THE WHEAT CROP. 41 



tice of seeding is far too close ; a greater distance between 

 the plants would, provided, of course, that the seed were 

 good and the soil in proper condition, give much better 

 results, not only as regards the crop the primary crop 

 whatever it may be, but also as regards the secondary 

 crop seeds, for instance, that might be sown with it. 

 The usual width of drills may be taken at 6 to 9 inches; 

 if this be increased to 12 inches the effect on the grain crop, 

 but more particularly on the seeds, is very marked. 



The advantages of attention to these points in reference 

 to tillage, and to the distribution of seed on the surface, 

 have received marked corroboration by the successful re- 

 sults of the " Lois-Weedon system," which is based upon 

 these two principles. How far the question of seed selec- 

 tion has been observed, I am not aware. This system of 

 cultivation has been so often discussed in the different 

 agricultural periodicals, and is now so generally known, 

 that I need do no more here than give a brief sketch 

 of its practice and results, referring those who may not 

 perhaps have paid much attention to it, to the reports and 

 valuable statements 1 which its author has from time to 

 time published. 



The Lois-Weedon system resembles much that advocated 

 by Jethro Tull about a century ago deep cultivation and 

 wide drilling by which, without any manures whatever, 

 a large crop of wheat could be obtained, it was said, year 

 after year, off the same ground. Jlere, however, a differ- 

 ence of material importance exists between the two sys- 

 tems. Tull operated on the same ground, while by the 

 Lois-Weedon system it is not precisely the same ground 

 that is cropped in each succeeding year; indeed, it is 

 merely a system of alternate fallowing and cropping, the 

 repeated fallowing being equivalent (during a certain 



1 Word in Season to the Farmer. By the Eev. S. Smith. Eidgway, 

 Piccadilly. 



