OF THE SOWING OF SEED. 355 



6. Mr Laing of Campend is of opinion, that farmers, 

 in general, do not pay that attention thai is necessary to 

 a change of seed. They are convinced of its utility, but 

 are too apt to think that changing from a strong to a light 

 soil, or the reverse, is sufficient, without paying much re- 

 gard to the climate. But he has learnt from experience, 

 that it is not only necessary to change from a different 

 soil, but also from a better or earlier climate, to a worse, 

 at least in regard to wheat, oats, barley, beans, and peas. 

 To ascertain that point, he has sown English seed wheat 

 from London with some of his own, and it was always 

 earlier by several days. He has likewise sown seed wheat, 

 equal in quality to his own, from a situation where the 

 climate is about ten days later than the farm he occupies, 

 and it was nearly a week later than his own seed, sown at 

 the same time. In regard to potatoes, it is quite the 

 reverse, as it is perfectly well ascertained, that changing 

 seed from a late to an early climate, is a complete pre- 

 ventative against the curl. It is also ascertained, that in 

 the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, where the curl prevails, 

 that they can be planted for two years successively, with- 

 out changing the seed, and will be free from the curl, 

 provided they are planted about the first, or even second 

 week in June, and taken up at the ordinary time, or 

 planted at the ordinary time, and taken up before they 

 are fully ripe. It is probable that potatoes intended for 

 seed, and planted in either of these ways, will never curl, 

 whether the seed is changed or not, As an experiment, 

 Mr Laing has planted, this year, a few of his own seed, 

 with the seed he had changed, the produce of which is 

 for next year's planting, which will prove, next year, whe- 

 ther potatoes may be planted with safety, more than twice 

 in succession, which he thinks will be of some importance, 



