zzo 



Re'i'zcw of the New Farmer'* s Calendar, May 



our author's word for it, the drill-huibandry is fpreading mofl 

 yapidly over the kingdom ; whereas we firmly believe, that not 

 one acre of a thouiand iu cultivation is fown in this manner, nor 

 do we think, as already fa:d, that the pratSlice can ever become 



{general. 



We notice fevcral extrafts from Mr Amos's ingenious publi- 

 cation on the dnll-iuifbandrv ; and if that gentleman, or rather 

 Major Cartwright, drilled all his corn crops, and made as much 

 profit from each acre as the refult of the experiments af certains, 

 wc frankly declare, that we would not only join in recommend- 

 ing the praclice, but even would turn drillers ourielves. In ma- 

 king this declaration, we by no means call in quellion the cor- 

 reftnefs of thefe experiments ; though, according to our prefent 

 ideas, t^Jey cannot be received as conclufive evidence. Mr Amos 

 has drilled fmce 1783, yet it does not appear from his book, 

 that drilling upon all foils is recommended. Now, what does 

 this prove? No more, than that drilling under favourable cir- 

 cumilances, and with great attention, may turn out fuperior 

 to broad-call ; but, if the fyflem is applicable to every foil and 

 uuation, why perfevere in broad-caft fowing ? Major Cart- 

 wright, perhaps, is influenced by fentiments limilar to our 

 own, a;sd not an advocate for general drilling ; but on thefe 

 matters we will endeavour to fpeak with more precilion in our 

 next, when Mr Amos's book will come under our examina- 

 tion. 



We might have obferved that the increafed value of farm-la- 

 bour renders the reduclion of tield-ivork a moft important ob- 

 ici^l:, where it can be fafely accompliQied. Thofe who are in the 

 habit of drilling only a fourth of their lands with beans and tur- 

 nipj, know that the neceffary expences are confiderable, and will 

 be able to eftiniate the outlay in the event of every acre under 

 cultivation being managed in like manner. To Ipeak of hand- 

 hoelng at one (hilling per acre, and hand- weeding the rows at the 

 fame rate, i;iu(l be viewed as miflakcn (latements. It is feldom 

 that a crop of turnips will pay rent, and the manure and labour 

 applied, but then the profit is expeclcd from the fucceeding crops, 

 which are gained at much lefs expence. Extend the fyftem, and fup- 

 pofe that everj^ crop was guided as a firfl one, it will be found that 

 a large portion thereof would be fwallowed up by the ordinary and 

 extraordinary expences. Bef.des, in wet feaibus, it is highly pro- 

 bable that a Tmall crop would be got upon clay foils. Allowing 

 it praclicable to put in the feed, all the remaining operations 

 n:iight be efi:e«5lually prevented, or at leaft imperfectly executed. 



We ikall juft notice another fedion, and finlfh the article. 



Speaking of the effcdls of blight and fmut, the author fapient- 

 \y remarks, " That to fuppofc corn caught blight cr fmuttinefs 



frcn\ 



