Ch. VI.] EXPEEIMENTS. 89 



twice hand-hoed. It now soon got the start of its broad-cast neighbour, 

 and kejit it ever after : its blade was scarcely like the common blade of 

 wheat, but broad and vigorous ; and when it shot into ear, the superiority 

 in both kinds was striking, each ear containing, on an average, a fourth 

 part greater number of grains than the undibbled, and being more uniform 

 in their growth. 



When thrashed, after harvest, the broad-cast wheat produced exactly 

 four quarters the acre, each bushel weighing 60lbs. ; while the dibbled 

 small wheat yielded five quarters of 611bs. the bushel, and the rivets four 

 quarters, seven bushels ; but the latter were slightly damaged by mildew, 

 and not quite so heavy as the other. Taking the expenses and profits of 

 the former at the present prices, the account would stand thus; — 



*. d. £ s. d, 

 BROAD-CAST. — Seed, 2i bushels, at 7s. per bushel 17 6 

 Sowing . . , .10 



18 6 



Produce, 4 qrs. at 6s. 6rf. • .10 8 



'J 9 6 

 DIBBLED. — Seed, 2 pecks, at 7s. pa- bushel . 3 6 



Dibbling . . . . 7 6 



Two hoeinirs . . . 10 



1 1 



Produce, 5 qrs. at 6s. (Jd, per bushel . . 13 



£11 19 



Thus leaving a difference in favour of the dibbled wheat of no less than 

 21. 9s. 6d., exclusive of any estimate of its superior quality. Other experi- 

 ments, however, have not turned out so much in favour of dibbling ; and 

 perhaps the result of this is rather to be attributed to the hoeing than to 

 any other circumstance. 



In addition to what has been already stated in a former chapter, on the 

 process of hoeing, we distinctly recommend horse-Jioeing in preference 

 to hand-hoeing every crop that is drilled at sufficient distance within the 

 rows to admit of its operation. The latter implement may undoubtedly be 

 used with advantage, and ought never to be neglected, except when the 

 former cannot be employed ; but it is not so efficient as the horse-hoe, — 

 which, besides its greater power, has the decided advantage of going over 

 several acres in a dav, while a single labourer must be a good workman 

 who can effectually hoe half an acre ; and it frequently happens that 

 hoeing, in any way, can only be executed with advantage during a very 

 few davs in the spring. Among the many implements which iiave been 

 lately brought into notice for horse-hoeing drilled green crops, there arc 

 three which are strongly recommended, and engravings of which may 

 be seen in the ' Transactions of the Highland Society * ;' and a correct 

 description of Plenty's Scarifier may be found in the ' Penny Cyclopiedia,' 

 under the head of ' Arable Land.' - 



Mr. Blaikie's inverted horse-hoe is also an instrument of general utility 

 m the different operations of cleaning land ; and, besides being procurable 

 at moderate cost, possesses the great advantage that it may be worked 

 with perfect safety between the rows of plants in their infant state f- 



Mr. Wilkie's, which we formerly alluded to, we have since seen at 



* N. S. vol. iii. p. 80. 



f See Blaikie on the Management of Farm-Yard Manure, in which there is a cut, 

 and a detailed description of the implement. 



