THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SOWING SEEDS. 607 
growth and expansion. A question hence arises, 
_ what quantity of plants on a given area will be 
productive of the greatest quantity of grain of 
the best quality ? No special rule can be given 
as an answer to this question—because no special 
rule can apply to the quality and condition of all 
soils. It may, notwithstanding, be depended upon 
as a general axiom—that be the quality and con- 
dition of the soil what it may, no more seed ought 
to be sown than will suffice by leaving space for 
stooling, to fill up the whole surface to the extent 
of the full action of light and aeration. I have 
known ten measures of seed-oats sown on a Lan- 
cashire acre produce more and heavier grain than 
fifteen measures per acre sown at the same time, 
and in the same field. And, as economy in farming 
is the basis of all prosperity therein (as in every 
thing else), almost everywhere throughout this 
country, whether the farming in other respects be 
good or bad, a saving of one-fifth to one-fourth of 
the seed sown might be made to the immediate 
profit of the farm, as well as of the future produce. 
I know that it is urged as an argument for thick- 
sowing—that a protection to the plants against the 
growth of grasses and annual weeds, as well as 
against the attacks of grubs and wireworm, is 
thereby afforded to the crop. But such an argu- 
