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mer iKRS AND PAPERS

QO. N
Agriculture, Planting, &c.

ADDRESSED TO

The SOCIETY inftituted at BATH,

FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF
Agriculture, Arts, Manufaéures, and Commerce,

Within the Counties of Somerfet, Wilts, Glocefler, and
Dorfet, and the City and County of Bri/tol.

VOL UME.

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| LETTERS anp PAPERS

— ON

Agriculture, Planting, &c.

SELECTED FROM

THE CORRESPONDENCE-BOOK OF
THE SOCIETY INSTITUTED AT BATH,

For the Encouragement of AGRICULTURE, ARTs,
MANUFACTURES, and CoMMERCE,

Within the Counties of Somerfet, Wilts, Glocefter, and Dorfet,
and the City and County of Briftol.

TO WHICH Is ADDED,

mo) ae POPS Ne De box 3

CONTAININGy

A PROPOSAL For tHe FURTHER IMPROVE-
MENT or AGRICULTURE,

BY A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY.
A N D
Tue TRANSLATION oF a
LETTER from Dr. TISSOT to Mons. HIRZEL,
in Anfwer to Mons. LINGUET?’s TrReEaTIsE on
Breap-Corn and Breap.
BY ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY.

VOL..T3
THE SECOND EDITION.

————

BATH: Printed, by Order of the SOCIETY,
By R. CRUTTWELL;
And fold by C. DILLY, Poultry, LONDON ; and by the Bookfellers
of Bath, Briftol, Salifbury, Glocefter, Exeter, &c. &C»

M DCCLXXXIIL

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si HAT the Public may with greater
clearnefs apprehend the fcope of the
prefent work, it is thought neceflary to pre~
fix the following’ fhort account of the nature

and the occafion of its publication.

In the Autumn feafon of the year 1777,
feveral Gentlemen met at the City of Batu,
and formed a Society for the encouragement
of Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures, and
Commerce, in the Counties of SOMERSET,
Witts, GLocesTer, and Dorset, and in

the City and County of BRisTot.

This fcheme received immediate approba-
tion and great encouragement, not only by
Jiberal fubfcriptions, but alfo by many

A 3 ufeful

[ vi ]

ufeful communications of knowledge, both
fcientific and practical, from ingenious and

fenfible correfpondents.

On application to the London and Pro-
vincial Societies in this kingdom, inftituted
for the like purpofes, they very politely of-
fered their affiftance in communicating what
might be generally ufeful ; and to fome of
them we are indebted for much interefting

intelligence.

As the diffufion of ufeful information in
general is one end propofed by this inftitu-
tion, the Society think they cannot fulfil
this intention in amore effectual manner,
than by the publication of fuch papers as
appear to contain what is moft likely to be of
public utility. Indeed, this is the only me-
thod by which the various improvements,
and practical information, fuggefted to them,

can

{ vi ]
can be generally difperfed, even among thofe |
whom, from the nature of their inftitution,

they are under particular obligations to
ferve.

in fele@ting the following papers, regard
has been principally had to fuch as relate to
matters of practice. Ufeful hints, however,
of the fpeculative kind, which may in their
confequences lead to practical improvements,
have not been neglected ;—fuch will always
‘be efteemed valuable communications, al-
though inferior to thofe that have already
been fubmitted to the teft of experiment.

fn a work of this kind, to be explicit and
intelligible, are all the requifites with refpe&
to language ; and, therefore, the thoughts of
our correfpondents are generally given in

their own words.

The

f vii J
The Society, however, think it neceflary

here to obferve, that although they have no

caufe to diftruft the knowledge or veracity of

any perfon who has favoured them with his __
correfpondence, yet, for obvious reafons, they
do not mean,-as.a body, to vouch for the
truth of any relation, or to give authority to
any opinion contained in the following pa~
pers, further than the motes exprefs, and to
recommend them as fubjects of enquiry and

examination.

To many ingenious correfpondents, the |
Society take this opportunity of acknow=
ledging their obligations, and of refpectfully |
requefting fuch further information, both
from them and others, as relates to any of
the interefting fubjeGis to which their atten.
tion is directed.

CONTENTS.

>" fetting Wheat in Norfolk Page i
On the fame

Anfwers to the Society’s Queries on fetting Wheat 10
On fetting Wheat as practifed in Norfolk and Suffolk 14.

