CROPS. 



231 



done very early in the season, and carefully done, dibbling may 

 be considered safe, and perhaps to be preferred ; but, in all cases, 

 against the advantages of dibbling a small quantity of seed, are 

 to be set off the danger from insects and frost, and the imperfect 

 germination of the seed. To save two bushels, or even one, per 

 acre, in all the seed sown throughout the kingdom, would be an 

 enormous saving, and come very near meeting all the demands 

 which are made for foreign supplies ; but on the other hand, 

 from the omission to sow sufficient seed, to experience a loss or 

 deficiency of four or more bushels per acre, as some pretend would 

 be the result, would be a much more serious matter. I have 

 known a good many persons to hold to some particular opinions 

 or faith in religion, because they say, notwithstanding their con 

 viction of their inconsistency or absurdity, if they should prove 

 wrong they still would be safe ; whereas, if they adopted other 

 opinions, to which they feel strongly inclined, and of which they 

 perceive the reasonableness, if they should not prove true, they 

 would find themselves in an unfortunate condition. The state 

 of opinion, in regard to the thick or thin sowing of wheat, is 

 quite analogous. Farmers may be safe, and save their seed, by 

 sowing little. They do not. save their seed, but they are sure to 

 be safe, so far as this goes, in regard to a crop, by sowing a 

 good deal. Different minds will view the matter differently ; 

 but, having fully stated the case, like a wise judge, I submit it to 

 those whose province it is to decide. I have known a great 

 many persons, who have enjoyed an extravagant reputation for 

 wisdom, who never gave a decisive and unequivocal opinion in 

 any case. Like the Delphic oracle, they were always sure to be 

 right, because the prediction would fit any result. Without any 

 pretensions to wisdom, it may be safe in me to adopt the same 

 course. 



The increase which, by painstaking, may be obtained from a 

 single seed is very remarkable. I have already spoken of some 

 instances, but I shall refer to others, for two reasons ; first, for the 

 curiosity of the fact, and showing how prolific, under good culti 

 vation, a plant may become ; and next, as evincing with how 

 little difficulty a new and improved variety of grain may be 

 obtained, by selecting from a field even a single head. 



A farmer in Cambridgeshire, in 1840, gathered, from one of his 

 fields, eighteen very fine ears of wheat, (which were five, six, and 



