m 



in conclusion very convincingly recommends dung- only to be 

 carried on just immediately before it is turned in with the 

 plough, though we may observe now as he did then, " farmers 

 in many countries spread it, or at least lay it in small 

 heaps on their fields, perhaps five or ten weeks before they 

 plough it in." — Sect. 3. is " of Winter Fallowing'' which he 

 observes kills weeds and reduces the soil into mould. The 

 earth should be turned as often as you can, &c. but as for his 

 theoretical reasons of benefit, he certainly could not have 

 understood them himself. 



In Section 4. he treats of " Earths and their improvements," 

 dwelling first upon the qualities of soils as indicated by their 

 colours, then of the smell which they emit as being similarly 

 indicative, next of their feel to the touch or handling. The 

 sum of which is that the best soils, are of a lively chesnut or 

 hazel colour, cut like butter, stick not obstinately, but are 

 short, tolerably light, breaking into small clods, sweet, will 

 be tempered without crusting, or chapping in dry weather, or 

 turning to mortar in wet. In the conclusion of these obser- 

 vations among some remarks upon the nutritive parts of soils, 

 which he justly considers to be those which are soluble, he 

 lays too much stress upon its saline particles, which however 

 valuable they certainly are, must only be considered as secon- 

 dary to their soluble vegetable, and animal constituents.' — He 

 next insists upon the great influence the substratum has upon 

 a soil, upon the cropping and management of various soils, 

 fallowing, &c.' — He justly reprobates burning land, for how- 

 ever quickly it will bring a Clay Soil into Tillage, yet " by ho- 

 nest, painful husbandmen, and those who have a regard to pos- 

 terity, or the real benefit of their landlords, is not reckoned a 

 good way, neither will it hold so long, or carry so many crops, 

 it enervates and destroys very much of those juices which are 

 the proper aliment and spirit of vegetation."^-- He then pro- 

 ceeds to consider Chalking as highly beneficial, especially to 



