Agriculture of Norfolk. 
355 
proper conclusion on this very important question. I observed one of 
Mr. Blyth's wheat-fields staked out in equal portions; and, on asking 
why, he informed me, that there a second series of experiments on this 
subject was in progress — the result of which the harvest of 1844 will 
prove.* 
Dibbling. — Mr. Aylmer dibbles all his wheat (about 10 pecks per 
acre). He so much approves of the plan, that he thinks he should 
dibble on almost any land, if he could get the work properly done. 
Manv others admit that dibbling is a means of fastening the soil, and, 
therefore, well calculated for wheat ; the only objection I heard to it 
being, that, in very extraordinary cases of tenacious clay-land, it may 
make the soil hold water, so as to rot the seed ; but this is the exception, 
and it rather confirms the opinion, that it is well suited to such soils as 
are of an opposite nature — that is, too light for wheat. 
Slugs on IVJieat. — The experiments tried by Mr. Milnes, of Hilgay, 
for the purpose of destroying slugs, are eminently worthy of public 
attention. 
He states, that he took several of them home on a cabbage-leaf, and 
first tried one with lime. This, for a time, made it seem very uncomfort- 
able; but, at length, it emitted a slimy matter, andby tha* means worked 
its way over, and got clear away from, the lime. This he tried again, 
and the result was precisely similar. 
He then took a very small quantity of salt, and sprinkled it on the 
same slug, when it immediately became swollen, burst, and died. 
Thinking this one might possibly have been in some degree affected 
by the previous liming, Mr. Milnes tried a fresh one with salt, but the 
effect was the same as before. 
Since that time Mr. Milnes has been in the habit of sowing on his 
wheat, where he happened to find slugs, 1 cwt. of salt per acre; which 
has invariably destroyed the slugs, without any injury to the wheat. One 
experiment, under different circumstances, will be sufficient to state here-. 
Discovering slugs in a field, which he was sowing with wheat, he at once 
stopped the different operations, and sent for the salt. The land was in 
four different states: — 
1. Part was set, and harrowed in. 
2. Part set, and not harrowed in. 
3. Part was ploughed, and not set. 
4. Part was not ploughed, but remained as bean-stubble. 
The salt was sowed at the rate of 1 cwt. per acre, as usual, and ea? h 
* Trial referred to, of thick and thin sowing with Spalding Wheat. .Sown by drill 
at 7 iiiclies, November 17, 184.3 ; manured with 4 cwt. of rape-cake, after carrots. 
Seeil per Acre. Proiliice. Net Proilnce. 
No. I'ks. Cmbs Bu Pks. Pts. I'ks. Cmlis. Bii. Fks. Pis. 
1 7 10 0 3 12 dednctseed 7 9 0 3 12 
28 10 124 8 9324 
3 9 10 2 .3 4 9 10 0 2 4 
4 11 10 3 3 0 11 10 1 0 0 
5 12 10 3 0 0 12 10 0 0 0 
Soil. — Sandy, Loam witli marl. 
Subsoil. — Alail. 
VOL. V. 2 B 
