Autumn Cleaning of Stubbles. 
117 
raised in ridges 27 inches apart early in the following spring 
upon which the turnips are sown. 
On some light lands the improvements have not been so great as 
on the less easily cultivated soils. We are satisfied that the plough 
is used where the grubber or scarifier should be introduced, 
because the work might be done more cheaply and more effec- 
tually by these. Norfolk is perhaps a pattern in this respect. 
Bacon says, " Light lands are ploughed as little as possible, 
because experience has proved that the less weak soils are ex- 
posed to the action of the air in dry weather, the less is the 
exhaustion of their producing powers." Too much publicity 
cannot be given to Mr. Milward's statement in the Society's last 
Journal. Glover's paring plough was used, followed by a single 
ploughing in autumn ; the ground left till May, when it was 
harrowed with light harrows once and the turnips drilled 30 
inches wide. A considerable portion of the crop is valued at 
30 tons per acre. The expense of cultivation could not have 
been more than 15^. Admitting this to be an exceptional case, 
it shows what may be done when the land is in good heart and 
free from running weeds. Once get your land clean and there is 
no great difficulty in keeping it so. What a contrast does this 
present to the old method of two, three, or four spring ploughings 
(by which if you destroyed weeds you injured your land) at an 
expense of 3/. or 4/. per acre ! VVe are aware that the stringency 
of leases in many instances has been a bar to the introduction 
of improved methods of cultivation. Happily this hindrance 
has been generally removed. 
VVe have refrained from saying anything on the application of 
manure, as the subject is sufficiently important to occupy a sepa- 
rate paragraph. So long since as the publication of Mr. Rham's 
' Dictionary,' autumn manuring was esteemed of considerable 
importance. We there read, " The quantity of manure put 
on in autumn, or very early in spring, depends on the means of 
the farm : if 10 cubic yards of short dung can be afforded per 
acre, the turnip crop will amply repay it, and 20 bushels of bone 
dust (or less) will be sufficient to drill with the seed. Long fresh 
manure may be safely ploughed in before winter, which would 
be very improper in a light soil if used in the summer. This 
will be rotten before the turnips are sown, and all the expense of 
forming dunghills and turning them will be saved." Since that 
time the practice has been greatly extended ; it is no longer 
now confined to the leading farmers, but is fast spreading 
as a general custom through the principal counties of England. 
It is undoubtedly a great improvement on the old method ; 
for, who has not had his turnip season seriously damaged 
