MODES OF SOWING THE WHEAT. 55 



(especially in cold and windy weather) too unequally to 

 end in the best results, varying from nil to 20 or more 

 grains, whilst one, two, or three, would answer the purpose 

 much better were they placed there more uniformly even 

 admitting the holes to be made extravagantly thick or thin, 

 at the will or desire of the planter. I prefer the single- 

 hand dibble, which an experienced workman can handle 

 with great dexterity and quickness, and can occasionally 

 plant with his left hand, in its right place, and at its pro- 

 per depth, more precisely the number of grains his em- 

 ployer wishes to have planted ; or, better still, by two care- 

 ful women following the dibbler with small baskets, or 

 measures, and a nut shell made to hold any desired num- 

 ber of grains. This nut shell to be dipped and filled at 

 every planting, and dropped into each hole by the right 

 hand, as if by rule ; or it may be, by dint of practice and 

 care, nearly as exact with the finger and thumb, and this, 

 too, at no more expense in the end than ordinary dibbling 

 or dropping in the slovenly and incomplete manner I have 

 described. Children, however, could do it as well, or bet- 

 ter, if they would, and did not the cold prevent them ; and 

 the only way to persuade them to do it properly is by 

 kindness of master and man, and, moreover, by rewards in 

 money to the best competitors for their own use. As I 

 have so frequently endeavoured to prove rational and uni- 

 form seeding to be better than irrational and careless thick 

 seeding, from 1-^ to 2, 3, or even 4 or 5 bushels per acre, 

 as is sometimes practised in Scotland, for securing the best 

 of crops, I am particularly requested by several distin- 

 guished agriculturists to publish a recapitulation of my 

 views, what quantity I consider is best suited for planting 

 an acre of land, and at what distance the holes should be 

 dibbled to admit of from 1 to 6 or 7 grains to be deposited 

 in each hole at the rate of 1 bushel per statue acre. I will 

 here briefly subjoin my calculation for their guidance. 

 . . . . There are then 160 square roods, or 4,840 

 yards, or 43.560 feet, or 6,272,640 square inches in a 

 statute acre of land. There are also of small grained wheat 



