuch -, for that it is only incidentally that either of thefe particulars can affeel the crop. The whole potatoes in the firft row yielded a fmaller produce than the cuttings in the 6th row. Seed from fmall potatoes yielded a fmaller produce than was ob- tained from large ones, in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th rows; but it yielded a greater produce than was obtained from the fame large potatoes, in the 3d and 4th rows. It feems, in the fecond place, to be a fact confirmed by every ftep in both thefe ex- periments, that the weight of the crop is always in Jome meafure influenced by the weight of the feeds planted. The third and fourth rows, in which the feeds were lightejl, yielded the pooreft crop; and a progrefiion from lighter to more weighty, is obferv- able [ >S ] able in the produce, as well as the feeds through the i ft, ad, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th rows. Some trivial variations do not difturb the general rule, . which fcems to be fufficiently eftablifhed by the general rcfult of the firft fix rows. §.IV. Of all the experiments in agriculture that I have ever feen recorded, that in queftion exhibits the mod interefting refult, whether we confider it with refpect to the principle from which the phenomena originate, or its great importance in agriculture as a practical art. . In this laft refpect, indeed, it promifes to be of the utmoft utility, becaufe by it we are taught, that without any alteration in the foil or culture, but merely in confequence of a proper attention to the ftate of the feed to be planted, a crop nine times as weighty may be obtained in one cafe as in another. Is it not aftonifhing, that a cir- cumflance of fuch amazing influence lhould not have been difcovered by accident long before this time? And does not this afford a moft convincing proof of the neceffity of fubjecling the common modes of hufbandry to the teft of actual experiment, in order to obtain a rational degree of certainty, in- ftead of thofe conjectural opinions that individuals are fo apt to rely upon with uniufpecting confidence ? That That the nature of the fubftance from which * plant is to be produced, fhould have Jome influence on the future vigour of that plant, feems not un- reafonable to fuppofe j yet I believe that even the warmcft imagination could hardly induce one to fufpecl: a priori, that fuch an extraordinary degree of vigour could be communicated, merely by an in- creafe in the quantity of matter contained in the feed. To me, this circumftance appeared the more fur- prifing, as the refult was extremely different from what I had found by fome former experiments was produced by plump and lean grain employed as feed. The experiment was as follows : Experiment Fourth. With a view to know of what confequencc it was in the practice of agriculture, to employ plump or lean grain for feed, I planted, April 2d, 1 770, upon a fmall bed of ground in a garden, one hundred of the plumpeft grains of oats that I could pick out from a large parcel of unmixed oats, in five rows, five inches row from row, and one inch between each plant in the rows. On another equal fpot in the fame ground, I planted at the fame time, and in the fame manner, one hundred of the hungrieft grains I could pick out from the fame parcel of oats: but to infure againft contingencies, I :ilfo took as many of the fmall hungry grains as equalled in weight the hundred plump grains above- mentioned, which, when numbered., I found amounted to one hundred and leventy. Thefe 170 grains I planted in five rows, each of the fame length as the former, and dif- tant from each other five inches, fo that the hundred and feventy [ '7 ] fcventy bad grains occupied precifely as much ground as the hundred good grains. > Result. No. l/?. That divifion on which a hundred good grains were fown, produced ninety-five plants. id. That on which a hundred lean grains were (own yielded ninety-fix. yl> That divifion on which was fown the one hundred and fcventy hungry grains, yielded alfo ninety-fix. On the firft appearance of the feed leaves above ground, thofe of No. i ft were broader, and more fucculent than thofe of the other two plots ; but as the plants advanced towards perfection, the difference in appearance gradually began to difappear, and long before harveft it-was not pof- fible to remark any difference in the healthinefs and luxu- riancy of the ftalks in any of the three divifions. The grain when ripe was equally healthy in No. 3d as in fro. 1 ft, and the crop feemingly as weighty in every refpeel : but this I could not afcertain with the certainty I wifhed, on account of the deftrucYion by birds. The refult of this experiment was, in truth, very con- trary to what I had expected. If No. 2d only had been fown with the lean grain, I fhould have attributed the health and vigour of the plants to its thinnefs: but, with- out the aid of that circumftance, the plants in No. 3d were equally ftrong and vigorous. I mean not, however, at prefent, to make any farther ufe of this experiment than barely to remark how very dangerous it is in farming, to rely implicitly on reafoning from analogy between two cafes that are not in every refpefi alike, though they may re- femble each other in many ftrilcing particulars. It would Vctl. IV. C not, C 18 1 not, for example, feem very unnatural for a perfon who had made only one of thefe experiments, to concludeyhwz analogy, that the refult in the fomewhat fimilar cafe, which he had not tried, would be fimilar to that which he had tried : yet it appears, that with regard to grain (that kind of it at leaft which had been proved) a difference in the weight of feed, if it has any effecl: on the future crop at all, is fo little as fcarcely to be perceptible ; whereas, with re- fpecl: to the plants of potatoes, it is fo great as to augment or diminifh the total amount of the crop in the ratio of nine to one. This, at the fame time that it fhould teach the farmer to be extremely cautious how he fuffers his mind to be influenced by vague reafoning, ought ftrongly to incite him to redouble his attention, and by well-chofen experiments endeavour to obtain fome kind of certainty in the knowledge of many particulars, wherever he finds that his opinions have been adopted in confequence of early prejudices, or crude indigefted notions arifing from theories that have not been fufficiently underftood. §. v. But although it appears, from experiments firft, Jecondy and third, fufficiently obvious, that the crop of potatoes is augmented by the weight of feed, yet it alfo appears from experiments fecond and thirds that the weight of produce is not augmented in the fame proportion with the weight of the feed: for al- though the weightier!: feeds have always yielded the weightiest crop in proportion to the extent of ground, yet the lighteft feeds have as invariably produced the greateft return in proportion to the weight of feed planted. [ '9 3 planted. That the reader may be enabled to obferve every particular relating to thefe two proportions, the following table has been conftructed. In this table is exprefled the quantity of feed, and the pro- duce of an Englifh ftatute acre, proportioned to the weight of feed and produce in the different rows of the preceding experiments, together with the re- turns from the feed in each row, and the clear pro- duce after deducting the feed. That thofe who choofe it may be able to follow thefe calculations, they need only to be informed, that an acre would contain 24,502 plants at fixteen inches from each other: all the other data neceflary arc exprefled above. KMM corre- faMpM to thofe of the fame num- bers in Exp. ad and 3d. ad, a. 6th, 7th, Quantity of feed required to Quantity pro- duced from an Proportional returns of feed plant an acre acre, in the from each in the propor- tion of each proportion of each row, re- row. row reduced to duced to bum- buJhels and cls & decimals* decimals. Bujb. Dee. Bujb. Dec. 7.50 161.30 21.4 7 5'13 130.5 25.3 J 2.05 51.6 *W 35-5 266.$ 7-5 SB 396.1 400 2.4 1:1 170*2 453-9 Clear product from an acre. in the propor- tion of each row. after de» ducting the feed. Bujb. Dec. 153.80 115.37 50.65 231.00 228.7 irs 3-7 From this table it appears, that the 3d and 4th rows, in which the fmalleft quantity of feed was planted, yielded the greateft returns, in proportion to the feed, but the fmalleft in proportion to the extent of ground. The returns of feed being as 25.7 to C 2 one* [ 20 ] one; whereas that of No. 8th was only 2.6 to one. But the total average produce of the 3d and 4th rows was only 52.6 bufhels; whereas that of the eighth row was 453.9 bufhels.* To obtain a juft notion, however, of the profit that would be derived from cultivating a field in the one or the4 other of thefe ways, it is neceflary to deduct the feed in both cafes from the grofs pro- duce, the remainder only denoting the free produce. The laft column in the table above marks this free produce, in all the different cafes above ftated. And from this table it appears, that the total free pro - duce from the fmalleft feed here employed was only 50.65 bufhels per acre; and that where the largeft feed was employed, amounted to 283.7, *° that one acre in the laft cafe yielded nearly as much free produce as fix acres in the firft. Hence ft feems reafonable to infer, that it is in no cafe profitable to plant fmall potatoes, or fmall cut- tings unlefs where it is meant to increafe as faft as pofiiole a 'favourite kind; in which cafe it may be fometimes eligible to plant pieces very fmall, as in that way the kind will bernoft quickly multiplied.-}* * By experiments more at large fince that time, and on a richer dunged foil, 1 have obtained a return from feeds even larger than thofc in No. 8th, in the proportion of at leaft ten to one, fo that the very final! returns in this experiment muft be afcribed to the great poverty of the foil. f Since the ab^ve was written, I find reafon to believe, that the returns from large potatoes may be augmented greatly b J 2nd what it was in this experiment ; whether [ SI I §. VI. By comparing No. 6th and 7th with No. 8th, in experiments fecond and third, there is fome room to fufpect that the feeds may poflibly have been in- jured by the wounds they received in having their eyes cut out, as the produce in No. 6th and 7th does not feem to be quite fo great in proportion to the feed as in No. 8th; But this difference is not fo confiderable as to enable us to fpeak with any degree of certainty. Had it even been greater than it is, there would (till have been room to doubt whether it had been occafioned merely by wounding the feeds, or in part alfo by diminifhing the number of the eyes. The following experiments would tend to elucidate thefe particulars : < 1/?. Take any determinate number of potatoes, all(of one fort, and of an equal weight each, and having ieparated them into two equal parts, plant all thofe of one divifion wholes and let all the "plants of the other divifion before planting, be wounded with a knife in many places, without cutting out any of the eyes. Obferve the refult. idly*. Take, in the- fame manner, another determinate number of potatoes, of the fame foi t, all of equal weight, and having felecled an equal number of the fame kind of potatoes fomewhat larger each than the former, wound thefe laft deeply in various places, and cut out from them whether it could by any peculiarity of culture be brought to equal that from fmall, my experiments, which have been interrupted by Other atocations, do not enable mc to fay— but it is not at all improbable. C x feveral [ 22 ] feveral deep flices, fo as to reduce them to an equal weight with the former, taking care not to cut out or wound any of the eyes. Plant thefe in eqnal circumftances, and ob- icrve the refult. 3^//y. Repeat the experiment of the 7th and 8th rows of experiment fecond, with proper caution: fori have afuf- picion,that in my experiment the eyes in the plants of the 7th row had not been cut out deep enough, to prevent them from fending forth ftems, ^tbly. Take fome large flefhy cuttings, with one eye only in each, all of an equal fize, and having fe]e#ed an equal number of whole potatoes, equal in weight to thofe cut- tings, plant them, and obferve the refult. [Since the above was written, other avocations have pre- vented me from repeating thefe, and many other experi- ments propofed in this elTay. To fome the importance of thefe experiments will appear doubtful, and many will feel a ftrong propenfity to foretel what would be the refult, and therefore will think it unneceflary to prove it by actual trial. This prefumptuous propenfity has tended in a wonderful degree to retard the progrefs of agriculture, and cannot be too cautioufly guarded againft. Before we can attempt to make any decifive experiments on the bell method of culti- vating this plant, fo as to obtain in every fituation the great- eft poilible crop that circumftances admit of, all thefe pre- vious queftions muft be fully difcufled. From the few experiments above recorded, we are enabled to perceive in what manner many hitherto inexplicable peculiarities re- corded concerning the culture of this valuable plant may be accounted for, that have been explained far otherwife. Tho' it does not appear probable that the mere wound- ing the bulbs will affecT: the crop, yet it is certainly within the [ *S 3 the bounds of pofiibility, and therefore the fact fhould be afcertained. As to diminifhing the number of eyes, the probability that it may affect the crop appears very ftrong. Every ftcm which fprings from a potatoe becomes in time a diftinct plant, which fpreads its own roots around, and fends forth its own clufters of potatoes in the fame way as if it were a diftinct and feparate plant. By having many or few of thcfe, therefore, the crop may certainly be affected -—but how far no one at prefent can fay; and therefore no one can make an accurate comparative experiment on the culture of potatoes in general.] §. VII, There feems to be no reafon to fufpect that eyes taken from any particular part of the bulb are pof- fcfled of a degree of prolifiacy greater than thofe taken from any other part of it, independant of the fize of the flefhy part that adheres to the eye. This appears by comparing the 3d with the 4th, and the 7th with the 8 th rows in the foregoing experiments. [It is however highly probable that a difference in the crop, either with refpect to the number and fize, or general weight of the whole, would refult from planting large cuttings of equal weight, taken from the big end of large potatoes, or from the point, as many eyes would be in the laft in comparifon of the firft. This is therefore one of the many pre- paratory experiments that requires to be made.] §. VIII. Hitherto [ *4 ] §. VIII. Hitherto I have only taken notice of the total weight of the crops but as the value of that crop is, in many cafes, affected by fize of the bulbs, it is neceiTary to attend to thofe circumftances that may tend to increafe or diminifh their fize. With a view to that particular I have, in the preceding ex- periments, recorded the number of potatoes pro- duced in every cafe, as well as their weight. It is commonly imagined, that if the feeds planted contain many eyes, the bulbs produced will be nu- merous, but fmall; and that larger bulbs in fmaller number are produced in plants that have only one, or few eyes : hence it is concluded, that whole potatoes planted for feed will always pro- duce a greater number of/mall potatoes j and cut- tings will yield larger potatoes, though fewer than thofe. It does not, however, appear, that this hy- pothefis is fupported by the foregoing experiments. In the average table, §. II. we find that the bulbs produced from the 3d and 4th rows, which con- fided of plants with -one eye only in each, were fmaller, as well as lefs numerous, than thofe in the 1 ft and 8th rows, which confided of plants that contained many eyes. On the other hand it ap- pears, from the fame experiments, that the bulbs produced [ *S ] produced from the 5th r6w, in which the feeds contained one eye only, were larger than thofe in the 8th row, (confiding of plants with many .tyes) in the proportion of 20 to 24 nearly. I would draw no conclufion on this head from the 6th and 7th rows, becaufe, as I have already obferved, I fufpect that fome of the eyes in thefe had not been cut out deep enough to prevent fome of them from pufhing out (talks j for I obferved that in thefe two rows, as well as in the 8 th, there were many items arofe from each plant. It deferves however to be remarked, that feveral (terns fprang from the roots of the others, and fome of thefe at a confiderable diftance afunder, although in thefe I think I am certain there was only one eye in each cutting, for I cut them all with my own hand, and was as careful as pofiible to examine them with attention ; fo that nothing certain can be inferred from the number of (talks that fpmng from one plant. §.IX. It is commonly imagined that the fize of the bulbs is augmented, and their number retrenched, by cutting off the fupernumerary (talks at the firft hoeing, fo as to leave only one (tern at each plant; but I never heard of any experiment by which this fact has been afccrtained. Therefore in equal cir- eumftances [ *6 ] cumftances plant two rows of the fame kind of potatoes whole, the plants being all of equal weighty and in the firft hoeing cut off all the Items fave one to each plant in one row, and in the other leave all the Items. Obferve the refult. Plant at the fame time other two rows in every refpecl as the former, but inftead of cutting off the fupernumerary ftems, pull them up by the hand. — Obferve the refult. [Since the above was written, I attempted this experi- ment, but I found that new ftems fprung up from thofe that were cut over, fo as rather to augment than diminifh their number, and alfo to retard the ripening of the ftems ; and as thefe ftems bleed confiderably when cut, it feems probable that the plant muft be weakened thereby. But as this experiment was not made with fufficient accuracy, no certain conclufiohs can be drawn from it. It appeared to me that if potatoes were planted very fhallow, more ftems were always produced than if they were planted deeper ; but in no cafe where potatoes are planted whole, does it feem that a ftem is produced from every eye. Perhaps the beft way of diminifhing the number of ftems from large potatoes, is either to let them fpring before they are planted, or to take them up foon after they have germinated, and to rub off the young fprouts as many as you incline. The germ becomes' a plant adhering to the prefent bulb, whofe roots fpread on its furface before they ftrike into the ground, and in that ftate may be eafily feparated, and poifibly might be em- ployed as plants. I have [ 27 ] I have yet made no experiments to try if the crop be fenfibly aftcclcd by planting the feeds deep or fhallow, and by confequencc do not know what is the moft proper depth to plant them at. This particular requires to be elu-. cidated.] Although it appears, from the foregoing experi- ments, that the weight of the crop was always greateft where the feeds planted were the moft weighty, yet it would be too rafh in us from thence to infer that as great a crop could in no cafe be ob- tained from the fame extent of ground, if it were planted with fmall potatoes or fmall cuttings, as if it were planted with large ones. For, as it is pro- bable that the more bulky feeds would require a greater fpace to nourifh them properly than fmall ones; fo it is not impqffible, that if thefe fmall feeds were planted at a proportionally fmaller diftance, the crop might equal that obtained from the larger ones. Though it does not feem probable that this would be the cafe, and though it appears probable, were it even fo, that the practice would be trourple- fome and inconvenient, far beyond any benefit that could refult from it; yet our firft bufinefs mould be to afcertain how the matter of faft (lands, and then enquire into the other circumftances depend- ing on that fact. To do this in a proper manner, a numerous fet of experiments would be required, fomewhat upon the following plan. T, [ 28 ] The firft ftep would be to afcertain what is the diftance that ought to be allowed between each pLnt, when the feeds are of any given- fize, fo as to obtain the molt weighty crop. For Example : Let it be required to afcertain at what diftance from one another potatoes weighing half a pound each (that is equal to ten pounds of feed in our experiment) mould be planted, fo as to infure the greateft pollible crop. To do this let a plot of ground be made choice of for this experiment, which was of a good quality, and as equal as pofTible in every art. Let this be divided into fmall fquares, each of which mould be fuflicient to contain ex- actly one hundred plants, at each of the diftances it was. intended to afcertain. Thefe fquares mould be divided from each other by a fingle row of potatoes planted at one foot diftance from each other in the rows ; and each of the fquares mould be fo divided as to allow every plant in the outfide rows to ftand at the fame diftance from the divifion rows, as from the other rows in the fquare. That is to fay, each fquare fhould be divided into eleven equal parts, on every fide, fo as to allow ten free rows every way, as in the following Diagram, on which the fmall dots reprefent the divifion rows, and the larger dots the hundred experi- mental plants. DIAGRAM. [ 29 ] DIAGRAM. ■■■• 1 • «• illllo.. I.IUKV^ ; # ft . /• • ■ • -ft m\,* ft ; • {• % • • • • • J * ; • • ♦ :•••• • jp • ftl » « s * ■j ft ; ft ;« • ft > \ • • ♦ ; 1 ft • « ft ». > • • • # \ v ft • *♦. V *• J o »%,».....• * • ?. fy "ft ft If the whole ico plants were taken up and weighed, it is probable the experiment would be the more accurate; but fhould that trouble be thought too great, the fixty plants contained within the inner Tine of fmall dots would anfwer perfectly well; or mould that bethought too many, flill the 16 plants in the diagonals, with four near the centre marked alfo with dots, fo as to make in all twenty, would anfwer the purpofe fufficiently. All that is here required is, that a certain order of felecHon fhould be previoufly adopted, and mod ftridtly adhered to ; for mould a random fele&ion of a certain proportion of the plants be permitted, this might be done in a particular manner either through prejudice or favour, which might affect the accuracy of the experiment. — A fquare fpot divided in this manner fhould be fet apart for each of the undermentioned diftances be- tween [ 30 ] tween the plants, beginning at twelve inches ; as that is furely as little as ever could be judged necefTary for plants of the fize here fpecified. The diftance between the plants in the other fquares to increafe as in the table below. Plants weighing ten pounds per fcore. In the i ft fquare to be placed at 1 2" 2d dittto at 3i — 4th — 5th 6th - 7th 8th ' - 9th 10th — nth 12th — 13th *3 15 16 17 18 1Q- 20 21 22 23 24J In the 14th fquare to. be at 25" 15th 26 16th 27 17th 28 ►-1 S3 1 8th 29 0 X 19th 30 w 20th — 3i > 2lft J 32 22d 33 > 73 23d « 34 H 24th 35 25th Li? Which it is imagined will be the greateft diftance that need be tried. • Let all thefe plants be carefully hoed and attended to, and when the plants have attained a perfect maturity, let the produce of each fquare (or of fuch proportion of it as Ihould be thought proper) be carefully weighed. The re- sult would fhew, with fome degree of precifion, what would be the diftance at which feeds of the fize here fpe- cified ought to be planted, fo as to yield the greateft crop on a given extent of ground. But, as it is highly pro- bable that the refult of this experiment would be different if it were tried on rich and on poor foils, it would be pro- per to have it feveral times repeated, trying it on the richeft and moft highly manured fpots, and on others declining from that till they approached to as great a degree of fte- rility as this crop could be profitably reared on. Thus would the farmer come to know the proper diftance at which he ought to plant his potatoes in all cafes. The other C 3' ] other experiments that follow in this feclion, ought to be varied in the lame manner. And as it is alfo poflible that potatoes of* different forts may require a different diftance between them, even where the plants are of the fame weight, it mould be always un- dcrftood that an experiment of this kind is only to be ab- folutely relied on when applied to the particular kind of potatoe that was actually tried ; therefore, if any experi- ments of this nature are recorded, the kind of potatoe that was tried mould be particularly fpecified. After this, it is fcarce neceflary to add, that no intermixture of kinds mould be admitted in any of thefe experiments. We ought, in the fecond place> to endeavour in the fame manner to afcertain what is the moft profitable diftance at which plants of all different fizes mould be planted. With this view, a number of plants of equal fizes mould be fe- lecled and arranged into clafles by weight, as in the tabic below, fo that the foregoing experiment can be repeated through all its varieties with each clafs of plants. We (hall make the firft clafs confift of plants of half a pound each, or ten pounds per fcore,as it will be more convenient to weigh the plants by fcores than feparately ; fmaller di- vifions being thus more obvioufly perceptible than if the plants were weighed individually. The weight of the other numbers is marked in the fecond columns. Plants weighing per /core. Plants weighing perfeorv. lb. ave'trd. lb. avoird. Clafs ill — io Clafs 6th 5 2d q 7th 3d — 8 8th — 3 4th 7 9th 5th — 6 loth — t In [ 32 ] In all thefe claffcs the diftances fliould be the fame as above, viz. from 12 to 36 inches, varying in each fquare one inch. In thofe that follow the greateft diftance need not exceed 24 inches, and the fmalleft diftance mould be as low as fix inches : Plants weighing per fcore. Plants weighing per fcore. Mb 0%. Clafs nth — 14 Clafs 15th — 6 12th — 12 ^th 4 13th — 10 17th — 2 14th 8 Which we will fuppofe the minimum : — perhaps all below eight ounces might have been omitted, without any detri- ment to the practice of agriculture. But no harm can ever accrue from afcertaining with accuracy any number of facts in agriculture. This has the appearance of being a very formidable fet of experiments 5 and it would, no doubt, require a good deal of trouble, and fome expence, to execute it properly; fo that it mould fall to the (hare of fome of thofe gentle- men of opulence and high rank, -who take delight in the fludy of agriculture. Perhaps few experiments that could be named, would be productive of greater national benefits than that which is here propofed : nor would the expence to a man in eafy circumftances be an object: of great con- fequence. Somewhat lefs than five acres of ground would be fufficient to execute the whole fet of experiments once over, fo as to afcertain witn fome tolerable accuracy the moft advantageous diftance for planting each fize of feeds, on one clafs of foils, confider.ed as to their richnefs, and lead to many probable conclufions as to other foils, which would be of the moft extenfive benefit in general practice ; and the crop obtained would probably repay the greateft part, t 33 1 part, if not the whole of the expence. Were fuch a fet of experiments carefully made, and properly publifhed, it would probably advantage the publick many millions a year. How much is it tov be regretted that a national experi- mental farm is not fet apart for making fuch experiments in agriculture, as it docs not befit practical farmers to make at their own expence! [In practice at prefent, fome perfons choofe to plant large, and others only very fmall cuttings or little potatoes, yet every man invariably plants them at one dijlance in all cafes, planting the fmall feeds as wide as the large, when he chances to have them o\' different flzes. This being the cafe, it feems impoflible, if the foregoing experiments can be relied on, (and I have found by many trials they cer- tainly may) but that the largeft crop muft always be ob- tained from that field which has been planted with the largeft 'feeds — other circumftances being nearly alike. And as the variation arifing from this hitherto unobferved pecu- liarity may be extremely great, may we not reafonably conclude that fome of thofe extraordinary variations in the produce of potatoes, which have been remarke d,but not accounted for in any probable manner, may have arifen iolely from this circumftance?] §.xi. To enable individuals to eftimate without much trouble the amount of any crop of potatoes they wi(h to examine, I here fubjoin a table, (hewing the number of plants that would be contained in an acre at each of the forementioned diftances, and the weight of produce from twenty plants in each Vol. IV. D cafe, [ 34 ] cafe, when the whole produce of an acre would be twenty-five, fifty, feventy-five. One, two, three, four, five, fix, feven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve hundred bufhels of 56 pounds each — be- ginning with fix inches and ending with thirty-fix inches diftance from plant to plant : That is to fay, When the plants (land at fix inches from each other every way, an acre contains 174,240 plants. If the crop is equal to 100 bufhels per acre, the produce of twenty Items would be 0.63 1 pounds and decimals: If the crop was equal to 500 bufhels per acre, the produce of twenty plants would be 3.15 pounds and decimals: And if 100 bufhels per acre, the produce of 20 plants would be 6.31 pounds, as in the firft line of the table. And after the fame manner all the others are to be read in the following table: Diftance fi ^ 1 0 w -5 o» a, o 0 ,5 8 S c '0 3 « s 0 S^ SZ 6 174,240 7 128,013 8 98,010 9 77,44^ IO 62,726 ii 51,840 12 4^,560 13 37,116 14 32,003 *5 27,878 16 24,502 >7 21,704 i3 19,360 39 17*375 20 15,681 21 14,223 22 12,960 23 ii,iS7 24 10,890 25 10,036 26 9>279 27 8,604 28 1 8,000 29 '7>458 30 6,969 31 6,527 3* 6,125 33 5>76o 34 5.426 35 5,120 36 4,840 Th^mounted to I,IOO I,2CO Bufliels. Bufhels 5.454 239.97 5.841257.03 By the help of the ments, or in any other field where theiould be felected for the average, it is ppofe a hundred: multiply by 5, for fiv inches diftance 100 plants were feled.855, and fo of others. In like mat be got by At- tracting the letter fritne as Tow as 20 bufhels. Example : find the neareft number to that to be, which being about the third part \ 625 per acre. Any other cafe may Vol. IV. §. XII. In [ 37 ] §, XII. In the foregoing experiments no attention was paid to afcertain any other part of the produce but the weight of the bulbs only; but as it may happen that the weight of the flems, and the quantity of tpples produced, may, in fome cafes, be an object of value, it is worth noting that the ftrength and weight of the ftems were in all the foregoing expe- riments apparently much in the fame proportion as the weight of the bulbs; the ftalks being invariably ftronger where the crop of roots was weighty than where it was light. The produce of apples, fhould thefe ever be found to be an object of value, (which there is great reafon to think will be the cafe) in- creafes in a yet higher degree than the potatoes themfelves, when the feeds planted are very large; when the cuttings are fmall, fcarcely one apple is {ccn in a field; when they are large plants, the apples are numerous and of great magnitude, hang- ing in clufters of nine or ten together; fo as in fome cafes I have known them produce at the rate of more than 200 bufhels per acre. [I mean to make fome experiments on the ufes to which thefe may be applied; the refult of which Jhall be in due time communicated to the publick.] D 2 PAPER i * ] PAPER SECOND. ON THE EFFECTS OF CUTTING THE STEMS OF POTATOES WHILE GROWING, &C. T §. i. HE Items of potatoes, if cut while growing, and ufed green, are found to be a wholfome food for cattle and horfes. But though fome farmers maintain that the produce in potatoes is not lefTened by having the ftems cut off while they are in a ftate of vigorous vegetation ; others as pofitively infift that the crop is eflentially injured by that operation, It is proper that this point fhould be afcertained. Probably the crop is hurt if the ftems are cut over before they have attained a certain point of matu- rity, though it is poflible they may be afterwards cut without doing any effential injury to it. The following experiments were made in the year 1779, with a view to afcertain the foregoing particulars: — Experiment Fifth. With a view to afcertain the weight of green ftems of potatoes at different periods of their growth, nine flems of potatoes, being part of three rows, and three plants in each row, were cut over in the middle of the* field as reprefented by i [ 39 ] by the figures 0 0 0, &c. in the following diagram, at the feveral periods marked on the right hand, and were found at each cutting to yield the weight of green fodder marked at each of the periods refpcclivcly. DIAGRAM. E ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo 000 ooo ooo Wefeht of greea ftcm». XXX J u».°*. xxx {"Aug. 2d* XXX xxx*.. xxx ^Aug. 10th, xxx. .. 5 xxx... xxx frAug. 17th xxx . . . 000 . . xxx , 000 . , xxx J- Aug. 22d 000 . . xxx 000 . . xxx 000 . . xxx J- Aug. 29th f 000 . . xxx •>... . . rn - . 000 . . XXX., LU: . OOO . . XXX.. . 000 . . xxx . . 7 « Sept. 5 th J 62 » Auguft 2d.— At this time U>e flowers were juft beginning to open. + Auguft 29th— At this time the apples of the white fort employed in Ihe experiment were well formed. Red potatoes in the fame field juft coming into bloom. % September 5th— At this time the ftems of the white potatoes were beginning to fade. Apples, fome of them ripe. Red potatoes juft part the bloflbm, and in full verdure. D 3 It [ 40 ] It appears from this experiment that the green ilems are weightieft at the time potatoes come into bloflbm, (in this experiment the weight of an acre of green ftems was then equal to 12 tons and a half nearly) and that they become gradually lighter, as the crop approaches nearer to maturity. Cows eat this forage very readily, as do horfes alfo ; but it is not in general accounted a very nourifhing kind of food. — It is eaten moft readily when in its moft fuccu- lent ftate. Experiment Sixth. [To afcertain the proportional weight of a crop that would be obtained from a field of. potatoes of this kind, if taken up at different periods, one ftem marked x in the foregoing diagram was taken up at each of the periods that ihe nine ftems in the laft experiment were cut over, and they were found to produce when weighed and numbered as under refpe&ively : Produce from one Jlem of Potatoes, Weight lb. ox. Number. Auguft 2d - - - 0 3! - 21 Auguft 10th - 0 7 omitted. Auguft 17th - -09! 10 Auguft 22d - - 0 14J 15 Auguft 29th - - 0 13 7 September 5th - -17 8 From this experiment it would fcem, that if the whole crop had been taken up on the 2d of Auguft, it would have yielded no more than three ounces and a half per ftem, (at the rate of 125 bufhels per acre) and if let ftand till the 5th of September, it would have yielded twenty-three per. [ 4i ] per ftem, (868 bufhels per acre) fo that at the firft period the crop would have attained only about one-feventh part of its whole bulk. The reader, however, muft be cautioned not to rely im- plicitly on this experiment as conclufive, on account of one material impropriety in the mode of conducting it. One ftem only can never be fuppofed to afford a fair average of thirty-two thoufand ; more efpecially when it is adverted to, that the feeds planted were in this field cut in the ufual random way; fo that one might have been found by accident much larger than another, and by confequence would greatly affect the accuracy of the trial. — -Had the nine ftems contained within the fmall dotted lines in the diagram been taken up at each period, much greater re- liance could have been had upon it. We mall afterwards find that there is fome reafon to conclude, that the refult of this experiment is not far from the truth : but as many important leflbns to the practical gardener and farmer could be deduced from this experiment, if carefully made, I can- not help recommending it to the attention of the reader, as one of thofe radical experiments that cannot be too care- fully made and adverted to. For were it known with certainty what is the deficiency of weight that in all cafes would accrue from taking up any one kind of potatoe at a particular period of its growth, the practical agriculturift could compute with great accuracy whether the additional price he could receive for the produce at an early period, together with the ufe he could make of his ground after it was cleared, would be fufficient to indemnify him for the lofs in quantity. Thofe who mean to try this experiment would do well to advert to the following particulars; i/?. To the equality of the fize of the feeds at planting. 2dly. Txjx [ 4* ] . idly, Tothe progrefs of the growth of the plant at each period. %dly. To the different kinds of potatoes with which it is tried. And, $thly. To the nature of the weather at the time. Experiment Seventh. With a view to afcertain whether any lofs, and what, as to the weight of potatoes, was fuftained by cutting over the ftems at different periods, all the plants whofe ftems were cut over in experiment 5th, were allowed to ftand till the 28th of October, at which time they were all taken up, and the produce of each parcel feparately weighed. On the 28th of October alfo, nine other plants marked xxx, &c. fee the foregoing diagram, being part of three rows, three plants in each row, that grew contiguous to the po- tatoes cut, (two rows intervening, fo as that they could not be influenced by the opening occafioned by cutting the flems of the potatoes 000, &c.) were taken up by them- felves and feparately weighed. This, it was fuppofed, gave a very fair average of what the cut plants would have yielded, had they been allowed to remain uncut ; and of courfe, that the difference between the weight of each of thefe patches fhewed the lofs of crop occafioned by the cutting of the ftems at the different periods indicated. Thefe particulars are expreffed in the following table;-— to which is added a column, denoting the total lofs of crop per acre, that would be fuftained by cutting over the ftems at each period refpedtively. Time Time when the ftems were CQt 01 Auguil ad Auguft ioth Auguil 17th Auguft 2id Auguft 19th September 5th Produce of nine plants cut vver\ taken up October aSth. Weight, Num. lb. o». 78 100 90 103 no 10a I 43 ] Produce of nine plants uncut ; taken up 18th. Weight. Num. lb. ox. a 11 l\ 9 5 IO IO IX O I* ia n n 13 ia 13 13 13 « 101 96 94 97 100 96 Difference be- tween the pro- duce of nine (terns cut and uncut. Weight. lb. ca. JO o 8 J n Lofs of crop per acre, occa- fiooed by cot- ting over the ftems. Wt. Buflrefc. /fr. dec. 35.000 624 aS.650 36.691 15.750 12.031 5.a5o 511 476 a8i ai4 93 From this experiment it appears, that if the ftems of this kind of potatoc be cut over about the time they are coming into bloiTom, there would be a diminution of the crop of ten parts out of twelve nearly, of the whole produce, or a lofs at the rate of 624 bulhels per acre ; and that a proportional lofs would be fuftained by cutting the ftems at any future period of their growth. Hence it is obvious, that the lofs by this practice would be much greater than could be counterbalanced by any advantage that couu! be de- rived from the green ftems, as feeding for domeftic animals. Though it alfo appears from this experiment, that pota- toes advance but very little after the ftems are cut over; yet, by comparing this experiment with the former, it would feem that they did advance a little. This may be inferred from the following table; — the firft column of which is the refult of experiment 6th, multiplied by nine — and the laft is taken from experiment 7th. Auguft ad Auguft ioth Auguft 17th Auguft 2ad Auguft 29th September 5th Produce of nine Produceof nine Difference; be plants taken up at the periods mentioned in the margin. lb. OZ, 1* I s 1* is plants cut over at the fame pe- riods. lb. cz. % 12 w 9 5 10 10 13 » ing the increale after the ftems were cut. 0 \o\ 1 11 o o 3 5 o 9 \ Though ' [ 44 ] Though I mull again obferve, that no accurate conclu- fion can be drawn from the refult of experiment 6th; the unufual great produce of the ftem taken up Auguft 22d, and the fmaller produce of that of the 29th, were probably owing to the larger fize of the cutting in the firft than in the laft, or to fome other unobferved circumftance. This comparifon therefore only affords a probable reafon to fuf- pcc"t, that the plants do increafe fomewhat after they are cut over, though but a little. Experiment Eighth. To afcertain whether a benefit might in any cafe accrue from replanting the ftems of potatoes that were taken up for an early crop, and to what that might amount, the items of the different plants that were taken up in expe- riment 6th, were all immediately replanted after the bulbs were taken off and weighed. It was found that thefe plants readily took root, and produced another crop of potatoes that feafon, the amount of which, when fuffered to remain in the ground till the 28th of October, and the proportion that this fecond crop bore to the firft, is denoted below : one ftem being in both cafes multiplied by nine, to admit of their being the more readily compared with the refult of the other experiments mentioned in this fec~tion. Second produce of nine ftems replanted. Auguft ad Auguft 10th Auguft 17th Auguft zzd Auguft 29th September 5th Firft produce from 9 ftems, taken up at the times de- noted on the left hand. lb. ox. z '1 3 5 % 9 4f 7 5 12 H lb. ox. Tornupbyacc'ld. 2 n£ I 2 0 9, o 42 o 4* Difference be- Total produce tween the of both plant. . firft and fe- ings from cond pro- nine ftems. duce. lb. ox. lb. ox. - 3| 6 io| 7 oi 6 9t 9 13* 7 9t 11 jof 13 H It thus appears that a fmall quantity of potatoes may be obtained by replanting the ftems, if taken up at a very early period j. [ 4$ ] period ; yet this, at the beft, is but a trifling acquifition, and probably can never in any cafe be worth the expence ; ef- pecially when it is alfo adverted to, that the fecond produce of potatoes thus gained are always bulbs of fo fmall a fize, as to be of very little value in proportion to their weight. It may be a fatisfa£tion, however, to fome to know, that in cafe a ftem of a particular kind, of which one has very few, be pulled up by accident before the potatoes are fit for feed, it need not be altogether loft, but that by replanting it the kind may be ftill preferred. Where a few early potatoes are wanted, the moft ©eco- nomical practice is to pick out with the fingers (which may be eafily done in a well-drefled foil) thofe bulbs that have attained the fize fit for ufe, leaving the items in their place, witn the fmall potatoes upon them to grow till they alfo attain a fize fit for being ufed« §. II. The foregoing experiments were all made with one kind of potatoes j nor have I taken notice above of any other varieties. But as there is a very great diverfity in this refpect, and as the properties of one kind are often very different from thofe of an- other, our knowledge of the value, and moft proper mode of cultivating this plant, muft be very incom- pleat, until the farmer fhall know the different weight of crop, &c. that he could obtain by cul- tivating any one kind in preference to any other; for different forts are known to vary very much from each other in regard to prolificacy, as well as in feveral [ 46 ] feveral other refpects. A necefiary fet of experi- ments therefore would be a comparative trial, in equal circumftarrces, of all the different kinds, with a view to afcertain the weight of produce that could thus be obtained from each. The only experiment under this head I ever made, was the following : Experiment Ninth. At the fame time that the potatoes in experiment 2d were planted, I made choice of twenty plants of a different kind of potatoe, that is ufually diftinguifhed in Aberdeen- fhire by the name of the Dutch clujier potatoe. The bulbs of this kind are of an irregular roundifh knobby form. The colour of the fkin a yellowifh white, with a faint pinkifh tinge about the eyes, efpecially before it is quite ripe. The colour of the pulp yellowifh white — confiftence vifcid, not meally: tafte fweetifh. The eyes are pretty deeply funk in the bulb. The ftalk and leaves are neither folong, nor fo dark in the colour, as moft other kinds ; but are gene- rally numerous, more erect:, and lefs jointed. BlofToms white, with a pale pink-or purplifh tinge, numerous and large. Thefe are fucceeded by apples, which in this kind are generally abundant, and of a large fize. The umbili- cal fibres do not in this kind fpread to any confiderablc diftance from the ftem, fo that the bulbs are ufually found in a clufter clofe to the root, to which they firmly adhere. It is reckoned a great bearer. — Thefe are the principal characteriftics that at prefent occur to me for diftinguifh- ing this kind, which I only do from memory. Twenty whole potatoes of this kind, which weighed exactly 123 ounces, were planted in a row immediately contiguous [ 47 ] contiguous to the eighth row in experiment 2d, (which weighed alfo 123 ounces) at the fame time with them, and both rows were managed in every refpec"r. exaclly alike. They were alfo taken up, and the produce weighed at the fame time, when the weight of each was found to be as under: The 8th row in experiment 2d, confiding oft lb, oz» the white kidney potatoe — the produce \ weighed - - - J21 5> The row of Dutch clufter potatoes - - - 27 1 Difference - - 6 n { Which is equal to about 150 bufhels per acre in favour of the Dutch clufter potatoe. Though no abfolute depend- ance can be had on one experiment only, yet it plainly appears, that much benefit might be derived from the ex- periments propofed in this feclion, if properly executed. §. III. The reader will pleafe to take notice, that all the experiments above recorded (thofe in fection 1 ft, paper 2d, only excepted) were made upon a poor undunged foil, for the fake of accuracy 3 fo that the crop, upon the whole, was very poon I have never yet had a proper opportunity of making any trials that could with accuracy afcertain what might be the greateft crop that could be obtained from an acre: nor indeed can that point be fully ascertained, till the experiments fuggefted in feclion Xth, t 48 ] Xth, as well as to comparative trials mentioned in the laft fedlion, with fome others, fhall have been made. From fome trials I have made, but with lefs accuracy than to admit of being here recorded, I have reafon to be fatisfied that the pqffible produce from an acre is much greater than moft perfons at prefent imagine to be obtainable. I mean to profecute thefe experiments next feafon, if I am not prevented by fome unforefeen accident, and fhall not fail to communicate the refult to the pub- lick in due time. But though my intention is to try to elucidate this fubject myfelf, I beg leave warmly to recommend it to others alfoj for it is impofiible that a matter of fo much importance can be too fully inveftigated. §. IV. The reader who has attended to the accounts that have been publifhed of the various crops of potatoes that have been obtained by different per- fons in different fituations and circumftances, can- not fail to have obferved, that the diverfity in the total produce per acrey is much greater than can well be accounted for, by any particulars of the foil or culture that have been taken notice of: fuch a diverfity, however, will now no longer appear won- derful, when he remarks, that the fize of the feeds planted has never in any inftance been fufficiently adverted [ 49 ] adverted to: fo little indeed has this been done, that is is only cafually that it is taken notice of at all; though the foregoing experiments clearly prove it to be of the mod eflfential importance with re- fpett to the total amount of the crop. PAPER THIRD. ' OF ARDENT SPIRITS AFFORDED BY POTATOES. i §. I. THE ufes of the potatoe as a food for man, and the domeftick animals he rears, are al- ready pretty well known $ but it is not in general underftood that from this plant may alfo be ob- tained a vinous fpirit, of an excellent quality, in very large proportions. A good many years ago an account of an experiment made in Sweden to afcertain this fadt was publifhed in the memoirs of the Philofophical Society of Stockholm. This, to- gether with fome obfeure hints I received from the late ingenious Dr. John Gregory, of fome fimilar experiments that had been made with fuccefs in the North of Scotland, induced me to make the following trial. Experiment £ so 1 Experiment Tenth. February 15th, 1777, 1 fet apart two Aberdeen/hire pecks of potatoes by meafure, which I have fince found were each equal to 36 pounds by weight, fo that th? whole was 72 pounds. Thefe potatoes were boiled in a cauldron till they were brought to a foft pulpy ftate ; they were then bruifed, and made to pafs through a ftrait riddle along with fome frefh water ; the fkins being kept back by the riddle, which were thrown away. The pulp was then mixed with cold water, till the whole amounted to about twenty gal- lons Englifh. This was allowed to cool till it attained the fame temperature as would be proper for mixing yeaft with wort; when fome yeaft was put to it, as if it had been yeaft to wort from malt. In ten or twelve hours a fer- mentation began, which continued very brifkly for the fpace often or twelve hours, but at the end of that time it began fenfibly to abate ; from which circumftance I was afraid my experiment would fail. After waiting for fome time, and in vain, warming it a little, with a view to re- new the fermention, I determined to ftir it brifkly to fee if it could be renewed by that means. This produced the defired effecl:, and the fame operation was renewed every day, and the fermentation continued to go on in a proper manner for a fortnight. At the end of this time the fer- mentation abated, and could not be renewed by agitation or otherwife; and the liquor, having been found upon trial to have acquired a kind of acid, llightly vinous tafte, was judged fit for diftillation. It was then diftilled with due caution, care having been taken to ftir it in the ftill, until it began to boil, before the head of the ftill was ap- plied ; and the fire was afterwards kept up fo ftrong as to keep it boiling brifkly till the whole was run over. This was intended to prevent the thick matter from fubfiding to the bottom j for I was afraid that without this precau- , tion, [ 5' 1 t:on, it would have acquired zjlill-burnt flavour; and I found by experience in one inftancc, that this kind of em* pyreuma was of an exceeding difagreeable kind, refembling in flavour the funics of burning tobacco* In confequence of thefe precautions and due rectifica- tion, I obtained an Englifh gallon of a pure fpirit, confidcr- ably above proof; and about a quart more of a weaker kind, a good deal below proof. This was, in every refpect, the fined and mofl agreeable vinous fpirit I ever faw. In tafte it fomewhat refembled very fine brandy; but it was more mild than any brandy I ever tailed, and had a certain kind of coolncfs upon the palate peculiar to itfclf, by which it might be readily diftinguifhed, by a nice judge, from every other kind of fpirit. Its flavour was ftill more pe- culiar to itfclf, but it more nearly refembled brandy im- pregnated with the odour of violets and rafberries, than any thing clfe to which I could compare it. [A fingle glafs of it put into a bowl of rum punch, made it appear as if it had confifted half and half of rum and brandy, impregnated with the juice of rafpberries.] It feemed to derive this flavour from afubtile efTential oil, of a very fmgular kind — for al- though it rofe with the firft fpirit that came over, it ftill continued to come over, without any fenfible diminution or change of flavour, till the whole of the fpirit was entirely drawn off. It was alfo fo difficult to be diflipated, as to fcent with its own perfume a drinking glafs, into which the fpirit had been poured, for more than twenty-four hours after it had been emptied, and apparently quite dry ; and this perfume, after the fpirituous flavour was totally diili- pated, appeared to me the mod agreeable I had ever met with. I have beert at the greater pains to defcribe thi< kind of fpirit in its ftate of perfection, becaufe I have fine heard of and feen fome fpirits, faid to be drawn from potr Vol. IV. E toe [ B» ] toes, which, for want of (kill or caution In the operators, was intolerably naufeous. As others may fall into the fame errors in attempting to perform the fame operation, I fhall hazard a few remarks on the cautions neceflary to be ob- ferved in attempting to extract vinous fpirits from this or other roots; for want of attending to which particulars, many attempts of this kind have no doubt failed. r. §. ii. Every philosophic enquirer knows that vinous fpirits are entirely the produce of fermentation, and cannot be obtained from any fubftance whatever, till it has undergone that chemical procefs: but many of thofe who attempt experiments of this kind, are neither fufficiently aware of the neceflity of this previous ftep, nor acquainted with the means of exciting it, or of conducting it properly, which frequently fruftrates their attempts. If any vegetable in an unfermented (late be dif- tilled, there is, for the mod part, obtained by that operation, a portion of native ejfential oil, flrongly impregnated with the peculiar tafte or flavour of the fubftance from which it is obtained : but if the fub- ftance be properly fermented, that efTential oil dis- appears, and in its ftead a new fubftance is obtained by diftillation, altogether different from the former in many refpecls. This fubftance is called vinous Spirits, or alcohol, when in its higheft rectified ftate. But t S3 1 But if any vegetable fubftance be fubjected to diftil- lation before it has been made to undergo a proper degree of fermentation, zpart of it only rifes in the ftate of vinous fpirit > and a part of it alfo rifes in the ftate of native ejfential oil -, which, mixing with the fpirit while in the ftate of vapour, and being dif- folved therein, communicates to that fpirit a tafte and flavour very different from that of the pure fpirit by itfelf, which is, for the mod part, extremely naufeous and difagreeable. It has pretty much rhe lame effect as if a quantity of the raw vegetable fubftance fhould be diftilled along with another quantity of it that had been properly fermented. In all thofe cafes, where the volatility of the native effential oil is nearly the (lime with that of the fpirit, it is evident that no care in the procefs of diftilla- tion can prevent them from being blended together in the fame procefs. From hence it appears fufficiently obvious, that if ever we hope to obtain the pure genuine vinous fpirit without adulteration from any vegetable fub- ftance whatever, it is of the very greateft confe- quence that the fermentation be properly carried on, fo as that die whole of the matter fufceptible of fer- mentation fhall be equally and entirely aflimilated before it be committed to the ftill. This is on all E 2 occafions [ 54 ] occafions necefiary; but it is peculiarly fo in thofe cafes in which the native oils are very abundant, or volatile, or difagreeable. In diflilling malt fpirits, this circumftance is feldom fufficiently attended to ; the fermentation being ufually hurried forward with a rapid carelefihefs, in confequence of which fome part of it is converted into vinegar, before other parts of it are affimilated at all. Hence it neceflarily fol- lows, that the malt not only yields a fmaller quantity of fpirit, but affords that fpirit alfo of a much infe- rior quality to what it would have been if the fer- mentation had been duly conducted. Spirits that are drawn from ale, which has been accidentally al- lowed to run into the acetous fermentation, are always, on this account, of a quality far fuperior to that obtained from malt by any other procefs. In attempting therefore to obtain a fpirit from roots or other vegetable fubftances, the firft point to be attended to is, to conduct the fermentation pro- perly, and to pufh the vinous fermentation as far as it can be made to go. I am difpofed to afcribe the fuccefs I had in this experiment, beyond what others have experienced, in a great meafure to this caufe, and to the care that was taken to prevent it from obtaining the flighted empyreumatic taint during the diftillation j though it may alfo have been oc- cafioned by fgme other unobferved peculiarity. One [ 55 ] One particular I remarked relating to the diftilla- tion of this fpirit, that deferves to be mentioned. In diftilling from malt, it is found that towards the end of the operation a quantity of weak fpirit is forced over, which is ftrongly impregnated with a very difagreeable oil, that very much debafes the whole of the fpirits, if it be fuffered to mix with them. To feparate this from them, with as little lofs of good fpirit as poflible, conftitutes one of the principal niceties in the procefs of diftillation from malt. But no fuch phenomenon occurs in the dif- tillation from potatoes ; for I could perceive no difference between the tafte of the very weakeft fpirit towards the end of the operation, and that which came over at the beginning or any other part of the procefs, if equally diluted with water. It would feem that the oil, to which this fpirit owes its fragrance, is in all parts of the procefs feemingly the fame, and always agreeable; contrary to the gout, or goo, as it is pronounced, of malt. §. III. I have defcribed above, with all the accuracy I could, the whole procefs and phenomena that oc- curred in diftilling fpirits from potatoes, as I ob- ferved them when the procefs was conducted under my own eyes. This procefs I repeated twice^ about E 3 Xh% t 5° 3 the fame^ period of time, with the fame fuccefs. But it is alfp juft to obierve, that though it lias been fince that time feveral times attempted by my direction, under the care of another perfon, on whofe accuracy 1 thought I could depend, it has invari- ably failed in as far as refpects the peculiar fra- grance of the fpirits above defcribed, though in every other refpect the refult was the fame with mine: the fame yield of fpirit of equal ftrength be- ing obtained, which was diftinguifhed by the fame cool fenfation on the palate, and in every refpect an excellent fpirit, though diverted of that unufual fragrance above defcribed. I have often wifhed to repeat the experiment myfelf, and fo to vary cir- cumftances as to try to difcover the caufe of this peculiarity ; but the revenue laws are fo ftrict at prefent, that a private man cannot venture to have a flill in his pofTefTion for the fake of making any experiment of this fort, without fubjecting himfelf to a very heavy penalty ; and as I fhould very much diflike any thing that had the appearance of evading the laws, I have thus been, very much againft my will, prevented from repeating thefe experiments. Certain, however, as I am with regard to the fad, (which if neceflary could be attefted by many per- fons who tailed the fpirits) I have no fcruple in publifhing it fairly to the world, leaving it to time, and [ 57 ] and to others who have opportunity to make theft experiments, to difcover the caufes of this peculia- rity, and other particulars relating to it. If the vegetable fubftance that is fubje&ed to fer- mentation contain but a fmall proportion of fer- mentable matter, it will not be pofilble ever to free the fpirits from the peculiar flavour of the vege- table; for that large proportion of unaffimilated matter being fubjected to diftillation, along with the fermented liquor, will of neceffity yield its oil by the heat employed to diftil the fpirits. This feems to be particularly the cafe with regard to carrots, parfnips, and turnips, all of which I have tried, and found that although they could be made to undergo the procefs of fermentation, and to yield a consider- able proportion of ardent fpirits, yet that thefe fpirits were ftrongly tainted with the flavour of the vegetables from whence they were obtained, and fo intolerably naufeous, that they never could be em- ployed for food by man. In the procefs above, de- fcribed, the whole of the matter of the potatoes was fubje&ed to diftillation. What effett would have been produced by feparating the grofs fediment from the tranfparent fluid above it, after the fer- mentation was over, cither as to the quantity ar quality of the ipirit, I had not an opportunity of E 4 remarking i C 58 ] remarking ; but fhould ever the procefs of extract ing fpirit from potatoes be attempted on a large fcale, it would be of importance to try to feparate that fediment before diftillation, as that procefs would be rendered much eafier, and lefs precarious, in confequence of that operation. If ever this manufacture fhould be attempted, it deferves alfo to be remarked, that the farinaceous powder which fubfides to the bottom after the fer- mutation, feems to have fuffered very little change in its tafte or appearance by the procefs, as it very much refembles boiled potatoes in all refpects, fo that it might probably go as far, as food fordomeftic animals, as the potatoes themfelves would have gone in their native ftate, I {hall only farther add on this fubjecT, that I attempted to obtain a fermentable liquor, by brui- fmg the potatoes raw, and pouring water of different degrees of warmth upon it, as is ufed in mafhing malt, but couk} never thus fucceed in exciting any degree of fermentation. It always afforded a vifcid roapy liquor, that remained unaltered after the ad- dition of yeaft to it. I now return from this long ^ncj interefting digrefiion, PAPER C 59 I PAPER FOURTH. OF THE MARKS FOR DISTINGUISHING DIFFERENT SORTS OF POTATOES FROM EACH OTHER:— ITS UTILITY, &V. §. I. IHave had occafion to obferve, in fome of the foregoing parts of this effay, that there are feveral varieties of potatoes, which differ from one another confiderably in fome of their mod effential proper- ties. Thefe varieties are indeed fo numerous as renders it impofiible for almolt any perfon not to have remarked them, yet no one is fo well ac- quainted with all thefe varieties and their properties, as to know with certainty which kind would be mod profitable to cultivate on every particular oc- cafion ; for want of which knowledge, much lofs mud be annually fuftained by the public. But till fome method fhall be adopted for diftinguifhing each kind from another with certainty, it is in vain to hope for any comparative trials that could be of material utility to the farmer. To begin this fyf- r.em of claffification as to this particular, the fol- lowing hints may be of ufe. As it is impoffible to convey a diftinct idea of 3\e fmall variations that require to be here attended to, [ 60 ] to, in fo eafy a manner as by comparing every va- riety with one kind that fhall be confidered as an univerfal ftandard, to which all defcriptions fhould refer; the firfl ftep therefore will be to fix on one kind that fhall be proper to be confidered as an univerfal ftandard. The difficulty is to find a kind that may be diftinguifhed from all others, by fuch ftriking characlerifticks as to prevent a poflibility of miftaking it. In cafting about with this view, it feems to me