Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/22

4] can be selected for this purpose, is horse or pigeons' dung, malt-dust, chalk, &c.

Clay-ground is naturally steril, because it adheres together in masses. This defect may, however, be remedied, by mixing with it burnt clay; which tends to correct the cold nature of the soil, and will, by proper tillage, yield most excellent crops.

A remarkable instance of rural industry, in rendering a wet clayey soil uncommonly productive, occurs in the 28th volume of the Annals of Agriculture. The land was two perches in width, and gently arched up, so that the crown of the ridge was about 2, or $2 1⁄2$ feet higher than the bottom of the furrow. These ridges were gently rounded off, so as to describe the form of a segment of a very large circle, then disposed into double beds, and well manured. The fertility of the soil was farther promoted, by adapting the course of crops to its nature; namely, by sowing, 1st, beans; 2d, wheat; and, 3d, clover. In this succession, the beans were set upon a clover-lay, which saved much time, in preparing the land after the common way; and being sown just before, or immediately after, Christmas, they were ready to be hoed in the dry weather, usually occurring towards the end of February, or the beginning of March: by this management, they were brought so forward, that they could be cut in July or August. It is an error in agriculture, that beans cannot be left too long on the ground. They should be harvested while most of the pods are quite green; by which means a fine sample is secured, and the straw rendered incomparably better. Alter the beans, wheat was sown; and over that, in the month of March, or April, from 15 to 20lbs. of clover-seed per acre, which, in the following year, was mown twice for hay. These crops are particularly valuable on strong soils, where oats and barley never thrive well; and even if a large crop of either should be raised, it would be of a very inferior quality. Hence we recommend a similar course to be pursued, as the labour and expence necessarily incurred, will be amply compensated by perseverance and industry.  CLEAVERS, or Clivers. See.  CLIFF-KALE, or Sea-Kale. See.  CLERGY,, is an ancient privilege, by which a person in holy orders may claim to be delivered to his ordinary, to purge himself of felony. It was formerly confined exclusively to the clergy, but has been extended, since the Reformation, to the laity. Accordingly, by the 1. VI. c. 12, all Lords of Parliament, and Peers of the Realm, shall be discharged, in all clergyable and other felonies, provided for by the act, without being burnt in the hand, or transported—or at most being imprisoned only for one year—in the same manner as real clerks convict are. By the same act, all the commons, not in orders, whether male or female, shall, for the first offence, be discharged of the punishment of felonies, within the benefit of clergy, on being burnt in the hand, and suffering a discretionary imprisonment; or, in case of larceny, on being transported for seven years, if the court shall think proper.  CLIMATE, is a term usually given to any country or region, that