572 



Autumn Cleaning of Wheat- Stubbles, 



This last point is the only one about which there may he some 

 doubt ; at least farmers think that, after vetches, some land is not 

 kind for turnips. Mr. Bond's whole statement, however, is most 

 valuable ; not that it is new to grow either rye or vetches for 

 spring keep. What is new is to grow them on so large a scale : 

 what is especially new and especially deserving the attention of 

 us south-country farmers, is the autumn-cleaning of our wheat- 

 stubbles. I say — of south-country farmers, because it is now an 

 admitted fact that we cannot sow swedes or turnips early, nor 

 thus compete in the bulk of that crop with the cooler parts of the 

 island. Feeding off rye and vetches and winter-oats will there- 

 fore less interfere with our turnip- sowing. During our June 

 droughts the vegetation of young crops on our shallow soils is 

 almost suspended. We have no choice, then, but to take an 

 early green and a late root crop, if we would make the most of 

 our land. Two objections, indeed^ may be made to the early 

 cleaning of wheat-stubbles ; one by the landlord, who wants har- 

 bour for partridges; the other by tenants of the old school, who 

 let their flocks run over this poor but dear keep, feeding on couch 

 till December. I am sorry to say that in taking to land I have 

 had this kind of food valued to me at JOs. per acre. But such 

 prejudices will, of course, give way. For my own part, I have 

 found already the advantage of the practice, and intend to follow 

 it up. I hope to raise sheep-keep on most of my wheat-stubbles, 

 except those intended for mangold, which should be sown early 

 in spring ; and the point I shall aim at will be, as far as prac- 

 ticable, never to see my land naked. I have now very few acres 

 of wheat-stubble left to clean, and the greatest part of my farm 

 is green within three weeks of Christmas. The change of system 

 may, of course, require time, and the more time the fouler the 

 land. But if a farmer will only believe that the change has been 

 made by others, will consider the expense and worry to be saved 

 by cleansing his land once for all, as well as the advantage of 

 early keep for his flock, I think he will admit that the Suffolk 

 practice deserves imitation. 



Fusei/, Dec. 5, 1847. Pii. Pusey. 



XXVll. — On a Variety of Italian Rye- Grass, By W. 

 Dickinson. 



To Lord Portman. 



My Lord, — Your Lordship's request that I should furnish the 

 readers of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal with all the 

 information I possess as to the culture of Italian rye-grass is the 



