Practical Agriculture. 
599 = 533 
utter which might enrich the soil ; but the advantage more 
1 in counterbalances this loss, and the following arguments of 
r. Bra vender in his " Report on the Farming of Gloucester " (in 
■ Royal Agricultural Society's ' Journal,' vol. xi.) still hold 
i od : — " V ery little of the soil is burnt ; but the roots of sainfoin, 
fiass and weeds are converted into ashes ; and the surface couch- 
iss, which so much infests the district, is got rid of and not 
lied by the plough to spread and flourish all summer among 
scanty crop of oats. That which is driven off is principally 
rbonic acid. But, admitting that we suffer some loss, how 
ach do we gain by raising an excellent crop of turnips or 
: edes by the ashes and an admixture of artificial manure, 
thout trespassing on the fold-yard ! And how much do we 
in by having acres of broad leaves stretched out, absorbing 
^ carbonic acid from the atmosphere, which is appropriated 
the bulb, and which, after passing through the stomachs of 
: sheep, becomes deposited on the land ! After burning, we 
1 nsume a crop of turnips on the land ; and white-straw crops 
iould never immediately follow breast-ploughing and burning, 
xnow hundreds of farmers who practise paring and burning, 
t not one who discontinued it unless compelled. I know 
ime landowners have objected to it as injurious, but not of a 
ngle positive injury sustained or loss in letting a farm on 
■lich burning has been practised." It must be remembered 
at the system is not recommended, excepting for the peculiar 
scription of thin soil upon calcareous rubble and rock on 
lich it is found to answer. 
The second crop in the rotation is generally barley, some- 
nes oats, and occasionally spring wheat. Seeds, consisting of 
egrass and red and white clover or trefoil, are sown on the 
owing crop ; the seeds are mown for hay, the aftermath is 
)azed, and the layer is ploughed up for the fourth crop in the 
Mirse, wheat ; the ploughing and sowing being early, namely in 
Jgust and beginning of September on the lighter lands. Heavy 
lling follows the plough, and cultivating and harrowing clean 
e seed-bed. On the lightest soils it is general to keep the 
xls down for two years, thus making a five-field course, — the 
■ading of the sheep giving the requisite solidity to the land, 
lile their droppings enrich it for the wheat. The six-course 
tation is still practised to some extent ; oats being taken after 
3 wheat. 
On the strong lands in the Vales, where dairy-farming is the Crops in the ; 
'itinguishing husbandry, bare fallow is not so common as it 
IS a few years since ; vetches or trefoil being grown, fed off 
sheep, and the land then bastard-fallowed ; and on the strong 
ims mangolds, swedes, and carrots have been largely in- 
