OCT.] HIRING FARMS. /J77 



state. It is a cold soil, of little profit, except with 

 ;liar management: best when dry 



laid down to sainfoin . 



In general, let him lay it down s a maxim, that 

 strong, harsh, tenacious clay, though it will yield 

 great crops of wheat, is yet managed at so heavy an 

 expence, that it is usually let for more than it is 

 worth. Much money is not often made on such 

 land. The very contrary soil, a light, poor, dry sand, 

 is very often indeed in the occupation of men who 

 have made fortunes. Some permanent manure is 

 usually below the surface, which answers well to 

 carry on : and sheep, the common stock of such 

 soils, is the most profitable sort he can depend on. 



All stiff soils are viewed to most advantage in 

 winter : the general fault of them is wetness, which 

 is in the greatest excess at that season of the year. 

 If the fields are level, and the water stands in the 

 land, notwithstanding the furrows are well ploughed 

 and open, it is a sign that the clay is very stiff,, and of 

 so adhesive a nature as to contain the water like a 

 dish. It is likewise probable, that draining may 

 prove insufficient to cure the natural evil of such 

 land. This kind of soil, likewise, shews itself in the 

 breaking up of stubbles for a fallow ; a very strong 

 draught of cattle is then necessary to vyork it. It 

 breaks up in vast pieces almost as hard as iron. 

 When it is worked fine, it will run like mortar, with a 

 heavy spring or summer shower. These soils will 

 yield very great crops of ^beans and wheat, &c. They 

 must, like others, be cultivated by somebody ; but I 

 would advise every friend of mine to have nothing to 



do 



