34 CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



kind is successfully cultivated after potatoes, the potatoes 

 being got oif the ground not later than October. In many 

 districts, as in East Ham, Romford, Barking, Edmonton, 

 and Enfield, it is no unusual thing to grow potatoes and 

 wheat alternately for many years. And we may note 

 that we have seen the practice adopted in the north, of 

 England with remarkable results. But where this species 

 of what may be truly called hard-cropping is followed, 

 it is necessary to manure the potatoes very liberally. The 

 potatoes may then yield 300 to 500 bushels per acre, and 

 the wheat from 30 to 40 bushels. Four pecks of seed per 

 acre on this quality of land will be sufficient, and care 

 should be taken not to sow it earlier than the end of Oc- 

 tober or the beginning of ISTovember, as, if it is sown earlier, 

 the plants are almost sure to become winter-proud. Where 

 a rich, strong loam contains a larger proportion of clay, 

 wheat and beans may be, and are, sown alternately, and 

 successfully too. In some cases where the beans are kept 

 perfectly clean by repeated hoeing, ploughing the land for 

 the wheat is often superseded, all that is required to be 

 done being to harrow the land previous to dibbling or drill- 

 ing the wheat. 



20. Peaty Soils. To enable soil of this character to 

 bear wheat, it must first be thoroughly drained, so as to 

 get it in some degree consolidated ; thereafter it must be 

 mixed with clay or inorganic matter, and well treaded, 

 rolled, or pressed before and after sowing. In the fens of 

 Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, where peaty soils are 

 thus improved, the improvement in the quality 01 the wheat 

 keeps pace with that of the land, approaching that grown 

 in sandy and loamy soils, while the quantity greatly ex- 

 ceeds that grown on light sands or gravels. A process, 

 which, appears adapted for the preparation of peaty soils 

 for wheat, is to plough the land shallow, drill, roll, and 

 hand-dibble the seeds in the grooves made by the roller, 

 finally covering the seed with a harrow. Solidity of soil 

 is absolutely essential in peaty soils. Dibbling the seed 

 giving, as it does, a stiff straw appears to be the best 

 adapted for peaty soils. 