Brief Account of the Norfolk Hufbandry ————__ ar

On the Culture of Potatoes 28
On the fame = ———— ——- 32
On the fame — — ee 35
State of Agriculture in the Ile of Wight ——- 38
On the Difeafe called the Goggles in Sheep 46
Defcription of Mr. Bofwell’s newly-invented Machines
for raking Corn-ftubbles —_— < A

On the Cultivation of Clover , 53
The Society’s Queries, with Anfwers Hebe from the
Sheriff of the ri of Suffolk

ee

On feeding Wheat in the Spring with Sheep” 68
Method of making Referyoirs in dry Countries, for
watering Sheep and Cattle — 7
Experiments on Plants eaten or rejected by Cattle,
‘Sheep and Hogs — — “<= 33
On the Bulk and Increafe in Growth Se fome remark- _
~ able Timber Trees
- Mode of Farming purfued by a Member of the Bath

" Society —_— — — 86
b On

nie

On the beft Method of raifing Elms for Fences ;
manuring Fallows for Wheat; and preventing the

Ravages of the Fly on Young Turnips 94
On a peculiar Species of Grafs found in Wiltfhire 97
Obfervations on Thiftles 100

On a Difeafe the Stock Lambs in Norfolk are liable to

from eating felf-/own Barley in Autumn + 107
Obfervations on the Mnyum Mofs aa 10g
On the fuperior Quality of Grain produced from fet

Wheat, to that fown broad-caft a ib.

Account of the Cultivation of Siberian Barley YI2
On the Effect of Fern Afhes as a Manure for Wheat 117
On the Cultivation of Heathy Ground —_-- 120
Inftructions for the Prevention and Cure of the Epi-
zooty, or contagious Diftemper among Horned
Cattle —_—— —_———__ ‘124.
On the Conftruétion and Ufe of Machines for floating .
Paftures, and for draining Wet Lands 130
Ofe of Soaper’s Afhes and Feathers as Manures 133
On planting Boggy Soils with Ath; and the Slopes of _
Hills with Foreft Trees 135
Mode of cultivating Turnips in Suffolk a 137
On raifing Potatoes from Seed 140
On the Mode and Advantages of extracting the Effence
of Oak Bark, for tanning Leather

143
On drilling Peafe —_— 148
On the Culture of Siberian Barley = —— 150
On a new Oil Manure 153
Mode of weaning and rearing Calves on 157.

On raifing a Crop of White Oats and Grafs Seeds 158
Anfwers-:

[ xi ]

Anfwers to the Society’s printed Queries, from Glou-

cefterfhire -_ 160
On the great Increafe of Milk, from feeding Cows

with Saintfoin —— 167
On the Succefs attending the planting Moor Land

with Afh Trees —— 169
Ufe of Stagnant Water as Manure = 172

Of the Management of Clover in Suffolk —— 17§

Thoughts on the Rot in Sheep 179
On the Mode of cultivating and curing the Rheum
Palmatum, or true Rhubarb —_—_———. 187
On the Cultivation of Rhubarb a 192
On the Cultivation and Cure of Rhubarb -——- 196
The fame continued pee 200
Dr. Lettfom’s Letter on Rhubarb- Se 202
Dr. Hope’s Letter on Rhubarb ed 203
On the Growth and Application of Rhubarb 205
On the Extirpation of Plants noxious to Cattle on
Dairy and Grazing Farms, &c. with Hints on the
breeding and rearing Milch Cows 210
On the Culture of Carrots, with Thoughts on Burn-
baiting on Mendip Hills 218

Dr. Falconer’s Report to the Society, on examining
fome of the Rhubarb cultivated in Somerfetfhire 224
On the beft Mode of deftroying Vermin, and prevent-
ing the Deftruétion of young Turnips by the Fly 227
On the Culture of Carrots, and the Rot and Sheep 235
An Abridgement of feveral. Letters publifhed by the
Agriculture Society at Manchefter, in confequence
_of a Premium offered for difcovering the caufe of
* the Curled Difeafe in Potatoes — 240

[ xi J

Defcription of; and Obfervations upon the Cock- »
Chafter, both i in its Grub and Beetle State m4 ‘262

- iP? BUN D tee

A Propofal for the farthet Feputeccnent of ‘Agricul-
= Phe
ture; bya Member of the Society
“Pranflation of Dr. Tiffot’s Letter to Monfieur
: ‘Hirzel ; in Anfwer to Monf. Linguet’s Treatife
én Bread- Corn and Bread ; by another Member of —

uae Society ‘ 321

275

egt eer eccmenle
soot —- Gti

Ww.

