296 OF CROPS USUALLY CULTIVATED. 



tried with luccra,t sainfoin, chicory, &c. but not to an ex~ 

 tent entitled to any particular notice. 



The introduction of red clover, was one of the most for- 

 tunate circumstances that could have happened to the hus- 

 bandry of Scotland, more especially since the mode of cut- 

 ting it green for stock, or soiling, has been adopted ; the 

 produce is immense, whilst from the size of its root, which 

 remains in the ground, it does not exhaust, as otherwise 

 would be the case. It is also an excellent preparation for 

 other crops. It is said, that land soon grows tired of clo- 

 ver, but, where that is the case, to any extent, it is to be at- 

 tributed to the want of deep ploughing, one of the princi- 

 pal advantages attending summer-fallow. Clover delights 

 in new soil, in so much, that when it is at first tried, in any 

 ground tolerably fertile, the produce is hardly to be cre- 

 dited. 



The propriety of cultivating rye-grass, is an important 

 subject of discussion. It is certain, that many English 



j- Two experiments have been reported to me of the culture of lucern 

 in Scotland ; one by a proprietor near Edinburgh, who has about three 

 acres of this plant, with which he maintains ten or twelve horses during 

 the summer season ; the other is by Mr Duffin, vinegar merchant at the 

 Abbey. He has had it for several years growing in a plot of his garden ; 

 the plot is not near a rood, and it maintains one horse to him during the 

 summer months : he has three luxuriant cuttings, and an after-cutting in 

 the end of autumn. From the first sowing it grows annually ; it lasts from 

 ten to fourteen years, yielding good crops, and perhaps may remain in 

 vigour much longer. He has tried transplantation, and it answers to his 

 wish, for lucern throws out a number of fresh shoots from its root. It 

 requires to be hoed clean from any other grass or weeds. There cannot 

 be a doubt of its thriving well in Scotland, in rich deep soils, which it 

 requires, as its shoots go far into the ground ; hence a tilly or rocky bot- 

 tom is improper for it. 



