280 ON THE CULTIVATION 



one ; but we consider the soil in which the experiments 

 were made as equally removed from both these extremes, 

 and, in this respect, as of a very fair average for an ex- 

 periment of the kind. 



Having- ascertained tlie depth, we proceeded, in the first 

 week of June in the same year, to find out the proportion of 

 seeds that mig'ht be expected to germinate in a given num- 

 ber of medium cpiality, such as are commonly sold in the 

 shops. Out of 500 seeds sown in rows, at a distance of 

 inches in the row, 426 germinated ; showing a deficiency of 

 nearly 15 per cent. Out of one of Mr. Lawson's best samples 

 of 500 seeds sown, 475 germinated ; showing a deficiency of 

 only 5 per cent. This was not the only loss sustained at 

 this stage of their growth, for before they had attained to 

 what might be considered the rough leaf, there was scarcely 

 a plant for every two seeds sown ; showing a deficiency of at 

 least 60 per cent. The insect which chiefly committed these 

 depredations was the same that so often destroys tbe turnip 

 crop ; although we cannot say that the slug had no share in 

 them. In these experiments it was not our object to destroy 

 insects, but rather to learn the extent of the ravages which 

 these enemies of agricultural plants are capable of commit- 

 ting. Whether they have been as destructive in former 

 years we have no means of knowing ; but it is not unlikely 

 that they, like every other species, may increase with the 

 means of subsistence, and for whose support the extended 

 cultivation of the turnip crop makes ample provision. 



From what has been said on this part of the subject, 

 it must be obvious that, even under the most favourable cir- 

 cumstances, much of the seed committed to the soil never 

 attains maturity. When we think of the great disadvan- 

 tages to which its seeds are exposed in field cultivation, the 

 numberless chinks and crevices in a soil but moderately 

 rough, in which they may be cast, it is not to be wondered 

 at that from this cause alone the expectation of the cultivator 

 should sometimes be disappointed. No clover seed should 

 ever be sown until the soil intended to receive it is made as 

 fine and light as straight-toothed harrows can make it, to fill 

 up the crevices, and only one strake should afterwards be 

 given with them. There is another practice in many dis- 

 tricts of Scotland, of eating down young grass with sheep 

 and other stock occasionalh', from which much injury is sus- 

 tained. It is but too common to see the grasses nipped as 

 close to the surface as teeth can reach : and we have often- 