that the kind known in 'Scotland by the name of the wife potatoe, promifes to anfwer this purpofe better than any other, becaufe it is diftinguifhed from other kinds by one very obvious peculiarity* viz. that of never carrying any bloflbm or fruit. [Since the above was written, I have feen fome other forts that carry no bloflbm, but thefe may be very eafily diftinguifhed from it by fome other of its obvious characterifticks.] Its peculiarities are as under. In form the bulbs of this kind are remarkably regular, being all of the fhape of a heart, fomewhat longer than its due proportion, and flatted a little one way. The fibre by which it adheres to the ftalk, which I would call the um- bilical cord, adheres to the great end of the bulb, and the point of the fmall. and is thickly covered with [ 6» ] *ich eyes. Thefkin is fmooth and thin; its colour I pale red, rather brighter at the point than elfe- where. Its flefh is of the meally fort; the tafte ra- ther tending a little to fweetifhnefs. The fibres, to which the bulbs adhere, do not ramble very wide, nor do they keep fo clofe to the ftem as fome other kinds; they neither pufh very deep, nor rife ex- tremely near the furface. The bulbs themfelves are never remarkably fmall, nor uncommonly large, but of a good equal fize, and it is reckoned a good bearer. By attending carefully to thefe marks, it might in general be well known; and when any perfon was once poflefled of a plant or two of this ftand- ard kind, with which all others could be compared, he would thus be able to point out with accuracy the fmalleft difcriminating peculiarity, fo as to be in no danger of miftaking any others that mould be the object of difcuflion. This fundamental ftep being firft taken, I would recommend, that in every defcription attention (hould be given to fpecify all the following pecu- liarities : — Below Ground. The general form and fize of the bulbs. Their colour. The [ 62 ] The fmoothnefs or roughnefs of the (kin. The confiftence, that is, the mealinefs or vifcofity, and tafte, of the bulb. The colour, length, thicknefs, &c. of the umbilical cord, Their tendency to go deep, or to rife near the furface 5 to ramble wide, or to adhere clofe to the ftem. The time when the bulbs knot and fet; marking, not by the kalendar only, but alfo compared with the advance of the plant above ground. The time when they attain perfect maturity with refpeft to fize, and alfo that period of their growth at which they Jofe the herbaceous, and attain the farinaceous tafte. Their general prolificacy. How long they may be kept, at what feafon they are in greateft perfection for eating, &c. Particulars obfervable above ground. The general height, colour, and form of the ftem. Their tendency to pufh out many or few ftems from a root. Whether they carry blofTom or not. The form, dimenfions, and colour of the leaves. The form, colour, and general habitude of the blofTom 5 where there is any. The time at which the blofTom appears. The tendency they have to produce few or many apples. The tendency they have to produce thofe excrefcences on the ftalks that refemble potatoes below ground, whieh may be called air potatoes, Th<* [ «3 ) The comparative hardinefs or tendernefs of the lcavesa in refpect of froft or other variations of weather that affect them. Particulars that concern the zvhole plant. The foil which feems beft to fuit each kind. The mode of culture that beft agrees with them. The accidents which arc mod liable to affect them ; and in general every particular that could indicate any diffe- rence between one kind and another. §. II. Thofe who have not been accuftomed to attend to the growth of this plant, will perhaps think that fome of the above marks are of no moment: and fome of the particulars they will not be able to underftand. To obviate thefe objections, a few explanations are necefiary. The potatoe, becaufe it grows below ground, has been ufually called a root — but improperly. It more nearly refembles a kind of underground fruit; and in conformity with this idea, the French have given it the name of Pomme de Terre, ground apple. This fruit has a fet of organs peculiarly adapted for its production, in the fame manner as every other kind of fruit above ground has a fet of organs for their production; which organs appear at the proper i 64 ] proper period, carry the fruit, and then decline, in a manner exactly analogous to what happens below ground with the potatoe. The potatoe plant, when it begins to vegetate, fends forth roots into the ground, by which it imbibes its nourifhment like every other plant; but after it has arrived at a certain period of its growth, it begins to fhew its fruit, bearing apparatus below as other plants do above ground. This below ground confifts of a fet of fibres quite diftinct from the roots, which are at firft of a tender flefhy confidence, ufually of a whitifh colour, which is in fome kind blended with a flight tinge of red. Thefe gradually extend them- felves around the plant to a greater or fmaller dis- tance in different kinds of potatoes, and from thefe in due time fpring out the bulbs, or fruit, appearing at firft like fmall excrefcences upon the fibres, whrch gradually expand, and afllime their proper fhape as they advance towards maturity, very much refembling, in thefe particulars of their growth, the progrefs of the cones of the larix tree upon its fmall fibrous branches. Thefe fruit-bearing fibres become by degrees lefs bright in colour, and more firm in confidence; and affume a dark colour and itringy confidence, as they advance towards per- fection. This fet of fibres I would diftinguifh by the name umbilical, from the great fimilarity in office t 6S ] office they bear to the animal organ fo called ; and becaufe they never yet have obtained an appro* priated name. Different kinds of potatoes do not differ from one another more in any one refpett than they do in the form, colour, habitude, time of fpringing forth, &c. &c. of this apparatus of fibres; fo that this ought not only to be attended to as one mark of diftinction between different kinds, but alfo as a particular that may on fome occafions influence the mode of culture that would be proper for par- ticular kinds. I (hall give one example. It is found by experience, that fome kinds of potatoes may be profitably cultivated by means of the horfehoing hufbandry; (pofiibly under due re- gulations this might be always of ufe) but in fome cafes that mode of culture is attended with danger ; for, mould the kind of potatoe that is thus culti- vated have a tendency to fend out thefe umbilical fibres early and to a great diftance, if the plough fhould be employed after thefe were fhot forth, it might cut them off, which would have a very dif- ferent effect from cutting the roots that abibrb food for the plant. The flems might thus indeed be increafed, but die produce in fruit much dimi- nilhed. I have feen a field of horfehoed potatoes, which, t <* i Which, owing to this circumftance, although a Very luxuriant crop above ground, yielded when taken up only a very few well-formed bulbs j the umbi- lical fibres being at that time in a fucculent growing ilate, and covered with fmall crude potatoes that would have required a very long time to bring them to maturity. Late and deep hoeing, even with the hand-hoe, is, on this account, with fome kinds of potatoes highly pernicious. On the other hand, there are fome kinds of po- tatoes that never fend thefe umbilical fibres above a few inches from the flems, which would not be liable to the fame objection, as there would be no danger of having them cut by the plough; and other forts fend thefe fibres direclly downward to a great depth, fo as to be in no danger of being in any cafe wounded by the hand-hoe. Other kinds of potatoes have a tendency to fend out bulbs at every joint of the flem, even above ground; but unlefs thefe be covered With earth they never acquire the colour or tafte of real pota- toes, although they have the exact fhape and appear- ance. I have feen fome flems of potatoes, efpecially in a rainy feafon, that were covered with thefe green potatoes to the very top, and have num- bered fifteen or fixteen on one ftem, fome of them of [ 67 ] of the fize of fmall hen's egg's : [And I once met with a chiller of that kind of potatoes, confirming of about twenty bulbs, that occupied the place of potatoe-apples, fpringing all from one foot-ftalk that adhered to the ftem, precifely in the fame way with that which fupports the bloflbm and feed vefiels. This I have ftill in my poflefiion.] Nature feems here to indicate, that the items ought to be covered in part with earth to blanch them, (potatoes that grow below ground, if laid bare while in their growing ftate, afiiime the fame green appearance) which would probably in thefe kinds augment the crop confiderably; although with re- gard to fuch kinds as have no tendency to produce bulbs along the item, the operation of covering them would probably be much lefs beneficial. Care, therefore, fhould be taken to felecl: the firft of thefe kinds of potatoes, where it is intended to rear them, after the Irifh fafhion, in lazy beds. I have mentioned this tendency to produce po- tatoes on the ftems above ground, as one means for ditlinguifhing different kinds from each other} for although a few kinds are endowed with this quality of producing bulbs above ground, in the fame way as fome peafe that produce pods both above and under ground; yet this in the one cafe as well as Vol. IV. F the [ 68 ] the other feems to be contrary to the ordinary ceco- nomy of both kinds of plants, and therefore ferves as a proper mark of diftinction. §. III. The potatoe admits of being tranfplantcd as eafily as moil other plants, efpecially if this be done before the umbilical fibres fpring out. Doubtleis this property might be laid hold of with advantage for cultivating thofe, efpecially of the early fort.; though I do not know that it has ever yet been attempted to be carried into practice. PAPER FIFTH. OF RAISING POTATOES FROM SEED. §.I. IT is not many years fince it was firft difcovered that potatoes, could be reared in Europe from actual feeds, the produce of our own climate; but this fact is now afcertained without . the poffibility of a doubt. As many improvements have been faid to refult from this mode of culture; and as the defcriptions hitherto given of the effects that refult from [ 69 ] from it are lame, and have been delivered with fuch 8 myfterious air, as to give me no diftinct notion of the matter; I refolved to fatisfy my (elf experimen- tally on that head, which was done as under : Experiment Eleventh. Upon the 23d day of* April 1776, 1 fowed, on a bed of good garden mould, fome feed potatoes that had been ga- thered the former autumn, and had been preferved among fome dryftrawall the winter, to prevent them from being injured by the froft. The apples, which had been packed up whole, were by that means fo much dried, that 1 found it a difficult matter to feparate the feeds fufficicntly, which occafioned the plants to come up in tufts much thicker in fome places than others. The young plants appeared above ground in about ten days, and advanced vigoroufly during the fummer, cfpecially in thofe places where they were not too thick. On the 3d day of November there- after, they were carefully taken up, when it was found that fome of them were nearly as big as a pigeon's egg, gra- dually decreafing from that to the frze of common peafe, many of them being no larger. A few of the largeft of thefe were boiled, and others roafted, with a view to dif- cover if they poflefled that rich almond-like tafte, which fome pcrfons had faid the potatoes raifed from feeds always poiTcflcd in a remarkable degree. They were found to eat very well, but not one bit better than other good po- tatoes of the fame kind that had been raifed from fets in the ufual way. The remainder were carefully packed up to guard againft froft, and were thus preferved for planting in the fpring. F 2 April t 70 ] April 20th, 1777, thefe fmall potatoes were planted frJ a bed of good garden mould, in rows one foot afunder, and at four inches on an average apart in the rows. On this occafion I began to plant at one end of the bed, the rows going acrofs it, and proceeded regularly towards the other end, always felecting the largeft bulbs I could obferve. By this means it naturally happened, that the biggeft plants were all placed at one end, and gradually diminifhed to- wards the other end of the bed, where the very fmalleft were planted -t and as the laft of thefe came to be very fmall indeed, I gave them lefs room in the rows, decrea- fing, as the plants diminilhed in fizc, from fix to two inches. All thefe plants were equally cared for during the fummer; but it was obfervable that the ftems which grew from the largeft plants were from the beginning exceedingly large, luxuriant, and healthy, in comparifon of the fmaller ones. The leaves of thefe were broad and healthy, and the whole plant above ground appeared at lead ten times greater than the puny plants that fprang from the fmall feeds. They were all taken up in the month of October, when it was found that the largeft feeds yielded a good crop of potatoes, many of which were as big as a hen's egg ; but thofe pro- duced from the fmaller feeds did not in general exceed the fize of a horfe-bean, and many of them no bigger than fmall peafe. None of the plants fhewed blofTom this fea- fon. The bulbs were carefully preferved for planting in the fpring. [Thefe potatoes were accordingly planted in the month of April 1778, in rows about a foot from each other, and the largeft were planted at the diftan-ce of one foot in the rows, the fmaller being placed clofer as their fize diminifhed, fo as that the leaft flood about four inches apart in the row. The largeft feeds again produced by far the moft luxuriant [ 7' ] luxuriant and weighty crop, and a few, and but a few of them, mewed any bio/Tom ; but none of the bulbs, not even thofe from the largeft plants, were nearly of fuch a fize as thofe produced frbm very large potatoes: nor did they rd nearly the fame produce per acre as was obtained from old potatoes planted on the fame foil at eighteen inches apart. The facts wifhed to be eftablifhed by this experiment being now afcertained, and I being engaged in other intercfting purfuits, it was not thought neceflary to continue it longer. The following corollaries feem to be clearly deduciblc from it.] §. II. From the accounts I had received of potatoes raifed from feed, it did not appear to me clear whether new bulbs were produced from thefe po- tatoes in the fecond or third year of their growth, or whether thefe potatoes during that time con- tinued only to increafe in bulk, without producing other potatoes from them. It was always faid that they did not attain perfection till the third year from the feed; and what was meant by their attaining perfection, I could not gather from any accounts I had feen. And as it was faid they could be ob- tained by this means much earlier in the feafon than others, and were pofiefled of many other fingular qualities, I could not tell what judgment to form of it. From the foregoing experiment, however, it clearly appears, that after the firft year thefe feed- ling potatoes pufh forth ftems and bulbs exactly in F 3 the [ 72 ] the fame manner as any other potatoes planted for feed, and agree entirely with them in other refpedhj the largeft in this cafe, as in every other cafe, as in every other cafe, whether cuttings of old potatoes or whole ones be planted, always producing the largeft bulbs and the moil weighty crop. As to the notion of their attaining their full fize on the third year, and not before, this feems to have originated merely from inaccurate obfervation. It does not feem pofllble to afiign any precife period at which thefe bulbs will invariably attain perfec- tion, as that muft in general depend on many acci- dental circumftances. It appears that the fize of the bulbs produced in the fecond and third year depend in a great meafure on the bignefs of thole that were planted -, and that this will be influenced by the richnefs of the foil, and the diftance allowed to the feedling plants the firft year. I know no circumftance that could fo well be aflumed as fuch a probable criterion of the potatoe having attained perfection, as that of its pufhing forth flowers and producing feeds properly Jo called. Now, although none of the plants in my experiment produced flowers in the fecond year, yet it is not improbable, that on fome occafions, if the feeds were fown very thin and on a rich foil, the bulbs of the firft year's growth might be much larger than any of thofe raifed C. 73 ] raifed by me; — fo neither is it in the leaft impro- bable, that in that cafe fome of the beft of them might produce bloflbm in the fecond year. On the other hand, as the bulbs of the fecond and even of the third year's produce, produced from the fmalleft plants, were fome of them not fo large as fome of thofe of the firft year's growth, and as the vigour of the plant, and the fize of the bulbs, and quantity of bloflbm produced, evidently depend on the fize of the potatoes planted, it is probable that thefe fmall bulbs would require a year longer than the formei to attain the fame fymptoms of maturity. In ihort, as the vigour of the future plant, &c. fcems in this cafe to depend very much upon the fize of the bulbs planted for feed, it is probable that if two plants of very unequal magnitude were picked off from the fame ftem, and planted out as feeds, the one of them might be found to have attained its full de* gree of perfection, fo as to carry bloflbms and fruit in abundance, while the other yielded none at allj and if the fame procefs were repeated, the fame phe- nomena might be produced in infinitum. The age therefore of the plants, by which we muft here be underftood to mean the number of years from the time that the feeds were fown, can give no precife in- dication of the (late of the crop that may be expected from them, independent of the fize of the bulbs. Although, [ 74 ] Although, in compliance with the ufe that others have made of the term, I have fpoken of potatoes attaining a period of perfection that has been deno- minated maturity, I mud here enter a caveat about this application of the term, as being indefinite and inaccurate. I faw no room to fufpect that the po- tatoes raifed from feed had not in the firft year, though fmall in fize, attained as great maturity; that is, in proper circumftances, were as well ri- pened, and as fit for ufe, as others of the fame fize ever afterwards would become. Nor are the largeft potatoes of the fame kind, if taken from the ftem at the fame period of its growth, feemingly much if any thing fuperior in tafte, and other qualities that could indicate maturity > to thofe of a fmaller fize. The term maturity^ therefore, in the fenfe above given, feems to be extremely improper, and mould be entirely confined to denote the degree of ripe- nefs that the plants had attained in the feafon they are produced in. It feems that a certain fize of potatoes planted for feed, the foil and climate given, is necefTary for producing a plant of fuch vigour as will pufh out bloflbms and fruit, and that till it attains that degree of vigour at leaft^ it never pro- duces bulbs below ground of the largeft fize. But what the other circumftances are which tend to augment the fize of the bulb to the greateft pofr fible degree, we cannot as yet poflibly fay. [ 75 ] §. III. In conformity with the notion that frecifely three years are neceflary for bringing to perfection the firft bulb raifed from feed, it has been aiferted, that no method is fo proper for obtaining potatoes very early as to plant thefe feedling potatoes after the fecond year's growth pretty early in the third fpring, to fufFer them to remain in the ground for fome time, and to dig them up in the months of June or July; when, it is faid, they have attained their full fize and due perfection in every refpect. But I did not find from experience the fmalleft foundation for this beautiful hypothecs. It has already been faid, that no augmentation in the fize of the parent bulb takes place, after being planted, in this cafe more than in others. The parent bulb in all cafes waftes away and confumes, and it is the young bulbs produced from the fibres of the plant that fpring out from it which are ever fit for ufe. I dug up feveral of thefe feedling potatoes in the fecond and third years of their growth, in the months of June and July, and could obferve no difference between the progrefs thefe plants had then made, and their whole ccconomy, and others of the fame kind planted in the ufual way. The bulb planted as feed wafted away nearly at the fame period in both cafes, [ 76 ]] cafes, and the fibres from which the feeds originate began in both to appear about the fame time, and they feemed to be in every refpeit alike. The earlinefs of potatoes, ceteris paribus ,feems to depend upon the nature of the kind planted, more than any other circumftance. Two kinds of potatoes planted at the fame time, and upon the fame foil, fnall differ fo much from one another in this re- fpecl, that the bulbs of one kind will be fully formed and of confiderable magnitude, before the umbilical fibres of the other have begun to fpring forth, ex- actly analagous to what happens with regard to early and late kinds of peafe. It is poflible, how- ever, that in potatoes of the fame kind thefe fruit- bearing fibres may fpring forth fomewhat earlier in very vigorous plants than in fuch as are more weakly; but I am ignorant if ever this fact has been hitherto afcertained. It is well known that rather the reverfe of this happens with peafe and beans, as the moft weakly plants (to a certain de- gree) of thefe claries of vegetables come earlier than fuch as are extremely luxuriant. [In the year 1779, I obtained from London a potatoe under the name of the early Henley po- tatoe; the bulb is a dirty white; form very round, not deeply indented at the eyes; (kin imooth and fine, t 77 ] fine, but not filky. The ftem low and dwarfifti, of a pale green colour ; carries fcarce any bloffora, but the few flowers that appeared were of a pinkifh white, umbilical veflels very Ihort, confidence tend- ing rather more to the vifcous than farinaceous ; tafte fomewhat, though very (lightly, fwectifh \ the bulbs never of a large fize, feldom exceeding that of a large hen's egg. By fome trials I made, which, not having been done with the accuracy I think neceflary, I do not fpecify particularly, it appeared that if this kind had been taken up at the beginning of Auguft, and at that time compared with the white kidney fort em- ployed in my former experiments, the Henley fort would have afforded a crop more than double of what the other fort would have afforded. But had the crop been allowed to remain in the ground till the middle of October, the kidney fort would have pro- duced more than twice as much as the Henley kind. My experiment was fufficiently accurate to allow me to reft fatisfied with this refult. Hence it appears, that it would be equally bad ceconomy in one who intended to lift his potatoes in the month of Auguft, to plant the kidney fort, if he could get the Henley, as it would be for him who intended to let them remain in the ground till O&ober, [ 78 ] October, to plant the Henley, if he could get the kidney potatoe; for in both cafes he would only reap half the crop he might have done, had he made a judicious choice of feeds. The bulbs too of the Henley potatoes, at that early feafon, are much better to the tafte than thofe of the other kind, although the cafe is afterwards in fome mea- fure reverfed, [This is one proof of the very great benefits that would accrue to agriculture, by an accurate experi- mental attention to circumftances.] It has been alledged that potatoes, which have been long propagated by means of bulbs, lofe in time their generative quality, fo as to become much lefs prolific than at firfts and it is aflferted that thofe bulbs which have been lately obtained from feeds are much more prolific, and confequently much more profitable for being employed as plants than others: but this opinion likewife I am afraid has been adopted without fufficient examination. I attended particularly to this circumftance in my own experiment, and could not obferve the fmalleft indication of fuperior prolificacy, in thofe raifed from feeds, but rather the reverfe. That [ 79 ] That potatoes do not degenerate in point of pro- lificacy, in confcquence of being long propagated in the ufual way, feems to be confirmed by the general experience of all Europe. It is now about a hun- dred years fince the potatoe was pretty generally cultivated in Ireland, and it has been very univer- fally cultivated in Britain for fifty years pad, and all that have been reared in it fince their firft in- troduction two hundred years ago, a very few of late only excepted, have been propagated from bulbs only; fo that if they had declined in point of pro- lificacy, the degeneracy fhould in this time have been very apparent. Nothing of that kind how- ever was ever remarked, nor any infinuation of that fort thrown out, till the difcovery of rearing pota- toes from feed was made, when it was for the firft: time heard of. There are many perfons now living who have been in the conftant practice of rearing potatoes for thirty or forty years -, and notwithstand- ing the general tendency that mankind have to dif- praife the prelent, when compared with pafl times, yet none of them have given the fmalleft hint of de- generacy in this refpecl:. And I am perfuaded, when it comes to be fully enquired into, it will be found that this is merely a groundlefs notion, that has originated from the partial fondnefs of thofe who firft propagated this plant from [Gtd, in favour of their new difcoverv. PAPER t 80 ] PAPER SIXTH. THE DOCTRINE OF SEMINAL VARIETIES CONSIDERED, §. I. IT has alfo been faid, that by raifing potatoes from feeds many new and valuable kinds may be ob- tained. An opinion of obtaining new varieties of plants by propagating them from feeds, fo univer- fally prevails among natural ifts, and it had been fo pofitively afiferted as to potatoes, that I entertained no doubt about this matter, and waited with fome degree of impatience till the time of taking them up arrived, to fee what new varieties I mould thus obtain j but to my great furprife, and no fmall difap- pointment, I found no new kinds among my feed- lings. There were indeed among them three or four varieties, bur. not one of them different from fome of the kinds I had before -, and as the feeds were picked up at random from a field in which all the different kinds had been intermixed promifcu- oufly, I think there is guat reafon to fuppofe that fome of the feeds of the different kinds had been promifcuoufly gathered, to which I attributed the varieties among my feedlings. This I mention however only as a ground for fcepticifm on this head, and not as a proof. As I did not at the time doubt [ ll 1 doubt of the fact, I took no precautions to have it afcertained. But this I fhall endeavour to do on fome future occafion. My difappointment in this inftance, however, made me examine with a greater degree of atten- tion than I had ever before done, the whole popular doctrine of what is cdlted/eminal varieties among plants ; when I found from other experiments I had formerly made, and obfervations I could recollect, that there is great reafon to fufpect that the received doctrine on that head is only a popular error. The following facts feem to confirm this opinion. The phr&k feminal variety has been adopted by botanical gardeners, and philofophical botanifts, to denote certain fmaller variations that are obfervable among plants of the fame kind, than they have been able to find marks for difcriminating. Plants by them are arranged into claries, which are further divided into genera, and thefe again into fjpecies. Seminal varieties denote different kinds that are all reducible to the fame fpecies, and they have ob- tained their name becaufe it was fuppofed that they differed from each other only in fome fmall pecu- liarities that were accidentally obtained from feeds, and that of courfe plants raifed from feeds were apt perpetually to afford new accidental varieties of this fort. [ 82 ] ibrt. Being thus fuppofed to be perpetually liable to new changes, thefe feminal varieties have been totally excluded from every botanical fyflem of claffifkation. As it is fuppofed that all the diffe- rent kinds of potatoes ufually cultivated in Europe belong to one fpecies, and that the different kinds are only accidental varieties that have been cafually obtained from feeds, it was very natural to fuppofe that new varieties of the fame kind would arife from feeds whenever they fhould be fown. According to the fame fyflem, all the different kinds of cabbages, of turnips, of garden peafe and beans, &c. are only feminal varieties, which, having been produced by accident, may be in like manner again varied by accident; yet- that this is not the cafe, feems to be proved beyond difpute by expe- rience ; for every gardener knows, that if he be at due pains in faving the feeds of his cabbages, &c. the fame kind may be propagated for any length of time without the fmalleft variation : experience even goes farther, as it proves that thefe varieties may not only be kept diftincl as long as you pleafe, but that they may alfo, in Jome cafes, be mixed and adulterated almofl atpleafure; and that even thefe adulterated varieties can be made to continue of the fame kind without any variation, as long as you fhall choofe [ «3 ] choofe to cultivate them, by a due degree of atten- tion and care. I fhall beg leave here to mention a few common and well-known facts, in confirmation of thefe remarks. There are two kinds of cabbages very obvioufly diftinguifhable from each other, the red and the white. ■ It is well known that-if either of thefe kinds be cultivated in a diftrict where none of the other is raifed, no plants but of that kind will ever be obtained from the feeds there produced. No per- fon who inhabits a part of the country where red cabbages are never brought to feed, ever faw a red cabbage plant raifed from feeds of his own faving, nor the reverfe. But it is alfo a fact equally well known, that if both white and red cabbages are reared in the fame diftrict, it is impoffible, without very great precautions indeed, to keep the two kinds diilinct, if an attempt be made to rear them from feeds of their own faving. The plants raifed from feeds of the white cabbages become in this cafe, if nearly an equal proportion of each be faved, tinged with red veins, and thofe of the red become in fome degree white, fo that nothing but a mongrel breed, neither true red nor true white, can be obtained. If the proportion of one kind far exceed the pro- portion of the other, the kind of which there are j Vol. IV. G feweft t 84 ] feweft foon becomes fo much adulterated as to be fcarcely in any refpect different from the other; and thofe who wifh to have the leffer quantity of a true kind are under the neceffity of obtaining feeds from another diftrict, where they are chiefly cultivated. In this manner thofe of the fouth of Scotland muft obtain red cabbage feeds from Aberdeen (hire, and thofe of Aberdeen muft import their white cabbage feeds from elfewhere, if they expect to have them of a true kind. Phenomena exactly fimilar to thefe occur in cultivating the red and white beet, the feeds of which always produce a mixed kind, unlefs they have been faved with great care. A difciple of Linn/eus will find himfclf at no lofs to account for thefe phenomena, by drawing a parallel between the forementioned cafes, and the changes that are produced among the animal crea- tion by an intermixture of different breeds of the fame kind, which invariably produce a mongrel breed, participating of the qualities of both the pa- rent (locks. I am fully fenfible, however, of the danger of being milled by fuch general analogies in cafes of this nature, and fhould not have relied upon that fpecies of reafoning, had I not been able to produce at leaft one decifive experiment on this fubjecl:: though I fball have occafion to fhew that the t 85 3 the rule is by no means fo general as fome, who rely on theory only, may be difpofed to believe. Experiment Twelfth. Among all the varieties of the turnip tribe, the yellow is the mod remarkable, becaufe its colour is not confined to that part of its flcin which appears above ground, as in moil other kinds, but afte&s not only the whole of the flcin, but the flefh alfo. It is by much the fwected and firmed of all the turnip tribe ; and inftead of being injured by the winter's froir, it is in fweetnefs of tade,and tender- nefs of confidence, improved by it. On account of thefe qualities, it is highly valued for the table wherever it is known ; but as it never attains to fuch a fize as the large green-topt field turnip, and is of a confidence rather too firm for cattle whofe teeth are tender, it occurred to me that if a mongrel breed could be obtained between thefe two kinds, it would anfwer extremely well for feeding cattle; and as the experiment could eafily be made with- out trouble or expence, I refolved to try if fuch a kind could thus be obtained. With this view, adopting the principles of the fexual fyftem of Linnaeus, many years ago I planted fome yellow turnips of a true kind for {ecdy and clofe be fide them on both fides I planted fome green- topt turnips. In that fituation they were allowed to flower and to perfect their feeds ; and as care had been taken to. prevent their flower-dems from intermixing with each other, the green-topt turnips were all taken away, and the feeds of the yellow kind were beat out by themfelves. Thefe feeds were fown next feafon, and produced a crop of yellow turnips tinged with a grecnifh cad above ground, the flefh of which was neither fo deep in the colour, nor Co firm of confidence, as the genuine yellow kind, and the fize confiderably larger. It was in every refpect a mongrel G 2 breed, f 86 ] breed, which produced its own kind without variation for ten or twelve years, that I continued to cultivate it and preferve it from any intermixture with other forts. If it were not a very eafy matter for any one who can have accefs to green and yellow turnips to repeat this experi- ment for his own fatisfaction, I mould have been fome- what fliy to mention the fact ; but as the experiment is fo ilmple and eafily made, I prefume any one who doubts it will take the trouble to fatisfy himfelf experimentally about it. :;The fame may be done with white and red cabbages or beets, where thefe more readily occur. This experiment, at the fame time that it feems in this cafe to confirm Linnasus's fexual fyftem of the procrea- tion of plants, in a ftill ftronger degree feems to ftrike at the root of the doctrine of ' feminal varieties , in the fenfe it has been ufually underftood to bear, while it pretty clearly accounts for the origin of that doctrine. Men have ob- ferved, that in certain cafes new varieties of plants, which had not been obferved before, have been obtained from feeds. This might naturally happen where feveral vari- eties of the fame kind of plants were allowed to flower, and to ripen their feeds together. The mongrel breed, efpecially among the gaudy tribe of flowers, fometimes might poiTefs beauties that did not belong to either of the parent kinds, which would not fail to make them be parti- cularly taken notice of. In this way, before any idea was entertained of any kind of fexual fyftem in plants, this caufe of the obvious change produced could not be adverted to, and it would be accounted an accidental anomalous feminal variety : and having obferved this fact in feveral cafes, it might be accounted a general law of nature, no pains hav- ing been taken to overturn it by oppofing facts equally obvious at leaft. For the experience of the kitchen gar- dener, [ 8? ] dcner, who propagates without any variation of kinds, for centuries together, the different varieties of beans and peafe ought certainly, if adverted to, to have excited a doubt at lead of the univcrfality of the rule. In the fame manner that I obtained, as above, a new va- riety of turnips, it might poflibly happen that fome new varieties of potatoes might in fome cafes be obtained from feeds. For if the varieties of this clafs of plants naturally admit of mixture with each other, (which however I doubt) and if feveral kinds of potatoes mould happen to grow in a field mixed together, two or more of thefe forts blended to- gether might produce a mongrel breed, participating of the qualities of the parent ftocks ; but as to new varieties, obtained from feeds gathered from folitary plants, I have met with no fact that gives reafon to expect them. The only cafe that occurs to me juft now as feeming to confirm the doctrine of feminal varieties, is that of fruit tree, which I only mention that it may not feem to be overlooked. But I have met with no facls that tend to prove that the generally received notion on this head is not hypothetical, and have found fome that feem to prove that it is. It is in general very confidently afTerted, and as generally believed becaufe of that afTertion, that the feeds of a grafted apple do not produce trees bearing fruit of the fame kind with themfelves. This is fo generally believed in Europe, that I have never heard of an experiment being made with a view to prove it : but that very good apples are produced from feeds without grafting, is certain by the practice in America, where that operation is entirely laid afidc, and where the fame kinds of apples are frequently found on different trees in the fame way as among the grafted trees in Europe i though doubtlefs, where the feed* arc allowed to fow themfelves at random, there muft be G 3 much [ 88 ] much lefs certainty, than where the practice of ingrafting prevails. Yet even here, on this very fubject of apple- trees, we meet with one fact that ftrongly oppofes the dectrine in queftion. There are two kinds of apples that have been uiually employed as (locks on which others have been grafted. One of thefe is called free flocks, and the other crab flocks properly fo named. The plants of thefe two kinds are eafily diftinguifhable from each other by an experienced eye, and are well known by every nurfery^ man. The curiofity is, that in fpite of the doctrine of feninal vi r'.eties, {o firmly believed by every gardener, the feeds of them may be bought as diftinft kinds in every feedfman's (hop, and always produce plants according to their kind, wherever the feedfman has been honeft. I need make no remarks on this fact. Were I not afraid of tiring the reader, I could give many other inftances of plants, which contain many varieties that rife not above the clafs offeminals, even among trees and fhrubs, which invariably propagate by feeds their own kind* but {hall at prefent confine myfelf to the wild or dog rofe, many kinds of which produce a fruit called hips, which in the autumn are very beautiful. I have frequently gathered the feeds of particular kinds of thefe on account of their beauty, and fowed them ; nor did I ever in any inflance know them to differ in any refpect from the parent plant. §. II, From what has been already faid on this fubjefr, the reader will clearly perceive, that although fome clafies of plants are certainly affected by being al- lowed to fructify by the fide of particular varieties of their own clafs j yet that there are others whofe varieties [ «9 ] varieties are (o diftinft, that they Teem to refufe all fort of intermixture with each other in any circum- ftances whatever, and continue invariably to pro- pagate their own kind by feed without any fort of change whatever. This is obvioufly the cafe in all the varieties that are yet known of the pea tribe. Not only do the grey, the white, and the green, con- tinue to produce their like without any variation, although they fhould be reared together in the mod promifcuous manner, but even the lefler varieties of each of thefe forts keep all their diftinguifhing properties without the fmallefl appearance of adul- teration. A fingle charlton pea that grew among a whole field of marrow-fats, if carefully faved, would produce next year a charlton pea of as true a kind as it would have done had it grown perfectly detached from all others ; and the fame thing is obfervable with regard to all the other kinds of garden peafe. In like manner fweet-fcented peafe, which confift of four forts, the white, the purple, the painted lady, and the fcarlet, though fown promifcuoufly, continue each to produce its own kind without any variation. All the kinds of beans poflefs the fame property i as do alfo lupines, kidney-beans, and many other clafTes of plants. Hence it is obvious, that confidered in this point of view, vegetables may b divided into at lead two general clafles. One C 90 ] One clafs containing all fuch plants as admit of a promifcuous procreation, if the phrafe may be ad- mitted, fo as thus to produce a mongrel breed, as is particularly obvious in all the tribe of Braffica. The other clafs, containing fuch plants as do not admit of intermixture among the different varieties by procreation, each of which continually retains its diftinguifhing peculiarities, though reared in the neighbourhood of other varieties of the fame clafs. This is particularly the cafe with all the pea tribe, and perhaps with all the papileonaceous clafs; though I dare not venture to fay, that this rule would prove general. As this diftinclion has not, that I know of, hitherto been taken notice of, natu- ralifts have not thought of affigning to each order of plants the clafs they ought to be placed under in that refpecl. Whether the Jolanum belongs to the one or the other, I cannot tell, and therefore cannot fay whether any new varieties of potatoes may be expected from potatoes or not. Confidered in this point of view, there are pro- bably other clalTes of plants that might -be efta- blifhed, with regard to which profeffed florifts may perhaps know fomething. As I have no preten- fions to that name, I mention it here only to bring jt under the view of thofe who have opportunities of [ 9» ] of inveftigating fuch queftions. Some plants, when firft raifed from feeds, are faid to produce flowers of one colour only, which afterwards break as it is ftiled, and become ftriped, as the tulip. Others, though originally variegated, are faid in time to become plain, and afterwards retain that plainnefs, as the carnation. Whether thefe things are actually fo, I do not take upon me to fay, becaufe I know many things of this nature are vaguely and confi- dently afTerted. But if they do exift, it might be of ufe, for fome purpofes, to afcertain the plants that are reducible to the one or the other of thefe clafTes. Upon the whole, with refpedt to the rearing of potatoes from feeds, I think we may fafely con- clude, that if this practice will ever be productive of any benefits to focicty, thefe advantages have not yet been difcovered. PAPER [ 92 ) PAPER SEVENTH. OF THE DISEASE CALLED THE CURL IN POTATOES, AND SOME OTHER PECULIARITIES OBSERVABLE WITH REGARD TO THIS PLANT* *. I. POTATOES are fubje&ed to one particular dif- eafe, the cu,rl> which it would be improper for me altogether to omit 3 and though I can fay little fofitive as to the caufe of this diforder, a good deal may be faid on the negative fide of the queftion ; which, as it may pofTibly lead to future refearches, fhall here be added. The only thing that feems to be pofitively certain with regard to this diforcler is, that it was fcarcely, if at all, known till very lately; and in particular that it was not known in the northern parts of this ifland till a very few years ago, (I myfelf had never feen it when the former parts of this treatife were written) when, there is great reafon to believe, it was introduced by means of feed potatoes imported from the South country: and it is at this moment much lefs frequent in the Northern and remote parts, than in the Southern and more commercial diftrifts of this ifland. From [ 93 ] From this fingle fact, feveral corollaries are dedu- cible, which entirely overturn fome theories that have been formed to account for this difeafe. It has been fuppofed, that nature, fated as it were by having long produced this plant in a climate that was not deemed congenial to it, had become fo far exhaufted, as to occafion this difeafe. But if fo, the more Northern parte of this ifland, where the climate is the mod unfavourable, fhould have been fboneft afTc&ed by it. It has been further fuppofed, that potatoes that are froft-bitten, (the bulbs are here meant) before they are properly houfed, oc- cafion this difeafe in the plants produced from them ; but the curl is lead known in thofe diftricls where the potatoes are mofl liable to this accident. It has been faid, that potatoes which are taken up before they attained perfect maturity, infallibly be- came affected with this difeafe : but in fome cold mofly foils, and expofed fituations, where the pota- toes muft often be taken up while they are yet in a (late of vigorous vegetation, this difeafe is fcarcely known. It will not be imagined I mean to infi- nuate that fuch fituations would preferve from the difeafe, when once introduced in other places aroundi for that, without doubt, is not the cafe. It has been further alledged, that fuch plants as have been lately obtained from feeds, properly fo called, t 94 3 called, are entirely free from the curl. But I r^ave a very ftriking proof before my eyes at this moment, that this is not the cafe. A large field, which was planted with potatoes the third year from the feed, has more than one half the plants curled; while another field near it, raifed from potatoes that never were, that we know of, produced from feeds in this country, has fcarcely one curled plant in the whole. It is by fome alledged, that the foil or feafon occafion the difeafe: but that this is not the cafe, is alfo plain from the ftate of a field now in my neighbourhood. Several ridges in it, that were planted with potatoes obtained from one particular perfon, are very much curled, while the remainder of t}ie field, which was planted with potatoes of the fame fort, obtained from a different perfon, is not at all infefted with that difeafe. In this cafe the. foil and climate were the fame, (for the ridges were intermixed with the others) but the crop extremely different. In the lafl example it is plain, that the difeafe de- pends entirely on the nature of the feed -, and it feems to me highly probable that the curl in po- tatoes, like fome hereditary difeafes among animals, if once introduced, vitiates the prolific ftamina, fo as to be perpetuated as long as the infe&ed breed continues C 95 1 continues to produce others. But this is hazarded merely as a conjecture. Are there any facts fuffi- ciently authenticated, which prove that a plant once known to be infected with this difeafe, invariably produces difeafed plants ? Or is it for certain known, that in any cafe a curled potatoe has been produced from a plant that was perfectly found, and not in the fmalleft degree affected with that diforder? Clear proofs by experiments made with the utmoft caution are here wanted, and not the refult of ran- dom obfervation. In confidering thefe queftions, and comparing them with phenomena already known, it feems dif- ficult to decide which way the probability lies. On the one hand, feeing this difeafe is, or at leaft moft certainly was, entirely unknown in many large dif- tricts where potatoes have been long cultivated, it would feem to favour the opinion that it only ori- ginated from infected feed: — on the other hand, it is afferted, as a well-known fact, that fields which have been planted with feed that was in the former year very little if at all affected, have been known to produce plants the fucceeding year, almoft en- tirely of the curled fort. Should this fact be proved, it would feem to favour the oppofite hy- pothec's ; but even here, we mail foon fee reafon to judge cautioufly. Infectious [ 96 1 Infectious difeafes in the animal creation may be communicated in two ways. One clafs of dif- orders can be communicated only by defcent from parent to child, and can never be communicated by juxta pofition : another clafs of difeafes can be com- municated merely by juxta pofition, and not at all by defcent of blood. Does fuch a diftinction as this prevail among vegetables? Has any experiment been recorded, which proves that any particular dif- eafe among plants can be conveyed by juxta pofi- tion only? Is not the fmut in wheat of this clafs ? May it not extend to others ? May not a few in- fected potatoes in this way, if mixed in a large heap, like a fubtile leavening principle, infect the whole ? Experiments are here much wanted. But I am far from alledging, that, though it were an eftablifhed fact that potatoes had been known to be much more infected with the curl, than thofe from whence the feed was obtained had been in the former year, it would either prove that the difeafe might originate from other caufes than contami- nated feed, or make it certain that befides direct defcent, the diforder could be communicated merely by juxta pofition. For though it mould fo happen, that the diforder could be communicated only by direct defcent, the fact above-mentioned might poflibly £ 97 ] poflibly happen in this way. It is well known that potatoes affected with the curl, feldom produce bulbsofafize nearly equal to thofe of the fame kind that are found. This being the cafe, mould one man, from among the heap of thofe potatoes which were only in a fmall proportion affected with the curl, felect only the fmall potatoes for feed, and otherwife difpofe of the large ones, it is obvious he mull thus preferve almoft the whole of the curled fort for feed, and very few of the found; and the potatoes railed from this feed muft of courfe be much more infected with the curl, than the parent potatoes were, from which the feeds were obtained. On the other hand, mould another man pick out from the fame parent ilock only the very largeft bulbs he could find, he would probably have fcarcely one curled plant in the whole field. Thus might the feed from the fame heap prove to be, in one field entirely (rcc from the infection, and in the other altogether difeafed. Men are in general fo carclefs in obferving facts of the nature here alluded to, that we frequently meet with inexplicable phe- nomena like what we have here fuppofed. But till thefe particulars be fully inveftigated, it would feem to be, from many confiderations, the fafeft plan to felect only the largeft bulbs for plants: for as there is t 98 ] is reafbn to think the difeafe proceeds in all cafes from the feeds planted, and as the infection muft certainly be lefs virulent in the plants that have been leaft previoufly infected with it than others, and as no large potatoes are produced by plants which are ftrongly affected by this difeafe, thefe ought furely to be chofcn for plants in preference to others. This I know, that I never yet have obferved a curled potatoe among thofe I have obtained from large potatoes planted whole. Should it be found that this diforder, like the fmall-pox or meafles among mankind, can be com- municated by juxta pofition only; in that cafe it would be prudent to felect the large bulbs at the time of taking them out of the ground, putting them all in one heap then, without ever letting them touch the fmall, and thus keep them entirely fepa- rate. By thefe cautions, accompanied with roguing the potatoes as foon as they are fairly above ground, (that is, pulling out all thofe that fhewed the fmall- eft fymptom of this difeafe) it feems to me pro- bable it might be in a great meafure, if not en- tirely, avoided* Some think the difeafe is produced by allowing the potatoes to be a little touched by froft during the winter. Certain it is, that a potatoe never can be t 99 ] be in any i efped benefited by froft, and therefore not be too carefully guarded againft it; but from the facts already ftated, it does not feem to me at all probable that ever the difeafe originates from that caufe.] Befides the above, there are many other particu- lars relative to the culture of this ufeful plant, that re- quire to be elucidated, fome of which are as under. It is to be obferved, that although the fame kind of potatoe be planted in two different fields, the pro- duce of the one often proves to be of a much more meally kind of potatoe than that of the other; and it has been in like manner remarked, that the po- tatoes of one year's growth are in general more watery, or the reverfe, than thofe of another feafon. The caufes of thefe peculiarities do not feem to be as yet fully known, though, as is ufual, many things are vaguely afferted on this head, with a fufficient degree of confidence. It is generally believed that a dry foil, or a dry feafon, necelTarily produce the drieft potatoes, and indeed it is fo natural to expect, a priori, that this fhould be the cafe, that it is not furprifing if men mould not be difficult about admitting the fact. I find good reafon, however, to fufpeft that thefe Vol. IV. H opinions [ 100 ] opinions are not altogether well-founded. The year 1775 was the drieft and warmeft feafon that has been known in Scotland within the memory of man, yet the potatoes of that year's crop were watery almoft to a proverb : on the other hand the potatoes of crop 1777, although it was a remakably rainy feafon, were as dry and meally at leaft as is common, and much more fo than in the year 1775. It deferves alfo to be remarked, that the crop of 1775 was almoft double in quantity to that of 1777. Hence a dry feafon would feem to augment the produce, though it does not for certain in all cafes improve the quality of this crop. The year 1774 was one of the coldeft and moft rainy, that has perhaps been known in Scotland. Quere — Could that have any effect on the produce of the enfuing feafon? If it had, the potatoes of crop 1778 mould be more watery than ufual; for the year 1777 was almoft as cold and rainy as 1774. Obferve if this fhall happen. [N. B. The potatoes of 1778 were not more watery than ufual, therefore this conjecture does not feem to be well founded. The year 1782 was the coldeft and wetteft feafon ever known by any man alive: but the potatoes were almoft entirely de- ftroyed by froft in Abcrdeenfhire, before they were taken [ ioi ] taken up* and my attention was fo much engaged at that time with more interefting concerns, that the prefent fubject of inveftigation never occurred, fo that I made no remarks on that crop.] If a dry feafon does not necefTarily infure meally potatoes, fo neither does a dry foil always and ne- cefTarily produce that efTect. I have frequently feen the fame kind of potatoes, and of the fame year's produce, reared in two different places; the one of them in a foil which was naturally inclined to damp- nefs, which were much freer and more meally than the others which were reared on a drier and fharper foil. This I'have fo often remarked, that I cannot be miftaken as to the fact. I have, no doubt, as often obferved that the cafe has been reverfed. I believe it will be alfo found to be a fact, that pota- toes which are raifed in thofe diftricts of the coun- try, where the foil is of a hot fandy nature, are ufually more free and tender than thofe which are reared in countries where the foil in general is cold and damp. Such feemingly contradictory pheno- mena as thofe abovementioned are not uncommon in agriculture, and often give rife to falfe opinions, which are followed by erroneous practice. In order to difcover the caufe of thefe feeming contradictions, conjectures may be freely hazarded, if they are de- livered only as conjeRures, not to influence our rea- H 2 foning, [ 102 ] foning, but to direct the attention towards proper objects of enquiry and experiment. It is not evert necelTary that thefe conjectures fhould be founded on any facts already known; it is enough if they point towards probabilities, that may be confirmed or refuted by future obfervations. They ought not even to be confidered by the perfon who hazards them as probabilities, which it imports his charac- ter to fupport, becaufe this would warp his judg- ment, and pervert his reafoning; but as mere ran- dom gropings in the dark, which, if they do not clearly difcover what is the direct road to know- ledge, will at lead in lbme cafes point out what is not the track to be purfued, and will at any rate fooner difcover it, than if we flood ftill without ex- ertions or obfervations of any fort. With thefe views I would hazard the following query; — Is the waterinefs or drynefs of a crop of , potatoes in any fort affected by the degree of ripe- nefs that the plants employed for feed may have attained in the preceding Jeafon? That the maturity they have attained in the Jeafon that the potatoes are ufed, does affect the quality of the potatoes, I con- ceive to be highly probable ; and therefore potatoes, which, on account of the richnefs or other peculia- rity of foil, continue in a flate of vegetation highly luxuriant, till they are nipped by froft or checked in [ '©3 ] in their growth by other inclemencies of feafon, have much lefs chance of being dry and meally, than others of the fame fort, which have attained their full growth before the coldnefs or inclemency of the weather checked them. The prefent queftion, therefore, does not relate to this, but to the effects that fuch unripe plants have upon thofe produced from them next feafon. If, upon examination, it fhould be found that the due maturation of the plants employed as feed had any effect upon the quality of the future crop, it might help us to account for fome of the foregoing phenomena; be- caufe, in a country of various foils, it might acci- dentally happen, that the crop raifed on a dampifh foil was produced from feeds that had grown on a dry warm foil the preceding year, and had been fufficiently ripened, or the reverfe; but in large dis- tricts, where the foil is in general pretty much of one quality, either warm and dry, or cold and wet, the kind of interchange of feed here alluded to could not fo readily take place. But even if it fliould be found that the maturity of the feeds affected the quality of the potatoes, it would not follow invariably that the feeds produced on early dry foils would be better than thofe from later foils, becaufc it might fome times happen, from H j local [ I04 3 local pofition, and other accidental circumftances, that the growth of the potatoes in the dry early foil might be checked by frofls many weeks before thofe on the other foil were affected; in confequence of which, the plants in the cold foil might attain to more perfect maturity, than thofe on the drier one. I mention this peculiarity, merely to (hew how cau- tious the farmer ought to be in adopting general conclufions, without carefully attending to all the collateral circumltances that may affect his experi- ment. I (hall only farther add on this head, that I had occafion to know well a dry warm fpot of ground, on which the items of the potatoes of crop 1776 were froft-bitten, at leaft fix weeks before thofe on another fpot at fome miles diftance from it, where the foil was naturally more cold and damp, were in the fmalleft degree affected by it. It like- wife fo happened, that the potatoes raifed on the ■firft-mentioned fpot in the year 1777, (their own froft-bitten* feed was employed) had fuch a pecu- liar acrid and bitterifh taftevas to be hardly at all eatable; while thofe in the colder place of that crop had nothing of that unufual tafte. Whether this diverfity was occafioned by the circumftance here * Obferve, the term frcft -bitten is here applied to the ftems only, and not to the bulbs. The items were fo much hurt by the froft as to turn black and decay., but the. bulbs were taken up before the froft had been fufficiently intenfe to hurt them. allude^ [ »o5 ] alluded to, I do not take it on me to fay. In matters of fuch nice difquifition as the prefent, many facts obtained by very accurate obfervation are ne- cefTary, before any conclufion can be relied on. The following accidental experiment, relating to the fubjeft here in agitation, deferves to have a place: — Experiment Thirteenth. In the year 1776, 1 planted with potatoes afmall plot in my garden ; it accidently happened that the one half of it had been in cabbages the year before, and the other half in graft, which, for the fake of an experiment, had lain in that ftate for three years. The foil was in every other refpecT: the fame. The whole was dug over in the month of April, fome loofe mould having been (hovelled up on the top of that part which had been in grafs, merely to cover the grafTy part of the fod. It was all planted with the fame kind of potatoe on the fame day, and managed in every refpecr. alike. None of it got any dung. The crop was in both places very good, and nearly equal in quantity ; but it was remarked, as a fmgular peculiarity, that the potatoes which grew upon the part that had been in grafs were remarkably meally, whereas thofe that grew upon the other divifion were of a very foft and watery kind. The difference between them was fo perceptible, that no perfon in the family but could have told at once if the fervant by miftakc at any time brought the one kind infteadof the other. In this cafe, it is obvious, that the difference in quality was produced entirely by fome peculiarity in the foil, and could [ io6 ] could neither be occafioned by any defect in the kc6^ nor peculiarity of weather; and on this occafion 1 imagined I had difcovered a circumftance that had hitherto baffled all my refearches : for I thought it next to certain that the fuperior mealinefs of the one part of the potatoes in this experiment, was occafioned by the ground on which they were planted having* been broke up directly from grafs ; and although I could affign no probable reafon why this fhould be fo, yet as no other difference between them was ohfervable, I refolved to repeat the experiment, to fee if the fame phenomena regularly occurred. This produced the following trial : Experiment Fourteenth. In the year 1777, I made choice of another patch of ground, one half of which had been in culture many years, and the other half was in grafs three years old. Both of thefe were dug over in the month of April, exactly in the fame manner as in the foregoing experiment, and were planted as before, with one kind of potatoes on the fame day. In every refpccT: thefe were treated, as nearly as pof- fible, in the fame way with thofe in the laft experiment. But when they were taken up at the proper feafon, to my great mortification, I found that no fenfible difference could be obferved in the friability of the potatoes obtained from the one or the other divifion. The reader will alfo pleafe to recollect, that experiments fecond and third were made upon ground in like manner newly broke up from grafs ; but neither were the potatoes that were produced upon it, although it was a dry, fharp, thin foil, not at all remarkable for their drynefs or mealinefs : they were even much infe-r rior in this rcfpecT: to thofe which were obtained from both the divifions of the prefent experiment j although the foil was, in the lait cafe, of a deeper and damper kind. It t 107 ] It is thus that knowledge frequently eludes the refearches of the farmer, after he thinks he has with certainty attained it; but if he be diligent and unremitting in his purfuit, and never gives over, even when he feems to be thrown out in the chace, he will at length lay firm hold of this ever-changing Proteus, and force from him many impor- tant fecrets exceedingly neceflary to be known for the well-being of mankind. CONCLUSION. The reader cannot fail to have remarked, that the foregoing experiments and obfervations only tend to pave the way for an accurate fet of experi- ments, to afcertain with fome reafonable degree of precifion, the foil, manures, and culture, that are bed calculated to produce the largeft and bed crops of potatoes. Till the particulars above fpecified be fully afcertained, any attempt to prefcribe the bed and mod advantageous mode of cultivating this valuable plant mud be vain and nugatory, as per- petual contradictory facts would occur, which would involve the fubject in the fame doubt and obfeurity as at prefent. Fully convinced of thefe things, my aim in this efTay has been folely to elucidate fome important previous quedions. Little more indeed has been done, than to point at what is wanted for enabling us to go forward in a proper manner : and thefc [ io8 ] thefc imperfect hints are fubmitted to the public, in hopes of inducing others, who have better op- portunities of making experiments than myfelf, to exert themfelves in an effectual manner to afcertain thofe points that ftill are doubtful. I fhall myfelf endeavour, as far as circumftances permit, ftill to go forward in this tract, and am not without hopes, that in time I may be enabled to fpeak with fome degree of firmnefs, concerning the modes of cul- ture that are well adapted to infure great and profit- able crops of this mod valuable plant. At pre fen t, I rather chufe to decline entering on that branch of the fubject. N. B. As there is much diverfity in weights and meafures in dif- ferent parts of this country, readers are often greatly embar raffed for want of blowing the exacl amount of thofe that are mentioned in expe- rimental ejpiys. To avoid that inconveniency on the prefent occafwn, the reader is defired to take notice, that, unlefs where it is fpecially mentioned to be other-wife, throughout the whole of the preceding ejfay, an acre means an exatljlatute Englifh acre, of 4840 fqu are yards. A pound means an avoirdupoife pound of 16 Dunces, and abufhel 56 of thefe pounds » or half a hundred weight. Every reader, by the help of this information, may eafily bring any weights or meafures mentioned (a the famefandard that is ufed in his neighbourhood, Thcgreatefl part of the ejfay was written in the year 1778 ; afe-w abfervations having been fine e added, which are difinguijhedjrcm the original ejfay by being included within crotchets [thus.] Article [ tw ] Article II, An EJfay on the moft fraRicable method of fixing an equitable Commutation for Tithes in general through- out the Kingdom. TO THE PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENTS, AND MEM* \ BERS OF THE BATH AGRICULTURE SOCIETY. THE judicious propofal of the Bath Agricul- ture Society, for an " Efiay on the moft practicable method of fixing an equitable commu- tation for tithes in general throughout the king- dom," reflects great honour on the inftitution. It is, I believe, univerfally acknowledged, that tithes are a great difcouragement to agriculture. They are inconvenient and vexatious to the huf- bandman, and operate as an impolitic tax upon induftry. The clergyman too frequently finds them troublefome and precarious; his expences in col- lecting are a confiderable drawback from their value, and his juft rights are with difficulty fecured: he is too often obliged to fubmit to impofition, or be embroiled with his parifhioners in difputes and litigations, no lefs irkfome to his feelings than pre- judicial to his intereft, and tending to prevent thofe good effe&s which his precepts fhould produce. The t »o ] The writer of this effay has frequently been con- futed about the value of tithes, and that of the land out of which they iftue; as alfo on the comparative value of one to the other. It is from obiervation, and reflection, grounded on experience, that thefe hints are fubmitted to the Society. Had the au- thor fufficient leifure and abilities for entering at large into the prefent eftablifhment for the mainte- nance of the clergy, and for dating how peculiarly hard it bears on the landholder, when compared with the merchant, the manufacturer, and the arti- fan ; fuch a difciifiion, however worthy the attention of parliament, is not the object of this efTay. In the practicable method to be pointed out, it appears indifpenfable, that a fair, full, and perma- nent equivalent fhould arife out of the fame pro- perty, and be defrayed by the fame order of men, as pay tithes at the prefent day: the more any pro- pofed fcheme deviates from this principle, the lefs practicable will it be found. • Land for Tithes, A commutation of tithes for land has many ad- vocates, and fome very able opponents. The Lord Bifhop of Salifbury, in a late excellent charge to his clergy, has amongft other important matters fhewn, with [ III ] with great ftrength of argument, that fuch a com- mutation is by no means eligible. The habits of life in which the clergy are educated, and the im- portant office they fill, are ill-fuited to the occupa- tion of a farmer. The expence requifite to (lock a farm would, to many, be a ferious objection. If we confider the land fo taken only as property to be let, the mod defirable cirCumftance would be for it to lie compact, and as near the buildings as poflible. In extenfive parilhes, where there are numerous fmall eftates, this object is unattainable. Xhe equi- valent in land muft in fuch cafes lie in very fmall parcels, exceedingly difperfed, and be difficult to lee to proper tenants at a fair value. A balance muft be (truck upon each eftate, and fences be raifed at a a great expence. Such parcels as would be eligible for the rector to receive, the landholder cannot al- ways give, without deranging the general ceconomy of liis farm. Even in thofe parilhes where the pro- perty may be given and received with conveniency, and let to one tenant, he is liable to misfortunes, and failures, which would render the clergyman's fupport more precarious than on the prefent efta- blilhment. The knowledge of foils and their ufes, requifite for framing covenants for the prefervation and proper management of landed property, will frequently be wanting in the clergy. And the pro- bability bability that a fucceflbr will find the land neglected or exhaufted, the fences deftroyed, and the build- ings in ruins, will not be doubted by fuch land- owners as have declined to renew with their life- hold tenants, and fuffered their property to fall into hand. Whoever has taken an active part in carrying inclofure bills into execution, where the land is ex- onerated from tithes, mull have found it a nice and difficult tafk to afcertain a proper equivalent. When the proportion of land to be given is fixed by par- liament, it is too often done without fufficient infor- mation refpecting the circumflances of the property. Hence may be afligned a principal caufe why the real merits of inclofure bills are frequently depre- ciated. The great diverfity of foils, their different degrees of fertility, various ufes and products, and the different expences of cultivation, all operate on this proportion; and what may be deemed equi- table on one eftate, is frequently injurious to the rector, or to the landholder, on another. A very able writer* ftrenuoufly oppofes a com- mutation of land for tithes, and that chiefly as being injurious to the landholder. * See Obfervations, &c. refpe&ing Bills of Inclofure ; and calcu- lations ftiewing the lofs fuftained wherever lands are given in lieu of tithes.