From Georg Andreas Agricola’s “Neu- und nie erhörter doch in der Natur und Vernunfft…” (1716-1717)

Translated into English by Richard Bradley

1st ed.: A philosophical treatise of husbandry and gardening (1721) pp. 10-12

2nd ed: The experimental husbandman and gardener (1726) pp. 10-12

Full bibliography and access to works through Wikipedia article on Georg Andreas Agricola: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Andreas_Agricola

[Pg. 10]

My invitatory Letter, which I some time ago sent abroad, brought me to the Acquaintance of a great many curious Persons of Distinction, and has reviv’d my Correspondence with some of my old Friends. Mr. Leonard Hermann Pastor of Maszel, in the Principality of Oelsbernstad in Silesia, among other Curiosities, wrote me an Account in what manner Grains of Seed may be made to grow very suddenly; these are his Words:

In the Name of God, I shall here communicate sincerely, and, according to my best Knowledge, the way we ought to treat Corn, and especially Wheat, to have a plentiful Harvest from a Barren and Sandy Land, not doubting, but if the following Method be observ’d without any view of Avarice, but only to the Glory of God, and the Service of the Poor, or for your own Use, or that of those who have little Ground, you may attain your End with Utility and Pleasure. To this Purpose, you must, when Seed time comes on,

1.Make a good Lye, to the Quantity of the eighth part of a Bushel. (The Translator supposes that the Composition of the Lye depends upon the Ingredients mention’d in the second and third Articles)

2.Put to every Bushel an eighth part of a Bushel of Bay-berries boil’d, and squeez’d into the Lye.

3.Take three or four Pound of Salt Petre, clean and pure, dissolve it in the boiling Lye, and let the whole be well mixt together; some are for calcining the Salt Petre; but as it loses too much of its Strength by the Fire, I believe it will be better for this Purpose, to make use of it the ordinary way.

4.When the Lye is prepared with this Mixture, and a little cool’d, put thereto a Bushel of good Wheat, new, and well clean’d.

5.Let it steep eight Hours, and then let the Lye run out of the Vessel by a Hole at the bottom, and dry the Corn in an airy Barn out of the Sun; and when the Weather is favourable put it again into the Lye, and after seven or eight Hours take it out and dry it a little. And

6.When the Ground is prepar’d we sow it in a convenient Place, for it begins immediately to sprout, and if it penetrates the Ground readily, the Corn will be of a pretty height in three Days; but it must be look’d to a little that no harm comes to it.

The Advantages that arise from this are,

1.That you may take for this purpose the worst and sandiest Land that is; tho’ it will grow in good Ground, but there it must be sown very thin. But this Invention is calculated only for Country Farms, which often are in so bad Land, that no other Use can be made of it.

2.Here is no need for Dung; for this way the Seed is already manur’d, and this Manure, which is from the Beginning unites with the Life of the Seed, is much more advantageous to it than Dung; the Salts of which are soon dissipated by the Warmth of the Sun (We must here note that dried dung, which is often used to preserve them for some months, are useless for fertilization, as is often done in parts of our world.), and consum’d by the Hotness of the Soil.

3.You need sow only the half of what is customary; and instead of two or three Bushels which we had formerly need of, you use here but one; for this Corn sprouts with vast Encrease, so that one Grain shall produce ten, twelve, or more Stalks.

Experiment.

I made an Experiment in Autumn 1715, that gave me great Satisfaction; for a Bushel of Wheat thus prepar’d, produc’d me above three hundred Sheaves, which yielded eight Bushels, and three quarters of a Bushel, of Breslau Measure, which is certainly an abundant Harvest from one Bushel, in so bad a Land; for which, Glory be to the Almighty.

Now whether Corn, which had lain a good while after its being thus prepar’d, before I sow’d it, which was last Seed time, 1715, without any new Preparation, will grow well, is what the next Harvest will shew me, if it shall please God, at present it promises Wonders. Among other Advantages, ‘tis pretended that the Meal of Corn thus prepar’d will not grow musty, of which I intend to make a Proof, having some of it now at the Mill.