The first crop after paring and burning, as was observed before, should, if possible, be turnips, and these should be consumed on the spot; but there are exceptions to the rule. The soil may be a stiff clay of a considerable degree of natural fertility, only encumbered with rank weeds and grasses. In this awe the surface is burnt to destroy these, and a crop of corn may safely be taken after the paring and burning, the land coming into a regular alternate rotation after it For example, the next crop may be beans or tares, with a good pro portion of dung; or clover may be sown with the first crop, if the ground appears fit for it The effect of the ashes will be readily per ceived in the luxuriance of the clover. Such land may be afterwards cultivated, according to its nature and quality, with the rest of the farm; or laid down to grass after a course of cleansing and ameliorating crops. Thus old wet meadows, after having been well undenimitied, may be greatly improved, and either converted into arable fields or laid down again with choice grasses.
Old rough pastures have often been greatly improved by a very thin paring and burning, so as not to destroy all the roots of the grass. 11'hen the ashes are spread over the pared surface, some good grass seeds are sown with them. Tho whole is well harrowed or seariaed and rolled, and the grass which will spring up after this will be greatly Improved, and will fully repay the expense of this simple mode of renovating it. This is the cheapest mode of improving coarse pastures that we know, without breaking them up.
The partial paring and burning of the headlands of fields, for the purpose of mixing the ashes and burnt earth with dung in a compost, is a most excellent practice, and often superior to that of using the sods only, without burning them. These sods contain innumerable
seeds of weeds, and eggs or maggots of insects, which are not destroyed by the fermentation of the heap, but on the contrary, are brought to life. The loss of a portion of vegetable matter in the burning is amply compensated by the destruction of these enemies of the future crepe.
It now only remains to take notice of the soils and situations where piling and burning cannot be recommended. Wherever the soil is very loose from a great proportion of silicioue sand in its composition, and is held together chiefly by the slender roots which run through it, the burning would destroy the whole of the vegetable matter ; and the residue would be a mere barren silicious sand, much worse and more porous than it was when held together by the roots. The only way to bring such soils into cultivation is to put clay or marl on them, and to force vegetation by means of liquid and other manures, con solidating them by every means applicable, so that they may retain moisture, and that the manure may not be washed through by the rains. Such soils may be Improved, but they are the most ungrateful of any ; and it Is only necessity and indefatigable industry which can make them produce any crops.
On the whole, the operation of paring and burning, when judiciously applied and properly performed, is a most excellent and cheap improve ment of dry soils, and it will never diminish their fertility, if they are properly cultivated and manured, and a judicious succession of crops is adopted; but on the contrary it will improve their quality and tex ture, and make them more productive.