S2O OP ROTATION OF CROPS. 



nine bolls per acre j that might be ascribed, however, to a 

 season peculiarly unfavourable. There is no evidence of 

 diminished fertility in the field, for in August 1810 it was 

 covered with a luxuriant crop of turnips. It was perfectly 

 free from couch-grass, and rooted perennial weeds, which 

 are now in a great measure extirpated by hoeing and weed- 

 ing, but it is still much infested with annual weeds, parti- 

 cularly the wild mustard and radish, which may be impu- 

 ted to the use of Edinburgh dung, stored, from inatten- 

 tion, with the seeds of these, and other injurious plants, 

 which the richness of the soil brings both speedily and 

 universally to vegetate. Dr Stuart adds, that the quantity 

 of produce from the above rotation has not diminished, but 

 that, owing to unfavourable seasons, both the wheat and 

 beans have degenerated in quality ; and on this account, 

 though the result might not be thought unfavourable by 

 many, he would not adopt it, if he had a larger space of 

 land on his farm calculated for wheat. 



It is evident, that it is only in the richest loams, or most 

 fertile soils, or where manure is plentiful, that such a rota- 

 tion is at all practicable, and it is only under such circum- 

 stances that it is ever attempted. 



Three Years Rotation. We shall next proceed to consi- 

 der a rotation of three crops, and finding no instance of the 

 sort in Scotland, it may not be improper, to give an exam- 

 ple adopted by a native of Scotland, Mr Arbuthnot, who 

 farmed in Surry. That respectable gentleman, aud most 

 Mitelligent farmer, practised, for nine years, a three-course 

 system, viz. 1. Beans; 2. Wheat; 3. Clover, and when he 

 quitted the farm where that plan was followed, he was fully 

 persuaded, that he could have continued the same rotation 

 for many years longer. This, however, was effected by 

 means of London dung, which he had at command, and 



