NORTH CHARFORD FARM. 35 



the water meadows, and it does not control the general 

 management. 



The typical rotation may he stated as follows : 1, vetches 

 fed and followed with late turnips ; 2, early or forward 

 turnips ; 3, wheat ; 4, harley ; 5, roots ; 6, barley ; 7, 

 clover ; 8, clover ; 9, wheat. This rotation is well suited 

 to thin and high-lying soils, as it provides a large share of 

 slieep keep, and generally secures good crops of wheat and 

 harley. The middle ground, lying between the down and 

 the alluvial tract, is managed chiefly on the five-field course 

 as follows : (1) fodder crops, followed by roots ; (2) barley ; 

 (3) clover and seeds ; (4) second-year clover ; (5) wheat. 

 Occasionally the seeds are allowed to lie a third, fourth, or 

 fifth year. The alluvial land, being near the buildings, is 

 cropped extensively with mangel wurzel and cabbages, and 

 in other respects may be considered as managed on the 

 four-course system, with more of wheat than other cereals. 



It would be difficult to find a system of farming in which 

 activity is more continuous throughout the year than here. 

 To give a general view of it, we find the lambing down 

 of a flock of over 500 ewes taking place chiefly in January. 

 February, March, and April are occupied by the prepara- 

 tion for and sowing of spring corn. April, May, June, 

 July, and August are devoted to the gradual sowing of 

 mangel, swedes, and rape, and of early and late turnips. 

 Each of these crops succeeds some fodder crop fed off the 

 land by sheep : Winter rye fold comes in for mangel and 

 forward rape or turnips. Winter barley and trifolium folds 

 come in for swedes. Winter vetches fold comes in for 

 swedes, yellow turnips, and late white turnips. 



There is no rest, no winter fallowing, but double crop- 

 ping throughout, which greatly enhances the seed bill. In 



