[ 163 ] 



more. The drilled crop, sown thick, was better than the other. 

 Were I to renew my practice of drilling, I would (particularly in 

 spring crops,) deposit nearly double the quantity of seed recom- 

 mended by the advocates for drilling, and at least a month before 

 the usual time of sowing broadcast. 



For beans, peas, vetches, turnips, potatoes, carrots, and all gross 

 growing plants, and roots, drillling cannot have a more warm ad- 

 vocate than myself; and with respect to wheat crops on light sandy 

 soils -that are subject to weeds, the operation of hoeing which ne- 

 cessarily follows that of drilling, may frequently be of essential 

 service not only to the wheat crop, but to the succeeding ones ; but 

 with respect to corn in general, and particularly barley, and oats, I 

 must for the present demur, at least, till I have seen better proofs 

 in favor of the drill system. Perhaps indeed, the ill success which 

 I have experienced, and particularly the late ripening already men- 

 tioned, might have been owing in some measure to the system of 

 saving seed being carried to too great an excess. 



I cannot dismiss this subject without paying a just tribute of ap- 

 probation to that ingenious mechanic and enlightened agriculturist, 

 the Rev. J. Cooke, whose drill machine, and horse hoe, are well 

 adapted to the purposes for which they are designed. Though we 

 cannot accord on the subject of the drill husbandry, I must give 

 my unqualified assent to his general principles respecting the prepa- 

 ration of land for arable crops ; and I verily think, that his instru- 

 ments called the shiffer, and fcarifier, are the best contrivances I 

 ever beheld, both for the pulverization of the soil, and the destruc- 

 tion of weeds. 



The usual seed time for wheat is November, but it is frequently- 

 sown after turnips, so late as January or February, notwithstanding 

 which the crop is ripe, and harvested in a favorable season, by the. 

 middle of August. Colored peas are planted about Candlemas, 

 white peas at Lady Day, horse beans from Candlemas to Lady 

 Day ; oats arc sown in March, barley in April and the beginning 

 of May ; peas are harvested rather before wheat, barley at the end 

 of August, oats and beans in September, 



Of wheat they generally sow two bushels, peas four bushels, 

 beans five bushels, planted by women with dibbles or setting sticks 



promis- 



