On Drilling. 341 



To those however, who are accustomed to plough-in their 

 seed, the drill barrow, either attached to the plough, or fol- 

 lowing it in the furrow, pushed on by a boy ( l42 ), WOULD 



AT ONCE ESTABLISH THE ROW-CULTURE, WITHOUT DIFFICUL- 

 TY, AND WITH LITTLE EXPENSE, OVER AN EXTENSIVE TRACT 



OF CULTIVATED LAND IN ENGLAND. The advantage of this 

 simple improvement, can hardly be sufficiently appreciated. 

 Annual weeds would be extirpated, and root weeds check- 

 ed ; and without dwelling on the immediate advantages of 

 the system, the observation is perfectly well founded '* were 

 it even admitted, that drilled crops are not at first superior 

 to the broad-cast, (the contrary of which has been found in 

 numerous instances), yet in a succession of years, the pro- 

 gressive effects of constant hoeing, will render the drilled 

 ones greatly superior ( l43 )." 



The cultivation of culmiferous crops in rows, may there- 

 fore be justly accounted, the best method hitherto known, 

 of raising crops of corn ; and by promoting at the same time, 

 the destruction of weeds, of preserving the fertility of the 

 soil. 



It is an additional reason for recommending drilling, that 

 it would lead to habits of accuracy and neatness, in all the 

 other branches of arable culture ; whereas broad-cast sow- 

 ing, encourages those slovenly practices, which still prevail 

 but too generally in farming concerns. There is every rea- 

 son indeed to believe, that the system would become gene- 

 ral, were it once admitted to be an established maxim, (which 

 the information above detailed sufficiently justifies), that 

 drilling corn, like drilling turnips, is superior to broad- 

 cast. Farmers would then prepare for it, by furnishing them- 

 selves with the necessary implements, and by dressing and 

 cleansing the soil, with peculiar and minute attention. There 

 might still be some exceptions, as on very strong clays, or 

 in very unfavourable seasons ; but these exceptions, as in 

 the case of drilling turnips, would become every day less 

 numerous. Our fields would then be cultivated with the 

 same regularity and neatness as our gardens, and would be-, 

 come equally productive. 



On the whole, such is the importance of the drill system, 

 that its general adoption ought to be promoted as far as is 

 practicable. Models or engravings of the simplest, and best 

 machines, and directions for their use, ought every where 

 to be circulated, and liberal encouragement given to those, 

 who will prove, by accurate experiments, in districts where 

 it is at present either entirely unknown, or but little practis- 

 ed, the utility of the system, and the profit to be derived 



