Agriculture of the Scilly Isles. 
383 
A general practice prevails of gradually stripping off the 
leaves of tbe mangolds in the autumn for the use of cattle. The 
roots are not, as a rule, pulled till January or even February. 
They are then thrown into heaps, and left iincovered. 
Swedes and turnips are drilled in rows 16 inches apart. White 
carrots are produced in limited quantity. The soil of Scilly 
appears well adapted lor them. Beans, peas, and vetches are not 
grown except on the proprietor's farm. 
Rotation of Crops. — The following courses of cropping are 
employed : — 
(1) 1st year. Wheat, laid down with seeds. 
2nd year. Seeds. 
3rd year. Early pototoes, followed by mangolds. 
In this rotation the manm'e is only applied to the potatoes. 
(2) Early potatoes, followed by mangolds, the same crops 
being repeated year after year. 
This practice is onh^ carried out in sheltered fields^ which are 
well suited for the growth of early potatoes. We saw a field of 
mangolds which had been so cropped for twenty years in 
succession. 
(3) 1st year. Wheat, laid down with seeds, 
2nd year. Seeds. 
3rd year. Seeds. 
4th year. Seeds. 
5th year. Potatoes. 
{4) 1st year. Barley, laid down with seeds. 
2nd year. Seeds, 
ord year. Seeds. 
4th year. Potatoes, followed by mangolds. 
The seeds are sometimes only left down for one year. Tn 
exceptional instances, where there happens to be a very good 
plant, they are allowed to remain six or seven years 
(5) 1st year. Potatoes, followed by mangolds. 
2nd year. Rye. 
This rotation is used in St. Martin's, on poor sandy land near the 
.shore. On better land barley is sown instead of rve. 
Manures. 
Seaweed abounds on the rocky shores, and the Scillonians 
use it freely. During the gales, for which these islands are 
famous, large quantities are washed up by the waves. At Old 
Town, St. Mary's, the farmers join together to cut seaweed, 
bringing what men and horses they can muster. The heaps 
■thus obtained are afterwards fairly divided. In other districts 
