354- OF THE SOWING OF SEED. 



fore it was used ; and he can only say, that since he begua 

 that practice, which he has almost invariably followed, he 

 has never been troubled with smut. It is proper to ob- 

 serve, that the wheat must have as much lime put upon it, 

 as soon as it conies out of the pickling tub, as will dry it 

 quickly; for if it is allowed to continue long wet, the ger- 

 minating power will be altogether destroyed, [t is re- 

 marked, however, by some farmers of considerable expe- 

 rience, that where urine is used, there is an absolute 

 necessity of using the seed immediately.* Indeed, in- 

 stances might be quoted, of a total loss being sustained, 

 where wheat, pickled with urine, was allowed to remain 

 for a few hours unsown. 



It is proper here to observe, that so important an ope- 

 ration as the pickling of wheat, ought not to be done in 

 a slovenly manner, (merely sprinkling a heap with urine, 

 and then drying it with lime), but should be performed 

 with great care. 1. The wheat, after being thoroughly 

 dressed, should be washed in clean water, and all the weak 

 pickles skimmed off, until the water comes off without 

 taint, and no more grains rise to the surface upon stir- 

 ring; 2. The wheat should be put into a vessel containing 

 stale urine, (which is the best steep), or sea-water, or water 

 impregnated with salt, and skimmed again; and, 3. It 

 should be dried with quicklime, and the sooner it is sown 

 after the better. 



* Mr John Shirreff observes, that if wheat has been pickled with staff 

 chamber-ley, dried with quicklime, and put close together, to lie for a 

 day, not a grain will vegetate. It ought to be spread abroad, as thin as 

 possible, to dry and get air. Urine, when well fermented, will dissolve 

 bones, and must therefore be extremely injurious to the germinating 

 powers of wheat. 



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