FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 93 



ed, by one where the use of both the plough and the hoe 

 is necessary. The hoed crops, in this case, are relied 

 on as being sufficient for the purpose of eradicating the 

 seeds, and roots, of weeds. 



The Writer, however, of the article AGRICULTURE, in 

 the late edition of the Edinburg Encyclopedia^ contends, in 

 part, for a different practice. He admits that light dry 

 soils, such, for instance, as constitute the county of Norfolf, 

 in Greatbritain, may be successfully cultivated without the 

 intervention of a Summer fallow ; but he insists that this part 

 of husbandry cannot be well dispensed with, in all the stiff 

 and cold soils which abound in that island ; that in these an 

 effectual Summer- fallowing is essentially requisite, as often 

 as once in every four, six, or eight years, according to the 

 nature of the soil ; not only for the purpose of cleansing it 

 of the roots, and seeds, of weeds ; but also to counteract the 

 stiffness and sourness which such soils acquire, when yearly 

 tilled with crops. 



It is believed that this Writer has the most correct 

 notion of the culture most suitable to his Country : But it 

 should be remembered, that the climate of Greatbritain is 

 essentially different from that of every part of this Country ; 

 our Summers being much warmer, and our atmosphere 

 much drier. Nor do the cold and stiff soils, which com- 

 pose three-fourths of that Island, abound much in the 

 United States ; though most in its more northerly parts. 



We have more of the light, and of the warm dry, soils. 

 Still, however, though our soils and our climates differ es- 

 sentially from those of the Country in question, it must, 

 nevertheless, be admited, that our hard, and our heavy, 

 soils, stiff particularly, are much improved by an effectual 

 Summer-fallowing ; that those of the two latter descriptions 

 will probably, at certain intervals, require this mode of cul- 

 ture, for pretty much the same reasons that it is found neces- 

 sary there ; and that even our best arable soils will, at times, 

 require it, lor the purpose of cleansing them, until such time 

 as we learn to destroy the growth of weeds, among the 

 hoed crops, by a more effectual cultivation. 



But, admiting that in our lands, of the latter description, 

 more pains were taken, with the hoe, and otherwise, to 

 eradicate the growth of weeds, and to prevent any from 

 going to seed; it is contended, that, with a suitable rotation 

 of crops, Summer-fallowing such lands would never be 

 found necessary, for any profitable purpose. 



There is no doubt that good arable soils will be consider- 

 ably fertilized by this mode of culture, where it is effectu- 

 ally performed, by repeated ploughings, and harrowings: 

 But, taking into account a year's rent of the ground, which 

 is thus lost, it is too expensive for the mere purpose of 



