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A custom prevails in this county, and indeed in most others, of 

 subjecting a portion of land to continual tillage, and of interdict- 

 ing the plough on all the other; this originated from improper 

 conduct on the part of the tenant. No sooner is the plough put 

 into his hand, than he uses it without mercy, harrassing the land 

 with constant crops, till its fertility is intirely exhausted. 



The landlord, alarmed at these baneful effects, endeavours to 

 counteract the progress by restraining clauses, and these are indis- 

 criminately applied both to good and bad fanners ; and are consi- 

 dered by the one, as highly necessary , and by the other as exceedingly 

 grievous. 



Were we to advert to the general practice of the tenants, we 

 should be led to justify the caution of the landlord ; but were we to 

 calculate the loss, yearly incurred by such restrictions, we should 

 have cause to regret, that the covetousness of the occupier, should 

 have rendered necessary a conduct, so inimical to the general weal 

 of the kingdom. 



In respect to low meadow land, or very rich pasture, there can 

 be but one opinion, viz. that it should so remain, but it must be al- 

 lowed, that there are in this kingdom large tracts of old grass land, 

 mossy, hide bound, and comparatively speaking, unproductive. Land 

 of this description, might be greatly improved by ploughing, and 

 if the following course of crops, and mode of manuring were 

 adopted, would be left at the end of three years, of double the 

 value it was in the sward. 



i 



ON LIGHT LAND. 



1st. Peas or oats on the ley. 



2d. Vetches fed off, and the land manured with lime or the 

 sheepfold preparatory to turnips. 



3d. Barley and artificial grass-seeds. 



In which let it remain till the grasses fail, and the land again 

 becomes mossy ; then renew the course. 



On 



