Agriculture of Nottinf/hamshire. 
J5 
follows of necessity on tleep ])loughing, which is an object of the 
last consequence on soils Liable to suffer from drought. 
The quantity of seed sown is regulated by the quality of the 
soil, less being required where the sod has strength to cause it to 
tiller during the winter months. Few sow less than 9 pecks to 
the acre, and on the light soils as much as 12 pecks is sown. 
The amount of seed is a subject that has been too often discussed 
to leave room for much that is new to be said upon it. We may, 
nevertheless, observe that custom in this district has fixed upon 
about 10 pecks an acre as the most desirable quantity. If sown 
thick the ears will be small, and the yield, regarded individually, 
will be found defective. If, on the other hand, it is sown not 
thick enough, an increased expense is incurred in hoeing to keep 
down the weeds, and nature, in seeking to supply what is want- 
ing, will continue to throw out, as the roots gain the requisite 
power, a succession of ears until so late in the season that it will 
be impossible for the crop to ripen uniformly : the inevitable 
consequence of which will be an undue })roportion of small and 
defective grain in the produce. 
White wheat in its several varieties is almost exclusively sown 
on the sands, and the one which for some years has taken pre- 
cedence of all others, at least in the northern j)art of the county, 
is " Hunter's White Wheat," in favour of which so strons: a 
feeling exists, that it is thought by many to be unequalled for 
this soil and climate. So great is its popularity, that it is extend- 
ing its fame generally throughout the cold soils of the clay dis- 
tricts, on which at one time white wheat was seldom or never 
attempted to be grown. It is held in high request also by the 
millers, from whom it commands the best price. It would be 
difficult to give a decided opinion on the average produce of the 
wheat crop; but we may nevertheless state, that on well cultivated 
farms of ordinary quality it is seldom below 30 bushels an acre ; 
and on the higher farmed land of good quality, not much, if any 
below 40 bushels. 
Of barley, the fluctuation in produce is greater as the season 
suits it or otherwise. On the average, it may be stated at 4| 
quarters, although in some instances a field will yield 7 or 8 
quarters an acre. 
The harvesting of the wheat crop is now more frequently done 
by the scythe than by the sickle. The work is performed as 
described in the harvesting of barley. Mowing has several ad- 
vantages over reaping with the sickle. It is cheaper, far more 
expeditious, and clears the ground at once of all stubble and 
weeds. If well done, the grain is found not to suffer so much in 
wet weather as when reaped by the sickle, which may be easily 
accounted for by its being looser in the sheaf, which allows the 
