Cultivation of Arable Land. Sainlfolii -. Tit/ic and Method of fowing* 33^ 



Seed. This fhould be felcctcd from the bed plants, and thofc which arc mod 

 fuited to the foil of the cultivator by their durable properties.* It fhould always 

 be fovvn frefh, as that which is old never vegetates well. The proportion of feed 

 which is neceffary mud be different according to the circumdances of the land ; but 

 in the broadcaft method about four bufhels are probably in general the moft proper 

 quantity, as on thefe forts of foil it is better .to have the plants thick ; fome, how 

 ever, think lefs than half the above proportion fufficient. In the drill mode three 

 bufhels are moftly employed. Seed of this fort is ufually procured at from about 

 three to five or fix fhillings a bufhel. 



Time and Metbod of Sowing, The earlier the feeds of this grafs can be put into 

 the ground in the fpring the better, as there will be the more chance of their 

 vegetating in a perfect manner from the greater proportion of moidure in the foil, 

 as when the bufinefs is performed at a late period, if a dry feafon follow, much 

 the feed would be prevented from growing, and the young plants that come up be 

 more expofed to the attacks of the fly. ) The latter end of February or the begin 

 ning of the following month may anfvver very well in mod cafes. It is, however, 

 by fome cultivators fown in the autumn with the wheat crop ; but the practice is 

 not to be recommended, as there may be danger of its not growing well, or of being 

 injured in the winter feafon. + 



It may be put in either alone or with any of the fpring corn crops, but with 

 barley after turnips is confidered the bed method. Some advife its being 

 fown with about half the quantity of barley which is ufually fown fora full 

 crop, as it may made and keep it moid during the fird fummer; and at the fame 

 time not injure it from the crop being lighter, which is fometimes the cafe. Where 

 the barley is drilled, the faintfoin may afterwards be put in, in the fame manner, 

 butina contrary direction, as is fome;imes the cafe in Norfolk. If fown over the 

 wheats, it mould be harrowed in, and afterwards rolled. In whatever method it is 

 fown, as the feeds are larger than thofe of many other grades, they mould be covered 

 in with more care and to a fomewhat greater depth. Some advife the ploughing 

 the feed in with a very thin or (hallow furrow. In mod cafes, efpecially in all 

 the more light forts of land on which this crop is fown, the ufe of the roller may 

 likewife be neceflary. 



It is fom.i-imes a practice to fow a fmall portion of clover feed with this crop, 

 with the idea of increafing the fird year s produce j but as plants of different kinds 



* Marfhall s Rural Economy of Southern Counties, vol.11. t Synopfis of Ilufbandry. J Ibiil. 



Kent s Hints, 

 VOL. ii. B 



