54 Anfvoers to juries coftcerning the Sowing of Wheat , \3c, Feb. 



try aDout twciity years ago, which was faid to ripen earlier than 

 our ufual varieties of that grain. This kind of wheat was foon 

 given up ; and, for a great many years back, none but the va- 

 rieties commonly cultivated have been fown in the fpring feafon. 

 Any of thefe will do equally well on rich grounds as if fown in 

 the autumn or winter months, providing a dry feed- time can be 

 got, and the fucceeding fummer proves warm and temperate. The 

 writer of this a iwei has repeatedly reaped crops of wheat fown 

 in th^ month of March, of excelle:it quality ; but the goodnefs of 

 the crop was conilantly regulated by the circumllances already 

 mentio: d. 



Q^ 2. What is the quantity ufualT}^ fown per acre at that time ? 



Aiif. It is diiTicult to Hate tlie quantity vfually fown, becaufe 

 this is too often regulated by opinions arbitrary and capricious ; 

 but I am clear that a great deal more feed is necelTary than in the 

 nutr.m.ial or early winter months. My reafon for thinking thick 

 fowing necefTary at the period under inquiry proceeds from a be- , 

 Iiei that every moment confumed by the plants, in ftooling or til- 

 lering, is fo much loll time ^n their progrefs to maturitv : hence 

 the propriety of eniibling tiiem to pufli away viporoufiy at the 

 parting -poft. Perhaps eighteen pecks, Linlithgow meafure, are 

 necedary for feeding a Scotch acre, in the months of February or 

 March. 



Q^ 3. Is there any other preparation neceffary than what is 

 commonly bellowed ? By preparation I mean pickling the feed. 



Anf. The like preparation is required, and no other, for w^heat 

 fown in nny feafon of the year ; that is to fay, tlie feed ought to 

 be well fprinkled or wetted with Hale urine, which is the moll 

 certain of all the pickles in ufe, and afterwards fufficiently dried 

 ^vith hot-lime. If this operation is carefully executed, I venture 

 to maintain, that the objecl of pickling will be compietely gained. 



Having thus anfwered the three queries put by Alfred, I am 

 entitled to requell he would favour me with anfwers to the like 

 number of queries, which occurred upon reading that part of his 

 letter refpedling the working of oxen. 



Query i. As Alfred works oxen in pairs, pray what extent of 

 ground docs a pair plough per day with him ; or rather, which 

 ■will come to the point at once, how many acres will thc}'- plough 

 per annum, the ordinary work of the farm being included ? If they 

 -'^rc cmploj^ed to harrow, he will be fo kind as flate the quantity 

 ufually gone over at a yoking ? 



Alfred mentions that he keeps two fets of oxen, but that they 

 go only one yoking each per day, becaufe he has not occaflon for 

 ♦ wo cattle-ploughs. 



Ornery 2. Be fo ^ood as explain whsre the' r.ecefTity lies of keep- 

 ing 