Pee iG ES Re S

BATH AGRICULTURE SOCIETY.

ARTICLE I,

On the Rife, Progre/s, and Mode of SETTING
Wheat in Norfolk.

[By a Gentleman near Norwich. ]
GENTLEMEN,

T is with much pleafure that I now anfwer your

enquiries relative to the practice of Setting
_ Wheat in this county. It is, in my opinion, one
of the greateft improvements in Hufbandry that
hath taken place this century; and, were it gene-
rally adopted throughout the kingdom, would
be attended with very great advantages to the
publick.

B The

ie ee

The Setting of Wheat feems to have been frft
fuggefted by planting grains in a garden from
mere curiofity, by perfons who had no thought or
opportunity of extending it to a lucrative purpofe;
and I do not remember its being attempted on a
larger fcale, till a little Farmer near Norwich be-
gan it about twelve years fince, upon lefs than an
acre of land. For two or three years only a few
followed his example; and thefe were generally
the butt of their neighbours’ merriment for adopt-
ing fo fingular a practice. They had, however,
confiderably better corn ahd Jarger crops than
their neighbours: this, together with the faving
in feed, engaged more to follow them; while fome
ingenious perfons, obferving its great advantage,
recommended, and publifhed its utility in the
Norwich papers. Thefe recommendations had
their effect. The curiofity and enquiry of the
Norfolk Farmers (particularly round Norwich)
were excited, and they found fufficient reafon to
make general experiments. Among the reft was
one of the largeft occupiers of lands in _ this
county, who {fet fifty-feven acres in one year,
His fuccefs, from the vifible fuperiority of his
crop, both in quantity and quality, was fo great,
that the following autumn he fet three hundred
acres, and has continued the practice ever fince.

This

Low. J

This noble experiment eftablifhed the practice,
~-<=,and was the means of introducing it generally
nong the intelligent Farmers in a very large
diftrict of land; there being few who now /fow any
Wheat, if they can procure hands to /et it. It
has been generally obferved, that although the /e
crops appear very thin during the autumn and
winter, the plants tiller and fpread prodigioufly in
the fpring. The éars are indifputably larger,
without any dwarfifh or fmall corn; the grain is
of a larger bulk, and {fpecifically heavier per
bufhel, than when fown.

The lands on which this method is particularly
profperous are, either after a clover ftubble, or on
which trefoil and grafs-feed were fown the fpring
before the laft, and on which cattle. have been
from time to time paftured during the fummer.*

Thefe grounds, after the ufual manuring, are
once turned over by the plough in an extended
flag, or turf, at ten inches wide; along whicn a

. man, who is called a didler, with two fetting-irons,
fomewhat bigger than ram-rods, but confiderably

* We cannot approve the cuftom of feeding clover previous to its
being planted with wheat, as preferable to mowing the grafs,

B2 bigger

eee

bigger at the lower end, and pointed at the extre-
mity, fteps backwards along the turf and makes
the holes about four inches afunder every way,
and an inch deep. Into thefe holes the droppers
(women, boys, and girls) drop two grains, which
is quite fufficient. After this, a gate, bufhed
with thorns, is drawn by one horfe over the land,
and clofes up the holes. By this mode, three
pecks of grain is fufficient for an acre; and being
immediately buried, it is equally removed from
vermin, or the power of froft. The regularity of
its rifing gives the beft opportunity of keeping it
clear from weeds, by weeding or hand-hoeing.

Ina word, this practice is replete with greater
utility than any that has been made in the agri-
cultural art.

In a parochial view, it merits the higheft at-
tention, as ittends greatly to leffen the rates, by
employing the aged and children, at a feafon t toe
when they have little elfe to do,

It faves to the Farmer, and to the public, fix
pecks of Seed Wheat in every acre, which, if
nationally adopted; (without confidering the fupe-

rior

Prep]

rior produce) would afford bread for more than
half a million of people.*

The expence of fetting by hand is now reduced
to about fix fhillings an acre, and a very complete
Drill-Plough+ has lately been introduced among
us, and found to anfwer extremely well, on fum-
mer fallows, by which the difficulty of getting
hands is obviated, and the expence leffened, as
with this plough one man can fet an acre per
day. The maker is Mr. Fames Blancher, of
Attleborough in Norfolk. .

Iam, &c.

* This is a confideration of the utmoft confequence, efpecially when
Wheat is dear. We are fenfible of the utility of this method, and
warmly recommend its being generally adopted in the Weftern
Counties.

