TJie Chalk District. 
293 
middle of May, when, indeed, it is too late for barley but in 
good time for turnips, and when also the grass will bs surely 
ready for the sheep. Thus there will be an abundance of greoi 
food, a regular succession of it, and facility for its leisurely con- 
sumption. I have heard the opinion too often expressed to doubt 
its accuracy, that barley taken after wheat is a more even crop, 
and of a kinder quality for malting, than after turnips, the 
folding on wliich makes the ground too rank for bailey ; but, 
what is the barley's bane is the wheat's blessing. This wants 
manure, and that of the fold is the most economical. The 
treading of the sheep, too, on the soft turnip-ground (if it rain, 
so much the better) is highly beneficial, and consolidates tlu^ 
land more than folding on clover-ley would.* There is no 
presser like their thin, sharp, cloven feet. Wheat thrives here 
as well, or better on turnip-break than on clover-ley (though this 
is not the case elsewhere on lighter chalk soils), and, besides, 
there is no danger of wireworm. The labour also is better dis- 
tributed for men and horses, who, as well as the shepherd, are 
hurried at a busy time to get in barley after swedes. There is 
still an opjwrtunity of slipping in a crop of stubble-turnips, of 
rve, or of vetches, between the wheat and the barley, if wanted, 
and circumstances are favourable. 
When two turnip-crops are taken in succession, as in the 
Wiltshire and three-course systems, a larger supply of sheep- 
food is provided, and consequently a larger stock of sheep 
kept (the great desideratum). The second crop of turnips, after 
folding on the swedes, is more certain, and increased depth of 
agricultural soil can be gained. Deep-ploughing is the uni- 
versal remedy for a thin staple ; subsoil must be turned up from 
time to time, exposed to the air, and added to the surface soil ; 
but for wlieat deep-ploughing will not do : the ground is not 
sufficiently consolidated, and the plant will heave in the winter 
frosts ; moreover, there will be brought up charlock and the red 
poppy (" the red weed," it is called in this country), which can- 
not be kept down by any amount of hoeing which wheat can 
receive, and which will accordingly grow up with and stifle the 
good seed. Now, for both of the turnip crops you can plough 
as often and as deeply, and hoe as much, as you like ; while in 
the second turnip crop there is a certainty of effectually subduing 
the weeds which escaped in the first year, and of leaving the 
land perfectly clean for wheat. 
* Just by way of contrast, and to show how mucli good farming is a matter of 
adaptation to circumstances, it may be mentioned, that Mr. Hughes of Thorness is 
inventing a boarded stage, on wheels, drawn by a wire rope and anclior at the 
headland, for the purpose of folding sheep. He believes, that if by this means the 
dung can be had, without consolidation by treading, one of the greatest possible 
benefits mil have been conferred on the heavy land fanner. 
