f'Fest Biding of Yorhshii e. 
295 
the displeasure and apprehension of tlie owners of the soil, and 
probably the ridicule or contempt of their neighbouring occupiers. 
What, for instance, would have been thought of such a rotation as 
the following, and on what may be called rather strong than light 
soil, viz. : — 
1st year. Turnips eaten on. 
2iid „ Wheat. 
3rd[ Seeds and Wliite Clover eaten on and limed the last 
4th ) year for 
5lh „ Wheat. 
6th „ Wheat on the stronger land, and Barley on that 
which is ligliter, 
which is now often practised on some of the best farms of the 
coal district ? The following four-course shift is also very ge- 
neral, viz. — 
1st year. Turnips eaten on. 
2nd' „ Wheat. 
3rd „ Red Clover — and limed for 
4th „ Wheat. 
Having given one instance of the successive, and it may be 
said successful growth of wheat, we must not omit to notice the 
practical confirmation of such a course by a gentleman residing 
6 or 7 miles south-west of Wakefield, and occupying a consider- 
able quantity of strong land. From his habits of business, and 
general ability to form a sound judgment on such a matter, 
coupled with his acknowledged caution in arriving at practical 
conclusions, I esteem his communication the more interesting and 
worthy of consideration. I refer to Mr. Henry Briggs, the intel- 
ligent and indefatigable honorary secretary of the Wakefield 
Farmers' Club, and the author of some very valuable papers read 
before that Society, whom I shall let speak for himself, by quot- 
ing the communication in full with which he has favoured me : — 
" With regard to the system of growing w heat (says Mr. Briggs) 
year after year on the same land, effectively and profitably, I see 
no difficulty, except in Iceeping the land clean, and free from 
weeds. In one of our fields w e have now had wheat 5 years suc- 
cessively, and it is again sown with the same crop. Last year, 
being the fifth, the crop was as good, if not better than any of 
the previous ones, and yielded 12 loads (36 bushels) of good 
merchantable corn per acre, of excellent quality. The means 
adopted have been, to pare the stubble as soon as possible after 
the crop was cleared away, then to collect and burn the same, 
along with any weeds and twitch that might be in the land. 
Afterwards to use a heavy drag or scarifier, which brought to the 
surface any remnants of stubble and weeds, which were again col- 
lected and burnt. The field was then ploughed, and either drilled 
