2()4 On tlie Modifications of the Fonr-Coitrse Rotation, S^r. 
advanta<2:e, and the land kept in lii<;li condition and very clean ; 
but in ordinary agricultural localities 1 have observed that it is 
seldom persevered in to the full extent of the farm. 
No doubt the four-course shift is often followed from ne- 
cessity, being required by the terms of the agreement on which 
the farm is held ; but I find that in the case of several 
large estates, embracing a great variety of soils, where this 
five-course is permitted, scarcely any of the tenants avail them- 
selves of it, except to a very limited extent, though they make 
full use of their privilege of growing beans in place of a portion 
of the clover. 
Still I think it very good policy, on the part of landlords, to 
give tenants tlie option of pursuing this system, by permitting 
three-fifths of the arable land to be in white straw-crops. The 
more liberty there is given, the more inducement there will be 
to good farmers to lay out money in improvements, whilst the 
restriction even of a five-course shift will be sufficient to act as 
a check upon bad ones ; and it should always be borne in mind 
that neither agreements nor stringent covenants as to cropping 
can ever convert a bad farmer into a good one. 
It is scarcely necessary to allude to the five-course rotation, 
which is followed in some hilly districts, and on thin poor soils, 
where the clover is allowed to stand for two years, as this is 
a system which modern improvements, by lessening the difficulty 
and expense of cultivation, are rendering less and less necessary. 
The six-course rotation, so common in Scotland, has of late 
years considerably extended in this country ; and there is reason 
to believe that it would be adopted still more frequently if 
farmers were unrestricted by their agreements. 
In this case we have : — 
In the first year .. .. Turnips or other root-crops. 
,, second,, .. .. Barley or oats. 
„ thiril „ .. .. Clover or seeds. 
„ fourth „ .. .. Wheat. 
„ fifth „ .. .. Beans, peas, potatoes, &c. 
sixth ,, .. .. Wheat. 
I have had opportunities of observing this system, as pursued 
on a lias clay in Leicestershire, and also on a mixed soil in 
Ciloucpstershire, and it appears to me to offer several advantages 
on moderately heavy soils, especially on those mixed arable and 
pasture farms, where the root-crop does not form so important an 
item in the farmer's calculations as it does on the lighter soils. 
The risk of failure in the turnip and clover crops is diminished 
by their recurrence only once in 6 years. The reduced breadth 
of turnip or fallow land will generally prevent the necessity for 
bare-fallowing, even on stiff soils, provided that the bean-crop is 
