42 



OUE FAEM CEOPS. 



time) to the manuring of the Essex and other heavy land 

 fallowing practices. 



In this, the wheat is drilled in 12-inch rows, and be- 

 tween every set of three drills there is an interval of 3 

 feet, which is dug or forked, and kept well stirred and pul- 

 verized during the whole time the crop is growing and 

 coming to maturity. In fact, it is simply a naked fallow, 

 extending over a portion of the field equal in extent to 

 that occupied by the crop. When the crop is harvested, 

 the empty spaces are quite ready, in a thoroughly clean 

 and mellowed state, for the reception of the seed ; this 

 space is then sown in the same manner, and the next year's 

 crop is produced solely upon that portion of the field which 

 was under a naked fallow the past year. It appears to be, 

 therefore, clearly a system of alternate crop and fallow ; 

 and by this arrangement of wide drilling and open inter- 

 vals of space, with deep tillage and perfect freedom from 

 weeds, the' crop on each half acre so cultivated is found 

 to exceed in quantity the average of that grown under the 

 ordinary mode of cultivation upon the whole acre surface, 

 while the sample is always more regular and of better 

 quality. 



The returns of wheat produce from one particular piece 

 of land upon which the practice has been continuously 

 tried, since its commencement in 1847, are thus given by 

 the Rev. S. Smith : 



1847 not measured. 



1848 34 bushels. 



1849 34 



1850 34 



1851 28 



1852 34 



1853 ) ( returns good, but 



1854 j | not noted. 



1855 40 bushels. 



1856 37 



1857 36 



1858 40 



These returns must be understood to be from each half 

 acre under crop the other half acre, thanks to the work- 

 ing it has during its fallow, being in an admirable con- 

 dition for the next year's crop. The tillage processes 



