Soil. 27 



The great abject, however, is, to adopt the most proper 

 management of fen or peaty lander hay crops ; and here it 

 is proper to mention a modern discovery of great moment. 

 It is ascertained, that by suffering the second crop of grass, 

 that might often with difficulty be converted into hay, to rot 

 upon the ground, an immense produce of hay is ensured for 

 the succeeding year, and that fen land may thus become a 

 perpetual hay meadow. This important fact is corroborated 

 by some experiments which have been tried near Oudenarde 

 in Flanders, where the same effect has been produced, by 

 leaving the second crop on the ground every second or 

 third year : the grass produced the succeeding year, being 

 of extraordinary length ( 90 ). 



In Ireland, the improvement of peaty soils, from their 

 immense extent, is an object of peculiar importance; and the 

 greater part of them are capable of producing very valuable 

 crops of roots or grain. Where the peat can be mixed with 

 clay, by converting a portion of both into ashes, a crop of 

 rape may be procured, along with which grass seeds may be 

 sown ; but great care must be taken, where that plan is 

 adopted, to prevent the land from being injured by cattle*. 



5. Chalk. Chalky soils principally consist of calcareous 

 matter, mixed with various other substances, in greater or 

 less proportions. Where clayey or earthy substances are 

 to be found in such soils, in considerable quantities, the com- 

 position is heavy and productive ; where sand or gravel 

 abounds, it is light* and rather barren. 



The crops chiefly cultivated on chalky soils, are, pease, 

 turnips, barley, clover, and wheat; and however much the 

 soil is exhausted, it will produce sainfoin. 



The chalky hills have seldom had proper attention paid to 

 them. They are distant from the cattle-yards, and the roads 

 to them lie up steep acclivities; consequently dung has very 

 rarely been carried to them. The crops raised upon these 

 heights, are drawn or carried into the vallies. Whether 

 they are cultivated, or fed with sheep, they suffer in both 

 cases : the corn is drawn from the hills to the barns in the 

 valleys ; and where they are in a state of grass, the sheep 

 which feed on them during the day, are folded at night in 



* Where such soils are not capable of producing crops of grain, or roots, or 

 even grass, they ought to be effectually drained and planted with Scotch fir, 

 larch, or even ash. In that case, the tap roots ought to be cut off, to prevent 

 their reaching stagnant water. The roots will then shoot horizontally to a 

 great distance from the tree, but will never get below the dry, or dead part of 

 the moss. A certain quantity of good earth, (loam or mould), should be thrown 

 into the pit dug for the reception of the plant. This greatly promotes its growth, 

 which otherwise may fail. 



