ao. YORKSHIRE. 319 



1787) numberlefs inftances of the great uti- 

 lity of SOD-BURNING MAIDENSWARD. 



In adjoining allotments (fee the Art. In- 

 closures) without a Ihade of difference as to 

 foil or fituation, the crop, after fod-burning, 

 is in fome inftances fourfold that of the crop 

 fown on one plowing of the natural fward ; 

 notwithftanding the favourablenefs of this 

 fumnaer towards the latter procefs. Flad the 

 feafon proved dry, oats fown on one plowing 

 of the thinner foils muft have periihed -, or at 

 beft muft have remained in a dwarfifh unhar- 

 veftable ftate. There are oats, even this 

 year, not fix inches high ; and others, too 

 weak and ftraggling to ripen as a crop, have 

 been fwept over and raked together as fod- 

 der. 



It is obfervable, however, that, on the 

 deeper foils, there are, this year, fome fine 

 crops of oats on the natural fward. 



The caufe of this difparity between the 

 produce of deep and fhallow foils is obvious. 



The furface of foils which have remained 

 from century to century in a ftate of sward, 

 is in a manner wholly occupied by the roots 



of 



