November 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
83 
ing matter, yet such success is more due to the other 
condition at work; and the crop is almost, in spite of 
the badly made-up bed, rather than in accordance with it. 
However, as all who have an ardent wish to have the 
luxury of a good plate of Mushrooms at Christmas must 
bestir themselves, we only report what we know to be 
true, that any ordinary amount of labour which such an 
issue demands is always met cheerfully ; so that we may 
hope, that hereafter indifferent crops of Mushrooms may 
be as rare as bad crops of other things, and that their 
culture, being once under control, will continue so, in 
order that this singular vegetable production may be 
placed within reach of the million; and that those who 
have hitherto had to depend on a precarious supply, may 
now be furnished with the article in any quantity, and 
quality also proportionate. 
Weak waterings with liquid-manure will be of service 
after the beds have commenced bearing; and if it be 
necessary to apply fire-heat, and that be of a drying 
description, the bed ought to be covered over with 
litter of some kind or other, and that frequently 
damped, so that the drying influence of the heat 
applied be not allowed to drive the moisture from that 
part of the bed which has none to spare; but when 
there is atmospheric moisture supplied as well as heat, 
which is easily done by placing shallow vessels of water 
over the heating apparatus, the beds need not be 
covered. Observe, that in bringing in hay, and similar 
litter, that slugs are sometimes introduced, and these 
prove sad enemies to the Mushrooms. Such, therefore, 
ought to be well attended to, for the omission of one 
point sometimes mars the whole design. 
J. Robson. 
CULTIVATION OF WHEAT. 
(Continued from page GG.) 
We are now arrived at the third division of our 
subject, which relates to Sandy and Gravelly Soils, on 
which the four-course, or Norfolk, system is more rigidly 
adhered to than on any other soils; and generally, any 
departure therefrom arises from failure and accidental 
causes, rather than from any idea that a better rotation 
can be devised whilst the land is kept in a fertilo state. 
The first thing to be considered is the management of 
the lea land ; and although this subject has been treated 
in detail, with reference to the cultivation of heavy land, 
in a former paper, yet the nature of the soil now under 
consideration justifies some departure from the mode of 
management therein stated. 
It has been considered an excellent practice to plough 
in a good flag or aftermath of Clover, and no doubt a 
full quantity of the Clover leaf, when decomposed, fur¬ 
nishes valuable nourishment to the Wheat crop. Yet 
the system of stocking largely with sheep upon these 
soils, and the later period to which the ploughing and 
sowing may be advantageously deferred, has induced 
the practice of feeding the lea land as bare as possible, 
thus converting a vegetable manure into a highly- 
fertilizing animal manure, and at the same time yield¬ 
ing its portions to the profits of stock. 
These dry soils do not require to be early ploughed, 
for, unlike heavy land, they are benefited by the heavy 
autumnal raius, peculiar to our climate, previous to 
being ploughed. The presser should always be used; 
and when the season favours the operation, it is a good 
plan to use Crossbill's clod-crusher, or the ring-roller, 
across the ridges, previous to working with harrows, 
whilst preparing the land for drilling. The time named 
for ploughing heavy land being the early part of Sep¬ 
tember, and the best time for ploughing these light soils 
being the latter part of October-, or the first part of 
November, establishes a great distinction between the 
management of the different soils, and enables the latter 
to afford six or eight week’s sheep-keep more than the 
former. In preparing manure for these light soils, a 
compost of clay-loam may be always advantageously 
mixed with, and laid out with, the yard or town manure- 
This addition of mould will enable the land to carry a 
heavier crop of Wheat, both in straw and grain. It is, 
also, best to drill the Wheat at from five to seven inches 
apart, in order that hoeing may be done if required, 
which is often the case, these soils being much infested 
with the Poppy, Charlock, and other weeds. 
The failure of the Clover seeds often necessitates a 
change in the rotation, and the substitution of a crop 
of Teas or Winter Beans, in which case it is the best 
custom to sow Turnips, Rape, or Mustard, after the 
Pulse crop is removed. This quick succession of feeding 
crops is highly beneficial for Wheat upon this soil, by 
reason of the treading effected by sheep whilst con¬ 
suming the produce; in these cases, the sowing may be 
delayed till the early part of December, for when sown 
thus late the Wheat will be freer from weeds in the 
following spring. The quantity of seed cannot be 
diminished below eight pecks per acre, owing to the 
late period of sowing; indeed, the sowings in December 
should be made at ten pecks per acre. 
I would here observe, that these soils, when sown to 
Wheat after Turnips, or green crops, should always be 
ploughed as shallow as possible, or otherwise let the 
land be broken with the miresliare, or scarifier, if the 
weather is favourable; this will give a firm bottom so 
desirable for the Wheat crop ; whilst disturbing the soil 
to any considerable depth would destroy the advantage 
always derived from treading by sheep, and would 
endanger the plant of Wheat, by rendering it liable to 
be eaten by the wireworm. 
The most suitable sorts of Wheat lor this light land 
are those which grow thick, tiller well, and do not pro¬ 
duce too long straw, and it may be noted, that there is no 
land so well calculated to produce good crops of mixed 
varieties; some of the best mixtures are the following, 
in the proportion of two parts Red Wheat to one part 
White Wheat. Old fashioned White-strawed Red 
Wheat, mixed with Scotch White. Nursery Red W heat, 
mixed with Hopetoun White. In some instances, 
where the climate is favourable, varieties of the best 
sorts of White Wheat may be successfully grown without 
mixture; these varieties, however, will be chosen with 
the greatest advantage by persons experienced in the 
management of this soil, according to its situation. 
The treatment of Dry Chalk Soils forms the last division 
of my subject; and here, again, 1 find the best manage¬ 
ment differs materially from that related in connection 
with other soils; for although good substantial loams 
