vbl. sb. [f. FALLOW v.2 + -ING1.]
1. The action or operation of plowing and breaking up land; an instance of this.
c. 1450. Lat. & Eng. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 618. Varracio, valwynge.
1532. Hervet, Xenophon’s Treatise of Housholde (1768), 63. Falowynge and styrrynge of the grounde, helpeth very moche to the sowynge.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 40. At the first fallowing they marle the grounde.
1669. J. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 35. These several Ploughings or Fallowings are very advantageous to Ground in several respects.
1789. Trans. Soc. Encourag. Arts, I. 139. [The field] had received two fallowings.
2. The method or system by which land is plowed, etc., and then allowed to lie uncropped for a time; an instance of this. Also bare-, summer-fallowing.
1669. J. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 9. For the same reason are the Summer-Fallowings advantageous to the Husbandman, not only for the destroying of the weeds.
1765. A. Dickson, Treat. Agric., III. (ed. 2), 392. With the assistance of fallowing, [the land] carries very good crops.
1777. Nimmo, Stirlingshire, 434. The least smatterer in agriculture too, will easily perceive the advantages which that sort of soil must derive from summer fallowing.
1807. Vancouver, Agric. Devon (1813), 143. When fallowing, or a preparation for rotting the green sward, is intended, the land is either skirted, or ploughed clean, about Candlemas.
1881. Daily News, 4 June, 5/5. A … quantity of land set apart for bare fallowing.
