The late Benjamin BA, E.:q. of Hunthill, made va rious experiments, to ascertain, w Nether light or imper fect iced would vegetate, and produce a crop equal to c'hat might be obtained from seed perfectly ripened and ei!'elv h: nt ested. Tie rt:ult of these experiments strongly confirms what we have urged with respect to the use of mildewed or diseased grain for seed ; and had nut been rather inconsistent with the nature ol thi-, work, we Nt ould have extracted from his statement the whole particulars connected with the subject under Co:- Sideration.
We may only mention, that Dr Bell, in October 1783, sowed a field of twelve acres wiLd nine bolls of wheat, of which an Engitsn quarter, o; something less than two bolls, was the best tnat could be procured in the London market ol crop 1783. Five bolts ol the produce ot East Lothian crop 1783 was also used, and one boll of the best wheat in the London market of crop 1782'; and one boll of the pro.luce ol wheat near Edinburgh, in the same year, made out the total quantity. fh.rc it most be remarked, twat 1782 was a season generally unfavourable to raising wheat in perfection, but that in 1783 that grain was sound, and of excellent quality.
The field, upon wnich the above parcels of wheat were sown, was well (allowed, and equally manured with dung, and the whole seeds were sown in the beginning of October, after each of them had been washed, in strong brine, and afterwards dried with new slacked lime.
The English seed of crop 1783 was sown on one sid, of the field, and half a boll of the Mid Lothian seed of crop 1782 on three ridges next to it. To this succeeded the English wheat of the same crop ; then the East Lo thian wheat, and next to it the other half boll of Mid Lo thian wheat of 1782.
The field being all in good condition, the wheat ap peared early above the surface, and the shoots were every where strong, excepting on those ridges sown with Mid Lothian wheat of crop 1782, on which the plants were weak, and not very numerous. Neither did they spread or tiller like the others ; so that during the win ter and spring months the wheat on these ridges had a weak appearance, and in harvest the straw was not only thin and of little length, but the ears were short and small, and the grain on this part of the field was not so large or heavy as on other parts.
It was also hound, on being thrashed and measured, that the produce of the wheat of crop 1782 was only eleven bolls, or five and a half for one ; whereas the pro duce of the rest of the field was fully fifteen for every boll of seed sown, The difference in value was also considerable, the produce of the Mid Lothian wheat selling five shillings per boll lower than the others.
From the above statement, a powerful motive occurs for using only the best corn for seed, the truth of which cannot be too strongly inculcated. Indeed, we have al ways considered the doctrine broached by Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. some years ago, as inimical to the true in terests of agriculture. That light or imperfect seed will vegetate and send forth a stalk or plant, may easily be admitted ; but that the produce of that stalk or plant will be so healthy or great as what may be obtained from plump well filled seed, will scarcely be questioned by any one who is not a slave to system. Very great pains have been used by British breeders to procreate animals from the best and most approved kinds of cattle and sheep ; but were it admitted that light, diseased, and imperfect grain, was capable of making an equal return to the grower, quantity and quality being taken into con sideration, it is plain that the breeders of live-stock are demonstrably wrong in selecting the strongest and best proportioned animals as the basis of their breeding stuck. In making these selections, however, every man will acknowledgd, that they acted with judgment ; there fore it necessarily I .y fo..ows, that the growers of corn, who make use of defective grain for seeding their fields, neither consult their own interest, nor act with that de gree of judgment and understanding which ought to in fluence and govern every good husbandman.
On Barley.
Next to wheat, the most valuable grain is barley, especially on light and sharp soils. This grain, how ever, is less cultivated than in former times ; because the immense taxation on it, when made into malt, nt the first instance, and afterwards when brewed or dis tilled into ale or spirits, has contributed to decrease the demand, and consequently to diminish the value of this article. Another reason for its decreased culture may be assigned, namely, that the quantity used as bread-corn is now very trilling. These circumstances conjoined, have, for several years, rendered the cul tivation of barley, unless in situations extremely fa vourable, of less advantage to the farmer than any other grain.