On Breaking vp Grass Lands. 193 
Lands that xhould not be tiroken vp, or conceniing which the farmer should deliberate, 
and be fulli/ satisfied of the nature of the undertaking before he begins. 
Very stifl'clay soil, with little or no surface-soil, and not drained, should be trenched 
and planted. 
Elevated poor sandy or rocky clayey soils should be planted in preference. 
Lands that are poor from the thinness of the soil. 
A'ery light shallow loam on rock, limestone, &c. 
Very thin chalk soil wliich exhibits the naked rock, or coarse debris cf the chalk, on or 
very near the surface. 
Deep moist running sands that cannot be conveniently drained, should be trenched and 
planted. 
Poor clay soils, on a cold-bottomed retentive subsoil, and nortliern aspect. 
Very poor ferruginous sands which are covered with heath, unless in peculiar circum- 
stances. 
Rich feeiling pastures. 
Water-meadows, and those that can by any likely means be converted into water- 
meadows. 
Fine rich alluvial pastures and meadows. 
Accommodation lands near towns. 
Dairy farms Hear /ou'jii : lands which are occupied for the purpose of supplying the 
inhabitants with milk. 
Rich pasture lands. 
Lands which are liable to floods. If converted into arable, the best portion of the soil 
would be in danger of l)eing swilled away. 
Lands adjoining and near to the homestead. This rule is frequently violated on the 
chalk. 
Salt marshes; and doubts may arise about other marshes: locality, and facility for 
draining them, will best determine their eligibility. 
Very stiff clay that would require to be summer fallowed for wheat. Small portions 
for spade culture may be excepted. Such lands may be much improved in pasture 
by draining, and occasional swillings with liquid manure ; and frequent dressings 
with soil, rubbish, road-scrapings, &c., mide into compost, and spread over them 
when practicable. 
The elevation of lands above ihe level of the sea is a matter 
that is worthy of consideration. Lands much elevated, apparently 
possessing the qualities which would in other situations deter- 
mine their eligibility, would not answer, because of the crops not 
ripening in a kind and natural manner. I should hesitate to con- 
vert any land into arable raised more than 1000 feet above the 
sea, unless the aspect was favourable, and the locality not farther 
north than the 53rd degree of north latitude. When situated at 
or beneath this level, aspect will assist us a little in our choice. 
Thus, if we have two fields at an elevation of 1 000 feet, one with 
a southern aspect, sloping away at a gentle angle, and the other 
with a northern aspect, also sloping away with a moderate angle, 
and we wish to convert one of them into arable, our choice would 
naturally fall on the field with a southern aspect, because, at this 
critical point, aspect alone might be sufficient to turn the balance. 
Corn grown above the height of 1000 feet is uncertain of pro- 
ducing good grain : hence, to break up lands much elevated, un- 
less something local sanctioned the proceeding, would be to 
exchange a certainty for an uncertainty— a step which generally 
indicates a deficiency of judgment, and which is of too speculative 
a character for the cautious agriculturist to indulge in, 
VOL. VII. o 
