Cultivation cf Arable Lan&amp;lt;l*-^-Whzat* Time of Sowing. i? 



and that of the feafon, is much more favourable for the procefs of vegetation 

 when the crop is put in at an early period, than when it is delayed to a late 

 one ; the date of the weather in the latter cafe often admitting of only a very 

 languid and imperfect growth until the fpring, by which the crop mud be ex~ 

 pofed to much danger from various caufes. Indeed experience has abundantly 

 (hewn that late fown wheats feldom fucceed fo well, or afford fuch plentiful 

 crops as thofe that are put in early. But when fown too early, there may not- 

 withftanding be danger of the crop running too much to draw, and confequently 

 of the grain proving light in the ear. From the beginning of September to the 

 middle, or even the end, of October, may probably be confidered as the mod fa 

 vourable period for thisbufinefs. This is, indeed, confirmed by the edablifhcd 

 practice of the moft correct farmers in almoft every didrict of the kingdom, 

 where this fort of grain is grown*. If fown earlier, efpecially en the heavy 

 kinds of foil, the land is for the moft part in too hard and lumpy a date to al 

 low of the feed being properly covered by the harrow: and in the lighter ones 

 in too dry a condition for the grain to vegetate in a proper manner : and, when 

 delayed later, the ground, in one cafe, is apt to beome too wet and clofe by the 

 falling of the autumnal rains, and in the other too loofe and porous from the 

 action of the frods on it. It is remarked by the writer jud mentioned, that 

 more than four-fifths of the whole of this fort of grain is fown between the 

 middle of the firfl and the end of the lad of the above months. Mr. Young thinks 

 September the bed feafon for cold backward wet foils, and October for thofe of 

 the more dry and warm kinds, after there has been a pretty plentiful rain. 



There are, however, circumdances that may render the times of fowing dif 

 ferent from the above ; as where the foils are of the rich, fertile, loamy, chalky, 

 or gravelly kinds, it may be better to defer it in many indances to a confider- 

 ably later period, as when fuch warm forts of land are cropped too early, they 

 are apt, it is faid, to pufli the plants forward in fuch a rapid manner, that they 

 become weak and fpindling in the early fpring months ; and at the fame time, 

 the crops are more liable to be infeded with weeds, on account of the feafon 

 feeing then more favourable to their growth-)-. 



The practice of putting in crops of this fort fo late as the latter end of No 

 vember and beginning of December frequently depends on the crops that pre 

 cede them not being capable, from the latenefs of the fituation, or other caufes 

 of being taken off fo early as that the land may be made ready for the wheat 



* Modern Agriculture, vol. II. p. 275. f Bannifter s Syr.opds of Ilufuand y. 



VOL. II. D 



