374 Cultivation of Arable Land*--Lucern~Prepctr(tti o nfur Seed. 



fcriptipns; but on fuch as are retentive of moiihirc ic fhould not be attempted, as the 

 roots are liable to be greatly injured, if not wholly deflroycd, by the ftagnation of 

 \vater about them. Weeping gravelly lands, and all fuch as are not well drained, 

 are of courfe improper for this fort of culture. It is fuppofed by fome, that for 

 the fua efsful cultivation of this crop, it is neceffary that there fhould be a fub- 

 irratum of fuch a fort as is capable of flopping thedefcent of r.he roots at a certain 

 depth, in order to prevent their exhaufting themfelves ; but the depth of the mould 

 in this cafe, fhould be confiderably greater than for that of the preceding grafs, a 

 foot and a half or two feet being moftly requifite.* 



In the preparation of the land the foil (hould always be brought into as fine a 

 condkion of mould as poffible. This may be effected by repeated ploughing and 

 harrowing, and the previous growth of fuch crops of the green kind as have a ten 

 dency to clean and render the land more fine and mellow. In this intention, fome 

 advife the taking of two crops of turnips, carrots, or cabbages, either in fucceflion 

 or alternating with each other; the turnips, in the heavier loams, being eaten off 

 upon the land in the fecond autumn, before it is ploughed up. In either of thefe 

 cafes, from the hoeing and conftant culture which is neceffary, while the crops are 

 upon the land, it will be left in a fuitable ftate of cleannefs and friability. f Others 

 recommend fallowing as a better practice, the root weeds of every kjnd being 

 carefully pricked out in the different ploughings and harro wings. From the great 

 length of time that the ground muft remain unemployed in this mode of prepara 

 tion, it is probably, however, only capable of being practifed with advantage where 

 the lands are heavy and very full of weeds. Before the feed is put in, the foil muft 

 be rendered perfectly fine by ploughing it over as frequently as may be neceffary, 

 and breaking it well down by occafionally harrowing. It will feldom be neceffary 

 to make ufe of manure ; but where the land is found to ftand in need of it, appli- 

 cation is befl made with the firft of the green crops. The object to be conftantly 

 kept in view in this bulinefs is chiefly that of rendering the land perfectly clean 

 from weeds, and at the fame time highly mellow and friable. 



S/ed. The feed of lucern is larger and of a more pale colour than that of clover; 

 and as much of it is brought annually from Holland, it is commonly purchafed 

 in the feed (hops, the price varying from one to two millings the pound. As feeds- 

 men are apt to keep their feeds from year to year, it may be neceffary to obferve,. 

 that that v/hich is perfedly frefh is the mod proper for being fown, as fmall feeds 



* Kent s Hinis, t Annals of Agriculture, vol. XXV. 



