DK. SCHLEIDEN'S THEOllY OF AGRICULTURE. 155 



Nature of Soil. Iliimus contained. 



Soil on which rape-seed is cultivated near Lillo . . 0*0 per cent. 



Very good English turnip-land O-G ,, 



Sandy ground covered with fine pines in the Black 



Forest 1 .3 



Extremely fertile wheat-land in England . . . . 2-8 ,, 



Vineyard of Rotheberg in Kheingau 3-3 ,, 



]3arreu sands near Guttingen 4*2 , , 



Very good English wheat-land 4*4 ,, 



Barren clays of Liineburgh 4' 4 ,, 



Good meadow-land in Bebenhausen 4-5 , , 



Fertile ploughed laud near Guttingen 5-0 ,, 



Very light soil, unfavourable for common culture, 



Neckarthal 8*4 , , 



Best English meadows 12'7 ,, 



Black barren moors 76*0 ,, 



Very light barren brown peat . 89-0 ,, 



It appears then, from all that has been stated, that in order (o 

 insure favourable results, attention must be turned first to a 

 thorough knowledge of the particular objects of cultivation, their 

 climatic conditions, the soil they require, the difierences whicli 

 exist between them and plants in free nature, the j)ropcrties of soil, 

 as well in those points over which man has no control, as the state 

 of its texture and composition, whicli are more or less within his 

 power. Tliis leads to the subject of fallowing, then to varioiis 

 modes of working- the land, to manures, to drainage, and finally 

 to rotation of cropping-. Some of these have already occupied 

 so much room that they must be passed over in a few words. 



A. Under the first head we shall content ourselves with 

 pointing- out the necessity of embracing- every opportunity of 

 improving- the objects of cultivation. Wherever any peculiar 

 qualities exist in a particular plant, especially adapted to any 

 particular soil, that plant should be carefully preserved, and 

 every circumstance about it noted. Those who cultivate on a 

 large scale, and extensive proprietors, may thus in process of 

 time acquire valuable varieties or information as to the points 

 which have produced any especial good qualities, to the great 

 benefit of society. But in cultivation on a small scale, mucli 

 dei)ends on a cautious selection of seed. It should be perfectly 

 ripe, clean, and free from admixture of weeds, and care should 

 be taken that it was grown upon a suitable soil. That which 

 comes from a barren field is much more likely to be true to its 

 variety than what comes from highly manured land. In general, 

 the time of sowing depends upon circumstances which place it 

 out of the power of the cultivator to choose his weather; rye 

 and barley, however, recpiire a drier time than oats. 



B. As regartls tlie knowledge of the soil, thisnuist be obtained 

 by actual examination, though not by a perfect cliemical analysis. 

 No certain judgment can be formed by its natural produce, but 



