.66 



object, therefore, of tillage is, to bring the ground to 

 that ftate, in which the root can pafs freely in fearch of 

 its proper food, and at the fame time to have fuch a de- 

 gree of firmnefs, as will in its paffage afford the root its 

 necefTary fupport. The land in this county being gene- 

 rally in its quality light loam, and rendered much more 

 fo by a coniiderable quantity of lime, &c. and the idea, 

 that much ploughing breaks the heart of it, being very 

 prevalent, has made me dwell upon this fubject, and 

 endeavour to point out the refult of a defective fyftera 

 of tillage ; the evils of which are fo ably expofed in the 

 writings of the claffical Tull, the father of the horfe- 

 hoeing hufbandry , and who, however he might have 

 erred by adhering too clofely to the idea of tillage 

 without manure, has done more towards explaining 

 the true principles of managing the different foils, thaa 

 any writer on rural affairs, I believe I may fay, in this> 

 or any other country. 



Let us now fee, how far the general practice here 

 agrees with the above-mentioned principles of cultiva- 

 tion. The firfl object with the farmer is, to enrich his 

 ground with lime, marie, or fand ; after this, his next 

 object is, to reap the benefit of his induflry ; accord- 

 ingly he breaks up his ground as foon as it has re- 





 ceived the intended advantage from the manure ; oa 



this he fows oats, which he repeats year after year 

 upx>n one ploughing, until his land, from the quantity 

 of manure and imperfect cultivation, lofes all power of 



production. 



