TURNIPS. 237 



be so really advantageous, as to justify its recommenda- 

 tion generally to the kingdom at large. 



From all I have at various times seen in Norfolk of this 

 custom, and 1 have often viewed the conduiSl of the far- 

 mers in winter, on strong, heavy, wet lands, I must freely 

 confess that it is carried too far. The reader should keep 

 in his mind one material circumstance, that the tillage of 

 the county Is very generally performed on flat, or nearly 

 flat lands, stitches, ridges, or by whatever name they are 

 called : high and arched lands are unknown, and the Nor- 

 thumbei land culture of drilling on narrow ridges, no where 

 pradtised. Hollow-diaining is the only dependence, and 

 excellent as that husbandry is, it will not prevent much 

 poaching, either by eating on the land, or carting the 

 crop ofF. 



Every degree of treading, poaching, or kneading in the 

 spring, or when the spring is approaching, is on these 

 soils pernicious: drying winds must follow before the 

 ploughs can get to work, and then the furrow cuts whole, 

 and what is called Uvery, soon becomes hard and tenacious, 

 so that a very favourable succession of m.oderate showers 

 and fair weather must ensue, or the tillage will be either 

 disturbing hard clods, or poaching in the mire. On 

 such soils, and in such seasons, to give the turnip land 

 only one furrow when nearly dry, and dibble in beans, 

 vvoukl be far preferable, than against circumstances to de- 

 termine for barley : and in conversation with several good 

 farmers on sowing turnips on really wet lands, I have 

 heard them admit that it is bad husbandry: a dead fallovi 

 vjould be better; but we are tempted against our judgments. 



When we speak therefore of what only deserves the 

 title of true Norfolk husbandry, we ought always to con- 

 fioe the remarks to sand or sound loams. 



Ic 



