TO TURN GRASS LAND INTO ARABLE. 263 



The mustard is to be eaten off with sheep in folds, and the land imme- 

 diately plouglied, dragged, harrowed, and then turnips are to be drilled with 

 the remaining ashes. Of course, between the time of sowing the mustard 

 on the lightest part, and its being eaten off with the sheep, the strongest 

 portion will be cultivated and drilled with Swedes. Both the turnips and 

 Swedes will be eaten off with sheep in folds ; the turnips first, and the 

 Swedes afterwards, and sown with wheat, unless circumstances render it 

 desirable to reserve them until nearer spring, in which case the land will 

 be sown with barley ; but the former plan of sowing wheat is most usually 

 practised. This method has been adopted by him on other lands be- 

 fore, and he has always had abundance of green crops and turnips, and 

 plenty of good corn afterwards. 



Case 8. 



Another farmer very close to me, and whose operations I have watched 

 with considerable interest, in the spring of 1844 broke up about 7 acres of 

 land, situate on the forest-marble clay, with a covering of darkened soil 

 8 or 9 inches deep. After paring and burning, part of the ashes was re- 

 moved to other parts of the farm, and drilled with turnips. This piece 

 produced a large cjuantity of ashes, and the portion which was left behind 

 formed a thickish covering for the land. It was ristbalk-ploughed, with a 

 thin furrow, and left for a month exposed to the influence of the atmo- 

 sphere. It was then dragged across and harrowed to pieces, and in June, 

 plouglied with a clean furrow and sown with turnips, and aftervv'ards 

 rolled down. The turnips were an excellent crop, certainly more than 25 

 tons to the acre, which were nearly all eaten oft" on the land in September 

 and November, a few being taken home and consumed in the stalls. The 

 land was afterwards sown with wheat, and there is a very excellent pros- 

 jsect of a crop. The plant looks exceedingly healthy. 



Case 9. 



Although the last party alluded to succeeded to his " heart's content," 

 the following is a more signal instance of that success which, with favour- 

 able seasons and opportunity, reward the activity and perseverance of 

 intelligent men. This farmer has, in the years 1844 and 1845, broken up 

 more than 40 acres of very poor pasture-land, situated on the forest- 

 marble clay, some of very tenacious character, with a depth of C or 7 

 inches of soil on the top. These lands were first well dramed at the 

 expense of the landowner. The cost was nearly 4/. 4s. an acre, exclusive 

 of hauling, which was performed by the tenant, who also superintended 

 the workmen. He pared, and burned, and cropped the greater portion of 

 it, after the manner of the last party referred to, and succeeded fully as 

 well, if not better. A portion of this land which here more particularly 

 claims our notice, was managed otherwise, with complete success. Instead 

 of letting it remain idle for a month, exposed to the atmosphere, he 

 determined on sowing it, as scon as the sods were burnt, with white mustard. 

 This was done immediately, drilling it thick, IG lb. to the acre, with a 

 portion of the ashes, leaving a portion for the intended succeeding crop, 

 half of the whole quantity, which was large, having been hauled away to 

 other lands. The mustard succeeded wonderfully. In less than five 

 weeks, it was ready for the sheep to eat off. The land was immediately 

 plou"-hed up, dragged, and turnips drilled witli ashes. The turnips were 

 an excellent crop ; they were, in their turn, eaten off with sheep in Sep- 

 tember and November ; the land was then ploughed and sown with wheat, 

 which, as may be supposed, is very promising. 



