234 Drill and Broad-cast Husbandry compared.[Oct.

00 large; but T am of opinion that the quantities he alludes to, would be too small. In some cases, greater crops have been obtained from two bushels and a half, than from three bushels of wheat-seed per acre; and therefore, some theore- tical husbandmen, by purity of reasoning, have concluded ihat one bushel and a half, or one bushel, would be stil] more advantageous. In matters of this nature, however, we should

always call experience to our aid. Can any of your practical

readers shew, from fair experiments, the minimum quantity for the most prolific crops, upon the various descriptions of soil? The matter should not, however, be confined to corn orly; for as straw 1s the grand source of our manure, that part of the produce ought to receive great attention."Taking both the straw and giain, then, into the account, and likewise the time of ripening, the ascertaining the most proper quan- tities of seed, seems to be an enquiry of great consequence, and such I flatter myself, as will meet due regard from your

imntelligent practical’ readers and correspondents; none of

whom I should be more happy to see dilate upon the subject than Agricola Norfolcienusis.

From my own observations, ad de d to what I can learn from other farmers in this district, L an strongly inclined to the opinions of Agricola Northumbriensìs, as stated in his letter in answer to Mr. Bartley, upon the comparative merits of the turnip and potatoe husbandry. This letter, I beg leave to remind your Éssex correspondent, stands in your pages with- out any satisfactory answer; and for the present, I must con- sider these observations as a sufficient reply to his statements in your last Number but one. As tó his remarks on the fai- lure of the turnip crops where potatoes have proved abundant, I have only to observe that turnips, C cabbage, carrots, or po- tatoes, or some such species‘of food, must be ied for the winter and spring support of our stock; and if L were an in- habitant of any part of the country where the soils, climate, &c. are unfavourable to the turnip, I would certainly try smething else.

In some of the southern counties it appears that turnips are a precarious crop—a cróp not obtained with the same facility as in this district. Whatis this owing to; to the greater pre- valence of the fly, caterpillar, or grubs; to the climate; to the state of the land; the rotation of crops; or modes of cul- ture? It strikes me very forcibly, that the two latter have great influence in the f‘allures which s0 frequently take place. ÍÎn the south you have too much old grass, and too much old tillage ground. Convert the former into tillage, and the lat- ter into clover and other artificial grasses tor a tew years. Tuus would your ploug}‘e emonloyed in fresh soils, which