608 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SOWING SEEDS. 
ment is altogether futile; for, in the first case, 
the grasses and weeds arise from nothing else than 
previous bad management; and in the latter, the 
attacks of grubs and wireworm, can neither be 
prevented, nor the injuries inflicted be com- 
pensated for by any kind of sowing whatever. 
The custom of thick sowing, like other foolish 
customs, has arisen from downright ignorance ; 
and the idea that numbers can make up for that 
vigour, where the sources of vigour are unknown. 
In the ordinary mode of sowing the seeds 
of grain, a great waste of seed arises from 
too much falling between the furrows, and 
making the seams between the furrows too 
thick, even when not buried by falling through 
crevices below them. ‘This useless expenditure 
of seed cannot well be obviated, unless by the 
adoption of drill husbandry, or the employment 
of sowing machines, similar to such as are used 
for sowing Italian Ryegrass, &c. Something, 
however, may at present be done ; a light harrow 
might be drawn once over the ground before the 
seeds are sown. By this means not only would 
the ridges of the furrows be reduced, and the 
seams between them partly filled up, so as to 
prevent too great a proportion of seed falling 
