t. 



202 THE PRINCIPLES OF 



carried out by an extensive Wiltshire farmer, who occupied 

 both heavy and light land. By a system similar to this he 

 was able to support his sheep during the summer months 

 upon his clay land, and during the winter months they went 

 on to his lighter land. The system is, however, not free 

 from objection, the principal being that there is too large a 

 proportion of work thrown upon a particular season of the 

 year. When we reflect upon the apportionment of labour we 

 cannot help noticing that such a large proportion of winter 

 vetches, winter wheat, and winter beans must be a heavy 

 tax upon the horse-power of the farm. The whole of these 

 crops depend in a great measure on their being got in in good 

 time. It is no use sowing either wheat or winter vetches too 

 late, especially upon cold lands. To have all this important 

 work thrown upon us during the short period between the 

 end of harvest, and, let us say, the middle of November, forms, 

 I think, rather a solid objection to carrying out this rotation 

 in its entirety. It does not, however, militate against the 

 principle upon which the rotation is constructed, and if the 

 principle is correct, it may be adopted to a certain extent, if 

 not over the entire area of a large farm. 



There is yet another objection to it of a practical character, 

 viz. that in the northern part of England and Scotland 

 it would be difficult to grow vetches, or even trifolium, 

 in conjunction with a succeeding turnip crop. The seasons 

 are later, and vetches would therefore not be ready, while 

 trifolium would be liable to the same objection. A further 

 difficulty arises from the fact that the exigencies of our 

 northern climate seem to require that the root crop should 

 be sown early. Just look at this fact for a moment. In 

 the North of England we always begin swede sowing on 

 the 13th of May, and enterprising farmers I do not say 

 they are right would sometimes get their swedes in before 

 the end of April. Again, it is an axiom in that part of 



