126 A PRACTICAL TREATISE 



by many intelligent practical farmers, from some of who^e 

 experiments we select the following instances. Advantage 

 was taken of a fine day to fire the stubble of an out-field soon 

 after harvest, the precaution having been previously taken of 

 sweeping round the boundary to prevent injury to the hedges. 

 Tlie operation was easily performed, by simply applying a 

 lio-ht to windward, and it completely destroyed every weed 

 that grew, leaving the surface completely covered with ashes; 

 and the following crop, which was wheat, produced full five 

 quarters per acre. This excited further experiment, the result 

 of which was that in a following season, the stubble having 

 been partly ploughed in according to the common practice, and 

 partly burned, and the land sown with wheat, the crop produced 

 eight bushels per acre more on that portion which had been 

 burned, than on that which had been ploughed in. The same 

 experiment was repeated, on different occasions, with similar 

 results; and a following crop of oats having been laid down 

 with seeds, the clover was found perfectly healthy, while that 

 portion on which the burning of the stubble had been omitted, 

 was choked with weeds. It must, however, be recollected, 

 that, if intended to have a decided effect, the stubble must be 

 lefl of a considerable length, which will occasion a material 

 deficiency of farm-yard manure; though the advantages will 

 be gained of saving the cost of moving the stubbs, the seeds 

 of weeds and insects will be considerably destroyed, and the 

 land will be left unimpeded for the operation of the plough. 



On the wolds of Lincolnshire, the practice of not only burning 

 the stubble, but even the straw of thrashed grain, has been 

 carried, in many cases, to the extent of four to six loads per 

 acre ; and, as it is described in the Report of the County, has 

 been attended, in all those instances, with very decidedly good 

 effect. It is even said to have been found superior, in some 

 comparative trials, to yard-dung, in the respective rate of five 

 tons of straw to ten of manure! Although placing implicit 

 faith in the results thus stated, we cannot, however, but feel 

 strong doubts of the expediency of the practice ; for we should 

 hesitate to recommend any measure that tended to reduce the 

 quantity of farm-yard manure — the application of which is 

 always certain and always durable, whilst the most decided 

 advocates for the burning of straw are compelled to admit 

 that its effects are but transitory. Some intelligent farmers, 

 indeed, consider the benefit to arise more from the effect of 

 the fire in the destruction of weeds and insects than from the 



