favourable for the Groicth (f Seed. 
51 
soil, and tlicreby cliocks the germin.atlon of tlic seed, and renders 
it iiTegular. In the same manner, but in a greater degree, when, 
by compression, we get an adhesion of the soil, the seed thus 
enclosed is deprived of the access of air, and cannot make its 
growth. The stronger and more adhesive the natural character of 
the clay may be, the greater is the caution necessary to have it 
well prepared for the seed early in the season, so that it may be 
sown in good time, and the surface left in a tolerably rough 
state. These clods of soil will be a good shelter in the winter 
months, and, by the return of spring, will have mellowed down 
into a nice mould, valuable to the young plant when the impor- 
tant operation of spring-rolling is carried out ; but care must be 
tivken in doing this not to get on to the land too quickly. Now, 
although I advise that the field be left rough after sowing for the 
winter months, I must not be supposed to suggest a negligent 
mode of finishing the work of preparation ; for 1 admire a neatly- 
finished field of corn, and look upon it as an indication of general 
good management. The surface may be allowed to remain 
rough ; but, as soon as the implements have finished their work, 
the labourers should proceed to make clean and sufficient funows 
and watisr-gutters, so as to prevent any lodgment of water upon the 
surface. This should be done whether the land be underdrained 
or not. Fertilising as the passage of the water undoubtedly is, 
I would A ery much rather not retain it upon the land for this 
purpose during the winter months. 
The next preparation for wheat we have to notice will be 
upon land which has produced a crop of autumn-feed or early 
roots — for instance, rape, vetches, cabbage, mangold, potatoes,, 
&c. The soils upon which this system is adopted will be 
rather lighter than those we have noticed, so that we may de- 
scribe them as medium clays. These terms are necessarily com- 
parative and also much under the influence of climate ; for a clay 
of medium character in a wet climate will require more care- 
ful management than a strong clay in a dry climate, and thus we 
often find an apparent discrepancy in evidence and opinion, 
when, in fact, persons are disputing upon circumstances which 
do not fairly admit of comparison. I have nothing to say here 
on the question whether for a strong clay a bare fallow is prefer- 
able to a crop of autumn-food, or otherwise ; I will only observe 
that the majority of the occupiers of stiong clay lands, who 
argue against bare fallows as unnecessary, live in the drier 
climates of England, where the difficulties arising in the manage- 
ment of such clay soils, are much reduced. I prefer, however, to 
take the course of cropping as it may exist, and therefore, w ith- 
out further comment, proceed to notice the preparation of wheat 
upon clay soils after an autumn green-crop or beans. 
E 2 
