OF CROPS USUALLY CULTIVATED. 265 



*ame time, by Mr Pringle of Ballencrieff, that in East Lo- 

 thian he does not observe the crops of that grain falling off, 

 though they are more frequently introduced than formerly j 

 in many instances, once in three years. The failure, for four 

 years past, was entirely owing to the coldness and wetness 

 of the weather. 



2. Barky. This species of grain was formerly the great 

 favourite of Scotch farmers, but it is not so much run upon 

 as formerly, since crops of wheat, by the introduction of 

 fallows, have become more certain and productive. By 

 some barley is condemned, as the least advantageous of any 

 of the white crops, being neither so prolific as oats, nor so 

 profitable as wheat. It is remarked, that all crops exhaust 

 the soil, in proportion as they are heavy in grain upon the 

 acre, and produce the least weight of straw, to be convert- 

 ed into manure. Hence barley ought, in general, to be 

 accounted a more severe crop than either wheat or oats, 

 because the straw gives, neither equal food to the animal, 

 nor dung to the earth, and of course is not so profitable to 

 the farmer, unless upon particular soils. It is also contend- 

 ed, that land is not more exhausted by wheat than by bar- 

 ley, if these crops are raised either after fallow or turnips. 

 On the other hand, it is maintained, that though on very 

 strong or very rich land, a greater quantity of oats than of 

 barley may be grown, yet upon good dry land, and after 

 turnips, as much, and in many seasons more barley will be 

 grown than oats ; and on such soils, that barley is found to 

 be more profitable than even wheat, producing from 40 to 

 50, and in some cases even GO bushels per English acre. It 

 is also to be observed, that as great quantities of turnips are 

 left growing in the field, both for cattle and sheep, in the 

 spring, no other grain but barley, can with propriety be 



