334 
Agriculture of Norfolk. 
through the ridges, turning out the " muck." In a few days, the 
same harrow which was used before passes up and down the 
ridges, and then across them, thus dispersing the manure equally, 
mixing it with the soil in all parts^ and leaving the surface level. 
The land is then laid in 12-furrow " stetches," across the direc- 
tion in which it was laid for beans. It is drilled with Spalding's 
wheat, about 3 bushels per acre; the rows being 8 inches apart. 
During the time the wheat is growing, the land is hand-hoed, to 
keep it as clean as possible. Indeed, the whole of this course is 
so conducted by Mr. Hudson, as to show that he has made up his 
mind the land shall enjoy all the advanta(/es of perpetual fallow- 
ing ; by which it will, on the other hand, afford him proportionate 
profits, from perpetual cropping. The crops selected being not 
only in the list of the most profitable, but, certainly, such as are 
best suited for following each other, this land, which is adapted 
for both, may grow them successively, without other variations, for 
any length of time, if the above principle (of perpetual fallowing) 
is as constantly acted upon. The last year s crop of beans was a 
good proof that the land has not been injured, as many of them 
had 80 pods on one stalk, and one bean had produced 97 ; the 
produce per acre being also great. Land is not injured by what 
some would call over-cropping ; because, we see, where properly 
treated in other respects, it is not injured by constant cropping. 
It is injured by cropping injudiciously, or taking two crops in 
succession of a similar nature (as wheat after barley, or vice versa) ; 
and there is scarcely any land which ought to grow two white 
crops in immediate succession, as nearly every good tenant-farmer 
will allow. Indeed, I have heard many of them say, that the 
prevention of this is the only really good restriction on a tenant 
as to liis course of cropping. But then comes a more important 
consideration, viz., as to the manner of cropping — that is, whether 
crops are taken from the land without a return equivalent at least 
to what is taken away, as a means of keeping up its productive 
qualities. Also, whether the land is kept in sucli a state of culti- 
vation as to resemble in its freedom from weeds, &c. a well-kept 
garden. If these three points, viz., varying the crops, returning 
wliat is, at least, equal to tliat which is taken, and garden cultiva- 
tion, are combined, I maintain there is no such thing as over- 
cropping — the idea is merely imaginary. To whatever extent 
any of these are neglected, to the same extent will llie land cer- 
tainly be injured. 
Within the last few years great benefit has been derived from 
sowing wliite mustard, not only as a preparation for wheat, but 
also for turnij)s. I mention this here, cas in some degree con- 
firming what I have just slated as to over-cropping. Mr. Nurse, 
jun., of FeltvvcU, near Downham, has this year threshed (of the 
