Farming of Wiltshire. 
163 
strict adherence to this course for many years ; and the following 
rotation has in consequence been adopted by many: — 
1st. Wheat. 
2nd. Bailey, half sown with clover. 
3rd. Half clover, mown for hay ; 
Half vetches and swedes. 
(Winter turnips and rye are sown after the vetches are fed.) 
4th. Half clover, fed, or sometimes broken up and sown 
to green food, such as summer vetches, &c.; 
Half rye, early turnips, rape, &c. 
After the rye is fed the land is sown with turnips. 
In this course, clover is sown only once in eight years ; the 
barley may be sown much earlier, and the produce is consequently 
of a better quality; nor is the quantity found to be deficient. It 
also gives an opportunity of preserving a portion of swedes for 
sheep later in the spring, at the time when they are so much 
wanted ; and the land is also in a higher state of condition for 
the wheat crop. Where there are no water-meadows on the farm, 
to make up for the deficiency of hay from this course of crops, 
there is an extra quantity of sainfoin sown. 
Light Flinty Soils. — There is a lighter description of this soil 
generally termed " beak -land," or down-land, and more of tliis 
kind has been brought into cultivation within these few years 
inasmuch as vast breadths of the downs are broken up every year, 
and not, as was formerly the case, crops of corn taken till, accord- 
ing to a quaint expression, " an old corn would not produce a new 
one," and then laid down " to rest ;" but there is now a more re- 
gular system of culture by the use of artificial manures (bones are 
chiefly used, as best adapted to this soil) : these lands are found 
to produce good crops of corn and turnips. The system of crop- 
ping is generally five-field : — 
1st. Wheat. 
2nd. Swedes or turnips. 
3rd. Oats or barley. 
4th and 5th. Grass two years, or broken up the second 
year for rape and vetches. 
Which practice is found to be a good preparation for wheat, as the 
land is belter manured and rendered firmer by the sheep feeding 
oft the green crop; for on this kind of soil firmness is essentially 
necessary to a good crop of wheat. Harns and yards are conti- 
nually springing up on the hills, consequently manure is made 
wi ere it is most wanted. A large portion of these soils is found 
to carry good crops of sainfoin, of wliich some is commonly found 
on eac h larm. The usual plan is to sow a piece every year, and 
let it stand five or six years: about a tenth, or something more, 
M 2 
