TOPPING AND [Chap. 



plants extended over the intervals. Besides all 

 which, there was the impossibility of going along 

 the intervals with the cart, to bring the tops away; 

 and, to bring them out on the backs of men, from 

 all the parts of a field three hundred and fifty yards 

 long, and, on an average, perhaps, three hun- 

 dred yards wide, was a job not to be undertaken 

 without almost a regiment of men, especially 

 as the men could not go cross-ways without 

 breaking oif the corn that was left standing ; in 

 addition to all these, though we have had a fine 

 autumn, we have not, since my topping began, 

 had one whole week without more or less of 

 rain. 



125. With intervals and summer cultivation 

 such as I have given instructions for, all these 

 difficulties and inconveniences would have been 

 completely avoided ; and, notwithstanding the 

 untowardness of the summer, which was the very 

 worst for my corn which I ever knew, my top: 

 and blades would, if I had had intervals and 

 ploughings such as I have described, have been 

 got in in a perfectly good state ; for corn tops have 

 this great advantage over hay, that you need not 

 cut the whole field at one time. If you begin 

 mowing, you must go on till the field or the 

 meadow be cut, and you must take your chance 

 as to weather. You must make your rick all at 

 once, or, at least, it is desirable so to do ; you 



