326 Quantity of Seed. 



6. In regulating the quantity of seed, it is necessary also 

 to have in view, whether Clover is to be sown with the Grain ,- 

 for in that case, it is evident, that a smaller quantity of the 

 jjrain seed ought to be used, otherwise the clover may be 

 materially injured, by a superabundant crop of grain. 



7. The Quality of the Seed is another point to be attend- 

 ed to ; for it cannot be doubted, that a less quantity will be 

 sufficient, when it is known to be good and perfect of its 

 sort, than when from age, an unfavourable harvest, or other- 

 wise, it is known to be the reverse. In the former case, 

 every seed will vegetate, whereas, in the latter, many must 

 prove defective. 



8. The last point relates to the Size of the Seed; for the 

 smaller the size, the greater number of plants will be pro- 

 duced from a certain weight of corn ; and when the grain 

 is round and plump, its being of moderate size, does not make 

 it less fit for the purposes of vegetation ( 8z ). 



Proportions of Seed for the different Crops. 



It is to be regretted, that the proportions of seed best cal- 

 culated to afford the fullest and most abundunt produce, in 

 different crops, and under various circumstances, has not yet 

 been decided by the aid of experimental investigation. The 

 following hints, it is hoped, will throw some light on this 

 branch of the subject. 



WJieat. When land is in high condition, and adapted 

 for wheat, more especially after a summer-fallow, about two 

 bushels per acre have been generally found sufficient, in the 

 best cultivated districts of Scotland. Bean stubbles require 

 more seed than summer-fallows, because the seed, from the 

 roughness of the surface, cannot be so well distributed ; and 

 clover leys, ought to have more seed than even bean stubbles. 

 Turnip land, sown with wheat in spring, must have a still 

 more ample allowance, as the shorter period of growth does 

 not leave a sufficient interval for tillering, and many of the 

 suckers that are produced, never come to maturity. In 

 these cases, from three bushels up to rather less than four, 

 may be required ( 83 ). In England, it is calculated, that 

 about two bushels and a half is the medium quantity of seed 

 wheat throughout the kingdom ( 84 ), though it is often more. 



Barley. The quantity of seed for a crop of barley, varies 

 from two bushels and a half, to four bushels per acre ; but 

 it is always safer to give too much, than too little seed. It 

 is a rule indeed, with all spring-sown grain, to give a suffi- 