— Sand ford, Shrewsbury j and JBfiW, London. "Let [ »3 ] " Let us fuppofe a farm of 150 acres, at 16s. per acre; rent 120I. The leaft profit fuch a farm ought to produce, in order to anfwer the various expences incident to it, is 300I. It mould be more; ftate it however at that fum, and the account will ftand thus : Rent, ------- 120 Tithes ------- 30 Remainder to anfwer every expence of parifh ) rates, wages, houfekeeping, wear, tear, &c. > 300 " Here the value of the tithes is equal to a fourth of the rent ; and I take this to be the leaft proportion that the tithes and rent can bear to each other in any cafe what- focver, except in rich grazing farms managed at a flight expence. Now that the rector may have a full equiva- lent of landed rent for thefe tithes, an allotment muft be made worth 30I. a year tithe free. But the tenant pays 150I. per annum in rent and tithes, or 20 (hillings per acre ; confequently the allotment muft contain 30 acres, leaving the remaining 120 in the occupation of the tenant, who muft continue to pay his ufual rent; for otherwife his landlord muft fuftain a lofs. The account will then ftand thus : Tenant. £. Rent of 120 acres, - - 120 Refidue for general expences, - - 120 Produce, reckoning as before at the rate of 7 300I. upon 150 acres - - 3 240 - Rtclir [ »4 ] Rettor. £. Thirty acres let at 20 fhillings per acre, 30 " Thus, by a commutation neither benefiting" nor in- juring landlord or re&or, the tenant is reduced from 150 to 120 pounds, to fupport nearly the fame family, and de- fray within a trifle the fame expences. This is an actual lofs to him of little lefs than 30I. per annum." It muft be acknowledged, that the above writer takes no notices of the expences of collecting tithes, and converting them into money. Servants' wages, horfes, carts, reparation of barns and other build- ings, wafte, threfhing, marketing, &c. are confider- able deductions. In dating a proportion in the rule of three, the young arithmetician is directed to reduce his firft and third terms to the fame deno- mination. It is equally reafonable, if the expences of the cultivator are reckoned, that thofe of the tithe-gatherer mould not be forgotten — that the letting value of land fhould be compared with the letting value of tithes ; not the rent of the one with the produce of the other. Although this omiMion does not invalidate the general principle -, it enhances the comparative value of tithes to that of land. It is a very com- mon omiflion in calculations of this fort, and may, in a work of merit, tend to miflead \ on which account [ II* ] account it is here taken notice of. The fame author mathematically demonftrates, that land cannot be given for tithes, in any cafe whatever, without in- jury to one or both of the parties concerned— and that the meafure of that injury muft be a fum nearly equal to the profit which accrues to thofe who after- wards occupy the tithe allotment. As this is a queftion of confiderable confequence, it cannot be too nicely and impartially examined. Admitting the author's aflcrtion to be mathematically true, it is alfo true that a given quantity of land, rented as part of a very large farm, is generally lefs valuable to its owner, and to the community, than when it forms part of a farm of more moderate fize. If a com- mutation of land for tithes were only to take place on overgrown farms, neither the landlord nor the public would, perhaps, have any caufe to objeft. But the confequences of fuch a commutation would be mod feverely felt by a fmall land-owner, who is obliged to keep a certain number of horfes to till his ground, whether he has a few acres more or lefs. The profits arifing from his labour, even when in full employment, are barely fufficient for a comfort- able livelihood : take away a portion of his land, and, like the manufacturer who is obliged to ftand Hill for want of materials, he is in part deprived of the means of maintaining his family. Vol. IV. I Through t tx6 1 Through a refined tafte, Gr a miftaken policy, the induftrious occupiers of fmall property, thofe mod ufeful fubjects to the ftate, have been already too much opprefied, and are in many places nearly extirpated. The good-natured reader will excufe me, if I quit my iubject for a moment to deplore the confequences. The Norman Conqueror, in the "plenitude of his power, depopulated thirty villages for his pleafure, •which has left an indelible ftain on his character. In the prefent enlightened age, the fame ruinous policy is adopted, without remorfe or cenfure. If the homely habitation of induftry grows cpld and comfortlefs, avarice whifpers that the expence of reparations may be faved, and the land be added to a neighbouring farm. • If parks or pleafure grounds are to be extended, whole villages are razed to the ground. Hulhed are the cheerful " founds of popu- lation/* and the bufy footftep is feen no more. The once comfortable, but now dejected inhabitants, are reduced to the hard necefiity of earning a fcanty morfel in the evening of. life, by dint of labour be- yond their dec! iing ftrength; and thus their grey hairs go down with forrow to the grave: — their be- loved children, the comfort of their age, ill-brooking the idea of fervitude, where they have feen better days, fcek employment in the capital; — difappoint- -\ ment [ M7 ] ment and penury enfue: — the mounds of virtue are now broken, and the ruddy bloom of health ex- changed for difeafe and infamy: — our flreets become crouded with ruined innocence; and our prifons with wretched and defperate malefactors ! Where are the benefits to compenfate for this mafs of evil? The property which maintained ten or twenty families in comfort, is now converted into a fingle farm. When a tenant is wanted, there are but few competitors. If he fails, the lefs is a fe- vere one. The landlord may confole, and perhaps reimburfe himfelf by feizing on the farmer's flock ; but his feelings are not to be envied; the reputa- tion of his farm is thereby leflened, and the diffi- culty of procuring a tenant increafed. The man who can afford to flock fuch a farm, can probably live on the interefl of his money. He will not embark without a probability of large profit ; and that without taking a laborious part. The labour and attention of fervants and workmen are more expenfive and lefs effectual than that of a fmall . farmer, who eafily fuperintends his bufinefs, and, with the afliftance of his children, tills his own ground. The graduated fcale of property being broken, and no medium left between the overgrown farmer and neglected cottager, the finews of in- I 2 duftry duftry become languid. The poor man has no- thing to look up to : — No motive for a laudable pride — no incentive to fuperior induftry. The parifh poor are his aflbciates ; and he obferves that, when age or want overtakes them, the diffolute and the worthlefs are indifcriminately, and equally, re- li eevdwith the worthy and the induftrious. — He therefore literally takes no thought for the morrow. —The produce of his labour is fpent without re* ferve; and his wretched family entailed on the parifh: — the land becomes loaded with enormous poor-rates, and its owner, after all his fchemes of aggrandizement, wonders to find its value decreafed. Such are the evils which prudence would have fore- feen; and a humane attention to the rights and interefts of mankind fhould have prevented. But to return. On the moft mature confideration, I am fully convinced of the impracticability of fix- ing a general and equitable commutation of tithes for land throughout the kingdom, COMPOSITIONS. The flu&uating value of money, and the very fmall proportion which moduffes, or real compofi- tions, made previous to the difabling ftatute 13 Elizabeth now bear to the value of tithes then compounded for, are convincing proofs that no pe- cuniary r "9 i cuniary payment can be fixed, without the greateft probability of injuring pofterity. To remedy this evil, provifion-rents have formerly been adopted. But a moment's confideration will convince us that a commutation of tithes for provifion-rents, or the produce of the land in a marketable ftate, would be liable to much trouble and abufe. It would not be eligible even for the farmer; nor can it be ex- pected that the tithe-owner would ever confent to it. The worthy and learned Prelate before-men- tioned, with equal judgment and philanthropy, re- commends to his clergy to compound with their parifhioners on moderate terms. Were this falutary advice univerfally adopted, it would be for the be- nefit both of the clergy and the laity. For it is well known that befides the trouble of fetting out tithes, and their numerous ill confequences to the landholder and to fociety, they are in collefting liable to wafte, injury, and additional expence : and that there is a very confiderable lofs between the re&or and the farmer, without benefit to the one or the other. But, alas! plain as this truth mull appear to every man of experience, the imperfe&ions of human nature are fuch, that the parties concerned rarely agree on an equitable compofition. 1 3 To [ ™° ] To prevent the effects of that partiality, which want of judgment or of candour too often occafions, the ingenious writer before quoted propofes, that the fum which each perfon fhall pay in lieu of tithes fhould be fixed by two indifferent and fkilful per- fons, with liberty to any of the parties to order a new valuation to be made once in every feven years: the expences to be equally borne by the rector and the parifh. The expence attending a meafure of this fort, often reiterated, would be one confiderable objec- tion. Many improvements in husbandry are at- tended with heavy expences, and the return is fre- quently uncertain. A feptennial reckoning with the tithe-owner may damp that fpirit of induftry, v Inch an exoneration from tithes is meant to pro- duce. A difagreeable anxiety would attend pro- perty often fubmitted to arbitration. And when we confider that men have been perverfe enough to let their lands lie unfown, in order to deprive the rector of his tithe, we may take it for granted that there would not be wanting thofe, who, with an unworthy policy, would take every poflible ftep to warp the judgments of the arbitrators, by depreci- ating the value of their tithes previous to fuch fep- tennial, or any other regular valuation. » COMPOSITION [ 121 ] COMPOSITION TO VARY WITH THB VALUE OF MONEY. The mod unobjectionable commutation that oc- curs to me, is that of a money payment, chargeable on the occupiers of the land now titheable, but to vary with the value of money, in fuch manner as for the fame income to purchafe the fame quantity of the neceflaries of life, in all times to come. In order to accomplilh this end, it is propofed, that a bill be brought into parliament, not to com- pel every parifh to enter immediately on fuch a meafure, but to enable all parties, who aredefirous, to proceed on the bufinefs. A very fudden and general change would neither be practicable, nor eligible. It muft inevitably be a work of time; and fhould be carried on rather from conviction than compulfion. The following hints may probably be of fome ufe in framing the principal claufes in a bill for thatpurpofe. MODE OF PROCEEDING. That every thing may be tranfacled in as lhort a manner, as openly, and at as little expence as pof- fible, the Juftices at their general Quarter-Seffions of the peace, held for the fame county, and at the neareft diftance from the parifh where the tithes are propofed to be commuted for, fhould be enabled to [ |W J to authorife commiflioners to proceed on the bufi- nefs. Whoever has attended the patting of private bills through parliament, muft have obferved, that although the allegations of a bill are proved before a Committee, with due care and folemnity, yet the real merits and moft material parts, are fometimes but imperfectly underftood, or attended to. At a general Quarter- Seflions, it is probable, that feveral of the magiftrates may be well acquainted with the merits and circumftances of the bufinefs, and the expence of attendance will not debar the parties from coming forward with the beft evidence that can be obtained. Two months previous to an application ^o the Quarter-Seflions, a notice fhould be affixed on the principal door of the parifti church, for three Sun- days during divine fervice, fetting forth that applica- tion will be made on the firft day of the next general Quarter Seflions of the peace, held at . And alfo an advertifement to the fame purport fhould be inferted in fome country news-paper, which circulates in that part of the county where the lands are fituate, in order that the juftices and non-relident parties may in proper time be apprifed of the bufinefs. That fuch notices have been given, fhould in the firft place be proved upon oath. [ **3 1 oath. Thf proportion of conferring parties flioul J next be brought forward, and the reafons given by thofe who withhold their affent fhould be parti- cularly dated. PROPORTION OF CONSENTS. The parties interefted in the tithes, or thofe whofc confent ought to be obtained, are, the Bifhop of the diocefe, the Patron and Incumbent — appropriators holding tithes, and impropriators, with their refpec- tive leflees for long terms renewable or for lives. Whatever be the denomination of the parties inte- refted, a general confent fhould, if poflible, be ob- tained. But as this is not always to be expected, however meritorious the undertaking, it may, per- haps be thought that one diflenting voice on the part of the tithe-owners ought not to negative the bufinefs. However, in all cafes where the patron is alfo incumbent, or where the tithes are a lay im- propriator's freehold, or wherever the pofTeflion and reverfion center in one and the fame perfon, fuch perfon's confent Ihould be indifpenfably neceflary. On the part of the land-owners, the confent of the proprietors of three-fourths of the property in quantity or value fhould be obtained, previous to fuch application to the Quarter-Sefiions. But no perfon t W* ] pcrfon who contents or diffents as diocefan, patron, incumbent, or tithe-owner, mould have any vote as land-owner alfo. If any oppofition be made to the meafure, the parties oppofing fhould be heard by themfelves or counfel ; and, if the magiftrates are not unanimous, in order that friendship or party may have no influence, the queftion fhould be de- termined by ballot.* CHOICE OF COMMISSIONERS. Three CommifTioners, who are men of judgment, integrity, experienced, and difinterefled, will tranf. act bufinefs much better than a larger number. The act of any two of them fhould be binding. It is reafonable that the parties mould have a good opinion of the perfons in whom fo considerable a truft is vefted. The Bifhop of the diocefe, the pa- tron, incumbent, or other tithe-owners, or the major part of them, fhould therefore name one Commif- fioner, and a majority of the land-owners choofe * If it fhall appear that a larger proportion of contents fhould be obtained, either on the part of the tithe-owners, or that of the land-owners, the author does not object to it. Convinced as he is that the great expence of parting a bill through parliament for each parith fef>ara/i-Iy, and of procuring evidence to attend from diitant parts of the kingdom, would in many cafes fruftrate the benefits propofed ; he wifhes for theconfents to be fuch as would infure its fuccefs if brought before parliament. He does not wifh for themagiftrates , what fome may think, too great a power ; but that the parties mould be enabled to proceed in the leaft expenfive manner, purfuant to a general •cl, in the framing of which every proper precaution fhould be taken* another* another, whofe names mould be produced at the quarter-fefiions, together with thofe of the confent- ing parties. The magiftrates there aflembled fhould choofe the third commiiTioner by ballot. Partiality or friendfhip may, perhaps, have fome influence on the choice of the parties. It is pre- fumed the magiftrates would be particularly careful to choofe a man of character, judgment, and expe- rience. But no magiftrate fhould ballot for fuch third commiiTioner, or upon the previous queftion, if he is interefted in lands or tithes in the faid parifh. A commillion or inftrument in writing, fhould then be figned and fealed by the juftices there prefent, empowering the commiflioners to proceed upon the bufin efs, conformable to the ge- neral ad for that purpofe : which commillion or inftrument in writing fhould be depofited with the Clerk of the peace, and an attefted copy of the fame be delivered to the faid commiflioners. THE DUTY AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS. In the firft place the commiflioners fhould give ten days notice at leaft, in fome country news- paper which circulates in the neighbourhood, of the time and place of their firil meeting, and fhould alfo give like notice in the parifh church immediately after divine fervice, on two Sundays previous f n6 3 previous to fuch meeting; and require that all perfons pofTefTed of, interefted in, or claiming any tithes, or modufies, lands titheable or exempt, do attend, and give in a particular account of the fame. When the commiflioners and parties are met, be- fore they proceed to bufinefs, each of the com- mifiioners fhould take and fubferibe an oath to the following effect : I A. B. do fwear, that I will faithfully, impartially, and honeftly, according to the beft of my (kill and judgment, execute the powers and trufts repofed in me as a commiffioner for afcertaining and fettling an equitable money payment in lieu of tithes within the parifh of • So help me GOD ! If any modus is fet up or claimed by one party, and denied by another, the commiflioners fhould in this, as in all cafes brought before them, be em- powered to examine witnefles upon oath. But as the legality of a modus may be too nice a queftion for them to determine, the attorney of each party fhould, if required, attend ; — and if the matter in difpute cannot be fettled, the cafe fhould be drawn up, agreeable to the evidence, and figned by the commiflioners. The parties fhould be required to fix on fome eminent counfel to determine the fame. If they neglect to do fo, the commiflioners may requeft [ "7 ] requcft the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, or the Judges at their next aflizes, to name one. In default of compliance, the commiflioners to fubmit it to fuch counfel as they think propers whofe deter- mination fhould be final* Art accurate furvey and plan of the lands will now be wanted. If fuch is not already taken, a furveyor fhould be employed for that purpofe. A plan of the property will be of great ufe to the commif- fioners in the conduct of the bufinefs, and fhould be inrolled with their award. The boundaries and names of lands, as well as the owners, are frequently changed. Inprocefs of time, fences are grubbed up and deftroyed; feveral inclofures made into one, or one divided into feveral; and the ancient names forgotten. Hence it is not uncommon to find that an old terrier, without a plan, is unintelligible. When the commiflioners have finifhed their valua- tion, and calculated the refpe&ive fums to be paid out of the feveral eftates, in lieu of tithes, I would recommend to them to call the feveral proprietors and tithe-owners together; read over the quality and prices of the lands, and explain, to fuch as are defirous of information, what principles they have proceeded on. It is a matter of confiderable trufl and confluence; nor is it neceflary that there fliould be any myftery in the proceeding. Every man, [ 128 ] man, whofe property is at flake, has an undoubted right to give his opinion, and to produce evidence relative to fuch matters as he conceives to be wrong. However contrary this may be to general practice, I have frequently on Inclofure acts experienced the good effects of it. Men who have cultivated land for many years, and obferved it at very different feafons, will fometimes furnifh ufeful information. And it does not follow, that this open conduct of the commiffioners mould betray them into any con- ceffion that their judgment difapproves. The fums which the feveral eftates are respectively to pay in lieu of tithes being determined on, a fchedule of the fame mould be affixed againfl the door of the parifli church where the tithes are commuted for. If no objection is made, nor any appeal intended, the commilTloners, award mould be drawn up, with a plan and terrier, fetting forth the lands chargeable and exempt, the money payments now fixed, and the ancient moduffes allowed: thefe, together with their commiffion, and the oath they have taken, mould be inrolled with the clerk of the peace. A copy of the fame mould alfo be lodged in a box or chert, within the church or chapel of the parifh where the lands and tithes are fituate. If any of the eftates mould afterwards be divided, and alienated in feparate parcels, the plan will always fliew the lands [ i*9 1 lands originally charged. And the quota for each parcel, after fuch divifion, may be fixed by agrec^ mentof the parties, at the time of fuch alienation, or by two afleflbrs, with as little difficulty as its proportion of land-tax. APPEAL, If it fhall be thought proper, any of the parties who conceive themfelves to be injured may have liberty to appeal at fome general Quarter-Seftions, within four months after the caufe of complaint has arifen ; giving the commiflioners one month's notice of the fame. Though it muft be confefled, that appeals in fuch cafes are feldom attended with any good effects. For it is fcarcely to be fuppofed, that any ftronger evidence can be produced than that of three difinterefted and experienced men, whofe judgment and integrity have recommended them i and who have, with great attention, unani- moufly determined the matter upon oath. But if any one of the commiflioners mould proteft againft the proceedings of the other two, an appeal may- lie with great propriety. EXPENCES. Although it is prefumed that the propofed com- "mutation will be defireable both to the clergy and the laity, yet as the inconveniency of tithes is very great C «3° ] great to the latter, and as the intereft of the former is but temporary, it is propofed that the clergy fhould be exempt from all expence, except a fhare of that which may arife on determining whether a modus is or is not legal. The general pay of commiflioners of inclofures, is a guinea per day for time, and half-a-guinea for expences. Whatever charges are incurred on the bufinefs fhould be borne by the owners of the land, in fuch equitable fhares and proportions as the com- miflioners fhall direct. A power fhould be given, as in inclofure bills, for tenants in tail, for life, or for long terms, to borrow money, and charge it on the lands, keeping down the intereft of the fame. The commiflioners to direct the application of all fuch money, and to account with the proprietors, when called on for that purpofe. FOR THE SECURITY OF THE CLERGY* On the prefent eftablifhment, the clergyman has a right to his tithes as foon as fevered and divided into proportionate fhares. He is in no danger from the failure of any tenants, except thofe of his own choofing. It fhould therefore be provided, that whenever a landlord fhall feize for rent, the tenant's effects fhould be anfwerable for one year's compo- fition to the tithe- owner j who fhould alfo, equally with [ W ] with the land-owner, be entitled to his remedy by diftrefs. But as this remedy is fuch a one as every man of feeling, and particularly a clergyman, would wifh to avoid, it would be proper for him to have the privilege of calling on his parifhioners to nomi- nate, at a veftry, two collectors, for whom they lhould be refponfible. The clergyman to allow them three-pence in the pound for collecting. If the collectors of the land-tax were to be appointed for that purpofe, it would be but little additional trouble, and would make it well worth their attention. METHOD OF VARYING THE PAYMENT. As the value of money or of the neceffaries of life rife or fall, on an average, fo lhould the pay- ment for tithes rife or fall in like proportion. The method of doing this fhould be as fimple, and cer- tain, as little complicated, as general, and liable to the lead trouble poflible. If we attempt to regifter the various articles out of which tithes iflue ; — if different commifnoners fix thcfe values for different parifhes j — if each parifh is to be feparately confi- dered, and regulated at the end of a certain number of years from its firft payment; — if the fluctuating values are from time to time to be determined by particular markets, or by the prices on particular days, it will lead pofterity into a labyrinth of trouble j V-t„ IV. K it [ 13* ] it would be liable to great abufe, and be productive of much difcontent and error. In fixing upon one fingle ftandard, by which to eftimate the future value of tithes, in proportion to the value of money, or that of the land out of which they iflue, perhaps there is no one more proper than that of a bufhel, or a quarter of wheat. Wheat is not quickly of a perifhable nature. Bread is emphatically called the ftaff of life. And it generally happens, that when it is dear or cheap, other provilions are dear or cheap nearly in the fame proportion. Farmers remark this in an ancient proverb — cc Down corn, down horn ;" — meaning, that the price of horned cattle, or butchers' meat, generally follows that of bread. Some new productions in hufbandry will, often re- peated, tire the ground and degenerate. We owe it probably to the goodnefs of Providence, that the foil once proper for wheat will, at regular periods, with manure and culture, admit of a repetition with the greateft probability of fuccefs. Add to this, that its exportation in years of plenty, and importation in years of fcarcity, contribute to keep the price of wheat more nearly on a level than that of mod other articles. Suppofe the clerk of every principal market throughout each county was, once a year, at the court of general Quartcr-Seffions, held the firft week C *33 ] week after the Epiphany, to give in upon oath the average price of a bufhel or quarter of wheat, on each market-day, in the feveral months of October, November, and December. In thefe months farm- ers generally threfh out great part of their grain, particularly wheat : for as to oats and barley, they generally contrive to threfh, fo as for the ftraw to be given frefh to their cattle, when the grafs is gone, and they live in the farm-yard. The feflions being fo foon after, the jury, or any perfons who attend the court, will have an opportunity of ob- ferving, whilft the market-prices are frefh in their memory, whether the average is a fair one. The average price of each market-day in thofe months being known, the whole may be added together, and being divided by the number of market-days, will give the average price of wheat the preceding year, in each market refpectively. Suppofe the markets for regulating the prices of wheat, in Wiltfhire, are, Salifbury, Marlborough, Devizes, and Warminfter; ancl that the average price of wheat found as aforefaid is, At Salifbury 052 A A Li r thorough 0 5 o £. s. J. At Devizes -054 At Warminfter 056 K 2 Thefc [ '34 3 Thefe added together make one guinea, which divided by 4, (the number of markets) gives 5s. 3d. which is to be entered with the Clerk of the Peace as the average price of a bufhel of wheat in the year , for the county of Wilts.* If an act of parliament for this purpofe fhould pafs, in or before the year 1790, the average price of a bufhel of wheat for each year being proved, and regiftered as aforefaid, until the year 18005 the whole mould then be added together j and an average for that period be taken, and publifhed in the court of Quarter-Seffions, and alfo in fuch country news-papers as circulate through that county. In the years 18 10, 1820, 1830, and at a like decennial period ever after, the averages fhould be collected. Thofe parifhes where a commuta- tion takes place before the year 1800, may be varied in the year 18103 and thofe commuted for from the year 1800 to 18 10, may be varied in the year 1820: thus, * The only reafons for preferring the three months before- mentioned, aret that it will be lefs trouble, and the prices will be more eafily remembered by thofe w*ho attend the feffions, than the prices for a longer period. The markets at this time of the year are generally full, and the period is fufficiently long to prevent any collufion. Whether the exaft average of the year can by thefe means be obtained, does not feem of fo much confequence as, whe- ther the average of the firft ten years bears a due proportion to the average collected, in like manner, during a period of any fubfequent ten years. However, if fix months or the whole year be preferred, for collecting the average of each year refpedively, it may be done without much trouble} and the principle will remain the fame. Suppofe [ ns ] Suppofe the value of a church living be fixed at iool. per annum, within the decennial period end- ing at the year 1800 ; and it then appears that the average price of wheat collected as aforefaid, is for that period at 5s. a bumelj the value of the church living is equal to 400 bufhels, or 50 quarters of wheat. In the next decennial period ending at 1 8 10, we will fuppofe the average price of wheat to be 5s- 6d. a bulhel: 400 bufhels at 5s. 6d. is nol. per annum $ at which fum the value of the tithes mould l>e fixed for the period commencing at the year 1810, and ending 1820: and fo proceed in the fame order. The whole fum which each parifh or tithing fhall be advanced or lowered, will thus be regularly obtained at a dated period without trouble; and the proportionate fhare of every eftate can eafily be calculated by any fchool-boy. It will probably appear to fome, that it would be better to procure or fix a ftandard or average value for a period of ten years previous to the com- mifiioners' valuation in the feveral parifhes refpec- tively. This I have confidered with due attention. Arguments may be adduced in its favour: but upon the whole it will probably not be found pre- ferable to the method before propofed. K 3 CONCLUSION. [ 13* ] CONCLUSION. The laudable fociety to which this is addrefied, have doubtleis confidered the numerous inconve- niencies attending tithes in kind; and I am not without hopes that the hints herein contained will point to a remedy equally defireable to the clergy and the laity. The clergyman will no longer depend on a trou- blefome and precarious fubfiftence,. productive of perpetual difcord between him and his parifhioners. He will know the exact value of his living before he accepts it. His juft dues will be fecured to him without trouble, and without rifle -, and he will no longer be charged with ingratitude to his patron, or opprefllon to his parifhioners. The induftrious hu/bandman now' fecure in the fruits of his labour, a more vigorous cultivation willenfue: — the clergy- man and his parifhioners may thus be united in one bond of focial union, and every difgraceful animo- fity be forgotten. Imperfections are fometimes found in fubjects lefs difficult and complex, even where the united wifdom of the legiflature has been exerted. The avocations of the writer of this efTay have pre- vented him from extending his obfervations, or being [ *37 ] being more regular in his remarks. Errors, he fears, might have efcaped him, but not through negligence. If he has any claim to merit, it is that of having done his beft upon a fubjecl:, which has hitherto ineffectually engaged the attention of men of great rank and abilities -, and which is, con- feflfedly, of importance to a very confiderable part of the community. B. PRYCE. Salt/bury , Sept. 20, 1786. Article III. Strictures on the Hufbandry of Turnips, or an Attempt to promote a fuccejsful Culture of that ufeful Root with more certainty than hath been generally praftifed. BY JOSEPH WIMPEY. [In a Letter addrefTed to the Secretary.] Sir, [N a collection of mifcellaneous papers, written •** by many different perfons, it is to be expected, that we find not only a variety of opinions, but often fuch as are incompatible and irreconcileable. To a reader who wifhes to be informed rather than amufed, [ *38 ] amufed, tliis is an unpleafant circumftance, and naturally begets embarraflment, diffidence, and dif- truft. If, by garbling the papers, we could fepa- rate truth from error, right from wrong, confirm and eftablifh the former, and difcountenance the latter, at leaft as being doubtful, if not groundlefs, it would well reward our pains. I chofe not turnips for my fubje£t, on account of its importance altogether, but alfo becaufe the gen- tlemen of the Committee did me the honour of afk- ing my opinion of a letter refpecting the fubject. Turnips have been generally confidered as an article of precarious culture -, but this is not to be taken in an abfolute fenfe; for every thing was made perfect in its kind ; and there are few things that vegetate more freely or more certainly than the turnip in its proper feafon : but, like all other vegetables, it is more or lefs precarious, as the cir-> cumftances attending its culture are more or lefs favourable. Nature has fet and appointed feafons for her fe- veral operations. The fpring months are the pro- per time for vegetation and the growth of plants j the fummer months, for confolidating and maturing their [ '39 1 their growth ; and the autumn, for reaping, gather- ing and harvefting the fame. The farmer, how- ever, in the cultivation of turnips, is obliged to depart from thofe eftablifhed laws of nature, to accommodate the crop to his own convenience. The great ufe of turnips as food for fheep and cattle, is to fupply the deficiency of grafs and herb- age at a feafon of the year when little of thefe are to be got ; and that turnips may be in perfection at a time they become moft ufeful, the farmer is obliged to poftpone fowing them at lead three months beyond the time that would be moft fea- fonable, that is, moft favourable to their vegetation. For inftance, were turnips to be fown in March or April, as the feafon might prove moft favourable, there would be, I conceive, as great a certainty of a crop, as of any other vegetable ufually fown in thofe months: but the farmer, for the reafon be- fore given, being obliged to defer it till the hotteft feafon of the year comes on, his fuccefs becomes exceedingly precarious, unlefs he is Co fortunate as to have a few rainy days, or cloudy weather and frequent .mowers, foon after the feed is in the ground. This I conceive is the true and only rea- fon why the turnip is a more uncertain article than thofe which are fown in due feafon. If [ HO ] If thefe obfervations are juft, the provident far- mer will embrace every favourable opportunity that offers for fowing his feed. He fortunately is not confined to a few days or even weeks. He has from the end of May to the beginning ofAuguft, to perform this work, and he had better defer it even to the laft, rather than fow when the weather is hot and dry j for in that cafe he may fow again and again, and lofe both feed and labour. But ihould the weather be ever fo favourable, that alone will not infure him fuccefs : there are feveral other things that are equally neceflary. i/?. It is abfolutely neceflary that the land be very well pulverized. The number of ploughings and harrowings for this purpofe cannot be afcer- tained ; that muft ever depend upon the nature and condition of the foil. Twice in fome land would be more effectual than four times in other ; but be the labour whatever it may, it muft not be omitted. idly. It is equally neceffary that the foil be either naturally rich and good, or made fo by a proper quantity of manure. Turnips never arrive to a good and profitable fize in poor land, without good manure to promote their growth and pufh them forward, 4 Zdly. It [ Hi ] $dly. It is of great confequence to have feed that is both good in quality and of a good fpecies. I prefer the large green -topped, as being the fweeteft and moft juicy. Some prefer the red or purple- topped as being hardier; but of which ever fort you fow, if the feed be from the largeft and fined tranfplanted turnips, it is greatly to be preferred, even if it coft double or treble the price of the com- mon fort. I have frequently bought of the feedfmea in London, but it is generally of a mixed kind, and often a great part not worth cultivating. I would therefore recommend it to the farmer to buy the beft fpecies he can get, let the price be what it may.* 4/£/y. As to the quantity of feed, I am pretty much of opinion with another of your correfpon- dents, who advifes to be fure to allow feed enough, and to that end thinks the fafeft way is to allow two pounds to an acre, though it is common with many to fow but one. Suppofing the feed to be good and the feafon favourable, a few ounces would be fufficient to (lock the land ; but as the article is fo very precarious, it is by far the fafeft way to allow iced in plenty, and reduce them afterwards by well harrowing the ground. • Thi» remark of Mr. Wimpey's is of great confequence : and for the reafon* he aifigns, the Secretary of the Ba,th Society makes a particular point of keeping a fupply of the fincft turnip-feed for luch gentlemen and farmer* as apply to him. Lqflly. t 142 ] Laftly. The greater your fuccefs in providing a good plant, the greater will be the necefiity that the crop be well and carefully hoed ; without this, the great advantage to be derived from a good crop of turnips, would in a great meafure be loft. Twice hoeing is often fufficient for this purpofe, efpecially if the land be pretty cleans but if it be foul, three times is hardly enough. Hoeing in many places is not well underftood, although it be an operation of very little difficulty. Practice is neceflary to give dexterity to every kind of work : but a labourer, who has been ufed to work in a garden, and knows the ufe of a hoe, would not only perform it well himfelf with a few hours' in- ftruction, but could teach all the labourers in a parifh in a few days, which would greatly reduce the price of that bufinefs, it having been exorbitant hitherto in many places. The bufinefs, however, might be made eafy, and much expedited by well hoeing the turnips as foon as they arrived at a proper ftage of their growth j that is, when they have four leaves -, and where the turnips are thick, they might be well harrowed a fecond time, at the diftance of a fortnight or three weeks. This would not only thin the crop, but alfo greatly improve and encourage the growth of the remainder. In this fituation the hoers would readily - [ '43 ] readily diftinguifh all that were proper to be cut up from thofe that are to remain, whereas, mould it be deferred till they are over-run with charlock and other noxious weeds, the labour and difficulty would be more than doubled, and could never be per- formed fo well. I have feen a field of turnips fo entirely over-run with weeds, that the hoer worked as it were in the dark, and chopped away at ran- dom. Three weeks or a month fooner, the work might have been done at half the expence, and to more than three times the advantage. As to the mode of planting, I am of opinion that the broadcaft is the molt productive, if the hoeing be properly performed and in good time. How- ever I am much inclined to think, that the mode of fowing turnips between beans planted in rows, as recommended by feveral of your correfpondents, is a much more certain means of infuring a crop. It exactly correfponds with all my obfervations on the fuccefsful vegetation of that root. A confider- able degree of moifture is necefiary to the rapid vegetation of that very juicy root, and nothing re- tains moifture equal to fhadej and made can be obtained and fecured by no means fo effectually on a large fcale, as in the intervals of tall growing plants, as beans or wheat planted in drills. My [ 144 ] My experimental field, of about feven acres, is now drilled with wheat on three-bout ridges, about four feet and a half wide. It was horfe-hoed in December, and I intend fhall be horfe-hoed again in the fpring and fummer, as the feafons arrive ; in that cafe the mould in the intervals will be in very fine tilth for turnips, with which I intend to fow them. Thefe may be hand-hoed whenever it be- comes necellary, notwithstanding the wheat; and as foon as that is harvefted, the ridges it flood on may be ploughed, and the turnips horfe-hoed, and per- haps repeated before winter. The crop I propofe fhall be fed orf in January and February, time enough to plant the intervals on which they grew with beans the beginning of March; horfehoing the intervals, as the growth of the beans will permit, tu prepare them for potatoes to be planted between the beans the latter end of April or beginning of May. If this method lhould be attended with the fuc- cefs I expect, the land may be continually planted with a double crop, that is to fay, with wheat and turnips one year, and with beans and potatoes an- other, in alternate fucceffion. If this courfe of crop- ping fhould be found to exhauft the land, more than the horfe-hoeing could replenifh, which I do not think very probable, a moderate dreffing of dung C »45 ] dung might be given every fourth year as foon as the turnips are off, to prepare the land for beans and potatoes ; the extra expence of which, fhould it be found neceiTary, would probably be amply repaid by the increafe of quantity. Indeed the benefit would not terminate here ; for as one of your cor- refpondents has, I think, rightly obferved, it is far better to manure for turnips the preceding year, than immediately before fowing them; and I am fure it is for wheat, efpecially if the manure be not thoroughly digefled and become inoffenfive. Whether plants from new or old feed are moft fecure from the depredations of the fly, is, perhaps, a queftion, which cannot be eafily determined even by experiments -, for concomitant circumftances are frequently fo much more operative and powerful as to render the difference between them, if there be any, imperceptible. It is, however, in the knowledge of every prac- tical man, that new feed fprouts or vegetates feveral days before old, and I think more vigoroufly j and it is equally well known, that the healthy and vi- gorous plants efcape the fly, when the {tinted and fickly feldom or never efcape them. It fhould fcem then, that new feed, ceteris paribus, is more lure from the fly than old, and for my own ufe would always prefer it. That [ I4« ] That old feeds are preferred to new in fome ar- ticles by experienced gardeners is very true, and I believe with good reafon; biit this furnifhes a rea- fon againft giving a preference to old turnip feed, contrary to what it is brought for. Old melon and cucumber feed is preferred to new, becaufe the plants from old feed are far lefs luxuriant and more fruitful. In a former paper we obferved, that lux- uriance and fructification are very different things ; and in a few, perhaps in no genus of plants, are they ftrictly compatible; but the roots of the turnip can never be too luxuriant, and the more they are fo, the more fecure they are from the ravages of the fly. Many are the nofirums for the prevention or re- medying the evils of this deftructive infect ; but like a charm for the cu, re of the ague and the tooth-ache, they are found to be equally fabulous and quackifh. It is certainly very bad reafbning to conclude, that becaufe certain things are difagreeable to our fmell and tafte, they muft neceffarily be fo to creatures of a different kind; — and yet from this fource their recommendation feems to originate. From the great encomiums beftowed on elder, I was in great hopes a fpecifick remedy had been found; I there- fore determined to give it a fair trial : — accordingly I repeatedly drew elder branches, not only over beds of < [ 147 ] of young turnips, but a variety of other plants* 1 whipt the ground with them, and ftrewed the leaves, tops, and tender fhoots over the beds; and finding all this totally ineffectual, at length I made a very ftrong decoction in boiling water, and, when it was cold, watered the plants with it feveral times. All this had juft as much effect, and no more, as walk- ing round the beds in the fuperftitious garb of a ma- gician, and chaunting Abracadabra at every turn. I am quite of opinion that nothing has yet been difcovered which is at all adequate to the purpole, further than it may invigorate and promote the growth of the plants. To this end allies, foot, or a rich compoft of lime and dung, if ufed in fufficient quantities, may be deemed fpecifick $ but the bed means of ufing them is, either to fow them with the feed, or rather by themfelves immediately be- fore, and to well harrow them in, that they may be completely incorporated with the foil. This for the mod part would fo much invigorate and encou- rage the growth of the plants, as to be an over- match for the mod vigorous attack of the fly. If I might be indulged in a wifh, I would make it a mod earned one, that no writer in future would advance any thing for a fact, which he himfelf hath Vol. IV. L not t 143 ] not had full experience of the truth of. Nothing can be more inimical to the laudable intentions of the focieties eftablifhed for the promotion of ufeful knowledge, nor can any thing reflect more difcredit on their earnefl endeavours to promulgate the fame, for the general information and benefit of mankind, than promifcuoufly blending fable with truth, and giving chimeras for difcoveries, which never ex- ifted but in the imagination of the writer. The elder noftrum above-mentioned has, I believe, dis- graced almoft every repofitory of papers on thefe fubjects, which hath been publifhed for many years. To this I would add another wifh, which is, that no writer in future would communicate any thing to the fociety but original papers, without quoting the author from whom fuch writing was copied or ex- tracted. This would enable the Committee to judge of the propriety of publifhing the fame, and often prevent the very uncandid impofition, which is too often pradtifed, of pafling extracts for originals, and abfurdly and difhoneftly caufing the fame thing to be publifhed many times, much to the difap- pointment and lofs of the purchafer. One offence of this kind I can point out in the ad volume of your letters and papers, from a gen- tleman [ «49 3 tleman in Dcvonfhire, fjgned C. H. in Article XXVIII. on the nature and effects of lime as a manure, which he gives as the united effects of his Own experiments and obfervations on the fubject ; •whereas the whole was extracted from a book en- tided " rural improvements," publifhed by my- felf fome years before, as will clearly appear to any one who will take the trouble of comparing the chapter on Lime, page 20 1, in my book, with the faid article. He is not the only writer who hath purloined from my book; for half a dozen, at leaft, which have come to my knowledge, have played the fame nefarious game. One author (Mr. Forbes) has copied about thirty pages from the faid book, but then he has very honeftly told the reader from whence they were taken. There is fomething fo very mean, uncandid, and difingenuous in plagi- arifm, that it is much to be wifhed an indelible fligma were to be fixed on every offender, to dis- countenance and prevent a practice fo very dis- honourable. NoRTHBOCKHAMPTOK, Feb. 8, 1787. L 1 Article E '5° 1 Article IV. Of the Necefjity of adapting or fuiting the Crop to the Nature, Condition, and Circumftances of the Land to be planted j with an Account of an Experiment to af certain the Quantity of Butter and Cheefe pro- ducible from a given Quantity of Milk, [By Joseph Wimpey.] THE firft and principal object of every hufband- man is, to obtain the moll profitable crops from the land he occupies. In order to this, it is abfolutely necefiary, that he fuit the articles he plants to the nature of the foil. When art is made to co-operate with nature, our hope is founded on rational grounds. To a£t in repugnance thereto, is to fail againft wind and tide, and there can be little or no hope of making a fuccefsful voyage. It is true, that amazing things may be effected by unremitting perfeverance and unlimited expence : but the hufbandman's province is not to enquire after what is poflible, but what is profitable; not what may amufe the curious, but what will reward the diligent, for the benefit of the community of which he is a member, as well as for his own. Though [ '5' 1 Though the lands of thefe kingdoms confift of a very great variety, they may fitly enough be ranged under two general heads. Firft, all fuch as naturally produce little of any value, either for man or beaft; but require the art, labour and attention of the hufbandman, to bring them into a ftate of cultivation, fo as to render them ufeful and profitable. Here the plough becomes a neceffary inftrument in breaking up, dividing, and pulverifing the foil ; and hence fuch lands are de- nominated— arable. Under the fecond head may be placed, all thofe lands which fpontaneoufly produce grafs and herb- age proper for the feeding and fattening of cattle, the production of milk, of butter, and of cheefe. The occupier of the former is properly a corn- farmer; of the latter, either a grazier or a dairyman; and it fometimes happens, that all three functions are exercifed in fome degree by the fame man, as may beft fuit the different parts of his farm. From hence it follows, that occupiers of land, who purfue their bufinefs upon principles of reafon and ceconomy, have no choice, whether they .will be corn-farmers, graziers, or dairymen. The oc- cupiers of the former are necejjfarily corn- farmers; L 3 for [ Hi ] for. without the plough and its auxiliary instruments, their fields would foon recur to their original wild ftate, and be overrun with furze, briars, and bram- bles, and fuch unprofitable productions as would be of no ufe or value. The occupier of the latter, is as much bound by his intereft to appropriate his lands to feeding or to the pail, as the other is by necefiity to plant corn ; for when nature has given herbage proper for fuch purpofes, the land is of much more value, and its profits to be acquired with far lefs labour and rifque, than from arable land. It is true, indeed, that fome have been fo infa- tuated, as to plough up good meadow and paflure land, and relinquifh a good and certain gain upon a vifionary and abfurd expectation. And to fuch, and fuch only, can the reproof of the ingenious writer of Article IX. in the Third Volume of your papers be applied. All fuch are juflly reprehen- fible : but furely the occupiers of arable land, as fuch, are by no means cenfurable. To expect they fhould make butter and cheefe from land to which nature has denied grafs and herbage, would be a talk of more than Egyptian difficulty. As it is ne- ceflary to have butter and cheefe to eat with our bread, it is full as much fo to have bread to eat with our butter and cheefe ; and the molt certain way of obtaining [ '53 I obtaining plenty of each is, to appropriate the land to the production of fuch crops as are mod fuitable to its nature. It is admitted, that fome land has been very im- prudendy broken up and converted to arable, which was of much more value to the occupier, while it was in grafs j at the fame time it cannot be denied, that fome are as injurioufly prejudiced againft the plough, and will not confent to have unfertile pas- tures broken up, although they might be greatly improved thereby. I have now in my eye feveral fields not far from Waminfter, which would be worth double their prefent value to the occupier, if the owner would confent to their being ploughed and planted with corn at proper intervals. Pafture fields, when become hide-bound and mofly, bearing little elfe but a fine wiry grafs, al- moft as void of fubftance as fuftenance, might be expeditioufly and effectually improved by the plough. Were fuch lands planted with wheat on the fod, as practifed in the county of Norfolk, and the winter after well manured, and planted with beans the March following in rows with three feet intervals, well horfe-hoed till June, and then fowed with turnips to be eaten by fheep the following winter; then in April to be well prepared and fowed [ 154 ] fowed with barley, and grafs-feeds fuited to the foil; there cannot be a doubt, but that the produce the three years fucceeding the crop of barley, would be much more confiderable than it would have been in the fix years, had it continued the whole time in its natural ftate. So that the net produce of the three crops of corn would be fo -much clear gain to the occupiers, and proportionally beneficial to the public. Upon the whole, I think, it may be fairly con- cluded, that for the lofs of every ton of herbage that has been fuftained by means of the plough, twenty, at leaft, have been gained by the well- timed ufe of it. Moft, almoft the whole, of the improvements made in hufbandry in the courfe of the prefent century,- have been by the prudent ufe of the plough. Turnips, clover, all the artificial grafles, efculent roots, herbs, and plants, fo far as refpecls field culture and the feeding and fattening of cattle of every kind, have been obtained by its ufe folely, as none of them can be cultivated exten- fively without it. Therefore, true as it is, that butter and cheefe, and fome other articles, have advanced almoft double their price in the laft thirty and forty years; and true as it may be, that graziers and dairymen pay their rent more punctually than little corn-farmers, or the occupiers of fmall arable farms; [ iSS ] /arms; it can by no means be accounted for upon the principles of an undue and imprudent attach- ment to breaking up meadow and pafture land. What are the proper and genuine caufes of thefc effefts, we may endeavour to explain hereafter. The writer of the article above-mentioned was exceedingfy mifinformed, refpedting the compara- tive value of cheefe made of milk, which had been completely fkimm'd, and what had not been fkimm'd at all. The difference in price is, at lead, four times as much as the fum he mentions. Skimm'd cheefe, I have been credibly informed, hath been fold at Warminfter fair, within about four years laft, for 1 2s. 6d. per hundred ; whereas the bed rammill, fay raw milk cheefe, fold for from 38s. to 42s. per hundred in the fame fair, and prime cheefe from the beft dairies for 46s. or 48s. The medium prices of the three different kinds, that is to fay, of fkimm'd, of half new and half fkimm'd, and of milk not fkimm'd at all, have been 15s. 28s. 40s. per hundred. As to the bed courfe of experiments refpe&ing the comparative value of butter and cheefe, Mr. Billingslev, in his very judicious remarks on the faid article, has given the true, and therefore the bed general anfwcr to the queftion propofed. For both [ 156 ] both produce and prices are fo varied by local cir- cumftances, that, as he obferves, " no fettled in- variable rules for the management of the dairy can with any propriety be eftablifhed." The quantity of produce of each article fpecified, may be eafily afcertained on any dairy, but the fuperior advan- tage of any courfe can be determined only by the demands which arife or are promoted by peculia- rities of fituation. It is afferted in the faid article, cc That a tenant of 6ol. per annum, in a dairy farm, will get money, while a corn-farm of the fame fize will ftarve its occupier, (though perhaps the former gives 15s, per acre for his land, and the other but 10s.) is felf-evident." This is by no means a neceflary truth arifing from caufes eftablifhed in the nature of the thing, but has its foundation in artifice, as will be fhewn hereafter. However, this is not the interefting queftion. Is it felf-evident, or by any means demonftrable, that a corn-farm of 10s. per acre, which would ftarve its occupier, is by any method convertible into a dairy-farm ; and that if the plough fhould be abandoned, and fuch land fuffered to recur to its original and natural pro- duce, as in that cafe it muft do, would it not ftarve the occupier, even if he gave but 5s. per acre for fuch land? . t '57 3 It Teems to have been totally forgotten, that the lands of all corn -farms, be they little or great, were originally pafture, and in that (late applicable only to grazing or the dairy: and many hundred thou- fand acres of fuch land, worth only in that ftate a fhilling or two an acre, have been improved by means of the plough, to ios. 155. 