HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE CROP. 



271 



to soils most ungenial to the growth of turnips, and which 

 would be greatly improved by the cultivation of flax, both as 

 respects the following crops of wheat, and the diff'usion of 

 manure from cattle fattened upon the seed. 



In the course of my travels, I have seen many thousand 

 acres lying fallow, and imperfectly tilled, mainly through a 

 deficiency of manure. The farmers, being unable to grow 

 turnips, could obtain but little in winter ; and for the want of 

 box-feeding, still less in summer. But were the culture of flax 

 judiciously introduced, with a proportionate quantity of peas 

 or beans, upon the farms to which I allude, and the crops ap- 

 propriated to rearing and fattening of cattle, manure would 

 be abundant, and the farmer obtain an ample return in the 

 shape of meat, of butter, and of wool. He would also be placed 

 upon an equality with the best turnip districts in the kingdom, 

 with the advantage of growing greater crops of corn ; because, 

 if turnips can accomplish so much for sand, doubtless the seed 

 of flax will do more for clay. 



The value of the stalks beyond that of litter depends upon 

 management ; of which, the farmer being ignorant, it would 

 be necessary at first to obtain instructors, when that part of the 

 crop will be found not the least important. My present object 

 is to show that the seed alone remunerates. Common sense, 

 stimulated by the claims of an unemployed population, will 

 soon devise the proper method of disposing of the fibre. An 

 intelligent correspondent observes, " I am desirous to afford 

 my tenants and neighbours every information which may tend 

 to improve the system they now pursue, being convinced that 

 it is only by an increase of home produce that farmers can 

 hope to surmount the difficulties under which they are at 

 present labouring." 



Similar opinions and sentiments are daily forwarded to me 

 from every part of the kingdom. They are in perfect accord- 

 ance with my own, but home produce can only be profitably 

 increased from our own resources ; and to what expedient can 

 we resort, except to the introduction of a crop that will provide 

 food for our cattle, manure for our land, and employment for 

 our people ? 



I was present at the dinner of the Agricultural Protective 



