CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 5 



This process is what is called sowing or putting in wheat 

 upon a clover ley, and is considered as one of the great im- 

 provements in modern agriculture. It has been adopted for 

 years past in New England, with great advantage. Even in 

 the middle states, in pursuance with this practice, together 

 with the use of plaster and lime, the face of the country in 

 many places has been entirely renovated. 



Much diversity of opinion prevails even among many intel- 

 ligent practical farmers, in regard to the proper period for 

 sowing wheat on a clover ley. Some contending that the ope- 

 rations of ploughing, harrowing and seeding should imme- 

 diately follow each other: Mr. BORDLEY, in his valuable work 

 on Husbandry, advocates this system. The practice, however, 

 does not generally prevail. 



On the other hand, Mr. MACRO, an eminent English farmer, 

 says, "from upwards of twenty years' experience, I am of 

 opinion, that the best way of sowing clover lands with wheat, 

 is to plough the land ten or fourteen days before you sow it, 

 that it may have time to get dry, and after rain to make it dress 

 well. I have often tried both ways on the same lands, and 

 always found that ploughing several days before seeding 

 answered best. 



Both modes give crops superior to what are produced on a 

 fallow: farmers may therefore try both methods for determin- 

 ing which to prefer; that is, as well immediate sowing on 

 ploughing in the clover, as the method of sowing not till ten 

 or fourteen days after having ploughed in the clover suppose 

 a half each way. 



WEBB HALL, in his Prize Essay on the growth of wheat, 

 says that the ley should be broken up at least a month before 

 the seeding of the ground; both that time should be allowed 

 for the decomposition of the sward, and chiefly, that the land 

 may be allowed to settle. 



If it be desirable to sow wheat after a fallow crop of peas, 

 barley, rye, oats, &c., the land should be immediately plough- 

 ed or thoroughly harrowed after it is cleared, that the scattered 

 grains may have sufficient time to vegetate then one good 

 ploughing with sufficient harrowing is a good preparation of 

 the seed. 



Seed wheat should be selected from the earliest and most 

 perfect growth of the preceding year, and thoroughly cleansed 

 from rye, cockle, imperfect or shrivelled grains, weeds, ex- 

 traneous substances, &c. Too much attention cannot be be- 

 stowed on this part of the operation, if you wish to harvest a 

 clean crop, as every kind of seed will produce its like. Too 

 much care cannot be observed in the selection of seed. 

 8 



