388 
On a Course of Croppiufj adopted in Kent. 
swedes or mangold. A part of this crop should be mown for the 
horses, &c. ; the rest consumed by fatting sheep. 
After tares, swedes or white turnips are drilled as on the light 
land. One-third of this crop is carted home, and the rest fed off 
on the land. 
After rye follows mangold. The ground is ploughed deep, 
and the mangold drilled. As a sure, safe, and cheap crop, the 
mangold stands pre-eminent : for breeding-ewes in spring it is 
invaluable. 
2. Oats. The foregoing crops tend to lighten and fertilize 
the soil, so that we look for a good crop of oats. Here the 
horse and hand hoe ought to be kept in constant action, and 
when the crop is carted the cultivation of the gratten must be 
vigorously carried out. 
3. Beans. Manured with dung, drilled in rows about 18 
inches apart. They should be kept clean, and, as soon as con- 
venient, turnips should be sown between the drills. Turnips fed 
off with fat sheep. 
4. Wheat. 
5. Barley. 
6. The clover mown twice, and then dunged for wheat. 
7. Wheat. 
8. Oats. As soon as convenient after broadsharing the wheat 
gratten, I plough it on the heave. 
I have thus stated the system which I have found most con- 
ducive to profit for my own soil and climate. I am too well 
aware of the great variety to be found in the qualities of soils 
(some being tenacious in the extreme, whilst others are of a com- 
paratively pliable nature) to believe that these methods admit of 
universal application. With poor farming it cannot be applied 
with advantage to any soil, but tluit objection is very little to the 
purpose. 
I may observe, however, that on the chalky soils of Kent the 
four-course rotation is still profitably maintained ; and, in my 
opinion, very few and slight deviations could there be beneficially 
introduced. A crop of oats after wheat, aided by a top-dressing 
of artificial manure, may, however, even here occasionally answer 
its purpose well. 
Preston Hall Farm, Aylesford. 
