1803. Review of tie Meiv Farmers^ Calendar, 195 



fary to refer to the fucccedln^ fedlion, both being much 

 blended. In this fe6tion, fiimmer fallow is charafterizcd as the 

 bane of good hufbandrj, and the continuance of the praftice is 

 attributed to an inexhauftible fund of prejudice in favour of an- 

 cient cufloms, and not to the rationality of the thing itfclf. It 

 is even maintained that no arguments, but hypothetical ones, can 

 be adduced by fallowifls. In fliort, the very common fenfe of 

 thofe who make a fummer fallow, even upon the flrongeft and 

 wettert clays, is called m quellion by this imperative gentleman. 



That fummer fallow is unnecefl'ary w^onfome foils, we have 

 never queftioned ; but that it is unneceifary upon all, we be- 

 lieve few people, acquainted with the variable nature of BritiHi 

 foils, and the inconftancy of the climate, will feel difpofed to ad- 

 mit. It is well known that three fourths of this iiland confifl of 

 flrong loam, clay of different varieties, and Moorifh or peat- 

 earth foils, and that upon few of thefe can turnips, or other 

 fallow crops, be cultivated with advantage. In fuch fituations, 

 an abfolute neceffity arifes for leaving the land uncropped for 

 a feafon, in order that it may be cleaned during the dry fum- 

 mer months, when weeds can only be extirpated, otherwife 

 fuch foils would gradually be deteriorated, and at laft prove fo 

 ■unproduftive as not to be worth the expence of labour. This 

 ceffation of cropping for a feafon does not by any means leff- 

 en the farmer's profits, or the flock of food in the country ; on 

 the contrary, it is the fure way of increafing both ; for, in the 

 fucceeding years, or during the rotation that follows, the crops 

 that are gained amply repay the temporary deficiency occa- 

 lioned by the fallow procefs. As for the expence incurred, it 

 is only a year's rent which can be Hated on that head ; for the 

 charge of ploughing and harrowing in fummer, feldom exceeds 

 the amount of what is incurred by forcing a crop when the land 

 is in a foul condition, the real value of labour, at each period, 

 being duly eflimated. 



We have often witneffed attempts made to clean fuch foils as are 

 mentioned above, by introducing drill-crops ; but we can fafely 

 aver, that in every inflance that came under our obfervation, the 

 attempt turned out unprofitably to the occupier. Turnips, no 

 doubt, will grow upon them, if highly manured ; but the con- 

 fequences which follow the removal of the crop, upon all clofe- 

 bottomed foils, ought to deter any farmer from fuch manage- 

 ment. It is only where a breeding flock is kept, or with a view 

 to rot the fodder of the farm, that turnips ought to be raifed upon 

 clay foils ; and, under thefe circumflances, it may juflly be faid, 

 that convenienc}^ and not profit, is the objecl j at leail the lat- 

 ter is only a fecondary confideration. 



U 4 We 



