v^ 



THE GENESEE FAEMER. 



THICK AND THIN SOWING. 



The proper quantity of seed to sow per acre is a matter of much importance in agricul- 

 ture, and consequently much difierence of opinion exists on the subject. In Great 

 Britain the point of thick and thin sowing has perhaps been more discussed than with 

 us ; and after so much investigation, each system has its strenuous and perfectly satisfied 

 advocates. Before the days of Davis, Meciii, Huxtable, and other new lights, the 

 amount of seed sown in England was generally, of wheat, three bushels ; barley, tliree 

 and a half; and oats, four. These gentlemen, however, showed that by under-draining, 

 subsoiling, and high manuring^ a large crop of wheat might be obtained from one peck 

 of seed per acre. This was considered a wonderful result, and the number of bushels of 

 wheat that would be saved to the county by the adoption of their sowing system was 

 calculated, and a great parade made of the result. But while it was true that a good 

 crop could be obtained from a peck of seed per acre, if it all grew and did well, it was 

 found that in a certain number of acres there was invariably some thit did not do well, 

 from the seed not germinating, winter-killing, &c., and that the loss sustained by such 

 failures more than counter-balanced the profit by saving seed ; and the conclusion 

 arrived at was, that it is necessary to sow much thicker than the actual i-equirements of 

 the plants demand, on purpose to insure a good crop in all cases ; so that, as is usually 

 the case, the " happy medium" is generally adopted, and two bushels of wheat per acre 

 would be about the average quantity of seed sown in Great Britain. It is generally 

 considered that from a peck to a half bushel less seed is required when drilled in, than 

 when sown broadcast. In Canada, especially in the lower Province, much more seed is 

 sown per acre, of wheat, barley, and oats, than with us ; and indeed we have often 

 thought our farmers are much too sparing of seed, especially of oats and barley. When 

 wheat is drilled in, we consider that one and a half bushels per acre are sufficient if the 

 soil is rich and the seed well put in ; but when sown broadcast, we should always prefer 

 two bushels, and in many instances two and a half bushels would be none too much. 

 A less quantity of seed would often produce as good a crop, but we consider it best not 

 to run the risk of losing half, or even a part of the crop, for the sake of an extra peck 

 or two of seed per acre. 



Some diftcrence of opinion exists among farmers, as to whether rich or poor soils 

 require the most seed. It is argued on the one hand, that if the soil is very fertile, the 

 plant will grow much stronger and branch out considerably; and if there is too much 

 seed sown, the plants will still branch out, and being too thick on the ground they will 

 grow up fine, and the crop will be laid. Others say that if the soil is poor, or destitute 

 of a sufficient amount of fertilizing matter, it is certainly bad policy to increase the 

 number of plants to consume it — that a much wiser plan would be to have fewer plants, 

 and let each of these have sufficient food and be perfectly developed, and not have a 

 large number, none of which can be properly matured from lack of the necessary ingre- 

 dients. This appears good reasoning, and is perhaps correct in the case assumed ; but 

 it is not the true point at issue. If the soil does not contain sufficient ingredients for a 

 crop of wheat, it should not be sown at all ; for it is very doubtful if, in such a case, the 

 plants would thrive and do well, even though they were planted so far apart as to give 

 them the required amount of ingredients it the soil. 



The point to decide is, whether a soil that will produce a crop of wheat of twenty or 

 twenty-five bushels per acre, requires more or less seed than one that will produce 

 thirty-five or forty bushels per acre. In such a case, we decidedly think that the rich 

 land would require the least seed, for the reason that it' would grow so much stronger 

 and bushier than on the comparatively poor soil. 



We make these remarks this month, in the hope that some of our practical corres- 

 pondents will favor us with their views and experience, in time for the next number. 



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