236 On Claying or Marling Land, 



and spread at 2>d. per load — costing the small sum of 10.9. per 

 acre for permanent improvement of his land. Some farmers pre- 

 fer lime to clay on light land — a little reflection will show them 

 their error ; lime, I admit, will correct the acidity, but where is 

 the solidity that is so desirable in such land? I have found it 

 make my light land lighter still. 



I likewise have two trials that I have made with chalk on strong 

 land, that always ploughed so badly that it was difficult to get the 

 corn sufficiently covered to vegetate. I should say that I had to 

 fetch the chalk 6 miles — an expensive job ; but as they were 

 small experiments I wanted to make, I did not take the expense 

 into consideration : the result is, the land now works without 

 difficulty ; and I had an excellent crop of wheat on one of the 

 spots. 



To sum up the benefits of clay to land in various ways, it is by 

 correcting the acidity, and giving solidity ; by stiffening the straw, 

 and increasing the quantity and quality of the corn ; by preventing 

 mildew, which this farm was always subject to, but which, since 

 I have clayed, it has not been ; by preventing turnips being dis- 

 eased by graping ; and adding that to the soil which clover likes, 

 more particularly the white or Dutch clover. 



Apologizing for the length of this letter, 



I beg to remain, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



F. W. Overman. 



Maulden, Oct, 24, 1842. 



XVII. — Early Vetches. By William Jones Williams. 



To Ph. Puseij, Esq., 3I.P. 



My dear Sir, — I hasten to answer your inquiries as to the 

 vetches which you exhibited to the Society on Wednesday last ; 

 and I hope the information I shall give may be the means of 

 producing many such pieces of sheep-keep next year as I was 

 fortunate enough to obtain both this year and last. 



1st. Name of variety ? 



They are known in this neighbourhood by the name of the 

 " racers." 



2nd. Time of sowing ? 



I planted them on the 26th of August last. 



3rd. Quantity of seed per acre ? 



Two bushels of rye and 2^ bushels of vetches : but, from the 

 rye being imperfect, I am satisfied not more than 1 bushel grew^, 

 which was quite sufficient ; and I shall not use more than 1 bushel 



