We come now to the second branch of the subject, the manuring of clay soils, or those where turnips are not taken as a first crop. Such, it is presumed, include at least three-fourths of Great Britain, though recent circumstances may have lessened their extent conside rahlv.
Upon all soils incumbent on a wet or close bottom, whether characterized as clay, loam, or moor, it may be laid down as a primary principle, that dung cannot be profitably applied, as while the ground is tinder the process of summer fallow. Theorists, and half bred agriculturists, may reason as they please a•.inst a continuation of this ancient practice ; they may assert, with the utmost confidence, that immense benefit would be gained by laying it aside, and resorting to the drill system ; but their arguments will have little effect upon people practically acquainted with the management of argillaceous soils, who do not take one season as a ride, but arc guided by the dictates of common sense, ac quired, during successive years, in the school of expe rience. Whatever dispute may have happened on this subject among theorists, the opposite side of the ques tion is rarely espoused by actual farmers, who have farmed wet lands ; even those whose practice in some degree sanctioned a contrary opinion, or had been in fluenced to make temporary deviations by motives of expedience, not by general principles. It is sometimes necessary for such to raise a few turnips, in order that live-stock may be enabled to meet a market, or be pre served at a critical period ; others have partially resorted to this culture, as the means of rotting dung, but, under whatever impressions they acted, few or none ever judged that such deviations could be defended upon abstract principles, though certainly they might be sup ported by expediency and existing circumstances. In clined to believe that such are the ruing sentiments of British agriculturists, we shall enter upon the im portant question, flow, and in what manner, can dung be most profitably applied to clay lands, or those, of whatever variety they may be composed, as are incum bent upon a close bottom or sub-soil ? It has already been noticed, that w hen the ground is under the process of summer fallow, it is then the best iid mot appropriate time for applying manure to clay soils. When under this process, the soil, comparatively speaking, is reduced into minute particles, which fords an opportunity of conveying the virtues of manure through the veins or pores of all its parts. The soil,
at that time, is also freed from its aboriginal inhabitants, -ofd other root-weeds, who claim a preferable right of support ; hence the artificial plants, afterward:, cult,vated, possess, without a rival, such supplies as have been granted, without any deduction whatever. In short, without laying any stress upon elementary effects during the process, it does not admit o1 a doubt, that the same quantity of manure, bestowed upon the ground when summer followed, will produce a greater return to the occupier, titan if it had been applied at any other stage of the rotation.
Under these impressions, it appears that clung should not be laid upon follows before they are completely cleaned ; though, no doubt, in wet summers, that ope ration is not easily accomplished. To make sure work, the follows, if possible, should be early stirred, and no opportunity slipped of putting them forward with the utmost expedition ; for it rarely happens, at least in Scotland, that much good can be done towards the de struction of root-weeds after the month of July. Before that time, a judicious Farmer will have his fallow dressed up, and in a suitable state for receiving dung. It should be well harrowed, if the weather is favourable, previous to the dung being laid on ; and if rolled, or made smooth, the spreaders will be enabled to perform their task with much more precision.
At the proper season, every other operation ought to be laid aside, so that dung may be expeditiously drove out. To do it in wet weather is attended with perni cious effects ; the horses are oppressed, a longer time is required, the land is poached, and in some measure deprived of all benefit from the previous fallow. These circumstances will be reflected upon by the attentive farmer ; they will stimulate him not to lose a moment when the weather is favourable, and prevent him from forcing on the work, when injury rather than benefit may be expected. After all, seasons are sometimes so perverse, as to render every rule nugatory. These must, however, be taken as they come ; avoiding at such times to break the land down, acclivating the ridges suffi ciently, and keeping the water-furrows completely clear. By attending to these matters, opportunity may be laid hold of, by the active farmer, several days sooner than by his slovenly neighbour ; or at least the work will be executed in a much more perfect way than if they had been neglected.