278 



SOWING. 



during the above process^ to sow six or eight bushels per acre 

 of bone-dust, and about two cwt. of real guano, by which means 

 they will be intimately mixed with the soil ; or, if bone-dust 

 cannot be had, the guano might be increased to three or four 

 cwt. per acre. But about eight loads of good farm-yard ma- 

 nure, well decomposed and mixed with mould, is much to be 

 preferred. Where land is in a previously rich state, less ma- 

 nure will, of course, be required ; but if it has only been 

 slightly ploughed, a repetition will be necessary, as well as of 

 the scarifying, &c. Small pieces of grass and roots of weeds 

 left by the harrows should be gathered up, and a light roll 

 drawn over the land before 



Sowing the Seed, in order that it may fall upon an even 

 surface. Linseed is generally sown by hand ; but this process 

 is best performed by such machines as are used for grass seeds. 

 Some prefer depositing the seed by a drill set at intervals of 

 about seven inches : a practice I at first adopted, but now dis- 

 continue in favour of the broad-cast system, because the stalks 

 will grow to a greater length, and be more equal in size : nor 

 is my land infested with any noxious weeds to render hoeing 

 necessary. Where the seed is sown, by the hand, the machine, 

 or the drill, it must not be deposited deep. Half, or one inch, 

 in damp weather, and one and a half in dry, ought not to be 

 exceeded. 



If seed and coarse flax are the aim, six pecks an acre will 

 be sufficient ; but if fine flax and seed, eight, ten, or twelve 

 pecks will be necessary. It will be found in general that the 

 greatest quantity will produce the most valuable fibre, but the 

 least seed. 



A sandy does not require so much seed as a heavy soil ; but 

 the inexperienced will find the most profitable crop to be that 

 grown from six to eight pecks. Observe, if the drill is used, 

 ^the creases should be filled up with a bush; but if the seed is 

 sown broad-cast, fine light harrows must be used. An extra 

 turn or two, therefore with the harrows, the roll, and the 

 scarifier, beyond the requirements for barley, will be sufficient. 

 It will also be found that, where the soil has been well pre- 

 pared and cleaned, the cost for weeding flax will be very 

 trifling ; because when the land is rich, the plants spring up 



