Success of System, etc. 179 



Success of the System as keqaeds Ceops, Stock, and 

 Cultivation. — ^Lord Leicester {vide page 18) foiind that he 

 could produce better crops on poor land without manure than he 

 could produce on good land under the old foiir-course system, it 

 only he laid the former down to grass for a period of not less than 

 six years, and, after ploughing up, began his rotation with 

 turoips. This gave time for the turf to rot, and then he was 

 sure of a good crop of com the following year. My experience 

 is the same as Lord L^cester's, but, as I have explained 

 (page 20), I feel sure that, with the mixtures I suggest, a much 

 better turf can be produced in four years than could be produced 

 in six years with the mixture used by Lord Leicester. The 

 period he requires — a minimum of six years— is, if my mixture 

 with deep-rooting plants be used, longer than is necessary, and, 

 so far as our experiences go, would not be as suitable for a 

 tenant-farmer. I need hardly say that all views on this point 

 must be formed in accordance with the circumstances of each 

 particular locality — i.e., a longer period under grass may suit 

 some districts, and a shorter one other localities. 



Effect of System after Ploughing the Second Turf. 

 — Though the advantages of the system are at once apparent, it 

 is not till the second turf is ploughed up that the immense 

 effect of plant roots as tUlers of the soil is fuUy apparent. The 

 first turf does much, of course, in the way of ameliorating the 

 soil and adding to its bidk ; but the ease with which the second 

 turf is ploughed up, and worked for turnips, shows a complete 

 amelioration of the physical condition of the land, the cause of 

 which is at once apparent when, on closer inspection, you find it 

 to be interpenetrated with rootlets and vegetable matter in 

 various stages of decay. It is now a good nest for plants, and 

 the residts of this are apparent all along the Une, on the turnips, 

 oats, grass, and the hay crops, while a great improvement takes 

 place in the health of the stock — partly from the plants used 

 (some of which, Hke bumet and yarrow, have a proved good 

 effect on the health of sheep), partly from the variety of food 

 existing in the pasture, and partly from the land being in a more 

 healthy condition, as a deeply-aerated soU, well supplied with 

 humus, at once dries up quickly after rain, and yet maintains 

 itself in a sufficiently moist condition from the moisture -retain - 



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