THE WHEAT CIJLTURIST. 155 



the soil than any in that country. Of late years, sum- 

 mer fallows have been nearly discontinued in England, 

 rye and vetches being grown as a crop to be eaten on 

 the land by sheep, on the heavy clays, and turnips or 

 other roots on all friable farms. Formerly, the fallows 

 were worked chiefly in June, July, and August. But 

 here, they can be attended to better after a grain crop 

 is off, in August, September, and October ; and if left 

 at the latter part of the last-mentioned month, so that 

 it is impossible for any water to lie soaking it, there will 

 be a splendid seed-bed in the spring, equal to any of 

 the beds so carefully prepared by the wealthy gentle- 

 men's gardeners in Europe. The farmer having plenty 

 of stock, can haul the dung where it is required for 

 producing a crop of roots ; and thus, with such a long 

 period in the early part of fall and latter part of sum- 

 mer to prepare for everything, his ground will be far 

 ahead of the Englishman ; because, the latter cannot 

 harvest his grain till nearly two months later than the 

 American ; and consequently, is unable so effectually 

 to clean it, more especially as the sun is much weaker 

 there than here. Again, the frost, here, pulverizes much 

 more effectually than there. Yet, there are hundreds 

 of acres of winter fallowing there, to one here. They 

 have an average of ten dollars per acre per annum, rent, 

 to pay, which Americans know nothing of. 



By adopting the system of preparing the soil for a 

 crop of wheat during autumn and winter, the grain 

 might always be put in quite early, leaving ample op- 

 portunity for cultivating roots. 



Generally, the weather is very showery for some 

 weeks after the breaking up of winter, so that plough- 

 ing and harrowing are much delayed in consequence of 



