40 CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



time before drilling. But by the use of one of these press- 

 drills, the ground can be pressed, drilled, and harrowed, 

 close after the plough. 



26. Professor Tanner draws special attention to an 

 important condition in wheat culture, namely, the degree of 

 moisture in the land. The seed he conceives should be 

 sown 011 clay soils as dry as possible, for moisture will be 

 sure to follow rain. Where the land is on the contrary 

 wet when sowing is performed, the particles of soil cohere 

 together. There is less objection to the working of light 

 soils in a wet condition. It is not often, the Professor re- 

 marks, that sowing is carried on in the south of England in 

 wet weather ; but yet he has seen it done, and while the 

 land was quite muddy; nevertheless, the crop was the best 

 on the wetted land j but he judiciously remarks, this which 

 may be safe upon one soil will often be very injurious 

 upon another apparently of the same character. The pro- 

 portion of sand or grit which soils contain is that indeed 

 which separates those soils which can be worked without 

 injury while moist, from those which cannot be so done. 

 In sandy or gritty soils the germination of the seed is little 

 delayed, even although sown when wet. 



27. Climate, the Professor points out, is that which almost 

 alone decides the time when seed should be sown, " for 

 neither the character of the soil, proximity to the sea, ele- 

 vation, nor any other individual influence decides the prac- 

 tice, but that peculiar knowledge which renders local 

 experience alone worthy of confidence." October and 

 November are the usual months for sowing in the principal 

 wheat districts ; but the period from the middle of Septem- 

 ber to the end of the year must include all the sowings of the 

 autumn wheat. The more exposed the situation the earlier 

 the time, and the greater the quantity of seed to be observed 

 and required. In the mild districts of the west of England 

 the sowing may be made at the end of December without 

 any damage to the crop \ but in northern districts, seed 

 sown so late would nearly all miss, and those which would 

 germinate would produce wretched plants. The rule which 



