328 Quantity of Seed. 



and the peculiar qualities of the variety sown, for three 

 bushels of the grey pea, as seed, are found equal to four of 

 the white ( 89 ). 



Clover and Eye-grass. It is not advisable to sow at the 

 same time, a mixture of light and heavy seeds, as clover, 

 and rye-grass. It is impossible that it can be done correctly ; 

 and it is much more prudent, to go once over the ground, 

 with each sort of seed. The usual quantity per statute acre, 

 is from ten to twelve pounds of red clover seed, and about 

 a half, or two-thirds of a bushel of clean and well-dressed 

 rye-grass seed. If the rye-grass is cut young, it is not in- 

 jurious to the soil. 



On the whole, seed ought not to be distributed with too 

 rigid economy, as a full crop of any grain whatever, is 

 cheaply purchased, by giving a sufficiency of seed ; while a 

 scanty crop, besides being in itself unprofitable, is sure to 

 poison the land, by facilitating the growth of weeds ( 9 ). 

 There is a happy medium, however, in this, as well as 

 every thing else. For a crop may not succeed, when the 

 plants are too numerous in the ground, any more than when 

 they are too few. Their over-luxuriance may likewise be 

 prejudicial, by retarding the ripening, and hazarding the 

 .safety of the crop ( 9I ). 



SECT. IX. Preparing the Seed for Sowing. 



WITH a view of bettering the future crop, husbandmen 

 have attempted, in various ways, by preparing the seed for 

 semination, to accomplish four objects : 1. The discovery 

 of weak or faulty seed ; 2. The preservation of the seed 

 from the attacks of vermin of various sorts ; 3. The pro- 

 moting of the germination and growth of the future plants; 

 and, 4. The prevention of certain disorders, to which they 

 might otherwise be liable ( 9 *). The fourth point shall be the 

 subject of future discussion ; the other three shall be briefly 

 considered in this place. 



1. In order to detect and separate imperfect and disor- 

 dered seeds, from those which are sound, and fit for sowing, 

 it is only necessary, to pour the grain, gently, either into 

 common water, or into a solution of salt and water. In this 

 way, the imperfect and disordered seeds, from being lighter, 

 are soon discovered ; for they swim on the surface, and can 

 easily be skimmed off, either when at first poured in, or every 

 time the mass is stirred. Common water is in general cpn- 



