214 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



courses of rotation mentioned below, will be found to meet the wants 

 of the farmers of Somerset ; at the same time there will be less dan- 

 ger of impairing the fertility of their fields than by the present modes. 



1. First year, corn, with the land well dressed ; second year, wheat 

 or barley ; third year, grass, clover and timoth3^ 2. First year, 

 potatoes, manured ; second year, corn, well manured ; third year, 

 barley ; fourth, clover and timothy, from two to three years. 



Many farmers living in the older towns of the county, will, from 

 necessity, be obliged to devote considerable attention to the reno- 

 vation of old lands, and in keeping up their fertility. This can be 

 done in several ways, and I shall do no more than simply mention 

 two or three methods. 1. By plowing under green crops, such as 

 clover, buckwheat, &c. If land is much exhausted, and the farmer 

 has not animal manure to dress it with, buckwheat or clover can be 

 sown and plowed under, and this course followed for two or tliree 

 years, will be found to vastly improve its character and fertility. 



2. Tlie use of artificial manures, will, in many cases, be found of 

 great advantage. Farmers who experiment upon a limited scale, 

 in the use of ashes, lime, salt, and gj'psum, will, by this manner, 

 find out the value of such jiianures for their own farms. 3. Much 

 can be done towards improving the texture of soils by mixing them. 

 Thus a heavy clay soil is improved by the use of sand or loam, 

 which serves to make it lighter and more porous. On the other 

 hand, light, sandy soils, are greatly benefited by any substance 

 which makes them more compact and solid, such as clay, muck, 

 &c. The late Prof. Norton, in his "Elements of Scientific Agri- 

 culture," p. 60, says: " In situations where clay can be obtained, 

 it is found to be the most valuable application for light soils, pos- 

 sible. It consolidates them, causes them to retain water and 

 manure, and for objects of permanent improvement is worth more, 

 load for load, than manure." 4. In all cases it is highlj'- necessary 

 that the farmer should bo acquainted with the cause of the barren- 

 ness of his soil, before attempting to renovate it. 



The diffusion of information of a practical and scientific nature, 

 among farmers, is one of the surest plans for improvement which 

 can be thought of. This is being done by the multiplicity of books 

 ui)()n agriculture in all its branches; through our farming period- 

 icals ; and in the establishment of Farmers' clubs. It is the dissem- 

 ination of this sort of knowledge whic^h ultimately leads to all true 

 and real improvements. 



Farm journals and accounts are not generally kept, and in this. 



