398 Clover as a Prcparatori/ Crop for Wheat. 
twice for liay, or even only once, and afterwards fed off by 
slieep. Most crops left for seed, I need hardly observe, ex- 
haust the land far more than they do when they are cut down 
at an earlier stage of their growth ; hence the binding clauses 
in most farm leases which compel the tenant not to grow corn 
crops more frequently nor to a greater extent than stipulated. 
However, in the case of clover grown for seed we have, accord- 
ing to the testimony of trustworthy witnesses, an exception to a 
law generally applicable to most other crops. 
Whatever may be the true explanation of the apparent anoma- 
lies connected with the growth and chemical history of the 
clover-plant, the facts just mentioned having been noticed not 
once or twice only, or by a solitary observer, but repeatedly, 
and by numbers of intelligent farmers, are certainly entitled to 
credit; and little wisdom, as it strikes me, is displayed by 
calling them into question, because they happen to contradict 
the prevailing theory, according to which a soil is said to become 
more or less impoverished in proportion to the large or small 
amount of organic and mineral soil-constituents carried off in 
the produce. 
Agricultural experiences contradicting prevailing, and it may 
be, generally current theories, are, unless I am much mistaken, 
of far more common occurrence than may be known to those 
who are either naturally unobservant or unacquainted with many 
of the details of farming operations. Indeed, an interesting 
and instructive treatise might be written on the apparent ano- 
malies in agriculture, and a collection of trustworthy facts of tlie 
kind alluded to would afford valuable hints to intelligent 
farmers, and suggest matter for inquiry to chemists and others 
engaged in scientific pursuits. 
To me it seems inconsistent with the exercise of common 
sense, and opposed alike to the Avhole tenor of a well-regulated 
mind and the progress of scientific agriculture, to discuss ngri- 
cultural matters in the dogmatic spirit too often so painfully 
observable when people meet together for the discussion of 
subjects relating to farm practice ; but still more painful is the 
spirit which pervades tlie writings of certain scientific men who 
are bold enough from isolated, or even a number of analogous 
facts, to frame general and invariable laws, in accordance with 
which they propose to regulate the profession of agriculture. 
That there are certain fixed laws which determine the growth of 
the meanest herb and the mightiest forest tree, no one can gain- 
say, but it may well be doubted whether our corn or forage 
crops would remain as flourishing as they at present are, if, in 
peference to some pretty theory, the farmers of England suddenly 
threw aside their past experience, and endeavoured to grow corn 
