1 10 Extracts. [August, 



amount of profits arising therefrom. Any crop, therefore, that can 

 be raised upon a fallow, between the first of June and wheat seed 

 time, say before the middle of October, will be so much clear gain; 

 and, what is of equal importance, the land itself will be less ex- 

 hausted by bearing a green shady crop, than it would be lying 

 idle for two or three months, exposed to the parching sun. 



On some of the light gravelly soils in the south of England, 

 and where the fallowing is soon completed, the farmers have a 

 custom of sowing brank to shade the land, and as a preparation 

 for wheat. This plant is so rapid in growth, and so quickly ar- 

 rives at perfection, that though a native of India, it may be suc- 

 cessfully cultivated in Siberia, where the summer continues only 

 three months; if sown, therefore, in the beginning of June in this 

 country, the crop is usually in the barn or rick-yard some time in 

 October. The straw is of no use as fodder, and makes but poor 

 litter, the whole plant being so succulent, that it is quickly de- 

 composed, whether in the earth or air. The plant is most impa- 

 tient of frost, the least degree being fatal to it during growth. In 

 favorable seasons, however, it yields three or foiu'-quarteis of grain 

 per acree, the price varying with that of barley, and is eagerly 

 purchased by distillers. 



But there is another much more useful fodder plant, which 

 may be raised on a wheat fallow, and within the same period as 

 is required for brank, namely, three or four months; and to re- 

 commend which to the notice of live stock farmers, is the princi- 

 pal object of this communication. 



This plant is no other than the common trefoil, which when 

 the fallow is completed early, say beginning of June, let a liberal 

 quantity (8 or 10 lbs. per acre), be sown on a well pulverised sur- 

 face, tined in, and rolled down smooth. If the soil be somewhat 

 moist, or soon afterward refreshed with showers, the plants will 

 quickly appear and cover the ground, and be ready to fold off in 

 good time. 



A friend of mine, a most intelligent and successful farmer and 

 grazier in Es'-cx, has this last summer tried for the first time the 

 trefoil at my instigation. A few days ago, I requested to know 

 how it turned out; his answer now before me is in the following 

 words: — " The weather was so very dry, I did not sow till the 

 third week in June, and I think we had no rain till quite the lat- 

 ter end of that month. Soon afterwards, the plants came up and 

 flourished quite equal to my expectation, and afforded abundant 

 keep both for beasts and sheep ; and, moreover, formed a firm and 

 wholesome seed-bed for the wheat, in a field which was always 

 before too light for wheat after a fallow." 



Here, then, we have proof, that when light land requires a fal- 

 low for wheat, a kindly preparation may be made for it by taking 