20s. per acre, and fome much more. Relinquifh the plough, and thofe very lands would, by rapid degrees, revert to their original ftate of unproductivenefs, and con- fequently would be of no more value. It is with lands, as with the occupations of men : fome are in- comparably more lucrative than others; but all men cannot be of thofe occupations which are the moft lucrative, nor have they talents for it. Ralph may poffefs every qualification necefifary to conftitute an excellent ploughman, but, probably, no education upon earth could qualify him for a Prime Minifter, or a Lord Chancellor. So, many fields by proper culture would bear excellent crops of wheat, to which nature has denied herbage proper to fatten a rabbit. Individuals in certain fituations may fuffer by ill-judged converfion of land proper for grazing to arables but I am of opinion, the practice is nei- ther of fuch extent or magnitude, as to advance the price of butter and cheefe, even fo much as a far- thing a pound in the general market. Admitting then then that the little corn-farmer of 50I. or 60I. per annum, with great labour and afliduity finds it diffi- cult to live ; while the dairy-farmer of the fame rent, not only carrieth on his bufinefs with incom- parably more eafe, but is getting money at the fame time; alfothat butter and cheefeare advanced at leafi a third of their prefent price within thefe 20 or 30 years; I fay, admitting thefe for facts, which I believe cannot be denied, we will proceed as briefly as we can to affign the true and genuine caufes of the fame. It is a maxim generally allowed, that unlefs a farmer makes three rents he cannot live. A dairy- farmer, then, 20 years ago, whofe rent was 60I. per annum, by this rule made 180I. per annum; fo that having paid his rent, he had 120I. left; labour, expences, lofs of cattle, and incidental charges, having been ufually reckoned another third, the remaining 60I. was for the maintenance of him- felf and family. But if the produce of dairy-farms be advanced a full third of its prefent price, what fold then for 60I. will now yield 90I. and confe- quently the grofs amount, which was 180I. then, will be 270I. now; from which 60I. being deducted for rent leaves 21 ol. and from that fum another 60L. as before for expences, &c. there remains then 1501, fo that upon thefe principles the dairy-farmer has a net [ '59 ] a net 90L per annum, for his maintenance and pro- fit, more than he had 20 years ago. It can be no wonder then, that he punctually pays his rent, and faves money. But it may be faid, and indeed very truly, that rents have been generally raifed, efpe- cially on little farms, nearly in the fame proportion, and on fome confiderably more, and that fo much muft be deducted from the fum above-mentioned. The remark is juft, and the account being rectified accordingly, it will {land thus: inftead of 60L for rent, we muft allow 90I. confequently the additional 30I. is to be deducted from 150I. which reduces his net gain to 120L which is juft double what it was 20 years ago, and a very pretty income it is for a man of fo fmall capital, and in fo little bufinefs. Let us next enquire how, on the fame principles, matters ftand with the corn-farmer, who is repre- fented as being in a ftarving and ruinous condition. The corn-farmer is fuppofed alfo to occupy a farmof6ol. per annum; that he, like the former, makes three rents, one for his landlord, one for ex- pences of all kinds, and the other for his mainte- nance, &c. But his expences will be far more con- fiderable, as well as his labour and care, than the dairy-farmer's, and the furplus of thefe expences muft come out of his fhare. His farm has been equally raifed with the former -, therefore he now pays [ «6o 1 pays 90I. inftead of 60I. he paid before ; the addi- tional 30I. being deducted from 60I. his fhare, leaves only 30I. to maintain his family, and make good the extra expences of the fecond fliare. He xhas no refource to an advance of price in the pro- duce of his farm like the former, to enable him to pay his advanced rent, which may be eafily feen, by comparing the average prices of corn for the lafl 20 years, with thofe of the 20 years imme- diately preceding, which I fear will be found to afford him little afllftance. If, then, it was with difficulty enough he made both ends meet before his rent was advanced, how is it pollible he lhould live now upon an income reduced one half, fay from 60I. to 30I. or more probably from 40I. to 20. ? What is to be done then ? To convert a farm that is properly arable, to a dairy-farm, is imprac- ticable ; and were it not, mould it be generally prac- tifed, it would entirely defeat its own purpofe. The remedy, and the only remedy, feems to confift in a reduction of the rents of fuch farms, and the farmers adopting the modern improved culture, recom- mended by the very intelligent Mr. Billingsley, of even if a fallow followed it* would be valuable ; but to an Engli(h farmer, be- fides buck-wheat, there are fo many feeds, roots, and grafTes, for fummer-fowing, fo well known, that $he fallow will probably be unneceiTary. In a note on your 43d Article, it feems doubted whether four horfes be equal to the due cultivation of one hundred acres of arable j but it fhould be recollected, that with us, no inconfiderable portion of this ifc in rotation after corn, under artificial paf- turagej and it is this plan of modern farming that is the uncontradi&able fact in fupport of/ all in- clofures, as it nearly infures an equal quantity of every [ *7* ] every fort of cattle to be kept, and an equal quan- tity of every fort of corn to be raifed, on half the land, as was done before the inclofure on the whole; whether it was then, for the former inftance, open grazing common, or for the latter, open arable field. How population can be injured, or rather, how it fhould not thus be promoted, may be diftinguifhed by the jaundiced eye of fome fpeculative politician/ but is not at all perceivable by any one of common fenfe and experience, who can laugh at theory, (and happily he has, to confole him in his want of know- ledge, plentiful food for laughter) when he finds it totally irreconcileable with reality. I take the liberty of confirming my obfervations in your 38th Article, on the Cow-Grafs Ley [2rf- folium Pratpife.') I have the fineft plant of full- eared wheat in this neighbourhood; my thick-fown rye-grafs was fed (even in this fpring) in the middle of April, a benefit which I endeavour to infure, by always affording that field under the corn, of which it is annually fo thickly fown, a coat of manure ibon after the corn is harvefted. My acre of car- rots, which in the fame article I mentioned as be- ing from laft year's drought, together with my not affording them, though fown on a wheat ftubble, (fq the trial was fufficiently indelicate) but one ploughing, [ 173 ] ploughing, produced (including a fmall patch, which I tried advantageoufly with parfnips) two hundred and thirteen bufhels ; the greater part of both were taken up in March, and given to nay horfes* The turnips, which I harrowed in over the carrots, were for the year (a failing one) a fufficient plant for the wants of the dairy, after about two acres of cab- bages and borecole had been confumed; which turning out, like the carrots, a very imperfect plant, the vacancies were filled up by every Jpecies ofrefufe plants of the cabbage kind that were ufelefs in the kitchen-garden, and our ceconomy was rewarded, by not only faving this various herbage for the cattle, but by having our own table unexpectedly treated, from this, whlmfical field mixture, with plenty of very forward and fine green brocoli, Such flovenly farming did not, it may be faid, merit fuch plenty ; but it fuggefted to us, that, with more becoming neatnefs, a field of about three acres would, for the eflablifhment of any country gentleman, be more advantageoufly culti- vated in this than in any other mode of agriculture -, fince by this gardening at the cheaper! expence, under the plough, all the common winter and fpring herbage, potatoes, carrots, parfnips, turnips, cab- bages, borecole, and brocoli, might be annually raifed [ '74 ] raifed in fufficient quantities for the houfe, and for all the cattle ufually belonging to a little farm. By changing thefe different fpecies, the one fuccefiively after the other, into different parts of this kitchen- field, and keeping it neatly hoed, it might, as any other garden, always be cropped under this very profitable as well as mod comfortable culture. In order to contraft my conduct of laft fpring, I had in the prefent (after coating it with a little manure) half an acre dug, and fown with fix pounds of carrot-feed^ the digging coft il. the feed 5s. and three hand-hoeings juft compleated il. The plant is one of the moft exact and promifing that can be feen. A neighbour of mine (who on one ploughing of a grafs ley raifed laft year from fix to feven hundred bufliels of carrots per acre, and very profitably fat- tened oxen with them) took up in October 1400 bufhels, and after topping and drying them a little in the field, flung them promifcuoufly into an out- houfe with a flight covering of ftraw, where they remained for occafional ufe, if fnow or froft pre- vented the gathering thofe in the field, or as the referve till thofe were confumed ; which was the cafe, not being ufed till March, when they were fo firmly found as to appear probably more nutritive than [ »7S ] than any taken then frefh from the field. I never faw, as far as I could conjecture, a more advantage- ous piece of culture j nor where the land (as in the two preceding years, from the crop of barley after the carrots they had experience of) feemed from a vegetable crop in fuch a pron/ifing ftate as this. But I muft obferve on carrots and potatoes, it is not the crop produced from a frelh foil, but that, where like turnips they have been cultivated in a regular rotation after corn, and for a feries of years, which muft determine their fair value and ufe, both for confumption, and preparatory to whatever corn crop may fucceed them. Turnips have had a long, and cabbages fome trial, and, with carrots and potatoes, feem to pro- mife a vegetable crop after a corn one, fuitable, either one or the other, to almoft all the various arable foils in this kingdom. In Article 1 9th, on Mr. Anderdon's drill-culture of beans and turnips, you juftly obferve the fame foil cannot be fuitable to two crops of fuch an oppofite nature. But the farmer, in the rotation of bis crops, under the common husbandry, and from the neceflkies of his (lock of cattle, muft frequently hazard vegetable ones on foils little congenial to them, and reft his chance of fuccefs on that of the feafons $ [ i?6 ] feafons; upon the whole, he probably, if cautious* gains an advantage. It is on this plea the greater part of turnips are cultivated here; where, from the foil, a crop of beans after wheat feems much more natural than a crop of turnips; and confequently thefe fhould be proportioned on fuch a foil only to the bare necefiity, and that neceflity not increafed by too large a flock of winter cattle; which, by extending the culture of turnips, or any winter ve- getable over a larger fpace of ground, than for which a fufficiency of manure, fo abfolutely effen- tial to their produce, can be reasonably procured, is fure to difappoint the very purpofe, (and that frequently at a very great expence) which on a little fcale muft very advantageoufly have been procured. Where it can be afforded, cabbages, efpecially in the drill culture, are certainly the propereft for the intervals of beans; the fame foil fuitable to both. The cabbages planted at the very period when the beans begin to ceafe vegetating, and their own ve- getation promoted at firfl by the fhelter that the beans afford, and afterwards, as their leaf decays, by gradually admitting on the young cabbage plants, in proportion to their flrength, the fun and air. It is with great fatisfaction I fee in Article 50th, on the reprefentation of Mr, Anstie, a premium offered [ '77 ] offered for the eftablifhment of Friendly Societies. The advantages of thefe are fo ftriking; the ceco- nomy on which they are founded fo reputable to the loweft clafs, from whom they remove the ftigma — that, fure of a legal fupport from the parifh, they never will provide againft their own misfortunes; and fo beneficial to their fuperiors, by whom this legal fupport muft be raifed, and who confequently fhare in every fhilling, that the eftablifhment of thefe clubs enables the members to be too independent to take; that I have been aftonifhed at not finding gentlemen in general, and every part of their fa- milies, (making it even a conditional agreement at the hiring of fervants, that they fhould be members of fuch focieties) contributing by fubfcription to their fupport ; but I have been more than afto- nifhed at not finding any parifh contributing out of the rates a trifle quarterly to the fupport of the moft obvious fcheme, by which the maintenance of the poor, a burthen fo juftly every where complained of, can be reftrained: even where many of thole focieties, fo truly honourable, have been diffolved by the fudden and large calls of fick members ex- haufting that flock; and confequently throwing them again on the ungrateful and improvident pa- rifh, that had neither generofity enough to ferve them, nor prudence enough to ferve itfelf. The [ '78 ] The very parifh from which I write, in fpke tff my reprefentation, is of this folly a cafe in point $ though in one inftance of fuch illnefs, it faved by fuch a club nearly twenty pounds. What an univer- fal fubfeription, from every perfon at a certain age to thofe clubs, confide! ing how very large a portion would from fituation draw no benefit from the col- lection, would do, may be at lead conjectured from a little pamphlet, publifhed fome time ago, by a Mr. P ugh, of 'Wellingborough >, Northamptonfhire ; who declares, that from the data afforded him in that parifh, fuch a- general fubfeription would not only anfwer the prefent poor-rates, but even pro- bably afford an overplus for the afiiftance of poor families burthened with children, too young to earn any maintenance, and requiring all the care and time of the mother who fhould contribute towards it. Inftead therefore of ftatute upon flatute, of perpetually devifing new laws and new fchemes, — a very melancholy fign, — furely it would be but fair to try firft whether the inefficacy complained of does not chiefly originate, and is not certainly in- creafed, by the old laws we poffefs (preventive of every degree of vice, by reftraining every place en- couraging it) being never firmly and generally ex- ecuted ; nor to the good habits and cuftoms that flight ftill be found openly and liberally fupported and t '79 3 and promoted; and confequently, whether fome fecurity againft thefe evils be not chiefly, if not en- tirely, within the hand that will not ufe it. Yours, &c. CHARLES ONLEY. P.S. Ere& Bridewells on the plan of that of Wymondbam> Norfolk; unite the poor into hundred- houfes of induftry, like thofe in that county and Suffolk ; ftri&ly execute the laws againft vagrancy, every fort of immorality, profanenefs, licentioufnefs> and negledt of the Lord's-day ; reduce the number of ale-houfes to the bare neceflities of every parifh; fupport Sunday or fimilar fchools on a cheap plan, towards forming the children of the poor by habit to fome little knowledge, ftrid decorum, and much in- duftry; contribute by general fubfcription to the fupport of the Friendly Societies, or poor men's clubs for mutual afliftance, and the forming fuch in every town and village in the kingdom ; — and then complain of a want of police, and of preventive juflice — of fecurity againft a profligate commonalty, and an expenfive poor, if you can ! It becometh none but children, when they pof- fcfs all they want, out of weaknefs or wantonnefs, or both, to cry out for more. C. O. Vol. IV. N Article [ i3o ] Article VL On the Culture and Management of Rhubarb in 'Tar" tary ; Method of ufing the recent Plant ; curing the 'Root, Nature of its felenitic Salt, £sfa [By A. F. M. D. F. R. S.] Gentlemen, THE attention, which you have defervedly be- flowed on the iubjecl of rhubarb, induces me to believe that a few additional obfervations, which have occurred to me fince my laft,* may not be unacceptable, particularly to thofe who wifh to improve the culture and management of the plant in this country. Mr. J. R. Foster, in his hiftory of cc Voyages — If rhubarb feed mixed with clover feed, and fown with barley in deep rich lands, and per- mitted to remain four or five years, would not turn to much advantage, apprehending cattle of any fort would not hurt or eat the leaves ? This is an expe- riment I purpofe to make this fpring. G. P. Article X. On the Danger of ufing of Lead, Copper, and Brafs Vejfels, in Dairies. By Mr. Tho. Hayes, Surgeon, at Hampftead. [Communicated by Dr. Fothergill.J Gentlemen, Feb. i8/£, 1787. MANY eminent phyficians have afiferted, that butter is very unwholfomej while others equally eminent have confidered it as not only in- nocent, but as a good affiftant to digeftion* and each [ 1 9o ] each have been faid to ground their opinions upon experience. Perhaps both may be right; and after all butter may be innocent or mifchievous, according as it contains many or few adventitious materials collected frorli vefTels, &c. ufed in the procefs of making it. I am led to thefe conjectures by obferving, that in almoft all the great dairies, the milk is fuffered to (land in lead, brafs, or copper velfels, to throw up the cream. The clofenefs of the texture of thefe metals, and their coldnefs and folidity, con- tribute to feparate a greater quantity of cream from the milk than would be done by wooden trundles* or earthen pans, both of which are alfo fometimes made ufe of. As I wifh to eftablifh the poffibility of the fact, that milk may corrode or diffolve particles of the vefTels above-mentioned, and therefore be liable to communicate pernicious qualities to the butter, I beg leave to fubmit my reafons, from which I draw this conclufionj and if my opinion mould appear fatisfactory to you, I make no doubt but you will do all in your power to difcountenance the farther ufe of them ; efpecially as I fhall point out others, which may be made, and will do as well for the dairyman's purpofe. Whoever [ 19' 1 Whoever has been much in great dairies muft have obferved a peculiarly four, frowfy fmcll in them, although they be ever fo well attended to in refpedt to cleanlinefs, &c. In fome, where the ma- nagers are not very cleanly, it is extremely difagree- able, owing moftly to the corrupted milk.* In fome, too, from the utenfils being fcalded in the dairy ; and in others, from a bad conftru&ion of the building itfelf, the want of a fufficient circulation of air, water, &c. j but in all, a great deal of the lighter or more volatile parts of the milk fly off from the furface of the pans, and furnifh a great quantity of acid effluvia to the furrounding air and ceiling, and which is again depofited on every thing beneath it, and of courfe often on the veflels after they have been put by clean, in the intervals of their being out of ufe. This may be obferved to give a dull fort of appearance to brafs and copper, as if you had breathed upon them j for if you rub your finger lightly over the veflels, you will have both the tafte and fmell of the metal. It alfo happens fometimes, that after the veflels earw alhed, they are not carefully rinfed, nor per- fectly dried by the fire; fo that fome of the milk, &c. is left on the furface of them, which may • Sec a very ingenious paper by Mr. Hazard, in the Third Vo- lume of the Bath Society's Papers, on making butter. difiblve [ *9* 1 diflblve the metals, either by its animal, oily, or acefcent qualities. This is not the only way, nor the word, by which the butter may become impregnated with mifchief. The greater the quantity of cream that is thrown tip from the milk, the larger profits accrue to the dairyman -, therefore he keeps it in the veflfels as long as he can, and it is frequently kept 'till it is very four, and capable of acting upon them ; if they are of lead, a calx or fugar of lead is produced ; if of brafs or copper, verdigrife. It is true, the quantity cannot be very great; but this will depend upon the degree of fournefs, and length of time which the milk ftands : — but in- dependent of the acid, the animal oil in the cream will diflblve brafs and copper. That an acid floats in the atmofphere of a dairy, may be proved by placing a bafon of fyrup of violets for a little time, and it will be found to turn red. Then, gentlemen, if I am right in my conjec- tures, as I am perfuaded I am, from the innumerable experiments and obfervations which I have made to fatisfy myfelf of the fact, and which would be trifling [ m ] trifling with your time and patience to relate here, may not the reputation of the wholfomenefs or unwholfomenefs of butter, depend upon, or be ow- ing to fome of the above caufes? And may not many a cafual, nay, obftinate complaint originate from the fame fource, which the phyfician may have in vain laboured to account for ? Butter is found very frequently to occafion much diforder to very weakly, delicate, and irritable ftomachsj yet thefe ftomachs will bear olive oil: this cannot be therefore accounted for from the oleofe parts, but may from the metallic impregnation. I will not contend, that all the ill effects attri- buted to butter are caufed by the mineral particles which it gains by the means above ftated. I only infill that it is poflible, and indeed very probable, and that it may in confequence do frequent mif- chief; and that when butter is free from thefe par- ticles, it is not fo unwholfome as fome have af- fertedj though when it does contain them, it is found to diforder very tender perfons. To enlarge upon the fubjecl, or attempt to ex- plain the many ways and how a very fmall portion of the above metals may prove injurious to the human frame, in fome particular conftitutions, will be only to repeat what has already been faid by [ 194 ] by' abler writers.* Some will perhaps fay that my ideas are very far fetched, and others that my opinions are ill-founded; but I truft whoever has read the induftrious refearches of the very learned Sir George Baker, on the effects of lead, and the melancholy cafe of a young lady having died from eating pickle famphire very lightly impregnated with copper, and which others ate without being difeafed, as related by the ingenious Dr. Percival, will receive my opinions with lefs objection. If I have erred, I have done it in honourable company. If you think with me, gentlemen, I hope you will have fome influence over the dairymen, to in- duce them to change their utenfils, as very com- modious veffels may be made of caft-iron equally well fitted for their purpofes, which will not prove expenfive, and will be more innocent and cleanly. But if they continue in the habit of ufing thofe above-mentioned, after they are informed of the bad tendency -of them, they mull be guilty of a great breach of moral duty, and highly blameable, both in a religious and political point of view, * See Sir George Baker's papers on the effetts of lead, in the Medical TranfacYions j — Dr. Percival's paper in the fame 3— and Dr. Falconer alfo on copper veflels. I beg C '95 1 1 beg pardon for thus trefpaffing upon your time and patience, but I truft you will excufe my errors, and alfo my prolixity, fince it has for its object the prefervation of the health and happinefs of my fel- low creatures. I am, Gentlemen, Your mod obedient humble fervant, Hampstead, THOs HAYES. Dec. $th> 1786. Article XI. On the Culture of Rape or Cole Seed. THE proper time to fow Rape, broad-caft, is the month of June ; the land fhould, previ- ous to the fowing, be twice ploughed and well pul- verized ; when about two pounds of clean feed will fuffice for every acre, which fhould be equally caft: upon the ground with the two fore-fingers and the thumb; for if it be caft: with all the fingers, it will come up in patches, and be the means of wafting feed. When the plants appear, if they come up too thick, a pair of light harrows fhould be dia n, length-ways and crofs-ways, over the landj this will equally thin them, and when the plants (that the harrows have pulled up) are withered, the Vol. IV. O ground [ '96 ] ground (hould be rolled, and a few days after the plants may be fet out with a hoe; 16 or 18 inches is the diftance proper for each plant to flourifh in. In the North of England, the farmers pare and bum paft'ure lands, and fow them with rape after one ploughing; which crop commonly (lands for feed, and will fetch from 25I. to 30I. per lad,* for the purpofe of making oil. Poor clay, or ftone- brauVland, will frequently produce from 12 to 16 or 18 bufhels per acre, and almoft any frefh or virgin earth will yield one plentiful crop. Many in the Northern Counties, by cultivating rape, have been raifed from poverty to the greateft affluence. The feed of it is ripe in July or the beginning of Auguft; and it is furprifing to fee with what avidity people rlock to a rape threfhing (as it is called in the North). It is an ablblute feaft; a violin is con- ftantly played in the field, while the bufinefs is per- forming; the beft of provifions are procured, and a rural dance concludes the evening's diverfion: mirth and good- humour mark the happy countenances of all who affemble; and thofe who are or are not in- vited, equally partake of the provifions and plea- fures of the day. 1 he rape is cut by men with hooks or fickles, and fprtad thinly on the ground to dry, and when * A laft ii two loads=ten quarters=eighty bufhels. It [ *97 ] it is found in order for threfliing, the neighbours are invited, who endeavour to render themfelves ufeful. A number of cloths are in readinefs, for the pur- pofe of carrying the feed to the threfhers j who per- form their bufinefs on a large cloth in the middle of the field — and here the fidler difplays his (kill. The feed is put into facks and conveyed home ; and a field of 20 acres or more is completely har- vefted and threflied in one day upon the fpot ; nor will rape admit of being carried from the ground in the pod, as it muft be perfectly ripe, and would therefore (hed or fcatterj the draw the farmers burn, and difpofe of the allies, which are allowed to be as valuable as the beft pot-afhes. Rape that is fuffered to (land for feed, will very much impoverifti old arable land; but pafture lands, that are previoufly pared and burned, will bear two or three good crops of corn after, with- out manure. The price for paring and burning, varies in dif- ferent counties ; in Yorkfhire, and dill further north, it is performed for" from 10s. to 15s. per ftatute acre, and in the fouth and weft parts of England, the price is from 16s. to one guinea. O 2 Rap* [ '98 ] Rape is an excellent food for fheep, and for this purpofe it will anfwer well on arable land; but it fhould be hoed and fet out as before directed, and it will be the ftronger, and produce a much heavier crop, if it be looked over a fecond time, and the earth be drawn round the items; and mould there appear any places where the crop has failed, it will be right to draw plants where they are found too thick, and plant them in the bare places; by which means a more general and equal crop may be ex- pected ; and that which is tranfplanted, will be fupe- rior to any of that which has never been removed. The writer has experienced the good effecls of tranfplanting rape, and begs leave ftrongly to re- commend it; he advifes a plot of ground of about a rood, to be fown in the middle of June ; this will produce plants enough for ten acres, which may be planted upon land that has previoufly borne a crop of wheat, provided the wheat is harveited by the middle of Auguft: one ploughing will do for thefe plants; the beft of which fhould firft be felected from the feed plot, and be planted upon ridges at leaf!: two feet afunder, and fixteen inches apart in the rows ; they may afterwards be horfe or hand- hoed, and the earth fhould be drawn round their ftems ; and in the fpring of the year this crop may be [ *99 ] be fed off with fheep, when very little other green fodder is to be found, or the leaves might be ga- thered and given to oxen or young beads; from the fame Items frefh leaves would fprout again, and thefe might be fed off by ewes and lambs, time enough to plough the land for a crop of barley or oats j but it muft not be forgot that planting rape upon land the beginning or middle of July, would be the moft advantageous as to the crop of rape, as the leaves might be then fed off in the autumn feafon, and they would dill produce other leaves anew in the fpring; and this method of early plant- ing might be adopted where peafe or beans had been gathered green, and fent to a market, or where any kind of pulfe or green fodder had been fed off the preceding fpring. The expence of planting rape varies according to the price of labour in the different counties; but the moft general price, where rape is planted on ridges two feet afunder and fixteen inches apart in the rows, is 2s. 6d. or 3s. per acre ; but where every plant is to be equidiftant, or 16 inches every way apart, on a flat furface, 3s. 6d, or 4s. per acre is about a fair price, provided in either cafe the grower finds a woman or boy to draw the plants from the feed plot, and to drop them before the planter. When they are thus planted, they may be hand- O 3 hoed [ 200 ] hoed and earthed for 4s. 6d. per acre,* but where rape is fown broadcaft, few will be found to hoe and fet the plants out at equal diftances, and earth them for 7s. per acre, nor will the plants ever flourifh equal to thofe which are planted ; therefore it is obvious which method is to be preferred. The practice of fowing rape and turnips (if they are afterwards fuffered to fland together) is by no means commendable, as it is not poflible to hoe or fet out both forts to advantage. If the rape flou- rifhes beft, the turnips fhould be deftroyed, and vice verfa; otherwife the crops would injure each other, as the lateral fibres of the rape would be prevented from expanding, if furrounded with turnips; and in frofty weather the water or dews would drop from the leaves of the rape on to the turnips, and totally rot and deflroy them. It is a common practice with farmers to feed fuch crops with fheep, and afterwards to plough up the land for wheat; on which account it appears unneceflary to them to hoe or fet out either crop ; but let them confider, if it be right to fow turnips and rape, it is equally to their advantage to hoe them ; as the hoed crop will produce a burden at lead five times larger than the crop that is not hoed, this will amply defray the expence, and it fhould be a conflant rule always to ddlroy the weakeft crop. TJ ,- C 201 ] Thofe who look for an immediate profit, will undoubtedly cultivate rape for feed, but it may anfwer perhaps better in the end to feed it with fheep; the fat ones might cull it over firft, and afterwards the lean or (lore fheep might follow them, and be folded thereon; if this be done in the autumn feafon, the land will be in good heart to carry a crop of wheat ; or where the rape is fed off in the fpring, a crop of barley might follow; in either cafe rape is valuable to the cultivator.; and ■when it is planted and well earthed round the (terns, it will endure the fevered winter ; but the fame can- not be advanced in favour of that which is fown broadcaft. I flatter myfelf the foregoing obfervations will prove acceptable to the fociety, and ufeful to gen - tlcmen farmers in general, who may wifh to culti- vate rape either for feed or fodder. I am, Gentlemen, Your very humble fervant, Stoney-Littkton. J. ,HAZARD. Article [ 202 ] Article XII. [The following Letter was drawn up for the more immediate life of the " Odiham Agriculture Society," who had done the Writer the Honour of electing him an Honorary Member \ — but being thought generally beneficial, its communication is extended.] ON THE MEANS OF PRESERVING APPLE BLOSSOM AND ORCHARDS FROM INJURY. Sir, Beer f err is y near Taviftock, Devon. I Do not recoiled! that yours is a noted cyder county, yet I take it for granted, fome gentle- men have orchards, and the rarer the more valu- able. This parifh, which is my fummer refidence, abounds with orchards and cherry-gardens; the orchards, by their bloflbming this fpring, promifed a much larger quantity of apples than they will actually produce ; not occafioned, however, as the farmers here imagine, by the frofty nights of the firft and fecond of laft month, but by the ravages of an uncommon number of infefts, which have been produced this feafon from a fpecies of black flies in particular, which depofited their eggs in the apple-bud, or bloflbm, at its firft opening; from which eggs were generated th« maggot infects, which [ 203 ] which by feeding on the heart of the bud or blof- fom, foon occafioned it to drop, contract, and clofe itfelf into the form of a cup, of a brown red colour, refembling that of a dry dock-leaf, (unlefs this was originally caufed by the bite of the fly, when fhe de- pofited her egg there) fo as to afford a fafe nidus for the young infect, and fufficient nourifhment to fup- port it, until full grown in that (late, and needing no longer protection there; when it decamps, and the bloflbm being deftroyed, at laft falls off — where- by a plentiful bloflbming is likely this year to pro- duce (as is often the cafe) a fcanty bearing. I have within a few weeks paft opened fome fcores of thofe fhrivelled blofibms, and fcarce ever failed of finding a maggot infect (fome much larger than others) fafely inclofed within its natural neft ; though in fome inftances I found it had decamped, after having exhaufted its nutriment, and the de- cayed bloflbm was ready to fall off with the flighted touch. Having thus given you a plain concife account of the evil, permit me, Sir, to point out what I conceive will be an effectual remedy, or rather pre- ventive; and will likewife contribute to the fertility of the foil, the profperity of the trees, the future produce of apples, and the goodnefs of the pafture. When [ 204 ] When the winged infect tribe firft begin to ap- pear, (which fome conceive, and not improbably, to be by an eaft wind bringing fome forts at lead of them over from the continent) I would recommend fome heaps to be made of the fward or fpind, in the nature of denfhiring or burnbaiting, or heaps of long dung, wet draw, weeds, or any other like matters, at different intervals all around, i. e. on every fide, and likewife fome in different parts of the orchard. If an eaft wind blow, fet fire to fome of the heaps on the eaft fide, and fome within the body of the orchard; if a fouth wind, then on the fouthfide; and fo occafionally on different (ides, as the wind may happen to vary; but always on that fide from whence the wind happens to blow, fo that the fmoke from the fmothering of the heaps may blow through and fumigate the orchard for fome weeks. The expence attending which will comparatively be very trifling, but its confequences and beneficial effects very great, as it will effectually prevent the infect fiy not only from depofiting its eggs, but even from approaching, or at leaft continuing long in fuch a noxious fituation, whereby the bloffoms and fruit will be prefer ved from fuch ravages, and the heat and afhes of the fmothering heaps will likewife con- tribute to the fertility of the foil, the fweetnefs of the pafture, and the growth and vigour of the trees for [ *°5 ] for future bearings; thus deftroying mofs probably better than by any other means, and counteracting the effects in fome meafure of cold and blighting winds, and fuch late frofty nights as thofe of the firft and fecond of laft month* I am, Sir, your's, &c. June 3, 1786. C. GULLETT. P. S. It feems fuperfluous to add, that the fame procefs is applicable, and promifes to be equally advantageous, to all other fruit trees, if fuitably adapted in point of time and other circumftances. Article XIII. Succefs of an Experiment of fumigating an Orchard. Sir, Nov. 23, 1786. THE foregoing letter was drawn up on the day it bears date, the 3d of June laft, and was intended to have been communcated at that time, but a diffidence of publilhing my theoretical ideas, unaccompanied by facts, prevented; and accord- ingly it hath lain by ever fince, and fo would have continued but for die following information. Since [ 206 ] Since this idea firft occurred to me fome years ago, I have occafionally mentioned and recom- mended it in ftrong terms, to very many gentlemen farmers, cyder growers, and others, both in the eaft and weft parts of Devonfhire, and in Cornwall; but fo little are recommendations of any innovation or improvement heeded, efpecially by the gene- rality of farmers, that I have never heard, till very lately, of any one having put it in pra&ice, and that one inftance occafions my troubling you with it, as the fuccefs of this farmer may induce others to adopt it, until the fumigation of orchards, in blof- foming feafon efpecially, becomes general; and a moft precarious crop is thereby rendered as fure and certain as a crop of corn. I have been well informed then (at firft by a gentleman farmer, with great glee and fatisfaction, to whom I had fome years ago recommended it) of a farmer in the eaftern part of Devonfhire, who this fpring determined to giv e a fair trial to the fuc- ceis of fumigating orchards; and in order thereto, made choice of one orchard to be fumigated, leav- ing another (fimila.lv fuuated and circumltanced) unfumigated. The event o< which was, that the fumigated orchard had a very large and plentiful bearing of apj les, to I is no fmall emolument -, which he am.butes, and 1 bclicv£, very juftly, to this [ *°7 ] this fumigation alone; while the unf "umi gated or- chard and neighbourhood had fcarce any apples at all. Your moft obedient fervant, CHRIST. GULLETT. Article XIV. Means of injuring full Crop of Turnips. Sir, Exeter, Nov. 24, 1786. THHE very great failure of Turnip crops, fo ge- •*■ nerally and almoft annually complained o£ in different parts of the kingdom, have occafioned a variety of recipes to be publifhed, but which on trial too frequently fail. The turnip feed itfelf feldom fails to vegetate, (efpecially if fown juft be- fore rain falls, and as fome fay, if left to itfelf, neither harrowed nor rolled,, when fown dry and rain foon follows) but the damage is occafioned in its fubfequcnt (late of leafing, by the voracity of infefts. To prevent this, feems the grand deftde- ratum in turnip agriculture; and a moft defireable one indeed it certainly is, as the lofs in turnip crops this fummcr, in Devon/hire alone, is calculated at upwards of ioo,oool. The ufe of deeps, &c. for the feed, however, appears to me very little likely to [ 208 ] to produce this effect. In lieu of all which, I beg leave to recommend the adoption of the following idea, which hath occurred to me, in the courfe of writing my preceding letter dated yefterday; of the certain and never-failing effects of which, in the moft fatisfactory manner, I will not hefitate to exprefs an abfolute confidence. The damage in orchards is done by infects, fo it is here, though of a different fpecies ; the former effected by the infect in its maggot ftate, the latter by the fly : but as the fly is the original caufe in both, fo the fame means are applicable in both cafes; and therefore let the farmer make himfelf mafler of the method I have recommended for the fecurity of apple bloffom, and very little more need be added here. If the turnip ground be fpaded and burnt, or the weeds, &c. burnt without fpading, the fumigation thereby may fuffice to chafe fuch of the infect winged tribe from thence as are then there -, but in all cafes, when the field is ploughed and ready for fowing, let heaps be made at different places and intervals round by the hedges and boundaries of the turnip ground, and fome few fcattered through the field, in the fame manner as directed for the or- chards. Then, as foon as the feed is fown, let the heaps [ 209 1 heaps on the windward fide, and the fcattered ones, be lighted and kept fmothering during the conti- nuance of the wind in that quarter; the lefs the fire and the more the fmoke, the better. Should the wind happen to fhift, thofe heaps on the quarter it fliifts to muft then be lighted, and kept fmothering in like manner; fo that during the growth of the tender turnip leaf, and until it becomes rough and out of danger, this fumigation and fmoke over and acrofs the field muft be continued from one quarter to the other; which^ I venture to afifert, will effec- tually deter and prevent any winged infect tribe from approaching the turnip ground; nay more, if there already, it would mod compleatly drive them from thence, as fuch delicately formed infects (which can only feed upon the mod tender leaf) would be ill able to continue long in fuch a fmother of fire and fmoke. The confequence is obvious and cer- tain, that if the fly be kept from approaching the field, the turnip crop isjafe — and few, I believe, will difagree with me, that prevention is better than remedy. I am induced to be the more fanguine of the fuccefs of this method, from the great fuccefs, which on many trials attended a fimilar idea of mine, for the prefer vation of cabbage plants from caterpillars by means of elder bufhes, which was infertcd [ *i3 ] inferted in the Sixty-fecond Volume of Philoso- phical Transactions/' about the year 1773$ from whence it was copied into the Annual Regifter, magazines, and periodical and other publications. In order, however, to be fure not to fail of ob- taining the full effect and utmoft fafety, (though it feems a work of fupererogation) let me, in addi- tion to the above fumigation, recommend it to the farmer, who harrows or brufhes in his turnip feed, to add to his harrow or thorn-bufh, a bufh of {link- ing elder, [sambacus] the dragging which over the field will leave fuch a difagreeable fmell and effluvia behind it, as might, and would, I think, befufficient alone, without fumigation, (as was the cafe with butterflies and of the caterpillars above alluded to) but when united with fumigation, no farmer who adopts this recommendation, I will venture to pro- mife him, need be at all uneafy in future about the fuccefs of his turnip or any other vegetable crop; and fuch as know it, and refufe to adopt fo cheap a remedy, deferve little pity, if their crop is devoured by the infects. I could proceed to apply a fimilar remedy for wheat crops from being damaged by the yellows and other infecls j of which I have difcovered up- wards of forty living ones, inclofed within the hulk of [ 2" ] of a Tingle grain of wheat, as dated in the above caterpillar hiftory, to which I refer ; but that mud be the fubject of a future Jetter. If it fhould be afked, — "What would become of thofe mod numerous tribes of prolific infects, if this method fhould become general ? I mod feri- oufly anfwer, that I firmly believe not a thoufandth part of them would trouble us in a few years hence. And in a philofopbical light, I cannot but confider that fuch very general fires and fumiga- tions throughout the kingdom, would tend very materially to the rarefaction, purifying, and im- provement of the date of the atmofphere, and pro- curing healthy feafons. As I confider this an object of confequence, I lofe no time in conveying thefe my fentiments to you for the good of the publick, which is the object of your laudable inditution, as well as of my amule* ment at leifure hours. Your mod obedient fervant, CHRIST. GULLET* T. Vol. IV. P Acticls [ 2I2 ] Article XV. On the Culture of Mufard; — Remarks on the Trifo~ Hum Alpejire-, — on the NeceJJity of Change of Arti- ficial Grafs Crop, &c. &c. SIR, Stified-Hall, Efex, Dec. 14, 1786. FN order to anfwer, as fatisfactorily as I could, **" your enquiry about the cultivation of muftard, I fent for one of the feed-cultivators, of which there are feveral in this neighbourhood -, efpecially about Coggejhall and Kelvedon. Thcfe men hire, at very advanced rents, a few choice acres bf the farmers j cultivate them, merely for the feeds of various fpecies of pulfe, roots, herbs, and even fome flowers, with the utmoft gardening neatnefs ; and fpeculate upon the chance of produce, fale, and price, in which they have fome little portion of the acute- nefs of an alley-broker, — like him fluctuate from very great profits to fome lofTes : but if they can Hand out contingencies, fucceed upon- the whole amply enough. The white muftard requires rather an heavy foil, which muft by tillage be brought into a nice mould i muft be fown in March at one bufhel an acre; be always twice, and frequently three times, hoed, and fet [ *!3 ] fet out at about ten inches plant Yrom plant. The crop is reaped in Auguft, and leaves the land in fufficient tilth for any crop of other grain or corn that may be chofen to follow it: the medium pro- duce three quarters per acre, and the medium price i os. per bulhel. Muftard never follows muftard; but may be fown on the fame land again in the third year. The firft hoeing is worth 4s. the fecond and third 3s. per acre. I never faw the marle-grafs you mention ; but obferve, you affix the fame Latin name to it as you did in my letter [Article xxxiv.] inferted in your lafl volume — trifolium alpeftre, to what I there called cow-grafs ; and which is, trifolium purpu- reum pratenfe; and from the trial I there men- tioned to you, appears to me a mod valuable fpe- cies. The trifolium alpeftre is, I apprehend, the real cow-grafs ; though the other is, at the fecd- fhops, fold under that name. Your fociety there- fore, if they have acquired any quantity of the feed of the real alpeftre, which has been thought to be particularly rare, will bring a very great acquisition to agriculture in one of its mod effential points. Here common clover frequently, through the accident of feafons, rather than quicknefs in crop- ping with it, will fail. In Norfolk, where it has P 2 ufually* C "4 ] ufually come over again at every fourth crop, this failure, from the land being furfeited with it, has been in many inftances fo great, that a very confi- derable farmer there lately informed me, that he and many of his neighbours had lately under their barley fown rye-grafs and trefoil; and in only the next rotation of barley fown the common clover; and fo on alternately: for not lefs in artificial grafs than corn, change and variety, under the common hufbandry> is eflential to the produce. The very barley in Norfolk, probably from the fame caufe, has of late years, it is faid, degenerated in finenefs, befides varying more in the rotation of crops. Our farmers defend the mode of the whole year's fallow y on the principle of its guarding againft fuch furfeit; and thus by the delicacy of the fowing tilth it neceflarily produces, making the proper bed for minute grafs-feeds, and giving them the bed fecu- rity againft the failure of their clover. They fre- quently mow it for hay, and then feed it, or for the chance of the latter, (a very dubious, though fome- times a moft profitable one) feed it off firft early; but very feldom let it remain a fecond year. I conjeRure, that where it muft neceflarily come in quick rotation, it mould never ftand but one year, and [ 2i5 ] and in that be conftantly fed-, it may then alone be regarded as a meliorating crop, but otherwife as a wearing one; and a diftindtion of it is thus made in fome of our leafes. In the one inftance the land is probably forfeited, by pufhing forth into full bloom fuch a ftrong crop, and continued too perhaps to a fecond year; in the other, it is cherifhed by its paf- turage, and improved by its being early turned in. When intended for merely one year's feed, any of the other artificial grafles may, to fecure a plant, be fown with it. My prefent wheat is on the rye-grafs ley, men- tioned in your third volume, [Article xxxix.] and appears as perfect as on one of clover. My field for early feed of next fpring is alfo rye-grafs thickly /own, and, as a little trial, I have fown with it, in one portion, fome trefoil ; in another, the perennial white ; and in the third, perennial red clover, com- monly termed xow-grajs. However congenial to the foil of a farm any peculiar fpecies of corn, pulfe, or vegetable, may appear; the chance of a fecure crop from them, in a large fcale, under, as I faid before, the common hujbandry, will in general be in a proportion to their not being fown too often : — the variablenefs of our climate corrects fo frequently, or brings to fuch a P3 fort I a,6 ] fort of equality, the variety of one foil, that in pro- portion to the necefllties of his ufual flock, the conveniency of culture, and the benefits of rota- tion, as corn, pulfe, or artificial winter herbage, and fpring grafs,may, though not in equal, yet in fome proportion, be advantageoufly raifed on foils, in appearance improper for one or the other of them, by every attentive farmer ; and his profit in a long leafe, on this broad bafis of rough agriculture, be at the end more fecure, though occafionally it cannot be fo great. I am, refpectfully your's, CHARLES ONLEY. Article XVI. Account of the Cultivation and Produce of a Crop of Buck-Wheat. [By a Gentleman Farmer, to the Secretary.] SIR, AGREEABLE to your requeft, I fend you the following account of the cultivation of \\\ acres of Buck-wheat. The inclofure No. I, containing feven acres, was a deep, friable, fandy loam ; its afpect a gentle dope towards the fouth. In 1784, it produced a very poor [ *>7 ] poor crop of wheat, being fmutty and very full oT weeds. The wheat-ftubble was ploughed up in November following, and a good coat of dung fpread over it. In this flate it remained till the middle of laft May, by which time it became full- of couch and other noxious weeds. The floven of a tenant then giving up his leafe, I had the furrows turned back, then cut acrofs, well dragged and cleaned with a couch-harrow — an ex- cellent implement for difpatch — a horfe, man and boy, doing in a day as much work as a dozen people with rakes. Next I gave a deep ploughing length- ways, harrowed and couched again; which brought the land in fine tilth, and exceeding clean. I fi- nifhed fowing about the id of June, and harrowed and rolled afterwards. The buck- wheat came up about two inches high, regular and even, when the long drought commencing checked its growth, and caft a fickly yellow hue over the whole, particularly under the hedges, where it lay as flat as if cutoff, a confiderable quantity being burnt almoft to a coal. In this condition it continued languifhing for about fix weeks, when a fine fhower produced an amazing alteration ; it immediately reared its drooping head, and tillered out into branches fix or eight in ge- neral on a (talk. The [ 218 ] The appearance was now agreeably changed, the whole field being covered with a mod beautiful white carpet; and an innumerable multitude of bees buzzing in every part, prefented a fcene truly ro- mantick. From this time through the fummer, it continued matting together, growing and bloffom- ing till full a yard in height, promifing a fine crop. To appearance the feed kerned remarkably well, feveral people who went to view it, concluding there would at lead be a load upon an acre. The fecond week in September, began mowing, and turned about two acres ; but perceiving, as the haulm was fo long and ftalky, that in turning a vaft quantity would be fhed out, I ordered a couple of men to go to two fwarths, aud take gently up a fmall quantity, and place each parcel againft its fellow, between the fwarths, the feed uppermoft: — by this means the fun and air circulated freely through the haulm, drying it falter than turning would have done. Once fetting up fufiiced, befides the advantage of preferving the feed. Before it was dry enough to harveft, the wet weather commenced, which obliged us to keep it frequently moved to get it in order, as. well as to prevent the feed growing; of confe- quence this occafioned the lofs of a confiderable quantity, and delayed houfing it till the beginning of October. The [ 2i9 ] The buckwheat left this piece in exceeding fine condition for wheat, not a weed or fcarce even a blade of grafs was to be feen throughout the whole. Obferve: — An acre of this piece was fown with turnip-rooted cabbage, for an experiments which failed, though the plants came up thick enough; yet after hoeing and weeding, they made fuch little progrefs, that the weeds got the afcendency and choaked them. Deduct likewife about forty lug of grubbed hedge-rows, and a road running up the middle, which is included in the feven acres. The fields No. II. and III. contained, the one four, the other two acres, fomewhat ftronger land than No. I. j theexpofure a gentle defcent towards the eaft, except about an acre lying hollow, which is fubjecT: to be overflown after heavy rains. Thefe pieces were oats in 1784. As foon as No. I. was fown, I gave them one earth j the weather being likely to continue dry, I harrowed and fowed directly. A little of the feed came up between the ridges, where the ground was fomewhat moid ; the reft remained as dry as when fowed till July, when the rain that occafioned No. I. to flourifh fo much, caufed this to make its appearance ; but it was very irregular, draggling and weak. It foon came into bloom, tillered but little, and growed (lowly, fcarce attain- ing above a foot or 18 inches in height, and fore- boding [ 220 ] boding but a lamentable crop. However, it was fome amends to have a fine feafon for harvelling, which was finifhed by the 8th of October. The land was in tolerable order for the enfuing wheat crop, though nothing to compare with No. I. it not ploughing fo free and mellow ; befides the couch was got up, particularly in No. III. which is the wetted of the two pieces. The expences of cultivation have been very heavy, as you may judge from the neglect of the late occupier, and its being at a diftance from home, on which account I have been obliged to hire for every thing. However, I have endeavoured to ftate accurately every expence which ought to be charged, as follows: — Inclosure No. I. Debtor. £. s. d. To ploughing 5! acres in Nov. 1784, at 7s. Four horfes and 2 men, dunging 2 days, at 9s. To ploughing 3 times in May 1785, at 6s. - Dragging, 4 horfes and a man, 1 ilav - Couching and carting off with 2 horfes and 2 men, 2 days - Nine buftiels of buckwheat, at 5s. Sowing and rolling - Rent - - - - Tithe compounded for Poor-rates - * - Two men 3 days mowing, at 2s. £.19 6 9 2 0 3 0 18 0 5 3 6 0 8 0 0 10 0 2 5 0 0 4 0 5 15 0 1 1 0 0 10 0 0 12 0 [ M! ] Brought up - - 19 6 9 Two men at intervals turning, carting, &c. a fortnight each, at is. 4d. - - - 1 12 o Two children 5 days each, turning at 3d. - 026 Threfhing 21 facks, and 1 bufh. buckwheat - 103 £.22 I 6 Per Contra. Creditor. By 21 facks and 1 bufhel buckwheat, at 16s. 17 o o Value of haulm for litter, &c. - - -300 Lofs to balance - 2 I 6 £.22 1 6 Inclosures No. II. and III. In June ploughing 6 acres, at 7s. - -220 Dragging and couching with 2 horfes and 2 men one day - Two days 1 man raking, at is. 2d. Nine bufliels buckwheat, at 5s. - 0 9 0 2 2 5 0 4 0 Sowing and rolling - Rent ------ Tithe 0 4 6 0 1 1 0 0 0 Poor-rates - - - - - - 0 10 0 Mowing 6 acres, at is. 2d. Three children turning 6 days each, at 3d. Carting, with 2 horfes and 2 men, 1 day Threfhing 12 facks, at is. 1 0 7 0 4 0 6 0 12 0 6 0 0 Per Contra. Creditor. .14 2 10 By 12 facks buckwheat, at 16s. Value of haulm - - 9 12 2 0 0 0 Lofs to balance - 2 10 10 £.14 i 10 [ 222 ] According to the above computation, I think the cultivation of buckwheat to be of great confe- quence to the community as a fubilitute for a fal- low, as no fallow can exceed, or hardly equal, the piece No. I. for condition j though as a crop it has fallen greatly fhort of my expectation, yet as it (lands, I think having a fallow of twelve acres of ground for about 5I. expence, very reafonable. I finimed fowing with wheat on one earth the 6th of November, the expence' of putting in as under-mentioned : £- s. d. To ploughing 12 acres, at 6s. - 3 12 0 Five days a* narrow, at 5s. - 1 5 0 Nine bags feed-wheat, at ill. 15s. per load - 10 12 6 Sowing - - - - p 4 0 Two liays linking furrows - 0 10 0 £-*(> 3 6 N. B. I have fold about two quarters of buck- wheat for fatting pigs, at 4s. per bufhel, for which reafon I made that the average charge. An ac- quaintance of mine has (own one field alternately wheat and buckwheat for three or four years pad; rolling down the buckwheat, and then ploughing it in. He informed me that his lad crop of wheat yielded four quarters per acre after the buckwheat. N.B. The [ "3 ] N. B. The above account of cultivating buck- wheat appearing very extraordinary and unnecef- farily expenfive, we (hall fubjoin the remarks made on it by a very ingenious gentleman farmer from Suffolk, who has long cultivated this grain in a very different and much more profitable manner. " To the Committee. o detrimental - - J Threfhing 21 facks and ibufhel,? at 7d. per fack - J s. d. 18 o 10 o 10 0 4 o 15 o 1 0 10 o 5 9 o o 12 4* £.16 6 11 s. d. 99 10 o 5 o 4 o 15 o 1 o 10 o 12 O i 14 6 03 £.22 6 6 OBSERVATIONS. Buckwheat is efteemed in Suffolk, Norfolk, and EfTex, as adapted to lands of about 5s. value per acre j or from 3s. to ios.j but can never anfwer on deep friable loam worth il. is. per acre; for on the latter there will always be too much draw, even without manure; and the former will yield on an average from three to four quarters per acre. It prevents the growth of weeds, but will not deftroy couch-grafs. It is ufually fown in Suffolk with grafs-feeds for laying down land, and for that purpofe it is preferred to mod other kinds of fpring corn. Article [ 226 ] Article XVII. Description of the Confiruclion and Ufe of a new Im- plement in Husbandry, for Transplanting Turnip. [In a Letter to the Secretary.] SIR, IJIe of Wight, Nov. 18, 1784. HAVING made a tour lately into Norfolk, among their many improvements in agri- culture and its implements, fhewn me, I was par- ticularly pleafed with their Turnip Tranfplanter. As a member of your fociety, and being willing to contribute what little afliftance may be in my power towards general improvement in agriculture, I have taken the liberty of fending you one, made under my directions in this place.* From the fimplicity and cheapnefs of the inftru- ment, and the very eafy manner of ufing it, (two great recommendations in all implements in hus- bandry) I cannot but think it may become gene- rally ufeful. As it frequently happens in turnip fields, that large fpots fail, it is ufed for filling up thofe fpots, from the adjoining parts of the fame field. It may alfo be very ufeful in gardens, for tranfplanting plants of different kinds. • A figure of it is given in the annexed Plate, No. I. The [ "7 ] The method of ufing it is, to hold the long handle with the left hand, and the fhort handle with the right drawn up -, put the inftrument over the plant that is to be taken up, and with your foot force it into the ground; then give it a twift round, and by drawing it gently up, the earth will adhere to the roots of the plant in a iblid body ; then with another inftrument of the fame fize, take the earth out where the plant is to be put, and bringing the inftrument with the plant in it, put it into the hole which has been made by the other; then keep your right hand fteady, and draw up your left, and the earth and plant will be left in the hole with the roots undifturbed.* When turnips are to be tranfplantcd in a field, there are two men employed with each an inftru- ment, one man taking up a plant, while the other fills his inftrument with earth only, thereby making room for depofiting the plant; fo that the hole which is made by taking up the plant, is filled with the earth taken out where the plant is to be put ; which having depofited, he takes up a plant, and returns to the place he firft let out from, the firft • This inftrument, which may be had at the ibciety's rooms, is well adapted for garden ufes, and particularly for gentlemen who would like the amufement of tranfplanting (hull roots of any kind, by an eafy, clean, and expeditious method. Vol. IV. Q^ man [ 11% ] man at the fame time returning with earth only * fo that each man is alternately the planter, and each being employed both ways, the work goes on brifkly. This inflxument was invented by Mr. Cubitt Gray, of Southrepps in Norfolk, a perfon who has given a great deal of attention to husbandry, and particularly to the cultivation of turnips, for which crop he prepares his land in a different manner from moft of his neighbours ; they harrowing their land immediately after each ploughing, and then rolling it, in order (as they fay) to keep in the moifture j on the contrary, he never rolls his land, nor harrows it till he is going to plough it again* but leaves it as open as poflible, in order to warm it, as he thinks land can never be too warm or dry for turnips ; and he has always had the bed crops, even when the feafon has been dry when fown. This method he has followed 16 years,. and never once failed of a crop of turnips— though his neighbours frequently have* He has fold turnips at five guineas and half per acre, to be fed off on his land: he al- ways hand-hoes twice, as indeed do all the farmers in that country ; his land is a fandy loam, a very free working foil. I am, your's, &c. JOSEPH KIRKPATRIC&, [ **9 ] [N. B. The Society return their thanks to Mr. Kirk- Patrick, both for his letter, and for the inftrument he Co accurately defcribes the ufe of. If he would favour them with an account of the mode of hufbandry praclifed by the bed farmers in the Ifle of Wight, it would ba efteemcd an additional obligation.] Article XVIII. On the Cultivation of Broad Clover. SIR, Co/fieM, near Leith, Dec. 9, 1786. f AM duly favoured with your obliging letter of •* the 5th inft. and fhall be glad if the little that I have been able as yet to do, refpe&ing the cul- ture of potatoes, fhould prove the means of ftimu- lating others, who have better opportunities, and greater abilities than myfelf, to attend, in a more particular manner than has yet been done, to the culture of this truly valuable plant. It would give me a particular pleafure, if I could communicate to your fociety any thing that fhould deferve attention, refpe&ing the difeafe you take notice of, affecting Broad Clover. But as nothing mw on the fubject has occurred in this part of the world, I cannot pretend to offer any conjectures as to the caufe, or hints for the remedy of that dif- 0^2 order. [ *3o ] order. I have cultivated broad clover as a crop for more than thirty years pad, and cannot fay that I have here had occafion to remark any thing of late that is in the lead particular. During all my practice I have ever found, that although broad clover fometimes affords as good a crop the fecondyear as the firft, (obferve, I call the firft year of clover, that in which it firft yields a crop, not that in which it is fown) and on fome occafions even a better; yet I have ever found that that was in fome meafure cafual, and that no one could fafely rely on it for a full crop the fecond year. This is the cafe at prefent, as it ever has been in this part of the world. There is no doubt, however, that broad clover is much lefs apt to fail in fome foils than others. It is a plant that thrives bed on a firm weighty foil. It therefore does very well in clays of a certain kind; (you will obferve I make a diftinction between thri- ving well, and long life) but on all clayey foils, and more particularly on foft fpungy foils that have lately been brought into culture from moor, it is extremely liable to be thrown out by the feverities of the winter weather, and generally more fo than on fome others : — a firm hazel loam, or even a very weighty, or what we here call zfloarp, rich friable mould* [ ft3* ] mould, tending to a Tandy nature, is that on which I have ever found it lead liable to the accident of which you complain. I cannot tell if you have any of the foil of the kind I here defcribe, never having been in Gloucefterfhire ; and I am yet more doubt- ful if the terms I make ufe of, will be intelligible to you j — but I have no other means of communica- ting my ideas on this fu eject. The procefs by which broad clover is thus de- ftroyed, is very eafily obferyable on fpungy moory foils, in which water is retained in a (late more nearly approaching to fluidity than in others. In rich clayey loams, where the fame procefs takes place in an inferior degree, the progrefs is far lefs perceptible. In fuch fpungy foils I have often re- marked the following phenomena : — After a night of bare froft, in thofe places where the earth is not covered with a clofe fward of grafs, the furface feems to be divided into a great number of broad kind of points, divided from each other by a great variety of fifllires, fomething like what takes place in a clayey pool, when the water has been fuddenly evaporated, and the mud haflily in- durated. On taking up one of thefe detached pieces, and examining it, we difcover that itconfifts ulmoft entirely of frozen water, with a thin cruft of Qj earth [ *J2 ] earth on its top. The ice in this cafe afiumes a beautiful and lingular form, confifting of a flack of needle-like columns, (landing in a vertical pofition, all of one height; a rude fketch of which is given in the annexed plate A.