398 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



looking over the heavy-soil districts, wc observe the 

 following systems of cropping holding a prominent 

 position : 



Kent. Lincoln. Bedford. Sxirrey. 



Roots. Fallow. Fallow. Fallow. 



Wheat. Wheat. Oats. Wheat. 



Clover. Clover. Clover. Clover. 



Wheat. Wheat. Wheat. Wheat. 



Beans. Coleseed. Beans. Beans or oats. 



Wheat. Oats, Wheat. 



Beans. 



Wheat. 



These may be taken as fair specimens of the course 

 of cropping which is successfully adopted when our 

 heavy soils are of good quality. Some of these systems 

 are more exhausting than others, and such are met 

 cither by the superior quality of the land, or by the 

 more liberal use of manure. There is one striking 

 feature observable throughout, viz., the frequent growth 

 of wheat. In fact, the soils referred to may be con- 

 sidered some of the beat wheat lands of England. 

 The Kent rotation is materially assisted by the easy 

 purchase of manure brought down in barges from 

 London, and thus the land receives manure in the 

 first and fifth year of the course. The nature of the 

 land will not allow of dung being applied directly to 

 the wheat, and hence it is found necessary to apply it 

 at some other portion of the course. When used for 

 the roots and beans, there is not that danger from 

 over-growth. 



The Lincoln course of cropping differs chiefly in the 

 introduction of coleseed and oats in the fifth and sixth 

 years, this being a desirable modification, and one 

 that is convenient for the system of sheep farming 

 there so well carried out. The Bedford rotation is 

 rather singular, in consequence of the oats following 

 the fallow ; but it agrees with the course of cropping 

 practised in Nottinghamshire, in consequence of the 

 wheat being so liable to be laid when sown upon fallow 

 ground, and particularly if the fallow has been ma- 

 nured. 



In all the instances named, the wheat crop is placed 

 after crops which are considered good in preparing the 

 land for wheat. It either comes after fallow, clover, or 



beans; and it may be as well just to notice what it is 

 which renders this succession so desirable. When the 

 land has been well fallowed, it becomes not only 

 cleaned, but well charged with fertilizing matter, partly 

 obtained from the air, and in part from its own hidden 

 stores of fertility. The clover is especially valuable as 

 a collector and preserver of that nitrogenized matter 

 which experience shows to be so very valuable for the 

 wheat crop. The bean is chiefly prized because, 

 whilst it draws its necessary supplies of mintral nour- 

 ishment from the land, it does not rob the soil of those 

 materials which the wheat needs, but allows them to 

 accumulate there ready for the succeeding crop. Thus, 

 by each of these agencies we favour the capability of the 

 land for the production of wheat, and so we see why 

 these practices have been so successful. 



In the cultivation of heavy soils, it unfortunately 

 happens that a large proportion are not of such good 

 quality as those to which we have been making refer- 

 ence. The poor and heavy clay soils of this country 

 may be classed amongst the least remunerative land 

 which Is cultivated. Much of this description of land 

 is found along the entire western side of England, from 

 Durham in the north to Cornwall in the south. These 

 soils are generally cropped cither under a three years' 

 course — fallow, wheat, oats — or else a six years' course 

 — fallow, wheat, oats, fallow, wheat, clover. The more 

 inferior qualities of land are seeded down after the 

 second corn crop, for an indefinite period of time, and 

 when broken up again are sown with oats. The length 

 of time during which these soils remain in grass de- 

 pends much upon local experience. Some become 

 ready to produce corn ranch quicker than others, 

 and will also be materially influenced by the quality 

 of the herbage. For so long as this is remunerative it 

 will generally be found advisable not to break up, 

 because the labour and expenses are great in propor- 

 tion to the crop obtained. 



In this review of the systems of farming adopted 

 upon heavy soils, we see how closely the experience 

 of the practical man agrees with the testimony 

 of science, and from this harmony wc may hope in 

 future years to sec more gratifying results than the 

 past has presented. 



THE IMPLEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE IN AMERICA, 



In all new settled countries the question of labour is 

 one of the most important elements of consideration, 

 and exercises a leading influence on its advance. Where 

 labour is scarce, and mechanical appliances and imple- 

 ments for performing the work are few or unattainable, 

 no progress, or only progress of the most slow kind, 

 can be made. Even in this country, where labour is 

 cheaper and more abundant than in America and our 

 colonies, we yet find that enormous strides have been 

 made in the employment of machinery for various pur- 

 poses of cultivation and husbandry. The mechanical 

 ingenuity, skill, and capital thus expended, no one will 



de.iy, have been of vast benefit to the country, and that 

 too without interfering with the employment or wages 

 of the labourer. 



But although there is, as wc have often shown, 

 a large and an increasing demand for our highly- 

 finished tools, implements, engines, and machinery, 

 in the colonies and foreign countries, yet in new 

 settled districts something more simple, and less 

 expensive, but equally efficient for the purpose, is 

 often required. Some of the admirably-constructed 

 carts, and ploughs, and machines, and mill-work, of 

 British make, are, by the time they reach the far in- 



