QCA TO TURN GRASS LAND INTO ARABLE. 



I could select a, multitude of instances of failure and of 

 success, but it would be useless to multii)ly cases. It will 

 be evident that the safest plan is always to let the first crop 

 he a g'reen ci-op, eaten off with sheep, by which the soil be- 

 comes pulverized and consolidated, otherwise it will scarcely 

 l3ear a profitable crop of corn. When a corn crop is taken 

 first, there is great dang-er of the crop failing-, in consequence 

 of hollowness produced by the tough nature of the under- 

 turf, Avhich atmospheric influences alone during* the first 

 year's crop fail to disintegrate. If the plants be not blown 

 out of the ground altogether in the spring by winds, and a 

 sufficient uTimber escape the ravages of insects and the wire- 

 Avorm, yet without consolidation by the treading of the sheep 

 "vvhile eating off the previous green crop, a large quantity of 

 straw is produced, which from its weight in a green state, 

 and from the s})ongy texture of the soil, is very often laid, 

 and the yield of corn very far short of the expectation of the 

 farmer. But this state of things scarcely ever follows tlie 

 eating oft' of the green crop, therefore we may at once decide 

 that it would always be the best plan, first, to take green 

 crops, which of course will vary Avith the nature of the soil ; 

 turnips on light lands, Swedes on a stronger soil, and rape 

 on ])eaty soils. Should circumstances render it desirable to 

 break up lands in autumn, August would be a suitable time 

 Ijefore harvest commenced. "White mustard should be drilled 

 rather thick, which in about a month will be ready for the 

 sheep. It should be eaten off" on the land, Avhicli will be 

 effected in good time for wheat. The treading of the sheep 

 will break dovv-n the sods, and the land Vv-ill plough up in a 

 much mellower yet firmer state than it wouhl have done 

 without the green crop. Shoidd any one venture to break 

 iqi land, and to sow wheat without the intervention of a 

 green crop, probably folding the sheep on the wheat, in the 

 following spring, will be a means of saving the crop. This I 

 have repeatedly seen done, and in some instances Avith much 

 advantage. 



It has been a ciistom for many years, on breaking- uji 

 SAvard land, to commence the operation Avith i)aring and 

 burning. This practice scarcely requires further experiment^ 

 to establish it as an essential preliminary. The burning- 

 kills insects that Avould otherAvise devour the turnips and tJie 

 succeeding Avheat, it destroys the roots and seeds of Aveeds, 

 and reduces to ashes the turf that Avould cover the land in the 

 shape of loose sods, and render it too hollow for Avheat after 



