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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINEe 



very good way, when hands can be procured who understand 

 it ; but we have now got drills for the purpose, and they give 

 us the advantage for after cultivation more than any other 

 way. When drilling, the rows should be from eight to nine 

 inches apart, and the seed in the soil, from one-and-a-half to 

 two inches in depth. The best seed that we can procure, and 

 a frequent change, is always necessary ; a solution of water 

 and vitriol, one pound per sack, we all know is a great pre- 

 ventive for the smut, and should not be omitted. With 

 regard to the quantity of seed per acre. The earlier 

 the planting, the smaller is the quantity required, 

 and as the season advances we ought to increase 

 the quantity according to the condition and situation 

 of the land. The average quantity, I will say, two bushels 

 per acre, the after-cultivation must be done as early in the 

 spring as the weather will permit. When the plant is weak 

 and sickly, and the land light and hollow, about three- 

 quarters of a cvvt. of either guano or nitrate of soda, and 

 three or four cwt. of common salt, per acre, sown, and 

 slightly harrowed over, the roller or presser following the 

 barrows. This will almost produce an immediate eifect ; and 

 when the plant is sufficiently recovered, we have but one 

 common operation to perform— that is, using the horse or 

 hand-hoe frequently and freely, and as long as it can be 

 done without breaking down the stalks and injuring the plant. 

 We are again exposing the soil to the air, and encouraging 

 the roots of the plants to run freely into it for support, and 

 keeping the land clean, which is of the greatest importance ; 

 for we cannot grow a crop of weeds and corn, both at the 

 same time, with a profit. We now come to the heavy soils, 

 such as stiff clay, and deep, strong, loamy soils. Beans, peas, 

 vetches, rape, clover, and cow-grass, are good preceding crops, 

 on these strong soils, for the wheat. The bean and pea crops 

 ought to be well horse and hand-hoed, so that the land is kept 

 clean and well pulverised. It then requires less labour for the 

 wheat. Vetches and roots should be fed off early, in order 

 to give time to prepare the land. Clover and cow-grass, when 

 a good plant, ought always to be mown, not fed ; for on 

 these strong soils heavier crops are grown than on the light 

 soils, therefore leaving us a greater amount of manure in 

 roots. To seed this plaut, takes away the most valuable part 

 of our manure from the roots, in the seed ; as, in feeding, it 

 is carried off in mutton and bone. Early raftering, and deep 

 ploughing, eight or nine inches in depth ; subsoil ploughing 

 to the depth of four or five inches, under the nine-inch furrow, 

 will pay, once in every six or seven years, for the wheat crop 

 alone. This gives us a depth of soil of thirteen or fourteen 

 inches for the air to pass into, which will often be as effectual 

 as a liberal dressing of manure ; for the active ingredients of 

 the air are absorbed by the soil, and made use of by the plant. 

 It is certain that the deeper and cftener we move and expose 

 these strong soils to the action of the air, the greater amount 

 of natural manure we receive. But I am speaking of soils 

 that are porous enough for water to pass, or have been made 

 so by thorough drainage, under this deep cultivation ; for 

 if it is not so, the first heavy rain that comes fills all the pores 

 of the soil with water, and, if it cannot pass away, it becomes 

 stagnant, and leaves our land in a worse state than it was in 

 before. As to the time of planting, and the different ways, 

 the quantity of seed is much the same as on the light soils, 

 not forgetting the situation and condition of laud. The after- 

 cultivation we cannot vary much from the light soils, with 

 the exception of rolling or pressing, which is not often re- 

 quired on these strong soils. The horse or hand-hoe may be 

 used to a greater depth, with more effect than on the light 

 soils. In conclusion, I say the more we study Nature, and 



assist her as much as we can, it is certain she will repay us 

 for all our labour. 



Mr. E. Drew said : I quite agree with Mr, Ritchie as to the 

 great difference existing in the soils of this country, and no 

 doubt there is a great difference in the climate also, which 

 affects the subject under consideration. These causes, I am 

 fully aware, render it next to impossible to lay down any one 

 system for general adoption. I think, however, the way in 

 which he has classed them, viz., of light and heavy soils, is 

 sufficient for our purpose. That the subject is one of great 

 interest and importance must be acknowledged by all, wheat 

 being the moot important agricultural product, in whatever 

 light we regard it. That the growth and consumption of 

 wheat is yearly increasing there cannot be a moment's doubt, 

 but whether this is owing to improved management or the in- 

 creased extent of land brought under cultivation is another 

 question. The rotation and systems pouttrayed by Mr. Ritchie, 

 are, I believe, those that have been and are now pretty gene- 

 rally followed in this district. The subject matter for inquiry 

 is, Can we improve these, or adopt better ? On light soils, it 

 is universally acknowledged that seeds (the clovers and rye- 

 grass) or leys, as termed by some, are the best preparation for 

 the wheat crop. Whether these should be ploughed up at one 

 or two years old depends in a great measure on the staple of 

 the soil, as what are termed light lauds vary considerably in 

 their texture, according to the amount of clay they contain. 

 My own opinion is, that for the generality of the light soils of 

 this neighbourhood, which are mostly of a dead sandy nature, 

 wheat succeeds better after two years seeds than one, as by 

 being kept down two years they become more completely 

 covered with the artificial grasses, thereby causing a firmer, 

 consequently a more suitable seed-bed. Another method 

 which I have tried to a small extent, and which I approve, is 

 to clean skim-plough as for wheat a portion of the seeds early 

 in the spring of the second year, then work it with drags and 

 harrows, and drill it with rape, with about 3 cwt. of superphos- 

 phate per acre. It is an addition of something like £2 per acre 

 to the expense, and it produces very little more feed ; it, how- 

 ever, comes in at a time when keep is serviceable, and is of 

 better quality, and I have invariably found a better yield of 

 wheat, and the land cleaner, and in better condition, after the 

 wheat is off ; still I should advise its adoption to a limited ex- 

 tent only, say one-sixth. Our friend Mr. R., in his remarks, 

 says we do not see any of the clover roots in two year ley 

 when it is ploughed. Probably not; but I contend there is a 

 much greater amount of fibrous root (not couch) in a two year 

 old ley than in one year old. The latter oftentimes when 

 being ploughed hardly leaves a whole furrow discernable on 

 these lands, I prefer one furrow to more, or to raftering 

 using the skim coulter, and ploughing to a moderate width and 

 depth. I think eight inches by four inches quite wide and 

 deep enough for most of the soils I am speaking of ; in fact, 

 on the farm I occupy, at three and a-half inches the plough 

 would be grubbing the rock most of its course. By this 

 system over raftering we get three weeks' or a month's keep, 

 and if well done the land will be cleaner after the one plough 

 and in a better state to receive the seed, and at a much less 

 expense. I quite agree with Mr. Ritchie that light soils 

 should be ploughed some time before planting, and that they 

 should receive a sufficient amount of dragging and harrowing 

 to well break the furrows on the surface. If at all hollow, 

 Cambridge's or Crosekill's roll should be freely used, consoli- 

 dation being, I may say, absolutely necessary to insure a crop 

 on these soils. This reminds me of a system practised to a 

 considerable extent in the counties of Berks, Wilts, and Hants, 

 that of a wbeel-presser following the plough, completely 



