318 On Paring and Burning.[Nov» ;€

if the whole of the vegetable'mould, or that part of tbe soil which is-moved bythe plough, was subjected to the operation of fire, it would, in strong clays, be rendered 50 hard, as to become detrimental to vegetation; but we should recollect that it is but a Small part of this mould which is pared off, a Circumstance not, 972 every occaSton, Sufnciently attended to in discussing the Subject of paring and burning. It is well understood among practical husbandmen, that clays and Strong lands are fertilized by Such applicotions as lessen the cohesionvof their particles, and that friable light Sandy Soils are meliorated by an admixture of Such matter as renders them more adhesive, ime, it is wellknown, when acting on Sandy Particles and molisture.in Soils, Causes them to become more vm or tenacious; clay, on the contrary, when mixed with ihis calcareous Substance, is rendered much less adhesive, ferments with acids, and falls in water. Hence the bencficial effects which result from its application as a manure. Here, however, 1 am Speaking merely of its mechanical operations.=- “That its other operations are highly favourble to the cul- Livator of the 50il I entertain no doubt; but a fu! disquisi- tion of its modus operandi. must, 7f[ veniure on 80 intricate and important a Subject at all, occupy a Separäte paper.

A copious application of the ashes of pared and burnt land 13, almost always, Succeeded by Juxuriant. and productive crops of turnips and corn. Indeed this manure acts and sti- mulates 50 powerfully, that if more than one or two crops of grain are extracted from the land before it receives a consi- derable quantity of dung, Sterility is generally the consequence; and as over cropping 18, In Such Zemptang cases, frequent]y Pursued, it is not Surprising that many landbolders have pro- Nibited the practice of paring and burning on any part of their estates. I1tis, however, uponthe whole not injurious on deep and rich Soils,+ provided it is Sueceeded by judicious manage- ment and a proper application of manures.

[tis generally contended thatglime, or other calcareous mat- ier, applied within two or three Years after paring and burning, Ss either unnecessary or pernicions. What the effects of Such an application may be when the land has not previously, or atthe Same time, been well'dunged either from the told yard, or by Sheep folded on the turnips, I cannot* Say; but I have tound Such mannre highly usefnl when applied with dung. 1 am decidedly hostile to the practice of continuing any descrip- tion of land more than three, four, or ſive years In tillage, till !t be laid down to grass for 6ne, two, or three years; and[ am

| Covered with 50 much tough and coarse herbage as to render breaking wp by the plough, a very difficult and expensive operation.

From experience,