130 • BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. IX. 



moisture through the pores of its outer covering ; in consequence of which 

 it swells with sucli force, that beans and peas, during this process, have 

 been made to split hollow balls of considerable strength, which bad been 

 filled with them, and even to raise a weight of nearly 200 lbs. If the seed 

 should have met with any accident to destroy its vital powers, it decays 

 and becomes putrid. Tlie same effect takes place if it be alive, unless it have 

 the benefit of air ; but if the seed be good, and the presence of both air and 

 the requisite degree of heat and moisture be secured, the nutritive matter 

 contained within it soon becomes fluid, milky in its appearance, as well as 

 sweetish to the taste, and is carried off" by the sap-vessels, first towards the 

 root, and then to the stem of the plant. Wheat, for instance, has two 

 sets of roots ; one springing immediately from the seed, and another from 

 the stalk. The latter, which are called coronal roots, may always be 

 observed to form themselves immediately below the surface of the soil, 

 whether the grain be sown deep or superficial ; which is probably occa- 

 sioned by the facility afforded by this position to the spreading of the roots, 

 and their absorption of nutriment from that portion of the ground which 

 is usually the richest. They are therefore subject to be chilled by an early 

 frost ; and, if the seed be not sown at a proper medium depth, the seminal 

 roots may also be exposed to similar attacks ; which forms a strong reason 

 for early sowing *. 



If the grain be too deeplv buried, germination is impeded, and may be 

 altogether prevented; while, if sown too shallow, sufficient moisture is not 

 left in the surface to afford nourishment to the roots of the plant. The 

 depth at which it ought to be placed must, therefore, be regulated by the 

 nature of the soil. If stiff, more moderate covering should be used than if 

 it be light and porous : wheat, barley and oats, also require more than rye 

 or buck-wheat; but, except in some few instances, from H to 3 inches 

 is, in every case, the lowest to which it should be carried. Some farmers 

 adopt the plan of sowing the seed at different depths, for the purpose of 

 insuring the growth of some portion of it. Witli regard to autumn sowing, 

 this only causes the unnecessary sacrifice of an additional quantity ; but in 

 the sowing of spring corn, it has the injurious effect of preventing the 

 crop from becoming ripe at the same time. To promote equal vegetation, it 

 is therefore desirable that all the seeds should be placed at an uniform depth. 



With regard to the proper quantity of each species of seed, the practice 

 depends upon whether it be sown broad-cast, drilled, or dibbled, and also 

 in some measure upon the nature and condition of the land ; but, as this 

 will be considered under their different heads, we need now only remark, 

 that, generally speaking, wheat is usually sown broad-cast at the rate of 

 three — barley at that of four — and oats to the extent of four or five bushels, 

 or even more, per acre f. 



If the seed could be uniformly spread at a regular depth, — if it were not 

 subject to destruction by birds, field-mice, and insects, as well as injured by 

 being in some cases buried beyond the influence of the air, and in others too 

 much exposed to the atmosphere, and that every grain might be pre- 



* See Macvicar's View of Veji^etable Economy, Part I., Quart. Journ. of Agric. N. S., 

 vol. i. Hunter's Georgical Essays, No. V. ; and a Paper in No. VI. of the British 

 Farmer's Magazine. 



f It has been calculated that wheat, barley, and oats, of good quality, when sown to 

 that extent, contain the following number of grains, namely — 



3 Bushels of Wheat, weighing fil'i lbs. per bushel . 2,085.900 



4 Do. Barley ,, 53} ,, . . '2,508,280 



5 Do. Oats ., 4'J ,, . . 3,534,720 



