t&amp;gt;4 Cultivation of Arable Land. Peas. Sorts of. 



cloddinefs of the furface is reduced, and the plants in feme mcafure earthed up, 

 and the progrefs of the crop not only much promoted, but, where thin, the plants 

 rendered more thick upon the land by the tillering that is thus produced. 



Oat crops are ready for the fcythe, or fickle, when the draw exhibits a yel- 

 lowifh caft, the grain becomes hard, and the chaff opens in fuch a manner as to 

 render it in fome degree naked. This fort of crop does not require to be fo 

 dry when put into the ftack as thofe of either wheat or barley. 



It is fometimes a practice in this fort of crop, as well as that of wheat, when 

 there is danger of its being too rank or luxuriant in its growth, to feed it down 

 with fheep in the fpring months. This is not, however, a method that is to be 

 adopted, except in particular circumftances, as where there is great difficulty in 

 procuring Iheep feed at fuch periods, or where the worm is committing its 

 ravages upon the plants ; as this fort of grain is not in general apt to be injured 

 cither by the luxuriancy of its growth, or by being lodged. 



Pens. This is a crop which is lefs certain than moft others, and even when 

 productive moftly inferior in value, ex cept in particular fituations, as near large 

 towns, when produced early for the table, to thofe of the grain kind. Yet from 

 fuch crops when full, having much tendency to improve the lands on which they 

 are cultivated, as well as to render them clean and free from weeds, they are 

 cultivated to a confiderable extent in many diftricts of the kingdom. The varieties 

 of peas employed in cultivation are extremely numerous; but thofe adapted to 

 field culture are generally diftinguifhed into two kinds, the early and the late : of 

 the former are the early Cbarlton, the golden hotfpur, and the common white ; of the 

 latter, all thofe of the gray kind, as the Marlborougb gray, the horn gray, the 

 maple gray, &c. The firft of thefe forts is generally confidered the beft for field 

 husbandry. 



This crop may be grown upon almoft any fort of foil, but fucceeds bed on fuch 

 as are dry and poflefs a middling degree of lightnefs, with a tolerably mellow con 

 dition, having a portion of calcareous matter in their compofition, as without this 

 ingredient peas are faid not to fill or ripen fo perfectly. Pea crops are moftly put 

 in after wheat, oats, or other kinds of grain. They may likewife fucceed clover or 

 fainfoin in many cafes with advantage ; and on old ley grounds, when newly 

 broken up, where danger is apprehended from the worm, they may often be found 

 a beneficial crop. But after whatever fort of crop peas m?.y be cultivated, it will 

 generally be neceffary to have the foil reduced into a tolerable Hate of pulverifation 

 Before they arc put in, and, where it can be fpared, a portion of manner applied 



