CHAPTER V 



UNSOUND SYSTEMS OF TILLAGE 



In actual practice there are, at the present time, very 

 few districts where the Norfolk, or Lord Townshend 

 rotation, is strictly adhered to. The Norfolk rotation 

 is, as is well-known, a four year rotation, consisting 

 of:— 



1st Year, — Winter-sown wheat; 



2nd Year, — Roots; 



3rd Year, — Spring barley with seeds; 



4th Year, — Seeds, hay. 



The general modifications which have been made 

 in the Norfolk rotation consist mainly of a sub- 

 stitution of different varieties of cereals for winter 

 wheat and spring barley. In the Northern districts 

 of England, Scotland, and Ireland generally, spring- 

 sown oats have replaced the two last-named cereals. 

 It is also more usual nowadays to extend the rotation 

 to a five, six, or seven-year course, leaving the land 

 a second or third year in grass, generally in pasture. 

 Since roots are only grown once in the rotation, the 

 proportionate area under these crops has decreased. 



On this question of roots we shall have more to 

 say later, but, apart from the climatic and labour 

 difficulties previously indicated, the writer argues 

 that, except in districts of low rainfall and light soil, 

 such as prevails on the Eastern coast of England, it 

 is not economically possible or profitable to revive 

 tillage on the Norfolk system, or on its present-day 

 modifications. 



