89 CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 



give a preference to early, others to late sowing. By early 

 sowing, the roots of the grain have sufficient time to establish 

 themselves before the frosts of winter set in. It has also been 

 ascertained that grain sown early, will throw up a greater 

 number of lateral stems and branches than that which is sown 

 late. We have also the authority of Mr. NICHOLSON, author 

 of the Farmer's Assistant, for stating, that late sowing requires 

 one-third more grain to the acre, than if put in early. Early 

 sown, a bushel is sufficient; late, a bushel and a half to the 

 acre, and sometimes more, may be necessary. 



Grain for seed should be selected from the cleanest and most 

 thrifty parts of the field; a constant attention to this, will cause 

 a permanent improvement in the kind. By gathering single 

 heads, remarkable for their early maturity, size, &c., and pro- 

 pagating from them, improved varieties may be gradually 

 obtained. 



The quantity of seed per acre, varies according to circum- 

 stances. It should vary with the time of sowing, and with the 

 size of the grain. Late, requires more than early sowing; and 

 large and full seed should be in greater quantity than that 

 which is small, in order to compensate for the less number 

 contained in a bushel. Much, therefore, must be left to the 

 discretion of the farmer, who must take into consideration the 

 time of sowing, the quality and preparation of the soil, as well 

 as the plumpness or the shrivelled state of the seed wheat. 



The proper time for sowing, must not, in any case, be ne- 

 glected; an error of a few days on this point, will not unfre- 

 quently diminish, but in some instances prove ruinous to the 

 crop. But, as a large crop cannot be sowed in a few days, it 

 is better to sow a fortnight too early, than a week too late. 



Wheat, and all the cerselia, have the common property of 

 sending out numerous shoots from the roots during their 

 growth. This natural process is termed tillering, and is 

 familiar to all farmers. 



It is to be observed, too, that often the roots of the grasses 

 are partially raised above ground, in which case the plant be- 

 comes feeble or perishes. This accident sometimes occurs 

 from too thick sowing, and too rapid growth in that state. 

 But it is more frequently produced by the sudden contraction 

 and expansion of the soil by alternate frosts and thaws in win- 

 ter; and in this case, the wheat is said to be thrown out. 



To promote the process of tillering, and sometimes to pre- 

 vent the throwing out of the plants, it is found to be beneficial 

 to give a certain tillage to the growing wheat in spring, by 

 means of the hoe, the harrow, or the roller. When wheat is 

 sown in rows, this is done by the hoe; when broad-cast, by 



