LAN 



OR, BOTANICAL DICTIONARY. 



.LAN 



11 



econd, where the soil and the subsoil are absorbent, but 

 the base repellent or absorbent. The third, where the absor- 

 bent and repellent strata, or masses, are thrown together 

 irregularly, or not disposed in regular strata, which corre- 

 spond with the surface or upper part. Third Class. This 

 comprises such lands as are liable not only to surface-waters, 

 but to those which are subterrene, and which either descend 

 from higher grounds in their respective neighbourhoods, or 

 rise beneath them from subjacent reservoirs ; the absorbent 

 strata of this class being closed, and thereby rendered reten- 

 tive, as in the second class or kind of land. The varieties 

 of which are, first, where the soil is absorbent or repellent; 

 the substrata absorbent and closed, and uniformly charged 

 with descending waters by an even stratum of gravel, free- 

 sand, or some other similar material. The second, where 

 the same soil and substrata are partially charged with de- 

 scending waters, through veins of sand, or gravel, or fissures 

 of rock, &c. The third, where the soil is repellent or 

 absorbent, the subsoil absorbent and closed, and uniformly 

 charged with descending waters; the base repellent, with a 

 sub-base freely absorbent and open. The fourth, where the 

 soil is absorbent or repellent, the substrata uniformly absorb- 

 ent and closed, and charged with rising waters. And the 

 fifth, where the soil is repellent or absorbent, the substrata 

 complex and closed, and charged with rising and descending 



waters. Observations. It is sufficiently evident, from 



various circumstances in the management of lands, that some 

 sorts are much better calculated for the production of grain- 

 crops than those of the grass kinds; while, on the contrary, 

 others are much more suitable and better adapted to the 

 raising of grass than corn ; and that there are still others that 

 may be cultivated under a convertible system of corn and 

 grass, with more success than with either crop separately. 

 All those lands which possess a sufficient degree of dryness, 

 whether they have much depth of mould or not, and which 

 in their natural state have but little tendency to produce 

 good herbage ; such as those covered with different sorts of 

 coarse plants and vegetable productions, whether in an open 

 or inclosed state, are proper for tillage. And it has been well 

 observed by Mr. Davis, that grounds of this nature are of 

 considerably more value when in a state of tillage than in 

 pasture, as they are particularly adapted to the improved 

 methods of cultivation ; and, in addition to the quantity of 

 grain to be produced from them, will afford a greater quantity 

 of food for animal stock, when in a tillage state, than they 

 did when kept entirely in that of pasture or sward. The same 

 writer likewise states, that there are various other descriptions 

 of light lands that may be kept in a state of tillage with more 

 advantage than in that of grass, as they are peculiarly suited 

 to those improved methods of cultivation that are necessary 

 for raising large supplies of green food for the support of 

 live-stock of different kinds. That the poorer sorts of sand 

 lands, where marl, clay, chalk, or other similar substances, 

 can be readily procured, are much more proper for the pur- 

 poses of tillage than those of grass, is sufficiently shown by 

 the improvements that have been made in many of the more 

 southern districts of the kingdom ; and that lands of the 

 chalky kind, whether of the more superficial or deep descrip- 

 tions, are in most cases better suited for tillage than grass, 

 is proved from their wetness in the winter season, and their 

 openness and friability in the summer, rendering it almost 

 impossible to establish good herbage upon them. Besides 

 these, there is another sort of land that is better for the pur- 

 poses of tillage than those of grass, which is that which, in 

 the state of grass, is constantly so disposed to the production 

 of moss, as to afford but a very scanty share of good herbage 

 VOL. n. 67. 



in any circumstances. It has been stated by the author of 

 Practical Agriculture, that most of the clayey and more 

 heavy descriptions of land, especially when situated in valleys 

 or other low confined exposures, though they may be capable 

 of affording good crops of particular kinds when under the 

 plough, as those of the wheat and bean kind, are, on account 

 of the retention of moisture, the increased expenses of labour, 

 and the uncertainty of season for tilling them, as well as 

 their inaptitude for most other sorts of crops, and their fit- 

 ness for the production of good herbage, much more bene- 

 ficial in the state of grass than in that of tillage. When there 

 is an opportunity of procuring sea-sand, and of applying it at 

 an easy expense, they may, however, be converted to the 

 purposes of tillage in a profitable manner. Most of those 

 strong cold grass-lands which, in a state of tillage, would be 

 improper for the growth of Turnips, and other applications of 

 improved cultivation, should also constantly remain in a state 

 of grass : those lands likewise that are situated near large 

 towns, where manure is plentiful, and of course procured at 

 a reasonable rate, and where the produce of such land is 

 always in great demand, and therefore capable of being dis- 

 posed of to great advantage. Such lands as are situated on 

 the banks of large rivers or brooks, which are capable of 

 improvement by watering, are likewise more beneficial when 

 kept constantly under the grass system, than any other mode 

 of cultivation that can be practised. The lands of a calca- 

 reous nature, which are distributed in the valleys of the more 

 mountainous districts, where old grass-land is scarce and of 

 much importance, and most pait of that in the state of tillage 

 incapable of being converted to the condition of good grass, 

 may be the most advantageous when continued in a perma- 

 nent state of herbage. But the sorts of land that are most 

 adapted to the practice of convertible husbandry, are those 

 of the loamy kinds, which are not too strong for the growth 

 of Turnips. These, in all their different varieties, are capable 

 of being changed from the state of tillage to that of grass, 

 and the contrary, not only without sustaining any injury, 

 but frequently with the most evident advantage, as the prac- 

 tice of some of the western and midland districts has fully- 

 proved. The richer kinds of sandy lands are generally well 

 suited to this sort of husbandry, especially where marl is 

 at hand, to be applied at the time of laying them down to 

 grass. Grounds of the peaty sort may likewise, in many cases, 

 be the most beneficially employed in this mode of culture, 

 as, from their producing little else than plants of the aquatic 

 kind, it is obvious that they must be completely destroyed, 

 and those of the proper grass kind be introduced, before 

 any useful herbage can be produced. And this is capable of 

 being accomplished in by much the most perfect manner 

 under the state of tillage. But as they are in most instances 

 much too tender and moist for the purpose of remaining long 

 in the state of tillage, as soon as the above intention has been 

 fully effected they should be restored to the state of perma- 

 nent grass, either as meadows or pasture-lands. 



Lantuna ; a genus of the class Didynamia, order Angio- 

 spermia. GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix : perianth one- 

 leafed, very short, converging, obscurely four-toothed, tubu- 

 lar. Corolla: one-petalled, nearly equal ; tube cylindric, 

 slender, longer than the calix, rather oblique ; border flat, 

 unequally four-cleft, obtuse. Stamina: filamenta four, very 

 small, placed in the midst of the tube of the corolla, very 

 slender, of which two are a little higher ; antheree roundish. 

 Pistil: germen roundish; style filiform, short; stigma 

 refracted, sharp downwards like a hook, and as it were 

 obliquely growing to the tip of the style. Pericarp: drupe 

 roundish, one-celled. Seed: nut round-pyramidal, three- 

 D 



