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Farming of South Wales* 



course cannot be defended on the principles upon which the rota- 

 tion of crops are founded, yet it is practically found to be one best 

 suited to the good land of this district:- — 1. Turnips; 2. Wheat; 

 3. Clover ; 4. Wheat ; 5. Barley. Turnips flourish better when 

 supplied with small portions of manure and guano combined, than 

 if dressed only with the same value of each. Hand and horse 

 hoeing cannot be too frequently or too carefully performed, and a 

 portion of the turnips should be consumed on the land by the 

 store sheep. Spring wheat flourishes well in this climate, and 

 has long been cultivated with success. So early as the end of 

 the sixteenth century, the Lord of Kemmes says, " Somer wheat 

 is sowed in the latter ende of March, or beggining of April. It 

 is a profitable grain, and yieldeth more increase than winter 

 wheat." Mr. Davies observes, " Spring wheat seems well 

 adapted to succeed turnips on soils not below mediocrity." He 

 also mentions instances of wheat being sown on the 1st of May, 

 and ripening within nine days of barley sown in the same field 

 and at the same time. An intelligent farmer in this neighbour- 

 hood last year did not finish sowing his wheat till May, and even 

 with that drenching sunless summer, it was cut in the early part 

 of September, and produced above 32 bushels per acre. There 

 is thus plenty of time to clear the turnips off the land ; but there 

 is an objection urged against growing clover with the spring wheat, 

 as it invariably runs up so high, that when the wheat is cut in the 

 short days of September, the quantity of clover will never die, 

 and it is often found impossible to save the corn. This results 

 from sowing the seed early ; but suppose the wheat to be sown in 

 February, some time in April it may require to be hoed. After 

 that operation let the clover be sown, and a good bush-harrow 

 on wheels, or a light seed-harrow, be used to cover the seed. 

 If hoeing be not required, the harrow will do just as well. There 

 will then be no trouble with clover at harvest ; it will not use- 

 lessly expend itself, and there is sure to be a good plant, as wheat 

 seldom lodges, and so grows that it readily admits air to the 

 young seeds. Should the land be required to be laid down for a 

 term of years, the natural grass seeds can be sown with the spring 

 wheat instead of clover. About one-fourth of the land allotted 

 for clover should be sown with rye for spring feed, and vetches 

 for soiling in yards, to be followed by rape, which grows beauti- 

 fully here. This, fed off by sheep, would be a capital preparation 

 for the wheat-crop, and prevent the too frequent repetition of 

 clover. After wheat and barley, with the natural tendency of the 

 soil to produce couch, and the uncertainty of a sufficiency of dry 

 weather to clean the land for the root- crop, it would be unwise to 

 grow a large quantity of vetches before turnips. Wheat sown on 

 clover-ley is considered liable, in this climate, to be choked with 



