318 



On the Farming of Suffolk. 



given to this kind of burning. After the first thwarting of the 

 fallow (cross-ploughing) J and as soon as the land is dry, 

 11 the clods are worked by harro wings and rollings into 

 about the size of a hen's egg ; these clods are raked into 

 \ rows, and the accompanying drawing shows a fork which 



I is used to gather the small clods into heaps ready for 



ti|fl|^ burning: the adv^antage of so many tines is, that the 

 ?H'l'j Hj| fork takes all the clods and leaves the dust. The tines 

 ^ <- -> are 1 inch wide, with J inch interstices. 



The clods are burnt in small heaps, with haulm and bean- 

 stalks, or furze brought from a distance. The burnt earth is 

 then spread on the land and thwarted in (that is ploughed across 

 the direction in which the land is ploughed when laid up in 

 stetches for sowing). The cost for labour in burning about 50 

 chaldron loads per acre is IO5. With this dressing of burnt earth, 

 it is asserted that better turnips are grovm than with the usual 

 dressing of mixed manure, and that they are always certain of a 

 good crop of barley after burning: the soil is a strong loam. 



The following information respecting clod-burning was obtained 

 from Mr. Cluttern, of Tannington^ a farmer in the neighbourhood 

 of Framlingham. He states that clod-burning has been practised 

 from 15 to 16 years; the present price of raking clods and for 

 burning is from 7s. to 85. per acre, and a man will burn nearly 

 half an acre in a day ; 2s. per acre is paid for spreading the 

 ashes. The quantity burnt per acre about 35 three quarter loads 

 (27 bushels) : and he considers that this dressing of burnt earth 

 is equal in effect to any coat of muck. 



It takes 1 waggon load of haulm " (stubble) to burn acre ; 



1 load of furze will burn 2i acres, and 1 load of bean-stalks 



2 acres. 



In burning it is necessary to clear away the loose soil from the 

 bottom of the heap before the fire is lighted, and of course to 

 light on the windward side. The fires are made about a rod 

 apart^ and from 5 to 6 bushels is burnt in each heap. The 

 quantity done of this description of burning depends upon the 

 weather, though many farmers burn their fallows every 4 years. 

 The following crops were obtained from a single coat of burnt 

 earth, which shows its effect on this kind of soil : — 



1st year. Fallow, clods burnt for turnips, but too late for 

 roots. 



2nd year. Barley, 7 quarters per acre. 

 3rd year. Peas. 



4th year. Wheat, 6 quarters 1 pk. per acre. 

 5th year. Barley. 



Burnt earth is considered by many farmers as the best prepa- 

 ration for turnips ; and it certainly makes the adhesive soil work 



