THE CROPS. 57 



land is much greater than in France ; in addition to 

 which, immense quantities are appropriated to the feed- 

 ing of cattle. But the great characteristic of English 

 rural economy, and that which in some degree may be con- 

 sidered the pivot of the whole system, is the turnip crop. 

 This crop, which with us covers but a few thousands of 

 hectares, and is little known except in our mountain- 

 ous provinces, is reckoned in England the surest indica- 

 tion, the most active agent, of agricultural progress. 

 Wherever it is introduced and thrives, fertility follows. 

 Through its means, ancient moors have been converted 

 into fertile lands. The value of a farm is most frequently 

 estimated by the extent of ground which can be profit- 

 ably devoted to this crop. It is no uncommon thing, in 

 going through the country, to see spaces of hundreds 

 of hectares of turnips. Their brilliant verdure is every- 

 where to be seen at the proper season. 



Turnips were anciently cultivated in Holland, and 

 passed into England towards the end of the seventeenth 

 century, along with the financial and political institutions 

 brought over by William III. Lord Townsend acquired 

 a great name in the reign of George II. for having done 

 much towards their propagation, for these services are 

 not forgotten in England. 



The turnip crop is the starting-point of the Norfolk 

 rotation ; upon its success depends that of the rest of the 

 course. Not only is it capable of insuring the succeed- 

 ing crops, from the abundance of manure given by the 

 quantity of cattle it can feed ; not only does it produce 

 much butcher-meat, milk, and wool, from the quantity 

 of food it supplies for all the domestic animals ; but 

 it further serves to clean the land, by the frequent 

 dressings it requires, and by the nature of its growth. 

 Neither is there any cultivation not even that directly 



