iSod. ' Falloiuing Defended. 4'3'7 



The mod ofthefe arguments may be granted, and yet the 

 utility, nay the necefiity of Summer- fallow, be confiftently 

 maintained. 



It is already acknowledged, that it is only upon wet foils, 

 or, in other words, upon land unfit for the turnip-hufbandry, 

 a plain Summer-fallow is neceffary ; and this, we fuppofe, in- 

 cludes three fourths of the ifland. The utility of Summer- 

 fallow upon fuch foils, is not contended for becaufe nature 

 requires a paufe or reft to invigorate her to carry frefh 

 crops, but fclely becaufe it is impoffible to keep them clean, 

 without this auxiliary affiftance. To fpeak of follov/ing na- 

 ture in farming, is mere found ; for, if we were to imitate 

 nature, we would not cultivate land at all. Nature is often 

 improved by art : and fallowing is the means employed for 

 removing a hofl of enemies, v/hich prevent her from being 

 fertile and produtlive. 



As a fieid filled with root-weeds, muft be in a (late of 

 greater exhaufticn, than if it carried a heavy crop of corn ; 

 fo, the produftive quality of the earth mull neceflarily de~ 

 creafe, in proportion to the quantity of weeds it brings forth. 

 But, becaufe corn is not fown, it does not follow that weeds 

 of any kind fnould be fuffered to grow. The objett of al- 

 lowing the ground to remain a year under fallow, is to afford 

 tim.e and opportunity for expelling* the unprodu6^ive plant, 

 and to prepare it for the reception of others which are bene- 

 ficial. 



The moft judicious intermixture of crops upon clay foils, 

 will not preclude the necefiity of Summer-failovi^, although 

 it will go a great Vv-r-.y to prevent a frequent repetition of it. 

 An eight-courfe fliift, fuch as, fallow, wheat, beans drilled 

 and horfe-hoed, barley, grafs-feeds, oats, beans, and wheat, 

 is as much as can be recommended ; and it is only upon rich 

 clay, or deep loam, where fuch an extenfive rotation is ad- 

 miifible. A fliift of this kind, when dung is applied twice 

 in the courfe of it, v/iil pay the farmer more handfomely than 

 the moft judicious intermixture of crops, where fallowing ia 

 neglefted. 



Again, no rules drawn from garden prcc^ice Vkill apply to 

 operations carried on in the field j the foils are generally very 

 different ; and any comparifon that can be made, miufi: be 

 with thofe rich fandy foils, upon v/hich vi'e Inve allowed fal- 

 lowing to be unneceliary. The crops in the garden are reap- 

 ed at fo many different times, and often fo early in the fea- 

 fon, that opportunity is always gained for working the ground 



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