82 CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



posited I know it is there in its right place and at the 

 right depth. I am satisfied, too, with the rapidity with 

 which the practised workman does his work. It is true 

 his work is worked out for him more accurately and quickly 

 than he could do it himself. Another hand stretches a 

 line, nearly, but not quite in the centre, from one end of 

 the interval to the other. With a light hand implement 

 invented by Sigma which holds three small mould-boards 

 set at the required distance apart, he now, guiding the 

 middle mould-board by the line, draws with almost mathe- 

 matical truth three minute furrows, in which the dibbler 

 deposits the seed. And, when the whole piece is com- 

 pleted, if the surface be dry enough, I cover over the seed 

 and close up the channels with the Crusher. 



" At spring the Crusher is again employed in compress- 

 ing the wheat plant ; after which the hand, and the hand- 

 hoe another of Sigrna's capital inventions are busy be- 

 tween the rows as long as it is safe ; and then comes the 

 last scene of all the sickle and the harvest home." 



49. Halletfs Selection System. What is meant by this 

 term, and what power it brings with it in enabling the far- 

 mer to increase to a large extent the produce of his wheat, 

 has been ably explained and practically illustrated by Mr. 

 Hallett. Mr. Hallett sets out by assuming that the "wheat 

 plant, from its nature, requires a mode of culture which 

 permits its perfect growth ; and where it is so cultivated, by 

 the repeated selection of the seed, of which, as in breeding 

 animals, the result is a pedigree, we can gradually increase 

 the contents of the ears without in the slightest degree 

 diminishing their number." And he maintains that a good 

 pedigree is as valuable in plants as in animals, and that in 

 the careful rearing of the seed which has this qualification, 

 '' lies our only means of materially increasing the produce 

 of the cereals." This notion as to the pedigree of plants car- 

 ries with it so many important considerations, that it will 

 be useful to glance at the main features of Mr. Hallett' s 

 arguments, all the more that they are impugned by many 

 authorities, and not less openly sneered at by others a 



