1804. OnBriiVmg of Com, X^c. « tj 



led out, the harrow, followed by a heavy -oiler, makes all 

 smooth. In niy dry land, I generally sow all icvel, without 

 water-furrow3 ; and with my ploagii and harrow, am rather 

 at a loss for water- furrowing, which some of my land certain- 

 ly requires. 



I have seen, however, what appears to me a better plan, 

 and completely calculated to obviate that difficulty ; and I 

 tliink the implement is mentioned in the Survey of Mid Lo- 

 thian. A common plough has a drill-barrow attached to it, 

 susceptible of being easily made to deliver its seed, or with- 

 hold it, at pleasure. In this way the land may be gathered^ 

 and the seed sown under furrow, with the utmost regularity, 

 and the water-furrows formed. After harrowing, these can 

 be opened up in the usual way, and the land finished with the 

 roller, or not, as may be judged best, according to circum- 

 stances. On mv land, I prefer rolling heavily^ as it is very 

 dry. Indet.l, but for that, I should have "Ki^titw extremeljr ill 

 off this season for straw, as it enabled me to mow my whole 

 crop. 



The same extensive culture of wheat takes place here, and 

 probably for the same reason, as in other places, the unsale- 

 able nature of barley. I shall not be rash, in blindly im'ta- 

 ting the example ; for, though I have been very delicate in 

 taking wheat. I cannot much boast of my success in any of 

 my trials. My land seems to want sufficient (Irength for 

 maturating that grain. I enter into no theoretic reason- 

 ings, on the different natures of wheat, barley, and oats ; but 

 such seems to me a fair statement of the fact, that wheat re- 

 quires a certain degree^ at least, of clay in the soil, all other 

 circumstances being equal. 



Turnips are letting at a high price in this county. Mine, 

 which were but a middling crop, are let at L» 6 the English 

 acre ; though, in a good turnip year, they would not have 

 brought L. 2, 10 s. None of them failed \ but they gave over 

 growing a great while, during the long drought, and threat- 

 ened to die altogether, as their leaves v/ere generally withered^ 

 Sill but the crown^ and there became discoloured. 



I hear universal complaints Against ruta-baga, from its un- 

 certainty of growth; I sowed about two acres in the middle 

 of May. They all grew, but the crop is very inferior to a 

 good crop of turnips ; I dare say not a quarter of the weight. 

 This having been a very unfavourable year, I shall not yet 

 desist from having two acres or so of my turnip-fallow annu- 

 ally in ruta-baga, till experience determines positively, Vvhe- 

 ther to extend its culture, or to give it up altogether. The 

 culture of ruta-baga would certainly be most convenient, if 



VOL. V, NO. xvfi. B a 



