r 264 ] 



which, from being fituated along the fides of 

 rivers,, are moft rich and leaft liable to be affected 

 by drought, fhould never be ploughed, unlefs for 

 hemp, flax, or cole, [rape.] For corn will fuftain 

 drought better, even on high lands, than grafs of 

 any kind worth Handing for hay. 



Lands that are moderately fituated with refpecT: 

 to height and water, are belt for corn; but fuch 

 lands ought alfo to be laid down to grafs once in 

 ten or twelve years. By thus treating them they 

 recover their ftrength, which, through a long 

 courfe of ploughing, will, in fpite of all your ma- 

 nure, become feeble and exhaufted. I am of the 

 opinion, that if moft arable lands were laid to 

 grafs once in fix years, greater profit would arife 

 to the farmer. For if we compare the produce 

 of forty acres, that are an equal number of years 

 in grafs and corn, with the fame extent of land 

 equal in quality, and fucceflively ploughed for 

 the fame length of time, we mall find that (befides 

 the extra goodnefs of the crops gained by the 

 former courfe) the land thus managed requires 

 much lefs feed, and there is much lefs confurop- 

 tion of corn on the farm than in the latter. To 

 this It may be added, that every pound of flefli 

 added to the cattle fed in the grafs years, is worth 

 two or three pounds of grain, both to the farmer 



and 



