1805.] On Siberian Wheat. 303

now notice the recommendation of Sir Joseph Banks, res- pecting the Sowing oi refuse wheat; and also the observa- tions and arguments of the former gentleman ou the diseaSe called“ the Smut."

When a person of Sir Joseph's extensive knowledge and exalted Situation in life, enters the humble walks of the farmer, with the most benevolent and patriotic views, the re- Sults of his meritorious labours should be received with the greatest respect and gratitude. And while the facts which have occurred to me ia the course of pretty extensive prac- tice, compelme to dissentſrom one ofthe opinions ofthelearned Baronet, I cannot refrain from expressing my diSapproba-« tion of the terms and the ridicule wbich some agricultural writers have employed against them. Such conduct must operate 50 as to prevent that aid which the cultivator of the Soil evidently requires, from the profound naturalist, in his endeavours to discover the causes of these disorders. Smut, mildew, and blight,--which are 86 extensively prejudicial to the interests of mankind.--The discovery of these vauses to the Satisfaction of all, will require, for a great length of time, the united efforts of the philosopher and the farmer-- Lhe wisdom of the former and ihe most accurate and minute attention(to various phenomena) of the lat er.--Why, then, Should we offer the least discouragement to the advances of the learned, even when their researches prove unsuccessful? Many attempts at discovery, in what were denominated the arcana of nature, were long unsuccessiu!. Perseverance, however, and increasing knowledge, have removed many ob» Stacles and dificulties which for ages were deemed inSsur- mountable.

In ihe view, therefore, of communicating facts for the en- couragement of Sir J. Banks, andthe information of my bre- ihren of the plough, I have now tostate, that a few years agol wasin want of six oreight bushels of Seed wheat to finish a field on the 19th of March.'To prevent loss of time, 1 ordered my Steward to go to the granary wbere the refuse wheat of Seve- ral Stacks bad lain for Some months; to put it twice through the winnowing machine;* and then 80w the necessary quan- tity. Those operations were performed accordingly; and the crop proved as good, in every respect, as that adjoining, which was raised from prime Seed of the same variety; nor

was there any diflerence in the"quality and condition of the land, or mode of culture. This year I experienced a Similar result, from Sowing a Small quantity of refuse rye an

* It was Still much blended with rather Small grains,