33 MAKLIXG. [JAN. 



year of fallow ibr this work, because they think 

 it is better clone in summer than in winter, 

 and while the land is in fallow than when under 

 clover, though that clover be fed. If this be 

 really the fact, it probably depends not only on 

 the land being dry, by which means it admits cart- 

 ing of the straw and bushes, but also because the 

 sun and air have the effect, by drying the earth or 

 the sides of the cuts, to avoid that plastering which 

 the action of the spade has in digging them in wet 

 weather, and by which they are apt afterwards to 

 bleed through the pores less freely. There may be 

 something in this. Other farmers do the work in 

 winter, partly because they have a better opportu- 

 nity, on flat fields, of seeing how the drains draw, 

 as it is termed ; and partly because at that season 

 labourers are easier to be had. But poaching the 

 surface upon arable land is an objection. It seems 

 on every account to be desirable, that such soils as 

 well as others, and whether the work be done in 

 winter or summer, should he drained while in grass, 

 by which means poaching is avoided, and if the 

 surface turf be tough, it gives an opportunity oi 

 making sod drains, which are cheaper than filling 

 them either with bushes or straw. 



MARLING. 



The marie and clay carts may work all this 

 month. This is so important an object, that too 

 much attention cannot be given to it, nor can a 

 great breadth of land be thus manured, if the teams 

 and men assigned to it be not employed regularly 



the 



