i)2 Report on Sprivfi-^oum IVlicats in 1873. 



white, and White-chaffed Thick-set yellow — all very productive kinds. One 

 field of the Thick-set variety we liave threshed. It yields 4f quarters per 

 acre ; the weight, 682 lbs. per bushel. Nearly the whole of the wheats were 

 put in between the 25th' November and Christmas, in preference to spring- 

 sowing ; but I have seen several samples at our markets from spring-sown 

 crops which excel most of our autumn sowings. One in particular was sown 

 as late as the 4th of March, and was of excellent quality. Many fields around me 

 were spring-sown ; and, from their appearance at harvest, they seemed superior 

 to the average of the autumn-sown crops, nor were they nmch backwarder 

 in harvesting. The unfortunate drawback we had just prior to harvest was 

 in a serious attack of mildew. This unexpectedly reduced the yield and 

 weight of grain, but the bulk of straw and fulness of crop were about a fair 

 average. "We have had more unfavourable seasons for wheat-sowing even 

 than 1872. I remember one year in which we could not sow till February. 

 It is true that many crops during that season were defective, some having 

 too much straw, but upon the whole it was not a bad harvest in this district. 

 I much prefer waiting for a spiing-sowing to putting in the seed badly in 

 autumn. In the past autumn, 1872, I should have thus waited, had not the 

 weather and land become more favourable for seeding ; the hazard then 

 lying between a reasonable seed-time and a possibly protracted winter and late 

 spring seeding. I believe many inferior soils would yield much better crops 

 of wheat from spring-seeding than the autumn, liicb loams, and, indeed, 

 most good wheat lands, are best to be sown in the autumn. However, no faiTner 

 need desjDair if he cannot sow then. 



John Clarke. 



9. KiNNEESLEY MaNOR, EeIGATE. 



(About 130 acres Arable, and 200 Grass.) 



Soil. — Strong loam and clay. 



notation of Cropping. — Wheat every other year alternately with beans,, 

 peas, clover, or tares. 



As to the difiSculties of the wheat seed-time in autumn 1872, I have 

 known nothing like them befoi'e. There was scarcely a day without rain from 

 October 18th to nearly the end of February. 



The extent of land intended for wheat left unsown in 1873 was about 14 

 acres, which were then sown with wheat in spring 1873. 



The kinds sown were Velvet or Eough Chaff white wheat and the April 

 wheat (bearded), both yielding about 4 quarters to the acre ; Velvet wheat 

 weighing Gl lbs. to the bushel (autumn sown) ; the April wheat, sown late 

 in March, weighing 61 lbs. also ; while the spring (February) sown Velvet 

 wheat weighed GO lbs. 



Thus 4 quarters would appear to be the measure of the season on this soil 

 irrespective of sorts of wheat or the period of sowing ; having reference to the 

 finer kinds. Of the coarse kinds of wheat, I grew between 10 and 11 sacks : 

 they had been sown early in October. 



As to the treatment of the crop, whether winter or spring sown, I applied 

 1 cwt. nitrate of soda per acre to the autumn-sown wheats, and 2 cwt. guana 

 to the acre was harrowed in with the spring seed. All the wheat was hoed. 



We began to cut the autumn-sown wheat on the 4tli August, and the 

 spring-sown about the 18tli. The weatlier was favourable to the end of 

 harvest. 



Speaking generally of the cultivation of wheat, I should say that the crop. 



