198 THE PRINCIPLES OF 



should be brought to a conclusion. Still, the sheep block 

 the way, and when the spring is late we may easily require 

 to fold turnips until the middle of May. In such cases the 

 question arises as to what must be done with our late root 

 land, which according to the Norfolk rotation would naturally 

 come in to late barley. It is here that the Wiltshire rotation 

 conies to our relief. This rotation is much practised in the 

 chalk districts of Hants and Wilts, occupied by the large and 

 well kept flocks of the improved Hampshire Down sheep. 

 It consists in alternating the usual Norfolk four-course with 

 a rotation in which two root crops are taken in succession, 

 followed by two corn crops. It varies according to circum- 

 stances, but may be expressed as follows. First year, winter 

 rye, or other early fodder crop, fed off with sheep, the land 

 being then broken up for a full crop of turnips and swedes, 

 also to be fed upon the land; second year, barley; third 

 year, clover and seeds ; fourth year, wheat ; fifth year, winter 

 vetches, fed and followed by a late crop of turnips; sixth 

 year (after feeding off the late turnips), early turnips, also fed 

 off by sheep ; seventh year, wheat ; eighth year, barley. 



This system may be varied, as for instance by allowing the 

 seeds to remain two years, which would convert the rotation 

 into a nine, or it might be stretched into a ten, years' course. 

 Where adopted it is found to meet the difficulty above 

 pointed out with regard to the latest fed turnips, as these are 

 naturally selected as the site for taking the second turnip 

 crop. It is also a matter of experience that a better sample 

 of malting barley can be grown after wheat, as above indi- 

 cated, than can be grown immediately after a root crop eaten 

 on the land, with addition of hay and purchased foods. 



These rotations may be also varied by the introduction 

 from time to time of sainfoin, which may occupy the ground 

 for from two to six or seven years, thereby giving it a com- 

 plete change. As remarked in another place, sainfoin ought 



