sow 



sow 



413 



less it should vary according to cir- 

 cumsiances. 



When seed is very large, and 

 full grown, two bushels may not be 

 more than equal to one that is small 

 and pinched, supposing the seeds 

 equally disposed to vegetate, which 

 is often the case. For the true 

 quantity should be estimated, ra- 

 ther by the number of grains, than 

 by measure or weight. Not that I 

 would recommend the sowing of 

 pinched grain, excepting in case of 

 necessity. For it is to be expect- 

 ed, in general, that the most per- 

 fect seeds will produce the best 

 plants. 



Rich land will afford nourish- 

 ment to a greater number of plants 

 than that which is poor. It has 

 been held by many farmers that 

 the poorer the land is, the greater 

 quantity of seed should be sown in 

 it. But Mr. Miller says, " This is 

 one of the greatest fallacies that 

 can be imagined ; for to suppose 

 that poor land can nourish more 

 than twice the number of roots in 

 the same space, as rich land, is 

 such an absurdity as one could 

 hardly suppose any person of 

 common understanding guilty of. 

 Where the roots stand close, they 

 will deprive each other of nourish- 

 ment, which any person may at 

 first sight observe, in any part of 

 the fields where the corn happen? 

 to scatter when they are sowitig it ; 

 or in places where, by harrowing, 

 the seed is drawn in heaps, those 

 patches will starve, and never grow 

 to a third part of the size as the 

 other parts of the same field ; and 

 vet, common as this is, it is little 



noticed by farmers ; otherwise, 

 they surely would not continue 

 their old custom of sowing." 



The practice of farmers has been 

 various, as to the quantity ot seed. 

 In England they sow from two or 

 three to four or five bushels of 

 wheat on an acre ; six bushels of 

 oats, and four of barley. But the 

 above quoted author is very posi- 

 tive that a third part of the usual 

 quantities would be better. 



The usual quantities in this coun- 

 try are not greater than five or six 

 pecks of wheat or rye, three bushels 

 of oats, and two of barley, lor an 

 acre. And from these quantities, 

 in some instances, large crops have 

 been produced. Though, in old 

 countries, the crops are usually 

 larger than ours, ! apprehend it is 

 not owing to higher seeding, but to 

 deeper and more perfect tillage, 

 better manuring, and frequent 

 changing of seed, with a judicious 

 rotation of crops. 



The sowing of winter grain is 

 perhaps a more diflicult matter to 

 manage rightly, than vernal seed- 

 ing. Farmers certainly mistake 

 their interest, when they persist in 

 sowing winter grain at a certain 

 time of the year, let the weather be 

 ever so hot, and the ground ever 

 so dry. By heat and dryness, the 

 seeds will sometimes be so scorch- 

 in the soil, that not a fourth part of 

 them ever come up. Therefore, 

 if a drought happen at the usual 

 sowing season, it will be needful to 

 defer sowing till some rain has fal- 

 len, and the soil has got a due de- 

 gree of moi?ture. How long it 

 mav be best to wait for such a fa» 



