On Rotations of Crops. 385 



Double Crops in the same Year. 



In the vicinity of the metropolis, and in other parts of Eng- 

 land, also in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh ( z74 ), and 

 near Aberdeen, double crops in the same year, are raised on 

 the same ground, not only in the gardens, but in the fields. 

 There are many farmers near London, who manure for tares, 

 and then have turnips in the same year, and next year wheat, 

 by which they obtain three valuable crops in two years, 

 which average from L.16 to L.20 per acre per annum (* 75 ). 

 Some farmers grow clover the third year, by which the 

 average annual produce is kept up to nearly, if not quite, 

 L.20 per acre. This system used formerly to be limited to 

 a few fields near the farm-yard ; but it is now extended over 

 many whole farms ( a76 ). In favourable seasons, what are 

 called stubble turnips, are likewise occasionally raised (* 77 ). 

 But these practices, though they may be partially adopted, 

 where they have the advantages of soil, climate and ma-' 

 nure, are but rarely calculated for the northern parts of 

 England, or Scotland. 



In Flanders, the system of double cropping is carried to 

 a very great extent. On their light soils, they sow carrots in 

 February, on a crop of wheat sown in November, and well ma- 

 nured. In other cases, they sow turnips, after a crop of grain 

 is reaped, slightly ploughing the land for that purpose; also 

 spurry, for feeding milch cows, by which excellent butter is 

 obtained ; and with oats they sometimes sow trefoil, or yel- 

 low clover, and get one good cutting of that crop, before it 

 is necessary to plough the land. The quantity of manure, 

 which the Flemish farmer derives from these practices, is 

 very great; and he is thereby enabled, to extract so much 

 produce from soils, originally light and sterile, and which 

 would soon revert to their former state of barrenness, without 

 the greatest industry, and the most unwearied attention (* 78 ). 

 It is unfortunate that so productive a system, owing to infe- 

 riority of climate, cannot be adopted, to any great extent, in 

 this country. 



Rape has been strongly recommended as an excellent 

 article to be raised as an after crop, being easily cultivated, 

 and the seed being cheap. If rape were sown on good land, 

 immediately after any corn crop is cut, it would afford a 

 good bite for sheep, as winter feed, and the land would be 

 much improved for a succeeding crop of oats. But on the 

 whole, rye is to be preferred. If sown thick in September, 

 upon dry, fertile loams, it stands the winter much better 



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