308 Cultivation of Arable Land. Lands proper for Tillage and Grafs. 



Of the fir ft defcription are all thofc lands which pofiefs a fufllcient degree of 

 drynefs, whether they have much ftaple or depth of mould or not, and which in 

 their natural ftate have but little tendency to produce good herbage, fuch as thofe 

 covered with different forts of coarfe plants and vegetable productions, whether in 

 an open or enclofed Mate. It has been well obferved by a late writer, that grounds 

 cf this nature are of considerably more value when in a ftate of tillage than in paf- 

 ture ; as they are particularly adapted to the improved modes of hufbandry, and 

 in addition to the quantity of grain to be produced from them, will afford a greater 

 quantity of vegetable food for animal flock when in a tillage (late, than they did 

 when kept entirely in pafture.* 



There are various defcriptions of light lands that may likewife be kept in a Mate 

 of tillage with more advantage than in that of grafs, as they are peculiarly fuited 

 to thofe improved modes of cultivation that are necefTary for raifing large fupplics 

 of green food for the fupport of live Mock of different kinds. The poorer forts 

 of Hind lands, where marl, clay, chalk, or other fimilar fubllances can be readily 

 procured, are much more proper for the purpofes of tillage than thofe of grafs, as 

 is fufficiently fhown by the Improvements that have been made in many of the 

 more fouthcrn diftricls of the kingdom. t Lands of the chalky kinds, whether 

 of the more fuperficial or deep defcriptions, are in molt cafes better fuited for 

 tillage than grafs, as from their wetnefs in the winter fealo.-, and their opennefs 

 and friability in the fummer, it is almoft impoflible to cfbblifh good herbage. t 



And there is ftill another fort of land that is better for the purpofes of tillage 

 than thofe of grafs, which is that which in the fiate of grafs is conftantly fo difpo- 

 fed to the production of mofs, as to afford but a very fcanty fhareof good herbage. 

 Moft of the clayey and more heavy defcriptions of land, efpecially when fituat?d 

 in valleys, or oiher low confined expofures, though they may be capable of affording 

 good crops cf particular kinds when under the plough, as thofe of the wheat and 

 bean kind, are, on account of their retention of moifture, the increafcd expenfes of 

 labour, and the uncertainty of feafon for tilling them, as well as their inaptitude for 

 moft other forts ofcrops, and their fitnefs for the production of good herbage, 

 much more beneficial in the (late of grafs than in that of tillage. Where there 

 is an opportunity of procuring fra fand, and of applying it at an eafy expenfe, they 

 may however be converted to the purpofes of tillage in a profitable manner. Moft 

 of thofe fhong cold grafs lands which in a Hate of tillage would be improper for 

 the growth of turnips, and other applications of improved cultivation, fhould alfo 

 eonftantly remain in the ftate of grafs. And likewife thofe lands that are lituated 



* Davis iu Communications to the Board of Agriculture, vol. III. f Ibid. J Ibid. 



