254 On Summer Fallowing. 



strong proof of his concurring in that opinion; for entering 

 upon a farm, where some fields were full of spear-grass, and 

 other weeds, he gave the outgoing tenant L. 5, 10s. per acre, 

 for the privilege of completely fallowing them. He cleaned 

 the ground thoroughly by four ploughing*. The^soil was 

 sandy, on which a hot July sun destroyed the root-weeds, 

 without raking or burning ( 349 ). Such are the effects of cli- 

 mate. 



The Reporter of the Husbandry of Staffordshire, (Mr 

 William Pitt), explains, in an able manner, the advantages 

 of summer fallows ; acknowledging, at the same time, that he 

 had once been a sufferer, by too implicit a confidence in the 

 opposite theory. He says, that fallowing for wheat, is prac- 

 tised by the best farmers, on cold, wet, or strong lands; and 

 that he who shall attempt to manage such lands without fal- 

 lowing, will most probably find his mistake. Fallowing is 

 there necessary, because the roots of perennial grasses, such 

 as couch grass, &c. cannot otherwise be sufficiently weakened 

 or extirpated ; nor can any attempt at extirpation be so suc- 

 cessful, by any other means, as by repeated deep summer plough- 

 ings ( 35 ). It appears also, from the Derbyshire Report ( 3SI ), 

 that whenever the soil is strong, clayey, adhesive, and wet- 

 bottomed, many intelligent farmers in that district, approve 

 of summer fallowing. 



There is a most striking coincidence between these, and 

 Mr Boys' s remarks, and the doctrines already detailed on 

 the importance of fallows, from farmers residing in Scotland, 

 though there could not be any previous knowledge that they 

 followed the same practice, and approved of it on the -same 

 grounds. 



Mr Curwen also states, in a recent publication, that the 

 practice of fallowing the more distant parts of his farm, has, 

 with great reluctance, been adopted by him. This practice 

 he considers both requisite and beneficial, in so wet a cli- 

 mate as that of Cumberland, where it is wholly impracti- 

 cable, in all seasons, to make green crops so free from couch 

 and other weeds, as is necessary for the successful cultivation 

 of the succeeding crops, particularly those of clover ( 3Sz ). 



But as the system of fallowing is condemned by authors 

 of great eminence, in reference to southern districts, as either 

 rarely, or not at all admissible, even on strong soils, we shall 

 briefly state their sentiments upon the subject. 



Mr Young only admits a fallow during the first course, 

 advising it to be rejected the second course, and ever after- 

 wards ( 353 ). 



