366 CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



up with the hot sun, whereas in other humid localities, 

 and in freer soils, the seeds would do much better without 

 than with a crop. The same authority quotes, as an instance 

 of capital management, the case of production of a perma- 

 nent pasture out of a naturally rough land, on Mr. H. 

 Howard's property at Greystoke, Cumberland, which we 

 here give ; forty or fifty acres were broken up at a time, one 

 or two crops being taken just to clean the surface and allow 

 the vegetable matter to rot. The process of formation 

 is thus described by Mr. Barker, Mr. Howard's agent. 



164. " 1. The Soil. Soils of various qualities have been 

 treated, sandy clay, and moorish soils on a clay, and sandy 

 clay subsoil; red loam on limestone, and red loam on free- 

 stone, soft spongy clays and hard gravels. 



165. 2. The mode of breaking up the old Sward. Paring 

 and burning were resorted to on some rough heathy land at 

 first; but lately, the first operation has been simply ploughing 

 out with two horses abreast, excepting the land was very 

 rough with ling or rushes, and then these were mown off 

 before ploughing. The land so ploughed begun in October 

 and carried on to be finished by January if possible was 

 sown with oats, generally black Tartarian, and manured with 

 from 2 to 3 cwt. of Peruvian guano. 



166. 3. Course of Crops. Oats, as above, the first year. 

 Second year Turnips, with a mixture of lime and guano, 

 the turnips chiefly eaten on the ground. Third year If 

 the land appeared insufficiently enriched or unbroken, 

 another crop of turnips as before; if considered in a proper 

 state, then the land well scarified and worked, and about 

 the latter end of May or beginning of June, sown with 

 rape and grass seeds, and a little guano. In the spring of 

 the year, either preceding the turnip crop or before sowing 

 down, the land received a good liming, say 150 or 160 

 bushels to the acre. I have never in practice foun^ any pre- 

 judicial effect or loss from applying lime and guano in the 

 same year, but rather the contrary. If the ammonia is set 

 tire by the lime, I think the soil catches it. 



167. 4. The mixture of Seeds The following may be 



