88 On the Agriculture of England ^ Manures^ ^c\ 



would occupy may be filled with other plants, that 

 spring early, and continue growing through every sea- 

 son, until frost has locked up the powers of vegeta- 

 tion. By this means also, grasses suitable for every 

 soil and climate, may be obtained, and the fruitless la- 

 bour of endeavouring to establish such as are not con- 

 genial with either, avoided. Finally, farmers may in 

 this way, as readily become acquainted with the grasses 

 best adapted to their different fields, as they now are 

 with the best grain, roots, &c. 



Although the abolition of naked summer fallows, 

 has unquestionably introduced an immense improve- 

 ment in the agriculture of Great Britain, there can be 

 but little doubt, that the abolition of old grass grounds, 

 and the methods of laying them down, would intro- 

 duce much greater improvement, the extent of which 

 will be found incalculable : for many of the plants 

 growing in them, ripen late in tlie season, others are 

 very diminutive, or are not relished by any kind of 

 stock ; all those, as well as innumerable weeds, 

 which too generally take possession of a considerable 

 proportion of old grass grounds, may be eradicated by 

 a well conducted system of convertible husbandry ; and 

 grounds which have been recently laid down, in a high 

 state of cultivation, with good grasses, suited to the 

 soil and climate, will yield at least double the income 

 which could be obtained from the same grounds, had 

 they continued in old pasture. 



The land holders of Great Britain would have long 

 since seen the value of convertible husbandry, had not 

 their judgments been blinded by the imaginary value 

 of their old grass grounds, for they consider submit- 



