FEB.] MARLING. 1O3 



being only a first, or beginning of improvement *, 

 by going on direclly with a course of ploughing, 

 which cannot well be avoided in shiftable fields, it 

 is often buried and lost before it mix properly with 

 the soil, especially if turned in too deep the first 

 earth, of which great care should be taken. I 

 would therefore recommend claying or marling only 

 upon inclosed lands, unless where large breadths 

 lie together, that can be farmed in any manner the 

 occupier pleases ; and in that case (as well as in 

 inclosures,) I would advise that the lands should be 

 laid down with clover, rye-grass, and trefoil, the 

 spring 12 month before laying on the clay or marie, 

 and to remain at least six months after it, that it 

 may have time to sink and eat itself into the flag 

 before it is ploughed up, and then there will be 

 little or no danger in losing it, as it will already be 

 in some measure incorporated with the soil. 



" No pains should be spared to break all the 

 lumps, and get it fine by repeated harrowings and 

 rollings, and having all the stones picked and car- 

 ried away, that the grass may get through as soon as 

 possible, for stock to be grazing upon it, which is 

 the great and finishing improvement ; for, as I ob- 

 served above, claying or marling seldom or never 

 answers where you go on immediately with a course 

 of ploughing in the John-Trott way. 



" In my opinion, as much, or more, depends on 



* An excellent observation. The whole paper is full of truly 

 praUcal knowledge, A. Y. 



H 4 the 



