814 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



Britain, however, is probably still sown upon fallowed land. When it succeeds turnips 

 consumed on the ground, or clover cut for hay or soiling, it is commonly sown after one 

 ploughing. In Scotland, when wheat is to be sown after clover upon heavier soils, or 

 after grass of two or more years, the land is ploughed twice or thrice, or receives what is 

 called a rag fallow. In Norfolk and Suffolk, wheat is seldom sown after fallow or 

 turnips ; but the farmer there thinks himself almost sure of a good wheat crop after a 

 good clover crop. One ploughing oidy is required, and the seed is dibbled in the flag, 

 as they call it ; that is, on the turned-over surface or furrow slice. 



5015. On rich clays, wheat may be cultivated almost every second year, provided due care is taken to 

 keep the land clean, and in good condition. A summer fallow once in four, six, or eight years, according 

 to seasons and circumstances, is, however, necessary ; and manure should either be applied on that fallow 

 for the first crop of wheat, or, what some people think preferable, should be laid on the wheat-stubble for 

 a crop of drilled beans, which ensures the succeeding crop of wheat. If the first crop of beans has been 

 completely cleaned, there is no difficulty in repeating, and even in extending the course; and the crops 

 will be little inferior to those gained at the beginning of the rotation, provided manure has been bestowed 

 to each crop of beans. In this way, when the ground is fallowed every fourth year, two crops of wheat 

 and one of beans are gained from manuring once ; when fallowed every sixth year, three crops of wheat 

 and two of beans are gained from manuring twice ; and, when fallowed every eighth year, four crops of 

 wheat and three of beans from manuring thrice. In the first-mentioned shift, less manure is bestowed 

 than in either of the others; and, if the soil is of good quality, it will support itself: whereas, in the 

 shifts of six and eight, unless foreign manure be procure^!, it rarely happens that they can go on success- 

 fully for any length of time, without abstracting dung from other parts of the farm on which they are 

 practised. {Brown's Tr. on Rural AJfuirs.) 



5016. In cultivating wheat on thin clays, the rotations just mentioned are inapplicable. A six-course 

 shift of a different kind has, however, been successfully followed by many people ; but it requires every 

 branch of the work to be well executed. 1st, a summer fallow, dunged at the rate of twelve or fourteen 

 double loads per acre ; 2d, wheat ; 3d, grass ; 4th, oats ; 5th, peas and beans drilled ; 6th, wheat. If 

 manure can be given in the middle of the shift, every one of the crops may be expected good ; but if that 

 is withheld, there will necessarily be a proportionable falling off in the two last crops. Husbandmen 

 must, however, regulate their practice according to their means, though it deserves to be remarked, that, 

 if greater attention were paid to the collecting of materials which ultimately are converted into manure, 

 many deficiencies in the article would be fully supplied. {Brotvn.) 



Son. Excellent wheat may be grown on light soils, with the exception of soft sands. Such soils, 

 however, are not constitutionally disposed to the growth of that grain; nor will they, under any manage- 

 ment, bear such a frequent repetition of it as those already mentioned. Summer fallow on them may 

 safely be dispensed with ; because a crop of turnips, which admits every branch of the cleaning process 

 to be more perfectly executed than even a naked or bare fallow does, may be profitably substituted. 

 Wheat here comes in with propriety after turnips, though, in general cases, it must be sown in the spring 

 months, unless the turnips are stored ; in which case it may be sown in November, or it may be sown 

 after clover, for the fourth crop of the rotation ; or in the sixth year, as a way-going crop, after drilled 

 peas and beans, if the rotation is extended to that length. But, take it any way, it is scarcely possible to 

 raise wheat as extensively upon light soils, even where they are of the richest quality, as is practicable 

 upon clays ; nor wiU a crop of equal bulk upon the one, return so much produce in grain as may be got 

 from the other. To enlarge upon this point would only serve to prove what few husbandmen will dispute, 

 though it may be added, that, on thin sands, wheat ought not to be ventured, unless they are either com- 

 pletely clayed or marled ; as it is only with the help of these auxiliaries that such a soil can gain stamina 

 capable of producing wheat with any degree of success. {Brown.) 



5018. The culture of the soil intended for wheat varies according to its nature, and the 

 preceding and following crops. 



5019. On soils really calculated for wheat, though in different degrees, summer fallow is the first and 

 leading step to gain a good crop or crops of that grain. The first furrow should be given before winter, 

 or so early as other operations upon the farm will admit ; and every attention should be used to go in as 

 deep as possible ; for it rarely happens that any of the succeeding furrows exceed the first one in that 

 respect. The number of after-plough ings must be regulated by the condition of the ground and the state 

 of the weather ; but, in general, it may be observed, that ploughing in length and across, alternately, is 

 the way by which the ground will be most completely cut, and the intention of fallowing accomplished. 

 It has been argued, that harrowing clay soils, when summer-fallowed, is prejudicial to the wheat crop ; 

 but without discussing this point (such a discussion being unnecessary), it may merely be stated, that, in 

 a dry season, it is almost impracticable to reduce real clays, or to work them too small ; and that, even in 

 a wet one, supposing they are made surface-smooth, they will, when ploughed up again, consolidate into 

 clods or big lumps after forty-eight hours' drought, and become nearly as obdurate as ever. It is only on 

 thin soils, which have a mixture of peat earth, and are incumbent on a bottom impervious to water, that 

 damage is at any time sustained by over-harrowing. Such are generally of a weak texture, and may be 

 broken down with facility by the roller and harrow. If caught by much rain before the pores are in 

 some measure closed, the moisture is greedily absorbed ; and being prevented from going downwards by 

 the hardness of the subsoil, the whole surface becomes a kind of mortar or paste, unless previously well 

 ridged up ; which, to a certain extent, prevents the consequences from being dangerous. These evils, 

 however, must be submitted to by the possessors of such soils, if they want to have them suflficiently fal- 

 lowed and prepared in a proper manner; for, without reducing them, couch-grass, and especially moss, 

 with which they are commonly stored, cannot be eradicated. If they are reduced in the early part of the 

 season, the danger is small ; but to break them down in the latter part ought always to be avoided, unless 

 called for by imperious necessity. 



5020. When loheat is sown after bea7is it rarely happens, in this northern climate, that more than one 

 ploughing can be successfully bestowed. Before this is given, it is advantageous to cross-harrow the land, 

 which levels the drills, and permits the ploughing process to be executed with precision. Almost in 

 every case the ridges should be gathered up, so that the furrows may be well cleared out, and the plants 

 preserved from injury during the inclement winter season. Clover land should be neatly ploughed, and 

 well laid over, so that the roots of the grasses may be buried and destroyed ; for it frequently happens 

 that crops of wheat, after clover and rye-grass, are greatly injured by inattention to the ploughing process. 

 In short, sowing wheat after clover on clayey soils in Scotland may be considered as the most hazardous 

 way in which that grain can be cultivated. {Brown's Tr. on Rural Affairs.) 



5021. The manures best calculated for wheat, are allowed by all agricultural chemists 

 to be animal matters and lime. The former has a direct influence in supplying that 

 essential constituent to wheaten flour, gluten ; and the latter azote and lime, both 

 actually found in the straw of wheat. At all events, it is certain that wheat will not 



