164 
Farming of Wiltshire. 
may be said to be the average number of acres kept to sainfoin, 
but it varies according to circumstances — such as the nature of the 
soil, the quantity of down attached to the farm, &c. ^ but sainfoin 
is considered indispensable on a stock-farm. 
Heavy White Land. — The general course of cropping the heavy 
white lands of this district is the three-field, this kind of soil being 
best adapted for the growth of wheat ; it is, in fact, the only corn 
crop taken by some farmers, excepting enough of oats and beans, 
&c., sufficient for the use of the farm. Those who do so, sow 
thus : — 
1st year. Wheat; one-third sown with clover. 
2nd year. One-third clover (mown for hay) ; 
One-third beans, oats, peas, or vetches ; 
One-third swedes. (Rye, or winter barley, or 
vetches, are usually sown on a portion of 
the swede field.) 
3rd year. One-third clover, fed, summer tilled or sown to 
green crop ; 
One -third early turnips or rape ; 
One-third rape, or summer vetches : or some 
prefer a clean fallow after the swedes. 
Clover is in this course sown only once in nine years ; and the 
green crops are changed every rotation. It gives an immense 
quantity of green food ; the whole, or nearly so, is fed on the land 
with sheep, which keeps it in very high condition. Tliis system 
is only pursued by the best farmers : the more general one is, — 
1st year. Wheat. 
2nd year. Half cjats, sown with clover ; 
Half swedes, vetches, or beans, &c. 
3rd year. Half clover (mown for hay) ; 
Half turnips, rape, &c. 
But some adopt the following : — 
1st vear. Wheat : half sown to clover. 
2nd year. Half clover (mown for hay) ; 
Half swedes, vetches, oats, &c. 
3rd year. Half clover, fed, or summer tilled; 
Half rape, turnips, summer vetches, &c. 
Horse-corn being so little wanted since the completion of the 
railways, more attention is given to the growth of green crops, 
and less to that of oats and beans, which formerly made one field 
in the course ; and the sheep stock is thereby considerably in- 
creased. 
Sand-Lands. — The sand lands form but a small part of this 
district, and that litde varies considerably in quality, there being 
