Spriiiff Park Farm. 
535 
If any excuse be required for trespassing to a greater extent 
than may be thought necessary, I feel sure that our mutual de- 
sires to benefit all agricultural classes will be accepted both as 
your apology for thus honouring me with your expressed wish 
that I should supply this account, as well as mine for having 
extended it to such a length. 
I have the honour to be. 
Dear Sir, 
Vour very obedient servant, 
Hewitt Davis. 
3, Frederick Place, Old Jewry, London, 
Nov. 2, 1846. 
My experience as to trenching and subsod-ploughing differs 
entirely from that stated in this Essay. The success of Mr. Davis 
should be tested by figures, and must depend on the time he 
takes to complete his depth of 14 or 15 inches. If it is very 
gradual, year by year a little new soil brought up, then it may 
be generally advantageous ; but if it is a regular trenching at once, I 
advise no one to venture, until after soma experience and detailed 
evidence, lanjelij to follow that plan. No. 8 Rule admits of 
great doubt. I have lately seen great success attend the opposite 
svstem in the hands of one of the best arable farmers in Enofland. 
PORTMAN. 
XXXIV.— O/i TMck and Thin Soicimj. From Sir ^Y . ' 
Hkathcote, Bart. 
Sir William, — Having in 1813 received your instructions to 
try the experiment of thin sowing on a portion of your land in- 
tended tor wheat in that year, (but unfortunately at so late a 
period of the i-eason (^Bth Nov.) that the trial did not have 
a fair chance: 1st, because, however well the land may be culti- 
vated, I believe it essential to a good crop that thin sowing be 
accomplished early ; and 'indly, because, in addition to lateness, in 
this instance only a small field remained to be sown, and that 
recently taken in hand and verv much out of condition,) I pro- 
ceeded immediately with the work, and portions of half an acre 
each wero drilled with 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 pecks of wheat. 
From the above causes the whole turned out a failure, and the 
thinnest the worst, the lateness of the tillering having prevented 
uniform ripening, and the bad state of the laud having hindered 
any forcing which under more favourable circumstances might 
have taken place. With these drawbacks there were nevertheless 