* The vertical column confifls of tranfparent fpiculse, fometimes with a little earth intermixed with them, but ufually pretty free from it. They have always a little earth at top j and when they are taken up, a little earth alfo adheres to their bottom; and below that the froft has not penetrated. Thefe columns are longer or fhorter according to circumilances, from near two inches, as I have feen them, to lefs than a quarter of an inch. If the froft continues more than one night, thefe icy pillars admit of a greater elongation by an additional range of columns mooting up below them, and forcing the former to rife to a greater height. This fecond feries of columns is always fhorter than the firfl, and is divided from it by a thin ftratum of earth, as at B.* Should the froft continue longer, another row of fhorter columns ftill is formed beneath the former, divided from it alfo by its ftratum of earth : and fo it goes on, each night's froft producing a new fet of columns, which become gradually fhorter, till at laft the different ftrata of earth which feparate them become fo near to each other, as that the watery columns cannot be * See plate No. I. diftiflguifhed j [ *33 ] diftinguifhed ; fo that the bafe appears to be only a lump of frozen earth, to which thefe (lacks of co- lumns (CD.) firmly adhere. I (hould not have taken the trouble to defcribe fo minutely as I have done this procefs of nature, had I ever obferved it defcribed elfewhere j and be- caufe it is very neceffary to be adverted to, feeing it is ufually in confequence of that procefs that our broad clover fields are fo frequently cut off by the feverities of our winter, which will be eafily under- stood by attending to the following remarks. When any vegetable is growing on the foil thus affected, the top of thefe columns of ice naturally lay hold of it as it were, and adhere to it fo clofely as to force it up along with them with a very ftrong power. If the root penetrates the ground perpen- dicularly, either the main root mud be broken off by this force, applied as at E, or the lateral fibres muft be all torn off from the principal root, fo as to leave it entirely naked, and thus expofed to the in- juries of the weather altogether defencelefs. When a thaw comes, the columns of ice are melted away, and the earth fubfides to its former bulk, fo that the poor naked root (lands up as at F, and mull infallibly perifh. Every attentive farmer muft have remarked his broad clover drawn at times out of the ground in this manner though he has not perhaps [ 234 ] perhaps adverted to the procefs above defcribed, by which it was effected. I have fometimes feen it thus forced out of the ground, on foils of the nature above defcribed, full fix inches j but in mellow cul- tivated fields, it feldom exceeds one or two inches. Spungy foils, of the nature above defcribed, are therefore unfit for producing broad clover; and the nearer they approach to the nature of thefe, the more precarious will that crop be upon them : but nothing of this fort happens, when the froft is ac- companied by fnow to a fufficient depth. In foils of the nature here defcribed, it is obferv- able, that if the furface be covered with fibrous- rooted graffes, they are not thus thrown out ; for as thefe roots are generally numerous, and clofely in- terwoven v/ith each other, they form fuch a clofe furface, that the tops of the icy columns do not appear divided $ but the whole furface is lifted up with a confiderable ftratum of earth, fo that when the thaw comes, the whole furface fubfides together, and the roots quickly ftrike into the foil below; fo that though the furface might be eafily peeled off immediately after the thaw, in flakes, nearly as if it had been pared off by a fpade, yet in a fhort time the roots (hike into the loofe earth below, and it becomes adhefive to the bottom as ufual. This phenomenon, [ ns ] phenomenon, however, is never obfervable on any other foils but thofe that are uncommonly fpungy, particularly mofly foils; for the clofe furface of grafs prevents the froft from penetrating it in others: nor does the froft ever produce fuch devaftation on any foil, when well covered with a coat of matt- rooted grafies, as otherwife. This being obvioufly the cafe, if ever reliance be to be had on broad clover for a Jecond year's crop, it is advifeable to fow with the clover a proportion of rye-grafs. This is a very profitable practice, as it much augments the weight of the firft cutting, and makes it come fome weeks earlier than otherwife it would have been. It alfo effectually prevents the white gowans from appearing, which fo often render a crop of red clover fown alone worth very little. And as the clover afterward advances much more quickly than the rye-grafs, the fucceeding cuttings are as good as if no rye-grafs had been fown. To guard the clover too, if reliance be to be had upon it for the Jecond year y it mould never be cut very late in the feafon, for this makes the furface ib bare as to leave the roots very much expofed to danger; but if it be cut pretty early in autumn, the rye-grafs advances again in the end of the feafon, after the clover has become ftationary, fo as to afford a clofe covering that defends the roots pretty well. By [ 236 ] By thefe precautions, I have been feldom difap* pointed in my fecond year's crop of clover, though it mllfometimes difappear almoft entirely: nor do I think it polTible in our climate ever to guard againft this accident with certainty *, where broad clover alone is fown; fo that I fhould think it imprudent in any one, in almoft any circumftances, to rely on that fecond year's crop j I have therefore ever held it as a tnaxim, that if a man is to depend on red clover alone, he never fhould think of taking above onp year's crop of it j but if he does refolve to have two year's crops of grafs, he may always eafily infure that, and frequently have them of red clover, though not with certainty, if alone. The rule I have ever followed to guard againft every accident of this fort, is, to fow along with the red clover a confiderable proportion of the white or Dutch clover, and fome grafs. If the broad clover flourifhes, thefe do not retard its growth, and only tend to thicken it; and if it fhould fail, which it fometimes will do in fpite of every precaution, thefe plants fill the ground, and produce an abun- dant crop of herbage, which affords a greater weight and finer hay, than broad clover alone: though they do not anfwer quite fo well for cutting for green forage. White [ *37 ] White clover fpreads its fibrous roots upon the furface of the ground, and is not fo apt to be thrown out as red clover ; nor is it ever deftroyed by any accident, if the earth is rich and firm \ frequent rolling makes it flourifh' abundantly, evert on light foils i but without that, on fuch foils it inevitably will perifh ; (by the term tight, I do not mean fandy, as fometimes is fo exprefTed, but ground that is not weighty ; we here call it deaf.) If thefc hafty obfervations can be of any ufe to the members of your fociety, they are much at their fervrce. Some years ago, I publifhed two volumes of t€ Essays on Agriculture ;" in which I threw out ■ feveral obfervations on grafles, but the above are not among them. There are few plants more va- luable for certain purpofes than broad clover. But there are many which injome rejpecls exceed it. I muft not however longer trefpafs on your patience, than to aflTure you that I fhall be ever happy to contribute my mite to the advancement of fcience. I am, your mod humble fervant, JAMES ANDERSON. N. B. The [ *3« 1 N. B. The drawings [in Plate I.] are intended to give fome idea of the progrefs of the icy columns. A. reprefents three (lacks of one night old ; B. ditto, of two nights' growth; C. ditto, of three j and D. a greater number, as they appear after the froft has continued many days. On all occafions there are numerous columns (hooting up by the fide of one another, fo that the general furface of thp ground is nearly as even as before the froft; though that furface is by means ofthefe columns lifted a. good deal higher than its natural level. D. reprefents a few fibrous- rooted grafles on the furface of the ground. At E. is re- prefented a (talk of broad -clover, with its root forced up by the furrounding columns of ice, and broken off. F is the fame root after a thaw, the columns of ice being melted, the earth fubfided, and the plant falling down faded. A feclion of the earth is here fuppofed to be made to (hew the portion of the roots. Article XIX. Bijhop of Killalue's Method of cultivating Potatoes. . [Given by him to Mr. Woodbine.] WHEN your land is left in fuch an exfiaufted condition, that it will not anfwer to plough it again for a crop, the method of bringing it again into Jieart by Potatoes is as follows ; — Spread your manure fn lines (of about five or fix feet broad) upon the ground, about twelve or four- teen [ *39 3 teen waggon-loads to an acre, leaving an interval of about two feet and a half between every row of manure. The intervals to be broader or narrower, according to the depth of foil on the land $ where the vegetable mould is fhalloweft, the intervals to be broadeft. Then cut your potatoes into pieces, leaving one eye (from whence a fmall fibre of the root feems to grow) upon every piece : every one of thefe eyes will produce a new plant. Then fpread the pieces on the ground, at a foot or a foot and a half diftance. Then fend in your diggers, and let them dig out of the intervals as much earth as will cover the pieces of potatoes about two inches. As foon as the new plants all appear above ground, fend in the diggers again, and cover the plants completely. When they appear above ground a fecond time, cover them again with earth dug out of the intervals, taking care not to go much deeper than the remaining vegetable mould ; though you may venture to go a little into the thill or clay, as it will tend rather to improve the land than otherwife ; for lying at the top, it will not injure the vegeta- tion ; and being expofed to the fun and dews, it will be converted into fertile earth, in a feafon or two, as well as the reft. When [ Ho ] When the weeds have appeared and are fit to pull, the crop mull be carefully weeded, and in the courfe of the fummer, muft be weeded a fecond time. If the potatoes are planted in the latter end of March or even the beginning of April, they will be come to their full growth before Michaelmas. They muft then be dug out, and the land will be left in condition to bear a good crop of wheat to be fown at that feafon with a flight ploughing, at which time the brows of the ridges fhould be partly ploughed into the trenches, that the ground may be in order for future crops, and then the whole of the field properly covered with the crop. After this hufbandry, the ground will be fit for a crop of barley to fucceed the wheat, and then a crop of oats with clover, &c. N. B. By this courfe of hufbandry, the arable land of the farm will never be fallow for a year, as the potatoe crop fucceeds thelaft crop of oats, and will be well worth 2ol. per acre; and the land by the digging will be left in finer tilth than fourploughings will produce. I twice tried an experiment, which anfwered be- yond my expectations. Inftead of firft digging out my potatoes, 1 cut the haulm with a fcythe, and threw it into the trenches. I then fent the fower to fow the land with wheat; then I had the potatoes dug C *4« ] dug otit> and let the wheat take its chance of being properly covered in the digging, and then gave it a flight harrowing; and by this method I had a crop of ten barrels to the acre j which I afcrlbed to the feed being better covered by being dug in, than it would have been by the harrow in the ufual way* I do not, however, recommend this to be done the firft time this husbandry is tried, though the expe- riment may be made in one ridge only, and accord- ing as that fucceeds, it may be purfued or not hereafter. July, 1786. THO. KILLALUE. Article XX. Observations on the Dijeafe called the Wind in Sheep. [By Mr. J. Webb, Apothecary.] CENtlEMEtf, Doynton^ GlouceJIerJhire. NUMEROUS as the difeafes of the brute cre- ation are, I believe they fuffer but little lefs from them than from the abfurd means that fre- quently are adminiftered for their relief arifing from the generality of farmers being very ignorant both of the/eat and caufe of the complaint. This I attri- t 242 ] I attribute partly to the terms ufed for difeafes not conveying any juft and proper ideas of them. I have feenfeveral fheep, immediately after being fhorn, appear to be in violent pain ; their fides are fomewhat extended, and their breathing very fhort ; the head is hung drooping, and they have a great averfion to moving or walking, and generally lie down. Thefe fymptoms continue increafing till the fheep dies in a few hours, unlefs a violent purging come on, which generally gives immediate relief. On enquiring for the name given to this complaint, I found it was called the Wind; but where the feat of it lay, few could tell. Some thought it was in the head, others in the lungs or lights, &c.; and the remedies they applied were as various as their opinions of the difeafe; fome giving gin, others black pepper, or both thefe mixed together. Daffy's elixir, and elder-berry fyrup, are fometimes ad- miniftered. Not fatisfied with thefe accounts, I endeavoured (by infpedting the carcafes of fheep that died of the difeafe) to difcover the caufe and feat of the com- plaint. On opening four fheep that died of the difeafe, I found all the inteftines rather diftended with flatus,* but not in any great degree. Their • From whence I fuppofe the term wind for this diforder originated. blood- [ *43 ] blood-vefiels were very turgid and of a deep red, particularly thofe of the large intcftinesy excepting the rectum, (or what is commonly called the- tew- gHt) which had a healthy appearance, as Jikewife had the (tomach, milt, caul, liver, heart, hfngs or lights, 6cC; and in fhort all the vifcera contained in the cavity of the trunk. From thefe appearances I will venture to fay, that the difeafe in queftion is a violent inflammation of the inteftines; perhaps in lb me meakue arifing from bruifes in (hearing, but more fo from lofing a warm clothing, and being iuddenly expofed to cold air and cold feeding. I beg leave therefore to recommend to farmers, that on the full appearance of the complaint, they put the fheep into a liable or other warm place, and immediately bleed it very freely. Bruife a quarter of an ounce of Tome earn e feed, fuch as carraway, anife, cummin, or fennel, and mix thefe with two ounces of Glauber' purging falts in a pint of water ; place it on nd make it boil for a few minutes, then drain it off: thcnV til TF quarter of an ounce of powdered jalap, and while lukewarm give the (beep a quarter of a pint of this liquor (rh'ft well (haken together) eve: .our It ihould have no food or cold water till ■ but a little warm -water rhigHt be of Vol. IV. R This [ 244 ] This remedy, I imagine, might be of fervice to oxen, when blafted from putting them into frefh clover •> but they being much larger and ftronger animals, will require a dofe larger in proportion. With the fame regulation I would recommend it for the fret in horfes, as a better remedy than the drenches commonly given. I am, Gentlemen, your's &c. 08. 10, 1786. J. WEBB. P. S. Perhaps it may appear ftrangc to recommend glitters for horfes; but I am well afTured that one (cora- pofed of fome tobacco boiled in a pint of water a few mi- nutes, then ftrained off, and with the addition of a little fweec oil or hog's lard) given as fuch, would greatly aflitf the drench before recommended. Article XXI. On the Cultivation of Apple-Trees. SIR, T Have ever efteemed Apples as the moll: ufeful -■* fruit cultivated in this kingdom. They are placed on the tables of the great, and are within the power of the cottager to enjoy; at whofe homely board, when drefled in puddings or pyes, they may be confidered as. a luxury. Thefe [ 245 ] Thefe confiderations make me view with concern the prefent neglect of orchards, where the old trees are decaying without proper provifion being made for the fucceeding age: for if a farmer plants frefh trees, (which does not frequently happen) there is feldom any care taken to propagate the better forts, as his grafts are ulually taken promifcuoufly from any ordinary kind, mod eafily procured in his neighbourhood.* Hence arife the numberlefs apple-trees, wich may almoft be faid to incumber the ground, and occupy the room which a valuable tree might poflefs. I have heard it frequently remarked, that a good apple is hardly ever to be procured but near large towns; and in general I have found the obfervation juft, owing, I conceive, principally to the inatten- tion of the farmer, and fometimes to the difficulty he finds in obtaining the bed forts. * We hope For the credit of common fenfe, this is not literally the cafe j few people would take the trouble of grafting without a view to fome improvement j and in country places, the belt apple-trees of the neighbourhood are fufficiently noted ; but if the f'pirit of im- provement prevailed as it ought in this article, the owners of or- chards would not only propagate the belt forts occasionally, but con- itantly reduce their young apple-trees which were found to bear ordinary fruit, to grafting ftocks for the moft valuable forts. By fach a practice, git..: • >n would be made. R 2 Could [ 246 ] Could thefe difficulties be obviated, I conceive we ihould in a few years rind good apples at every cottage, and greater choice at our country markets. This being, in my opinion, an object of fome utility, give me leave to fugged fome hints, which you may pofiibly improve and render really ufeful. After making a catalogue of the bed apples for eating, baking, keeping, &c. fuppofe your fociety were to procure grafts of each kind from the coun- ties mod celebrated for the refpective forts : which, I imagine, may be done by a fociety at a moderate expence, as many gentlemen would be proud to furnifh them; fo that the carnage would be the only cod: fome might be purchafed tlnd given away, without any great expence to the fociety. £ I fear offering a premium for the; cultivation of apple-trees, would be inadequate to the intent; as fmall rewards, which mud neceflarily be difficult and flow in their operation, would not raife a Tpirit in farmers in general to puriue the object. • I therefore think that the Bath Society (if they m the fubjecr. worthy notice) might advertile that they were collecting a quantity of grafts from opple-tiees of fnperior kinds, which they meant to diflribute [ 247 ] diitribute gratis to farmers and cottagers who ap- plied'and engaged to cultivate them ; and that the application muft be made either verbally or in writing by a certain day, fpecifying the number the party wifhes to have. And when the grafts are ready, a fecond advertifement might give notice for each perfon who has applied to call or fend for the proportion allotted to him. If the fociety alfo recommended to their corre- fpondents and other gentlemen, a fimilar difpofal of good grafts, round their rcfpe&ive neighbourhoods, I fbould not doubt but in a very few years every county would be plentifully fupplied with the bed apples. I am, Sir, your's, &c, RICHARD SAMUEL. [N. B. The fubftancc of this letter Is of great importance to the nation -t for it muft be univerfally acknowleged that the apple is the firft of fruits, as an article of family conftimption, if not ns a luxury. In its different applica- tions for cyder, for drefling as food, and for eating in its natural flate, its flavour is of great c'onfcquencc to our .lure, and perhaps of forjte to our health. For it is not cafily fuppofablc, that a rough acrid cyder is equally whole- ami plcafant fort, to a' s j — ■ni.l, and . will pple-trees, t the th publick attention to promote the of the fineft fortf, as at once cheap, wliolcfome, K j and [ »4« 3 and grateful. It is a benrjolent object, likewife, when we confidcr how eafily the palates of the middling and lower clafles of our countrymen, who cannot afford the luxury of more expenfive fruit, may be gratified by improving the quality of this common and excellent fpecies. From thefe confederations, it is hereby requefted, as a fir ft ftep towards general improvement, that thofe gentle* men, who have been particularly curious in the improve- ment of their orchards, or in remarking the diftinctions and excellencies of different forts of apples and pears, would be fo obliging as to communicate their obfervations on the fubje£t. by letter to the fecretary, as foon as they conveniently can after reading this article. They are ear- neftly requefted alfo to mention particularly the flavour and properties of the forts they approve beft, for fummer ufe and for long keeping ; likewife with what number of fcions they could conveniently furnifh the fecretary for diftribu- tion ; firft among the members of the fociety, and fe- condly to others who may wifti to concur in the general plan of improvement.] Article XXII. On the Degeneracy of Apples. fin a Letter to the Secretary.} SIR, Kcnfmgton^ Dec. 16, 1786. >HpHE fubjecl: of the decay of the different forts -*• of Apples, I have maturely conftdered, and compared my ideas with thofe of men in long prac- tice with myfelf, and find it is the general opinion, that [ 249 ] that it is not a real decline in the quality of the fruit, but in the tree, owing either to want of health, the feafon, the foil, the mode of planting, or to the (lock which they are grafted on, being too often raifed from the feed of apples in the fame place or county : it appears from the ablefl men in my pnp- fefiion, that they never found a real decline in any one kind of fruit, but from the above caufes. To make a fair experiment, I mould be much obliged to any gentleman that will take the trouble to fend me a few cuttings, from thofe very trees, the fruit of which is fuppofed to be degenerated from the original goodnefs. I would graft them on the real crab-flock, and fome alfo on the (lock raifed from the apple-pips in this county ; then fend the trees to the place where the cuttings came from j — by which means (though the procefs is tedious) we mall be able to afcertain, whether the change of (lock will not reftore the fruit to its original goodnefs. I have not a doubt in my own mind, but that the trees which are grafted on the (locks raifed from the apple-pips, are more tender than thofe grafted on the real crab-dock; and the feafons in this country have for many years pad been unfavourable for fruits, which add much to the fuppofed degeneracy of the apple. It is my opinion, that if planters of orchards [ *5o ] orchards would procure the trees grafted on real crab-Hocks from a diftant county, they would find • account in fo doing much over-balance the cxpence of charge and carriage. My reafon for recommending the true crab-ftock is, that I believe the crab to be a native of this country ; but whether it is or not, we are fure it is much hardier than the (locks raifed from apple- pips, and there cannot be a doubt but the apple was originally an exotic. The crab-flock will fuc- ceed in many different foils, particularly in fliff, cold, moifl ground, where the apple-flock will canker and die. I recommend the crab-flock for this reafon, as alfo that it is not fo early in vegeta- ting as the apple; by which a few days may pre- favc the flower from the cold blafls, and be the means of faving a fine crop of fruit. Your moll obedient fervant, DAN. GRIMWOOD. Article XXIII. On the Culture of Parjnips. TO cultivate this root fo as to make it prove advantageous to the farmer, it will be right to fow the feed in the autumn, immediately after it is [ *S1 3 is ripe, or come to perfection j by which means the plants will appear early the following fpring, and will get ftrong before the weeds can grow to injure them. Frofts never affect the feed, nor do the young plants ever materially fufTer through the fc- writy of the feafons. Not only on this account, but for many other reafons, the autumn is preferable to the fpring fowing, as the weeds at this time will keep pace with the parfnips; and often when they are hoed or cleaned, great part of the crop is pulled up, cut out, or otherwife deftroyed, as they are (when fown in the fpring) fo fmall when they firft appear, as not eafily to be diftinguimed from the weeds j and if no rains fall at that feafbn, fome of the feed will not vegetate till late in the fummer $ and the few plants that do appear, will fcarce pay the expence of cleaning them; befides, they will never grow to any fize, but be dicky or cankered, and confequently will be dcflitute of nutrimental juice ; while on the contrary, thofe that are fowu in the autumn will be large, free from the defects of the others, and fully anfwer the expectation of the cultivator. The bed foil for parfnips is, a rich deep loam; next to this is fand, or they will thrive well in a black gritty foil ; but will never pay for cultivating in ftone-brafh, gravel, or clay foils; and they alw are [ 252 ] are the largeft where the earth is the deepeft. Dry- light Jand is pleafing to them, but wet, ftiff, or hide- bound land is deftructive. If the foil be proper, they do not require much manure. The writer hath obtained a very good crop for three fuccefllve years, from the fame land, without ufing any ; but when he laid at the rate of about forty cart-loads of fand per acre upon a very ftiff loam, and ploughed it in, he found it anfwered very well, from which he con- cludes that a mixture of foils may be proper for this root. It is moft advifeable to fow the feed in drills at about 1 8 inches diflant from each other, that the plants may be the more conveniently hand or horfc- hoed; and they will be more luxuriant if they un- dergo a fecond hoeing, and are carefully earthed fo as not to cover the leaves. Thofe who have not ground to fpare, or cannot get it in proper condition to receive the feed in the autumn, may at that time fow a plot in their garden, or the corner of fome field, and may tranfplantfrom thence the latter end of the month of April, or early in the May following. The plants .muft be care- fully drawn from the feed plot, and the land that is to receive them fhould be well pulverized by har- rowing and rollings and when it is thus ordered, a furrow [ 253 ] furrow flioukl be opened with the plough about fix or eight inches deep, in which the plants fhould be regularly laid at abqut the diftance of ten inches from each other, taking care not to let the root be bent, but for the plant to ftand perpendicular after the earth is clofed about it, which fhould be im- mediately done by means of perfons who fhould for this purpofe follow the planter with a hoe ; and he muft not forget that the plants will be injured if the leaves are covered. Another furrow muft be opened about 1 8 inches from the lad, in the fame direction, and planted as before -, and fo in like manner till all the plants are depofited, or the field is completely cropped; and when the weeds appear, hoeing will be necefTary, and it will be right after- wards to earth them. There is no doubt but many may difapprove of the method of transplanting parfnips, yet fome may be induced to try the experiment, when they con- sider that they may perform it at a time when there is little befide to be done in a farm, and that their crop will be more certain; for if they are planted after rain, they will not be checked by the removal, nor will they be injured by weeds, or the ground fuffer fo much by being thus planted, as otherwife it would do, if the feed wer$ fown in the autumn. If [ *54 J It is wrong to plant parihips by means of dib- bling, as the ground thereby becomes fo bound as feldom to admit the fmall lateral fibres (with which thefe plants abound) to fix or work in the earth, on which account they are prevented from expanding thernfelves, and never attain their proper fize. If people would in general be attentive to the foil, the feafon for fowing, the cleaning and earth- ing the plants, and raifing their feed from the largeft and. beft parfnips, (which fhould be felecled and tranfplanted for this purpofe) there is no doubt but fuch a crop would anfwer much better than a crop pf carrots i they are equal if not iliperior for fatting pigs, as they make their flefh whiter, and they eat them with more fatisfaction. When they are clean warned and diced among bran, horfes eat them greedily and thrive therewith • nor do they heat them, or like corn fill them with diforders. It is reported, that cows and oxen are fond of parihips ; if fo, they are certainly well worth a far- mer's attention, efpecially in countries where there is a fcarcity of fodder. The writer therefore flat- - s himfelf, the foregoing directions may prove ferviceable to gentlemen or farmers, who are fo cir- cumfianced; and begs to affure :hc Society he fhall at t a55 1 imes be happy to : communicate to them the little knowledge he poileflcs or may acquire. Lhtk!c J. HAZARD. o — i Hum — ; Article XXIV. unt of the Culture, Expcnces> and Produce o/JPo- s, per acrcy about llford, and the adjacent Parijhes, fix miles Eaft of London. THE foil on which the bed crops are raifed, is a ftrongifh loam, not quite approaching to clay. The manure ujfed is rotten dung, which is laid on juft before planting, in the proportion of from 15 to 20 loads per acre. Twenty-four bufbels, cut into lets of one or two good eyes each, are planted per acre, at 15 inches nee, and kept clean by hoeing, in which tile earth is drawn up round the plants as they advanrfc in height. The produce on ah average, ten tons per acre — 1 261bs. to the hundred weight. They take them up with a broad three-tin'd fork, at three guineas per acre. The average expence per [ 256 ] per acre, every charge included, is about ten pounds. Their value for feeding hogs, 25s. per ton; at which valuation they are worth only 12K 10s. which leaves a profit of only 2I. 10s. But the growers generally make double that price at the London market, which brings the profit to 15I. per acre. — They feldom fow potatoes more than two years on the fame land, without an intervening crop. The Aylefbury i^hite is moftly planted for the table i but the Ox-noble is mod productive for cattle. W. BRAINES. Article XXV. On the Depravation of sfypk-Trees. [From Mr. Gillingwater, of HarleJlon> addrcfTed to Mr. John Wagstaffe, Norwich*] IObferved in the Ipfwich Journal of Saturday lad, that circular letters were lent from the Se- cretary of the Bath Agriculture Society, relative to a reprefentation made to that Society, viz. cc That in mod of the counties, and particularly in that of Worcefter, the old and belt kinds of apples are nearly loft 3 and that by perfons converiant in fruit- trees t *S7 1 crees it is apprehended, they will in a few years be entirely gone." I mud acknowledge, that I wa9 (truck with the reprefentationj and it immediately occurred to me, the converfation which we lately had at Harlefton, when I obferved to you the dan- ger which orchards of apple-trees, when planted too near each other, were expofed to, from the mixture of various farina : and this, I apprehend, is the caufe of the degeneracy of all the old and bed kind of apple-trees in the great cyder counties of this king- dom, which is here complained of; and which the Society fo earneftly requefts its members to extend their enquiries concerning. This conjecture appears to me extremely reafon- able -, for if the great variety of apples, and alfo other fruits, be produced by the cafual intermixture of different farina, the fruit alfo itfelf mull be af- fected. The old and bed kinds of apple-tree*, I apprehend, are not loft at all, but are only corrupted from being planted too near bad neighbours: — re- move them to a fituation where they are not ex- pofed to this inconvenience, and they will imme- diately recover their original excellency. The Society informs us, that their trees of the beft kind are nearly loft, but not altogether fo. The reafon I conceive for this diftinction is, that fome few, £ *S» ] few, having the advantage of being fituated where they are not injured by the farina^of other trees of inferior kind, retain their primitive qualities ; whilfc others, which are planted indifcriminately in large quantities in orchards, are alnioft ; totally fpoiled, from the farina of other furrounding trees, which intermixes with them. Your's, &c. Uarlefion, EDM. pj^^^^tER^ July 10, 1786. ■ An Advertence to the foregoing. THE remarks of my friend refpecting the pro- bable alteration in the diftinguiming quality and flavour of fruits, by an indifcriminate planting of various fpecies of apple-trees together, are unquef- tionably well founded \ but whether the entire de- pravity can be conquered, and a perfect. regenera- tion of the original fpecihxk quality of the fruit "be recovered, is a matter of queflion. For we may confider the circulation of the lap in trees as fome- what analogous to that of the fluids in animated* bodies; and that the latter imbibes falubrity and contagion from the approximation of different fub- jecb; whereby a conibtutional change is fometimes effected. Now [ *59 1 Now the degeneracy of the bed fpecies of apples from the aforementioned caufc being allowed; and as there is an acknowledged flow of the elementary fluid to the blofibm, and to its fruit, and in refluent fucceffion from both, what thefe receive or imbibe may, by a repeated circulation, alter the habit of the tree. This fpeculation might have been too much refined, had not it been experienced, that a fcion in- grafted hath not always produced that fpecifkk fruit from whence it was prefumed to be taken -, and that the mere infertion of the bud in inoculation hath, without fenlible vegetation, altered the habit of the plant in which it was inferted. The fir ft inftance has been attefted by fome prac- tical obfervers; the latter is founded on an experi- ment related by Bradley, under his " particular proofs of the fap's circulation in plants;" where he mentions the " inoculation of fome of the paflion- tree, whofe leaves were fpotted with yellow, into one of that fort of paffion-tree which bears the long fruit. Now though the buds did not take, yet in a fortnight's time the yellow fpots began to (hew thcmfelves above the inoculation, and in a fhort time after appeared on a (hoot which came out of the ground from another part of the plant." Vol. IV. S Never- [ c6o ] Neverthelefs, the difcriminate planting propofed by my friend will generally apply to the preferva- tion of the original difti action of the fruit; for whe- ther the farina be wafted by the breeze, or winnowed by the wings of infects, it muft be in a contiguity of trees that the alteration mud: arife. It is true, that bees, wild and domefticated, with many other infects, infert their bodies within the neftarium of the bloflbm, and that there is a fre- quent adhefion to their downy fides of the impreg- nating dull ; which is not unfrequently conveyed to a various fpecies of bloffom, from that whence it was received. — Still, were it not for the conti- guity of the various trees, no fenfible change would be effected. by the infect becoming an auxiliary to thz/urer impregnation of thofe trees of the genus wifhed to be preferved from depravity. This pre- caution will equally apply to a valuable fpecies ob- tained from feed, or an undegenerated old fpecies to be extended; as the planting either ■, fomewhat remote from other apple-trees, will be certainly out of the flight of the farina, or the probable conveyance of it by infects; which rarely quit a vicinity that fupplies their nutriment, but to depofit their extract in the common repofitory. It is a piece of juftice to advert to fome fubfe- quent remarks from my friend, that "no dege- neracy [ *6i ] neracy v., to be apprehended from the proximity of other fruit-trees; as the admirable difpofition of the receptacle to its farina, denies every urigenerical impregnation." Norwich, JOHN WAGSTAFFE. Nov. 9, 1787. Article XXVI. On the Cultivation of Flax and Hemp. SIR, JFifiub.Julyii, 17S4. fN anfwer to your letter, I have applied to a A friend of mine who has had many years' expe- rience in cultivating both Flax and Hemp j and he informs me as follows, viz. ift. The ufual price of flax- feed is 2I. 2s. per coomb j the quantity fown is two bufhels per acre. idly. As to manure, there is none laid upon land where you intend to fow flax j but it mull be ci or fward land. • 3dly. If the land be fward land, or what we call grafs land, it mult be ploughed but once, and har- rowed fine. As to mf rich land, it will bring tur- nips, wheat, or clover, &c. after the flax is off. S 2 4thly. The [ *6a ] ^ihly. The crop, managings and getting into the barn, cofts fomewhat about 3I. per acre. The pro- duce is from 20 to 50 (tone per acre, according to the land. As to the fcore, I have fold at 5I. 61. and 7I. per fcore. $tbly. It does not impoverifh the land, but rather improves it. P. S. You mould have an experienced man to fow it, as there are but few who underftand that bufinefs. And likewife when it is fit to pull, one who knows when to put it into the dike, and when to take it out, as there is a great deal of difficulty in managing that point, without fpoiling the flax. I am, your humble fervant, JAMES ELLERKER. Article XXVII. Defcription of a Comb-Pot, to be ufed with Pit Coal, Invented by John Ashman, of Abbey-Milton> Dorfet. [ ■ Sir, Sarum, Ofl. 24, 1786. THE fketch of a comb -pot I here fend you, was invented by John Ashman, who has been in our fervice about fix months. He worked it ( V -ay / Pol /br fin rnt\ f Common Comt PI. / 7^ Transpta»lrr lev Columns JU » and three years and a half at Blandford-, and is very anxious to prefent it for the approbation of the Bath Society. Your obedient fervant, DAN. & THO. DYKE. Plate I. Fig. i. The furnace for water, which con- tains a fmaller one, keeping the fuds of the fecond warning the wool, for to be ufed with the next quantity of wool the firft way. Fig. 2. A tin chimney for conveying the fmoke, (and carried higher in any direction made of tin) the lower part of which is made almoft globular, for the better conveniency of taking away the four fmaller ones from the top of the furnace, [fig. 3. 3. 3. 3.] to clean the fame tubes continued through the furnace, clofe to the fide at equal diitences, and directly over each fire-place. Fig. 4. 4. (with two more on the other fide) The fire- place doors. Fig. 5. 5. Cocks for drawing off the water and fuds. Fig. 6. 6. Covers to the furnaces. Fig. 7. 7. (with two more on the other fide) Spaces be- tween each fire-place, for receiving the combs to heat on a caft-iron plate. Fig. 8. 8. (and two more) Large wires on iron-prates, projecting a diftance fufficient to prevent the wool from linging in the combs while heating; each place heating one pair of combs. S3 /tf.9.9. [ ^4 ] Fig. 9. 9. Ail iron plate, for making the fire on, with holes to let the afhcs through. Fig. 10. A front to receive the afhes on ; and at four equal diftances bricks to fupport the upper part. Fig. n.^A place for the pit-coal, fupporting in like manner the afhes. Plate, &c. as the lad defcribed. Fig. 12. 12. Handles for taking off the furnace. The above pot is made of a circular form, lefFened in the middle for receiving the handles of the combs while heating* Article XXVIII. On the Diforder called the Blaft in Sheep ; Sir, Wiley ) Wilts, May 7, 1787. F N our county we breed many fheep, and manure . the fallows, &c. with them. After having penn'd them all night, when they are driven into frefh grals, or young clover, they are frequently taken with what we call the Blast ; that is, they over-gorge themfelves, foam at the mouth, (well exceedingly, breathe very quick and fhort, then jump up, t and fall down dead inftantly. This is fo frequent a dif- order, and.fo great a lofs, that a neighbour of mine had 17 die in one morning — indeed within half an hour ; for they are often taken with it many at a time. We have no remedy, ever known as yet, but [ *6j ] but driving them into a bare place like a road, and keeping them in motion j — but it is (o fudden, there is not time for that in general. It is a diforder not unfrequent in cattle j and having a cow taken in manner, I had heard that, by dabbing her.in the maw, I flood a chance of faving her life — I did thiss the matter flew out, gave inftant relief to the cow, (he did well, artd has had two calves fince. I therefore refolved to try the fame with my fheep, and have fucceeded to my wifh. The way I per- form it is as follows : — The fheep will fwell confiderably on the left fide (or what you would call the nigh fide of a horfe) near the kidneys, behind the ribs, which is near the flank j the fwelling is very protuberant, and there is mark enough, (about three inches) where if you dart your knife in, you mud at this time go inftantly into the maw; the food or matter immediately flies out, gives relief, and with only Common applica- tions of a horfe-doclor's mixture of bees-wax, rofin, greafe, &c. the fheep is fure to do well. All my neighbours were furprifed at my fuccefs, as it was quite new to them and to all the fhepherds around. I am, Sir, your humble fervant, Wm. potticary. ( Article [ 266 ] Article XXIX. A Continuation of Experiments in the Drill Hujbandry. [By Sir John Anstruther, Bart.] Experiment of Drilled Barley — Crop, 1786. IN 1785, 3 A. 2 R. 20 P. of Englifh ■*• meafure were drilled with fome Lincolnfhire barley. Part of this was one acre, upon which the experiment of tranfplanted wheat, and dibbled wheat and barley, was made laft year. The remainder was after carrots and cabbages, and as it was not manured for thefe, it had a top-drcfling of dung. Upon that were drilled 4^ bufhels of Winchefter meafure -, thefe were drilled after the plough, by a man following the plough, and dropping the feed by hand -, a fecond plough followed and covered this ; and the third furrow was fown and covered in the fame manner : by this plan the rows were at 1 8 inches diuance; thefe were hand-hoed once at the expence of 10s. The produce was 147 bufhels, which is nearly 32 for one, and is 401 bufhels per Englifh acre. The reft of the field was fown broadcaft at the fame time, with the fame grain; the fame quantity of this was meafured, viz. 3 A. 2 R. 20 P. and the proportion [ 267 ] proportion of feed to this meafure was i6* bufhels, or about 4-' per acre. This was after turnips, for which the kind was previoufly manured. The pro- duce was 1 14 bufhels, which is nearly 7 after one, and 31I bufhels per Englifh acre. Produce of the drilled ere - - 401 Deduct the feed - ij u Broadcaft produce 311 Deduct the f«ed - 4^/ g > a Clear produce 27J Clear produce 39! Produce of the drilled fuperior 12} bufhels. In the account of the experiment of the drilled barley lad year, it was omitted to mention the quantity of ground drilled, and of the broadcaft. The quantity was 2 A. 20 P.; and the fame quan- tity was meafured of the field which was in broad- caft:— it was drilled as above defcribed, and fown under furrow. Experiments 1786. Half an acre was drilled with wheat, and horfe- hoed. This was once ploughed after a crop of barley, drilled at 18 inches. It was defigned to have been ploughed in ridges 4 feet #\ inches, which Ihould have made 21 ridges, as the breadth was 33 yards j but by the ploughman's want of experience in ploughing ftraight ridges, they were unequally broad, and there were only 17 ridges. It [ 268 ] It was drilled the 21ft of October 1785, with two rows of wheat upon each ridge, with partitions of 14 inches; two intervals three feet four inches. It was fowed with a peck and a half; was four times horfe-hoed; twice from, and twice to, the rows; and three times hand-hoed in the partitions and rows. October 21ft, upon a ridge 74 yards long, and four broad, which is the 16th part of an acre, were tranfplanted ten rows of wheat plants, at nine inches diftance every way, from feed fown in a garden the end of Auguft, and two rows from feed fown in May. Nov. 1 2th, another ridge of the fame dimenfions was planted with plants (from feed fown in Auguft) at the fame diftance. At the fame time one ridge was dibbled of the fame dimenfions with wheat, at nine inches, and the wheat dropped in the holes, and from one grain to 1 5 per hole, and two rows of each. March 31ft, two ridges of the fame dimenfions (viz. the eighth of an acre) were planted with plants, at the- fame diftance, from feed fown in Auguft. I* [ 269 ] In July and Auguft, viewed the experiments, and found a high wind fome days before had broken down a great deal of the drilled wheat ; and that, in the horfe-hoed, the earth had not been properly ploughed up to the rows, and as the earth was fine and loofe, it had fo fallen down from the roots that the plants had little fupport from the earth on one fide, and the weight of ears with the high winds had made them fall over, by reafon of that want of fupport. The earth was hoed up to the rows, which I found fupported the (terns from falling over. The very dry feafon, of the froft in winter, or fome other caufe, had deftroyed a great deal of the drilled wheat, as well as the dibbled and trans- planted. In many places there was from one to two feet deftroyed : thefe had been filled up by tranfplanting the 21 ft of April, but many of them died ; or were fmall plants and fmall ears, and not above three or four ears to a plant. There appeared at this time no difference be- tween what was tranfplanted in October and No- vember, or between thole from the ked in May and Auguft, But the two ridges tranfplanted the 31ft of March was the worit crop, and much greener than that tranfplanted before winter, ha- ving but nine ortenftems on the beft plants ; but many [ *7° ] many of the other had 16. The ridges dibbled with grain in November, appeared at this time a better crop, and the ears larger than the tranf- planted. On counting the ears, it did not appear there were more from the holes where there were 12 and 15 grains, than where there were fewer grains planted. The tranfplanted and dibbled were much lels layed over by the wind than the drilled; which appeared to be from the items fupporting each other, and "the earth about the roots being firmer than the drilled, which had lefs fupport on one fide, from the earth not being properly layed to the flems. Thefe were reaped the 2 2d of September. That tranfplanted in March was not quite fo ripe as the other. The drilled half acre produced five bufhels and two pecks; which is at the rate of 11 bufhels per acre: — had there been 21 ridges, it would have been in proportion 13 upon 21 ridges. The nume- rous gaps or blanks, and ears broke down and loft by the wind, made this a bad crop. To fee what the produce might have been if it had been equally good, the ears and giains of fome yards were counted of the drilled rows, and, where equally [ 27I ] Equally good, fome yards of a fingle row produced 124 ears, fume 102; and the average of thefe counted, was 113 ears per yard of a fingle row. Some ears produced 80 grains per ear; the lowed was 50, and the average 61 ; and the number of grains per ounce was 880. The ears multiplied by the grains, and divided by &80, is 7J- ounces per yard, of fingle rows; there being 14 ridges of the above breadth in an acre, this made 5992 yards of fingle rows, exclufivc of head ridges ; this would be at the rate of 49 bufhels per acre, had it been all equally good, and 28 rows in the breadth of the acre. The produce of the two ridges tranfplanted in-}2?. P. October and November, being the eighth of J- 2 2 an acre J That of the two tranfplanted the 31ft of March -10 The one ridge dibbled with wheat in different 7 quantities, being the 16th of an acre - -J At this rate the proportions would be per acre, That tranfplanted before winter - - - 20 o That planted with grain - - - - 16 o That tranfplauted the 31ft of March - -80 The produce of thefe experiments is but fmall; but could they have been compared with the broad- caft this year, they would have made a better appearance [ 27* ] appearance than by comparing them with good crops of other years, as the broad- caft crops of wheat in general were very thin and bad this year5. One thing was to the difad vantage of thefe experi- ments:— they were made upon a part of that which was in drilled barley laft crop; and fome of the barley had been fhaked out, which fprung up early, and made it necefTary to hoe it early to deftroy it. Of the tranfplanted, a great many of the plants had 1 6 ears ; and if a crop were equally good, the pro- duce would be very great, even allowing each to" produce on an average eight ears, as each plant has a fpace of nine inches fquare, this is 77440 plants, and at the above average of the drilled at 6 1 grains per ear, and 880 grains per ounce, the produce would be 44 bufhelsj therefore it appears the ears were not above four per plant. The fmall produce of the tranfplanted, it may be fuppofed, might have been occafioned by being badly planted 5 but the dibbled was worfe, that was not liable to that accident. And we do not find the planted wheat, where practifed, produced fo great crops as might be expected. Whether thefe methods are more liable to ac- cidents than the broadcaft, experience and more extenfive practice may difcover. Thefe [ *73 ] Thefe fmall unfuccefsful experiments by no means prove the method bad, but the bad execution or un- favourable kafon; and from thefe we fee what great produce they may yield when properly executed in more favourable feafons ; as in a former experiment the drilled was much more fuccefsful, although this is fo bad. And it is to be hoped, as many of the intelligent correfpondents of the Society have prac- tifed the drilled hufbandry, that their experience will fhew it to be as profitable as many former practifers of it have fhewn. J. ANSTRUTHER. Article XXX. An Account of a Series of Experiments made hyMfa Nehemiah Bartley, on his Farm near BriflvL [In a Letter to the Secretary.] Sir, Brifiol, Nov, i, 1787. I" Take the liberty of communicating to the So- ciety, fuch of my experiments in agriculture as I thought might merit notice, made within thefe ten years paft — die term afilgned by the Society in their Premium-book 1786. Nothing [ *74 ] Nothing fhort of an inflitution, like that of the Bath Society, would be in any degree adequate to the due regiftry of experiments in agriculture, and to their tranfmiflion for the advantage of pofterity. Since the eftablifhment of that Society, the ma- nagement of my farm hath been greatly directed to promote its general defign: and yet I am almoft afhamed to confidcr how barren I find myfelf of ufeful experiments. The endeavours of an individual are very limited, frequently interrupted, and fometimes wholly de- feated, from a variety of occurrences -} befides that an experiment, conducted perhaps fuccefsfully for months, or even for years, is probably loft, in the lofs of only a few hours. The cultivation of the land, as it is an employ- ment the moft innocent in its nature, fo is it the mod neceffary and ufeful. It is the foundation and fupport of all others. Trade could not fubfiil without it, and perhaps it is the only employment of which it may be faid, that the whole community flourifhes in proportion to the profperity of the in- dividual engaged in it. No. I. Experiment on deep Ploughing. From the experiments and reafoning of MonsT Chateauvieux, Du Hamel, and others, I was determined [ *75 ] determined to try the effects of deep ploughing; for this purpofe I provided myfelf with a very (tout plough, and began with a piece of land about 5 acres on Briflington Common, to which my experiments have been moftly confined. The foil a rich loamy fand, the colour that of a hazel-nut when fully ripe: the upper ftratum of a pretty uniform quality, to the depth of from 2\ to 4 feet. In the firft place, I had to contend with the prejudice of the plough- man, who, for what reafon he knew not, very ftrongly objected to deep ploughing; however, I foon brought him to fubmiflion, and not without much labour he performed the bufmefs to my en- tire fatisfacYion: — the general depth was about nine inches. During the operation, the ground was vifited by moll of the farmers in the neighbourhood, and the method univerfally exploded. By fome it was faid I fhould not plough for them, though I would do it for nothing; by others, that the land would not recover for feven years; and again, that it would be quite ruined. From all this I was not difcouraged, and after giving the land two other ploughings, which were performed with eafe and pleafure to the ploughman, it was cropped with Lammas wheat, and the produce was eftimated, by fome of thefe very farmers, at 40 bufhels per acre. The next Vol. IV. T year t *76 ] year it was manured with about 20 putt-loads of a compofition, confiding of half hog dung, and half virgin earth, part of the fame field, and planted with potatoes. This crop was kept free from weeds, well hoed and earthed up, the produce not lefs than 140 facks, or 560 Winchefter bufhels per acre. Next it was fown with flax-feed, and pro- duced two packs per acre, the pack 2401b. After this two fucceeding crops of hoar- wheat, both good, fay about 30 bufhels each crop per acre. The laft feafon it was fown with black oats, and layed down widi clover and ray-grafs feed. The oats I eitimate at 64 bufhels per acre, which will appear moderate in comparifon of an experiment upon that grain, which I lhall note in the fequel. I attribute greatly to deep and frequent plough- ing, the fuccefs of thefe crops, and I perfift in the fame method. It is probable, however, that fome degree of caution may be neceffary on particu- lar foils. No. II. Experiment on Turnips — 1782. Four acres of ground were divided into two equal parts -, one half manured with four putt-loads of foapers wafte afhes, and the other remained with- out any manure. Turnip feed was fown on both at C 277 1 at the fame time. The manured part proved an excellent crop, the other quite deftroyed by the fly. No. 1 1 1 . On the Culture of Flax. The foil a rich loamy fand, five acres, as per ex* periment No. I. expences. £. si d. Rent of 5 acres, at 40s. - * - - 10 o o Two ploughings, at 5s. each - - 2100 Sowing and harrowing, at is. - - 050 Fifteen bufhels feed, at 7s. - - - 5 5° Pulling the flax, at 8s. per acre - - 200 Watering and preparing, about 10s. per ditto 2 10 o Swingling or dreflirig, &c. 203 dozen, at is. 8d. per dozen - - - - - 16 18 4 Ripling the feed, at 8s. per acre - - 200 Contingencies, at 5s. per acre - - 150 £•42 13 4 N.B. It is to be obferved, that I have not charged any of thefe experiments with tithe; the common being as yet exempt from tithe. PRODUCE. Ten packs of flax, at 5I. 5s. - Thirty-five bufhels of feed, at 5s. - £. s. d. 52 10 0 8 15 0 Deduct expences - 61 5 0 42 13 4 Profit - or 3I. 14s. 4d. per acre. T 2 18 11 8 The t m ] The management of flax is tedious and difficult in thefe parts, by reaibn of the fcarcity of proper workmen. Thofe we have are emigrants from the Weft, and take every opportunity of irhpofing on the inexperience of young farmers. Befides it appears to me that flax-growers ought to -make it their ftaple article, and to confider the other parts of their farm as in fubferviency. to it. For the pie- fent, therefore, I have difcontinued this culture. If I miftake not, there is a parliamentary bounty of 13s. 4d. per pack to the growers. 1 No. IV. On Jerufalem Artichokes. At a confiderable expence and trouble, I pro- cured of thefe roots fufficierit to plant half an acre of ground, but I have them now in great plenty. I find the produce to be about 480 Winchefter bufhels per acre* and I think they are about equal in value to potatoes for feeding Ilore-pigs, fuch as are not lefs than five or fix months old. For fat- ting hogs, I do not find they are near fo valuable as potatoes. But their chief recommendations are, the certainty of the crop, that they flourifh in almoft any foil, and do not require any manure, at leaft for fuch a produce as I have ftated. They are proof againft the fevereft froft, and may be taken out of the ground as occafion may ferve. Whereas po- tatoes are foon affected with froft, and mult there- fore [ 279 ] fore be fecured before the winter feafon fets in. I generally plant three or four acres in a feafon. Expences per acre— drills 31 feet afunder, fets nine inches — time, beginning of March. Rent .... Two ploughings, at 5s. Four facks of fets, at 2s. Flat hoeing Earthing up twice, at 2s. 6d, figging 120 facks, at 3d. PRODUCE, £• s. d. I 10 0 0 10 0 0 8 0 0 2 6 0 5 0 I 10 0 u 5 6 12 0 0 4 5 6 One hundred and twenty facks, at 2s. Deduct expences - Profit - £.7 14 6 No. V. On Woad. Having been in converfation with fame growers of woad, who refide at Keynfham, a place famous for the manufacture of this valuable dye-ftuff, it was aflerted by them, that the growth of woad was pe- culiar to their foil and fituation, and that the foil of BriGington would by no means fuit it; and in- deed there is a very confiderable difference in thefe; that of Keynfham, where the woad is raifed, being T 3 a blackifh [ *8o ] a blackifh heavy mould, with a good proportion of clay, but* works freely j whereas the foil ofBrifling- ton is moftly fuch as I have defcribed it. I know of none fimilar to that of Keynfham j yet I refolved to prove how far their aiTertion was well founded j and obtaining fome feed from one of the needy fort, J fowed half an acre on the common, an exceeding fine tilth, and a better crop I never faw in Keynfham. I could not prevail on any of the Keynfham growers to purchafe it, although but about two miles diftantj and not having either apparatus or judgment to manufacture, I fuffered it to run to feed, gaining; only from the experiment, that it is of a very eafy culture, and might be made general, and that the only difficulty is in, the preparing it for market. No. VI. On Coriander Setd. March 22d, 1783, fowed ten perch with cori- ander-feed, the foil a good fandy lpamt EXPENCES. £. ii d. Three ploughings - r 016 Sowing and harrowing r 001 Four pounds of feed, at 3d. a. 010 HarvefHng - t 003 Ripling - - 016 Rent z m 020 £-o 5 10 Produce, [ *8> ] Produce. £. t. d. 87 pounds of coriander feed, at 3d. - 119 Deduct expences - 0510 Profit £.0 15 11 or 15I. 1 8s. 4d. per acre. I have fincc made feveral larger experiments in this article, but none has proved fo good a crop as the preceding; yet all of them fuch as to afford a good profit. There is a ready fale for it with the diftillers, druggifts, and confectioners. The former purchafe very large quantities — the price varies from 1 6s. to 42s. No. VII. On Brining Seed-Wheat. At my outfet in farming, I had frequently fmutty wheat, until, about feven years ago, I adopted the brining method, which, excepting in one instance, I have invariably purfued, and faving that inftance my crops have been invariably free from fmut. The method is this : — Mix fait with common water till it is capable of bearing an egg floating on its furface; introduce the feed wheat, well ftirring it about, fo that the light imperfect grains and other refuie rwatter may fwim at the top j this muft be carefully fkimm'd off [ 282 ] off from time to time till none arife -, let it remain the fpace of 12 to 16 hours; after which drawing off the brine at a fpigot or cock below, placed there for that purpofe, take away the feed grain, and after fuffering the remaining moifture to drain off a little, fprinkle it with fine powdered lime, or wobd-afhes, it will then immediately be in a proper condition for fowing. Although I remember that fome years paft, a fudden and fevere froft inter- rupting our fowing, fome feed thus prepared re- mained fo a full month, was afterwards fown, and vegetated as perfectly as if it had been fown imme- diately. The fame brine will anfwer equally for any operations, and even for years, only fupplying the lofs abforbed by the grain. No. VIII. On Spring Wheat. , April 9th, 1784, fowed 11 acre of fpring wheat, the ..produce was \o\ facks or 45 { Winchefter bufhels. It being an unufual feafon for fowing wheat, brining was forgotten, and the crop proved remarkably fmutty. As to the practice of fowing wheat in the fpring, I am no advocate for it, only in cafes wherein the land cannot be got in order at the proper feafon. No. IX. A [ «83 ] Np, JX. A Compari/on between Brining and not Brining. Of the fmutty wheat in the lad experiment, I caufed a bufhel to be fown unbrined, on half an acre of ground, and a bufhel brined on another half acre; the crop of the brined was free from frnut, the unbrined very fmutty. No. X. On recovering Smutty Wheat. I took a fample of the fmutty wheat [Experi- ment No. vin.] to my baker, which he was very unwilling to purchafe at any rate; at length, how- ever, he offered me 16s. per fack, 36 gallons: this was fo much under the current price of found wheat, that I could not think of accepting his offer. Some days afterwards it came into my mind to wafli and dry itj accordingly I provided myfelf with a tub conveniently (hallow, that would well cleanfe about two bufhels at each operation, re- ferving a fui table fpace above the grain for the water, placing this'under a pump; whilfl one man was pumping, another kept continually ftirring 1% about with a broom, the fmutty water, together with the light grain, overflowing the fides of the veffel, till the bulk of grain was thoroughly clean and bright. Thus in a few hours we compleated that part of the bufinefs. Next it was committed to [ *84 ] to a malt-kiln for drying; and as I thought a much greater degree of heat ought not to be communi- cated to it than that of a hot fummer, I never fufFered it to exceed the 85th degree on Farenheit's thermometer, which I was well enabled to regulate by the application of that inftrument. In the fpace of about 18 hours the drying was finifhed, and the whole performed gready to my fatisfaction ; — not the leaft veftige of fmut in fmell or appear- ance. I then took a fample from the kiln to the fame baker, acquainting him with all the circum- ftances; he was furprifed at the metamorphofis, and, after examining the bulk on the kiln, pur- chafed it at 27s. per bag, confefllng it was nothing inferior to any wheat of equal weight, the top of the market being then a8s. per bag; the lofs in meafure attending the experiment was fomething lefs than half a bufhel. State of the Experiment, viz. Ten bags of wheat, as per baker's firft offer, £. s. d. at 16s. - - - - - - 800 Ten bags fold after the wheat was cleaned, at 27s. - - - - - -13100 Deduct 2 men's wages, 2 days £.0 6 o Xx>fs in meafure half a bufhel - o 1 8| Fuel and rent, fuppofe - -050 — o 12 8| 12 17 3i 800 Saved by the experiment - £4 J7 2i [ **5 ] No. XL On Canary Seed. March 1783, fowed one peck of canary feed on half an acre of land, the foil a mixture of loam and flay — produce 8* buihels. EXPENCES. I- U i. Three ploughings, at 2s. 6d. - 0 7 6 Sowing and harrowing - V 0 1 6 Weeding - - w - 0 4 0 A peck of feed f - 0 2 0 Cutting and harvefting »• 0 2 0 Threfhirjg, 9d. per bufhel - 0 6 4! Rent » 1 0 0 i»t» r\T\n rv •x« 3 *4 I'KUUULt. gi bulhels canary feed, at 10s. m - £4. 