376 Of Gleaning. 



the sheaves. In several districts it is still the case. The 

 courts of law have decided against any right to gleaning 

 being vested in the poor ; but as the practice, under due re- 

 gulations, tends to promote a friendly intercourse, and kindly 

 connexion between the upper, and the lower orders of so- 

 ciety, it ought not totally to be given up, or extinguished* 



II. On the Rotations of Crops best adapted for different Soils and 

 Situations. 



Notwithstanding the multitude of books on agriculture, 

 there is scarcely an author, who, prior to the middle of the 

 last century, seems to have formed any just ideas, either of 

 the importance of judicious rotations, or the principles on 

 which they ought to be regulated. All courses of crops 

 appeared to them alike, and neither to merit praise nor cen- 

 sure (* 48 ). Happily the case is totally altered, and this most 

 essential branch of husbandry, is now grounded on princi- 

 ples, as distinct and certain, as those which form the basis of 

 any other science, or direct the practice of any other art (* 49 ). 



It is not without much anxiety respecting the execution 

 of the task, that so essential a branch of the present inquiry 

 is undertaken. It is considered, as the most prominent fea- 

 ture in good farming ; as the most important particular 

 that has been treated of by modern writers of husbandry, 

 and the subject on which they have fortunately thrown the 

 greatest light ; as capable of furnishing a considerable in- 

 crease to the produce of the land ; as peculiarly constituting 

 what may be called, the soul or essence of husbandry ; in 

 short, as the true groundwork of general improvement ; 

 and, if well understood, as the most likely means, of pro- 

 moting the cause of agriculture, and the interests of the 

 country. It cannot indeed be represented in too important 

 a light, nor too minutely examined, its object being to ascer- 

 tain, " that mode of management, which is the most likely, for 

 " a series of years, to yield the greatest quantity of useful pro- 

 " duce, at the smallest comparative expense and risk, from any 

 " given extent of land." 



It is of peculiar importance, that this subject should be 

 thoroughly investigated, as on some large estates, leases are 

 all formed on the same model, and sometimes printed, ready 

 to be filled up like militia schedules, or policies of insurance, 

 prescribing, in every instance, the same rotation ; whereas, in 

 many cases, even in the same neighbourhood, a moderate 



