CHAPTER XXV 

 FALLOWING 



THE practice of fallowing, that is, of keeping the land 

 for a longer or shorter period uncropped but cultivated, 

 was once very prevalent. It was based, in part, on the 

 belief that the soil needs an interval of rest during which 

 to prepare itself for the future work of crop-production. 

 Farming experience seemed to bear out this conception, 

 for uncropped lands apparently regained a portion of 

 the fertility of which they had been robbed by preceding 

 harvests. Fallowing thus became indispensible in the 

 growing of crops and was strongly recommended by 

 Roman writers. 



The check given to European civilization by the 

 disruption of the Roman empire extended its baneful 

 effects to agricultural practice. This made but scant 

 progress for centuries. The best thought and effort, 

 whatever they may have been in those days, were de- 

 voted to anything but farming. The raising of crops 

 became the work of an ignorant and down-trodden peas- 

 antry, who, living, as they did, in economic and political 

 slavery, cared but little for the soil and its welfare. The 

 noble lords were concerned more about the chase and 

 the arts of war, and seldom hesitated to run their horses 

 and dogs through a field of waving grain. 



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