THE OAT CROP. 



153 



20th September, and gave a return equal to 6^ times the 

 seed sown, the grain weighing 36 J Ibs. per bushel ; whereas 

 the Dyock Oats were ready for cutting on the 31st August, 

 and gave a return equal to 8| times the quantity of seed, 

 the grain weighing more than 40 Ibs. per bushel. 



The quantity of seed used per acre varies considerably, 

 both with the district and the variety used for seed. In 

 an early and genial district a smaller proportion would 

 be used than in a late and unfavourable soil and climate ; 

 at the same time, it should be remembered that the varie- 

 ties suited for such districts are smaller in the grain than 

 the finer varieties, and consequently more seeds are con- 

 tained in the quantity or measure made use of. From 



2 to 6 bushels may be taken as the limits in England, and 



3 to 6 bushels per acre as the quantity used in Scotland. 

 Opinion generally is rather in favour of thick sowing 

 with oats, as the plant does not tiller out to the same 

 extent of either wheat or barley. Some experiments, 

 however, carried out in Forfarshire, in 1854, by Mr. 

 Bowie, 1 show, that by limiting the amount of seed you 

 not only save it, but you also increase your crop. These 

 experiments, too, are the more valuable, as they were 

 carried out on a soil " rather in poor than in good condi- 

 tion;" whereas most of those even who are friendly to 

 thin seeding generally consider it only applicable to rich 

 land. Four lots were sown under similar conditions as to 

 soil, time, &c., but in different proportions as to quantity 

 of seed, and the results were as under : 



High. Soc. Trans., 1855, p. 121. 



