The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-10-17
From the Southern Farmer.
Seeding Wheat-Quantity of Seed per Acre


From the Southern Farmer
Seeding Wheat-Quantity of Seed per Acre
MEssRs. EDrToRs:-I have read with some
interest your editorial remarks in late num-.
bers Of the Farmer, on the preparation Of the
ground, and the seeding ol wheat. On one
division Of this highly interesting subject,
there is, amongst farmers, much diversity Of
opinion and practice. alludc to the guam
tity OF seed usually sown per acre. On the
comparative merits Of thin and thick sowing,
We have yet, | believe. much 10 learn from
experience and observation. The saving Of
seed effected by thin sowing, recommends
IFS adoption; but il this was the only adyan-
tage, aud unless the crops il produced we're
always good, of which there can be no con-
stani assurance, itwould not produce con.
yiction ol its superiority over thick seeding
In position 50 doubtful, the farmers most
prudent course will probably be to adopt
medium aud SOW only lnulerate quantity of
seed. No doubt can exist as to evils result
ing from very thick seeding. In this depart
ment Of our rural economy, no absolute rule
will apply to all circumstances, and with tie
judicious farmer many considerations should
be taken into account before any particular
rule is adopted. should, however, be in,
ciincd TO think that thick and lavish seed
lng Is more injurious To the farmer than what
| Is by many considered as too thin seeding.
4 have 4 farmer IN nv eve, not fifty miles
from your Office, whose rule is TO seed only
4 three lpurtlis Of bushcl per acre. and whose
average yield Is upwards Of twenty for one
aNI :.
oI seed would produce more, OF even as much.
7 do not by this mean To be understood as
advocating thi, very thin seeding, though the
fact, which is far from standing alone, is d
significant one. The chei evil resulting
from too thick sowing is, in the cnwdhg of
the plants into space where they have nei-
ther suliciency OF arr or nf roam. strug-
4 gle Tor existence amongst the plants commen-
ees, after having arrived at a stage when
their wants are II the most urgent descrip.
ton; the struggle terminating in the diving
Oft Of The least vigorous plants, leaving the
stronger, which would have been fully as nu-
merouS with thinner seeding. They have,
however, been impeded in growth, tie result
being that both ears and grains are smaller,
and consequently there is smaller crop.
7 ehhitl NHun w a llVlf iuli HttEluU-
ment uf ear. grain and stem, but in sume de-
gree DELAYS maturity whereas thick sowing
on land in high condition renders the plant
more diminutIte, and tends to hasten matu-
rity belore the gram has attained proper size.
The question then is. what quantity ol
wheat per acre is tho thick or too Thin sew
ing, or what Is the least quantity Of seed that
should be sown 10 yield tue largest crop:
+ This inquiry assumes no small Importance,
not only as regards the individual interest Of
the farmer, but ii the entire community, when
il is considered that, taking The average pros
duce Of the country. probably not less than
one eighth Is required for seed. Important
as this question is in all its bearings, no de-
finite answer can be given 10 il. Ii j. one
that doubtless admits of considerable varia-
lion, aud my object in troubling You with
this communication j. 10 call the attention 81
larmersgenerally 10 the subject, and TO induce
the making If experiments on different soils
aud luclliiies. There are Few matters Of more
importance TO the farmer % more wnrtl,y VI
his patient investigation. ] believe il has
been, and probably still is, the practice Of
tie English farmer, 10 SOW wheat aud other
grains much thicker than is usual with far
mers in this country. The subject, however,
has Of late been engaging The attention Of The
most intelligent agricullurists 10 that coun-
tty, aud the result Of their Investigations, 80
far, has induced heavy falling of in the
amount Of seed formerly snwn, and with in
creased returns. A Mr.. Davis, who farms
500 acre. uf arabic land. or light texture
uf soil, III the ueighburhuu,l ol London. ~.
ports that he formerly served three bushels Of
wheat per acre, with produce seldom reach
ing iuriy bushels; aud that after a course
Of experiments, continued during fourteen
years, he nov SONS only three pccks per
acre, with decidedly increased average
yield. The celebrated Mr.. Mcchi is also
conducting series of similar experiments,
the results 50 for being IN favor u thin seed.
ing, ur ID the rate 81 one bushcl per acre. !
will not now cueroach further on ynur pa,
ticnee o. valuable space, aud conclude with
expressing tie hope, that some Of our far
mcrs, al least, NAV be induced TO make such
experiments, aud report The results thrOugl,
the farmer. The importance Of the invcsti-
cation cannot be easily oycrratcd. J..
ttsrt,rfuf n MtNfspra