+ There is one of thefe Drill-Ploughs at the Society’s Rooms,
with fome new improvements made by the inventor fince the above
letter was written. It has been tried by the Agricultural Committee
in a field, and found to deliver the grain with great exaétnefs and
regularity, to the fatisfaftion of the Gentlemen and Farmers who
attended the experiment. Any perfon difpofed to have one, may be
furnifhed with it, by applying to the Secretary, price five guineas and
a half, and carriage.

B 3 ART.

a
Arricre Il.

On SETTING WHEAT.

[By a Gentleman Farmer in Norfolk.} - |

GENTLEMEN,

ft Ua practice of fetting Wheat in the eaftern
part of Norfolk is pretty general. ‘The fkill
and labour required in performing it are fo little,
that it is done in many places by women and
children only; in confequence of which there are
few places fo thinly inhabited, but the Farmer
may obtain hands fufficient to do it upon the
largeft fcale; and the expence is now reduced ta —
eight fhillings per acre on the average.* Each
dibbler, employing three droppers, will fet half
an acre a day, making eight holes in the length
of every foot of the flag, whereby two dibblers
with fix droppers will find full employment. for
one plough, which, however, is not very material,
as there will be no lofs of time on that account,
for the land may be all ploughed and fet as foon,
as convenient. The advantages attending this’
practice are, the faving of a confiderable quantity
of feed, fix pecks per acre at leaft—obtaining

* It is now done for 65. per acre very well, nearly an acre being
done in a day in fome places. + Six are fufficient.
cleaner

Tan J

cleaner and better corn—providing a very lucra-
tive employment for many of the poor, who
would at that feafon have little to do—and gaining
a gteater produce. - The laft-mentioned benefit,
however, I affert on no better ground than that of
two experiments only, but thefe were conducted
with fo much care as'to be nearly decifive.

Thefe trials were made in the years 1774 and

1775, in the following manner:-
About Michaelmas 1774, a field of clover and
ray-grafs ftubble, containing twelve acres, was
broken up and ploughed: into broad ftetches,*
(the land being found and dry) which ftetches
were alternately fet and fown throughout the
whole field, and the corn, after reaping, was laid
and carefully kept feparate. On threfhing, it was
found that the Wheat which had been fet produ-
ced two bufhels per acre more than that fown.

About Michaelmas 1775, the like experiment
was tried: in a field of eight acres, which was a
clean clover ftubble, treated in all refpects as the
former. The refult was, that the produce of the
Set Wheat exceeded that of the Sown Wheat
one bufhel per acre.

* Divifions by furrows, In

ie Ne

In both trials, the corn of the Set Wheat ex-
ceeded that of the Sown in quality. It was more
equal, and proved by far the beft; fo that, inde-
pendent of the advantage accruing to the Farmer
from fupporting the poor by employment, (the beft
mode of fupporting them) inftead of affifting them
from the parifh fund, (perhaps the worft) you
will fee, as I fhall now ftate the account, that there
is fufficient inducement from the immediate profit
for him to attempt and perfift in this practice.

Peake f
Profit by feed faved on fix acres, being nine
bufhels, at 5s. per bufhel, 2 5 0
Ditto by increafe of produce,—fay fix pecks
per acre on an average,—nine bufhels 2. «+55 +O
410 0

Expence of fetting fix acres, 8s. per acre, 2° 8 o
Net profit,; - 2.2, 2.0

which is feven fhillings per acre. But there are
other advantages that I have not yet mentioned.
A very great one I experienced laft year, when
from the heavy rains which fell in the fummer,
all my fown wheat was more or lefs laid, none of
my fet wheat was atall fo, by which I fuffered lefs
lofs in reaping the latter than the former, and
the corn was much fuperior in quality.

It

[91]

» It has been found, that on ray-grafs ftubbles,
er lands foul with twitch-grafs or other. weeds,
the corn being fet on the middle,* inftead of run-
ring (as it does by fowing) into the fpace between
the edges of the flag, comes up free from the im-
pediments of grafs and other trumpery which
ufually environ it in the other method; and to
this circumftance it is perhaps owing that, in the
two experiments I have related above, the produce
on the clover and ray-grafs ftubble exceeded that
of the clean clover ftubble one bufhel per acre.—
Hence fetting Wheat feems peculiarly advanta-
geous to grafly and foul lands;—a lucky circum-
ftance, as the number of flovenly Farmers fo
greatly exceed that of the neat ones.

