TO TURN GRASS LAND INTO ARABLE. 269 



Very thin chalk soil which exhibits the naked rock, or coarse debris of 

 the rhalk, on or very near the surface. 



Deep moist running sands that cannot be conveniently drained, should 

 be trenched and planted. 



Poor clay soils, on a cold-bottomed retentive subsoil, and northern 

 aspect. 



Very poor ferruginous sands which are covered with heath, unless in 

 peculiar circumstances. 



Rich feeding pastures. 



Water-meadows, and those that can by any likely means be converted 

 into water-meadows. 



Fine rich alluvial pastures and meadows. 



Accommodation lands near towns. 



Dairy farms near towns : lands which are occupied for the purpose of 

 supplying the inhabitants with milk. 



Rich pasture lands. 



Lands which are liable to floods. If converted into arable, the best 

 portion of the soil would be in danger of being swilled away. 



Lands adjoining and near to the homestead. This rule is frequently 

 violated on the chalk. 



Salt marshes ; and doubts may arise about other marshes : locality, 

 and facility for draining them, will best determine their eligibility. 



Very stiff clay that would require to be summer fallowed for wheat. 

 Small portions for spade culture may be excepted. Such lands may be 

 much improved in pasture by draining, and occasional swUlings with 

 liquid manure ; and frequent dressings with soil, rubbish, road-scrap- 

 ings, &.C., made into compost, and spread over them when practicable. 



Elevation of Lauds above the Jecel oj" the Sea to ho 

 considered. 



Lands mucli elevated, apparently possessing- the qualities 

 "wliicli would in other situations determine their elig'ibilit}', 

 Avould not answer, because of the crops not ripening- in a 

 kind and natural manner. I should hesitate to convert any 

 land into arable raised more than 1000 feet above the sea, 

 unless the aspect was favourable, and the locality not farther 

 north than the 5;3rd degree of north latitude. When situated 

 at or beneath this level, aspect will assist us a little in our 

 choice. Thus, if we have two fields at an elevation of 1000 

 feet, one with a southern aspect, sloping- away at a g-entle 

 ang-le, and the other with a northern aspect, also sloping* 

 away with a moderate ang-le, and we wish to convert one of 

 them into arable, our choice would naturally fall on the field 

 with a southern aspect, because, at this critical point, aspect 

 alone mig-lit be suHicient to turn the balance. Corn grown 

 ahove the heig'ht of 1000 feet is uncertain of producing- g-ood 

 grain : hence, to break up lands much elevated, unless 

 something local sanctioned the proceeding, would be to 



