NORFOLK SOCIETY. 489 



weeds ; and for this reason it should follow a crop which has 

 been kept thoroughly weeded." 



" The method of sowing wheat, both in England and 

 France," says Mr. C, " is generally in drills, or by dibbling, or 

 planting a few seeds in hills, sLx or more inches apart, by a 

 hoe. The crop is then cultivated and. kept clean by the free 

 use of the horse hoe or the scuffle hoe. When the seed is 

 sown broadcast, the harrow is always drawn over the growing 

 crop two or three times. The largest crops of which any ac- 

 count has been given, were grown in drills or in hills." It may 

 seem useless in this country, where labor is so dear and every 

 hand has work enough, to think of such a method of sowing 

 and cultivating this grain. But if crops so extraordinary as 

 are those represented, can be produced in this way — of 50, 70, 

 and 80 or 90 bushels — it may be well worth its cost to make 

 the trial of it, even here. 



"The practice of drilling wheat," says ]\Ir. Coleman, "is, in 

 my opinion, greatly to be preferred to that of sowing broad- 

 cast ; first, in the much more equal distribution of the seed ; 

 next, in the better opportunity which the wheat has of spread- 

 ing, or tillering ; and thkdiy, in the opportunity of cleaning 

 and cultivating the crop, which last is of great importance. I 

 am of an opinion, borne out strongly by facts which have come 

 under my observation, that wheat, in the early periods of its 

 growth, is as much benefited by cultivation as any plant 

 which is grown ; and the injury which is done both to the 

 growth of the plant and the sample of grain, by the weeds 

 which ripen their seeds among it, renders the w^eeding or 

 cleaning the crop of great importance." 



Of manures proper to be applied to wheat, wood ashes seems 

 to be, in all cases, most beneficial. Mr. Coleman remarks, 

 that in 3,600 cases which came under his observation when 

 occupying the office of agricultural commissioner in this State, 

 the application of this manure was serviceable in every case, 

 and the practice is to be commended. Lime, also, has a 

 highly beneficial effect. We have ourselves used a compost 

 of ashes, bone dust and guano, with great effect. Green ma- 

 nures should never be used, except with the crop preceding 

 wheat, or upon sward ground, which is ploughed in the fall to 

 receive seed in the spring. Liquid manures will produce re- 



