BURNING LAND. 15 



factorily the fertilizing power of ashes, because, to use his own 

 expression, they were not assisted by any other kind of manure. 

 What Mr. Randell means by not being assisted with any other 

 kind of manure, will appear from his account. The field of five 

 acres was a foul bean stubble ; the English horse-bean is un 

 doubtedly intended, which, when not cut close, leaves a large 

 amount of stubble. In May, it was skim-ploughed to the depth 

 of about one inch and a half, and all that the plough raised 

 burned with fagots, and the ashes spread. It was then ploughed 

 and scuffled, and rendered perfectly clean ; planted with vetches 

 in October j and fed off, the ensuing summer, by sheep folded 

 upon it ; and this followed by wheat at more than forty-five 

 bushels per acre. Another field adjoining, of three acres, 

 under similar treatment, produced nearly equal results, the dif 

 ference in the wheat crop, which was not quite so heavy, being 

 attributable to the vetches having been eaten off by horses 

 tethered on them, instead of sheep. The difference of the results 

 in the two cases of feeding with sheep on the ground, or with 

 horses is quite worthy of remark ; but it is much to be regret 

 ted that the amount of difference should not have been exactly 

 ascertained, instead of adopting the terms, &quot;nearly equal results,&quot; 

 and &quot;not quite so heavy,&quot; which imply that the result was 

 matter of conjecture, not of measurement, or at least admit of 

 considerable latitude of construction. 



Another experiment of the power of ashes, unaided, to restore 

 exhausted land, (more conclusive, he says, than the former,) was 

 a field of ten acres of exceedingly stiff clay, &quot; in 1839, an aw 

 fully foul piece of two years old in grass.&quot; He ploughed and 

 planted it with wheat, which was dibbled in, and twice hoed, 

 and gave only sixteen bushels per acre. Afterwards the stubble 

 was skim-ploughed, and attempted to be dragged, but so matted 

 and heavy, it would seem, that this was found impracticable ; &quot; it 

 was then parted with forks, and burned ; and the quantity of 

 ashes burned could not have been less, upon the far greater part 

 of the field, than from 150 to 200 yards per acre.&quot; What is 

 meant by yards, in this case, I must leave it to my readers to con 

 jecture. I suppose, however, cubic yards. It was then planted 

 with vetches : but such a crop of crowfoot, charlock, and rubbish 

 of all descriptions followed, that it was mowed and carried to 

 the fold-yard. It was then fallowed and drained, and then, in 



