72 AGRICULTURE. 



CHAPTER VIII. 







OP A ROTATION OP CROPS, AND THE PRINCIPLES ON 

 WHICH IT IS FOUNDED. 



To this branch of our subject we invite particu- 

 lar attention ; because, in our opinion, it forms the 

 basis of all successful agriculture. Whatever pains 

 we take, whatever expenses we incur, in collecting 

 instruments of husbandry, in accumulating and ap- 

 plying manures, and in tilling the earth, all is to 

 little purpose, unless to these we superadd a succes- 

 sion of [crops, adapted to the nature of the soil, to the 

 laws of the climate, and to the physical character and 

 commercial value of the article raised. Pease will 

 vegetate on wet cotton, and wheat in pure sand ; 

 Indian corn will grow in high northern latitudes, 

 and the apple may be found near the equator. We 

 have seen sainfoin struggling in wet clay, and aquat- 

 ic plants on the top of an arid mountain ; but all 

 indicated the violence done to nature, and present- 

 ed only specimens diminutive in bulk and deficient 

 in quality. The influence of markets on the value 

 of produce is as little to be denied as that of soil 

 and climate. In the neighbourhood of great cities 

 table vegetables are of much more value than wheat 

 or rye ; but, remote from markets, wheat and rye 

 have the advantage, because, being more valuable in 

 proportion to bulk and weight, they bear better the 

 expense of transportation. 



With this general view of the subject, we pro- 

 ceed to examine, 1st, the practice of Europe ; and, 

 3d, the rotation best adapted to our own soil, merid- 

 ian, and markets. And, 



1st. Of the practice of Europe. 



