THE PRINCIPLES OF ENGLISH AGRICULTURE. 161 



year after year. Therefore we have a different condition of 

 tilings to what we meet with in ordinary farming. In con- 

 tinuous corn growing there are precisely the same require- 

 ments on the part of the plant ; there is precisely the same 

 character of root distribution; there is precisely the same 

 period of active vegetation, and in this respect such experi- 

 ments differ very materially from agriculture as ordinarily 

 carried out. 



Let me remind you of the immense effect produced by 

 farmyard manure when applied to the root crop, whether 

 mangel-wurzel, turnips or swedes, and let me also point out 

 that an examination of the results obtained at Rothamsted 

 will show weakness in the matter of the application, of 

 various fertilizers to the leguminosse, including the clovers. 

 It is exceedingly difficult to produce a definite result upon 

 the leguminosse by the use of any phosphatic, potassic, or 

 nitrogenous application, and yet I appeal to any good farmer 

 in England to bear me out in saying that a thoroughly good 

 mucking will produce a most marked effect upon the clover 

 crop. I have seen it many times, and although it may be 

 difficult to produce figures to prove it, yet I have not the 

 least doubt that if you want a really heavy cut of red clover, 

 or of any other clover, the way to do it is to have plenty 

 of dung below it. 



Let us briefly consider the structure of a rotation of crops. 

 Roots followed by barley, barley followed by clover, clover 

 followed by wheat. The first of these crops is greatly and 

 especially benefited by applications of dung ; the good crop 

 of turnips or swedes so obtained when fed upon the land is 

 sure to be followed by an excellent crop of wheat, barley, or 

 oats, as the case may be. The fertility left in the ground, 

 subsequently secures a good crop of clover. The clover roots 

 descend deep into the soil, the clover stems rise above the 

 soil. You cut your clover for a hay crop, and after feeding 



