Cultivation of Arable Land. Wheat. Methods of After-Culture. 



the northern parts of the kingdom*; but it is obvious, that, where fuch 

 proportions of feed are made ufe of, the plants muft be liable to be drawn up 

 too much, and the crops in confequcnce to become weak and imperfectly, fed, 

 as well as fmaller in the fize of the ears. There may alfo be difadvantageg from 

 making ufe of too fmall proportions of feed, from the ground not being properljr 

 covered with plants : but where care is taken in the after-culture, of the crops, 

 lefs danger is probably to be apprehended from this than the other extreme, as a 

 great number of plants will be fupplied by the tillering or mooting out of new 

 Items from the joints about the furface, in confequcnce of the mould being laid 

 up again ft them. On this account the drill method of culture, as has been fec.% 

 may be the moft proper when this fort of grain is raifed upon light foils that are in 

 a ftate of fufficient cleannefs, as well as from its affording a more loofe and pene 

 trable earth for the coronal roots to ftrike and be formed in. The broadcaft method 

 is, however, that which is the moft commonly employed, efpecially on the heavy 

 kinds of land, whether of the clayey or loamy defcriptions, the feed being caft 

 over the fur face of the ground foon after the laft earth or ploughing has been given 

 by the hand, and immediately harrowed in by the lighter kinds of harrows. There 

 is, however, another practice that prevails in fome diftricts, which is. that of 

 lowing the feed in a partial manner, one portion being turned in by the fccond 

 or third ploughing, and the other afterwards harrowed in. This method would 

 feem to be attended with an additional expenfe, without any adequate advantage 

 being derived from it ; and if great care be not taken to turn the feed in with, a 

 veiy ebb or light furrow, efpecially in wet feafons, and where the land is of a 

 heavy and retentive quality, inconvenience may be fuftained by much of the grain 

 being deftroyed before the procefs of germination is effected. Befides, there muft 

 be great inequality in the growth of the crop, a circumftance which, we have feen 

 to be injurious to the welfare of the wheat. After the feed has been put in, the 

 land fhould conftantly be laid as dry as poflible, by the conftructing of proper 

 drains and water-furrows, fo as in all feafons to keep the water from ftagnating 

 upon it. They fliould be in fome cafes deepened by the fpade, and where there 

 are double Hopes, performed in a double manner, according to circumftances, foas 

 to effectually difcharge the water from the different defccnts. 



After -culture. The manner in which the crop has been put into the ground, 

 the ftate of the land, and the preparation on which it was Town, may produce 

 fome differences in the culture that is neceffary while it is growing. In every cafe 



* Corrected Reports of Mid Lothian and Perthfliire. 

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