ARABLE SYSTEM. 363 



riation, which I believe first took place from forty to fiftr 

 years ago, was shortening the duration, from three years 

 to two: in both cases giving what may l^e called a bastard 

 fallow the last year, by a half-ploughing, soon after Mid- 

 summer. Above thirty years ago, 1 contended, both ia 

 print and in conversation, against it, but was held cheap 

 for entertaining any doubts of the propriety of the prac- 

 tice. I have lived, however, to see this change also in a 

 great measure take place amongit the best farmers, who 

 now give only one ploughing for the winter corn, wlie-^ 

 ther wheat or tares ; or in the spring for pease. That 

 it is an improvement, cannot be questioned. The argu-» 

 ment for it, founded on the invention of the drill-roller, 

 and on the introduction of tiie drill-plougli, is good, but 

 not singular, as the practice of dibbling is likewise far 

 more adapted to a J^'ho1e than to a broken furrow : and for 

 broad-cast common sowing, if we are able to cover the 

 seed by harrowing on stitF soils, once ploughed, assuredly 

 the same practice might be better followed on sand. Tiie 

 other reason for the former system, spear-grass getting 

 a-hcad in a.layer, is quite inadmissible: for 1 must agree 

 entirely with Mr. Overman, that no weeds, the seeds 

 of which are not carried by the \%ind, will h^ found in a 

 layer, if they were not left there. 



The variations which have taken place in the crop put 

 in upon layers, are neither great, nor are ihey peculiar ta 

 Norfolk; the principal one is taking pease on the flag, 

 and then the wheat, &c. an admirable system, which has 

 long been pradlised by good iarmers in Suffolk, and I 

 believe, earlier still in Kent. Mr. Purdis's substitution 

 of tares, holds on the same principle. Considering the 

 very great value of white-pea straw, well got as sheep 

 food (no where better understood than in Kent) there is 



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