PLACE IX THE ROTATION. 211 



soil, the climate, and the markets of the district. In the 

 north, the Scotch Horse Bean is that universally sown ; 

 while in the south, the Ticks, Heligoland, Mazagan, and 

 the Winter Bean are those most commonly met with. 

 In both the north and the south, beans are now admitted 

 to a regular place in the different rotations followed. On 

 the heaviest class of soils, the strong clays, they alternate 

 with wheat, either with or without a fallow, every third 

 year. The old-accustomed open fallow is now rapidly dis- 

 appearing, as thorough draining and the use of improved 

 implements make their way into those districts; and a 

 green crop rape, swedes, or mangold takes its place. 

 This practice (open fallowing) is, however, still followed 

 on the strong clays of Essex and the heavy vale soils of 

 Bucks ; here the land is fallowed for wheat, and the bean 

 crop follows. On the strong lias soils of Gloucestershire, 

 the bean crop succeeds to the fallow, and wheat is taken 

 at the end of the course. 



When the four-course system is followed, the soils are 

 usually of a light class, and, so far, not those in which the 

 bean thrives best. Here it is that the winter variety is of 

 such value, as it enables the farmer to vary his crop, by 

 sowing half the land that would, in the usual method, be in 

 clover, with beans. His rotation is thus strictly adhered to, 

 while he lessens the chances of his land being clover-sick, 

 by taking a crop at intervals of eight instead of four years. 

 In Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire, this 

 practice of adding beans to their rotation, rendering their 

 clover returns more certain, is carried out very success- 

 fully, and is rapidly advancing in the good opinion of the 

 farmers. In those parts of the country where the five and 

 six course systems prevail, the soils are generally of a 

 stouter character, and better adapted for the cultivation of 

 beans. There we find that beans are usually placed be- 

 tween two straw crops following wheat, and preceding 



