On Summer Fallowing. 253 



2. England. 



The climate of England is certainly superior to that of 

 Scotland ; yet even in that part of the kingdom, many re- 

 spectable authorities consider an occasional fallow to be ne- 

 cessary. 



Mr Marshall states, that if land be in a state of foulness 

 with root-weeds, (as half of the old arable lands of the king- 

 dom may be said to be), a year's fallow is the shortest, the 

 most effectual, and the cheapest way of cleansing it ( us ). He 

 also accounts it the best preventive of the wire-worm. All 

 herbivorous insects, which have not the power of flight, at 

 least in their early states, are best extirpated, by keeping 

 the soil which they inhabit free from every thing herbace- 

 ous, especially during the summer months, when they are 

 in a state of activity, and doubtless require daily support. 

 In that case, unabating tillage must prove their destruc- 

 tion ( 346 ). 



In Kent, they have what are called autumnal fallows, in 

 which way the stubbles of fallow crops are prepared for 

 wheat, by several plough ings and harrowings. Barley also 

 is sown late, that it may be thrice ploughed, and operate as 

 a cleansing crop; but after all, the intelligent Reporter of the 

 Husbandry of Kent, (Mr Boys), states, that there are some 

 untoward soils, which all the art and industry of man can- 

 not keep clean and in good order, for any considerable 

 length of time without a fallow ; that cold and wet clays, if 

 they were tolerably clear from weeds, are subject, after two 

 or three crops, to run together, to become exceedingly stiff, 

 and to require the intervention of a summer fallow to mel- 

 low the soil ; that a good summer fallow is the best prepara- 

 tion for a crop of clover; and that the course of, 1. Fallow; 

 2. Barley ; 3. Clover, or beans ; and, 4. Wheat, which is 

 the system most practised in the Isle of Thanet, is there con- 

 sidered to be, the foundation of all good management ( 347 ). In 

 Essex, fallowing is thought essential, especially for barley. 

 In some parts of the county, half the arable land is under a 

 dead summer fallow ; in others, a fourth, a fifth, or a sixth ; 

 but the practice is universal, except on dry turnip soils ( 348 ). 

 Mr Cheere of Cambridgeshire is convinced, by much expe- 

 rience, that a perfect clean fallow, is indispensable every four, 

 five, or six years. It is necessary, however, that all the re- 

 quisite ploughings should be given in dry weather. 



That celebrated Norfolk farmer, Mr Overman, gave a 



