IOC 



tity and quality, except in very rare instances, never 

 fails to be the consequence. By frequent repetitions of 

 the same crops, (as Mr Scott of Craiglockhart remarks), 

 the soil loses stamina, which neither manure nor cul- 

 tivation can renovate. Great luxuriance in vegetation 

 can be made to take place, without much real produc- 

 tiveness, as we see where grain is sown on the sites of 

 dunghils *. 



4. To ayoid two white crops in succession, but alter- 

 nately o have white and green crops. To this general 

 rule there is an exception, when old leys are broken up, 

 in which case, two crops of oats ought always to be 

 taken, the second crop being uniformly the best. On 

 this head, an intelligent farmer in Berwickshire ob- 

 serves, that it is impossible to lay down general rules, 

 without modifying them by such circumstances as are 

 often only to be known by real practitioners : and 

 though the system of alternate green and corn crops, is, 

 beyond question, an excellent one in general, deviations 

 from it may sometimes be admitted. 



5. To avoid crops likely to encourage weeds ; and, 

 founded on this principle, Lord Kames objects to the 

 culture of pease, which, if not an extraordinary crop, 

 are apt to foster weeds. If the land has been previous- 

 ly fallowed for wheat, and thus cleared of weeds, pease, 

 after wheat, he thinks, may be hazarded f. 



* Mr Andrew of Tillilumb, near Perth, finds, that if 

 clover is cultivated only once in eight years, the produce is 

 not only about double, but that the succeeding crop of oats is 

 better by two bolls per acre. In regard to crops of wheat, 

 Mr Pringle of Ballcncrief, in East Lothian, remarks, that he 

 does not observe the crops of that grain falling off, though 

 they are more frequently introduced than formerly ; in many 

 instances, once in three years. 



f Gentleman Farmer, p. 143. 



