On Summer Fallowing. 249 



in an unproductive state ; and that on strong lands, under a 

 judicious system, summer fallows are not required, more 

 than once in the course of a rotation. The subject under 

 discussion therefore, is reduced to this short question : 



Is it for the interest of a farmer, who cultivates cold, 

 strong, clayey, adhesive, and wet-bottomed lands, periodically 

 to fallow them ( 34Z ) ? 



The question shall be considered as applicable to the 

 climate, 1. Of Scotland ; 2. Of England ; and 3. Of Ire- 

 land. 



1. Scotland. 



Wherever the soil is of the nature above described, it is 

 the universal opinion of the most intelligent and experienced 

 farmers in Scotland, that a summer fallow cannot be dis- 

 pensed with, for the following reasons : 



1. Strong clayey soils, if constantly cropped, must often 

 be ploughed and harrowed in a wet state : hence, in a moist 

 climate, they lose their fertility, become hard and stubborn, 

 impervious to the sun and air, as well as to the roots of 

 plants, and require repeated exposure to the atmosphere, 

 before these defects can be corrected. By a complete sum- 

 mer fallow, they are rendered tender and mellow. A tilth 

 is given to them, superior to what can be obtained from a 

 fallow crop, while the soil is rendered so friable, as to re- 

 semble that of a garden. 



2. The grand object with the skilful agriculturist is, to 

 keep his lands clear of weeds of all sorts; and on strong 

 soils, summer fallow, properly conducted, has ever been 

 found a sure method of accomplishing that object. During 

 the short period of dry weather to be found in spring, in 

 such a climate as that of Scotland, the foulness contracted, 

 during the time the land is under crop, cannot always be 

 got the better of, even by a whole summer's labour ; any 

 expectations, therefore, of successfully cleansing such land, 

 during spring alone, and thereby abolishing summer fallows, 

 cannot be well founded. Nor will hoeing crops answer, for 

 the proper time to clean the land effectually is in July and 

 August, and it must be accompanied by deep ploughing, which 

 can never be performed, if the land be under a crop. Be- 

 sides, under no other process, can that noxious weed the 

 thistle, be so effectually extirpated. 



3. Fallowing is found to contribute essentially to the de- 

 struction of snails, and other vermin in the ground ; not 



