370

ON THE ARABLE LAND

mits, the practice of the drill husbandry is very generally con-fined in the best cultivated districts of Scotland , even amongits most experienced and judicious husbandmen. Time andlabour at all times, and especially during the seed process, arcvery important considerations to farmers, independent of ex-pence. Their establishment of men and horses, the heaviestof the charges of this business, are economically proportionedto the work of the whole circle of the year; and, independentof all other considerations, that establishment is incompetentto accomplish the seed process by the drill system, in consi-derably more than double the time required for broadcastsowing.

§ 3. Of dibbling —This operation is so nearly allied to drill-ing, and is besides so little known in the practice of Scotchhusbandry, that it is here placed as a subordinate division ofthat subject. The observations which have been made re-specting drilling, will apply with increased force respectingdibbling, as a process greatly slower and consequently attend-ed with more expence, and greater risk of losing the favour-able season. The only argument of much weight that seemsurgible in favour of dibbling, is that it may save a consider-able portion of the seed. This may be a very material objecton the introduction of new selected varieties of grain, but isof small importance when applied to the kinds of grain usu-ally cultivated *.

* Wheat was dibbled to a small extent, many years ago, on one or two farmson Teviotside, particularly by Mr James Church of Mosstower, in the parish ofEckford. But it has never been a general practice, and, for the reasons assignedin the text, is not likely ever to become so.