ONE for the mouse, one for the crow, one to rot, one to grow
Other forms of this traditional country saying relating to sowing are also illustrated here.
1850
Notes & Queries
1st Ser. II. 515
How to sow Beans. ‘One for the mouse, One for the crow, One to rot, One to grow.’
1941
Little Town on Prairie
ii.
‘Kernels,’ said Pa. ‘Four kernels… One for the blackbird, One for the crow, And that will leave just two to grow.’
1961
House at Old Vine
I
. 34
Careful farmers .. sow their seed broadcast, saying: One for wind and one for crow One to die and one to grow.
garden lore
ONE nail drives out another