5 0 Deduct expences 2 3 i°i Profit - £-* 1 if or 4I. 2s. 3d. per acre. I have made feveral other experiments in this culture, but never exceeded the above in produce; although it is faidthat in the Ifle of Thanet, where this crop is not unfrequent, they ufually obtain up- wards of 20 bufhels per acre, No. XII, On Anije. I have tried feveral experiments in the culture of anife, but was never fortunate enough to get a crop, [ a.86 ] crop, it appearing that this climate is not in general fufficiently warm to mature and perfect the feed; the diftilled plant however, ufing it when in blof- fom, affords a more fweet and grateful tincture than either the ripe feed or efiential oil. No. XIII. On Potatoes. The quantity of land 6 f acres, a mellow, deep, fandy loam, on Briflington Common — diftance, drills three feet afunder, fets eight inches. £ s. d. Three ploughings, at 5s. 4 17 6 Thirty-five facks of feed potatoes, at 5s. 8 15 0 Planting, at 3s. 6d. per acre 1 2 9 104 putt loads of manure 3 compofition, 2-thirds natural mould, and j -third hog- dung, at 2s. - 10 8 0 Talcing out of the ground - 13 0 0 33ringing to market - 13 0 0 Three hoeings, at 1 2s. per acre 3 18 0 Rent - 13 0 0 k$ 1 3 Produce. Potatoes fold £138 5 0 Ten facks ufed in the family, at 5s. 2 10 0 Sixty facks refer ved for planting, at 5s. 15 0 0 155 15 0 Deduct expences - 68 1 3 Profit - £.87 13 9 or 13I. 10s. per acre nearly. [ *«7 1 Befides, the whole expcnce of manuring ought not to be charged to this experiment, the fucceed. ing crops clearly evincing the great advantage they received from it* for it is. worthy remark, that this piece of land never received but the Tingle drefling mentioned above to this time, arid yet has pro- ducediftout crops of wheat, and potatoes alternately, until lad fpring it was laid down with grafs feeds, and fown with oats. - No. XIV, On Black Oats— 1787. The fame land as in the laft experiment. The preceding year it had carried potatoes, and received one ploughing for a winter fallow. In February laft, another ploughing was given, and on the 27 th and 28 th of the fame month four WiHitetdt bufhete per acre of black oats were fown ; this was earlier by about a month than oats are generally fown in our parifh, and I did it with a view to afcertain the effects of early fowing. When the oats were ripe, I caufed exactly half an acre to be cut with the fickle, arid flieavedj thefe were threftiedouc, the proJuce was 49^ Winchefter bufrreds— a quantity moil amazing in thefe parts. The fucctfs of the crop I impute partly to early fow- ing, and partly to good deep tillage; and I believe the half acre was a feir.average of the whole piece. EXPEN'CES [ 488 J EXPENCES of an ACRE. £. s. A 2 O O Rent Two plougnings, at 5s. . - - o 10 o Cutting i - * - - 030 Harvefting - . - - - 050 Four bufhels of feed, at 2s. 6d. * o 10 o Sowing and harrowing 0 £•3 0 o Produce. 981 bufhels of oats, at 2s. - - £.9 16 6 Deduct expences - 3 1 1 o Profit - £.6 5 6 The ftraw may be valued in lieu of threfhing, conveying to market, &c. but is worth abundantly more than what would defray thofe expences. I am, Sir, your obedient fervant, NEHEMIAH BARTLEY. Article XXXI. On the Black-Ruft in Wheat. [In a Letter to the Secretary.] sir, Bradley-Houfe, July 27, 1 785* THE bearer hereof, Rich. Winsor, of Berry- Pomeroyy near Totnes in the county of Devon, yeoman, has found out a method of curing the Black- [ **9 1 Black-Ruft in wheat, which he has tried feveral feafons, and found it to be of great utility ; and others, who have taken his advice in trying the ex- periment, have likewife reaped a confiderable ad- vantage by it. The method he has found out for curing it, is to let fuch rufty wheat ftand uncut, three weeks or m#re after the ufual time at which people in general cut fuch wheat. He attributes the infection to fmall infects, fall- ing upon the flalk in foggy or mifty weather ; in- fects of a poifonous nature, that caufe the ftalk to fwell, and the knots of the ftalk to clofe ; by which means the fap, which fhould go to nourifh the grain, is prevented ; and that by letting it ftand as aforefaid, the fun and air will deftroy thefe infects ; the knots will then open, and as they open, the fap pafles up and feeds the grain; which, by letting it ftand a proper time, will recover and become much more full, and will be near as good in quality, as though no ruft had happened to it. Mr. Winsor acquainted the Society in London of this matter fometime ago, not knowing of a Society at Bath, till I informed him of it; and I have recommended him to apply to you as their Secretary, [ 29o ] Secretary, defiring you to lay it before the Society, who, he doubts not, will reward merit according to its defert. I am, Sir, with all due refpecl, your humble fervant, RICHARD BAKER. %* The foregoing fhort account, dated as a matter of fa£t founded on experiment, we give to our readers for their confideration ; and as further experiments cannot be attended with any probable difadvantage, we conclude the method will have a fair trial among thofe farmers and gen- tlemen to whom the hint may be new. Article XXXI. Recipe for making Rennet for Cheeje. [In a Letter to the Secretary.] Sir, Frome, Ofi. 5, 1787. AMONG the various fubje&s which engage the attention of the members and correfpondents of the Bath Agriculture Society, it appears fome- what ftrange, that the two grand articles within the province of the Dairy- woman (Cheefe and Butter) have not been more attended to. The Agriculturift has been repeatedly informed of the proper management, the beft manures, and the [ *9* 3 the likelieft crops, which may be applied to each refpe&ive foil : but the good houfewife, the fedulous dairy-woman, who daily furnifhes us with two of the chief fuppor'ts and luxuries of life, has been left to grope out her way, through this age of improve- ment, with the little flock of knowledge which, in early life, Hie imbibed from her mother. I wifh, therefore, that the members of your Society would now and then bellow a little of their attention on thefe good women, who fo much want and fo highly deferve it. It is not within the compafs of a letter, that in- ftrucYions can be fully given for making cheefe and butter ; yet, as detached obfervations on thofe fub- jedts may fometimes have their ufe, I fend you a recipe for making rennet for curdling cheefe. Take the abomafa, commonly called the veils or pokes of calves, killed before they have fed on ve- getables, and wafh them in clean water, fait them well, and lay them in fait for two months; then, with the fait about them, hang them up in a coarfe bag in the chimney (not too near the fire) for ten months. In the fpring following, when the cow- flip is in full bloom, gather a quantity thereof, and pick the petals from the calixes, and boil them in a fufrlcient quantity of water for a quarter of an hour, Vol. IV. U with [ *92 3 with the proportion of a pound of fait, and an ounce of allum to every twelve pints of water. Let this brine (land to cool until the next day, when it may be drained off from the cowflips. To every gal- lon of this brine, put in two pokes, and let them remain four days, at which time you may bottle it off, putting two or three cloves and as many grains of allfpice into each bottle. Let the bottles be corked tight, and the rennet will keep good a year or more. Two large fpoonfuls of rennet, thus prepared, will coagulate a hogfhead of milk. After the pokes have been thus ufed, let them drain dry, and fait them afrefh for a fortnight, and they will ferve again, nearly as well as before. Should this paper be found worthy of admiffion, in the fourth volume of the Society's felecl papers, I may be induced, at a future opportunity, to give you fome further thoughts on cheefe-making. I am, with reipeft, yours, &c. A. CROCKER. Article [ *93 J Article XXXIIL On the Benefit of Cultivating Par/nips and Burnet. Gentlemen, I Have with much pleafure and much inftru&ion perufed your felection of papers communicated to the public ; and am of opinion, that there is a plant, I mean the Parfnip, which has not been yet tried by any of your correfpondents ; but which is jn France, and in our adjoining iflands, held in high efteem as a food, particularly for cattle and fwine. In Brittany, efpecially, they mention it as little in- ferior in value to wheat. Milch cows fed with it in winter, fay they, give as good milk, which yields as well-flavoured butter, as milk in May or June, and in as great abundance. It is much commended for fwine, which rear young pigs. It alio proves very ufeful in fattening fvvine. For a complete account of its ufes, confult a volume of Memoirs publifhed by a Society at Rennes, inftituted for fimilar purpofes as your's. I think there is a tranflation of the Memoirs in Mills's hufbandry. Some judgment may be formed of the compa- rative value of plants as food, from the proportion U 2 Of [ 294 ] of mucilage they contain, or yield in decoction; for this purpofe, fuppofe a pound weight, for inftance, of parfnips, carrots, potatoes, &c. were boiled fe- parately in a quart of water, the decoction drained, and, when cold, compared. The decoctions of the parfnips will, I believe, be found the mod muci- laginous, or the mod thickened. Be this as it may, the culture and trial of the plant feems an ob- ject: worthy the attention of your Society. Farmers are apt to judge of the merits of plants by the weight of their productions, without attend- ing properly to their different qualities. Thus Burnet is, I find, by your correfpondents made little account of. Upon trial it will be found that it goes much farther in feeding fheep, for inftance, than any other plant. Thus, fuppofe that fome fheep are fed on an acre of it, and an equal number on an acre of any other plant ; I have fome autho- rity to fay, that fheep will be longer well fed on burnet, than on any other plant I know. The mutton of fheep fed on it will be better coloured, more juicy, and better flavoured, than the mutton fed on any other food. It ftands the winter better, and fhoots as early in fpring as any plant. It has been found to be a perfect cure of the rot in fheep ; and cows, fheep, or goats, fed on it, give more milk, and more nourifhing milk, than on any other pafturej [ *9$ ] pafture; and the butter obtained from their milk is not inferior to any. I have mentioned (heep particularly, becaufe burnet feems to be more peculiarly beneficial to them than to cattle. The great excellence of the Turnip-rooted Cab- bage is, its being a certain and early food in fpring, when it is generally mod wanted. Wifhing your Society the fucccfs they fo well deferve, I am, with much refpecl, Sir, Your obedient fervant. A Lover of Georgical Purfuits. N. B. We agree perfectly with our correfpondent, in a high opinion of the value of parfnips, as a food for cattle; and have been induced to infert his letter as a frefh call of the public attention to the fubjeft, though by no means as to a new, or wholly neglected matter. His encomium on burnet may be confidered alfo as much anticipated by for- mer writer?. But if it (hall be proved, that this well- known plant is either generally, or under particular cir- pumftances, a perfect cure for the rot in Jheep^ much benefit will be found to refult from the fact. U 3 Article [ *9* ] Article XXXIV. On the IJe and Value of Turnip-rooted Cabbage. [In a Letter to the Secretary.] Sir, Hethel, June 21, 1787. I Have been for a long time fo much occupied by other matters, that little leifure has been afforded me for experiment or obfervation on agricultural affairs. The following one, whereby the ufe and value of the Turnip -rooted Cabbage may be in fome degree afcertained, I uanfmit for the infpec- tion of the Gentlemen of the Society, andfubmitto their confideration, how far, from this account, the cultivation of that root appears to merit their future encouragement. The following is an account of the cattle or beads fed from five acres of turnip-rooted cab- bages -} four acres of which were eaten upon the land as they were growing, (but parted off by fold- hurdles into portions of about an acre each) and one acre pulled up and carried to the flables and ox-houfes. Theie turnips were fown and culti- vated as other turnips ; the beafts were put to them on the 13th of April, and continued feeding upon them till the 12th of May following. Twelve [ 297 ] £. s. d. Twelve Scotch bullocks, weight 40ft. each 4 weeks, at 2s. per head per week - - 4 16 o Eight homebrcds, 2 years old, at is. ditto - 1 12 o Fifteen cows full-fizeJ, at 2s. per v/cek -600 Forty fheep, at 3d. ditto - - - -200 Eighteen horfes, fed in the (tables with an al- lowance of hay, at is. ditto - - - 3 12 o £.18 o o Bcfulcs 40 ftore hogs and pigs, which lived upon the broken pieces and offal, without any other allowance for the whole 4 weeks. When it is confidered, how very nourifhing a food the turnip-rooted cabbage is, the price I have fixed to the keeping each bead per week will not, I conceive, be deemed too high. I am fure the farmers here will always, at that particular feafon of the year, be willing to give it, and more; becaufe it enables them to fpare the young (hooting grafs (which is fo frequently and greatly injured by the tread of the cattle in the frofty nights) until it gets to iuch a length and thicknefs as to be afterwards but little affected by the drought of the fummer. They have befides other great advantages to re- commend them to a more common ufe ; they are never affected by the mod intenfe frofts } if bitten by fheep, hares, rabbits, or the wood-pigeons, (which in this place abound to the great deftruc- tion [ *9* ] tion of turnips near any woods) they hardly ever rot. The tops or leaves are in the fpring much more abundant, and much better food than thofe of the common turnip, and they continue in full perfection after all other turnips are rotten or worthlefs. With thefe circumftances to recommend them, it muft however be owned, that they have inconve- niences attending them. They require a great deal of time and pains to get them out of the ground, if pulled up to be carried elfewhere: — and if fed as they grow, they are fo deeply rooted in the ground, that it requires the fame labour to get the pieces out of the ground, and they rife with abundance of earth entangled in the fangs of the roots. They are likewife fo firm and folid, that the whole ones, when pulled up, require to be cut in halves, that the cattle may be enabled to eat them. To obviate fome of thefe objections, it will be proper to fow them on rich and very light land j and as they are longer after being fown in coming to the hoe, than the common turnips, I have found it neceflary to fow them earlier, fo early as the be^ ginning of June. I have grown them a great number of years ; from the experience I have had of their utility I continue [ 299 ] continue to cultivate them ; and I think no gentle- man, who keeps them to confurne for the laft fort- night or three weeks before he turns his cattle to grafs, will have reafon to grudge the expence or trouble attending them. If id any enquiry or other bufinefs here I can be of the lead ufe, you may freely command me, and I fhall be proud on every occafion to fhew that I am, Sir, your mod obedient fervant, THOMAS BEEVOR, Article XXXV, On the Mangel-JVurzel) or Scarcity Root. [By the same.] Sir, Hethely Ofl. 12, 1787. [ Feel myfelf highly flattered by the favourable A opinion the Gentlemen of the Society are dif- pofed to entertain of thofe accounts in hufbandry, which it has been in my power to fend them; and give me leave to fay, that I have particular reafon to be pleafed with the polite and friendly manner in which you have exprefifed their and your appro- bation of them. I wifli [ 3oo ] I wifh I could by any frefh communication con* vince them, that I was deferving of their commen- dation ; but from the many and various avocations I have lately had, I have been rendered lefs able than I could wifh, to attend to any experiments worth relating. I this fummer received from a friend who came from Paris, fome feeds of the plant called in Ger- many Mangel-Wurzel\ by M. de Commerell, Ra- cine de Dijette \ and in Englifh, the Scar city -Root. The account of the plant, and its time and method of propagation, are fo fully given by M. l* Abbe d.e Commerell above-mentioned, in the Memoire publifhed by him, and which I fuppofe you have feen, that I ftiall wholly omit the mention of them, and only relate what little I have yet obferved of it. My feeds were fent me very late, two months nearly after the mod proper time of fowing them; however I ventured to commit them to the ground on the 1 2th day of June laft ; and in a few days had the fatisfaction to find them all rife well, and in a vigorous ftate of growth. I have fince gathered their leaves twice, and find their roots of fuch fize as to promife a considerable and profitable pro- duction. The meafure of fome of them is now 15 inches round j the length (of a few I pulled up on this [ joi ] this occafion) Is 13 inches, and the weight of them on an average 4.1bs. The feed and plants are not, I think, to be diftinguiftied, at their firft growth, from fome beets ; but in order to afcertain the dif- ference, (if fuch there was) I fowed on the fame bed of mould, on the fame day and hour, fome feeds of the real beets j and find that, under the fame management, the roots of the icarcity plant are four times as big, and the leaves of it much larger than thofe of the real beets. I have offered a few of the leaves of the fcarcity plant to the cows whilft going in exceeding good pafture in my park, which they readily ate -, I did the fame to fome horfes which were (landing in a waggon in the haired field, who as readily ate the broad tender part of the leaves, but rejected the thick parts of the (talks. I have alfo had dreffed the leaves of each of the above-mentioned plants, and brought boiled to my table j and think, as did fome other gentlemen who ate of them, that there is a manifest difference in their tafte; thofe of the fcarcity plant being fo like fpinage, as hardly to be diftinguiflied from it ; whilft thofe of the beet were both harder and drier. What further obfervations I (hall be able to make upon the growth and application of this plant, in the courfe of the winter, I will tranfmit to you, [ 302 ] you, as it certainly promifes to be of the firft im- portance in the article of food for cattle. In the mean while let me not omit to inform you, that I faw a few weeks ago at Lord Orford's place at Erifwell, near Barton-Mills in Suffolk, fome of the plants, which were nearly twice as big as mine: — and I have been told, that at Mr. Dash wood's, of Cley, in Norfolk, there are fome which meafure two feet in circumference ; but the two laft- mentioned parcels were, I am informed, fown at lead fix weeks fooner than mine were. I have had lent me this week an account of a moft wonderful production of vetches: upon two plants fown in the garden of John Berney Petre, efq; of Weftwick, in Norfolk, there were found (after feveral had been accidentally plucked off) no lefs than 994 pods, containing on an average fix feeds in each pod; in all 5964 feeds, Mr. Petre, who fent me the account, did not know the name of the plants ; but from a branch of it which he fent me, with the account, I have great reafon to believe it to be the broad-leaved many-flowered vetch of Crete; for it had upon it fome deep purple flowers, and is a perennial plant, as he affured me ; however, not having any bota- nical [ 3°3 ] nical book by me at prefent, I cannot be at all cer- tain of the truth of my conjecture. P. S. In riding yefterday about (even miles from this place, I fuw at Icaft two-thirds of the wheat for next year's crop was dibbled, and fct by hand. I am inclined to be- lieve it will foon be generally fo here. Article XXXVI. Experiments on various Sorts of Potatoes. [By the same.] Sir, Hcthel^Dec. i, 1787. T Venture to fend you an account of a trial made A by me, of a few forts of Potatoes planted laft fpringj and as there is not, perhaps, in the wide field of agriculture, any plant which more deferves attention and general cultivation than the potatoes fo I hope every information which leads to the dif- covery of the bed and mod productive kinds, will be received in good part, and neither deemed tri- fling nor ufelefs by any of thofe who are real well- wifhers to the intereft of fociety. I fhall content myfelf with this apology for the contents of my letter j and after premifing that all the underwritten potatoes were planted on the cd day of April, in a garden, the foil of which is a rich hazelly [ 304 ] hazelly coloured loam, neither too wet nor too dry ; that they were all well dunged, for that the four firft forts (rood on a border where a row of apple- trees had grown, which were taken up about a month only before the fets were planted j that the three laft forts were planted on ground which had been cropped as gardens ufually are, and that the pieces planted were cut from large potatoes, with two or three eyes on each piece; I will proceed to ihew the refult of the experiment. No. Names. Weight of Quantity of Ground. Weight of feed. produce. lb. oz. ft. oz. Incomparable, a 7 iecdling, 5 4 9 6-iothsof a rod 13 o Denne's Hill, dit. 3 " 8-joths 16 io Bayley'sfeedling, 3 i 5-ioths 8 6 Manlev White 4 iz 3-ioths 6 4 Kentifti feedling, s IO 4-ioths 16 ii Champion, 3 6 5-ioths ii i Ox-Noble, 3 M 4-ioths 24 0 Bufli. per acre. 69a 668 670 1342 708 1140 The above roots were all taken up on the 29th day of October laft, and the Hems of each, except thofe of the Manley and Champion, which were entirely dead, were green and frefh at the time of taking them up. No. 1, large white, meally, ill-tafted. No. 2, very large, white, meally, and good. No. 3, middle-fized, white, meally, and exceeding well flavoured. No. 4, large, white, meally, and good-tafted. No. 5, very large, white, not yet tried upon the table. No. 6, [ 30S 3 No. 6, mid Jle-fized, white, meally, and exceeding good to eat. No. 7, large, white, and ill-flavoured. The bulhels above-mentioned are heaped bufhels, weighing on an average 7olb. per bufhel. Article XXXVII. On Planting of Wafte Lands. gentlemen, Norwich, Feb. 20, I "J 88. THOUGH planting wafte land be not imme- diately within the province of agriculture, yet the publick advantage, of which you are the promoters, may be more effectually ferved by the ftudy of certain modes of planting it, than from annual crops -, and efpecially as planting becomes eventually a ufeful auxiliary to cultivation. I there- fore wifh to prefent to your notice, as a poflible example to other parts of the nation, the practice and fuccefs of a neighbouring gentleman (Sir Wm. Jerningham) on the mod unpromifing ground, perhaps, that any fuccefsful planter has hitherto attempted j notwithftanding there is a certainty from experience to believe, that the flubborn foil may be meliorated, and the apparent fterile be made productive ; and by properly timing the period for fpecifick [ 306 ] fpecifick productions, what would in the natural flate of the land have been impofiible, by an adap- tion of fit circumftances, a production may be ex- cited, foreign and uncongenial to the foil ; while, without thefe circumftances, no more fuccefs would have followed than to him who fows without cul- ture, or plants without trenching the ground. Thefe reflections arofe from a frequent and late obfervation, made on the extenfive and thriving plantations of the abovementioned gentleman ; who has, without hyperbole, changed the barren heath to a fruitful field, the dreary wafte to a delightful foreft, by an adaption of circumftances to fituation and foil; and, by an application of what would chcrifh and defend, has extended a plantation of beech-trees uncommon to this diftrict; nor I be- lieve do they fpontaneoufly grow in any county through the eaftern divifion of the kingdom. The mode Sir William purfued, was the plant- ing of the beech-trees from the nurfery, while fmall, amongft Scotch firs. Many heaths befide his have been broken up and planted with firs, to much pub- lick and private benefit. But I have not obferved, unlefs recently, the regular intermixture of the beech at due diftance. Thefe trees, in a foil per- haps without clay or loam, with the heathy fod, trenched E 307 ] trenched into its broken ftrata of fand or gravel, under the protection of the firs, have laid hold, though (lowly, of the foil, and, accelerated by the fuperior growth of the firs, have proportionally rilcn, until they wanted an enlargement of fpace for growth, when the firs were cut down. It is fcarcely necefTary r.o obferve, that when this refinous tree is felled, the roots decay in the ground, and furnifh by that decay a new fupport to the foil on which the beeches grow ; by which contingency, they receive an added vigour, as well as the favour- able concomitants of an enlarged fpace in earth and air; and by being now difincumbered from their former fupporters, their growth becomes more and more obvious ; they are ornamental to the country, promife in time to be ufeful timber, and probably may difleminate their fpecies where they would not have been expected to fiouriJli, but under the fhade and encouragement of the firs. And thefe firs hav- ing met with no obftacle from the infant timbers they encouraged, their boles are now converted to pods, rails, and various other ufes, and their brandies have been bound into thoufands of bavins, thac have heated the ovens, or have been burnt on the hearths of the farmers and cottagers around. JOHN YVAGSTAFFE. Vol. IV. X Article t 308 ] Article XXXVIII. Defer iption of a Model of a Machine for communicating Motion at a Dijlance. [In a Letter to the Secretary.] SIR, Brijiol, Nov. 21, 1786. A Commodious method of communicating mo- tion at a diftance, has long flood among the defiderata of mechanics, and no method that I know of has been attempted, that at the fame time will free the machine from weight and incumbrance. Hollow fhafts of caft-iron bid faireft to anfwer this end, but they are expenfive; and though I fuppofe it may be cheapen:, all things confidered, it will be difficult to make them general. The method introduced to you by the model ac- companying this letter, was tried and approved of at a mill in the neighbourhood of this city, on two fhafts, one 15 feet long and 15 inches thick, and the other 1 2 feet long and 1 2 inches thick -, the latter of which was fo weak as to twift near a tenth of its circumference j which, when the refinance became in any wife unequal, fubjected the whole machine to the greater!: danger and diforder. Jt was propofed and intended to take it out and fubftitute a larger, which would have been attended with [ 3^9 1 with great expence and inconvenience, as the whole manufacture mud have been interrupted for fome time, and part of the mill-houfe mud have been taken down. Being apprized of this intention, I advifed the method here recommended. Accord- ingly two flat bars were procured from a fcrap forge, of zi inches by full 3-8ths of an inch, and their ends furnifhed wirh icrew-pins of I' inch, with fquare threads: the bars were then hollowed on the under fide with a large fwage, in order to make the edges lie clofe to the (haft. This done, they were annealed and put to a large vice, and twitted with a hand-hook, iuch as the anvil-fmiths ufe; fo that one end had made a little more than a revolution, after which a few blows of the hammer (and which requires not fo much (kill as may be imagined) formed them into a fpiral, fitted to a cylinder of 12 inches diameter. They were then carried to the mill at the diftance of five mibs, and after the blocks were fitted to receive their ends, were put on with the greateft facility. It may be neccflary to obferve, that the diflant gearing of the mill was trigged, while the water- wheel was turned back in order to twift the (haft the reverfe way of its going; by which means the fpir.ils bound clofer than could poflibly be by fcrew- ing only, I (hould add, alfo, that fome blows of a X 2 hammer, [ 3^0 ] . hammer, of about 1 2lb. were laid on in order to dole them to the fides of the (haft; which being an octagon, and not a cylinder, could not be effected by any other means. - This was the method practifed in (lengthening thofe (hafts already in gearing; but if it (hould be thought expedient to ufe them in conftruction, they may be applied to more advantage ; for inftead of one revolution of the fpiral, it may have two; in which cafe the advantage will be double : add, that in both cafes there may be as many fpirals as there are arms in the wheel. I am, Sir, your obedient fervant, J. C. HORNBLOWER. N. B. It has not been thought advifeable to attempt any representation on a plate, of the model accompanying this letter; but our mechanical readers, who have any curio- fity to fee it, may be gratified, by applying at the Rooms of the Society. Article XXXIX. Sir, Wejl-Moncktoti) March 6, 1788. BEING (truck very forcibly with the importance of the fubjecl:, I fometime ago committed the inclofed thoughts to writing, not at that time with any [ 3" ] any defign that they ftiould appear in publick 5 but I happened to fhew them lately to a gentleman of the neighbourhood, who defired I would fend them to your Society. I have, therefore, taken the li- berty to follow his advice; and if you find any thing worthy the notice of the Society, or yourfelf, it will afford pleafure to, Sir, Your obedient humble fervant, T. PAVIER. " Were the foreft of Dean duly improved, it were " an imperial defign: and 1 do pronounce it " more worthy of a prince, who truly confults " his glory in the higheft intereft of his fub- " jects, than that of gaining battles, or fubdu~ " ing a province : for he not only fecurcs the " ftrength and glory of the nation, in prefer- cc ving an abundant fupply of timber for fhip- fC ping ; but alfo adds greatly to the number cl of people, by the many new farms for corn lc and grafs, erected where the land turns at Cf prefent to little account for timber, which is " univerfally neglecled -t and lefs for men, be- " ing uninhabited." The above is a quotation from Mr. Evelyn's Svlva, which a late furvey of the land therein X 3 mentioned, [ 8*S ] mentioned, and the imall quantity of- timber re- ported to be now growing thereon, have brought afrefh to my memory. Such an improvement as is above recommended, would undoubtedly be of the greateft importance to this kingdom, in future ge- nerations; and would redound highly to the honour and glory of a Britim government that mould carry it into execution, at the fame time that it would be attended with but an inconfiderable expence. To illuftrate this alTertion, let us fuppofe that infiead of difpofing of all the wafte lands belonging to the crown, fome particular places, where the foil and fituation feem adapted for producing good oak timber, were referved to be improved for that purpofe; the expence of inclofing is then the firft thing that comes under confiderationi and this expence will always vary in proportion to the form and magnitude of the land to be inclofed ; as a field of a hundred acres may fometimes be fenced in for the trifling fum of about ios. per acre, whilft an- other of but ten acres fhall coil by the acre three times as much. It may happen that the ground for fuch in* tended improvement may adjoin to lands already inclofed, which will greatly lefifen the expence j but in order to make fome kind of calculation, I will fuppofe [ 3*3 ] fuppofe it to be fenced quite round on every fide, and to cod on an average aos. per acre. The next Hep will be to prepare the ground for the reception of the acorns, which will undoubtedly be bell: effected by frequent ploughings ; I would therefore propofe to keep it in conftant tillage for two or three years, till the earth is brought to a fine, mellow (late of tilth, and then to fow or plant the acorns in the autumn : the profit of the crops taken from off the premifes will (no doubt) abundantly overpay all the expence of inclofing, as well as tho collecting and fowing the acorns. Thefe crops could not impoverifh the ground fo as to occafion any injury to the intended plantation, becaufe the young trees will derive their nouriiri- ment and fupport from that part of the foil which lies beneath the action of the plough, or the exten- fion of the roots of any kind of corn. From hence it appears, that an improvement of this nature would be attended with very little, or perhaps no expence, but what would be amply re- paid by the profits arifing from the fame ; and I am perfuaded, that no further trouble or expence would be necefiary for feveral years, but to take care that no kind of cattle whatever be admitted into the inclofure. When [ 314 ] When the plants are about eight or ten years old, it may be neceffary to cut down the greater part, leaving a fufrkient number of the moft promifing ones, the fuperfluous branches of which fhould then be taken off, which ought to be the only time they fhould ever be pruned ; as it would be better for the young trees, that fuch branches fhould be ftrip- ped off by hand every time the underwood may be cut, as long as they can be eafily bent down for that purpofe, or if convenient, every year. At every time of cutting the underwood, the young trees mould be thinned with great difcretion; the thicker they ftand in reafon whilft young, the better lengths will they arrive at: but I apprehend that each tree fhould at the lafl be allowed a hun- dred fquare yards for the expanfion of its limbs. Allowing this to be a proper diflance, an inclo- fure of fifty acres would produce 2420 trees, which I fuppofe woutd come to perfection in about 100 years, and that they would be worth (on an average) five pounds each; the value of the timber on the fifty acres would then be 12,100 pounds. Mr. Evelyn computes the profit of a thoufand acres, in a hundred and fifty years, to amount to upwards of 670,000!. How he made fuch a calcu- lation, [ 3iS J lation, I cannot guefs, but think the profit is charged much too high. Oak timber, let up in the manner above defcribed, would arrive to great lengths; and having never been pruned or tranfplanted, there could be no danger of their falling unfound 5 confequently the charge I have made of <1. a tree for their value on an average, will, I fuppofe, be thought very rea- fonable, efpecially as the bark and wood are both included. The quotation from Mr. Evelyn, with refpect to the foreft of Dean, is mod undoubtedly appli- cable to many others of the wafte lands belonging to the crown, and in particular to the New-Foreft in Hampfhire, which would produce an immenfe quantity of fine timber without any expence, if a method could be devifed to prevent the deer and other cattle from cropping the young trees in their infancy: the truth of this appears from anobferva- tion I made fome years ago, that there was fcarce a young oak to be feen but what had found its way up through a thick bufh of thorns or brambles, and confequently owed its prefervation thereto: from this obfervation alfo, I am of opinion, that there can be no ncceflity for any confiderable expence in weeding a young plantation of oak. Complaints [ 3i6 1 Complaints of the fcarcity of oak-timber fit for fhip-building, are at prefent very frequent; and from the imall quantities that are coming up in molt parts of the kingdom, it feems to me very appa- rent, that fuch fcarcity will be feverely felt in an- other century; confequently the prefent opportunity for making fome fuch improvements for the benefit of futurity, is highly deferving the notice and confe- deration of thofe in power. If the foregoing confiderations are juft and rea- fonable, what vaft advantages might future genera- tions derive from judicious and provident improve- ments of this kind! And I am pcrfuaded, that fuch undertakings would be recorded in hiftory in terms that would oblige pofterity to look back with grati- tude and applaufe to the period that produced them. The foregoing reflections, however brief on a copious and national fubjec~t, are equally feafonable, and fraught with importance. The improvement of any country in thofe articles of produce, which are of greateft confequence %o its fafety and accommodation, is among the firft obje&s of its provident care. In determining what thofe articles of produce are, regard muft be had to natural circum- ftances of foil, climate, and fituation, with refpe& to fur* rounding countries. o According [ 317 ] According to the (rate of Europe, and the infular fitua- tion of this country, much of its fafety and importance have been politically determined to arife from a plentiful growth of oak timber, ht for building fhips of defence, and for merchandife. Nor is the cultivation of a tree fo con- genial to our foil, and fo ornamental to our forefts and fields, an object unconnected with domeftick ufes, in the conthuction of various kinds of machinery, and the moil firm and comfortable habitations. We agree with Mr. Pavier, that the cultivation of Oak-timber, with a view to the benefit of pofterity, feems to have been of late years too much neglected in thefe .kingdoms. And while every friend of human felicity muft condemn the mif^uiiled ambition of a tyrannical prince, who could deftroy whole villages to plant a foreft, he will feel due folicitwle for thofe general advantages which muft refult from better maxims of cultivation. It may not be deemed fo fully within the province of this Society, to call on Government for its attention to the management of Royal Forefts and Wafte Lands, as to point out the benefits of a general improvement on the eftates of individuals. Such a fpecies of improvement will at leaft be liftened to, as a worthy and proper object of rural ceconomy; and every exertion that may be excited by fuch means, will have fome favourable influence in a nation emulous of greatnefs and of fame. From this motive, we (hall not hefitate to fuggeft the cafy and manifold advantages that would refult from in- king plantations of oak-trees, on particular parts of numerous eftates, from the lordly park, down to the fmall cultivated farm. On the former, the growth of the oak is [ 3'8 ] is truly deemed eftential, both to the elegance and grandeur of the inclofure. But while this idea prevails in theory, and neither grandeur nor elegance can be realized with- out it, there is too much reafon to fear that planting has not kept due pace with the confumption of this valuable fpecies of timber. On the latter, it is much to be quef- tioned, whether a view to immediate profits from the foil, has not too generally obtained to the cxclufion of timber plantations. Why this error fhould obtain, it may be difficult to de- termine in a way favourable to the wifdom and forefight of a multitude of land-owners. For on many inclofed farms, and efpecially on farms which have a bleak nor- thern expofure, it would frequently be found that a judi- cious plantation of young timber trees would gradually increafe the value of the lands, by the fhelter they would afford to cattle, the ftrength they would give to fences in which they might be planted, and the breaking of un- friendly North and North-eaft winds. But admitting the fituation of inclofures to be fuch, as fometimes not to ftand in any great need of the fhelter of trees, it frequently happens, that on farms of confiderable iize, and variety of foil and expofure, fmall parts, of no great value for pafture or cultivation, might be appropri- ated, without any material lefTening of the annual income of the farm, for entire plantations, even of oak. But if it fhould be thought that an entire oak plantation would be too great a facrince of the ground, a plantation of various other fpecies of trees of a quicker growth, to be periodi- cally cut as underwood, might be made, and the produce come in aid of the fuppofed difadvantage ; while the prin- cipal object above contended for, would be fecured. To [ 3*9 ] To thefe confiderations may be added, -the fource of fencing, hurdling, draining, and firing, (that would be cre- ated on many farms where thofe conveniences arc much limited, to the no (mall inconvenience of the farmer) and the ; , that fuch plantations, generally adopted, would give to the face of a country. Article XL. On the llealthinejs of managing Silk-Worms, [In a Letter to the Secretary.] Sir, Bridge- North, Cann- Hall, Dec. 15, 1787. THE life and changes of a Silk- Worm may juftly be clafTed among the mod wonderful phenomena of nature : and never have my ideas of the great Creator of all been raifed to a higher pitch of enthufiaflic adoration, than whilft contemplating this induftrious little animal, excluded from light, from air, and fuftenance — and yet weaving, with madiematical exactneis, the web which mall clothe the higheft order of the world's inhabitants. The incongruity of believing that Almighty Goodnefs could make that creature pernicious to man, for whofe fervice and delight he is evidently created, will be fufficiently obvious to you; — but vulgar prejudices mud be combated with other proofs. If C 320 ] If the facT: were really fo, what would become of the inhabitants of Italy, of China, and more efpe- cially of the iflands in the Archipelago; where, from the immenfe numbers which are reared, the whole atmofphere muft be impregnated with their deleterious effects? I have been allured, by an in- telligent friend, who fpent fome time in Italy, that whenever they had epidemick complaints, the chil- dren who had the care of the filk-manufactories in- variably efcaped the contagion ; and this I have reconciled on the principles of Dr. Priestley, who afTerts, that the air in rooms is rendered doubly falubrious, by the introduction of opening vege- tables, or frefli-gathered leaves. The filk-worm in itfelf is totally inoffenfive; but if dead ones are fuffered to remain among them, they certainly become putrefcent, as other animal fubftances, and of courle unwholfome. In the fummer in which I fed upwards of 30,000 in one room, nobody was the worfe for attending them; and yet I frequently fpent whole days- with them, as did many of thofe friends who were kindly attentive to afiift me in the care of them. I know a lady who had a good many filk- worms; fhe cleaned and fed them herfelf, and was feized with [ 32i ] with a bad fir* eft All this might be: — but without allowing for the coincidence of events, flie boldly affcrts her fever to have been occafioned by the filk -worms, and as loudly proclaims them un- whollbme. It is, I iiippofe, from fuch circum- ftances as thcle, that the belief has gained ground; but I am decidedly of opinion that it is without other foundation. The experiments you wifti me to make, I cer- tainly will attempt : — but I mud confefs the afcer- taining how much food will fnpport a given number of worms, has difficulties, fince they eat much more voracioufly at one time than another, and the let- tuces vary materially in fize. There is a matter which appears to me of much greater magnitude, than the offering premiums for the planting of mulberry-trees ; and that is, the holding forth a reward to thofe who fhall difcover the bell method to propagate them. All the gar- deners with whom I have converfed on the fubjecl: are ignorant of the practice of any other way, than by tranfplanting the fuckers which fpring from the roots of the old tree; and thefe are fo few in num- ber, that the expence of the purchafe muft effectu- ally deter any one from making a large plantation, whilft the ufe and profits of it are fo precarious. Let [ 3« ] Let it once be known how they can be raifed with eafe, and in abundance, and the plan will be- come practicable, which it is not at prefent. I am, Sir, your obliged friend, HENRIETTA RHODES. Article XLL The Bejcripion and UJe ef 'Mr. Winter's New -in- vented Patent -Brill Machine. THIS Machine (fays Mr. W.) is univerfally acknow- ledged to be fuperior to any hitherto invented ; it is foftrong that nothing but the greateft violence can injure it; and is conftru&ed on fuch plain mathematical princi- ples, as to be worked by any perfon of the loweft capacity. It depofits Grain, Pulfe, Turnip, Carrot, or any other Seed, with the greateft accuracy, at any required depth in the earth, from the furface to fix inches, at any required dif- tance from 6, 7, 8, 9, to 40 inches between the rows, and may be inftantaneoufly regulated fo as to increafe or de- creafe the quantity fown, which is immediately covered. One man, a boy, and two horfes, can drill ten acres of light, and eight acres of {tiff land in one day j and from one bufhel of feed wheat, and one bufhel and a half of barley^ will produce a crop of from 6 to 20 bufhels per acre, (ac- cording to the richnefs of the foil) more than whenfowed by the common mode of huibandry. T 1 ////// h 'JA/m^^^^cJ^imey. [ 3*3 ] The machine may be fecn at the Exchange, or at Mr. Hancock's, wheelwright, Old-market, Briftol. Orders to be directed to Mr. G. Winter, Briftol. — The price Sixteen Guineas.* Figure I. Rcprefents a front view of the machine when at work, with fix coulters fattened on, depofiting grain at the depth of two inches, in drills at feven inches diftancc. A. The fore flap turned up, and the back board taken off, for the purpofc only of reprefenting the infide work, which when dril- ling in the field is all inclofed : — It then appears as a box between two wheels, and all the infide work is perfectly fecurcd from the effects of the mod tempeiluous weather. B. The frame. C. Iron plates, in which the gudgeons of the fore wheels are placed, and may be removed to any required depth. D. D. The two hind wheels with fpikes, which are for the purpofc of preventing the wheels from Aiding over rough ground or clods, and by the fpikes penetrating into the earth, the wheels are forced round, by which the grain is delivered ; for when the wheels flop, or Aide, no grain is difcharged. E. E. Iron rings fattened to the fore-ftandards, to which the chains are fixed, for drawing the machine. F. Coulter-bars with grooves, through which the coulters are placed at any required diitance, from 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, to 36 inches or more. • The fating of the feed and extra produce (more than can be obtained by the common mode of (owing) off ten acres of good land, drilled at the diftance of fereft inches, with wheat at 5?. per bufliel, will in one feafon pay for the machine. Vol. IV. Y 1,2,3,4. [ 3H ] 1,2, 3> 4. Six Coulters numbered between the bolt-holes, with figures for fetting the coulters fo as to depofit the grain at any re- quired depth; for inftance, when the bolts are placed over No. 2, the grain is depofited at two inches deep; when over No. 3, at three inches deep ; and fo on. G. Six cylinders, which occafionally Aide off and on the axis, fo that the whole, or any number of them, may be fixed at any required diftance. H. Boxes which contain the feed. I. Conductors, into which the feed is delivered out of the cy- linders, and conveyed into the grooves, in the back part of the coulters. K. The axis, which pafTes through the cylinders and large wheels. Figure II. Reprefents a fide view of the machine when at work. a. Iron ring with a hook and chain fixed to it. b. A fliding-board that c overs an opening in the boXi through which the axis and cylinders are taken out. c . The cafe or box inclofing the works. d. Handles for lifting up, and turning the machine at the headlands. e . A marker for difcovering the track of the machine, on land not ridged. /. A harrow, for more effectually covering the feed and level- ling the ground. g. Owe of the three coulters on the fore coulter-bar. b. One c4>he three coulters on the hind coulter-bar. 1. The guard ♦which protects the conductors from being in- jured by ftones, dirt, or weeds. h The t 32s ] k. The pipe of the conductor, which enters into the cavity in the back part of the coulter. There are two ftrong iron wheels which are placed in the back part of the frame, letter e, for the purpofe of travelling from one place to another ; which wheels elevate the coulters about fix inches above the furface of the ground, and are immediately re- moved when fet to work. There are alfo regulators for increafing and decreafing the quantity of grain to be fown, which with the wheels cannot be difcovered in either of the views. Figure Ill.f Reprefents a running hoe for cutting the weeds between the drills, and adding earth to the rows of vegetables $ the two points collect the weeds, which are in a manner in- clofed, and more effectually deftroyed than when the blade is fquare, or angular. G.W. • Is not the invention of, but altered by Mr. Winter. Article XLIL No* 73) Oxford-ftreet, London, Sir, March 20, 1778. AS it is but too common for individuals to fpeak roundly on fubje&s in which they arc particularly intereftedj and as fuch afiertions are generally viewed with a jealous eye by the public, I am induced to content myfelf with referring the public to individuals who have made experiments in Y 2' drilling, t l*« 1 drilling, thereby putting myfelf out of the queftion, and only obferve, That from the rapid progrefs, which the drill fyftem has lately made, there is rea- fon to apprehend that it will foon become general. Your obedient humble fervant, JAMES COOKE. Afcertainments of Crops of Corn^ reaped in the Tear 1786; the Seed of which was J own by the Rev, James Cooke 's Patent Drill-Machine. Lord Vifcount Bateman, Shobdon, Herefordshire. Wheat by the machine, 40 bufhels per acre. Barley, felf-evidently fuperior to that fown by hand, but omitted to be particularly afcertained. Marquis of Stafford, Trentham, Staffordfhire. Wheat by the machine, 33 bufhels per acre. Barley 24s. 6d. per acre more than broadcaft. Rev. H. J. Clofe, Hill-Houfe, Ipfwich. Barley by the machine from 9 bufhels of feed, 400 bufhels of excellent grain. Alfo a par- ticular experiment upon one quarter of an acre of poor land, and out of condition: by the machine 33 bufhels per acre; broadcaft 19 bufhels. Oats, the produce in the fame proportion. Mr. Yeld, Milton, near Leominfler. Wheat by the machine 30 bufhels per acre; broadcaft 25. Mr. Boote, Atherftone-upon-Stower, near Stratford-upon-Avon, the feven following accurate experiments, including in the whole 368 acres drilled, viz.— Wheat on loamy land, 47 bufhels per acre. On cold clay, 44 bufhels 5 gallons 2 quarts per acre. Wheat on cold [ 327 ] cold clay, 25 bufhels 1 gallon 3 quarts. Broadcafl on adjoining land, 9 bufhels 4 gallons 2 quarts. Peafe on light Tandy land, 50 bufhels 2 gallons per acre. Barley on light land 72 bufhels 4 gal- lons per acre. Beans on light land, 36 bufhels 2 gallons 2 quarts per acre. Mr. Morley, Wood-hall, near Downham, Norfolk. Wheat by the machine, 44 bufhels per acre. Mr. John Lees, near Circncefler, Glouceflerfhire. Wheat by the machine, 53 bufhels 4 gallons per acre. Broadcafl, 39 bufhels. Mofes Harper, efq; Aflley, near Stourport. Barley by the ma- chine, 56 bufhels per acre. Broadcafl 54 bufhels. N. B. The land of the hand fown crop allowed to be in better condition, than that upon which the machine was ufed. Mr. Dunmore, Stanton-Wyvil, near Market-Harborough, Lei- eeflerfhire. Wheat by the machine, 45 bufhels per acre. Barley 72 bufhels 4 gallons. Mr. Glover, Burlaughton, near Shiffnal, Salop. Barley by the machine, from very light fandy land, 44 bufhels per acre. Broad- cafl 37 bufhels 4 gallons. Mr. Hett, Bawtry, Yorkfhire. Barley by the machine, 64 bufhels per acre. Ditto broadcafl, 48 bufhels. H. Cecil, efq; M. P. Hanbury-Hall, Worceflerfhire. Wheat by the machine, 5 bufhels per acre more than broadcafl, from two years' experiment. Mr. R. Crabb, Moulton-park, near Northampton, Barley by the machine, 6 bufhels per acre more than broadcafl. Colonel Wilfon, Dedlington, near Stoke, Norfolk. Wheat by the machine, exa&ly half as much more as broadcafl. N. B. The drilled flubble, very clean by hoeing, the broadcafl (lubble a bed of poppies. Sampfon Barber, efq; Peterborough. Wheat by. the machine, 27 quarters 6 bufhels, from 5 acres 3 perches. Y3 Mr« [ 3^8 ] Mr. Wm. Wright, Warboys, near Huntingdon, an extraordi- nary crop of barley by the machine from fen land, allowed to be much fupei ior to broadcaft. Mr. Holland, near Louth, Lincolnfhire. Barley by the ma- chine, 8 bufhels per acre more than broadcaft. Ascertainments of Crops in 1787. Sir Wm. Jones, bart. Ramfbury-Manor, Wilts. Wheat by the machine on a flinty loam, clover lay, one earth, 25 bufhels 1 gal- lon per acre. Ditto broadcaft 20 bufhels 3 gallons. Wheat by the machine on a two-year clover lay, 27 bufhels 2 gallons per acre, Broadcaft 25 bufhels. Barley by the machine after wheat, 27 bufhels per acre. Broadcaft 22 bufhels. Francis Skyrme, efq; Lauhaden, near Haverfordweft. Wheat by the machine, 57 bufhels 1 gallon per acre. Broadcaft 48 bufhels 2 gallons. Barley by the machine, 67 bufhels 2 gallons per acre. Broadcaft 48 bufhels 2 gallons. Oats by the machine 70 bufhels per acre : broadcaft 49 bufhels. Mr. John Boote, Atherftone npon-Stower, near Stratford-upon- Avon. The eleven following afcertainments, in all 450 acres, viz. —Beans drilled upon loamy land after oats, 50 bufhels per acre. Wheat drilled upon marl and mixed foil after beans, 36 bufhels per acre. Wheat drilled upon loamy fand after beans, 50 bufhels 6 gallons. Barley drilled upon loamy fand after turnips, 75 bufhels 5 gallons. Barley drilled upon fandy land after turnips, 58 bufhels 4 gallons. Peafe drilled upon loamy land after clover, 51 bufhels 4 gallons. Wheat drilled upon loaimy land after beans, 45 bufhels 5 gallons. Oats drilled upon fandy land after barley, 57 bufhels 3 gallons. Oats drilled upon loamy land after barley, 76 bufhels 6 gallons. Wheat drilled upon poor cold clay after clover, 25 bufhels 4 gallons. Wheat fown broadcaft upon poor cold clay after clover, on adjoining ground, 13 bufhels 7 gallons. Mr. Bcote has announced a clear profit of 70©!. over and above his ufual profits, by drilling 450 acres in the year 1787. Alfo a clear profit of 500I. by drilling 368 acres in 1786. Rev. [ 3*9 ] Rev. H. J. Clofe, Dorking, Surry, fo perfectly fatisfied with his fuccefs in drilling, as to decline fowing any more broadcaft. His eftate in Surry, confifting of 700 acres, being now under the drill fyftem. Mr. Grcenway Afcot, nerr Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick- fhire. Barley by the machine, 16s. per acre more than broadcaft. Thomas Knight, efq; Godmerfham-Park, Kent. Wheat by the machine, 4 bufliels per acre more than broadcaft. Colonel Wilfon, Didlington, Norfolk. Barley and oats by the drill, fuperior to any he ever had before. Rev. J. S. Lufhington, Bottiftiam, near Cambridge. Barley by the drill, 10 (hocks per acre upon the field, more than broadcafl. M. Harper, jun. efq; Aftley, near Stourport, Worcefterftiire. So perfectly fatisfied with his fuccefs in drilling, as to decline fow- ing any more broadcaft. W. B. Earle, efq; Clofe, Salifbury. Eight acres of wheat by the drill, adjoining to 8 acres broadcaft ; the former fuperior to the latter, in the proportion of 8 to 7. N. B. The 8 acres drilled with fomething more than 8 buftiels of feed ; the 8 acres fown broadcaft, with 28 buftiels. Mr. John Auften, Old-Park, near Canterbury. Wheat and rye by the machine, infinitely fuperior to the broadcaft upon ad- joining land. Mr. Taylor, Treafey-Farm, near Enftone, Oxfordfhire. So farfatisfied with his experiments by the machine, as to perfevere in the practice. Mr. Glover, Burlaughton, near Shifnal, Salop. The fineft crop of pcafe by the drill he ever faw. Mr. Quiharapton, Repton, near Aftiford, Kent. Wheat 4 buftiels 7 gallons per acre more than broadcaft. Mr. John Stuart, and Mr. Jamett, Afhford, Kent. Wheat 20s. per acre in favour of the machine, compared with broadcaft. Nine [ 33° ] Nine other gentlemen, near Aftiford, exprefs themfelves per- fectly fatisfied with a fuperiority in favour of the machine, without afcertaining their crops. Mr. Hall, Elmftone, near Afh, Kent. A comparative experi- ment in wheat, between Mr. Cooke's drill machine, and Mr. Ducket's fyftem of opening furrows in the land, and fowing the feed broadcaft. The refult of the experiment was in favour of the drill-machine, which determined a wager often guineas in favour of Mr. Quihampton, of Repton. To the above profits by drilling, may be added the average pro- fit of 7s. or 8s, per acre of feed faved. Article XLIII. Defer iption cf a new Harrow and Drag. [Illuftrated with an Engraving.] Gentlemen, ITake the liberty of fending you a rough draft of a Harrow I lately invented, together with the motives which induced me to conftrucl one diffe- rent from thofe commonly in ufe; which when you have examined, compared, and proved, I doubt not but you will be induced to recommend to the publick. At the time of fowing barley laft feafon, I conii- dered that our common harrows did not anfwer the end defigned fo well as could be wiflied, and ' having JL^S,, PI. 2 iif ill Ml 1 1 li \ y 1 I I [ 33* ] having feen various kinds in different counties and places, I did not recollect to have feen any that anfvvcred better than my own. The faults I efpied in all thofe I had feen were, the tines or fpikes were placed too near .together in the middle of the harrows, which prevented them from finking down into the ploughed land fo deep as necelfary ; and when the ground on the top became fine, that they were apt to draw the couch, Sec. together in heaps, and at the fame time litde or no fervice was done for a foot or more within each fide corner; in confequence whereof we were obliged to double over that ground again, by which means I thought we loft at lead one day's work in a week, which is no trifling matter. After reflecting a little further on thefe things, I applied pencil to paper, and produced a plan, from which I had a harrow conftructed, which in feveral refpects far exceeded my expectations; the fides, or ends, do not only operate as well as the middle, fo as not to need doubling over again, but the tines or fpikes fink down fo much deeper than the com- mon harrows, (on account of their being regularly placed at 15 inches diftance in each bar, whereby alfo the clods, &c. have a free pafiage, and are not drawn together in heaps) but that no part is left untouched more than three inches, when the har- row [ 332 ] row is drawn only once over the land ; from all which conveniences, I find more execution is done by drawing this harrow once over the land, than any other I ever faw will do by being twice drawn over the fame fpot. It equally excels as a drag, or firft harrow, for rough land commonly ploughed ; and alfo for fuch as is turned one half on the other, which we call fkirring or thwarting, as well as for finilhing and fmoothing the furface. I imagined at firft more ftrength would be re- quired to draw it, but find two of our little country horfes from 14 to 141 hands high, draw it with eafe. My harrow is feven feet one inch long, and the pods twelve inches from center to center. The bolts mould be forelock'd on top, and have a fmall flat head under \ The pods are 3 by %\ inches, the ledges or bars are three inches by 3-qrs. of an inch, which was intended for a finilhing or laft harrow, not a drag. THE DRAG, As to the drag, I obferved the common one to fcratch over the furface of the land without entering fo deep as it ought, partly from the caufe I before remarked [ 333 1 remarked in the common harrows, and partly from the tines being fixed ftraight downward; but thefe being bent, and pointing forward, and alfo fixed at 1 8 inches diftance, draw into the earth as deep as the ploughing, rending the ground in an extraor- dinary manner, and leave the hard clods to pafs freely through ; yet no ground remains untouched more than three inches from the point of one tine to the point of another. The hinder poft or rail is twice as heavy as either of the others, to keep down that part as deep as is necefiary, which otherwife would not be the cafe. My land is in general to- lerably free, fo that four large, or fix common oxen draw it well ; but I prefer four of our little horfes to either. I do not expect, that either the harrow or drag are fo perfect as to admit of no improvement ; but if they are inducements, only for fome abler perfbns to exercife their genius for the benefit of the public, I (hall be amply rewarded for the thought, trouble, and expence, I have been at. I am, with much refpect, &c. R. TREFFRY. Beer-Barton, near Plymouth, July 1787. Articli [ 334 ] Article XL1V. On the Advantage of River Weeds as a Manure. [In a Letter to the Secretary.] Sir, Norwich, Feb. 29, 1 788. TN your Third Volume, is an infertion commu- -** nicated by me, refpecting River Weeds as a manure, when cut in their vegetating Hate, laid in the furrow, and ploughed in. Permit me now to relate a mode of more expe- rienced advantage, which is, by extracting them with their roots, and the furface of the foil on which they grow 3 leaving them awhile to the action of the fun and air, for a requifite fermenta- tion; more particularly a certain fpecies hereafter to be mentioned. About the middle of June, in a broad part of a ftream, where from a leffened current a muddy fe- diment refted, and on which, in fpaces, various weeds grew, but whofe furface was generally c6- vered by the river Conferva,* whofe extended deep green filaments fcarce left any of the other fpecies perceptible. To draw thefe out, I employed two men, accuftomed to the cutting of weeds in rivers, * Conferva rivularis of Linnajus. who, [ 335 ] -who, with paring and dragging inftruments, drew out many loads in the courfe of the day. Thefe, laid on a ridge, about fifty yards on the bank of the ftream, were continued there about three weeks; when I had two cart-loads of this aquatic fubftance laid on two different parts of an inclofed piece of land preparing for turnips, in an equal proportion with ftye and (table manure, fpread at the fame time over the remainder of the field: with another load I filled up a hollow that had been lately exca- vated, on which I planted turnip-rooted and favoy cabbages ; and at the fame time planted fome of both in a common garden foil, and likewife in fome unmixed mud, where no weeds grew, drawn from the river for that purpofe. The virtue of the weed-compoft is obvious in each experiment; in the laft-mentioned, the favoys exceeded in cabbage, and the turnip-rooted in leaf and bulb, others of the fame fpecies fet in garden mould; while thofe fet on the mere mud have fcarcely made a progrefs; decifively evincing, I conceive, that the principle of increafe, and progrefs of vegetation, are more peculiarly derived from the weeds, than from the matrice on which they grew. In refpedt to the turnips, though no partiality was (hewn in fpreading more in quantity, in equal . ( (paces, [ 33& ] fpaces, than of the other manures, nor were thofe fpaces in any eftimated preference as to native foil •, yet are thofe fpots diftinguifhed by a more vigorous vegetation, and a deeper green ; nor can there be found on the reft of the field (7-8ths of the whole) any roots fo large as many in thefe fmall tracks. I have carried this experiment farther, but from thence no decifion can be formed, being on land newly dibbled with wheat 5 the probable fuccefs- of which, and the more afTured probability* of an im- provement on a barley crop, intended in fucceflion to the turnips, I purpofe, if in health, to commu- nicate when time lhall give the refult ; and am, in the interim, Your very refpe&ful friend, JOHN WAGSTAFFE. * To explain the apparent prefumption of more affured probabi- lity», it may be noticed, that of the river Conferva, many unbroken parts remained after the fecond hoeing of the turnips, owing to the interwoven ftate of its fibres, which are more immenfe than its ex- tended leaves or filaments j and which, in the compound, before it was fpread on the land, emitted a fcent almoft as ftrong as ftye manure. m Artscli [ 337 ] Article XLV. An Account of a new Drill- Machine, invented by a Somcrfetfhire Farmer, and of a Crop /own by it. [In a Letter to the Secretary.] Sir, Near Mells> Somerfet, 'March 31, 1788. IT is with pleafure I comply with your requeft, in giving you fome account of the fuccefs of my endeavours to complete a Drilling-Machine, which may unite the feveral obje&s of fimplicity, general ufefulnefs, and cheapnefs. After confiderable pains, I am of opinion, that I have fucceeded fo far as to infure general fatisfaction. And my own fuccefs in the ufe of it, among my neighbours as well as on my own farm, confirms me very fully in the prefe- rence of the drill husbandry before the broadcaft, in all crops where the hoe is ufually introduced. In the conftru&ion of this machine, the peculi- arities of which are entirely of my own invention, I have had regard to equal convenience for fowing all forts of grain, and on foils and furfaces heretofore confidered as the mod unfavourable' to drilling, I am about to procure a patent for the exclufive right of making this machine for fale ; for which reafon, fcs well as that I have not procured an engraving of it* C 33* ] it, I omit attempting a particular defcription for the prefent. Whenever it fhall be fully before the public, I flatter myfelf it will be found to pofiefs, at the price of Ten Guineas, at lead more than all the valuable properties contained in other machines of a much higher price. As I have now completed a new machine, inclu- ding all the improvements fuggefted by confiderable pra&ice with my firft ; and as my wifh is to extend public utility, I fhall be happy to fhew it to any gen- tleman defirous of infpecling it. Moreover, as foon as I can get fufficient leifure, I intend making a mo- del, and fending it to the Society's Rooms at Bath. It may not be unimportant to fay, that this ma- chine is conftructed to be drawn eafily by one horfe, fave on very rough and hilly ground. Having ma- turely confidered and proved the ufefulnefs of the different parts, I think myfelf warranted on the foundation of experience, and not of theory, in offering to fupply any perfon with this machine $ having brought my workmen to fuch neatnefs of ex- ecution, as to bear a comparifon with moft others. I intended fending you for the Fourth Volume of the Society's papers, an account of the quantity of acres fown lafl year with the machine, for myfelf and [ 339 ] and neighbours, together with a ftatcment of the feed and crops ; but find I fhall not have time to do it correctly. I will, however, annex an account of a crop of peafe fown with my machine in its lefs perfect ftate, and hoed with a large breaft-hoe of my own invention. In the beginning of April 1787, I drilled a field of 17 acres, of poor fandy ground, on one earth, after barley, with eight facks and one bufhel of peafe.