20 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. - 



ing land, and of burning clay, and the value of the ashes of 

 clay, deeming that it would at least be found interesting to my 

 American readers, where the process is certainly rare, if not un 

 known, excepting on peat lands ; and because, likewise, it is a 

 process belonging to English agriculture ; but not with any 

 strong expectation of its being adopted to any great extent in 

 my own country, where land is cheap and labor is dear. 



The scientific solution of the operation of burned clay, and of 

 ashes generally, I submit to those who are interested in, and 

 competent to deal with, such discussions. The practical farmer 

 will not fail to observe how much stress is laid in every case, 

 with scarcely what may be called an exception, on the quantity 

 of vegetable matter consumed in the burning, and going to 

 increase essentially the amount of ashes to be applied. He will 

 not fail to observe, likewise, the connection, in some cases, with 

 the burning, of liming, manuring, and folding sheep upon the 

 land, and consuming the produce grown upon it. If he should 

 undertake to burn his soil, it is hoped that his attention will be 

 specially arrested by these points. The value of ashes, the ashes 

 of consumed vegetable substances, is not a thing now to be 

 learned ; and how much soever pains may be taken in burning 

 clay, it is quite safe at present to assume that the more of vege 

 table matter is consumed with it, so much the better for the 

 ashes of the clay. The opening of clayey and adhesive soils by 

 burning them, so as to make them easily worked, and rendering 

 them accessible to air, and moisture, and light, and heat, is an 

 obvious and decided advantage. In their ordinary condition, the 

 cultivation is a work of great labor. 



The burning of the grass and rubbish upon the American 

 prairie grounds is always followed by a thickening, and increased 

 luxuriance, of the succeeding crop. This burning, however, 

 rarely does more than skim the surface, and. except in cases of ex 

 cessive drought, does not destroy the roots of the herbage. The 

 burning of the fallen trees in the new parts of America, and the 

 successful culture of crops upon their ashes, I have already referred 

 to. In the management of broom corn, (sorglium saccharatum,] 

 on Connecticut River, a crop which leaves a large amount of 

 haulm, many farmers have long been accustomed to burn the stub 

 ble upon the ground for the sake of the ashes, rather than cither 

 plough it in. or carry it into their barn-yards to be added, in its 



