346 



On the Hopetoun Wheat. 



periods, and tlius, in a comparative trial, v/hen soil, time of sowing, 

 and state of the plant are alike, it may so happen that some 

 varieties may be injm'ed by the fly and others escape. I therefore 

 recommend that journals of comparative trials be kept embracing 

 the appearance of the crops at all the different stages of growth, 

 with the state of the weather, and other influential agency which 

 may intervene. Without such a document it will not be possible 

 to determine whether differences of produce can be ascribed to 

 peculiarities inherent in varieties of wheat or to some natural con- 

 tingency. 



Many agriculturists are of opinion that wheats transmit the in- 

 fluences of soil and climate to succeeding crops, and in conse- 

 quence advocate changes of seed. I am well aware of the corns 

 of wheat possessing different powers of vitality, but I have never 

 witnessed in the case of this grain the advantages which are said 

 to arise from a change of seed. Leaving, however, this point un- 

 decided, I recommend the seeds of all varieties used in compara- 

 tive trials to have been grown under a perfect parity of soil and 

 climate, and, when this has not been the case, advise a repetition 

 of the trial, and conclusions to be drawn from the results of the 

 second year. 



Comparative trials with different varieties of wheat may justly 

 be considered experiments in the laboratory of nature. The 

 farmer, like the chemist, ought to pay strict attention to all the 

 disturbing causes in the workroom affecting his investigations, for 

 without careful execution and accurate observation comparative 

 trials will lead to error. Repeated trials by the same individual 

 may not end in uniformity of result, but by experience an approxi- 

 mation to truth will be attained sufficient to guide practical agri- 

 culture. 



Prestonkirk, 2nd October^ 1841. 



XXXI. — Report of Results obtained in Thorough- Draining 

 and Subsoil- Ploughing, in the years 1840 and 1841. To the 

 Honourable Robert Henry Clive, M.P. ; from Richard 

 White. 



[Continued from Joitrnal, Vol. I., Part iii., p. 252.] 



Sir, — I beg leave to state to you a continuation of my report of 

 the result of the thorough-draining and subsoil-ploughing in the 

 last year, together with some remarks I shall have occasion to make 

 upon general matters connected therewith, as well as the cultiva- 

 tion and management of the farm ; and in doing so I think I 

 cannot make it more clear than by continuing the former abstract, 



