CHAP. x. PARING AND BURNING. 861 



CHAPTER X. 

 ON PARING AND BURNING. 



FT1HE paring of land is a practice of long standing in this island, 1 

 _|_ particularly in the west of England, where it is also denominated 

 (in conjunction with burning) den-shiring, burn-baiting, or sod-burning. 

 It consists of cutting or paring off the turf, or surface of the ground, 

 and piling it, to dry, in heaps, which are afterwards kindled and 

 burnt to ashes that are spread over the surface and ploughed in. 

 The best season for this operation is from the latter end of February, 

 throughout March if the north-east wind prevails, and to the end of 

 May. The ashes should be spread out as regularly and equally as 

 possible before the plough, and turned in immediately. By breaking 

 up old grass or sainfoin leys, in this manner, they are prepared for 

 turnips with only one ploughing ; and thus not only much expense 

 and tillage are saved, but the destructive turnip-fly seldom attacks 

 turnip crops on burnt lands. 



The operation is performed on different soils with different imple- 

 ments. Thus, in old pastures or meadows, the breast-plough is an 

 effective implement, but either Bentall's broad-share or the paring 

 plough is perhaps the best to use, as doing most work at least expense. 

 From one inch to one inch and a half is the usual depth, although 

 two inches are preferable in the opinion of some agriculturists, on 

 account of the greater quantity of ashes thus produced ; but this is 

 a point which must be regulated by the nature and depth of the 

 soil. The burning, however, will be more certain, in case of un- 

 favourable weather, in proportion to the thinness of the turf. The 

 expense of paring such land (including its burning and the spreading 

 of the ashes) varies from 11. 5s. to 2/. per acre. 



In fenny or boggy situations, as in Cambridgeshire, a useful imple- 

 ment called the paring or skim-plough may be employed. It turns off 



1 We have more ancient records than the history of our own country affords. Virgil 

 describes it as an acknowledged and useful practice among the agriculturists of ancient 

 Rome. Some of the reasons which he gives are singular and valuable. 



" Oft, too, it has been gainful found to burn 

 The barren fields with stubble's crackling flames. 

 "Whether from thence they secret strength receive 

 And richer nutriment ; or by the fire 

 All latent mischief and redundant juice 

 Oozing sweats off' ; or whether the same heat 

 Opens the hidden pores, that new supplies 

 Of moisture may refresh the recent blades ; 

 Or hardens more, and with astringent force 

 Closes the gaping veins, lest drizzling showers 

 Should soak too deep, or the sun's parching rays, 

 Or Boreas, piercing cold, should dry the glebe." 



Trapp's Georgies, i. 125. 



