212 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Cli. XV. 



We leavn, indeetl, from an experienced practical farmer in Norfolk, that 

 beans sown in drills at 12 inches, and dibbled one hole on a furrow 4 inches 

 between the holes, at the rate of 3, or, if very large, 3\ bushels per acre, 

 produced the most abundant crops he lias ever seen ; and he instances 

 those of a neifj;hbour, who grows every year 50 acres in that manner, and 

 whole crops liave averaged 6, and in one year 7 quarters per acre*. In 

 opposition to this, he however admits, that if beans stand too thick on the 

 land they will be drawn up to a great height, but will not pod kindly ; which 

 is corroborated by the following experiment: — 



A field of light free loam which had carried a crop of oats the pre- 

 ceding year, and hadbeendungedprevioustothe seed-furrow, was divided 

 into three parts, two of which were drilled in single rows at intervals 

 of 27 and IS inches, and the third in double rows, standing close 

 together within the same space as the first division. They were all 

 harrowed before coming up, carefully hand-hoed, and finally baulked 

 up with a double mould-board plough. 



The crop at harvest was good, but when cut the stalk was smaller, 

 and the pods not so well filled in the second division, at 18 inches, as 

 in the first at 27 ; which yielded at the rate of upwards of four bushels 

 per acre more than the former. That in double rows only returned 

 the same quantity as the first, notwithstanding its containing several 

 more drills ; nor was the land so perfectly cleaned f. 

 From which we may conclude, that not only is there an evident saving of 

 seed, but that a free admission of air is materially beneficial to every 

 plant which — like the pods of beans — carries its fruit on the stem from the 

 root U])wards. The greater facility which it affords of cleansing the land 

 is also an object of such importance, that it should ever be the primary con- 

 sideration ; and we conceive that horse-hoeing at any less distance than 

 from 24 to 30 inches between the drills is a perfect mockery. 



AVhere this is not fully acted upon, it is the practice of some farmers to 

 turn a flock of sheep upon the land so soon as the beans are four or five 

 inches high, as they will eat down the weeds which may have sprung up 

 among the plants without consuming any of the latter, and with very little 

 injury by treading. The taste of the bean is indeed so much disliked by 

 sheep, that they may be seen feeding between the rows without nibbling a 

 single })lant ; and if they should bite oft" some of the heads when in flower, 

 it is supjjosed that the plant would be thereby benefited, as it is the constant 

 custom of gardeners to lop them off, in order to set the blossoms and 

 accelerate their maturity ; without which ])recaution they are found apt to 

 fall off at particular seasons, and to become unproductive X- The sheep 

 should, however*, be turned in upon an empty stomach, and they should be 

 only suftered to remain in the field during the day, lest they should injure 

 the crop by lying down upon it ; but the practice may be occasionally re- 

 rows; and ill doing so, go as near to tlie plants as possible, taking care at the same 

 time not to loosen tlieii- roots. If any weeds stand in the rows, pull them out with the 

 hand ; afterwards earth up the plants with the small swing plough, or run the scraper 

 in the intervals, as may seem expedient. Both ways are eligible; hut when pro- 

 perly earthed-np, some people are of opinion that the plants are nourished by the 

 operation; while others think that the benefit gained in that way is counterbalanced 

 by the extra trouble of cutting the crop; the bottom being necessarily more unequal 

 than when the scraper is employed to conclude the cleaning process." — On liural 

 yljfdirs, vol. ii. p. 62. 



* Drew's Norfolk Husbandry, p. 114. 



f Farm. ]\Iag., vol. i. p. 155. See also the Reports of Northumberland, .3rd edit, 

 pp. 86 and 88 ; Surrey, p. 230. 



* Survey of Bedfordshire, p. 403; Malcolm's Sussex and Surrey, vol. ii. p. 359. 



