222 



taining heath/furze, and coarse grasses/ by first burning the plants on the surface while ctow 

 ing, and then ploughing the land for a course of crops. By this, it invariably happened that 

 the land soon became stocked with its original unprofitable plants, as their seeds and roots we 

 securely preserved in the turf while the plants themselves were burning. 



In the Essays published by the Board of Agriculture, (Communications, vol. iv.), a variet 

 of facts are brought forward, which go to prove the great uicrease of value which these pasture 

 are capable of receiving by a proper mode of converting them into tillage. 



Mr. Stephen Kershaw states, in his experiments, the increase of value in thin-skinned warr 

 when converted into tillage by previously paring and burning, to be from thirteen pence per 

 acre, the original value, to six or eight shillings per acre. 



L 



Mr. Wright of Pickworth, after describing several failures in attempting to convert " a tract 

 of poor light barren heath by the ordinary mode of breaking up with the plough, states the 

 complete success which attended his endeavours on another tract of the same soil by parino- 

 and burning/' This ground, Mr. Wright says, '^produced an excellent quality of turnips 

 value ^2 : 10 : per acre. 1 afterwards," continues he, ^' sowed with barley on one plouoh- 



en, 



ing in March ; the crop was estimated at five qviarters per acre throughout the piece ; clearino- 

 to me as much in one year, as it would have done in pasturage, in its original state, in a cen- 



I 



tury." — Mr. Wright recommends the following course of crops : First year, pare and burn, and 



r 



sow with turnips ; second year, barley ; immediately after the barley crop plough once, and 



h 



harrow in winter tares, to be luown for soiling stock of all kinds on the same ground, which 

 may be begun about the third week of May, and continue till the seed in the pod is nearly ripe, 

 perhaps in July; what then remains unconsumed may be made into excellent hay. After this, 



+ 



on one ploughing to sow turnips, with or without manuring. After the turnips, barley with 



% 



grass-seeds, eitlier to remain one, or many years. 



Mr. Legard, of Gratton, observes, that paring and burning, when regard is had to suhse- 

 quent cropping, is advantageous, because it generally ensures a crop of turnips, the foundation 

 of all good husbandry ; and in light soils, the advantage of eating the turnip crop upon the land 

 is very great, and should therefore be invariably practised. 



Other statements, equally satisfactory, might be brought forward, but they all agree in prin- 

 ciple — to break up dry rough sandy pastures by paring and burning ; white crops seldom, at 

 the most one white crop to two green crops. In the preparation of the land for these crops, 

 the scarifier should be frequently employed instead of the plough, as the frequent turning up of 

 such soils becomes more injurious than beneficial. 



From the foregoing series of facts and observations, respecting tlie different grasses 

 and other plants which compose the produce of dry upland pastures, it may fairly be in- 

 ferred, that these plants are not susceptible of that degree of improvement by cultivation, 

 which vv^ould fit them for the support of the larger domestic animals. Sheep may he consi- 

 dered the only stock that can be profitably maintained on such pastures. Still, however, their 

 natural state may be much improved by frequent top-dressings with manure or compost, and at 

 the same time, by sowing the seeds of the grasses which will be mentioned hereafter. The 

 roller should be often used ; the inferior grasses should not be suffered to perfect or shed their | 

 seeds; and the pasture should be closely cropped. By persevering in this mode of treatment, 

 a superior pasture would soon be obtained. 



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