486 



iintouclied plots of wheat was 25 bushels to the acre. The plots where 

 two rows had been alternately removed and left without interculture, 

 except hoeiug, gave respectively GO and 80 pounds less grain per acre 

 than unmanured and untouched plots ; while two plots similarly treated, 

 witli the addition of forking between the rows, showed a decrease of 175 

 povinds and 105 pounds respectively, when compared with ordinary 

 wheat. The potatoes planted between the rows of wide-drilled wheat 

 were a complete failure. 



The results on the farm of Mr. Smith, of Bibury, show that a plot 

 with two drills nine inches apart, alternated with 27-incli spaces, pota- 

 toes between, produced at the rate of 3,200 i)ounds of wheat, and 4,260 

 pounds of straw per acre ; plot with two drills omitted and two left, 

 spaces forked twice, 3,020 pounds of grain, and 4,140 i^ounds of straw ; 

 plot with two drills omitted and two left, land pressed, 3,080 ponnds of 

 grain, and 4,340 i)ounds of straw ; two drills taken and two left, land 

 pressed, 3,280 pounds of grain, and 4,380 pounds of straw ; untouched 

 plot, 2,700 pounds of grain, and 3,500 pounds of straw. These results 

 were so satisfactory to Mr. Smith that he has sown a larger area upon 

 the same principle. Here the seed \vas at once drilled the required 

 width, thus saving one bushel of seed ])er acre. 



In experiments of Mr. W. J. Edmonds the plots, (one-twentieth of an 

 acre,) with two rows removed and two left, averaged 58i i^ounds of 

 grain ; two rows removed and two left, spaces forked, C3 pounds ; two 

 rows removed and two left, spaces planted with potatoes, 04^ pounds ; 

 plots tirmly pressed with foot, 70J pounds ; ordinary drilling, 100| 

 pounds. These results are decidedfy unfavorable to wide drilling and 

 thin seeding, little more than half the yield being obtained from the 

 wide-drilled plots. 



Such are the results of wide drilling and interculture in the experi- 

 ments named. In one case there was a remarkable increase of wheat 

 and stiaw, in connection with a saving of one bushel of seed to the acre. 

 A second case gave an increased amount of straw per acre, and was 

 thought, up to harvest, to promise a greater yield of grain, but strict 

 weighing revealed a deficiency, probably due to mildew. A third 

 series gave a slightly diminished yield upon land which had borne a 

 barley crop the preceding year, and was consequently in low condition. 

 A fourth gave an unequivocal answer in i'avor of continuing the usual 

 system. All the experiments agree in condemning deei) interculture 

 between wide-drilled wheat. Many corroborative answers, extending 

 over three seasons, go far to prove that, in the district where these trials 

 were made, deep interculture in the case of wheat is unnecessary. 



With reference to barley the results obtained were certainly encour- 

 aging, and the system of wide-drilling will again be tested. In addi- 

 tion to the increase in grain in the case of barley and sowing of seed, 

 the facility offered for working both hand and horse hoes must be looked 

 upon as an additional advantage. 



HOP-GEOWING IN ENGLAND. 



About 65,000 acres of land are cultivated in hop« in England, and 

 the area planted is annually increasing. Kent County is the most ex- 

 tensively engaged in the culture, the acreage this season reaching 

 33,000, the early grounds averaging 14 to 16 hundreds weight per acre. 

 Sussex cultivates 14,500 acres, and produced this year 18 to 22 hundred 



