PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 89 



however, of scattering them equally over every part 

 of the field, soon attracted notice, and engaged me- 

 chanics in devising something which should better 

 answer that purpose. China was the first to produce 

 anything at all commensurate with this object ; and 

 it was not till the seventeenth century that this, or 

 some similar invention, was introduced into Europe 

 by Lucateo, a Spaniard, who, meeting no encour- 

 agement at home, transmitted his real or pretended 

 discovery to London. Here, as has been conjec- 

 tured, it served as a model for the sowing-machines 

 of Tull; and from 1750 to 1770, the mania on this 

 subject was at its height ; but from that period to 

 the present it has been gradually subsiding, and the 

 hand is now generally restored to its original func- 

 tions. 



The quantity of seed to be given to the acre 

 should, in a great degree, depend on the soil ; if 

 this be rich, ten or twelve pounds are sufficient; 

 and if poor, double that quantity will not be too 

 much. The practice of mixing the seeds of timo- 

 thy and rye grass, &c., with that of clover, is a bad 

 one, because these grasses neither rise nor ripen at 

 the same time. Another practice, equally bad, is 

 that of sowing clover seed on winter grain before 

 the earth has acquired a temperature favourable to 

 vegetation, and when there cannot be a doubt but 

 that two thirds of the seed will perish. 



By the time your barley or other covering crop 

 is harvested, your clover will be sufficiently estab- 

 lished to live alone ; and, if not pastured* to brave 

 the ensuing winter, and during the next summer to 

 repay your labour by two abundant crops of grass 

 or hay. 



The period" in the growth of clover at which it 



* If the crowns of young clover roots be nibbled or otherwise 

 wounded, the roots die. Sheep and horses (both of which bite 

 closely) should, therefore, be particularly excluded from clover, 

 unless intended for pasturage oniy. 



