324? OF ROTATION OF CROPS. 



treraely anxious to ascertain, not only the details of this 

 system, but also whether the plan, when persevered in, 

 continued to be productive, I procured the following par- 

 ticulars regarding it, from Mr Hume of East Barns, and 

 Mr Rennie of Oxwell Mains, two respectable farmers, by 

 whom it is adopted. They informed me, that some devia- 

 tions were occasionally made from the plan, (but not such 

 as to alter the general system), by cultivating, on rich spots, 

 peas, or beans, or potatoes, in lieu of turnips, and by ha- 

 ving three green crops in succession, when the soil is much 

 subjected to the growth of annual weeds, or requires to be 

 refreshed. It would appear, however, that without a good 

 climate, such as they enjoy in the lower part of East-Lo- 

 thian, and great quantities of sea-ware, or other adventi- 

 tious manure, it would be perfectly impossible to continue 

 such a rotation. The quantity and sorts of dung usually 

 applied, is, to the amount of about thirty double horse cart- 

 loads per Scotch acre, to the land intended for turnips, 

 whereas not more than one-half that quantity is given by 

 the majority of farmers, and in many instances not more 

 than twelve such carts. The turnips are always eaten on 

 the ground by sheep, which is, (where the situation will ad- 

 mit of it), by far the best and cheapest method. The same 

 quantity of dung or sea-weed is also applied on the grass 

 land before ploughing. It is found, that applying the sea- 

 weed early in spring, on the clover to be cut, if laid on in 

 dry weather, answers well for the succeeding crop of wheat. 

 Notwithstanding, however, all these advantages, Mr Hume, 

 in a recent communication, informs me, that he is now 

 fully satisfied, that wheat will not grow with success, on light 

 Jands, every other year, for any length of time". After prac- 

 tising it for fourteen years, though by the force of manure, 

 he could grow abundance of straw every other year, yet the 

 grain at length turned out liker rye than wheat. He has 



