194 Success of the Clifton Park System. 



The results have been most satisfactory, and competent practical 

 judges declare that the crop could not be surpassed.* 



The Bank field, now (1904) four years old, shows a fine turf 

 fuU of white clover, the presence of which in quantity is always 

 a sign of a thriving pasture. According to my system, this field 

 ought to have been ploughed up at the close of the year 1904, 

 but the turf has been so good that the field has been left year 

 after year in grass, and it is still (1907) rxuploughed {vide p. 165). 



Next to the Bank field is the Harewells field — a steep stony 

 field — which shows results almost more remarkable than those 

 obtained in the Inner Kaimrig — a crop of hay (first year's grass) 

 of about two tons an acre followed by a fine aftermath. 



I desire to call parlScular attention to these four fields, for they 

 illustrate the chief points of my system, and, by the results prove 

 its value beyond aU possibility of doubt. The beginning of the 

 system, and indeed that on which it entirely rests, is illustrated 

 by the Inner Kaimrig, which has produced a heavy crop of Legu- 

 minosse — clovers and kidney vetch — to feed the grasses sown 

 with them, and thus form them into a rich turf. "With the 

 grasses and Leguminosse are the strong and deeply -rooting 

 chicory and bumet, which keep the soil open — in other words, 

 till and therefore aerate it continuously, till the turf is ploughed 

 up, while the strong and profusely-rooted yarrow adds at once 

 to the value of the pasture and the health of the stock, and 

 leaves behind a large store of vegetable matter. The continua- 

 tion of the system is to be seen in the shape of the turnip crop 

 in the East Countridge field ; a further result of the rotation is 

 ULustrated in the HareweUs field; while the ultimate result is 

 shown in the four -year old pasture of the Bank field, which, as 

 we have seen, will yield a fine and deeply -rooted turf to 

 commence again our rotation system. The cereals and potato 

 crops are always good, and, indeed, the land is now so stored 

 with humus that it is impossible to produce an inferior crop no 



* Note, 1907. — Though I have proved from growing a splendid crop of 

 turnips without any manure other than ploughed down turf, I do not 

 recommend that, from climatic considerations, this should be generally 

 attempted, because, though it would be quite successful in a favourable 

 season, the crop would often require the stimulus of artificial manures to 

 force the growth of the young plants. 



