168 
Influence of Climate on Cultivation. 
combined influences render spring-sown wheat anything but a 
productive crop on medium soils in the eastern counties of 
England. 
In the western counties and in Scotland, the climate is much 
more favourable to the growth of spring-sown wheat. The less 
stimulating temperature by day and greater humidity prolong the 
growth of the plant and develope it upon a larger; scale, so as to 
produce much heavier crops with the same amount of manure. 
Light soils too, more especially in the west of England, sustain 
its growth. So much is this the case, that wheat almost grows as 
freely as barley, and it possesses one great advantage, that it is 
not so liable to lodge with rains. Any one who has read with 
ordinary care Mr. Read's account of the Farming of South Wales 
must have been struck with the contrast which it affords on 
this point of farm practice, when compared with Norfolk ex- 
perience. 
Tiie experience of Scotch farmers is somewhat similar, with 
regard to the raising of spring wheat, to that of the Welsh 
farmers. East Lothian no doubt brings the crop to greatest 
perfection. It produces a fine sample of grain, and it also in 
general yields well. In many districts it may be sown at con- 
siderable elevations, but in such cases it is somewhat affected by 
cold and retentive subsoils. On these the plant usually lacks 
vital energy, it is long in ripening, and the quality of the grain 
is poor. The temperature in Scotland is little more then suffi- 
cient to bring spring-sown wheat to maturity, which circumstance 
renders the influence of soil veiy marked. The broken and 
irregular surface of the northern part of the island furnishes a 
great variety of soils as well as climate, and nowhere can the 
reciprocal influence of the two be studied to better advantage. 
This is a subject, however, that our limits forbid us from 
toucliing upon, otherwise than in the most general and cursory 
manner. 
In the fens of Lincolnshire spring-sown wheats grow with 
great vigour. The soil being moist sustains vegetation in a 
dry and warm atmosphere, and up to the period of flowering 
the crop is usually most promising. Such luxuriance is, however, 
almost invariably deceptive, as rust and mildew usually destroy 
the crops before they ripen. Unless the soil is remarkably 
sound, luxuriant growths called into action by tliin seeding or 
late sowing have a tendency to produce mildew in the warmer 
climates. Thin hoeing the wheat crop in spring on the light 
soils of Norfolk is now generally abandoned, in consequence- 
of the slight covering of the plants which takes place in the 
operation having the effect of encouraging late tillering. Owing 
to the late tillered stems being more luxuriant, from having 
