Quantity of Seed.—It has been often said that American husbandry was unfavorably peculiar in stinginess of seed-sowing. It is certain that very much greater quantities are employed in Great Britain and on the Continent than with us, and that much greater crops are obtained per acre. In part the crop is owing to a superior cultivation; but those who have carefully studied the subject affirm that, in part, it is attributable to the use of much greater quantities of seed. We give a table showing the average quantity of seed per acre for different grains, in England, Germany, and the United States. The table was formed in that manufactory of so many valuable articles, the Albany Cultivator. It must be remembered that the average crop is not the average of the best farming States, but of the whole United States.

GERMANY.
Seed per acre—Product.
Wheat,2½ bushels.25 bushels.
Rye,2  “25  “
Barley,2½  “35  “
Oats,2 to 4 “40  “
Millet,7 quarts.35  “
Peas,2½ bushels.26  “
Corn,20 quarts.36  “
Turnips,30 to 35 tons.
Buckwheat,1 bushel.27 bushels.
Clover,14 pounds.
Flax,2 to 3 bush.10 bu. seed.
Hemp,2½ to 3 “650 pounds.
Potatoes,5    “300 bushels.
ENGLAND.
Seed per acre—Product.
Wheat,2½ to 3½ bu.28 bushels.
Rye,2 to 2½  “25  “
Barley,2½ to 4  “36  “
Oats,4 to 7  “32  “
Millet,
Peas,3 to 3½  “30 to 40 bu.
Corn,
Turnips,1 to 2 pints.30 to 35 tons.
Buckwheat,1 to 1½ bush.26 bushels.
Clover,14 to 18 lbs.
Flax,2 to 3 bush.10 bu. seed.
Hemp,3    “550 pounds.
Potatoes,8 to 12 “250 bushels.
UNITED STATES.
Seed per acre—Product.
Wheat,1 to 1½ bush.18 bushels.
Rye,1 to 1½ “15  “
Barley,1½ to 2 “25  “
Oats,2 to 3   “35  “
Millet,
Peas,2 to 2½ “25  “
Corn,20 to 30 qts.30  “
Turnips,1 to 2 lbs.20 tons.
Buckwheat,16 to 20 qts..15 to 30 bu.
Clover,5 to 10 lbs.
Flax,1 to 1½ bush.8 to 12 bush.
Hemp,1½ to 2½ “500 pounds.
Potatoes,8 to 20  “175 bushels.

SPRING WORK IN THE GARDEN.

When spring comes, everybody begins to think of the garden. A little of the experience of one who has learned some by making many mistakes will do you no harm.

Too much Work laid out.—When the winter lets us out, and we are exhilarated with fresh air, singing birds, bland weather, and newly-springing vegetation, our ambition is apt to lay out too much work. We began with an acre, in garden; we could not afford to hire help except for a few days; and we were ambitious to do things as they ought to be done. By reference to a Garden Journal (every man should keep one), we find that we planted in 1840, sixteen kinds of peas; seventeen kinds of beans; seven kinds of corn; six kinds of squash; eight kinds of cabbage; seven kinds of lettuce; eight sorts of cucumber, and seven of turnips—seventy-six varieties of only eight vegetables! Besides, we had fruit-trees to transplant in spring—flowers to nurture, and all the etceteras of a large garden. Although we worked faithfully, early and late, through the whole season, the weeds beat us fairly; and every day or two some lazy loon, who had not turned two spadefuls of earth during the season, would lounge along and look over, and seeing the condition of things, would very quietly say:

“Why, I heard so much about your garden—whew! what regiments of weeds you keep. I say, neighbor, do you boil that parsley for greens?” It nettled us, and we sweat at the hoe and spade all the harder, but in vain; for we had laid out more than could be well done. Nobody asked how much we had done—they looked only at what we had not done. To be sure so many sorts were planted only to test their qualities; but the laying out of so large a work in spring is not wise. A HALF well done is better than a WHOLE half done. Remember there is a July as well as an April; and lay out in April as you can hold out in July and August. We have profited by our own mistakes and have no objections that others should do it.