Management of Wheat. 



73 



The wheat to which the above tables refer was sown on the 

 28th of October, 1845, at the rate of 5 pecks per acre, with the 

 exception of No. 10, and that was at the rate of 10 pecks per 

 acre. The reader will of course draw his own conclusions as to 

 the merits of each kind of wheat ; and also of thick and thin 

 sowing. 



6. The Treatment of the Crops in Spring as to Pressing and 



Hoeing. 



Pressing in the spring during dry weather, and before the 

 wheat becomes too forward, is generally productive of good, 

 though especially required on soils that are naturally loose and 

 light in their texture, and on those soils which require draining ; 

 for where water saturates the surface soil, it becomes increased in 

 bulk during winter by its conversion into ice in frost, which, of 

 course, raises the soil, and when the frost goes away the plants are 

 partially thrown out. This is accounted for thus : — The frost causes 

 the ground to swell, and, as it rises, the root of course rises with 

 it ; when it thaws, the ground shrinks, but the root remains in its 

 elevated position, and, by the action of alternate frosts and thaws, 

 is at last thrown entirely aboveground. This must occur to the 

 greatest extent on soils containing superfluous moisture, though it 

 will occur on any soil, particularly those of a calcareous nature, 

 when frost happens to follow immediately after rain. Therefore, 

 when the soil treads loose in the spring, it is very important to 

 use the heavy roller, or some other means of consolidating the 

 soil. Crosskill's clod-crusher is highly beneficial for this pur- 

 pose, but can only be used in very dry weather. Treading with 

 sheep is also an effectual way of fastening the roots. On the loose 

 soil of the fens the wheat is trodden by gangs of men and women, 

 each treading along one drill ; by this means the soil is consoli- 

 dated effectually : it is not an expensive operation, and on the 

 loose vegetable soil of the fens is more efficacious than rolling. 

 The feeding off wheat with sheep in the early part of the spring, 

 when likely to run to too much straw, is useful on rich soils. If 

 the land be foul when the seed has been sown broadcast, it must 

 be cleaned by hand-hoeing, but, if drilled or dibbled, the horse- 

 hoe may be successfully used. In many places the practice is to 

 hoe wheat, whether foul or not. As a general rule hoeing should 

 be begun as early in the spring as the weather permits. Harrow- 

 ing is occasionally found beneficial, particularly when the ground 

 is crusty and the root lies deep in the ground : it has the effect 

 of loosening the surface, and, whether that be done by the hoe or 

 harrow, an improvement will be seen in a few days by the fresh 

 vigour of the plants. Harrowing light sands and gravelly soils 

 obliquely across^ or at right angles to the drills, is peculiarly 



