24-6 On Paring and Burning. 



grasses best adapted to the soil ; and to let it remain in that 

 state, as long as it continues productive. For peat-moss, 

 the soft meadow-grass, (holcus lanatus), with a mixture of 

 rib-grass, is recommended. Marl-grass, with some meadow 

 foxtail, and a small mixture of the Pacy rye-grass, will like- 

 wise answer well on such soils. Marl-grass, or cow-grass, 

 though resembling red clover in appearance, has quite diffe- 

 rent effects. It is friendly to all natural grasses growing 

 with it, which clover is not. It is safe for cattle, when cut 

 in a green state for soiling ; and not so dangerous to the 

 wind of horses, when made into hay ( 3a7 ). For drier soils, 

 the seeds required are, four pounds of red clover, five pounds 

 of white, and one bushel of rye-grass ; and if the land be 

 continued in grass for six or seven years, another rotation 

 may then be commenced ( 3 * 8 ). 



A new mode of paring and burning has been tried in 

 Derbyshire ; that of paring the stubbles, and burning, in 

 small heaps, the straw, weeds, roots, and part of the soil. 

 The ashes are then spread, mixed with lime ; and sometimes, 

 on this preparation, wheat is sown after oats, or stubble tur- 

 nips, followed by oats next spring ( 3z9 )* This practice is ex- 

 hausting, when a crop is immediately taken; but if it were 

 applied to clay soils, preparatory to a fallow, it might melio- 

 rate their texture, and destroy a number of weeds. 



11. Advantages. The benefits resulting from paring and 

 burning, are numerous and important. 1. By these pro- 

 cesses, the various tribes of grubs and insects, which lodge 

 in the surface of the soil, are destroyed ( 33 ). 2. By the 

 same means, the seeds of many weeds are consumed, by 

 which the crops would otherwise have been injured ( 33x ). 



3. Not only are the stems and leaves of shrubs, furze, heath, 

 ferns, &c. destroyed, converted into charcoal, and thus pre- 

 pared for the food of plants, but by extirpating the old sickly 

 roots, room is left for others, younger and more vigorous ( 3 3a ). 



4. The soil is at once more completely pulverised. 5. The 

 texture of soils, which in their natural state are tough, tena- 

 cious, and unfit for corn crops, is improved, and prepared 

 for cultivation. 6. By paring and burning, manure is ob- 

 tained, at a trifling expense, at the commencement of the 

 improvement ; it is found on the spot, free from carriage, 

 which in some cases costs more than the manure itself; and 

 a stock of that necessary article is thus procured, which, 

 under judicious management, may serve to keep the land in 

 fertility, until it shall be brought into a .regular course of 

 husbandry. These are important advantages ; and he must 



