180 ON ROTATION OF CROPS. 



in the knowledge of agriculture, for every new plant af- 

 fords security against sterility ; and the more crops are di- 

 versified, the smaller are the chances of suffering from the 

 inclemencies of the season, for what is injurious to the 

 one may be salubrious, or at least not detrimental, to the 

 others. It affords also a surer market ; for every species 

 of produce will not fall in price at the same time, and thus 

 the chances of loss are diminished. It is also an essen- 

 tial point, so to distribute the labor of a farm, that every 

 operation may be made at the most suitable period. 



Emily. The course of cropping must admit of modi- 

 fication, according to the locality, or the greater demand, 

 for any one species of produce. 



Mrs. B. Certainly ; in England, for instance, where 

 vhe beverage of the common people is beer, a greater 

 quantity of barley and hops must be raised than in wine 

 ountries. Then the moisture of the English cfimate ad- 

 wits of our raising very abundant crops of turnips, peas, 

 and beans : these plants enter with great advantage into 

 our course of crops. 



Caroline. The vicinity of great towns must also influ- 

 ence the nature of the crops : it will be necessary to sup- 

 ply their markets not only with food but also with bulky 

 produce, the carriage of which is expensive ; such, for in- 

 stance, as hay, a very great quantity of which is required 

 to maintain the stock of horses and milch cows of a large 

 town, which are quite independent of a farm. 



Mrs. B. So far as regards their laboring for a farm, 

 it is true ; but the land profits by their manure : it is in 

 order to supply hay for these animals that you generally 

 see large towns surrounded by grass land. The oxen and 

 sheep destined for food are brought from more distant 

 parts, as they carry themselves to market almost free of 

 expense. 



The culture of the vine, especially in temperate climates, 

 where this plant requires a great quantity of manure, ne- 

 cessarily modifies the assolement; for the farm must be so 



989. And between variety of crops and a good market 1 990. 

 Why are barley and bops raised in England 1 991. And turnips, 

 peas, and beans'? 992. What influence does Caroline say great towns 

 have on the nature of crops'? 993. Why are large towns surrounded 

 with grass land 1 ? 994. What effect does the culture of the vine have 

 on assolementl 



