42(5 ^, On the Quantity of Seed required fir a Sc^is Acre, Nov, 



refpecling the quantity of grain required to feed a Scotch acre 

 of land, which I trull: will be thought deferving a place in your 

 Mag^azine. 



It is obvious, that, in order to render our lands as produ£live 

 as poflible, due attention fliould be paid to every part of the 

 farming procefs, from the breaking up of the ground by the 

 plough, to the carrying of the crop to market. No doubt, fome 

 parts of the farmers diverfified labours deferve more accurate 

 attention than others; but it iliould be a mixim with every one, 

 * that whatever he does, he fliould endeavour to do it welL ' 



Very little obfervation may ferve to conviiuv? one, that many 

 errors are committed by farmers, with regard both to the quan- 

 tity, and to the equal dillributlon of the precious feed. To 

 jut-^gc by the practice of fome people, one would be led to fuf- 

 peil, that they thought nothing elfe neceflary for enfuring a good 

 crop, than to fow libcraliy; while others again, by the carelefs 

 manner in which they diftribute the feed, we would be ready to 

 conclude, that they thought preparing the ground for its recep- 

 tion all that was neceflary. 1 remember that, not many years 

 ago, a certain extenfive farm^^r, and he not low in the lilt of 

 fame, maintained, that five firlots of oats were no more than 

 fufficient to fow a Scots acre, and he ufed to condemn the prac- 

 tice of fach as fowed a fmaller quantity. A boll, nay even 

 live firlots of wheat, is ilill fown by fome upon the acre ; fix or 

 feven firlots of peas and beans ; and almoil a boll of barley. 

 Now, Mr Conductor, I am clearly of opinion, that fuch enor- 

 mous loads of {cti\, intlead of contributing to an abundant crop, 

 mull tend to diminiih it. No doubt, regard fiiould be paid to 

 the nature of the foil and climate : Some foils and fituations re- 

 quiring tlucker fowing than others *, but, in general, I will fay, 

 and I fpeak from long practice, that a much lefs quantity than 

 what is ufually fown is fufficient for feeding the ground. V/hen 

 land is kept in good order, by proper tillage, and a judicious 

 rotation, and when due attention is paid to dillribute the feed 

 equally, I will venture to recommend the following, quantities 

 of each grain upon the Scots acre, taking it for granted that the 

 (tt(\ is freili and well drelTed, and that the climate is fuch 33 

 we enjoy in the middle didric-t of Ea+t-Lothtatt. - 



I'irji, then, with regard to wheat, if fown when the land is 

 fufiicier.tly dry, and before the middle of October, I would re- 

 commend three firh.ts per acre, as a good average quantity — I 

 fay average quantity \ for in this the farmer mull be guiiled by 

 his own jud;;ement, in regulating the quantity by the feafon he 

 fo\\s in. If he is difpofd to fow his fa!io«vs fo early as from 

 the middle to the end of September, ten pecks will be found 



fully 



