For remarks,&c,

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COURSE OF CROPPING.

Ix this county, as in all others, there are many occupiers of land to be found, who not being restricted, to a liberal, and just course of cropping, unfairly run out, and impoverish their farms. The taking four crops of corn, or pulse, with only one of turnips, in the course of five years, will ultimately exhaust, and ruin the best land; nevertheless this course is, I fear, very prevalent, in many parts of Berkshire.

The mode of cropping followed by the fair and best farmers, on the South side of the county, is divided into five shifts, thus; first year, a crop of wheat(which has been manured for), next year, barley, then turnips fed off.— The fourth year, bar- ley or oats, laid down with clover; and the fifth year, clover mowed only once. After which, wheat comes round again.

On the Dowyns, different modes of cultivation are fonnd. In some parts, where the black light soil prevails, very little of either wheat, barley, clover, or sainfoin are sown. The first crop is generally turnips; the piece having previously undergone the pernicious practice of burn-baking; which being fed off, puts the land for the present, in pretty good condition for a crop of oats, with which perennial darnel, or as the farmers call it, rye grass, is sown. The piece thus continues three or four years, on a forced system, greatly to the advantage of the tenant no doubt, but at the expence, of ruining the land for ever after, as pastur- age; indeed, what else can be expected from, cutting up, and burning, not only the turf, but every germ of vegetation, na- ture has for ages deposited, to keep up a succession of her- bage.

On the best parts of the downs, aad hills, is found a sixth shift course; viz. the first year, wheat, the second barley, third turnips, fourth oats with seeds, fifth grass, and sixth grass, second year.