xrloi frd for Trial al Soiitltampton. 
569 
stood 10'' below the freezing point; on the 21st the frost began breaking 
up, with cold winds from the N.N.E. and E.S.E., when the dibbled and 
late drilled wheats were considered in a critical state, not having arrived 
at a full green blade : little or no damage however occurred. In Feb- 
ruary the dibbled wheat, though very thin, still very clearly indicated 
the different rows ; but towards the latter end of March we had sharp 
frosts and biting winds, when on the ligliter land on the hill many 
plants perished, and then it was that the thick sowing showed to 
advantage, as from the paucity of plants in the dibbled wheats none was 
left to make good the deficiency caused by the inclemency of the M'eather 
at that particular time, when the wheat is most susceptible of injury 
from climate, whilst in the drilled wheats, though many plants perished, 
yet was there a sufficiency left to ensure a crop ; indeed, under the 
most favourable circumstances of the atmosphere for the growth of 
wheat, I could never recommend so small a quantity of grain to be 
sown as that I experimented upon, without the ])recaution of a seed- 
bed being adopted, from which the grower might be enabled to fill up 
the vacancies occasioned by numerous accidents. Immediately the 
frost broke up a very heavy roller was passed over the ground. 1 hoed 
the whole of the field once, as in this trial I considered it necessary that 
the whole of the wheats should be subjected to the same treatment, so 
that the simple inquiry, upon the results of the crop being ascertained, 
might be, which system paid best. Tiie one hoeing with the drilled 
wheats proved sufficient to ensure mc a good clean stubble, whilst, 
owing to the paucity of plants in tlie dibbled portion of the field, the 
filth was excessive, which will occasion at least double labour in pre- 
paring it for the root crop next season. On the 5th of April I noted 
that in appearance Nos. 1, 2, and 3 stood first, without any perceptible 
difference in superiority ; No. 5, second ; No. 4, third : indeed, through- 
out the winter, the latter wheat appeared more delicate in habit 
and was thinner on the ground, and had lost more plant than the 
others. The dibbled wheats were regarded as a failure, as there 
■was not supposed to be sufficient ])lant to ensure a crop. No. 1 
drilled with 1 bushel and 3 pecks will do. Fi'om an accident which oc- 
curred to me, I was not enabled to attend to the progress of the experiment 
as well as I could have wished ; but three friends reported to me on the 
22nd of June that the plants on the dibbled part were looking much 
stronger than those on the drilled, although thin on the ground, and 
that the whole field was looking exceedingly well, although Nos. 1, 2, 
and 3 still maintained their superiority. On July 26th I found upon 
careful examination the wheats, with the exception of some trifling 
rust, were looking well ; and by a very good agriculturist who accom- 
panied me in the survey, the produce of the wheats were estimated at — 
Drilled. Dibbled. 
No. 1. 41 bushels per acre. 
2.411 
3. 43J 
4. 41 
5. 42 
No. 2. 36 bushels per acre. 
3. 34 
4. 30^ 
