14 
Agriculture of Berkshire. 
ledjjcd, but nothing has tended more to improve the cnltivation 
of the soil than the publication of their Journal ; through it the 
most improved modes of farming have been brought before the 
j)ublic, and the most practical experiments have been discussed 
and particularised, so that the English farmer of the present day 
is no longer left to hold the same opinions, and carry out the 
same svstem that his ancestors and neighbours have done, but 
has the benefit of the most practical and scientific information 
that the world can produce. Of these advantages I may safely 
sav that the farmers of Berkshire have been by no means back- 
ward in availing themselves; in many cases to such an extent 
that to give an account in detail of many of the best systems of 
farming carried <mt in this county would be only to repeat what 
has already more than once appeared in the Journal. If there- 
fore in the following account it should be thought that too little 
is said on some heads, I may state in explanation that I 
purposely avoid useless repetition, that I may be able to say 
mcne on those subjects which have hitherto received the least 
attention. 
Tillage and Cropping. 
Although some of the land in the county is very irregularly 
cropped, vet, from information I have obtained, I find that three 
systems very generally prevail, and that by far the greater por- 
tion is managed under one of them. That mostly in favour on 
the south and south-east of Reading is a 5-course : — 
1st year, Eoots. 
2nd year, Barley or Oats. 
3rd year, Grass. 
4 th year, Wheat. 
5th year, Barley or Oats. 
Some preferring the following : — 
1st year, Eoots. 
2nd year, Oats. 
3rd year, half Clover, half Beans or Peas. 
4th yeai-, Wheat. 
5th year. Barley. 
The former has the preference on the lands which are best cal- 
culated for sheep, the latter on the stronger soils which do not 
carry sheep so well. The course adopted generally in the centre 
of the county and on some of the gravels south-east of Reading 
is the common 4-course : — 
1st year, Roots. 
2nd year, Barley or Oats. 
3rd year, ]iart Grass, part Eape and Tnrnips, fed off for "Wheat. 
4th year, A\Tieat. 
