12 
There is a]so the great advantage in autumn culti¬ 
vation, that where stubble land, whether heavy or light, 
is foul with weeds, we thus clear out these harbourages 
of future Fly attack. 
Passing on now to the large proportion of cases in 
which autumn cultivation appears impossible from con¬ 
siderations of climate or other reasons, the same prin¬ 
ciples at least are applicable, and I quote some excellent 
advice on this head from the ‘Prize Essay’ by Mr. 
Vallentine, of Leighton-Buzzard, published in the 
‘ Journal of the Pioyal Agricultural Society,’ in 1856. 
He says, “ When the season does not permit of autumn 
cleaning the successful chance of growing a Turnip crop 
on light land rests upon early working in spring.” He 
considers one ploughing in spring amply sufficient for 
Turnips in light land, and that this should be given in 
April at the latest; in another place he says, “Dry 
Turnip soils should be moved in March or the beginning 
of April at the latest,” and cleaning should be done as 
early as weather and working of the soil will permit. 
After the April ploughing the use of the scarifier is 
advised for the reasons before mentioned, that it pulve¬ 
rises the soil and brings up weeds, but exposes little or 
no fresh soil on the surface ; and attention is forcibly 
drawn to the state of a foul field cleaned late in the 
season, where, by ploughing, dragging and harrowing, 
the soil is so perpetually turned over to the effects of 
sun and air, that the moisture is as completely dried out 
of it as out of grass which is perpetually turned over to 
convert it into hay. 
The importance of keeping the moisture in the ground 
at sowing time, was brought forward repeatedly last year 
amongst the methods of preventing Fly attack. The 
advice is given “ to work the ground down early in the 
spring to keep it damp ” ; also that it was found to be 
good treatment for the land “to be cultivated and 
manured early, and, after being ploughed twice, made 
very fine and let remain rolled down for about nine days 
before planting.” It is also advised, “on heavy clay 
