332 OF ROTATION OF CROPS. 



crop of whatever kind is best suited to the soil, as turnips, 

 tares, or cole-seed, to be hoed, but not to stand for seed ; 

 2. A crop of white corn of the kind best suited to the soil, 

 to be laid down with clover; 3. Clover, either grazed or 

 mowed ; 4. Beans, where suited to the soil, sheep-fed and 

 hoed, or some such meliorating crop adapted to the soil ; 

 5. White corn suited to the soil : f and he contends, that 

 however various our soils, and however different in their 

 nature, the same order or course of cropping ought to be 

 pursued, (fen lands always excepted), changing only the 

 species of our corn and vegetables, and adapting them to 

 the nature of the soil we have to work upon, and the de- 

 mand in the market for the articles that are cultivated. 



It is certain, that by such a state of cropping, a soil of 

 tolerable natural fertility, might not only be supported 

 without foreign aid, but might increase in fertility. Dr 

 Coventry on this subject has well observed, that when 

 crops, intended to ripen, their seed, are objects of culture, 

 there is only wanted a degree of vigour and luxuriance in 

 the plants, sufficient for that purpose ; and if the fertility 

 of the soil be raised to a higher pitch than is necessary, or 

 consistent with that object, injurious, rather than beneficial, 

 effects, may be the consequence. Land may be too rich 

 for corn crops, and it is better to keep it in a well-balanced 

 condition, or in a medium state of productiveness, than in 

 too fertile a condition ; besides, the climate may be unfa- 

 vourable for pulse crops, in which case a second year of 

 herbage would be preferable to beans or peas. 



We shall now proceed to consider the rotation of six 

 crops, which is deservedly a favourite system in Scotland, 



t It is remarked, on this system, that some corn-crop, as oats, ought 

 to follow the clover, and not beans. - 



