340 OF ROTATION OF CROPS. 



rotations ; that is to say, with crops not likely to exhaust 

 the soil. When the late Earl of Findlater began his im- 

 provements in the county of Banff, every field was kept 

 for four or five years in grass, before any white crops were 

 taken from it. The soil was thus enriched, and is now 

 enabled to undergo more severe cropping. Fairlie's ro- 

 tation in Ayrshire was of the same description: the land 

 was pastured with dairy stock for six or nine years; lime 

 was then applied, and three successive crops of oats were 

 taken; then a crop of hay, and afterwards the land was 

 pastured as formerly. This system, though now justly 

 reprobated, was probably suited to the times when it was 

 established, and laid the foundation of the present fertility 

 of Ayrshire. Mr Church of Hitchill observes, that for 

 moderate soils, having no other manure than what they 

 produce, the rotations must at first be extremely gentle, 

 if ever they are intended to be put in a progressive state 

 of improvement. Mr Park of Windy Mains, near Dal- 

 keith, observes, that he is also under the necessity of 

 adopting a gentle rotation, as his land is of very weak 

 quality, originally all outfield, being mostly covered with 

 whins and heath not many years ago. 



2. It is remarked, that near towns, where adventitious 

 manure may be obtained at pleasure, any fixed rotation, 

 to be invariably followed, is not so necessary; on the con- 

 trary, that farmers, in such situations, ought to change the 

 particular articles they cultivate, according as a demand 

 is likely to arise for each, without deviating, however, 

 from the general principle of cultivating alternately green 

 and grain crops. 



3. Mr Drummond of West Bank, in the Carse of Gow- 

 rie, has tried flax on strong lands, as a preparation for 

 wheat, but he found that flax is by no means a sure crop 

 in that description of soil, and that the succeeding crops 

 were very deficient, although the ground got more ma- 



