534 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



liberal and indefatigable in the application of their solid manures, 

 not limiting them to the surface, but mixing them with the 

 whole soil by thorough and deep trenching. 



cxxxvm. CROPS. 



I have already treated fully of many of the crops cultivated 

 on the Continent ; but there remain some few others, in the cul 

 ture of which the Flemish distinguish themselves, to which 1 

 shall refer. 



1. COLZA is a plant cultivated largely in parts of France, but 

 very extensively in Flanders, where it may be considered as a 

 standard crop, the culture of which is carried to great perfection. 

 It is a species of the cabbage family, and is cultivated for the oil 

 which is expressed from the seed. It occupies the ground nearly 

 a year, being sown in July or August, or transplanted in Sep 

 tember or October, and gathered the ensuing July. The product 

 of a good crop in seed is estimated at thirty bushels. It is con 

 sidered a great exhauster of the soil, but it returns in its refuse 

 much of what it receives. The stalks are often converted into 

 manure, and are frequently used as fuel in cooking food for cattle. / 

 and in heating ovens. The land on which it nourishes best is a 

 strong, rich soil, rather inclined to sand, yet argillaceous, mod 

 erately humid, and with a deep, fertile bed. It must be well 

 drained, so as to allow of no standing water upon it. and it must 

 be well manured. The best preparation is a green sward, or a 

 clover ley broken up; it often, however, follows rye or barley. 

 It is important that the cultivation should be thoroughly clean. 

 When sown on stubble, the stubble is first to be thoroughly 

 harrowed or ploughed to the depth of two or three inches, and 

 then, the weeds being cleared from the land and the manure 

 spread upon it, the whole is to be turned over by the plough to 

 a good depth. 



The seed may be sown broadcast, or it may be sown in drills : 

 in the latter case it is more easily kept clean ; or the plants may 



