.358 Cultivation of Arable Laud. Cf raft-feeds* Time ana Method of f 



cumftances of the land. In refpect to the firft, or the periods of putting in the 

 grafs feeds ; the mod ufual has been in the fpring, at the time that the grain crops 

 are fown : but where the ground has been brought to a fuitable ftate of prepara 

 tion by means of green or other fallows, the latter end of the fummer, as about 

 Auguft, has been the more general feafon. In the former cafe they are commonly 

 put in with the grain crops ; but in the latter, without any other fort of crop. 

 There has been much divcrfity of opinion among agricultural writers with regard 

 to theiuperior utility of thefe different feafons of introducing the feeds, as well as 

 with regard to their being fown with or without other forts of crops. The advan 

 tages of the autumnal over thofc of the vernal fo wings are contended to be : thofe 

 of the grafs pflants being lefs expofed to danger from the fhade, clofenefs, and 

 choking that muftneceflarily occur at the latter feafon ; there being lefs rifle of 

 flocking the ground with noxious weeds in cafe of the feeds of hay chambers being 

 indifcriminately fown ;* their being put in upon a better preparation and more 

 mellow and fertile ftate of the land ; their growth being more ftrong and vigorous 

 from their not being robbed of their proper nourifhment by other exhaufting crops, 

 .and the great fuperiority of the hay produce : while on the contrary it is main, 

 taincd in fupport of the vernal fo wings, that belides their being lefs precarious, 

 ihade is neceffary in the early growth of the grafs plants to protect them from 

 the effects of heat ; the moifture is better preferved in the foil for their fupport ; 

 ikiall annual weeds more effectually prevented from rifing to injure them ; and the 

 lofs the farmer mult fuftain from the want of the grain crop guarded againft.f 



But though fome of the arguments urged on bath fides of this controverted point 

 may be objected to, the autumnal fowings not preventing the perennial weeds from 

 rifing and fhedding their feeds in the following fummer, nor the great clofenefs of 

 grain crops being without injury to the growth of the young grafs plants; there 

 are facts that render it not improbable but that each method may have advantages 

 under particular circum (lances. In the more fouthern diftricts, where the feverity 

 of the winter feafon is later in its approach, the autumnal feafon may frequently be 



* Clofe in Communications to the Board, Sec. vol. III. It is remarked by this author, that &quot; sowing 

 rubbifli in Auguft is not of fo great importance as in the fpring. In the former feafon all the annual 

 feeds vegetate, and if the beginning of the winter be mild, they will blolTorn; but they cannot perfect 

 their feed and the firft froft deftroys them. If fown in the fpring they vegetate, bloflbm, perfe& and 

 fhed, their feeds, and thus ftock the land with noxious weeds. The fads he has ftated muft,he fays, do 

 way the objections to fowing rubbifli. It is immaterial, he thinks, what you fow, if you do but obtain 

 an abundant crop, and leave your land clean and in good order.&quot; 



t Anderfon s Eflayj, vol. J. 



