^^Cultivation of ArabkLand.Farms Proportion between Arable and Grafs* 



And it feems probable from fome trials which have been lately made, that th 

 latter, as being extremely hardy and affording an abundant produce, may be grown 

 with much more advantage as a green food for the purpofe of foiling and the fup- 

 port of flock, than the former. 



Proportion between Arable and Grafs Lands. As we have already pointed out the 

 forts of land that feem moft adapted to the purpofesof tillage, it may here be necef- 

 fary to fay a few words on the proportion that ought to exift between the arable and 

 grafs land on the fame farm. 



It is evident that this muft be much influenced by local circumflances and other 

 caufes, which have merely a relation to particular cafes ; and they muft vary in 

 a great degree, according to the nature of the foil, the methods of management 

 that may be adopted, and the quantity of flock that is to be kept. On clayey foils 

 a much larger proportion mould be kept in grafs than on moft others, efpecially 

 when tenacious and not eafily drained, as green winter food is fcarcely to be obtained 

 at all, or not without much trouble, difficulty, and expenfe ; of courfe the working 

 ftock, and fucli a number as are kept for confuming ftraw and making dung, muft 

 depend in a greater degree on meadow hay than upon foils which admit of the 

 turnip and cabbage culture. Clover, indeed, fucceeds on clays, but is uncertain 

 and liable to failure : confequently, without a certain refource in the hay of na 

 tural grafs, much inconvenience muft frequently be fuftained. 



In the experience of the Rev. Mr. Young they have been found, when in the 

 proportion of one half, to be conducted in&amp;gt; more profitable manner than in a fmaller 

 proportion, and not to allow of being managed with advantage in lefs than one 

 third under the ftate of fward.* 



In loamy foils, it is probable that a third or a fourth in grafs is the proportion 

 that may be moft fuitable, and the more they tend to wetnefs the larger the pro 

 portion. Grafs is not, however, fo necefTary on thefe foils, as clover and other 

 artificial grafTes of the fame kind are lefs liable to mifcarry, and they admit the 

 alternate hufbandry of grafs and grain in a more eafy and profitable manner. 



In the fandy forts of land, they fhould probably be as little as poffible in the 

 ftate of grafs : they are, perhaps, beft managed when nearly the whole is under 

 the plough, as by means of proper cultivated gralTes, &c. the whole ftock of the 

 farm may be profitably fupported, and the land refted fufficiently for enfuringa 

 continued production of grain. But in oppolition to this rule, and moft unprofita- 



* Communications to the Board of Agriculture, vol. IIL 



