Chi Rotations oj Crops. 389 



1. When any farm or district begins to be improved, it 

 is necessary to commence with such crops as are the most 

 likely to produce manure. Hence, barley ought to be avoid- 

 ed, as it yields, when compared to other crops, the smallest 

 quantity of straw. Two exhausting crops also, should never 

 be attempted in succession, if the soil has not acquired a 

 considerable degree of fertility, or naturally possesses it, as 

 is the case in regard to alluvial lands. Green crops are 

 greatly to be preferred, as, from their superior bulk, they are 

 more productive of manure, and go farther in supporting 

 live stock. In similar soils and situations, green crops will 

 furnish, at least one-fourth, and in many cases, one-third 

 more putrescent manure, than can be obtained from the 

 straw of corn crops, grown on the same land. After green 

 crops also, the weight and quality of the next crop of corn, 

 are greatly improved, and it fetches a higher price at mar- 

 ket. 



2. The crops should be so arranged, that the labour of 

 ploughing for each, and of sowing, weeding, reaping, &c. 

 may proceed in a regular succession ; by which the labour 

 of cultivation is not too much crowded on the farmer, at any 

 one season of the year, nor is any quantity of extra stock 

 rendered necessary. All the crops produced on the farm, 

 may thus be cultivated by the same labourers, (with the ex- 

 ception of hand-hoers in spring and summer, and assistants 

 during the harvest), and with the same cattle ( 284 ). 



3. All forcing crops, or frequent repetitions of the same arti- 

 cles or species, should be avoided ; as a diminution both in the 

 quantity and 4 the quality of the produce, (except in very rare 

 instances), is the usual consequence. Indeed, in soils of mo- 

 derate fertility, as they are commonly cultivated, the greater 

 distance at which the repetition of any sort of crop can be 

 kept, whether it be leguminous or culmiferous, the better is 

 it likely to prove (* 85 ). And, 



4. Those crops should be raised, which are the best calcu- 

 lated for the extirpation of weeds. The most effectual plan 

 for that purpose, would be, (except on the richest soils), to 

 cultivate a greater proportion of green crops, than of grain. By 

 this means also, a constant succession of large products may 

 be secured ( ZS6 ). 



III. On the Use of Spade Husbandry in the Cultivation of the 



Soil. 



In early ages of society, when oxen and horses were cheap, 



