294 
On the Farming of the 
its proper share of manure tillage in order that the arable land 
may have the more. Much of this grass is mown year after 
year, until, notwithstanding its proximity to the dunghill, its 
produce is manifestly on the decline both in quantity and quality. 
Most of the arable land is, as I have said, cropped irrespective of 
system ; potatoes, wheat, clover, potatoes, wheat or cabbages, is a 
common course. And again, white crops in succession with a 
green one every third or fourth year, is not uncommon. The 
green crops alternate between potatoes, swedes, red clover, tares 
and oats, carrots, cabbages, and cauliflower-brocoli, of the two 
latter of which fields of some extent are often to be seen, par- 
ticularly in the neighbourhood of Wakefield and one or two other 
places. A continuous succession of wheat crops too is not con- 
fined to a solitary example. Within the last few days I have 
seen a crop of wheat now growing on a field at Horbury (and 
which certainly from present appearances promises to be a full 
one) that for the last 30 years has grown wheat every year, with 
four exceptions. The following is a correct "statement of the 
cropping of a field belonging to Mr. Wm. Holt, of Horbui"y, near 
Wakefield, situated on the banks of the river Calder; sod 
alluvial — 
1819 to 1824 
inclusive 
, 6 years, Wheat. 
1825 . 
1 
„ Beans. 
1826 to 1828 
)5 
3 
„ Wheat. 
1829 . 
1 
,, Barley. 
1830 to 1841 
5) 
12 
„ Wheat. 
1842 . 
1 
„ Fallow. 
1843 to 1845 
J) 
3 
„ Wheat. 
1846 . 
1 
Po:atoes, slightly manured. 
1846 to 1848 
J5 
3 
,, Wheat. 
Mr. Holt says, "The reason why I fallowed the land in 1842 
was, that there were many wild oats got among the wheat ; but at 
the same time the land, in other respects, was in as good condition 
as for many years before. I have not given this land any manure 
for 25 years, except about 4 dozens of lime and a few ashes, and 
it has averaged 13 and 14 loads of wheat, or 39 and 42 imperial 
bushels per acre. I have another close which I have sown 
11 years out of 14 with wheat; and the other three years it had 
beans, barley, and turnips." 
The ready markets and comparatively higher value of produce 
in these districts, coupled with the greater facility of procuring 
manure, not only stimulate the smaller occupiers within easy 
reach of the towns to what might otherwise prove an impoverish- 
ing course of cropping, but they also conduce to some of the 
larger and more enterprising farmers adopting a system which, a 
few years ago, would certainly have brought down upon them 
