186 



THE CANAKY SEED CROP. 



met with growing wild on the banks of rivers, marshes, &c., 

 or, when variegated, the " ribbon grass" of our gardens. 

 In all cases, Canary seed requires a good strong and rich 

 soil; in poor soils it is useless 

 to attempt its cultivation. It 

 is generally sown as a substitute 

 for wheat in the usual rotation, 

 whenever the markets are likely 

 to be favourable, as unless there 

 is a considerable probable mar- 

 gin in favour of this crop, it is 

 too uncertain in its results to 

 offer superior inducements for 

 its cultivation to wheat. After 

 green crops fed off on the land, 

 it generally thrives best. If 

 after clover, the land should be 

 ploughed deep, and well laid up 

 for the action of the winter's 

 frost; if after roots, the ploughs 

 should be sent in as soon as possible, so that the soil 

 may be got into fine tilth by the seed-time, which is 

 rarely delayed beyond the end of February. The land 

 requires to be in good condition, well cleaned, and in fine 

 tilth, and then the seed may be sown at the rate of two 

 pecks per acre, taking care to have sufficient width between 

 the drills say 12 inches to enable the hoe to be freely 

 used during the early stages of the plant's growth. This 

 is very necessary, as the plant is thin in the stem and 

 blade at first, and would be considerably checked by the 

 weeds if they were allowed to grow untouched. 



Although sown so early, it is very late at harvest- 

 always the last, by three or four weeks, of the straw crops. 

 September is the usual harvest-time, and as the crop ripens 

 irregularly, it is best to wait a few days so as to secure the 



Phalaris canarlensis, or Canary 

 Seed Grass. 



