East Riding of Yorkshire. 
115 
on the principle of a coulter-drill, so that the seed can be sown in 
rows 3 inches apart, and about 2 inches beneath the surface. At 
first it was thought there was much advantage in thus sowing the 
seed at a uniform depth, and that by the spreading of the plant 
all marks of the rows would in the following summer be oblite- 
rated. In practice, however, on the weak Wold soils at least, 
this is not found to be so. Owing to the seed being too much 
crowded together, the traces of the drill are never entirely lost, 
the plants are found to be not so vigorous as should be, and there- 
fore this mode of drilling is not so much used as formerly. 
Although an admixture of rye-grass amongst the clover-seeds 
cannot be said to be a general practice on the Wolds, yet many 
farmers affirm the utility of it, and of these, it must be admitted, 
there are some who are distinguished for their general superior 
style of farming. They contend that rye-grass furnishes the ear- 
liest spring-food, and is therefore most valuable for their ewes 
and lambs during that hungry period which occurs betwixt the 
finish of the turnips and the growth of the clovers. That in this 
way rye-grass is very valuable there is no doubt. It may be ques- 
tioned, however, whether this advantage is not counterbalanced by 
the detriment occasioned by it to the succeeding white corn-crops, 
by the violation of the well-known rule that crops of the same 
genus should not succeed each other. 
The most experienced farmers of this district think it advisable 
to apply nearly the whole of their fold-yard manure to the clovers, 
growing their turnips with hand-tillages, such as bones, guano, 
superphosphate, &c. By many it is thought that the most fitting 
time for putting manure upon the clovers is in the autumn, imme- 
diately after the field has been cleared of its grain. Many, on the 
other hand, persist in the practice of deferring to manure the 
clover-lea until within a month or six weeks before sowing it with 
wheat. In favour of the latter way it is argued, that wheat upon 
poor Wold soils requires much encouragement; that the vegetable 
matter afforded by the clover-lea may provide pabulum to the 
young plant during its early progress, but that on these soils there 
is a lack of nutrition in the spring-time, when the tillering process 
begins ; and that this nutrition is best supplied by having well 
manured the ground a month or so before seed-time. In support 
of the former system it is urged — and here it will be observed 
that practice is coincident with science — that fold-yard manure 
should in all cases be applied to green and not to grain crops ; 
and further, that a good covering of fold-yard dung serves to 
protect the young clovers from winter frost; that a luxuriant 
summer pasturage is greatly promoted (if not altogether secured) 
by a previous autumnal manuring ; that at all events none of the 
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