98 



deavour to compress this mass of useful information, 

 within a moderate compass. With that view, I shall 

 endeavour briefly to point out the best modes of crop- 

 ping suggested in the course of the inquiry. It must 

 depend upon the judgment of the farmer, to adopt those 

 which are best suited to the climate where he resides, 

 the nature of the soil he cultivates, the size and situation 

 of his farm, and a variety of other circumstances which 

 will necessarily require his attention, In determining 

 which ought to be preferred *. 



Every farmer must be aware, in fixing on his rotations, 

 that it is necessary for him to ascertain, not only the va- 

 rious articles for the production of which his farm is 

 calculated and which are likely to yield him the greatest 

 profit ; but also the succession in which these articles 

 ought to be raised, so as not to diminish the fertility of 

 his soil j or, as Lord Kames has well observed > so to in- 

 termix his crops, as to make the greatest possible profit, 

 consistently with keeping his land in order. 



The subject of judicious rotations, has been very ably 

 touched upon in one of the first reports drawn up for the 

 Board of Agriculture, (that of Huntingdonshire), by Mr 

 Maxwell of Fletton. That intelligent farmer having 

 suggested a course of crops, the propriety of which 

 will be afterwards discussed, very justly remarks, that 

 after all the volumes that have been written on farming, 

 a rational system is the only true groundwork of general 



* Mr Church of Hitchel, remarks, that to adopt a judici- 

 ous mode of cropping, requires a degree of judgment in the 

 occupier, which can only be obtained by experience and ob- 

 servation. Much depends, however, on the manner in which 

 the different processes are executed. The best arranged rota- 

 tion may be of little use, if these are done improperly. 



