598 
Thin-Soioing of Wheat. 
have tillered to from 8 to 10 stalks each. The next criterion for judg- 
ing presented to the deputation was Mr. Davis's stack-yard, consisting 
of five large stacks of wheat, two of oats, tsvo of buck-wheat, one of 
pulse, and three of hay. Besides these stacks, there was a barn full of 
pulse, and another of wheat and barley. The appearance of the crops 
was excellent. The straw was exceedingly strong, and the ear was very 
fine. The pulse crops were remarkably well podded. The wheat was 
the Essex rough-chatf, which Mr. Davis had been told could not be 
grown on the system of thin-sowing, as it had been said that thin- 
sowing produced mildew, a disease to which this sort was particularly 
liable. Mr. Davis states, however, that mildew is a disease that he has 
scarcely ever been troubled with. 
" As the members may not all be aware of Mr. Davis's rotation, it is 
as follows : — 
1st year. . .Rye fFor green meat and feeding-off with slieep, in April, May, 
„ Tares ( June, and July ; and followed by 
„ Mangold-wurzel 1 
Swedes . .1 
" Cabbages* .' ' r^''^^ ^ liberal dressing of farm-yard dnng. 
„ Turnips . • . ' 
2nd year. . .Oats or barley, sown with clover. 
3rd year. . .Clover, twice mown for hay. 
fTlie beans liave turnips drilled between the rows, 
4th year . f . Beans or Peas <• and which come into feed in September and 
y October. 
5th year. . .Wheat. 
" The quantities and periods at which he sows are the following: — 
Rye .... 1^ bushels . . In August and September. 
~ fin three sowings, in August, Sep- 
• • • • 1* „ . . .| tember, .ind October.^ 
Mangold-wurzel . Clb In April. 
Swedes ... 1 quart ... In May. 
Turnips . . . 1 „ ... In July. 
Cabbages ... 1 every 3 feet . In June. ' 
Oats .... 7 pecks ... In January, February, and March. 
Barley . . . 6 „ ... In January, February, March, & April 
Wheat. . , . 3 „ ... In September and October. 
Peas .... 8 „ ... In December, Jaimary, and February. 
Beans .... 8 „ ... In September and October. 
" Mr. Davis's rye and tares for green-feeding are sown in rows at 9 
inches apart; all his white at 10^ or 12 inches ; his pulse at 27 inches, 
as are also his root-crops and cabbages, on the ridge. The growing 
tares, winter beans, wheat, rye, and winter barley, also cabbages and 
turnips, had a very healthy and flourishing appearance. The general 
appearance of the winter barley and rye, for sj)ring feed, which is now a 
few inches above the ground, would lead a person j)assing by to the con- 
clusion that the usual quantity of seed had been sown, till on examina- 
tion he would find that it consisted of separate vigorous plants, which 
had each tillered out some seven or eight stems. 
" Mr. Davis's general system of growing turnips is that of planting 
double rows of turnips and cabbages alternately ; a plan which has this 
advantage, that, however severe may be the weather, the sheep always 
find food in the cabbages, which, although they draw the ground more 
