CROPS. 219 



which have been reported, or which have come under my notice, 

 that the crop has, in any case, been lessened by too much seed. 



This subject is, certainly, one of great importance. The 

 farmer, who has most strongly advocated thin sowing, or a great 

 reduction of the usual quantity of seed, from a letter which I have 

 recently received from him, remains confident of the soundness 

 of his views. On the other hand, the opinion of another emi 

 nent practical farmer is, &quot; that these new doctrines are calculated 

 to do greater and more extensive mischief, not only to the 

 growers but to the consumers of corn, than any other theory he 

 ever remembered to have been broached.&quot; 



In some experiments given in the able report on Norfolk 

 farming, in the Royal Society s Journal, it appears that wheat 

 sown at the rate of ten and a half pecks per acre produced nearly 

 two bushels per acre more when sown in 7 inch than when sown 

 in 9 inch drills. In another case, there were three and a half 

 bushels in favor of the 7 inches. In another case, wheat drilled at 

 4J inches exceeded 9 inches by nearly two bushels, and 7 inches 

 exceeded 9 by eleven pecks and three pints. 



In another experiment. 



8 pks. seed produced more than 7J pks. by 5 pks. 14 pts. per acre. 



g a it a a a a a t . Q tt g it 



in a a n u a a a a f i: A u 



a a a n i . a ]_2 &quot; 6 &quot; 



These statements do not determine the case, but they are 

 strongly entitled to consideration. It would be wrong, however, 

 not to state that, in a subsequent experiment of this same farmer, 

 the difference between sowing eight pecks or twelve pecks, 

 after deducting the seed, was only a few quarts. Thus, 



8 pks. of seed produced at the rate of 39 bushels 2 pks. 2 qts. 



12 a &amp;lt; &quot; if ii &amp;lt; cc 40 l 



And in another case, three bushels of seed actually produced 

 less than two bushels and a peck. Thus, 



9 pecks of seed produced 40 bushels 2 pecks 2 quarts. 

 12 &quot; &quot; &quot; &quot; 40 &quot; 



