On Rotations of Crops. 387 



and exposed to the mellowing influence of the winter frosts. 

 Barley also requires less manure than wheat. On strong 

 land, the following has been found a safe and productive ro- 

 tation : Oats, beans, barley, fallow, wheat with clover seeds. 



It is found, that the land is always better prepared for 

 the reception of small seeds, after a fallow, than after any 

 crop, and that clover, when sown with the crop that comes 

 next after fallow, succeeds better, than in any other part of 

 the course. 



2. In the southern districts of England the culture of 

 wheat, on a clover ley, is much practised. The crop how- 

 ever, is liable to great risk, from the depredations of wire- 

 worms ; and in the climate of Scotland, it has been clearly 

 ascertained, that oats are a surer and more profitable crop, 

 and that they leave the land in a better condition than wheat. 

 Three methods, however, have been suggested, by which 

 the mischief effected by the wire-worm might be obviated. 



The first is, that of ploughing clover in the beginning of 

 July, immediately after the crop of hay is taken off, or the 

 land has been cut for soiling ; then sowing it with rape or 

 cole seed, with one furrow, and after eating the crop down 

 with sheep in September and October, sowing wheat. By 

 this plan, the feed in September and October compensates for 

 the loss of the aftermath or pasture ; the ground is more 

 sensibly enriched, than by the usual mode of pasturing; 

 the soil is brought into so mellow a state, that it can be 

 drilled, if necessary ; > while, by the treading of the sheep, 

 any insects in the ground are destroyed ( a81 ). 



The second mode of destroying such insects, is, by delay- 

 ing ploughing clover stubble till December. If ploughed 

 in October or November, the worms when turned up, are 

 able to creep again into the soil, where they lie dormant till 

 revived by the warmth of spring, and then they prove ex- 

 tremely mischievous. But if exposed, in a torpid state, to 

 the frost, and the inclemency of the season, they are speedily 

 destroyed (* 8 *). 



The third plan is, to sow the wheat, (even winter wheat 

 accustomed to that culture,) in spring, instead of winter. 

 This may be done with success, so late as the beginning, or 

 even the middle of March. The wheat thus raised, is ge- 

 nerally as productive in quantity, but seldom so good in qua- 

 lity, as after turnips, pease, or beans. The plan, how- 

 ever, merits attention, as the attacks of worms may thus be 

 got rid of(* 83 ). 



It may be proper here to observe, that by far the larges 

 proportion of the wheat grown in the counties of Northum 



