THICK AXD THIN SOWING. 



535^ 



posts, on the frontiers, and are necessarily deficient in supplying the information 

 necessary for agricultural purposes and the general purposes of Science. Why 

 should not the General Government, or, if not, the State Governments, pay to 

 have such registers kept, at least at the Seat of Government in every State of 

 the Union? 



But to return to our subject: what follows may give some idea of what is do- 

 ing in England, in the way of scientific information and practical experiment. — 

 Thick or thin sowing is one of the engrossing topics, now, in foreign agricultural 

 journals. We shall, once for all, give Avhat follows. Our readers need not 

 dread being overdosed, in this journal, about anything. When we see what 

 seems to be new and useful, we shall give it, and be as soon as possible done 

 with that topic. Every man of common sense can see (and we choose to antici- 

 pate the objection) that where so much is communicated there will be many 

 things not exactly applicable to our country. But have we so poor an opinion 

 of our readers as to suppose that they cannot discriminate as well as read? — 

 What we should regard as strong prima facie evidence in favor of drill-sowing 

 wheat is the persuasion that it is strongly advocated by such a farmer as Major 

 Jones, of Delaware — a man who looks with his own eyes, and thinks with his 

 own head, on all agricultural matters. 



From the London Agricultural GazetK-. | taken as a veij safe indication of their ap- 



We ai-e sure thnt our readers must agree jiroachiug exhaustion. How easily and satis- 

 with us in the high value to be placed upon factorily, on the other hand, the matter could 

 the annual statements of his Agricultural be resolved if intelligent farmers — those who 

 Experience which the Hon. and Rev. L. ; can give their own experience upon it — 

 Vernon Harcourt has published in our would simply sUite it, and thus conclude the 

 columns. Nothing can be tmer than his first ! discussion instead of leaving it in the hands 

 sentence in the adjoining page : " Facts, and of the few who have hitherto conducted it. 

 not theories or opinions, are the things most | Let Mr. Wilkins's experience, that of Mr. H. 

 wanted for the improvement of Agriculture." I Davis, of Mr. Mechi, and of hundreds of 

 And nothing can exceed the faithfulness with others, be thus tabulated and compared, and 

 which in the full details that follow he has we should have a sufficient basis of facts on 

 adhered to this docti-hie a.s the guide of his , which to rear a sound conclusion — but so Ion" 

 proceedings. Whether the subject be the as farmers hear of three or four witnesses 



merely, and those asserting an experience ac- 



quired only on highly cultivated land, they 



merits and demerits of hedge-row timber- 

 the relative advantages of sowing broadcast 



and in rows— the benefits of hoeing grain j will be justly feariul of sanctioning that gen- 

 crops during their growth— or the much de- eral adoption of thin sowing which is recom- 

 bated question of thick or thin seeding — it is ; mended. 



not an opinion or a dogma that lie insists upon, j Our own opinion is simply this that to 



it is the simple record of his experience that j gi-ow a good crop of wheat many conditions 

 he recites. How very few agricultural wri- | must concur; one of these, and not the most 

 ters there are who. on most of the above-.iamed j important, being the right relationship be- 

 subjects, would think it worth their while to , tvveen the number of plants on a given space 

 refer to facts in proof of their teaching— they I and the means which that space (of air as 

 would assert the self-evident truth or argue ' well as land) has of mahitmniii'' them. There 

 from the obvious advantages, and so forth; is a possibility of too few being grown as well 

 Imt who would think of patiently observing I as of too many ; in the one case the greater 

 and recording experience on points so " cer- size of the ears of corn does not compen.'iate 

 tain ? " And yet this is the only true philoso- ! fjr this smaller number, and the whole plant 

 phy : to found a doctrine upon facts is the later of ripening is more liable to disease ; in 

 only safe method ot teacliing. the other, the number of ears does not com- 



And it this be true oi what are called " set- pensate for their puny size, and the plants 

 tle(l " quesiions, how much more of those heing crowded have short and weaker straw, 

 which are still debatable ! The question of Tliere are, liowever, differences in grain pro- 

 THicK or thin seeding, for instance; we duce, consequent on other causes, so ••'reat 

 shall never arrive at any certain conclusion that we do not believe it to be much fnflu- 

 upon it so long as the disputants having stated enced by two or three pecks, more or less, 

 all they ;tno«-, prolong discussion on the char- 1 of seed, between five and ei-'ht per acre : 

 acter of their opponents rather than on that of .the former we believe, in ordinary circum- 

 their evidence. Some of these gentlemen ex- I stances, to be sufficient, and an additional 

 hibit a veiy suspicious preference of adjectives quantity up to the latter is probably simply 

 to substantives in their writings ; this may be | wasted' while beyond the latter it is probably 



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