122 GRASSES FOR ALTERNATE HUSBAXDRY. [MARCH. 



Tliis alternate husbandry appears to be well un- 

 derstood in Northumberland. " By means of 

 three years grasses depastured with sheep, the land 

 will grow good crops of oats, which they could 

 never get it to do under their old system. Soil, 

 sandy, and dry light loams." Report, p. (Jl. 

 " Various systems have been tried in Northumber- 

 land, particularly the boasted course of, 1. Turnips ; 

 2. Barley; 3. Clover; 4. Wheat; till the crops 

 have evidently declined, particularly the turnips 

 and clover ; and the only means of restoring such 

 lands, have been the system of three years arable, 

 and three years grass depastured h/ s'tcrp. By this 

 mode, Nature has time to prepare a sufficient lea- 

 clod, which, being turned up for the turnip-fallow, 

 will ensure a vigorous crop of turnips, as it is well 

 known that they always flourish upon fresh land, 

 or where they find the remains of a lea-clod to ve- 

 getate in. The portion that is kept in grass for 

 three years, breeds and fattens such a number of 

 sheep, as leave a considerable profit, probably 

 equal, if not more than the arable crops, the yearly 

 profit of a sheep being estimated at not less than 

 !2Os. to uOs. six or eight of which, an acre of 

 clover will fatten, and an acre of turnips about 

 double the number." This is to the credit of the 

 Northumberland drill system, or the soil must be 

 very extraordinary. " By this system arc obtained 

 (IK- principal advantages of folding, without any of 

 its inconveniences ; for if, on an aver;- 



The 





