50 SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 



land, \vhere winter wheat is growing. The harrowing 

 and rolling which are necessary to cover in these seeds, 

 instead of disturbing the wheat crop, prove an advan- 

 tage to it. In the days of Tusser, the benefit of rolling 

 wheat had been proved. 



" If clod in thy wheat will not break with the frost, 

 If now ye do roll it, it quiteth the cost ; 

 But see when ye roll it, the weather be dry, 

 Or else it were better unrolled to lie." 



The clover or other grasses grow up under shelter of 

 the young wheat plants, but they do not come into use 

 the same season. Indeed they seldom flower during the 

 first summer, but may be seen, small and green, among 

 the wheat stubble in autumn. They continue to grow 

 during winter, and in spring they shoot forth vigor- 

 ously, and soon come into full perfection. 



The sowing of wheat broad-cast, and by drill, has now 

 been described ; but we must not omit to notice another 

 method called dibbling, which is rather extensively 

 practised in Suffolk, Norfolk, and on the lighter lands 

 of Essex. The soil being duly prepared for the crop, a 

 light roller is passed over it. A man then walks back- 

 wards, with an iron dibble in each hand, with which he 

 strikes two rows of holes in each sod, and he is followed 

 by children, who drop a few grains in each hole. The 

 seed is covei-ed in by a bush-harrow, and sometimes by 

 a roller. A bush-harrow is a frame of wood, interwoven 

 with the smaller branches of trees, which, being dragged 

 over the soil, gives a light covering of earth to the seeds. 

 This method of sowing answers well on the loose and 

 sandy soils where it is chiefly employed. 



Next in importance to the wheat crop is barley, which 

 is properly sown in spring, though sometimes, to suit 

 the convenience of the farmer, it is sown in autumn. 

 This crop ripens early, and therefore may be sown late. 

 April is the usual month, although it is sometimes 

 deferred till May. Tusser's advice on this point is 



