292 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



until the system of thorough-draining be general, it will be 

 advisable to plough early in autumn to the depth of six or eight 

 inches. Throw the land into ridges, that it may receive the 

 frost and air ; and make surface drains to carry of the rains of 

 winter. Plough again in spring, three or four inches deep, so 

 as to preserve the winter surface for the roots of the flax. The 

 spring ploughing should be given some time before sowing, to 

 allow any seeds of the weeds in the land to vegetate, and the 

 harrowing in of the flaxseed will likely kill them, and save a 

 great deal of after weeding. Following the last harrowing, it is 

 necessary to roll, to give an even surface and consolidate the 

 laud, breaking up this again with a short-toothed or seed har- 

 row before sowing, which should be up and down, not across 

 the ridges, or anglewise. These operations can be varied by 

 any skilful farmer, to suit peculiar soils or extraordinary sea- 

 sons. The object is to have clean, fine soil, as like as possible 

 to what a garden soil should be. 

 The rotation we recommend is : — 



RICH SOILS. 



1. Grass. 



2. Oats. 

 .3. Flax. 



4. Potatoes or Turnips. 



5. Wheat. . 



6. Clover Hay. 



7. Pasture. 



AVERAGE SOILS. 



1. Grass. 



2. Oats. 



3. Potatoes or Turnips. 



4. Wheat. 



5. Flax (on half only.*) 



6. Clover Hay. 



POOR SOILS. 



1. Gi-ass. 



2. Oats. 



3. Potatoes. 



4. Flax {on half only.*) 



5. Hay. 



Sowing-. — The seeds best adapted for the generality of soils 

 is Riga, although Dutch has been used in many districts of 

 country for a series of years with perfect success, and generally 

 produces a finer fibre, but not so heavy a 'crop as Riga. In buy- 

 ing seed, select it plump, shining, and heavy, and of the best 

 brands, from a respectable merchant. Sift it clear o£ all the 

 seeds of weeds, which will save a great deal of after trouble, 

 when the crop is growing. This may be done by farmers, and 

 through a wire sieve, twelve bars to the inch. These sieves can 

 be had in Belfast. Home-saved seed has produced excellent 

 crops, yet it will be best, in most cases, to use the seed which is 



* Omit flax in next rotation on this half. 



