58 NOTES. 



application of this doctrine, more especially in regard to rich and mellow soils. 

 It is justified, however, by the following remark by the Rev. Adam Dick- 

 son, a clergyman in East- Lothian, who published in 1 788, an Account of the 

 Husbandry of the Ancients, in which, (vol. i. p. 526), there is the^following 

 paragraph : " Plants of corn, to a certain number, placed near to each other, 

 instead of being weakened, are thereby strengthened. It is an advantage, 

 therefore, to sow corn, either in broad rows, or where the rows are narrow, 

 very thick, provided there are sufficient intervals to admit the air, and to give 

 the plants room to extend their roots." One would think, that this intelligent 

 author, had foreseen the system of the Holkham school, as to thick sowing. 



129 The following is an account of a most important experiment tried by 

 John Brodie, Esq. of Scoughall, in East- Lothian : Ann. 18-ff, he drilled in 

 all about 150 Scotch, or 180 English acres, with wheat. The soil principally 

 consisted of light loam, much subject to annual weeds. On comparing the 

 produce on that soil, the broad-cast produced only 35 Winchester bushels per 

 acre, the drilled 42 ; but as the broad-cast weighed 66lbs. per firlot, the 

 drilled only 65, the difference in favour of the drill, is as 4 1 to 54. By hoeing 

 the drilled crop, great vigour was given to the young crops of wheat. All the 

 weeds of the mustard tribe, were as carefully taken out of the broad-cast crop, 

 as out of the drilled, but the smaller weeds could not be equally well extirpa- 

 ted in the broad-cast. The grass seeds sown with the drilled crops answered 

 better than with the broad-cast, owing to the ground being effectually cleansed 

 of weeds by the hoeing ; whereas, under the broad-cast system, grass-seeds, 

 even after they have come up, are frequently injured by small weeds, which 

 could not be got at when the ground was covered with a broad- cast crop. 

 Mr Brodie, who is perhaps the greatest arable farmer in Europe, paying of 

 rent, about L.7000 per annum, states, in a recent communication to the Author, 

 that he continues to drill every year, and that he is convinced his crops are 

 benefited by the practice. 



130 Communication from Mr Blaikie, at Holkham. Mr Checkett, an emi- 

 nent farmer of Belgrave-hall, near Leicester, states, that he has raised fifty bu- 

 shels per acre, by the drill ; but never more than forty bushels by sowing 

 broad-cast. 



131 Dr Rigby's Report, p. 18. This is the greatest improvement that has 

 taken place in the drilling system ; for it was the earthing up, in rich soils, 

 which rendered the crops too luxuriant, and consequently unproductive. The 

 great quantity of seed sown at Holkham, has the effect of preventing tillering ; 

 the ears thus become ripe, at nearly the same period of time, and thus a sample 

 equally ripe, is produced, in which respect, drilled corn is sometimes deficient, 

 when a small quantity of seed is sown. Tillering ought as much as possible, 

 to be avoided. 



132 The crop of barley is sometimes so strong, that if a hat is thrown into 

 afield, it rests on the surface. This is called hat-barley. Young's Norfolk, 

 p. 251. 



133 It is observed, that on light soils, short ears of wheat are the most pro- 

 ductive, and that the sample is most uniform and weighty. In barley, long 

 ears are preferred. 



134 Young's Norfolk, p. 246. 



135 " The inverted hoe," is so called, from the shares being turned inwards, 

 and placed something in the form of a cock's spur. This hoe, it is said, far 

 surpasses any other now in use, being worked with perfect safety between rows 

 of plants, while in their infancy, even as soon as they appear above ground ; 

 and it effectually cuts up all weeds between the rows. It is well calculated for 

 a potatoe crop, sown in ridges, being less likely to injure the fibres of the plant. 

 The inverted hoes are of two descriptions ; one is adapted for clearing between 

 the rows of plants, either at wide or narrow intervals, sown upon thejlat ; the 

 other at wide or narrow intervals, upon the ridge. 



