THE SOCIETY OF IMPROVERS, 21 



might best have a larger return. The Society gave, in the 

 circumstances, a safe opinion. They remarked that it was 

 evident that the ground was ' wasted in its strength beyond 

 what manuring or dunging every fourth year is able to re- 

 pair.' They proceeded to say that the land ' required a 

 supply of fresh mould, and to be rested for some years until 

 it recovered its natural strength.' They recommended 

 deeper ploughing, that some portions be dunged and sown 

 Avith barley, or that it be summer fallowed, that other portions 

 be sown in May with pease, and, when the pease show the 

 pod, that they be ploughed down as manure, a crop being 

 thus sacrificed to impart fertility to the exhausted soil. 

 Another suggestion is to sow the land in turnips. Particular 

 directions are given for this operation, and the plan of sow- 

 ing in drill instead of broadcast is strongly recommended. 

 The Society is very confident that the best turnip crop will 

 come by drills and horse-hoeing ; but with much candour 

 they say to those who sought their advice — ' But you may 

 satisfy yourself by trying both the horse-hoeing way after 

 drilling, and the hand-hoeing after broadcast, and then no 

 doubt you will hold to that which you find to answer best 

 in your own practice.' Directions are given as to the con- 

 sumption of the turnips, and Jethro TuU's excellent advice 

 as to the feeding of sheep on a portion of the turnip field 

 enclosed in hurdles is quoted. 



Among other applicants to the Society for advice was 

 Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk, who having a good 

 piece of land in grass, which he could not pasture ' because 

 of young quicks and trees set round it,' and there being a 

 difficulty in turning it into tillage and cornfor want of dung, 

 he ' having no cattle in that country,' asks the Society how 

 he can manage the field to most advantage, and preserve 

 the young hedges ? The Society is at much pains to advise 

 the baronet, but we need not record its advice here, except 

 that we may say that it embodies a lengthy statement or 

 recommendation and explanation of turnip culture. It may 

 be noted that, in answering Sir Archibald's queries, the 

 Society incidentally refers to the existence of 'the Irish 

 Society, set up lately in imitation of ours.' It is interesting 



