96 
On Reclaiming Heath Land. 
far short of general application, and must always be taken with 
some degree of allowance. It would be no diflScult task to lay 
down the best and most approved modes of culture for particular 
localities, possessing an uniformity of soil and climate ; but when 
we consider for one moment that one of the first agriculturists of 
the present day (Mr. Morton) has classified thirty-six different 
varieties of soil in South Britain, admitting, as they must of ne- 
cessity do, of various degrees of intermixtures and incongruities, 
the task can only be accomplished by going at once to gene- 
ralities. The varieties of climate, soil and its properties, situation 
in reference to markets, and various other circumstances of a local 
character, must and will influence very materially the course of 
cropping in every district, which possesses any peculiar feature 
dissimilar to that of others. Under the circumstances detailed, 
the prudent farmer will select that sort of crop and course of 
cropping which are most in accordance with his views of good 
husbandry, and likewise most profitable to himself. Albeit, 
taking a general view of the unreclaimed heath lands of this 
country capable of tillage husbandry or corn culture, we shall 
find that the greatest amount consists of cold, thin, and in- 
ferior soils in endless variety, chiefly in the vicinities of the 
mountain ranges, and partaking more or less of their nature and 
properties as regards their soil and the formations upon which 
they rest. The alternate system of cropping is now so universally 
admitted as the basis of good husbandry, that I shall recommend 
it as a standard rule to keep in view. By the alternate system, I 
mean a green crop between two white ones. Two white crops in 
succession may be admitted, or rather, I ought to say tolerated, 
on virgin soils well limed, and of pretty fair quality ; but one is 
safer, succeeded by a green crop. As I have before stated in re- 
ference to grain, in nine cases out often I consider a crop of oats* 
the safest to commence with, because there is frequently a great 
deal of rough straw as well as grain at first, and consequently 
great irregularity and unevenness in the sample, which will be less 
objectionable in oats than in wheat or barley. In addition to 
which oat straw is more valuable ; and, if cut rather fresh, as it 
ought to be in all cases, it makes excellent fodder with a proper 
allowance of turnips, much better than that of wheat or barley, 
of husbandry in addition to a practical one, notwithstanding the hitter may 
be of greater import. There is nothing like system in all things, and 
sound theory is neither more nor less than well-regulated practice sys- 
tematically arranged. 
* A green crop when desired, and not allowed to seed, may be taken 
first; for it is never objectionable if the land be suitable. Peas and beans 
run too much to straw on new land invarialily. However promising they 
may appear in their early stages, they seldom fail to disappoint the expec- 
tations of the farmer as to their yielding. 
