584 The Lois Weedoii Plan of Groicimj Wheat. 



It may here be further mentioned, that not having the special 

 implements — the "^;7-e55er imjjlement" the drill '■'• to drop seed hy 

 seed into the hard channels^'' the " roller implement ^^ the " horse-hoe 

 implement" and the '"'■ scarifier and harrow implemenV — which 

 are recommended in Mr. Smith's later editions for carrying out his 

 plan on an extensive scale, we were obliged to adopt his earlier 

 methods, by which, however, his records show, that he obtained as 

 good, if not as economical results, as by his later ones. 



Before the adaptation of special implements, Mr. Smith's plan 

 comprised " one double digging," " two single diggings, with 

 fork," " pressing, sowing, hoeing," &c. 



The following is a concise statement of the operations carried 

 out at Rothamsted, for each of the four crops respectively, which 

 have been obtained in the course of this experiment. And it may 

 here be premised, that one of the three acres was, for the sake of 

 comparison, set apart for alternate wheat and summer fallow — 

 the fallow being cultivated according to the common custom of 

 the neighbourhood. 

 For First Crop, 1851-2:— 



Wheat, harvest 1850; summer fallow 1851; ploughed, har- 

 rowed. Sic, in the ordinary way, and sown with one seed, and tico 

 seeds, as above described, September 1851 ; hand-hoed twice, and 

 weeded as other crops. Crop foul, poor, and much blighted ; 

 cut in August 1852. 



Common fallow acre all sown autumn 1851 ; seed drilled at 

 the rate of about two bushels per acre, in rows 9 inches apart ; 

 hoed and weeded as usual. Crop heavy, but somewhat blighted. 

 For Second Crop, 1852-3 : — • 



The fallow intervals, which were not sown, trenched 14 to 15 

 inches in December 1851 ; forked in spring, and again before 

 sowing; occasionally spudded, but became foul and crusted over 

 during the summer. Seed sown as for first crop, October 1852 ; 

 hoed twice, and weeded as usual. Crop not clean, poor, and 

 blighted ; cut September 1853, 



Common fallow acre, all fallow in 1852-3. 

 For Third Crop, 1853-4 :— 



Stubble of harvest 1852, trenched 14 to 15 inches December 

 1852; forked in the spring; spudded occasionally, and again 

 forked before sowing. Sown as above, October 1853 ; hoed 

 twice, and weeded as usual. Crop pretty clean, but poor, and 

 blighted ; cut September 1854. 



Common fallow acre all drilled, as before ; hoed and weeded as 

 usual. Crop very heavy, somewhat blighted. 

 For Fourth Crop, 1854-5 :— 



Stubble of harvest 1853, trenched 14 to 15 inches in winter 



