354 
Af/riculture of Norfolk. 
seen, that each increase of the quantity of seed per acre was well repaid 
in the crop of wheat; also, that the difference in each case is so regu- 
larly progressive, as to show no symptom of his having arrived, in that 
case, at the best quantity. 
Experiments, as to the thickness of Seed, by Mr. Blyth, Sussex Farm, 
Hurnham. 
18i2. Sheaves. AVeight. Com. Excess Excess in 
Seed per Acre. st. lbs. st. lbs. in lbs. Pecks. Pints. 
1. 7i pecks 12 99 44 
2. 8 „ 12 10 0 4 8 4 6 10 per acre. 
3. 9 „ 13 10 6 4 9 5 8 5 
4. 10 „ 13 10 8 4 10 6 10 0 
5. lli „ 14 10 12 5 0 10 16 6 
6. 12i „ 14 11 5 5 2 12 20 0 
On deducting seed — 
Pecks. Pints. 
No. 2 exceeding No. 1 . . . 5 14 per acre. 
3 „ ...09 
4 „ ... 7 4 
5 „ ... 12 6 
6 „ ... 14 12 
Supposing it, however, to be proved, in any case, that more seed had 
been sown than was necessary to get the greatest quantity of corn, it 
does not, necessarily, follow, that no return was obtained for the extra 
quantity of seed : for, it is well known, that full crops ripen the soonest, — 
that they generally produce the best sample of grain, — and that the land 
will not be so subject to weeds, as when the crop is thin. 
In proof of the first of these positions, I may state, that a large farm 
in Yorkshire was for some years untenanted, although offered at 55. per 
acre. It had acquired a bad name ; one of the things said of it being, 
that oats would not ripen on it. At length a tenant was found, who at 
once corrected the evil, by sowing two bushels more oats per acre, than 
any former one had done. The farm is now said to be one of the most 
productive in that county. 
As evidence of the second, I may state, that Mr. Blomfield of Warham, 
near Wells, Norfolk, has been in the habit of measuring the ears of wheat, 
for the last 40 years ; yet, he says, he never found an ear, more than 
4 inches long, which had in it grain of the best quality ; and he is of 
opinion, that no one can produce such an ear of wheat. Mr. Blomfield's 
opinion on this point is the more remarkable, as he happens to leave his 
turnips wider in the 27-inch rows (two in a yard), than any other person 
I ever met with. But some of the advantages of wide rows for turnips, 
beans, peas, &c. are not found with wheat and barley ; which get the air 
where the grain is, although the rows may be closer. 
I have not, on the present occasion, cither time or space for going fully 
into this matter. What I have stated is intended to put the inexperienced 
on their guard, and, by a plain statement of the question at issue, enable 
such to assist (by trying experiments on a small scale) in arriving at a 
