[ *5 } 



the univerfal experience of mankind. All foils be- 

 come weaker and poorer in proportion to thecropjj 

 they have borne. This is not a matter pf mere 

 opinion, for the moil fertile foils have and may 

 be made unfertile by conltant cropping, and the 

 practice of all ages and countries fully evince the 

 fame: Therefore the true anfwer to this queftion 

 is, that vegetables do take from the earth they 

 grow in the particles neceffary to vegetation, and 

 confequently a temporary barrennefs may be in- 

 duced by over or a too long continued cropping. 



But though it is certain, that rich or fertile 

 land may be rendered unfertile or barren by ex- 

 travagant and unrcafonable cropping; it does 

 not follow that fallowing is abfolutely neceffary 

 to reftorc its fertility, becaufe the fame end may 

 be as effectually anfvvered by other means; Fal- 

 lowing may be neceffary to clean the ground, and 

 deftroy the weeds which floth or bad huibandry 

 may have occafioned, and which perhaps could 

 not be cafily extirpated by any other means; but 

 it cannot be neceifary to reftore fertility, unlefs 

 in fuch ikuations as proper manure cannot be 

 obtained but at prices too exorbitant for the pro- 

 duce to repay with profit. Arable land may be 

 fo iituated and circumftanced as to admit of no 

 amendment from manures; as when tkiey are far 



C 3 diftant 



