34 



given number of years, a much greater amount of valuable 

 produce can be obtained from the same land than by any 

 other method. 



All grain crops are known to be exhausting, but green 

 crops, such as potatoes, turnips, grass, &c., are fertilizing. 

 By alternating these therefore and allowing a fertilizing 

 crop to succeed an exhausting one, the land is kept in the 

 best state ; until, at the end of a certain period, it becomes 

 necessary again to renew its vigour by a fresh application of 

 manure. 



The period when this new application of manure is con- 

 sidered necessary by the agriculturist, is the hinge on 

 which all rotations depend. It is not that particular crops 

 are varied in a certain succession during a certain num- 

 ber of years, that constitutes a scientific rotation, but the 

 number and kinds of crops that are grown between the 

 periods of manuring land. 



During eighteen years, the following series of crops 

 might be pursued with success : 



1. Potatoes. 7. Turnips. 



2. Wheat. 8. Barley. 



3. Clover. 9. llye-grass for cutting. 



4. Grass. 10. Grass. 



5. Ditto. 11. Ditto. 



6. Oats. 12. Oats. 



It would not, however, be correct to call this an eighteen 

 years' rotation, for if it be attentively examined, it will 

 be perceived that it is only a modified sexennial rotation ; 

 that at the end of each period of six years, the land is 

 manured, viz. 1st, for potatoes; 2nd, for turnips; 3rd, 

 for beans ; and that though the individual crops be altered, 

 yet one uniform system is pursued in each period, and 

 grain crops and green crops regularly alternated within 

 each interval. Inadvertence to this point has introduced 

 confusion into many works professedly on scientific agri- 

 culture. Rotations have been described and recommended 

 as six year and eight year, which were in reality only a three 

 or four year rotation doubled, or a modification of either. 



A skilful farmer, in arranging the rotation he means to 



13. Beans. 



14. Wheat. 



15. Flax. 



16. Clover. 



17. Grass. 



18. Oats. 



