162 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 3 



jurious to the fertility of the soil, though raised 

 with less manure, than the same crop grown 

 broadcast, with a greater quantity of manure, but 

 incumbered with weeds. 4. That it gives an op- 

 portunity for cleansing the ground, even when the 

 crop is growing — of completely extirpating annual 

 weeds— of checking the growth ol root-weeds — 

 and of preventing weeds in general trom being in- 

 jurious to the crop. 5. That if the land is not hoed, 

 but hand-weeded, less damage will be done to the 

 crop, by the weeder's feet passing 6c/ wct'/i the rows 

 of plants, than by treading upon thcin, as must 

 inevitably be the case when working promiscuous- 

 ly over the ground. 6. That the progress of the 

 grain, after the scarifier has worked upon the soil, 

 is attended with the most beneficial effects.* 7. 

 That drilling is peculiarly calculated for inferior 

 soils, and brings their produce more nearly on a 

 footing with that of fertile land, than coulil other- 

 wise be obtained.! 8. That the |)ulverization of 

 the soil between the rows of autumn or winter 

 sown wheat, is of the greatest benefit to the clover 

 seeds sown in spring; and that the admission of 

 air between the rows is of use to the corn crop,]: 

 as well as to the grass seeds sown with it. 9. 

 That drilled crops of w^hite corn, from the greater 

 strengtli of their straw, are less apt to lodge, or to 

 be beaten down in wet seasons;§ and are much 

 less subject to other casualties, in particular to the 

 diseases to which wheat is unfortunately liable. 

 10. That the expense of cutting down a drilled 

 crop in harvest, is uniformly less than that of one 

 which is sown broadcast, since three reapers will 

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

 latter. 11. That drilled crops are more equal in 

 growth, and, in general, better in quality than the 

 broadcast. And, 12. That drilling may be of use 

 in regard to the grub and other vermin. The 

 hoeing in spring may assist in destroying them; or, 

 at least, by the treading of the hoers, and the stir- 



♦Communications from J. C. Cur^en, Esq. M. P. 



tMr. Blaikie at Holkfiam states, that it is no uncom- 

 mon circumstance to have from inferior land in Nor- 

 folk, rented only at from 15 to 30s. per acre, as much 

 produce as from land that, in other districts, pays from 

 £5 to £6 per acre, from land of an inferior quality, 

 paying only 20s. for rent, and 5s. for tithe, 41 bushels of 

 wheat per acre have been obtained, under the drill 

 system. 



Jit is absurd to suppose that the access of «jr, go es- 

 sential to the growth and health ot plants, should not 

 be of service to the roots of plants, if means could be 

 contrived (as is the case under the drill system) by 

 which its access can be obtained. 



Where soils are venj poor, the plan adopted in the 

 cultivation of turnips ought to be extended to grain, 

 that of placing the manure in the centre of a drilT, and 

 sowing the grain above it. 



§This has been doubted; but the drillists are, in this 

 poiut, supported by respectable authority. The Rev. 

 Adam Dickson, in his Treatise on Agriculture, vol. ii. 

 p. 61 and G2, remarks, 'That weeds, keep the air from 

 'the roots of corn, and thereby expose it to be lodged.' 

 He observes, in another place, 'That when corn is sown 

 'in rows, with intervals, the admission of air strength- 

 'ens the stalks, which prevents the corn from lod"-ing.' 

 vol. i. p. ,526. Besides, it is well known that, when 

 corn is lodged, it sutlers less, if it has been drilled, than 

 the broadcast, there being, between the rows, an ad- 

 mission of air which tenuis to dry the stems, and to ren- 

 der it sooner fit for being harvested. 



ring of the soil by the hoes, a check may be given 

 to their depredations. 



In regard to anysaving of seed, which by some 

 is considered an advantage, Mr. Coke of Holk- 

 hain is decidedly of opinion, that such an idea is 

 founded on erroneous principles, and that any e- 

 conomy of that sort ought notto be attempted. It 

 is indeed of use to have the roots malted together, 

 if there is substance enough in the soil to nourish- 

 the plants; and it is found, that wheat thrives best 

 on a firm and compact bottom, which prevents the 

 roots from being long and straggling. 



Innumerable instances might be brought for- 

 ward, of heavy crops having been produced under 

 the drill system, by those who have bestowed 

 much care in trying the experiment; and it has 

 often answered, even on a ijreat scale, when pro- 

 perly executed. "But its success must depend up- 

 on the intelligence attention, perseverance and cap- 

 ital of the farmer. 



As it has been carried to the highest perfection, 

 and cultivated to the greater extent, on the farm 

 and on the estates of that distinguished agricultu- 

 rist, Mr. Coke of Holkham. it may be proper to 

 give a short account of his practice. He uses the 

 Rev. Mr. Cooke's drill which is drawn by a sin- 

 gle horse, and sows six rows at a time, and an a- 

 cre in an hour. His wheat he sows at nine inches 

 asunder, his barley at six inches three quarters. 

 The quantity of seed which he sows per acre, is 

 three bushels of barley, and six of oats. In re- 

 gard to wheat, the average quantity Avhich he 

 prefers, is four bushels per acre. By depositing 

 such a quantity of seed, there is no occasion to 

 earth up the plants, lor the sake of promoting til- 

 lering. On rich soils, it is the practice, to draw 

 the drills from north to south, because the rays oi 

 the sun, when in his greatest altitude, striking di- 

 rectly betvveen the rows of corn, have a powerful 

 effect in strengthening the straw, and by absorb- 

 ing the damp from the earth, become a poweriul 

 auxiliary in preventing mildew. On poor soils, 

 on the other haml, the lines should be drawn from 

 east to west, if the nature of the ground will ad- 

 mit of that plan being followed. Cooke's fi.xed 

 drill-harrow, is used once in spring, the hand-hoe 

 is used twice, the land is cleared of weeds, but the 

 soil is not earthed up, nor accumulated against the 

 corn. The hocings cost about twerTty pence 

 each, per acre. The largenes of the crops, par- 

 ticularly of barley, and oats^ raised even on poor 

 land, under this system, is hardly to be cre- 

 dited, and they are sometimes also of a superior 

 quality. 



A great improvement has recently been made 

 in drilling, by the inlroduction of "The Inverted 

 Hoes," invented by Mr. IJIaikie. They consist of 

 a pair of blades, for each interval, going one be- 

 fore the other, and each having the AfcZTurned to 

 the row. This disposition of the blades prevents, 

 1. Cutting the plants, or their roots; — 2. Mould- 

 ing lip; — and 3. Clogging. They may be used, 

 though the rows of corn are only nine inches dis- 

 tant from each other; and it is found, that the oc- 

 casional trampling of the horse on the young 

 plants, is not attended with injurious conse- 

 (piences. 



It was formerly believed, that drilling was only 

 applicable to light soils; but in Suffolk, strong or 

 heavy land is now cultivated for spring crops, in 

 drills, in a most perfect manner. Tiie ridges are 



