On Draining with Fir howjlis. 
453 
dni'mina', linvin? reffard to the strata of the earth as well as to the 
sources of the supply of water. I think it is wise to try to find 
the depth at which the water ceases to be able to sink perpendicu- 
larly, and then tries to pass away horizontally, but being unable 
to do so, rises again and by accumulation fills the land. Having 
found that depth, art should aid nature and supply the conduits 
at that point to lead the water away. The distances between 
the drains should be determined also by pits dug at different 
spaces from the drain that is formed, in the mode which has now 
become a tolerably general practice. With these data and some 
patience I should carry on the works with full confidence of 
ultimate success. 
Yours truly, 
Bryauiton, Aicgust 29, 1848. Portman. 
XXIV. — On the comparative Merits of Thick and Thin Sowing. 
By R. Birch Wolfe. 
In the middle of a field of 50 acres, sown with wheat in the last 
autumn, two pieces of land, of roods each, were marked out 
for drilling ; one at 9 inches, with 6 pecks per acre ; the other at 
7 inches, with 7 pecks per acre. 
Tlie two pieces were as accurately drawn out as possible, and if 
there was any difference in the quantity of either piece of land, it 
was in favour of that drilled at 9 inches. The lands adjoined 
each other, and had for many years past been farmed exactly 
X alike. The seed (Spalding wheat) was drilled the same day, 
and was of the same quality. 
The produce of each plot was reaped the same dav and bound 
by the same men, and was carefully set up in shocks of 1"2 sheaves 
each ; and there proved to be 5 shocks, or 60 sheaves, more from 
the 9-inch than from the 7-inch drills; but to ascertain the 
quantity of grain, without the inconvenience of setting apart the 
whole produce, 20 sheaves were taken indiscriminately from each 
parcel of land, and immediately carried home and threshed ; and 
from the result, as given below, it would seem that thin seeding 
and wide drills may be carried to a very prejudicial extent. 
9-Incii Drills. 
SEED 
pel Acre. 
Number 
of 
Sheaves. 
Produce 
of 
20 Sheaves. 
TOTAL 
assumed Produce 
of tlie 
5^ lioods. 
Produce 
per Acre. 
Bush. pk. qts. 
Qrs, bush. p. 
Qrs. busli. qts. 
6 Peeks 
99C 
11 2 
8 1 1 
5 3 6 
