92 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



But I have still another point to discuss in regard to the application of 

 manures to wit, that they should be applied to a greater depth of the 

 soil than is generally attended to, or indeed can be, in the present super- 

 ficially-cultivated surface of the land. We have only to look at the way 

 in which gardeners deal with their land in regard to manures, to be 

 convinced how much fanners lose by not attending to the manuring 

 of their land in the same way. I happen to know a first-class gardener 

 who trenches his land thirty inches deep or thereby once in every five or 

 six years, and who at each trenching applies manure not only through- 

 out this depth as he proceeds with the trenching, but lays also a 

 coat of it in the bottom ; so that, in fact, the land is thoroughly 

 manured to the depth specified. In the land so prepared he grows all 

 kinds of vegetables to an extraordinary size, of first-rate quality, and in 

 wonderful quantities. He informs me that, although it costs him a good 

 deal to treat his land in this way, it pays him well, and in fact three 

 times what it would do were it treated in the ordinary way of manuring 

 only on the surface. Now, if farmers would manure their land in this 

 way, the result could not fail to be of the highest degree advantageous, 

 and in fact would be certain to bring about a new state of things alto- 

 gether in the productiveness of the soil and the management of landed 

 property. Farmers will no doubt ask, Where could the manure,be got 

 to supply such a state of the land as is here inferred ? I answer, that 

 were the land dealt with in the manner described, there would be such 

 an increase in the quantity of straw and green crops raised on it, that the 

 means for manure would be supplied in proportion. But I need not say 

 more on this subject of deep manuring at present, as I shall have occa- 

 sion to refer to it afterwards. 



The Quantity of Seed which should be sown per acre on land is a point 

 in farming on which there has been much controversy, and on which 

 there is still held a variety of opinions some recommending thin, and 

 others thick sowing. I know of many who had adopted thin sowing, 

 and who have again returned to the sowing of a larger quantity per 

 acre ; and it is my own opinion, that the sowing of a moderate quantity 

 of seed is always a safer practice than either of the extremes of thin or 

 thick sowing. Much, however, must in all cases depend upon the 

 state of the land, as to whether it is in high condition or otherwise. 

 Still, even with land in high condition, it is always the safest way, 

 in order to insure a good crop, to sow a moderate quantity say two 

 bushels of wheat to the acre than very much less or very much more. 

 Some recommend to sow little more than half a bushel, or even a peck 

 of wheat per acre ; but although good crops may have been raised from 

 such thin sowing, it is not to be depended upon for general farming, as 