I hope what I have faid on this fubjeét will be
fufficient to fet the matter in its true light. I am
fure it appears fo to me; for as I with not to fup-

* This is an excellent remark, and ftri&ly juft, although we ap-
prehend feldom attended to by thofe, who, either from prejudice
acainft this improvement, or from never being eye-witnefles of the
great advantages arifing f:om the prattice, have haftily and inconfi-
derately cenfured it :——

Though we apprehend few good farmers would fow lands which
are foul with couch or twitch; and as to the annual weeds, the pro-
duce of all lands, they can do rio harm at wheat feed time.

port

E- ]

port fyftems, I have felt»no prejudices: in favour
of any merely as fuch, . Yow are therefore, wel-
come to make any ufe you pleafe of this letter,
concealing only my:name; as, from the hurry in
which itis written, Iam afraid it may contain
many inaccuracies,

Tam, &c.

March sth, 1778.

Arricze Ill.
Anfwer to Queries refpecting SET WHEAT.
_ {By a Gentleman Farmer in Norfolk. ]

GENTLEMEN,

I AM much honoured by the approbation which
the information contained in my laft letter*
met with from your Society; and in compliance
with your wifhes, fhall moft readily anfwer the
queries fent me by your Secretary, relative to the
experiments I therein mentioned.

* See preceding Letter,

Query rft,

[ou]

Query it. What kind of foil was the Wheat
fet in, and. what the annual value of the land?

»Anfw. ‘The foil was light, inclining to fand—
worth fifteen fhillings an acre, being within five
miles of Norwich.

9, 2d. How long had the land been in clover
and ray-grafs before ic was broken up-and fet
with Wheat?

A, One’year only: ‘in ‘this part of the coun-
try we feldom fuffer clover alone to remain longer;
the natural grafs after that time getting fo much
poffeffion of the ground as to:render the fecond
year’s crop of clover of little value.

9, 3d. How deep were the holes dibbled, and
at what diftance were the rows from each other?

A. The holes were dibbled about: an inch
deep, and the rows were two on a flag, near four
inches from each other.

2. 4th. How many grains were dropped in a
hole, and was the crop hoed? |

4. Two

[ i2 J

A. Two grains were intended to be dropped,
but this is often uncertain, from the unfkilfulnefs
or careleffnefs of the children who drop the corn.
This.crop was not hoed, which, although an ex-
cellent practice and much ufed here when wheat
is fown broad-caft, does not appear fo neceffary
when it is fet.

9, 5th. How many bufhels per acre was the
produce of the two fields?

4. The experiment having been made with a
view only to afcertain the proportional produce of
the two methods, although that refult was re-
giftered, I find, on a frefh enquiry, that the total
produce is fargotten. The common average —
growth of Wheat on the farm was about twenty-
four bufhels per acre.

9. 6th. Was the ftraw of the fet wheat higher
and ftouter than that of the fown?

A. The ftraw of my fet wheat has always been
ftronger, and higher; and being clearer from
weeds, and of more equal fize and ftrength, is
more eafily reaped.

2.7th. Do

fioug J

9. 7th. Do the Norfolk millers prefer the fet
to the fown wheat; and is it more bulky in the
kernel, or whiter in the.flour, or both?

A. Thofe of whom I have afked the queftion
prefer the fet wheat to the fown. In general it is
the moft even fample, having lefs {mall corn
intermixed with it, otherwife nearly the fame fize
as the fown wheat. I have not heard it generally
obferved that the flour is whiter.

_ Q, 8th. On what kind of land does the fetting
of wheat anfwer beft upon the whole?

A. This has not yet been fully afcertained: I
am, however, inclined to think that the produce
of the fet wheat would be greater in proportion te
that of the fown, on all ray-grafs lands, or fuch as
are foul with twitch-grafs or other weeds. I mean
that the difference would be greater than on any
other cleaner lands; and this feems confirmed by
the refult of the two experiments mentioned in my
laft letter. Where the land is fo ftiff and wet
that it. cannot be readily covered by the bufhes
drawn over it for that purpofe, I apprehend the
corn would be better fown broad-caft.

March 29, 1778. Ox

[ m ]

ARTICLE IV.

On Settine Wheat, as for Some years paft
prattifed in Norfolk and Suffolk.

[By a Gentleman Farmer in Suffolk. ]

GENTLEMEN,

HE defire of being ufeful to fociety leads

me to communicate to you the following

account of a new practice in agriculture, which is

become general in Norfolk, and gaining ground
faft in this county.

