THE CROPS. 51 



plants derive from the atmosphere the principal elements 

 of their growth, while they give to the soil more than 

 they take from it ; thus both directly, and by their con- 

 version into animal manure, contributing in two ways 

 to repair the mischief done by cereals and exhausting 

 crops generally ; one principle, therefore, is, that they 

 should at least alternate with these crops : in this consists 

 the Norfolk rotation. Since the commencement of the 

 present century, great exertions have been made by 

 eminent agriculturists in France to introduce this benefi- 

 cial practice, and not without some effect. But the 

 English have greatly outstripped us ; and therefore this 

 precious fertilising capital, which no good agriculturist 

 should lose sight of, has in their hands been constantly 

 accumulating. 



Nearly half the cultivated soil has been maintained in 

 permanent grass ; the rest, composing what is called the 

 arable land, is divided into four fields of operation, 

 according to the Norfolk rotation 1st year, roots (chiefly 

 turnips) ; 2d year, spring corn (barley and oats) ; 3d 

 year, artificial grass (chiefly clover and rye-grass); 4th 

 year, wheat. 



The practice of late has been to add another year to 

 the course, by allowing the artificial grasses to retain pos- 

 session of the land for two years, thus making the 

 rotation quinquennial. For example, upon a farm of 

 a hundred and seventy-five acres, seventy-five would be 

 in permanent grass, twenty in potatoes and turnips, 

 twenty in barley and oats, twenty in artificial grass of 

 one year, twenty in artificial grass of the second year, 

 and twenty in wheat. In those parts of the country 

 most favourable to herbaceous vegetation, the proportion 

 of grass land is increased, and that of corn reduced ; and 

 where the soil is not so suitable for roots and grass, beans 



