OF THE SOWING OF SEED. 347 



a. On all land, however, where annual weeds are abun- 

 dant, he considers it of great importance, to use the drill 

 for white crops of every description sown in the spring, 

 it being understood at the time, that plenty of hands can 

 at all times be obtained for using the hoe ; for it is better 

 to sow in the common method broad-cast, than to drill 

 without hoeing. 



Mr Hope adds, that an experiment was tried in his 

 neighbourhood, which places the advantage of drilling in 

 a very favourable point of view. A field of grass land, of 

 good quality, which, in consequence of imperfect cultiva- 

 tion, was full of annuals, was all drilled, with the exception 

 of six ridges, in different parts of the field, which were 

 sown broad-cast, that the difference of produce between 

 the two might be ascertained. The drills were made at a 

 foot distance between the rows, and the drilled part of the 

 field was hand-hoed, during the summer, at the expence 

 of one guinea per acre.* The difference of produce was 

 very great, for the broad-cast yielded only nine bolls per 

 Scotch acre, whereas not less than 15 bolls was the pro- 

 duce of the other. 



Among the advantages of drilling, Mr Hope states, that 

 he has uniformly found the expence of cutting a drilled 

 crop in harvest, less than what was sown broad-cast; the 

 difference being in this proportion, that three reapers, will 

 do as much work in the former case, as four in the latter. 



Mr Church of Hitchill recommends drilling wheat crops, 

 not only for the purpose of having an opportunity to era- 



* Mr Scott of Craijjlockhart recommended the Dutcli hoe as the best, 

 for the operator proceeds backward, leaving the wrought ground and cut 

 weeds untrod ; the work is also much lighter, as less force is requisite, 

 and stooping unnecessary. 