In October, the lands which have produced
broad clover or artificial graffes, and fometimes
old pafture the foregoing fummer, are ploughed
up; taking care to lay the furrows as even as
poffible. A heavy roller is then paffed over it;
and a man, or feveral men, each with a pair of
inftruments called dibbles,* walk backward,
making two rows of holes on the earth or flag
turned out of each furrow, fo that the holes are
three inches diftant in the rows, and the rows on

* Short fticks with handles like a fpade, and pointed in the form

of a fugar loaf, with a crofs pin near the point, to prevent the holes

being made too deep.
: each

43H J

each flag or line of turf near five inches from
each other,.’ One pair of dibbles employs. four
women or children, who follow the man, and
drop two grains into each hole. After this, a
hurdle, covered with bufhes, is drawn by a horfe
acrofs the field till the wheat is covered, and the
holes are filled up. In this method, the feed is
regularly placed in the ground, four pecks} being
fufficient for an acre, whereas ten pecks are ufually
fown broad-catt,

An experiment was lately made in Norfolk,
and the following particulars. laid before their
Agriculture Society :—

«© A whole field was /own and fet, in alternate
ftetches. The fown wheat was cut, carried, and
threfhed feparate from that which was fet. The
produce of the /et part was eight{ bufhels per
acre more than the /owm; and declared to be
fixpence per buihel better.”

+ Three pecks have been found quite fufficient.

t The difference of eight buthels peracre is fo great, that we were
inclined to think there muft have been fome error in tranfcribing the
experiment; and accordingly wrote to the Gentleman who favoured
us with the account. He has fince informed us, that on repeated

I myfelf

pi 16" ji

JT myfelf have this year’ /et twenty-three acres,
nine of which are old grafs-land, ploughed this
feafon for the firft time; feven acres are a lay of
feven years; and the remaining feven have been
in grafs only two years. The whole work (viz.
ploughing, rolling, fetting, and harrowing) was
performed in feventeen days, by three ploughs,
having a pair of horfes and one man to each
plough, five men dibbling, and twenty children
dropping; the roll and bufh harrow employed
another man. The land was as follows: The firft
field a black moorifh foil, with aclay under it—
this, with us, is called a wood-cock foil. The
next feven acres (a hill) were on the top a ftrong
clay, and the lower part a mixed foil. The laft
feven acres, a light rich land.

We plough very ftrong land with a pair of
horfes a-breaft, and one man holds the plough,
and guides the horfes with rope-reins.

enquiry of the parties who fet, reaped, and threfhed the corn, he‘is
affured it was matter of faét, and has not any reafon to doubt the
veracity of thofe who related it. It was, however, a fingular in-
ftance, for which we cannot account, otherwife than by fuggefting
that the corn on the ftetches fown broad-caft, being when fown left
uncovered, might be a great part of it devoured by birds and other
vermin before it was harrowed in,

For

Ws ie

For one acre in the Norfolk experiment,

ire Se, de

Seed faved 5 pecks, at 6s. per bufhel, — o 76
‘Superior produce 8 bufhels, ss. per bufhel, ah)
Superior value to that fown 6d. per buthel, © 40
2.41 6

Expence of fetting, — 0 106

Balance in favour of fetting, 2 10

So that the farmer by,this method gains the above
balance, benefits fociety nine bufhels and one
peck, and at the fame time feeds twenty-five extra
mouths, What a fatisfaction to a benevolent
mind!

When wheat is very full of weeds, it is cufto-
mary with neat farmers to hoe it by hand when
either fet or fown, and they gain more by it than
the 7s. 6d. per acre paid for the labour.

Fallows, or fummer-lays (as we call them) on
heavy land, are conftantly either fown with
turnips, or planted with cabbages. ‘The turnips
are drawn, and the cabbages are cut, and carried
to an inclofure, either at the barn-door or at the
corner of the field, made with bufh faggots, and

vo. J, C well

[ 18 ]

well littered with ftraw or haulm; and I am cer-
tain that ninety acres, one-third or perhaps half
ploughed, will maintain, by means of turnips and
artificicial graffes, at leaft as many. catle as the
whole would in grafs.

Cabbages make bad- tafted butter, but are ex-
cellent for fattening cattle, having an aftringent
quality fo oppofite to that, of the turnip, that fix
weeks are faved in the fattening a beait; in which
inftance not only the faving of time, but of feed
alfo, is of no inconfiderable confequience to the
farmer.

