THIN AND THICK SOWING. 63 



form, of some experiments on the three modes of sowing 

 corn, dibbling, drilling, and broadcasting, which are re- 

 markably in favour of broadcasting, and which, he says, 

 if not conclusive against the thin sowing mode, now so 

 much advocated, should, at all events, induce caution on 

 the part of farmers not to depart hastily from the prac- 

 tice of their forefathers. The experiments detailed in the 

 table here given were conducted with great care, on level 

 land of uniform quality, a good deep loam on chalk sub- 

 soil ; and the crop was preceded by clover ley, folded by 

 sheep. The land was ploughed 5 inches deep, as it was 

 not thought desirable to bring the sheep dressing below 

 that point. The seed was sown on the 7th of December, 

 and the dibbled and drilled wheat was hoed in the follow- 

 ing spring ; the broadcasted was harrowed in the spring. 

 The plants in the thin-sown plots were by far the health- 

 iest looking throughout the season ; but when harvest 

 approached, the quality of straw and grain was soon shown 

 to be inferior. The samples of the different lots were 

 valued by an experienced miller. 



