/6.i/wk.—The superior produce of field No. 1, is not to be attributed to its being drilled in a different manner from No. 2. and 3. but to its being (lunged pre vious to the bean crop, and to the frost happening so opportunely after drilling for getting the mould brought to a line state. indeed, the mode of drilling pursued in this field, is what 1 never practise, but where local cir cumstances prevent the other from being adopted ; for, if the furrow s are taken so as to stir the soil to a proper depth, the seed is then laid at too great a distance from the surface ; in case it generally sends up a weak plant. And if such a furrow is only taken as will place the seed at a proper depth, the bottom soil is then left unstirred, whereby the pasture of the plant is greatly circumscribed. The tap root may indeed penetrate the substratum, but the small lateral fibres are prevented from spreading as they ought to do.
The drill employed NV ah the common hand-drill used in this country, which is pushed along by two handles, like a whcelb„rrow, and sows one row at a time. The wheel is about twenty-two inches diameter, of solid de al, upon the axle of which is also fixed a notched roller of rno inches and three quarters diameter, and two inches long, which turns in the fore-part of the drill-box. The quantity of seed is regulated by a slider, which moves up and down in the fore part of the box, by an adjusting screw fixed at top ; the slider having a strong brush pro jecting from its lower end, which sweeps upon the notched roller. There is also a sluice or slider that lies flat upon the bottom on the inside of the drill-box. This slide projects between the two handles of the drill, so as to be within reach of the person that guides it ; who, by pushing the slide forward, completely covers the notched roller, and prevents any of the beans getting out while the drill is turtling at the end of the ridges. A woman or boy will drill It out two to two acres and a half per day, when the rows are at twenty inches distance.
All the fields were harrowed into a fine mould alter sowing ; and when the beans had got above the ground, ;ad the first leaves were fairly opened and green, they were again harrow ed with a common harrow, which des troyed a crop of annual weeds, and saved a great deal of hand-weeding. The bean, at this stage of its grow th, is possessed of a toughness that prevents it from receiving any injut y by the harrow, provided the land has been brought to a fine mould, and the operation ps.rformed in dry weather. Rat if the surface is rough,
tire young plants arc in danger of being covered by the lods; and if the harrowing is given at an early period, before the teal has acquired a green colour, the bean is then in so tender a state as to be broken and destroyed by the harrow.
Home-hocing.—The intervals were horse-hoed at the proper season with a small plough. which is so construc ted as to prevent any of the mould falling to the left hand sick. This plough was run close along side of one row, by which the mould was turned over to the root of the next. The whole having been gone over in this way, making one furrow in each interval, the fields were allowed to lie in that state for a week, in order to give tic v. reds time to ,\ i;her. The hoeing was then rover sed, and the mould turned back again to the other side which completely destroyed every weed between the rows.
.41t/tlieation of the Straw.—The bean straw was used as fodder for the working horses in winter ; for which purpose it is fully equal to pea straw, commonly used in this part of the country ; and when it is well got, the horses are fonder of it than they are of pea straw.
The seed-w heat, sown after the twenty-three acres and a half of drilled beans before mentioned, was raised by me front a single grain ; the produce of which, viz. five hundred and forty grains, I planted in the spring of 1793. In the spring of 1794, 1 planted the returned produce upon a clover lay, after once ploughing, in rows twelve inches wide, and four inches between the plants, two grains being put into each hole ; hut front being planted in the spring, and a great drought following, the return was very small. 'This produce was sown broad cast, in the ordinary way, and produced in 1795, twelve bushels three pecks. This was likewise sown in the same manner, and produced, in 1796, fifteen quarters ; which being also sown broad-cast, produced, in 1797. more than I had occasion to use as seed that season.
I have for some time practised the raising of my seed corn from the produce of a single grain, picked while growing in the field, and find it a considerable improve ment, as it equalizes the period of ripening, and pro duces a better sample at market, the grain being all nearly of a size.
As the Society wish for accounts of wheat sown after drilled beans, I take the liberty of stating (in addition to the above) the following crops, which I have raised in that rotation.