The fort principally raifed is the tallow-loaf,
or drum-head cabbage, but it being too tender
to bear fharp froft, I planted fome of this fort
‘and the common purple cabbage ufed for pickling
‘(it being the hardeft I know ef) alternately, and
when the feed-pods were perfectly formed, I cut
down the purple, and left the other for feed.
“This had the defired effe&t, and produced a mixt
ftock, of a deep-green colour with purple veins,
retaining the fize of the drum-head, and oe
the hardnefs of the purple.

We

[ 1 J

We;have tried the Scotch cabbage, but found.
them<fo flow in: their) growth, that they would
not -anfwer-unle{s -fown in autumn,,.and planted
in beds;' (the. expence «of , which; would. deftroy
the profit.* mic! Se te pe te

~

It is tobe remarked,-that frofts and*cold winds,
in this eaftern part of the kingdom, prevent our.
fowing till the end of February always, and often
till fome time in, March; and. the fort I have
mentioned. do very well at that time, requiring
only: to be, taken out of the feed-bed. and planted
in the field at eighteen inches diftance every way.t.

Turnips are always twice, and often three times
hand-hoed. with a-nine-inch hoe ;—this work. re-
quires. confiderable dexterity, as the plants that

* We beg leave here to obferve, that fowing the feed on a wheat
ftubble, ploughed up, would do no detriment; on the contrary, it
would prepare the land for a {pring turn and fummer tilth for tur-
nips; and whether the feed.be fown fpring or autumn, tranfplanting
and hoeing will be equally neceffary. Wheat fown in autumn is no
more trouble than in fpring. But we find that Scotch cabbages,
fown in April, come to their higheft perfe&tion both in fize and qua-
lity in the county of Somerfet.

+ Surely the plants muft be hoed; and the fame procefs only is
required in the Scotch as other kinds.

Go are

[ 2 }

ate not to be cut up fhould be left reoularly at a
foot diftance from each other, and the hoeing
mult be begun before the plants are too forward.
A farmer who is not ufed to this pra€tice, and
fees the withered plants the day after hoeing; will
be frightened, and think his whole crop is de-
ftroyed, as I have experienced, but without any
reafon; for by this procefs they will come to 12,
and even 18 or 20 pounds weight without their
leaves, Butin order to have them of this weight,
the manure muft be different ‘from any thing I
have feen in the weft of England; and, perhaps,
to render turnips as valuable there as they: are
with us, agriculture muft be brought to the fame
degree of perfection as it is in Norfolk, Hertford-
fhire, fome parts of Effex, and this county... The
price of hoeing is 4s. 6d. the firft time, 2s. 6d.
the fecond, and 2s. the third, when a third hoeing
is neceffary. baa

Jam, &c,

Suffolk,

[2 J

ARTICLE VY,
A brief Account of the Norfolk Hufbandry.

[By a Gentleman near Norwich. ]

GENTLEMEN,

[* anfwer to your enquiries refpecting the im-
provements in hufbandry made in this county,
be pleafed to accept the following account.

About fixty years fince, a great part of this
county was fheep-walks, rented only at about
eighteen pence an acre; and even within my me-
mory, many thoufand acres were in this ftate,
which now are turned into the fineft farms, and
let at twenty fhillings per acre.

The late amazing improvements may be attri-
buted to various caufes. Among others, the
following have not been the leaft operative.

Firft; Inclofing our heath and wafte lands;
folding fheep; and the moft extenfive ufe of
marle and clay, on fandy foils efpecially,

C4 odly;

{ 22 ]

edly; By the general introduction of turnips,
well hand-hoed; of clover, ray-grafs, and buck
wheat, and.an.excellent courfe of crops... .

The farms being generally large, and held on
long leafes; the tenants were thereby enabled to
lay out their money freely in improvements with-
out being in danger of lofing the advantages
arifing from their coft and labour.

We poffefs one natural advantage, which, per-
haps, cannot be found in an equal degree in many
other.counties. In all our fandy lands, wherever
we dig, we find excellent white and yellow marle,
or clay. The goodnefs of the marle is deter-
mined by its fubfiding quick in water. On the
firft difcoyery of marle, our farmers fpread i it in
larger quantities than at prefent; few laid on lefs
than eighty loads per acre; but for near thirty
years pait, the general quantity has been from
forty to fifty loads (or tons) peracre. The effects
of this quantity will laft twenty years; and then
half as much more added will reftore fertility to
the foil. . We have however found, that, on lands
wholly fandy, clay has had a better effect than
marle; but where the foil is a mixture of fand
and loam, or of fand and gravel, marle does

excel

[a3 Tl

excellently. It is not, however, to marle and
clay only, that our improvements are owing.—
Our fheep are folded both fummer and winter.
We fatten beafts during the winter on turnips in
our farm-yards, in which we alfo keep a large
ftock of fwine. Our ftubbles are cut, and, with
large quantities of ftraw, converted into manure.
Oil cake is alfo laid on wheat lands to the amount
of two guineas per acre. Thefe manures, freely
ufed, have preved the fources of wealth to thou-
fands.

