29 



and the further cleaning be effected during the opera- 

 tions required to get the land in condition for plant- 

 ing. However, it is generally found that a ploughing 

 in the spring is most suitable, as the work is more 

 thoroughly done ; and if there are thistles in the land 

 the roots are cut off and they give less trouble after- 

 wards. 



Other Rotations. 



Similar methods should be adopted in any of the 

 rotations where the potato is taken after a corn crop* 

 Where potatoes are taken after a crop of " seeds,' * 

 grass or clover grown in rotation, the treatment varies 

 according to circumstances. If the " seeds " have 

 been down for a lengthened period two or more 

 years the produce in the last year is usually not very 

 heavy ; and as the land has not been subjected to 

 cleaning for a lengthy period it is most often found 

 that couch has taken possession of the ground to some- 

 extent. As there will probably be little growth after 

 the first crop in the season is taken off there will be 

 little waste if the ground is broken up then. This 

 affords an opportunity for giving the land a "bastard" 

 or short fallowing. A late summer fallow of this de- 

 scription possesses most of the advantages of a " dead " 

 fallow without the usual disadvantages. The scorch- 

 ing sun of July and autumn destroys the crop, and if 

 the clods are kept large the couch is killed also. If 

 circumstances permit the couch may be collected and 

 burned, while the roots of the " seeds " will be left in 

 the land to manure it. In preparing the land to face 