* The rows were twice hoed, and earthed up with my breaft-hoe before- mentioned, at the expence of lefs than 2s. 6d. per acre. My crop from the harveft field was 63 or 64 full-fized wag- gon loads j and though (not having completed my threfhing) I cannot exactly afcertain the whole quantity of peafe, I can do it fufficientlv near to afifert, that I have above ten facks per acre, after deducting the feed, befides the advantage of very clean draw, and having my land*in excellent order for my wheat crop. With my breaft-hoe, I found that one man could with eafe hoe an acre per day, the firft time of hoe- ing. A^d to (hew the difference between this and the common hoe, I introduced three men with the • This quantity, though but half what is ufually fown broadcait, js greater than was neccflary, and greater than I fow this year. Vol. IV. Z latter [ 340 ] latter to work in a field againft two with the former. At night it appeared that the three had not more than finifhed an acre, while the two with the breaft- hoe had completed; in a much better manner, two acres. A ftronger proof need not be brought to evince the fuperiority of any inftrument. Brief Statement of the Advantage arifmgfrom my Ma- nagement of the Pea Field above-mentioned, DRILLED. £. s. d. Produce 170 facks, fuppofe at 16s. per fack ----- 136 o 0 Seed 8i facks, at 1 8s. - ^-7 8 6 Hoeing, twice, fay at 2S. 6d. per acre - - - 226 Extra expence on account of the fuperior quantity to be brought to market, - 50 0 — 14 11 o Grofs profit - j£.i2i 9 o BROADCAST. Suppofe the fame 17 acres had been fown broadcaft, the produce on the foil in qucftion would have been deemed good at 5 facks per acre, which at 16s. as above, would be ;f»68 O O Seed, 17 lacks, at 18s. per fack - - 15 6 o Grofs profit on the broadcaft 52 14 0 Difference of grofs profit on the 17 acres in favour of drilling - - • 68 15 0 or 4I. os. iod, per acre. [ 34i ] s It will be allowed, that my ftatement of £.5 for extra expences of bringing the drilled crop to mar- ket is fully iufHcient, if not an unnecefTary abate- ment, when the quantity and cleannefs of my draw, and the fuperior condition of my land, from twice hoeing, for a wheat crop, are taken into the general account. I hope to give you fome further account of my fuccefs in fimilar attempts ; and though I employ the hand of a friend to methodize my communi- cations, I defire you and the public to confider my veracity as pledged for matters of fact, and to be allured that I fhall at any time have pleafure in giving my opinion, and advancing the interefts of hufbandry. Your's very refpectfully, GEORGE BARNES. Article XLVI. /in Account of a Crop of Cabbages, for which a Premium of the Bath Society was awarded to the Writer* [In a Letter to the Secretary.] Sir, Chilcomptorty Dec. 3, 1 7 8 7 . AGREEABLE to your requeft, I fend you fome account of my cabbage crop, of 12 acres, which the Committee has thought deferving the premium offered by our Society. As you defired, Z 2 I have [ 34* ] I have weighed the produce of one perch, on each fide of the road; there being, as you remember, fome confiderable difference in the appearance of the two pieces. The perch on that part which appeared lighted:, weighed five hundred and one quarter; and fixty times that weight, I believe, makes forty- two tons per acre, The perch on the other fide weighed eight hundred and a half, which is fixty-eight tons per acre. The former, as you juftly obferved, when they fhall have attained their full growth, may be nearly equal to the latter. This difference I account for from the firft having been fown iri the beginning of March, and therefore had not fo good a chance for growth as the others, which were fown in the autumn, and planted out in May. The fpring-fown ones were not planted out till near Midfummer, and then in fo dry a time that they were almoft fcorched up. Therefore I fhall in future join in opinion with my neighbour Mr, Billingslev, and always fow for autumn plants. For which purpofe, the beft time to fow the feed is about the middle of Auguft, and tranfplant them off into fome warm garden, or other place in which they may be flickered from very fevere froft, In the next place I fhall reply to your enquiry about the quality and general value of the arable land in this parifh. It is of a light, ihelly, ftone-. brafh. [ 343 ] brafh nature, — a foil in fome people's opinion un- favourable to cabbage. They will tell you it ought to be a ftiff clay, or heavy loam; my fuccefs, how- ever, in the growth of cabbages, proves that more is to be expected from manure and management than the difputers about foils feem aware of. This re- mark, indeed, will apply to mofl crops, but you will pardon my making it. The value of our arable land per acre, is about 30s. on the average; which is in my opinion too high a price to allow giving a direct fummer fal- low. But if the land were as low as half that price, I mould endeavour to raife turnips, cabbages, &c. as a fallow crop : fuch a crop is worth more or lefs according to the price of hay, fometimes 5L 61. 7L or more, per acre, which is certainly at any rate an object, both to the farmer and the community at large; and far more eligible in mod filiations than letting the land lie for a bare fallow. For after the cabbage is fed off, (which I always endeavour to do, and fow the land to wheat by Old Candlemas) I find, by more than ten years' experience, an addi- tional advantage in the goodnefs of the following crop. Such wheat with me is ever fuperior to that AhichI fow at or before Michaelmas. The fort of wheat I generally fow after fuch green 'crops, is Z 3 the [ 344 ] the white-eared, fo called at Warminfter and De- vizes -, in the Weft, brafil. I think you further wifhed to know the manure I made ufe of for my cabbage. It was a compoft of lime, weeds, and earth, that lay under the hedges round the field, and a layer of dung, all mixed and turned together. I fpread about 25 cart-loads on an acre, with the ufual ploughing given to a com- mon fummer fallow. This is not to be reckoned with expences attending a cabbage crop ; for admit- ting fuch crop to exhaufl the manure in fome de- gree by its growth, an ample refloration will be made by its refufe ploughed in, and by the ftirring and cleaning the ground. 1 will give you, as nearly as I can, a full account of the expences of the crop of cabbages per acre. & \ d. The feed fufficient for an acre, is |lb. at 3s. o o 9 Sowing and tranfplanting - - -050 Ridging up two furrows, and leaving two, with the Norfolk plough - -.026 Two men and two boys, for drawing and fetting plants - - - o 3 4 Earthing up on the two furrows left, done when the plants are well rooted - 026 Hoeing and earthing up the faid plants* 026 The plants ought to ftand a yard apart every way. [ 345 ] £. ,. i. o 16 7 The carrying of the cabbages of the land to the cattle, as they are wanted, I will fup- pofe,'on fuch a fcale of fc( Jing as mine, to require a man, 2 horfes, and a cart, half the day, which per week for one acre, is about - - - - -0176 Total expence. per acre • ^,1 14 1 The aforefaid man in my farm carries the cab- bage to 45 oxen, and upwards of 60 fheepj and throws them out of the cart over the fields without cutting them. My 1 1 acres of cabbage will feed the above number of flock for three months, and I am very well aflured that they prove as faft as they do in the prime months of the feafon, May, June, and July. I am, and would wifh to be, the practical farmer ; at the fame time I am open to informa- tion, or the candid opinion of any manj remain- ing, dear Sir, Your much obliged friend and fervant, HENRY VAGG. .[The communication of experiments conducted with care, and on fo jefpe&able a fcale as Mr. Vagg's, above related, muft be ever acceptable to this Society, as well as intcrcfting to the publiclc. We would, however, beg leave to recommend to Mr. Vagg fome future attention to the poflible advantage of cutting the cabbages before they are eaten ; [ 346 ] eaten ; on which plan it may become prudent to contrive fome mode of giving them to the cattle different from that of flrewing them on the ground. We are of opinion, that method and cleanlinefs in the fattening of every fort of cattle, will ever be found of fome importance, both in pro- moting their growth, and in the faving of their food. Mr. Vagg has omitted to mention, and the prefs can- not now wait for the enquiry, what quantity of hay was eaten by his cattle, while "feeding on the cabbage j but fuch information, though a proper part of an experimental ac- count, is not very important, as the quantity necefTary to others may vary according to accidental circumftances.] ON THE PRESERVATION of the HEALTH O F Perfons employed in Agriculture, AND ON THE CURE of the DISEASES INCIDENT TO THAT WAY OF LIFE. BY WILLIAM FALCONER, M.D. F.R.S. And Phyfician to the Bath Hofpital, hm$ INTRODUCTION. n^HE Prefervation cf the Health cf per/ons employed in Agriculture, is, abftr aft ed from moral and reli- gious confederations, of greater national importance than any improvement either in the theory or p' aft ice of the art can lay claim to. Without Artificers, it is obvious, that there can be no mctnufafture of any kind-, and if the workmen are infe- rior in number to the proportion required, the bufenefs mufi languifh, or be contracted in its extent. An attempt, therefore, to correft the errors, or to referain the impru- dence, with refpeft to Juch matters as concern Health, of thoje employed in this branch, can need no apology. I wijh I could fay, that the execution of the work were equal to the importance of thefubjeft-, but however inferior it may be, it contains, I truft, fome ujeful cau- tions, and, I hope, fome hints that may lead to farther improvement. I have judged it eligible, to addrejs the prejent work to thofe who employ the perfons for whoje immediate ufe the cautions are principally intended, rather than to at- tempt to infer uft the people themf elves. Few of the latter have much time for reading, and little capacity for in- fer uilion in matters ofreafonmg. I have, therefore, ven- tured [ 350 ] turedto diretl my f elf to thofe from whom information of this kind would be likely to come with greateft authority, on account of their immediate connexion and influence. The Reverend Clergy will, I truft, excufe my offering a hint to them on this occafion. They are almoft uni- versally perfons of liberal education, and more general knowledge, than falls to the lot ofmoft of their neighbours. Would it not be an agreeable as well as an ufeful method of employing thefe advantages, to turn their thoughts to- wards the praclical part of Medicine? The Natural Hi/lory of the Human Body affords a more ufeful fubjetl cf inveftigation, than is done by ftones,Jpiders, orjhells; and though medicine, taken at large, is an arduous and deep ftudy, yet it is practicable enough to gain fuffcient knowledge of it to be of great fervice in many cafes, efpe- cially fuch as occur moft frequently among perfons of the defer ipt ion here alluded to. The disorders incident to fuch are in general fimple in their nature, and Jeldom exhibit at the fame time fuch apparently contrary, and of courfe perplexing indications, as thofe which are the offspring of luxury and refinement. All the dijorders indeed that occur among fuch perfons are not equally fimple, but goodfenfe and moderate infor- mation willjaggeft the propriety of ajking, in fuch cafes, the advice of perfons whofe prof effional education and at- tention has led them to a deeper knowledge of the fubjetl. ON ON THE PRESERVATION OF THE HEALTH OF PERSONS EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURE. ADVANTAGES WHICH PERSONS EMPLOYED IN AGRI- CULTURE POSSESS IN POINT OF HEALTH. THE way of life of perfons engaged in agri- cultural bufinefs, exempts them from many of the diforders to which other occupations are liable. Many of the employments by which great numbers of people are fupported, are injurious to health, by being either too fedentary, or too labo- riops ; by which the powers of nature are either fuffcrcd to languifh for want of exertion, or worn out prematurely by over-fatigue. But the bufinefs of hufbandry is not necefifarily connected with either of thefe extremes. The labour is indeed conftant, but not in general fo violent as either to exhauft the ftrength by ovcr-ftraining, or to excixe any weak- ening degree of difcharge by perfpiration. The variety likewife of the neceflary bufinefs is a favour- able circumftance for thofe who are employed in it, [ 3$* ] it, as thereby the different mufcles of the body are exercifed, and various poftures ufed, which contri- bute to ftrengthen the body more generally, and alfo relieve the mind by a diverfity of attentions. A farther advantage attending the nature of la- bour in husbandry is, that it is performed in the open air, which in general muft be pure and whol- fome, as being free from fmoke and other vapours arifing from inflamed bodies, and alfo from putrid exhalations both of the animal and vegetable kind, which are well known to taint the air in large ci- ties, and in manufactories of every kind, where great numbers of people are afTembled in a fmall compafs. The furface or ftaple of the foil, which is the fub- ject of thefe operations, does not give out any noxi- ous odours, like many of the mineral or metalline fubftances employed in feveral manufactories, but is at lead perfectly innocent, and has even been thought to produce effluvia rather favourable than injurious to health. The number of vegetables, likewife, with which perf6ns concerned in fuch em- ployments are generally furrounded, contribute to render the air which is refpired pure and falubrious, by abforbing the putrid and phlogiftic fubftances that float m the atmofphere. The [ 353. I The diet of perfons who live in the country is, I think, in general more wholfome than that of thofc who inhabit towns. A large portion of it confiiis of frefh vegetables and milk, which, though not ex- cluded from the food of thofe who live in towns, are enjoyed in much greater plenty and higher per- fection in rural fituations. Thefe correct the pu- trefactive difpofition of animal food, and tend to keep up the proper fecretions and evacuations, and to maintain that balance in the animal fyftem, upon which health fo much depends. The regular hours necefTary to be obferved by thofe who follow country bufinefs, are perhaps of more confequence than any of the other articles, however important thofe may be. It is an old and a common opinion, that the ex- ternal air is much lefs falubrious during the night than the day ; and this opinion, which probably was at firft drawn from obfervation, feems to be con- firmed by chemical experiments, which tend to fhew that the air exhaled by vegetables, whilfl the fun is above the horizon, is much more pure and fit for refpiration than that which iflues from them in the abfence of the fun. The ill effects of the latter are probably bell avoided, by the human body being in a ftace of repofe and infenfibility, which [ 3*4 ] which render it lcfs liable to be affected by fuch impreflions. The morning air, on the contrary, fo celebrated both by poets and philofophers for its benign and cheering effects upon the mind, and- body, is enjoyed in high perfection by perfons in this: way of life : and the advantages they derive from thence in point of health are probably very great. I have been informed from the beft authority, that a perfon in high flation lbme years ago, who was very defirous to protract his exiflence in , this world as long as he was able, made every poflible enquiry concerning the regimen and manner of life of thofe perfons who had arrived at a great age, but found no circumftance common to them all, fave that they all had obferved great regularity in point; of hours; both rifing early, and going early to reft. Freedom from care and anxiety of mind is a blefflng, which I apprehend fuch people enjoy iq higher perfection than mod others, and is of the utmoft confequence. Mental agitations and eating cares are more injurious to health, and deftructive of life, than is commonly imagined ; and could their effects be collected, would make no inconfiderable figure in the bills of mortality. The fimplicity and uniformity of rural occupa- tions, and their inceffant practice, preclude many anxieties [ 355 ] anxieties and agitations of hope and fear, to which employments of a more precarious and cafual na- ture are fubject. Nor is it the lead advantage to health, accruing from fuch a way of life, that it expofes thofe who follow it to fewer temptations to vice than perfons who live in crouded fociety. The accumulation of numbers always augments in fome meafure moral corruption, and the confequences to health of the various vices incident thereto, are well known. Diforders to which Agricultural Perfons are Jubjecl from the Nature of their Employment. THE life of hufbandmen and farmers, though in general healthy, has, like other fituations, fome circumitances attending it which produce diforders. Thefe may be confidered in feveral points of view, according to their caufes. Firft, then, the nature of their employment often expofes fuch perfons to the viciflltudes of weather, Thefe, perhaps, may be of many very different kinds, when confidered with regard to the changes n the nature of the atmofphere > but this is an en- quiry too deep and obfcure for a popular treatife, ike the prefent, and I (hall only take notice of fuch as are obvious and certain. Thefe are three Vol. IV. A a ia [ 356 ] in number, cold, heat, and moifture\ to which may be added, a combination of the laft of thefe with either of the former. Expofure to a great degree of cold may produce inflammatory diforders of different forts, but prin- cipally, though not altogether, of the topical kind. Thus the inflammatory fore throat, rheumatic pains in the teeth and face, inflammations of the eyes, and coughs, with pain of the bread, attended with fever, are all complaints liable to be produced by cold air, either externally applied, or drawn in by the breath. To thefe may be added, the rheu- matifm, both of the acute and chronic kind, which, though fometimes a local diforder, is often general, and may be frequently traced to this cauie. Cold, likewife, when great, and long continued, is apt to produce diforders of an oppofite nature to thufe juft mentioned. Paralytic affections are fre- quently caufed by it, efpecially in the lower extre- mities, which are generally the moft expofed to its influence. Heat'is another fource of difeafe to the hufband- man, who often experiences its bad effects in time of harveft. Inflammatory fevers are often the con- fequence of heat and labour, and fometimes fuch as [ 357 ] as are attended with local inflammation, as plcuri- fies, peripncumonies, inflammations of the bowels, &c. Sometimes the brain is primarily affected, probably from the immediate effect of the fun's rays upon the head. The eyes are alfo liable to be inflamed from expofure to ftrong light. Moif- ture, efpecially when combined with either of the above extremes of temperature, is produ^ive of feveral diforders. People who work in the open air, and oftentimes at a diftance from fhelter, muft neceffarily be ex- pofed to cafual fhowers at every feafon of the year. If thefe happen in cold weather, they aggravate the bad effects of cold, by conveying it to a clofer con- tact with the (kin, and alfo by the generation of cold by evaporation. If rain fall fuddenly at a warm feafon of the year, its effects are, I apprehend, lefs dangerous than in cold weather to thofe who are wet with it; neverthelefs it is not void of ha- zard, efpecially if the perfons expofed to it have been previoufly much heated, either by the weather, or exercife. The evaporation of the moifture generates a de- gree of cold, which is greater as the evaporation is quicker. This then is one reafon, why the danger of wet clothes is greater, as the body is more heated. A a 2 Whether [ 358 ] Whether moifture, (imply confidered, has any other effect than as increafing the influence of cold, is not clearly determined. But whatever doubts we may entertain, concerning the moifture of the atmofphere, there is no queftion that fome kinds of moifture, to which perfons who labour in this way are fometimes expofed, has fpecifically noxi- ous qualities. The draining of marfhy grounds, however it may in its confequences benefit the health of thofe who live in the neighbourhood, has been long obferved to be but an unwholfome employment for thofe who work at it. Yet this is frequently a neceffary piece of bufinefs for the farmer, as well as the cleanfing of ditches, which is in fome meafure of the fame kind, though in general lefs apt to do mifchief. The moifture to which people thus employed are expofed, muft not be confidered as mere humidity ; but as humidity, combined with putrefying fub- ftances, and capable of diffufing the effects of fuch over thofe who are within a certain diftance of it. Marines are well known to produce diforders, even over a considerable extent of country, and muft of courfe be particularly liable to affect thofe who break up any part of them. Putrid com- plaints of various kinds may be produced by thefe exhalations; [ 359 ] exhalations ; but I apprehend, the intermittent fe- ver is the ufual confequence; the frequent appear- ance of which, in moid and fenny countries, has been univerfally obferved. Such are the difeafes to which people employed in hufbandry are occafionally liable from the nature of their occupation. But they are fubject to a much greater number from their own imprudence, of which I fhall next fpeak. Diforders to which Perfons employed in Agriculture are liable from their own imprudence. AND firft, Of their wanton expofure of them/elves to the vicijfttudes of Heat and Cold. It is no uncom- mon thing for people who work in harveft, when violently heated by the weather and by labour, to drink large draughts of fome cold thin liquor, as water, milk, whey, butter-milk, and fuch like. This, if taken in great quantity, has been fometimes known to fupprefs the powers of life altogether, and to produce an almofl inftant death. This however, I believe, feldom happens; but the bad effects of this practice appear in other ways A a 3 fufficiently [ 36o ] fufficiently ferious to difcourage fuch hazardous ex- periments. It is not uncommon for a violent fever to be the confequence, which is frequently attended with inflammation of the flomach or bowels ; both which are diforders of the mod dangerous nature. But mould they efcape incurring any acute com- plaint, it is common for them to be affected with a fenfe of weight and ficknefs at the ftomach, which continues feveral weeks, and is at laft relieved by vomiting; this, however, does not put a period to the complaint, as it is, generally followed by an itching eruption on the (kin in blotches, in various parts of the body, which proves to be the leprofy — a loathfome and filthy difeafe, and very difficult of cure ! 1 have had an opportunity of feeing at the Bath Hofpital, a great number of people thus afflidted, and am fatisfied that they all, without exception, owed their difeafe to the application of cold, in fome form or other, to the body when in a heated date. Labouring perfons are very apt, when they leave off any work in which they have been much heated, to remain fome time at reft in the open air before they put on their clothes. This is a very impru- dent practice, and frequently produces bad effects, efpecially in bringing on coughs, and other diforders of [ 36i ] of the bread, which oftener owe their rife among the common people to this than any other caufe. Neglect of changing their clothes when wet, is alfo a great fource of diforder among hufbandmen. To remain in wet clothes when the body is at reft:, fubjects the perfon who is fo imprudent as to fuffer it, to the united bad effects of cold and moifture. Much worfe confequences may however be ex- pected, when they who are heated by labour lie down to deep, as they often do, in their wet clothes. The diminution of the force of the circulation and other powers of life, which always takes place du- ring fleep, caufes the bad effects of cold to operate with much greater danger to health and life. This hazard is much aggravated, if they add to this im- prudence by flecping on the wet ground. This not only communicates an additional moifture and cold, but is perhaps ftill more prejudicial from the nature of the exhalation. It is the opinion of a phyfician of the greatcft eminence, that the vapour which arifes from moid earth is the caufe of the moft dan- gerous fevers. Thofe, therefore, who put them- felves wantonly in the way of fuch danger, are guilty of little lefs than fuicide. ExcefSy or Irregularity in Diet, is another fource of diforder to people in this way of life. This is common [ 362 ] common indeed in fome meafurc to all ranks, but in feveral refpects it is particularly applicable to thofe who are employed in hufbandry. Air and exercife are well known to fharpen the appetite; and as thefe advantages are incident to this way of life, it may be expected that fome excefs fhould now and then take place. The diet of fuch perfons is indeed in general too fpare and plain to offer any great incen- tive to indulgence in point of quantity, but oppor- tunities fometimes offer for a more plentiful allow- ance of food, and more inviting to the palate. On fuch occafions the lower ranks of people exert little confideration or prudence. They have fcarcely any view beyond the gratification of the prefent moment; and if a full indulgence of appetite is not exercifed, they deem it a lofs of an opportunity for the enjoy- ment of fo much happinefs. ' It is needlefs to enumerate in this place all the complaints that excefs in quantity of food may bring on ; it is fufficient to fay, that it has often produced fudden death, and where its violent effects have not been fo immediate, has laid a foundation for bad health during the remainder of life. — To this head may be referred the brutal practice of eating enormous quantities for a wager, or out of bravado. It is needlefs to defcant upon fo odious a fubject, farther than to fay, that fuch things fink men [ 363 ] men below the level of beafts in groflhefs and folly, not to mention the fcandalous immorality of fuch actions. The diet of people employed in hufbandry, does not admit of much luxury refpecting its quality ; there are however fome things which come within the reach of thefe people, and which they regard as gratifications, and of courfe are apt to take in too great quantity. Of this kind are fome of the au- tumnal fruits, which in fome years are produced fo largely, as to be of fcarcely any pecuniary value. Of thefe, plumbs, efpecially fuch as are of the coarfer and more auftere forts, are the principal. It is a common obfervation, that in years wherein there is an abundance of fuch fruits, purgings, co- licks, and mod other complaints of the ftomach and bowels, are very common. It is proper here to obferve, that the incautious manner in which thefe fruits are devoured, efpecially at their firft coming in, caufes many of the (tones to be fwal- lowed i — a practice extremely hazardous. The hif- tory of phyfick affords many examples of the worft confequences arifing from fuch bodies lodging in the ftomach and bowels. Sometimes, when the accumulation of them has been confiderable, they have obftructed the alimentary canal altogether, and produced a miferable death in a fhort rime/ at others, [ 364 ] others, they have made their way through different parts of the body, and caufed either a long and painful illnefs, or death, by the hectick fever attend- ing internal fuppurations. Pears, if eaten too freely, are apt, as well as the flone-fruits, to diforder the ftomach and bowels j but they are lefs dangerous, and not fo often fwal- lowed in fuch quantities as to be materially preju- dicial to life or health. Nuts are perhaps, upon the whole, the moft dan- gerous of any of the fruits that are likely to fall into the way of this rank of people. When eaten in large quantity, they have been often known to lodge in the ftomach, and to be incapable of being re- moved from thence by any medicine, and of con- fequence have put a fpeedy end to life. When taken in lefs quantity, they are found to opprefs the breathing, and to produce vomiting and bowel complaints. Hoffman obferves, that dyfenteric complaints are always moft common in thofe years in which the harveft of nuts is plentiful. Excefs in diet, however, is more frequently committed in liquids than in folids. It is obferved of mankind in general, that they have a natural fondnefs for fermented or fpirituous liquors, [ 36s ] liquors, and a certain proportion appears to be al- lowable and even neceflary for perfons who undergo hard labour. But the healthy quantity is apt to be exceeded when opportunity offers, and excefs of this kind is more hurtful than a defect of fuch gratifi- cations. I need not here enlarge on the confe- quence of drunkennefs to health. Fevers, dropfies, confumptions, apoplexies, and many other miferable diforders, are well known to follow fuch a courfe. The want of money among labouring people, in- deed often prevents the bad effects of a habit of this kind, but occafional opportunities occur which are laid hold on with great avidity ; and it is far from uncommon to find death the immediate follower of fuch licentious indulgence. Diet, however, is not the only article which fuch perfons are liable to carry to excefs. It is common to fee exertions of a more liberal kind purfued to too great length. The caprice of emulation will often produce inftances of labour, which duty, and the urgency of circumftances, might in vain folicit. The burfting offome of the blood-vefTels, particu- larly thofe of the head, lungs, or ftomach, nephritic complaints, and inteftinal ruptures, have all of them followed fuch ill-judged and ollentatious difplay of flrength and corporeal abilities. Direftions [ 366 ] Ttireftions relative to the Prevention and Cure of Disor- ders incident to Perfons employed in Agriculture. AFTER the above enumeration of complaints to which perfons thus employed are liable, it is proper I mould offer fomething on the fubject of their cure or relief. This I fhall confider in two views , the firft as to what regards the prevention of diforders, and the fecond as to what regards their cure. Perfons that work in hufbandry are neceffarily expofed to the weather in both its extremes of tem- perature. The ill effects therefore of both, it be- hoves us to counteract. Cold in this climate is moft neceffary to be attended to, as its operation is of longer duration; feveral months in the year often requiring us to be on our guard againft cold, whilft cxceffive heat fcarcely lafts more than a few days. Warmth of clothing is the only method, exercife excepted, by which thofe who fpend their life in the open air can guard againft cold, and nothing is more neceffary for fuch perfons as are the fubjects of the prefent confideration, than a proper regard to this article. The woollen cloths of our own country are per- fectly well adapted for thefe purpofes, being warm without being too heavy, refilling moifture in a good meafure, t 367 ] meafure, and even when wetted being lefs cold to the touch than any other fubftance. It appears to me that fome of the coarfer and loofer woven fabricks are preferable, both in point of warmth and light- nefs, to thofe of a more even furface, and alfo give more refiftancc to the penetration of moiflure. Every perfon who employs men under him in bufinefs of this nature, ought to be careful, in point of interefl as well as humanity, that his fervants have clothing fufficient for the feafon of the year; otherwife he may expect a proportionable diminu- tion in the labour he expects to be performed, and the lofs of many valuable opportunities, efpecialiy in precarious weather and feafons. The fame arguments are applicable to thofe who have the care of the parilh poor, whom it would be far more ceconomical as well as humane to preferve in a good ftate of health, than to fuffer them to become victims of difeafes which might be pre- vented. This caution refers particularly to the youth, who, by being neglected at that time of life, often continue burdens on thofe perfons, whofe ex- pences (had the children's health been duly attended to) they might have contributed to diminifh. uon, properly applied, might prove an ex- cellent prefervative againft, and even a remedy for many [ 363 ] many of the bad effects of cold. Would perfons chilled with the feverity of the weather, rub their bare limbs with woollen cloths for a confiderable time after they return home, it would produce a more equable and genial warmth, and contribute more to fupport the powers of life, than any arti- ficial heat whatfoever. The fame operation would probably prevent many of thofe painful and refrac- tory fores called chilblains, which are fo apt to affect the extremities, efpecially in young people. Should any perfons in extreme froft have their limbs or any part of the body actually frozen, the utmoft caution muft be had not to bring them near to any fire. The fafeft method is faid to be, to rub the part frozen firft with fnow, and to continue the friction till fome degree of warmth begins to appear, but not to fufFer the accefs of any heat from fire, till the warmth from friction takes place. Even then, the part frozen mould not be fuddenly expofed to the heat of a fire, but rather be continued to be rubbed till the natural fenfation and heat are per- fectly reftored. If the part frozen be expofed to the heat of a fire whilft in a frozen ftate, it will un- doubtedly mortify. It feldom happens, that the cold is fo intenfe in this country, as to deflroy thofe expofed to its in- fluence by its direct and immediate operation -, yet as [ 3*9 ] as great degrees of it now and then take place, it may be proper to caution thofe who may be in a fituation that expofes them for any confiderable time together to violent cold, to be cautious how they fuffer any propenfity to fleep, or drowfinefs, to (teal upon them. A tendency to fleep in a perfon who is in fuch a (late, is a certain fign that the cold begins to gain ground on the powers of life, and mould therefore excite the ftrongeft efforts to refift it. This may be a difficult tafk, but is neceflary, as life entirely depends upon it. Heat, though lefs frequently an object of our care in this refpect than cold, neverthelefs demands our attention. Though feldom of long duration, the heat is fometimes exceflive. I have feen it in the (hade, and in a fituation expofed to no reflected heat, raife the thermometer to 87 degrees. Such heats, and even confiderably lefs, are too great for laborious work even in the (hade, and mud be dill more injurious to thofe who are expofed to the fun's rays, which is of neceflity the cafe with thofe who work in the harveft. In fuch extremities of temperature, it (hould not be expected, or even permitted, that the unthinking labourer, who has icarcely any views beyond the prefent moment, (hould expofe himfelf to fuch ha- zard* [ 37° 1 zard. (Economy, as well as humanity, pleads loudly in behalf of fuch indulgence. Inferior, yet ft ill confiderable degrees of heat, although they need not preclude work in the open air, ftill have need of fome cautions refpecting them. It is not uncommon to obferve a degree of impatient anxiety which accompanies fome people in every action of life. This prevails among the lower as well as higher ranks of mankind, and often proves a fource of fatigue and toil, without expe- diting labour. Calmnefs and compofure are ne- ceflary to the corporeal as well as the mental ope- rations, and tend greatly to prevent the bad effects of excefs of ftimulus of any kind. As the head is the part principally expofed to the action of the folar rays, it is particularly necelTary to ufe fome defence for that part. Hats are ufed for this purpofe, but the black colour of which they are generally made, caufes them to abforb the heat, and of confequence to accumulate it in the very part on which we mould lead defire it to fall. Hats for working people in hot weather fhould be made of ftraw, or fome light fubftance of a white or pale colour, and with brims fufficiently wide to fhelter both the head and moulders from the fcorching beams of the fun. Even a piece of white paper covering [ 37i ] covering a hat, is no contemptible defence againft folar heat. The eyes fhould likewife be confi- dered, which expofure to ftrong light is fo apt to injure. This ihould be guarded againft by the brim of the hat being made of a fufficient breadth to fhade the eyes, and the infide fhould alfo be tinged of either a green or blue colour, but by no means either black or a very light hue, I have before mentioned the bad erTecls of cold applied in any way to the body when violently heated. This fhould ferve as a fufficient caution againft fuch imprudencies. It may be ufefuj to add, that as it may be neceftary to drink frequently, It prevents much of the bad effects of cold liquor, to eat fomething folid immediately before any liquid be taken. A few morfels may be fufficient, and the efficacy of the precaution is well known. The mifchievous confequences of cold liquors, drunk in fuch cafes, are much aggravated when they are, as is too common, fwilled down in enor- mous draughts. Would thirfty people but have a little patience, and drink fmall quantities at a time, with proper intervals, as of a few minutes, the un- eafy fenfation would be more effectually removed, and that without any danger to health. Vol. IV. B b Another [ 372 ] AnotheV caution highly necefiary for fuch perfcns is, to put on their clothes immediately on their leaving off work, and to do this without any regard to the warmth of the weather. Nothing can be more hazardous than for a perfon who is heated with labour, and in a ftronc: peripiration, to remain expofed to the wind. The exhalation both from the body and the wet linen, produces a fudden and con- fiderable degree of cold, which is not merely tran- fient, but continues as long as the moifture is fuf- fered to exhale freely into the open air. I have before remarked the hazard of labouring perfons fleeping on the ground during the intervals of their work. This is improper at all times, but particularly dangerous if the ground be any wife moilt. Indeed 1 am of opinion that fleep had better be avoided altogcdier at fuch times; as fuch (lum- bers produce but little refrefhment, and expofe the health to unneceflary rifque. The body would be fufficiently reded by the ceffation of labour, and early hours in the evening would afford a fufficient portion of time to be fpent in fleep. Moifture is equally necefiary to be confidered in this place, with refpe£t to its effects on the health, as heat and cold. This, I have before obferved, cannot be always avoided, but the bad effects it fo me times [ 373 ] fometimes produces may generally be obviated. If thofe who are Wet with fhowers, would be careful to continue their motion and labour whilft they re- main in the open air, and to change their clothes on their return home, many of the bad confequences of wet clothes would be prevented. Friction on fuch occafions might be an excellent prefervative againft the bad effects of cold and moifture : were the body and extremities that have been fo expofed, rubbed ftrongly for a quarter of an hour with a coarfe woollen or linen cloth, immediately on the wet clothes being ftripped off, it is probable few bad confequences would follow from the accident. It is indeed extraordinary this fhould not be oftener practifed in fuch circumftances than it is. Every labouring man knows the necejftty of rub- bing horfes that have been wet and dirty, and this not only for the purpofe of cleanfing away the filth, but alfo for that of preferving a due perfpiration and regular warmth on the furface of the body,. Bathing the feet in warm weather would alfo be an ufeful precaution on fuch occafions, efpecially to thofe who are fubject to purging and other diforders of the bowels. Labouring men are fometimes expofed to moif- ture of alefs innocent kind than fuch as falls from 8 b 2 the [ 374 ] the clouds. Draining marfhy ground is a neceflary bufinefs, and, as I have before faid, expofes the workmen to hazard from the nature of the moifture, as well as from Ample humidity. The intermittent fever is the principal, though not the only com- plaint, work of this kind is liable to bring on, and muft be particularly guarded againft. It therefore, feems proper that fuch kind of work mould, if pof- fible, be performed in the Spring, or early in the fummer, in which feafons thefe diforders are not fo likely to happen as when the autumn is advanced. And thofe who work in this way fhould be fuffi- ciently clothed, and be very cautious to avoid fudden tranfitions from heat to cold. Intemperance is particularly dangerous under fuch circumftances. It is highly proper, and even ne- ceflary, that thofe who perform fuch kind of labour fhould have a fufficient, and even liberal allowance, in point of diet; butexcefs of any kind, in fpiritu- ous liquors efpecially, tends to weaken the ftomach, and in confequence thereof, the whole vital fyftem, and to render the body more liable to receive con- tagion of every kind. This is not a caution founded merely on theory or general principles, but a fact in medicine eftabJifhed beyond all doubt. Another caution very neceflary to be attended to is, that none fhould go to fuch kind of labour in the morn- ing [ 375 ] ing before they have taken fome kind of food. Somewhat warm is mod proper, and if it can be had, I ihould prefer animal food. It is difficult to account for, but true as a fact, that warm victuals are greatly more cordial and flrengthening to the body, and of courfe more fit for the fupport of thole who perform laborious work, than the fame food if taken when cold, Cleanlinefs is an effential article in fuch circum- flances. Would thofe who work at fuch employ- ments be careful to wafh their hands and feet at their return from work, and to change their linen and (lockings as often as their circumftances would admit, it is probable that the hazard would be greatly lefTened. It is necefifary to remark, that the above cautions apply at lead equally ftrong to thofe who fuper- intcnd fuch operations, as to thofe who actually perform them. It is probable that the labour of body and attention of mind, which occupy thofe who are at work, is no fmall prefervative againft the accefs of contagion of every kind. As there is reafon to believe, that intermittent fevers may in fome cafes be fo far infectious as to be communicated from one perfon to another, it B b 3 would [ 37* 3 would be proper that when any perfon fhould be attacked therewith, fuch perfon fhould be provided with a feparate bed during the continuance of his diforder. Cautions of this kind would be the bell ceconomy, as diforders might then be checked at their firft appearance, and prevented from fpreading. Excefs, or Irregularity in Diet, is the next fubjecl: of thefe cautions. I have before mentioned fome of the diforders likely to be produced hereby, but mall now be more particular* Food may be confi- dered with refpecx to its quantity and its quality. The firft of thefe can only be meafured by a reafonable attention to the appetite. What may no more than fuffice for one man, may be great excefs in another ; and in general what the appetite leads to, may be confidered as the proper ftandard. But fome igno- rant nifties are foolifh enough to imagine, that there is a degree of credit annexed to the being able to confume a larger quantity of victuals than is in the power of other men ; and this beaftly prejudice, which often produces fatal confequences, fhould be as much as pofTible difcouraged, even by thofe who practife hofpitality among the lower ranks of people. It is certainly mean to offer to entertain any per- fons, of whatfoever degree they may be, without producing a fufficient quantity of wholfome pro- vifionsj [ 377 ] vifions; but it is dill more inhofpitable to encou- rage any to make fuch an ufc of what is provided for them as to endanger health or life, not to men- tion the fcandalous wade which muft be caufed by it. Still more blameable is the practice of encou- raging gluttony by wagers, or "offers of reward. They who do this are in fact highly criminal, and in no fmall degree guilty of the fatal confequences which fo often follow fuch brutal difplays of ap- petite. Moderation is not only neceffary in what regards the quantity of food, but alio as it regards the time in which it is confumed. It is neceflary to the proper digeftion of our food, and of courfe to the nouriftiment of the body, that it be taken in gradually, and its texture broken down by chewing. It would fcarcely be credited, were it not known as a facl:, that the folly of gluttony has prompted wagers not only on the quantity of food, but alfo on the time in which it Ihouldbe fwallowed; by acce- lerating which, all the bad effects of an enormous quantity of victuals muft be greatly aggravated. Meat, thus (wallowed, muft be of courfe in large pieces, fcarcely acted on by the teeth, and of diffi- cult digeftion. The fudden diftention of the fto- mach, by the introduction of a large quantity of meat (o nearly at the fame time, muft weaken its tone, by overftretching its fibres; and this has fome- times [ 378 ] times gone to fuch a length as to deprive the flo- mach of all that power of expelling its contents, which foon terminated in death. — To thefe dangers mould be added, that of the meat flicking in the paffage of the gullet, and remaining there without a poflibility of removal, a thing which is not uncom- mon amidft fuch excefles. Even the proper tempe- rature of food is worthy attention. Ruftick folly has produced wagers and premiums on the eating food nearly boiling hot. It is difficult to preferve any temper in the cenfure of fuch outrageous flupidity. The quality of food is neceffary to be confidered, as well as its quantity. The flomachs of labour- ing men are undoubtedly flrong, and able to digefl coarfe meat; but ill-judged ceconomy fhould not prompt farmers to fet before their fervants decayed or indigeflible food. Putrid meat is not merely unwholfome in its remote confequences, but imme- diately dangerous to life, as has been often expe- rienced, and fhould be avoided as carefully as we would any other poifonous fubflances, I have before pointed out the bad confequences that are apt to refult from the free ufe of fome indi- geflible fruits, particularly plumbs and nuts. I think it would be a proper caution for farmers not to plant any of the former that are of the coarfe and auflere kind; [ 379 1 kind j for though thry generally bear plentifully, their fruit is of little value, and likely on that account to fall to the fhare of fuch people. Hazel plan- tations are more necefTary ; but flill it would be of fervice to place them as far from farm-houfes as might be convenient, that they might afford lefs temptation for the gathering of their fruit. It is proper to notice here the danger thoughtlefs people who fpend much time in the fields are expoled to, from eating plants and berries with which they arc unacquainted. Many plants, commonly met with, are well known to be extremely poifonous, fuch as the Henbane, Deadly-nightfhade, Water-hemlock, fome fpecies of Drop-wort, fevera] kind of Murti- rooms, and many others. It fhould be a ftrict injunction to all who fpend their time in the fields, never to tafte any plant, fruit, or berry, which they do not know to be fafe, and indeed it would be more prudent to difcourage altogether fuch ufelefs curi- ofity. It is obvious that this caution is particularly necefTary for children. The danger of excefs in liquids is greater than in folid food. Fermented liquors, taken in moderate quantity, are both proper and necefTary for thofe who perform laborious work j but this healthy pro- portion is apt, when opportunity offers, to be ex- ceeded by people whofe gratifications are few in number, [ 3«o ] number, and of rare occurrence. As it is imprac- ticable to prevent fuch excefTes altogether, I would wifh to fuggeft, that, if they muft take place, malt liquor is found by experience to be much lefs inju- rious to the health and constitution than diftilled fpirits, however diluted with water. I have been informed that a principle of ceconomy has induced many farmers to treat their fervants, and thofe with whom they are connected, with fpirits and water, inftead of malt liquor ; but fuch a practice is by all means to be difcouraged, as fpirits are much more inflammatory than malt drinks, and produce more readily obfhuctions and inflammatory diforders, efpecially of the liver and mefentery. The tempo- rary delirium of intoxication that they produce, is faid to be much more violent and outrageous, and of courfe more dangerous, than what follows from taking too large a quantity of malt liquor. The deftructive effects of fpirituous liquors were fo ob- fervable fome years ago, as to produce the mod ferious apprehenfions in a national view, and to at- tract the notice of the legiflature. — The baptifms of London alone are faid to have been reduced from twenty thoufand annually to fourteen thou- fand, which was with reafon afcribed to the ufe of this pernicious beverage: — This fact is equivalent to a thoufand arguments ! On this fubject I would [ 38i ] would wifh to fay a few words on the debauchery that ufuaily attends county elections, efpecially fuch as are contefted. Much has been faid of late years on the fubject of inftructing Members of Parliament. No con- dition would be m6Ve juftifiable than to demand of all the candidates a promife that they would not, by encouraging dabauchery, ruin the health, de- ftroy the induftry, and corrupt the morals, of thofe people for whofe intereft they profefs fuch an anxi- ous concern, and to whofe fervice they are fo pro- foundly devoted. I believe it will not be thought going too far to affirm, that very few indeed have it in their power to repair, by any political conduct of their own, the mifchief done by a contefted election. No combination among the electors could be more truly patriotic, than one which tended to refufe fupport to every candidate that attempted to pro- mote his intereft by fuch means. In the former part of this elTay, I have mentioned fome of the ill effects that follow violent exertions of labour or exercife, which I truft are fufficient to fhew the imprudence of fuch drained efforts. I (hall only add here, that fuch trials fhould not be encouraged by premiums or other means, either by private perfons or public focieties. It would be far preferable to encourage conftant and perfevering induftry t 332 ] induftry and good execution of work, than excefEve labour and fatiguing exertions of ftrength. 1 fhall conclude this chapter with forae pieces of ge- neral advice. r Thofe who employ fervants in agriculture fliould encourage them to be careful of their health, and to make it a point of confideration. A proper prudence in this refpect is perfectly confident with induftry, and is indeed the mod neceffary circumftance to- wards the execution of a great quantity of work. — It is common with agricultural focieties to give pre- miums for the greateft number of children ; but this fhould always be conjoined with another condition, that the children fliould be healthy, and this laft cir- cumftance fhould preponderate againft the other. The fituation of farm-houjes is a matter of great conft-quence as it regards health. The greateft care fhould be taken to place them in dry fituations with a defcent from them every way, and upon a gravelly fpot, or at leaft fuch a one as is free from fprings that rife to, or near to, the furface of the earth. Care alfo fliould be taken to place the repofitories for dung and other manure at fome diftance from the houfe, and this caution fhould alfo be extended to the hog-ftyes and poultry-yards. The neceflary attention to the feeding thefe animals does not allow the [ 3«3 ] the diftance to be confiderable, but ftill does not re- quire their being fo near as we generally lee them placed. It is needlefs to expatiate on fuch a fubjecT:, or to attempt to prove that air impregnated with fuch filthy exhalations muft be injurious to health. Even good plans for farm-houfes of different fizes, according to the number of inhabitants, would contribute in no fmall degree to general welfare. The bed-chambers in farm-houfes are in general too low and confined, and the whole building too fmall ; this occafions too many people to be crouded together, a circumftance always very unfavourable to health, and the moft common fource of conta- gious diforders. Good water is alfo a circumftance of great moment. If this can be had from any fpring that rifes to the furface of the earth, it is commonly preferable to fuch as is drawn from a confiderable depth; but fuch a choice is not always in our power. If pond-water be ufed through ne- ceflity, it mould be previoufly put into cifterns or reiervoirs, covered at the top, and there fuffered to fettle. Care mould be had that the water be taken from a large pond, with a (tony or gravelly bottom, and not fubject to become putrid. Thofe who drink water of this kind fhould beware of fwallow- ing the eggs or fpawn of animals, leeches particu- larly, which fometimes have produced, it is faid, difagreeablc fymptoms. 