On the Agriculture of the Netherlands. 249 



decided superiority : of wheat there are many sorts, white and red : the 

 white wheat which grows at Kalken, not far from Ghent, is in great 

 repute for the fineness of its flour. It seems to degenerate in every other 

 soil. We have seen a red wheat with a white chaff in one or two places, 

 which bears a very great resemblance to some of the wheats lately 

 brought into notice in England under various names. The common 

 sorts, both white and red, appear full, and the straw strong and healthy : 

 careful cultivation, no doubt, increases the produce and lessens the 

 casualties from disease or climate. A mixture of wheat and rye is 

 sometimes sown, which is called medin in Yorkshire, and meteil in 

 Flanders. It is asserted that, in a certain proportion, the two grains 

 produce more when sown together than they do if each be sown sepa- 

 rately. Those who defend the practice maintain that, if the season does 

 not suit wheat, it suits rye, and that between the one and the other a 

 crop is secured. The adversaries assert that rye and wheat ripen at 

 different times, and that the wheat will be reaped too green, or the rye 

 will be over-ripe and shed. But as pure wheaten- bread comes more 

 and more generally into use, meslin is in less demand, and can only be 

 used in the farmer's family. Wheat and rye separately are more readily 

 disposed of in the market, and this will be sufficient to decide the ques- 

 tion ; accordingly, meslin is but sparingly sown ; where the land will 

 bear it, wheat is sown instead ; where it suits rye better, the latter is 

 preferred. 



" Barley is considered as a grain of much importance in a country 

 where the vine does not thrive, and where beer is the principal beverage. 

 The variety preferred is that which is sown, like wheat, in autumn, and 

 is called winter barley. In the rich soils of the polders, especially those 

 which contain much silicious and calcareous sand in their composition, 

 extraordinary crops of barley are sometimes raised, as much as ten 

 quarters per acre, weighing from 50 to 56 lbs. per bushel, and this in- 

 duces the farmers frequently to sow this grain twice in succession, 

 without any manure. The favourite sorts are called Escourgeon and 

 Sucrion. They are sown in autumn and reaped in July. Spring 

 barley is sown occasionally, but produces a smaller return, and the grain 

 is lighter. 



" Oats are frequently sown after clover, and sometimes after rye or 

 potatoes, as suits the rotation. It is a grain that thrives in almost any 

 soil, with a small proportion of manure, and, when the land is enriched, 

 gives a large return. The preparation for oats in Flanders begins by 

 spreading dung over the clover-ley, but in a smaller quantity than for 

 barley. This is ploughed in before winter with a shallow furrow, which 

 is laid over flat to accelerate the decomposition of the roots of the clover. 

 Sheep-dung is thought peculiarly good for this purpose. The land is 

 ploughed deep in spring, not to bring the dung again to the surface, 

 but to turn a coat of earth over it. Liquid manure is sometimes spread 

 over the surface before the seed is sown, but not always. The crop 

 seldom fails to give from 6 to 9 quarters per acre from 2 bushels sown, 

 which is not more than half the seed usually sown in England." 



The Friesland oats are well known in England as of a very 

 good quality for brewing, and great crops of them are raised in 



VOL. III. s 



