220 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



It is admitted that crops standing thickly ripen the soonest ; 

 and the grain produced by them is said to be of a superior qual 

 ity to that which comes from thinly-sowed crops. 



On Lord Leicester s estate, in Norfolk, (who, more than any 

 other man in the annals of English agriculture, distinguished 

 himself for his successful husbandry,) the practice was to sow three 

 bushels per acre. On Mr. Dixon s farm, in Kent, whose crops 

 are said to average forty-two bushels per acre, the custom is to 

 sow two and a half, and sometimes nearly three, bushels per acre. 



The time of sowing wheat in England admits of a long range, 

 from the middle of September until December, and sometimes 

 even into February. Where circumstances favor it, an early 

 sowing is preferred ; and very forward wheats are fed down, in 

 the spring, by sheep, which are folded upon them. In cases 

 where a crop, to be followed by wheat, is to be used upon the 

 ground, the wheat is not sowed until that crop is fed off; or 

 where wheat follows potatoes, the sowing is carried forward 

 far into the season. 



Wheat follows turnips, mangel-wurzel, carrots, potatoes, and 

 clover. The last is universally approved. Mustard is likewise 

 sown, as a preparation for wheat, sometimes at the rate of seven, 

 and sometimes at the rate of sixteen, pounds to the acre, to be 

 fed off by sheep, or otherwise to be covered in as a green dress 

 ing. A matter is stated as a fact in this case, which deserves 

 attention ; that the white mustard will not remain in the soil 

 after being once ploughed up ; that the black can hardly be 

 . eradicated, but has been known to remain in the soil for ages. 

 i We must be cautious what guests we entertain. 



I have already said that, in a rotation of crops, only one out 

 of the four is manured, and that green barn manure is never 

 applied to the wheat crops. But the wheat crop cannot be said 

 to be not manured, for the folding of sheep upon the ground, by 

 their consumption of the green crops, furnishes a most effectual 

 manuring. Besides this, artificial or saline manures are applied 

 to the crop, and guano has been used with great success. The 

 nitrates have mainly served to increase the amount of straw, but 

 not of grain ; and although some experiments seem to have pro 

 duced a great increase of grain from their use, yet they are not 

 very often applied. I have, however, the assurance of one exten 

 sive farmer of his success in the use of the nitrate of soda when 