'omta* [ 384 ] Cleanlinefs of the perfon is of greater importance to health than is generally imagined, and ought to be particularly encouraged among the lower ranks* of people, efpecially thofe employed in this way. Nothing feems more likely to contribute to this fa- lutary purpofe than a due obfervation of Sunday; this precept is not only conducive to religion, mo- rals, and civilization, but alfo to health. It is well obferved by Mr. Addison, that Sunday clears away the ruft of the whole week : — an expreffion which may be underftood to extend to cleanlinefs as well as other confederations, and indeed appears to have been fo intended by the amiable author in the paffage referred to. On the Cure of the Diseases incident to an Agricultural Life. I now come to the laft part of this eflay, which is to fpeak — Of the Cure of the Bifeafes to which Agricultural Perfons are fubjecl from their way of Life: and here I mud remind the reader, that the pre- fent treatife is not meant to be a difcuflion of the fubjecl: at large in a medical way, but only to con- tain fome plain hints and directions of the practical kind, which I believe to be juftifled by reafon and experience. Perfons [ 3*5 1 Perfons employed in daily labour of a healthy kind, and living on coarfe food, naturally become robutt and athletic, of a firm fibre and denfe blood. Hence inflammatory complaints are in fuch habits more common than thofe of the putrid kind ; and fuch as are attended with low ipirits and other hypochondriacal fymptoms, are rarely met with. Evacuations may of courfe be ufed with more fafety among fuch people than among the effeminate in- habitants of populous towns. Bleeding in the fevers that occur among country people, is for the mod part necelTary, efpecially in fuch as are attended with local inflammation, as pleurify, peripneumony, or inflammation of any of the vifcera. In fuch cafes, twelve, fourteen, fix- teen, or even twenty ounces of blood, may, and often ought, to be drawn at one time. The quan- tity, however, cannot be determined by any general rule, but muft be regulated by the age, ftrength, fex, and conftinution of the patient, but principally by the urgency of the fymptoms. If the internal pain be very acute, the fkin hot and dry, and the pulfe exceed no beats in a minute, a large bleeding is generally neceilary, efpecially if any other fymptom of a fatiguing or dangerous kind, as a violent cough, or fhortnefs of breath, be prefent. It [ 3*6 ] It is proper here to remark, that as foon as the nature of the complaint is fo far afcertained as to prove bleeding to be indicated, it is of confequcnce that fuch operation be performed as foon as poftible, and that a fufficient quantity be drawn at one time. One plentiful bleeding will fometimes fubdue a dif- eafe at its firft appearance, when if half the quantity only had been taken, it would have required per- haps to be repeated feveral times. It often, how- ever, and indeed generally happens, in fevers at- tended with local inflammation, that one bleeding, however judicioufly managed in refpect of quantity, is not fufficient. In fuch cafes we muft be governed nearly altogether by the urgency of the fymptoms, and when thefe indicate a farther evacuation to be necefTary, we muft proceed, not indeed without re- gard to other circumftances, but neverthelefs as confidering them as fubfervient only to the princi- pal object. An attention to this circumftance is efpecially proper, when the parts that are the feat of the complaint are immediately neceffary to life, as in inflammations of the brain, lungs, bowels, or any of the vifcera j in fuch cafes there is no time to be loft, and what many would think bold prac- tice, is indeed the only means of efcape. It is proper indeed to be careful, that the complaint originally be of fuch a nature as to require bleeding at [ 3«7 ] at all j and in this, it mud be confeflfed, even the mod acute perfons of the profeffion have been de- ceived. The intermittent fever fometimes comes on with fuch violent fymptoms as to refemble very ftrongly an inflammatory fever. But a little time generally refolves the difficulty, and the fucceflive and clear marked ftages of coldy heat, and fweat> are for the molt part fufficient to determine the nature of the diforder, even before any intermifllon takes place, and any neceiTity of beginning to treat it as a fever of a different kind. Even if it mould be mis- taken, and fome blood drawn, this evacuation has been often found ferviceable in the beginning of in- termittents, when the fymptoms are violent, and is recommended on fuch occafions by the mod judici- ous practitioners. A careful examination of cir- cumdances will, for the mod part, enable us to dif- tinguifh this diforder at its firft appearance. — Moid weather, and a feafon of the year about either the vernal or autumnal equinoxes, the latter efpecially, and the frequency of the diforder in the neighbour- hood, afford drong preemptions in favour of a fever being of the intermittent kind; — to which we may add, fuch obfervations as may be drawn from the nature of the foil and fituation, and the bufinefs or work in which thofe attacked with the complaint had been employed, previous to its firft coming on. Vol. IV. C c It [ 38S ] It is an opinion generally received, that if bleed- ing be omitted at the beginning of fevers, it is im- proper in their advanced flate, and this is in fome meafure true. Fevers that commenced with in- flammatory fymptoms often become putrid as they proceed, and bleeding is certainly improper in fuch circumftances. But I would obferve, that this cau- tion holds more ftrongly with regard to the enfee- bled inhabitants of towns, than for robuft country men. I apprehend that bleeding, though certainly more likely to be of fervice if tried at the beginning Qf the difeafe, is neverthelefs proper at every period when inflammatory fymptoms are prefent. This holds more ftrongly in cafes of fever attended with local inflammation, as in pleurify, inflammations of the vifccra, &c. in which the propriety of bleeding at every ftage, provided the fymptoms are urgent, is univerfally acknowledged. It fometimes happens in robuft people, that the common inflammatory fever preferves its original appearance nearly as long as life continues, and its change of type is not to be re- garded fo much as an indication that points out the propriety of a different method of treatment, as a fign that all our attempts are likely to be in vain. Topical bleeding is often of great fervice in many diforders as well as general bleeding, efpecially in the removal of fome troublefome and diftrefllng fymptoms. [ 3h 1 fymptoms. The head -ache Is frequently an atten- dant on fevers, and often continues when the heat, quicknefs of pulfe, third, and other fymptoms, are much abated ; and may be often thus relieved. — One of the eafiefl and fafeft methods of partial or topical bleeding is by the application of leeches. H 3, 4> 5> or 6 of thefe, be applied to the temples, in the cafes mentioned above, they will often pro- cure almoft immediate eafe, and are perfectly fafe in their application, as the quantity of blood each of them draws is very fmall. Leeches may often be applied with great fuccefs in many inflammatory complaints that fhew themfelves externally, as rheu- matic fwellings, particularly thofe of the face and cheeks, inflammations of the eyes, inner parts of the ear, &c. In every inftance they mould be applied as near as poflible to the part affected. Bleeding, however, though a powerful remedy, requires fome judgment and caution in the application of it. The fevers that appear among country people, though often inflammatory, are not always fo. Pu- trid fevers, though fcarcely natural (if fuch an ex- preffion may be admitted) to a country life, are neverthelefs capable of being communicated by contagion, and in fuch cafes bleeding is generally hurtful. In fome inflances the putrid and inflam- matory fymptoms are fo combined, as to make it C c 2 doubtful \ \ [ 39° ] doubtful to which clafs of fymptoms we ought principally to attend, and in fuch cafes fome expe- rienccd perfon fhould be confulted ; but in general the hidden debility of body, and dejection of mind, that ufually come on at the accefs of the fever, the red watery eye, and the tendency to perfpiration or other evacuations, fufficiently djftinguifh this com- plaint from thofe of the inflammatory kind. The nervous fever feems to be only an inferior degree of the putrid or malignant. It is principally dif- tinguifhed by the weaknefs and dejection of mind that attend it. The ulcerated fore-throat is another complaint that may be found in every fituation, as it is capable of being propagated by contagion. The difference of this from the inflammatory fore-throat is now well underftood and generally known -, but there is another complaint that refembles it very much, which requires a very different mode of treatment, of which I mall fpeak hereafter. In both, however, bleeding is improper. No cafe requires the ufe of the lancet more than the common cold, if at- tended with cough and pain of the bread or fide. Thefe fymptoms, if neglected, frequently terminate in confumptions, which might eafily have been pre- vented by fome evacuation of this kind, joined to common care, whilft the complaint was recent. An [ 391 1 An abfurd cuftom prevails among the common people, of letting blood about the fpring and fall of the year, whether they have any complaint that re- quires fijeh evacuation or no; this practice, how- , fo far from tending to prevent diforders, con- tributes greatly to produce them. It caufes an habitual plethora, impoverifhes the blood and juices, and when done at the latter end of the year, is apt to difpofe the body to intermittent fevers, and, if often repeated, to dropfical complaints. Many other bad effects of this abfurd practice might be enume- rated, but they are, I think, unneceffary to mention. Purging is a mode of evacuation, whofe confe- quences in inflammatory complaints are often im- portant, though lefs fo than bleeding, and I think lefs hazardous, if mifapplied. Almoft every inflamma- tory complaint requires fome operation of this kind; it is however in general proper to be preceded by bleeding, which is thought to make it more fafe and effectual: but this rule admits of many exceptions, and is not neceflfary to be adhered to, except the ten-* dency to inflammation prevail pretty flrongly. It was formerly thought, that purgative medi- cines differ confiderably in the nature of the dif- charge they produced; fome being calculated to ^ifcharge water, others bile, others phlegm, &c, C C J but [ 392 ] but modern practice does not admit of much dif- ference in this refpect. All purgatives evacuate the bowels, and, if powerful and ftimulating, pro- duce a watery difcharge by the abforption they oc- cafion from the lymphatic fyftem. Notwithftand- ing this fimilarity in the effects of purgative reme- dies, they differ confiderably with refpect to the circumftances that attend their operation. Some purgatives are obferved to ftimulate the body and accelerate the pulfe during their operation more than others, and this is an important circumftance to direct our choice of them, according to the pur- pofes for which they are intended. Thofe that ope- rate with lead irritation to the fyftem, efpecially to the circulation, are preferable in acute complaints; and nothing in fuch cafes is better than a fimple fb- lution of the bitter purging fait in water. It is fel- dom rejected by the ftomach, however unpleafant it may be to the tafte, and its operation is effectual and takes place quickly; — a circumftance of great im- portance in fuch cafes. From one to two ounces may be fafely taken, diffolved in a pint of warm water, in all inflammatory complaints where purging is proper. If it mould be neceffary to repeat it in the advanced ftages, when the feverifh heat begins to fubfide, it may be taken diffolved in the fame quantity of infufion of flowers of chamomile, which will [ 393 ] H conduce to fupport the tone of the ftomach without obftrucling the evacuation. The fi remedy is proper in fuch fevers as are attended with local inflammation. If given early in fuch com- plaints, it Will generally procure a pafTage, being quick and effectual in its operation, and found by experience to be lefs liable to be thrown up than things much more pleafing to the tafte. The ule of this medicine is not only advifeable in continued fevers, but alfo in the beginning of intermittent^, when the patient is ftrong enough to bear purging. But of this I fhall fay more when I come to fpeak of the ule of the Peruvian bark in that diforder. In the advanced (late of all fevers, when the in- flammatory difpofition begins to abate, and a ten- dency to putrefaction to prevail, the faline purga- tives in general are lefs proper than fuch as are of a more warm and ftimulating nature. Rhubarb in fuch cafes is more proper, as being warm and aro- matic, at the fame time that it is purgative. If it be required to be made warmer, one half or one third part of nutmeg, or any other fpice, may be added •, from 20 grains to 60 may be given for a , but this muft vary according to circumstances. It is a perplexing circumftance attending the giv- ing purgative medicines internally, that w c cannot determine [ 394 ] determine the degree of their operation by the pro- portion or quantity that is taken. It generally hap- pens that one half or two thirds of the ufual dofe will have little or no effect; whereas had the full quantity been taken, it would have produced a larger difcharge than might be defired. In cafes, therefore, where fome evacuation of the bowels is neceffary, and at the fame time we might be appre- henfive of any unpleafant effects from a large dif- charge, it is proper to employ clyfters, which have an additional advantage, that their effect takes place in a much fhorter time than could be produced by any purgative medicine internally taken. When clyfters are adminiftered with this intent, there is no great necefiity to be very particular, in their com- pofition. A pint of warm gruel or broth, with two fpoonfuls of fallad oil, or melted butter, a table- fpoonful of common fait, and the fame quantity of brown fugar, forms as efficacious and proper a clyfter as the moft laboured compofition. It is proper, while upon this fubject, to caution againft the practice of giving purgative medicines internally, efpeciaily fuch as are of the heating or fti- mulati ng kind, commonly called warm purgatives, to people who complain of pain in their ftomach or bowels; particularly if this pain be attended with heata [ 395 ] heat, third, or other fymptoms of fever. It is much the fafer practice to inject a clyfter of the kind be- forementioned, and to repeat it if neceffary, and to ufe external fomentations, than to enter precipi- tately on the ufe of purgative medicines, which, if they do not take effect, often aggravate the mif- chief, by producing or increafing a difpofition to vomit, and fometimes totally inverting the periftaltic motion of the inteflines. If fufficient ftools can be procured by clyfters, the danger is generally over ; but if that means of relief do not fucceed, it is fafer to apply to fome of the profefiion, who may bed determine what method may be purfued. It is of the utmoft confequence to mention, that when any complaint of violent pain in the ftomach or bowels is made, efpecially if luch pain be not ac- companied by ftools, we mould enquire firft about the place in which it is chiefly felt, if that can be pointed out; and next, if it came on rather fuddenly, or foon after performing fome laborious work, efpe- cially the lifting any great weight, or indeed any confiderable exertion of ftrength. If this be found to be the cafe, we. mould carefully examine the belly, efpecially that part neareft to the feat of the pain ; and if any fwelling, or lump, however fmall, be found, even of the fize of a hazel-nut, we may be almoft certain, that the caufe of the complaint ori- ginates [ 39* ] gi nates from thence, and that if it be immediately attended to, it may probably be relieved, at lead the prefent danger obviated; but that if it be neglected, the patient will almoft infallibly die. The only re- medy on fuch occafion is, to reftore the portion of the inteftine, which is thus protruded and com- prefied between the mufcles of the abdomen, again into the cavity of the belly; and if this be dont foon after the accident, it produces no farther injury. But this muft be underftood of fuch cafes only as have a quick attention paid to them, fince if any delay is made, the danger increafes very rapidly: even a few hours may determine the interval between fafety and death. If the patient be in the vigour of age and (Irength, the confequences of neglect are more to be apprehended, than if he were advanced in years, as the probability of inflammation and ftricture upon the interline is greater, The apparent facility and celerity with which this operation is often performed, and its great fimplicity, may induce fome people to attempt the performance of it, who have had no inftru&ion or experience relative thereto; but it is proper to cau- tion againft fuch attempts, as much nicety of touch, and addrefs of management, are often requifite; and if the part be rudely or injudicioufly handled, the hazard of the diforder is much increafed. The parts [ 397 3 parts where fuch an accident is mod liable to hap- pen, are the navel and the groin, but this rule is by no means univerfal. It is farther necefiary to remark, that women, who in country bufinefs are often employed in lift- ing confiderable weights, as of pails of milk, buckets of water, and fuch like, are more liable to ruptures than men; and on that account it is highly necef- fary that whoever attends women labouring under any acute pains of the abdomen, mould make a Ariel: enquiry into the circumftances under which fuch pains originated, and particularly if there be any tumour in the groin, belly, or pudenda; and if there be fuch, to be informed of what nature it is, before he goes any farther, or lofes any more of that time, which in fuch cafes is fo very precious. To return now from this rather long, but I hope not ufelefs, digreflion, Emelks are another clafs of medicines oftheeva^ cuatory kind, that are often of the greateft import- ance, and whofe ufe requires the particular attention of thofe who give advice to fick perfons. It is not meant here to give a general account of the caufes or circumftances in which emetics may be admi- niftered with propriety, but only to give a few hints [ 398 ] hints relative to the cafes that are mod likely to occur in fuch fituations, in which thofe remedies may be ufeful. Firft, then, emetics are indicated in cafes where from imprudence or negligence any thing has been fwallowed, that we have reafon to believe would be fpecifically injurious by its continuance in the fto- mach. Thus if any poifonous plant, root, or berry, as of henbane, dropwort, nightiriade, or fuch like, has been incautioufly or ignorantly taken, our prin- cipal fecurity depends on fuch poifonous fubftance being evacuated as foon as pofiible, and this can only be done with fafety by means of emetics. A fcruple or half a drachm of powder of ipecacuanha, together with a grain of emetic tartar, may be fafely given on fuch occafions to an adult perfon, and worked off with a ftrong infufion of chamomile flowers, or of root of horfe-radiih. This accident is moft likely to happen to children, with whom the fame remedy may be tried ; fome diminution in the dofe may be proper; but in fuch dangerous cafes it is better to give a full dofe, and the rather as by the quicker and more effectual operation of a larger quantity, the emetic fubftance itfelf is fooner and more completely difcharged, and in general with greater eafe to the patient, than if a fmall dofe had been employed. The fame remedy may be taken t 399 ] taken when the ftomach is overloaded by excefs of food, or by any victuals that difagree. With the fame intention emetics may be given when by fome violent debauch the ftomach is de- luged with ftrong liquors, and the infenfibility may be Co great, that it may be apprehended life is en- dangered. A quick and effectual evacuation of the ftomach is fometimes of great confequence in fuch cafes, and ferves to refcue fuch unwary perfons from impending deftruction. When the ftupor prevails fo far as to prevent fwallowing, a few grains of emetic tartar conveyed to the back part of the tongue will find its way into the ftomach, and in mod cafes, where that organ retains any fenfibility, produce vomiting. A few grains (three or four for inftance) of blue vitriol may be ufed for thei fame purpofe, and in defperate cafes is preferable, as pof- fefling a ftronger emetic quality. It muft however be obferved, that it is not al- ways either advifeable or fafe to give vomits to re- move fubftances that have got into the ftomach, that we apprehend may do mifchief by means of their mechanical ilimulus, as pieces of bone, pins, or other fharp or pointed bodies, that may have been fwallowed. The contraction of the ftomach that' neceffarily attends vomiting may, if the fubftances be [ 400 ] be not difcharged, aggravate their bad effects, and caufe mifchief by preffing on fuch fubftances; which might not have happened, had they been left undifturbed. But the ufe of emetics is not confined merely to cafes where we defire to empty the ftomach, on account of any foulnefs fuppofed to be lodged there. They are often of the greatefl fervice when given at the coming on of fever ifh complaints, whether thefe be intermittent or continual fevers. In both of thefe, it is ufual for fome degree of naufea, or ficknefs of the ftomach, to accompany the cold fit, which it is proper to encourage, fhould it not come to an actual vomiting. An infufion of chamomile is often fuhicient for this purpofe ; but if that fail to excite a complete difcharge, a fcruple of ipecacu- anha in powder will affift the difcharge fufficiently, effectually, and fafely. Emetics are often of fervice in the common ca- tarrhous cold, when the glands of the throat and fauces are deluged with mucous phlegm, which is often very difficult to be fpit up. In thefe cafes, an emetic often acts in the mod powerful manner in unloading the glands, and promoting general expectoration. About [ 401 ] About ten years ago, a difeafe appeared in the Midland counties, much "refembling the ulcerated fore-throat, but differing from it in reality, and re- quiring very different remedies. This was called the fore-throat, attended with fcarlet fever, and raged principally in the fummer and autumn, in hoc and dry weather, and attacked principally ro- buft and vigorous people. Vomiting in this dif- order proved a very effectual remedy, and required to be frequently repeated, during the heat of the difeafe, even, in bad cafes, as far as twice in twenty- four hours. Should the fame complaint again be- come epidemic, the early admin iftration of emetics will probably be of the utmoft confequence, and ought to be carefully attended to. It was found neceffary to ufe fuch as were of a powerful kind, otherwife little benefit was received. The above are far from being the only cafes wherein emetics are ufeful, but fuch only as occur to me wherein they may be adminiftered without hazard of being injurious, and have a probability of being of fervice. It will be proper here to offer fome Cautions relative to the Dofe and Management of Emetics. Firft, then, I apprehend, that it is a miftaken notion that gentle emetics, as they are called, are milde* [ 402 1 milder in their operation than the rnore powerful, A imall quantity of ipecacuanha often caufes a moft troublefome nanfea and retching, for a long time together, owing to its not pofleffing a ftimulus fuf- ficiently ftrong to caufe a compleat evacuation of the ftomach. A ftrong emetic, on the other hand, by clearing the ftomach in a few efforts, is itfelf dis- charged, and of courfe gives no farther trouble. A fcruple of ipecacuanha in general, operates with much lefs pain and fatigue than five or ten grains, and the operation is fooner over. It is proper to add a portion of fome antimonial preparation to the ipecacuanha : a grain or two of emetic tartar, or a drachm or two drachms of antimonial wine, ferve the purpofe equally well. They are of fervice in clearing the ftomach more completely than ipecacu- anha would do if given alone; and on the other hand, the ipecacuanha caufes the antimonial medi- cines to operate with greater certainty as emetics, which would otherwife often go off by flool. Another caution I would recommend is, to wait patiently for the operation of the emetic, and not to attempt by any mechanical means, as tickling the throat with a feather, or with the finger, to caufe retching before the ficknefs is Sufficiently ftrong to excite vomiting freely. It is better even to reprefs the [ 403 ] the firft motions to vomit, and wait till they be- come fufficiently ftrong to be effectual. It is fomewhat remarkable, that the addition of antimony to ipecacuanha, though it certainly caufes a more full evacuation of the ftomach, feems to re- tard the operation in fome meafure. Ipecacuanha given alone generally caufes ficknefs in the fpace of fifteen or twenty minutes; whereas, if antimony be added, that effect feldom takes place under half an hour or forty minutes, and often longer. Another caution is, for thofe who take emetics not to load their ftomach with large quantities of warm infipid liquor, under the notion of working off the vomit j warm chamomile or horfe-radifh tea, or a mixture of both, is preferable to gruel or warm Water, as not relaxing the ftomach fo much as thofe weak taftelefs liquors. Laftly, it fhould be confidered by all, that the habit of taking emetics is of itfelf very weakening to the ftomach and powers of digeftion : occafion- ally ufed, they are in mod cafes a fafe and powerful remedy, but frequent repetition caufes them to be lefs beneficial, and in time hurtful. Medicines that caufe fweat, called in medicine Diaphoretics, are next to be confidered. The ufe of Vol. IV, D d thefe, [ 404 ] thefe, though not fo general as was formerly thought, ftill forms an important indication. The common catarrhous cold is more effectually relieved by pro- moting this evacuation than by any other means, and the fame was obferved of the influenza, when that complaint was epidemic fome years ago. Rheu- matic complaints are alfo benefited by it, and many other flight febrile complaints. Nothing, however, has been more miftaken, than- the moil effectual means of producing this difcharge. External heat is generally thought neceffaryj but it has been dis- covered of late years, that the body may eafily be made too hot to fweat, and that there is often no method more powerful than by diminifhing the heat of the body when too great, and that it is often neceffary, in order to promote perfpiration, to take off part of the bed-clothes, diminifh the heat of the room by removing the fire and opening the win- dows, and to give cool liquors to the patient. Nothing fucceeds better with this view in the com- mon catarrhous cold, which requires fome difcharge by perfpiration as much as any complaint what- ever, than to bathe the feet at night for a quarter of an hour in water made about blood-warm, and to take a moderate dofe of fpirits of hartfhorn in a pint of warm whey, gruel, or infufion of fome garden herbs, as balm, mint, &c. This is perhaps the fafeft [ 405 ] Tafeft method of any; as whatever die nature of the difeafe may turn out afterwards, no injury can arifr from what has been done. In rheumatic cafes, it maybe neceffary to employ diaphoretics of a more powerful kind, and for this purpofe Dover's Powder is frequently given, and often with good effect. It is given from five to fifteen grains, and may be continued every night or every other night for ten days or a fortnight, if the difcharge by the fkin be not too great, and the pain- ful fymptoms continue. It is proper here to fpeak a few words on the fubject of that popular remedy, Dr. James's Fever Powder. This is well known to be an antimonial compofition, lefs flimulating to the ftomach and bowek than emetic tartar, and on that account pre- ferable where any permanent effect is defired. It often acts as an emetic or a purgative, as well as a diaphoretic] but the laft effect is, I think, more common. In fevers of the inflammatory kind, and fuch as are commonly found in country places, it is, if given with any tolerable caution, an excellent re- medy, taking off the feverifh fpafm, unloading the ftomach and bowels, and as it were giving an op- portunity for the exertions of nature. It is bed given at the beginning of feverilh complaints, be- D d 2 fore [ 4o6 ] fore they alter their tendency from an inflammatory to one that is putrid. If the inflammatory fymp- toms are violent, it is fafer to ufe fome previous evacuations by bleeding, and a clyfterj after which from five to twenty grains may be given, accord- ing to the ftrength of the patient and urgency of the fymptoms. It is given with mod advantage in cafes wherein the patient is able to bear confi- derable difcharge by (tool; but it is remarkable that thefe feemingly diftrefiing operations are foon recovered, and the patient appears in many cafes the ftronger on their account. The ficknefs alfo caufed by this medicine, however uneafy to bear whilft it lafts, generally leaves the ftomach in a ftate fit for the receiving of nourifhment; an incli- nation for which is, in many inflances, one of the firft marks of benefit received from the ufe of this remedy. It fometimes happens, that this medicine, though given to its full quantity, produces no fenfible effect of any kind. Whether this be owing to any defect in the preparation, or to any infenfibility in the nerves of the ftomach at fuch times, I cannot de- termine. It is however in fuch circumftances ne- ceffary to forward its effects, fince if it remain inactive in refpect of producing fome evacuation or other^ [ 407 ] other, it feldom is of any fervice. If the ftomach appears to be loaded, a fcruple of ipecacuanha may be given, joined to a grain of emetic tartar, which generally takes effect, and fometimes feems to ex- cite the action of the powder. If we wifti to deter- mine its action downward, an ounce or fix drachms of the bitter purging fait may be taken, and a clyfter of broth and common fait thrown up. As to the mode of exhibiting this medicine, I have before obferved, that it may be taken from five to twenty grains at a dofe, and is mod conve- niently given in fomething of a vifcid confidence, as pulp of roafted apple, currant-jelly, or the like.. If put into any thin fluid, as tea, it is apt to fink to the bottom, being of confiderable fpecifick gravity, and indiffoluble in any watery fluid. It has been a great injury to medicine, that this preparation fhould have been kept fo long as an empyrical fecret. It has been by that means extolled in complaints in which it had no falutary efficacy, and was even liable to prove injurious. It is impoffible that any medicine can be fuited to every kind of fever. Some require immediate and large evacuations; in others, fuch a treatment tends infallibly to deftroy the patient; and there is no doubt that the indis- criminate recommendation of this remedy, which D d 3 generally [ 4o3 J generally acts as a powerful evacuant, muft have been the caufe of many lives being facrifked to pecuniary intereft. Such a remedy, however fuited to diforders where a quick and powerful evacuation is required, is utterly improper in cafes where the powers of life are much reduced, and where the ut- moft attention to fupport the ftrength of the patient is neceiTary. This is always the indication in fevers of the low, nervous, and contagious kind, and is frequently the cafe in the advanced (late of fevers in general, whatever might be their tendency at their firft appearance. Even in the rheumatifm, which is of an inflammatory nature, though often chronical in point of its duration, this medicine, though often ferviceable at the beginning, muft not be continued very long, as it is found, like the other antimonial preparations, to injure by long ufe the tone of the ftomach and powers of digeftion. The high, and as it might juflly be called extra- vagant price of this remedy, which bore fcarcely any affignable proportion to its intrinfic value, has caufed its ufe to be lefs general among the poor than humanity would defire. That objection is now, however, fuperfeded; the powder being now fold at Apothecaries-hall, for lefs than one twentieth part of its former price $ and this powder is found, on the mod impartial examination, to be fully equal in [ 409 ] in every refpecT: to that fold under the denomination of James's Powder. Diuretic Medicines form a clafs of remedies, whofe effects would be very defirable, were they not fo precarious. No diuretics that we know are much to be depended upon for certainty of operation, efpecially in fuch cafes as we mod defire to have it, Thofe that are fafeft, and lead offenfive to the fto- mach, are the fweet fpirit of nitre, and the fweet fpirit of vitriol, which may be taken in the dofe of a tea fpoonful in a glafs of water, or other cold liquor, once or twice a day, and continued for two or three weeks. Some of the vegetable infufions, as of horfe-radtfh and muftard feed, will fometimes pro- duce the fame effect, and may be continued, if fuc- cefsful, a long time without injury to the conftitu- tion or health in other refpedb. The infufion may be made by pouring hot water on the muftard-feed bruifed, and horfe-radifli frefli fcraped, and letting them (land together a few minutes. An ounce of each of the ingredients is enough for a quart of water j and about a quarter of a pint of this infu- fion may be taken twice a day. The above in- fufion, or one fimilar to it, is often ufed with fuc- cefs in the fwelling of the belly and legs, which often fucceeds obftinate intermittent fevers, and is generally attended with thick turbid urine, which is [ 4io ] is fecreted in fmall quantity. This preparation, though apparently fimple, is as likely to fucceed as many others that are more compounded, and may be fafely tried in all cafes where the urinary fecre- tion is defective. It is proper, however, to cau- tion againft the giving diuretic medicines of any kind, when any pain, or heat of urine, accompanies the diminution of its quantity. In fuch cafes, opiate and emollient remedies are proper, joined with fuch as abate inflammation. Having thus fpoken of medicines that produce evacuation, I fhall now fpeak of thofe which ftimu- late, and call the powers of life into action. Stimulant Medicines may be confidered in prac- tice as of two kinds; one of which tends to give a permanent fupport to the vital powers, the other tends to excite their action in a more temporary manner. Of the former ofthefe, wine, when good, is perhaps the moil generally ufeful in cafes of emergency. It is now found that, in low and putrid fevers, wine may be given with great advantage in larger quantity than was formerly thought practi- cable with fafety, even to two or three bottles in 24 hours. Nay, larger quantities have been admi- niftered, but it has been found that even a proper remedy may be over-dofed, and that fuch quantities as [ 4ii ] as I have above fpecified, fbould be cautioufly ven- tured on, and not widiout attentively obferving the effects of each dofe that is taken. The bed way of giving it is, I think, in fmall quantities and fre- quently, and as frefh from the cellar as poflible, perfectly cool, and without any admixture. In fevers, where the fkin is moid, with a fcalding heat to the touch, the pulfe quick and low, the eyes moid or watery, the (tools loofe and foetid, third great, tongue foul, refpiration difficult, and fpirits depreffed, there the ufe of wine is advifeable, and is indeed the principal remedy o'n which we mud depend. The indication for wine is dronger, if any fpots of a blue or purple cad appear on the body, or if a low muttering delirium come on, attended with faintnefs. Life then depends on active and quick exertions. Mod fevers that are contagious are of this kind, particularly that called the Jail Fever-, and the fame method of treatment is neceffary in fomc meafure in mod acute fevers that lad beyond eight or ten days, without fome evident figns of abate- ment. The marks whereby we may judge wine when adminidered to be of fervice are, a ceiTation or diminution of the pain in the head, or delirium, diminution of the heat and clammy fweat, and by the patient being in better fpirits, and entertaining hopes of his recovery. It often happens, that fevers of [ 41* ] of this kind, when they begin to abate, aflume fome- what of an inflammatory appearance, the fkin be- coming hot and dry, and the pulfe full and quick. Thefe fymptorns are not unfavourable, and generally abate of their own accord. They indicate, however, that wine fhould be more fparingly given, if not totally laid afide, during their continuance. If wine cannot be had, or not in perfection, or is not relifhed by the palate, good malt-liquor may be fubftituted in its room; and I have feen porter tried with the bed effect in a cafe of this kind. The pa- tient drank about three quarts a day for feveral days, and it feemed to agree better than wine or any other medicine, and was, after the fecond day, the only remedy adminiftered. I have fome reafon to think, ale, or flrong beer, might be ufed with fimilar effect ; but have never had any perfonal experience of their efficacy. The Peruvian bark is ufed with the fame intention in the fame diforder, and with good effect. But it is now thought that wine is full as powerful, and much more eafily adminiftered, as being more grateful to the palate: — a thing of great importance where the frequent repetition of a medicine is neceffary. The ufe of the bark is, therefore, in a good meafure fuperfeded in putrid fevers, except where the throat is ulcerated; in which C 413 ] which complaint it has been found by experience to be particularly ufeful. The principal ufe of the Peruvian Bark is in the intermittent fever, the returns of which it is well known to be very efficacious in preventing. It is bed given in fubftance, and moft conveniently in form of an electuary made up with any fyrup, and with the addition of fome fpice, as a little nutmeg, or cinnamon, in powder, to each dofe. If the pa- tient be ftrong, and the body coftive, a fmall quan- tity (a drachm for inftance) of Glauber's falts, or the bitter purging fait, may be added to the three or four firft dofes of the bark, which generally opens the body and promotes urine; but if the diforder be advanced, or the patient weak or in years, fuch ad- dition is lefs proper. If the bark purges, fuch ten- dency muft be moderated, which a few drops (two or three for inftance) of liquid laudanum in each dofe generally does very effectually ; and when that difpofition is conquered, the laudanum muft be omitted. The bark muft be given in confiderable quantity when employed to cure an intermittent. It is to little purpofe to give to a grown-up perfon lefs than an ounce in twenty-four hours, and often double that quantity. It may be given in dofes of two fcruples or a drachm each, or about the bulk of a large nutmeg of the electuary every two hours on [ 4H ] on the day of inter million, and repeated everyday for feveral days, if the fever does not return. After the intermifilon of three or four periods of the pa- roxyfms, we may diminifh the quantity, and give it only every four hours, taking care to give a dofe a little before the time of day that the return of the complaint may be molt probably expected. If the complaint does not return, the quantity may be in the fpace of a week or ten days ftill farther dimi- riifhed, but it mud not be left off entirely for the ipace of at lead fix weeks. If the diforder has had feveral returns, if it be an autumnal feafon, and the weather rainy, if the fits return every day, or with an interval of two days, or if the patient be weak and emaciated, more caution and attention to the regu- lar adminiftration of the bark will be neceffary. It would be a defireable circumftance, if that kind of the Peruvian Bark, called the Red Bark, were to be had genuine ; but at prefent there is rea- fon to think, that it can fcarcely be procured. In an obftinate cafe of an intermittent, that fell lately under my care, I had an opportunity of trying the effects of the calamus aromaticus, which given in combination with the Peruvian bark, in the propor- tion of one part to two of the bark, ftopt the pro- grefs of an intermittent that had refitted the bark taken [ 415 ] taken alone. It is proper during a courfe of the bark to ufe a moderately liberal diet} but all excefs, cither in meat or drinks, is carefully to be avoided. It is an old prejudice that fubfifts even to the prefent time, and among fome of the medical pro- feflion, that intermittent fevers fhould not be too foon ftopt, but fuffered to go on through feveral paroxyfms, before the bark fhould be given. It was thought that feveral diforders, particularly indura- tions of the liver, jaundice, mefenteric obftru&ions, and even rheumatic complaints, were produced in confequence of the bark being, as it was thought, prematurely given. But it now appears, that thefe complaints were the confequences of the diforder, being fuffered to continue too long, not of its being too foon ftopt, and that the belt method of pre- venting them is to interrupt the courfe of the fits as early as poflible by a fteady and refolute ufe of the proper remedy. This caution ought to be care- fully attended to, and enforced by thofe who give advice to people in country places, as the prejudices in favour of the fits being fufrcred to continue, are often very ftrong. Bitter Medicinesy fuch as the flowers of chamo- mile, roots of gentian, and centaury, are, in a good meafure, fimilar in their effects to the Peruvian bark. C 416 ] bark. They are, however, lefs effectual in the cure of intermittents and diforders of a putrid tendency, but bett:r fuited to a weak ftate of the ftomach and organs of digeftion. A ftrong infufion of any of the above-mentioned articles, with a little rind of the Seville orange, makes a bitter preparation as efficacious as any, and as pleafant as luch a medi- cine can well be expected to be. A quarter of a pint of this taken twice a day for a week, fortnight, or three weeks, will often be of great fervice in difor- ders of the ftomach unattended with fever. Infu- fions of this kind are alfo convenient vehicles for the adminiftration of fome other medicines. I have before mentioned, that faline purgatives may be given to advantage diflblved in an infufion of flowers of chamomile, and the fame is true of fuch diuretic medicines as are of fmall bulk. The dul- cified fpirits of vitriol, and of nitre, may be given in this way, as may fait of tartar when ufed as a diuretic. There is likewife another clafs of ftimulant re- medies, which feem to act more generally on the fyftem, though they fometimes excite particular fe- cretions. The infufion of muftard feed and horje* radijhy before recommended as a diuretic, is of this kind, and is often given with advantage in cafes where the fecretions in general are languid and flow. It t 417 ] It may be taken with confiderable advantage in rheumatic cafes of Jong duration, where die pain is rather tedious and troublefome than acute, and attended widi little or no fever. This medicine may be continued a confiderable time, feveral months for inftance, with lefs injury to die health and conftitution in general, than might be expe&ed from the long ufe of fubftances, whofe fenfible qua- lities are fo powerful. Stimulant applications of the external kind are next to be confidered. The principal of thefe are Blifters* The proper ufe of thefe in many inftances is at- tended with much nicety, and of courfe not a fub- jedt of my prefent treatife, which is only to give cautions, and to recommend the ufe of fuch reme- dies as may be applied with fafety in fuch circum- ftances as are obvious to common understandings, independant of medical knowledge. — Neverthelefs, there are, I think, many opportunities of their be- ing employed with fafety and probability of advan- tage, in circumftances that require no great medical knowledge to difcover. Thus the ufe of blifters is advifeable in all internal pains, whether of the bread, fide, or belly, attended with fever. In fuch cafes, after bleeding, a blifter, applied as near to the feat of the pain as poflible, is a fafe, and in general, if put on early after the commencement of the difeafe, an [ 4»8 ] an efficacious remedy; which may, if necefTary, be repeated with perfed fafety. In cafes, likewife, where cough and pain of the bread, though unat- tended with much fever, are fymptoms, I have feen the bed effect from fmall bliders repeatedly applied to the part where the pain was felt; and believe, if they were oftener tried when thefe fymptoms are * but recent, might prevent many complaints of the lungs, which a fhort neglect renders fatal. I have found it the mod eafy, as well as effectual method of ufing this remedy, to apply it at going to bed, and, if it has rifen, to remove it in the morning, and differ it to heal up, and if neceffary to repeat iu This is lefs troublefome, and I think more effec- tual, than a perpetual blider. Bliders are ufeful in pains of the head accom- panying fever, or where any tendency to vertigo or delirium appears. If applied at the firft appear- ance of thefe fymptoms, which are always alarm- ing, they are often of the greated fervice, and fafe in their application. They are mod ferviceable in fuch cafes, if applied to the head when frefh fhavedj but as that cannot always be done, efpecially with women, they mud be put on between the moulders. The fame remedy is often ufed in fome local in- flammations, partly of the external kind. Thus in the inflammation of the eye, or inner part of the car, t 419 1 ear, blifters behind the ears frequently bring, after other evacuations have been ufed, great relief; which is likewife the cafe in violent pains in the cheek and face. The ftrangury fometimes follows the application of a blifter. This however, though troublefome, is feldom of any ferious confideration, as it is moftly relieved by drinking plentifully of any mild warm diluting liquor, as milk and water, infufion of lin- feed, folution of gum arabic in an infufion of the root of marfh-mallows, and fuch like. It is thought to conduce to the prevention of the flrangury, in thofe fubjecl; to it, to cover the bliftering plaifter, as far as the flies extend, with a piece of gauze or muflin, and to fpread the margin with the gum plaifter, to fecure its adhefion. By this manage- ment, the whole of the flies are taken off when the blifter is drefied, which contributes to prevent the abforption of their acrimonious particles, which are thought to be taken into the circulation by being fuffered to remain on the raw part. This precau- tion is of fervice, but not always quite effectual, and fhould not be ufed when a quick operation is re- quired, as it abates the activity of the cantharides. It is cuftomary with fome to fuffer the bliftering plaifter to remain on the part twenty-four hours, but I think the time fhould be meafured by the Vol. IV. E c effect [ 420 ] effects and if a blifter be raifed in a third part of the time, as is often the cafe if the plaifter be good, there is no occafion to trouble the patient with it for a longer time, which often gives unneceflary pain, and is much more likely to caufe flrangury, than if it were removed earlier. The drefling of blifters is worthy attention. — The beft of any is a fimple plaifter of white wax and olive oil, melted together by a very gentle heat, and fpread thin on a rather fine linen cloth. This keeps the part from the air, and does not ftick to it, or caufe any irritation. It is proper, previous to the application of a blifter, to examine the furface qfthe plaifter, that it may be fufficiently moiftj fince, if it be too dry, it will often produce no effect whatfoever. If it feem dry and unpliable, it fhould be gently warmed before the fire, and moiftened, firft with a little fpirits of wine or brandy, and then with a litde olive oil or frefh butter. We mull be cautious in practice of applying blifters at all in cafes of the putrid kind attended with fever, and where inflammations of the urinary paflages are prefent. Blifters, however, are not the only forms in which external ftimulants may be employed with advan- tage. Itfornethnes happens, that it may be con- venient to employ a remedy of quicker operation, as [ 4*i ] as in Violent pains of the head, delirium of fevers, apoplectic or paralytic feizures, and the like. In fuch didrefling circumdances, it has been frequently found that ftimulant applications to the lower ex- tremities have been of great fervice, and proved a fafe as well as an effectual remedy. Muftard feed bruifed, or in fine powder, as the flour of muftard, is the bed application. If this be mixed with an equal quantity of ftale bread grated down, and made into a rather moift pafte with vinegar, it will form a cataplafm of a proper confidence for the purpofe here intended. If this be fpread about a quarter of an inch thick on a piece of leather or linen cloth, and applied to the foles of the feet, or in extremi- ties to the whole of the feet, it almoft immediately produces a violent burning fenfation, and fome- times, though not always, an inflammation of the part ; and now and then it raifes a blifter. The time it fhould be differed to remain upon, the part, mud be meafured principally by the effects it pro- duces. It fhould not be removed immediately on the fird abatement of the fymptoms, nor need it be kept on till they have entirely ceafed, as the fenfa- tion continues a confiderable time after the cata- plafm is removed. In lefs arduous cafes, as in fixed rheumatic pains of the hip, fhoulder, or other parts, a plaifter of Eel brine [ 4*1 ] brine has been applied with advantage, as being lefs painful than muftard, and lefs apt to blifter than cantharides. In the tooth-ache, and pains of the face, a convenient temporary application may be made by mixing a little black pepper ground into powder, with as much brandy or other fpirits as will make it into a foft pafte, which is to be fpread on leather, and applied to the face. This produces a confiderable fenfation of heat, but without any great uneafinefs, and feldom blifters, tho' it is often very efficacious in removing the pain of the part. The foregoing application is very ufeful at the firft coming on of a fore-throat, if laid upon the outfide under the chin, and moiftened again with fpirits as it becomes dry. I never knew it blifter, though it is frequently of great fervice. A mixture of fpirits of hartfhorn, with olive oil put upon flan- nel, and laid to the throat, is often advifed; but L think it not fo effectual as the former. Medicines that eafe pain, and procure reft, are the next to be confidered -, thefe are of feveral kinds, but Opium, by its greater efficacy, and more con- venient exhibition, has fuperfeded in a great rriea- fure all the others. Did opiates produce no other effects than thofe above afcribed to them, it would be unneceflary to give any directions relative to their [ 4*3 ] their ufe, farther than to determine the proper dofe*, but the operation of this remedy is not (o fimple, but requires attention to regulate, and, in fome in- fiances, to counteract fome of its effects. Opium may be fafely and properly adminiftered in mod cafes of violent pain, attended with none, or but little fever or inflammation. Thus it is the prin- cipal, and indeed almoft the only remedy to be depended on, in thofe dreadful fits of pain which often attend the paflage of a (lone or gravel thro' the urinary paflages. In fuch circumftances, opi- ates may be given with confiderable freedom, in proportion to the excefs of pain which is neceflary to be alleviated, not only for the purpofe of procu- ring eafe to the patient, but alfo to allow the ftone to pafs, which feldom happens unlefs the pain and confequent fpafm can be abated. Twenty, forty, or fixty drops, or any intermediate quantity of the tincture of opium, or of liquid laudanum, may be taken in twenty-four hours, according to the ur- gency of the fymptoms. Larger dofes have, been given, but they are not without hazard, fince as the pain is from the nature of the complaint liable, and indeed often does ceafe fuddenly, from the paflage of the irritating fubftance, the opium then is left to exert its full effect, unchecked by the fti- cnulus of the pain, and aided by the difpofition to E e 3 fleep* [ 4*4 ] fleep, which naturally comes on after the ceflation of great torment. This is faid, in fome inftances, to have produced fatal effects, the fleep proving mortal. On this account it will be prudent, after giving as large a dofe of an opiate as can fafely be done, to endeavour to allay the pain by other means, as fomentations, warm baths, &c. until the effecl: of the opiate be gone off a little, and a fecond dofe may be given with fafety. If the complaint be at- tended with vomiting, as thofe of the nephritic kind frequently are, a larger dofe may be ventured on, if we find that what has been before given has been thrown up -, but we mufl not conclude, that the effeft of opiates is quite loft, even though they fhould be rejected from the ftomach. Their flay is generally fufRcient for them to ihew fome figns of tfyeir fpecific qualities. In cafes where opiates are proper, and where there is any great naufea or tendency to vomit, it is more convenient to exhibit this medicine in a folid form; and it is found by experience, that the fmaller the bulk of the remedy, the greater is the probability of its being retained upon the ftomach. A fmall pill, therefore, made of a grain of unftrained opium, without any other admixture, may be ufed in place of thirty drops of tincture of opium, to which it is fully equivalent ; and this may, if neceflary, be repeated once in twenty- [ 425 ] twenty-four hours.' If the vomiting be fo violent as to fuffer nothing, however fmall, to be retained upon the ftomach, opium may be conveniently ad- min irtered in a clyfter. Forty drops, or a moderate tea-fpoonful, which is generally regarded as equal to a drachm in meafure, may be mixed with about half a pint or lefs, of broth, gruel, or warm milk, and injected as a clyfter, and retained, if poflible, feveral hours. It is always proper, that the body be kept, if pof- fible, in a rather lax ftate during the ufe of opiates. If, therefore, any coftivenefs be prefent, it is advife- able to inject a clyfter of a moderately opening kind, previous to the giving of the opiate, which makes the operation of the latter fafe, and lefs liable to affect the nervous fyftem. If the ufe of opiates be neceffary to be continued, it is proper to adminifter occafionally fome internal medicines of a mildly purgative kind, as opiates generally render the body coftive. The precautions juft mentioned are equally applicable to fuch bilious diforders as are attended with great and often exquifite pain about the pit of the ftomach, without fever, and generally without any increafe of pulfe, and are produced by the gall-ftones (ticking in the ducts which con- vey the bile from the liver and the gall-bladder into the inteftines. It fhould, however, be confi- dered, [ 426 J dered, that opium, in both the above-mentioned cafes, is only a temporary relief} and though it often aflifts the paffage of the obftrufting body, yet is of no fervice to prevent the return of the diforder, and therefore fhould be taken only when great pain, and other urgent and diftrefiing fymptoms, render its ufe neceflary. The ufe of opium is in no inflance more ftrongly manifefted, than in the violent purging and vomit- ing that often comes on towards the latter part of the fummer, or during the autumn, and is called the Cholera Morbus. It may not be proper to give opiates immediately on the accefs of the diforder, but after we may reafonably fuppofe the ftomach and bowels to be cleared of their proper and na- tural contents, and little but bile, water, or mucus, pafTes, it is time to adminifter opiates, efpecially if the retching to vomit, diftentionof the ftomach, and griping pains, be violent. In fuch cafes there is no time to be loft, and opiates are often the only refource. They may be given either in a liquid or folid form. The liquid opiate takes effect fooner, but is more liable to be thrown up, on which ac- count we fhould endeavour to make it as acceptable to the ftomach as poflible. About a fpoonful of warm fimple mint-water, or of peppermint, is as likely to make it ftay on the ftomach as any thing I know, [ 4*7 ] I know, and the fmallcr the quantity of fluid fw al- lowed with it, provided it be fufficient to difguife the tafte, the more proper. Opium is likewife proper in the fimple diarrhoea or purging, that often comes on towards the clofe of fummer. This, though fometimes falutary when moderate, often continues fo long as to exhauft the ftrength and weaken the tone of the ftomach and bowels. In fuch cafes it is often neceflary to com- bine the opiate with fome cordial aftringent, among which I think cinnamon the bed.. If an ounce of cinnamon in powder be made into an electuary with any fyrup, and the bulk of a fmall nutmeg taken three times a day with four, five, or fix drops of tincture of opium added to each dofe, it forms a powerful and fafe remedy in autumnal fluxes. Opiates, judicioufly adminiftered, might often prevent many of the bad confequences that follow violent colics, the iliac pafiion, and inflammation of the bowels. If a fufficient dofe of tincture of opium, ao or 30 drops for example, or, what might perhaps be more proper, a grain of unftrained opium in a pill, were to be given as foon as the pain becomes violent, and before any vomiting has come on, it might allay the pain, and make way for the operation of clyfters; and would be preferable, in my • [ 428 ] my opinion, to the exhibition of ftrong purgatives taken by the mouth, which, if they fail of producing an evacuation downwards, as they often do, caufe vomiting, and aggravate all the other bad fymp- toms. If, however, the pain be violent, and ac- companied with heat or third, it will be necefTary to let blood, which is perfectly compatible with the operation of opium. This medicine is not only ufeful on account of its own fpecific qualities, but alfo as a corrector of thofe of other medicines. It is not uncommon for the Peruvian bark to act as a purgative, which, in fome of the mod arduous circumftances in which it is given, as in intermit- tents, and fevers x>f a putrid tendency, is apt to dif- appoint its good effects. In fuch cafes a few drops of tincture of opium, added to each dofe, generally prevents the bark proving purgative, and of courfe fuffers it to continue in the body long enough to be ferviceable. This need not in general be continued long, as after a few dofes the bark will ufually lofe its purgative quality, and may be taken alone. I fhall conclude this head with a caution relative to the ufe of fuch remedies ; which is, that the ta- king of them is very apt to infinuate itfelf, and to become habitual, efpecially in thofe who are occa- fionally fubject to painful diforders. If often ufed, they [ 4*9 3 they become almoft neceflary, as fleep cannot be procured without them. Thofe, therefore, who are obliged to take opiates occafionally, (hould make it a point of confequence not to ufe them except when they are obvioufly neceflary, and to leave them off as foon as that neceflity no longer exifts. It may be troublefome at firft, but fleep will return in time fpontaneoufly, if the party have but refo- lution to perfevere. The long continuance of opi- ates requires an increafe of the dofe, which pro- duces coftivenefs, indigeftion, general weaknefs, and a tribe of nervous fymptoms, very flmilar to thofe which are the confequences of dram-drinking, which the taking of opiates in large quantities very much refembles. I have thus finiflied what I have to fay on the ufe of the medicines, which are calculated to anfwer the principal indications of cure. The reader will perceive eafily that this extends only to difeafes of a certain defcription, and refpects in them only thofe remedies, the propriety of whofe ufe is obvious to any perfon of fenfe and tolerable education, without afliftance from profeflional ftudy or information. I hope I have advanced nothing that is liable to miflead, and I truft that what is advifed, will tend to make what future medical operations may be neceflary more fuccefsful. Phyficians often juftly lament, [ 430 ] lament, and often when it is too late, the impru- dent meafures that have been taken previous to their being employed. To obviate this in fome meafure, is the principal intention of the prefent eilay, which I have put into the prefent form, as being comprifed in fmaller compafs than if I had treated of the difeafes feparately, and as I think more eafy to be underftood. Some general directions relative to the treat- ment of Sick Perfons, which could not fo properly be introduced under the feveral indications, are here added. Cleanlinejs is a matter of the greateft confequence to the cure both of acute and chronical diforders. Every perfon who is indifpofed ought to wafh the face and hands, and feet occasionally, with at lead equal regularity as in health. The eafe and comfort this affords to fick perfons, thofe efpecially who labour under acute diforders, can fcarcely be imagined, except by thofe who have experienced it. — Change of linen is a highly neceffary article. Every perfon ill of a fever ought to have clean linen for the head and body every day, and clean fheets every three days, or oftener, if the perfpiration be large. Many caufelefs caufekfs fears formerly prevailed, and dill fubfift, concerning the airing of linen. It is neccflary un- doubtedly that this fhould be dry, but this is bed mfured by its being expofed when perfectly clean to a fire, and dried by that means only. Linen that has been worn, or fheets that have been lain in, with a view to airing them, are unfit for fick per- fons, as they arc in reality fouled and damped by fuch abfurd care. The room itfelf fhould be fwept, daily, and every offcnfive thing removed as foon as pofiible, and nothing fuffered to remain in the room that is not immediately necellary to the patient. Whatever food or drink he does not confume fhould be removed immediately after as much as is necef- fary be taken, and no perfon fuffered to take food in the room except the fick perfon. It is necef- fary that the utmoft care be taken that the vic- tuals, and whatever befides be prepared for the fick, be drefifed with the greateft regard to cleanlinefs. The ftomach in fuch cafes is always delicate, and it is of the greateft confequence to indulge it in this rcfpcct. Change of Air and Coolnefs are nearly connected with Cleanlinefs, and equally neceflary to be at- tended to. Every perfon confined to their bed with any feverifh complaint, fhould have the door and window of the room opened for a quarter of an hour [ 432 ] hour twice at leaft in twenty-four hours. If the weather be very fevere, the curtains may be drawn fo as to prevent the current of air from blowing on the lick perfon; but if the weather be mild or warm, the door and windows mould be open thro* the day and even the night. There cannot be the leaft neceffity why the air mould be warmer for a perfon ill of a fever than for a perfon in health, but many reafons why we fhould wilh it cooler. To keep a fick perfon's chamber well aired, (I mean here not by fires, but by opening the doors and windows) contributes not only to the benefit of the fick perfon, but to the fafety of the attendants.- Many fevers, which were at firft fimply inflamma- tory, have become by heat, confinement of air, and other improper treatment, putrid and contagious. It is obvious that if the complaint originally be of a putrid tendency, thefe cautions become doubly necefTary. The proportion of bed-clothes is a circumftance of great moment. Thefe muft be meafured partly by the age of the patient and nature of the com- plaint, but principally by the feelings of the fick perfon. I have often obferved, that much of the reftlefihefs attending fevers, which is fo trouble- fome and fatiguing a fymptom, and fo exhaufting of the ftrength of the patient, is owing to the quan- tity [ 433 ] tity of bed-clothes. Too much heat naturally pro- duces a defire to change the heated place for one that is cooler; but if the body were not uneafily hot, no fuch impatience would take place* Quiet is another important article. Officious cu- riofity is apt to make many perfons intrude upon fick people, who have very little real concern on their account. This fhould by all means be difcou- raged, and no more perfons admitted to the cham- ber of the fick than are neceffary to attend him. The admifiion of others tends only to foul the air, increafe the heat, and prevent the reft of th fick. The proper adminiftration of food is a matter of the utmoft concern. At the beginning of inflam- matory complaints, provided the patient be young and robuft, fome abftinence may be proper; but in the advanced ftate of all diforders both acute and chronical, it is necefifary to pay great attention to the article of food. As long as any confiderable de- gree of fever remains, it is proper to ufe a vegetable diet. Milk boiled with bread, bread and rice pud- dings, roafted apples, and the like, are all proper ; and for drink, toad and water, whey, or (if it be good) fmall beer; but no ftronger liquor, and lead of all diftilled fpirits. A moil abfurd and unhappy notion [ 434 1 notion (till prevails among many of the lower people, that fick perfons are in want of fomething cordial to fupport their ftrength, and keep up their fpiritsj in confequence of which they often, in fpite of any directions to the contrary from thofe who are better qualified to judge, give them fome ftrong fermented liquor, as ale or ftrong beer, and fome- times rum, brandy, gin, and the like. It is a me- lancholy reflection, that numbers fall victims to this odious opinion, which, as well as many other in- ftances of impertinent interference with the fick, ought to be difcouraged as much as poffible. The mode of giving food to a fick perfon is worthy regard. It fhould always be in fmall quan- tity, and no more mould be brought into the pa- tient's fight than it may be expected he will be able to take at a time. This fhould be done often in the day, and even during the night, and without waiting for its being afked for by the fick perfon, who is often able to take food when he has not fpirits to alk for it. It mud not however be prefTed with any importunity, which is more likely to ex- cite difguft than appetite. The fupport of the fpirits of a perfon labouring under difcafe, is as necefifary towards his cure as the [ 435 ] the adminiftration of medicines. Every perfon that is ill, fhould be comforted with hopes of recovery, and cheerful profpe&s of life. To foretell a perfon's death in his prefence, who is then ill of an acute complaint, has no fmall influence in verifying the prediction. Even thofe whofc profeflion leads them to recommend religion to others, fhould be careful of dwelling too much upon gloomy fubjects, and giving people difpiriting ideas of their fituation. Repentance and amendment of life are no doubt in many inflances neceMary to be advifed, but great care muft be taken to adminifter, together with ad- vice, that greateft of all cordials — Hope* I have before mentioned, that an opinion pre- vailed among the lower ranks of people, that bleed- ing at certain times of the year was a falutary prac- tice, whether any immediate neceflity appeared to make it proper or not. The fame abfurd notion prevails with refpe