The ufual courfe of crops among our greateft
and beft farmers is, 1.:Turnips; 2. Barley; 3.
Clover, or clover and ray-grafs; 4. Wheat. This
courfe has of late years become very general, and
keeps the foil clean. We manure for turnips if
poffible, and alfo for wheat. Sometimes our
clover is extended-to three years, but not fre-
quently. Of late, efpecially, our clover often
fails the third year, and fometimes the fecond, if
the land be wet; for wherever the water ftands
in the winter or fpring, the clover turns black
and decays. Our farmers agree in the opinion,
that if turnips are fown on a well-conditioned
fallow, and twice hoed, and the land ploughed

three times for barley, the clover may remain at
leaft

[ 2 ]

leaft two years without giving a foul crop of wheat,
efpecially as our wheats, on clover lays, are of
late almoft wholly /et, and more eafily kept clean
than when fown broad-caft. We fet from two to
three pecks per acre, and find great advantage
from the practice—the expence of fetting by
hand is, from fix to eight fhillings per acre. On
our fallows, we plant with Mr. Blancher’s drill-
plough, at lefs than half the expence, and with
equal regularity and fuccefs.

The Norfolk Hufbandry is, as Mr. Young has
juftly obferved, quite a fyftem, every fucceffive
part of which is dependent on the foregoing, and
therefore it will not admit of much variation.

As every thing depends on the fuccefs of
turnips, their fuccefs depends on good hoeing.
They are the only fallow in our ufual courfe:
nor can we change them for a mere fallow, becaufe
the fheep kept to fold, and to feed off the clover
and ray-grafs, would then ftarve. We give four
ploughings for turnips, and hoe them well twice.
They often, with this culture, prove worth five
guineas anacre. ‘The principal part of the crop
is drawn and carried into farm-yards for fat-
tening beafts; the remainder we feed off with

| fheep

f 25-]

fheep and lambs, which clear the land of every
part of them.

We generally mow the firft and fecond growth
of clover; not merely on account of the hay,
but becaufe by repeated experience we are con-
vinced the wheat which follows is far better than
it would be after feeding.

Soapers’ afhes are laid on ftrong wet lands
with great fuccefs; and alfo on paftures as a top-
dreffing in the beginning of April.

Malt-duft and foot are ufed on meadows,

_ and anfwer well; the latter is purchafed at high
prices from Norwich.

The winter food of cows is chiefly turnips and
ftraw, in the farm-yards, which are kept well lit-
tered with chopped ftubble and ftraw.

We reckon fix horfes neceffary for one hundred
acres of arable; and with two in a plough we till
two acres in a day, five or fix mches deep. Stub-
bles for fallow are ploughed in during autumn—
this alfo deftroys the weeds,

A good

L. 26° ]

A good dairy-maid with us will take proper
care of twenty cows; and to every cow our beft
farmers keep one hog. |

The common mode of eftimating the expence
of taking a farm is, that three rents will about
ftock it, or four very compleatly.

In fome parts of this county confiderable quan-
tities of cole-feed are raifed; we hand-hoe it like
turnips, and by that means nearly double the
value of the crop.* |

Our broad clover fometimes produces near
three tons the firft cutting per acre. _Nonfuch,
ray-grafs, and {mall white clover, are an excellent
mixture to lay down dry lands with; and yield
the {weeteft hay.

Near the coaft. great quantities of fea-weed, or
ooze, are collected, and ufed as manure to good
purpofe. We mix it in compoft with earth and
lime, or marle and dung, for-one year, and then

* An Effex Gentleman informs us, that he fows cole-feed in drills,
one foot or fourteen inches apart; and that by this method the largelt
quantity, and the beft feed, are produced.

lay

“—

‘Bil: Sa

lay iton arable land. © Our beft farmers beat down
thifties and nettles, and mow the weeds in their
borders, ditches, and the adjoining roads, lanes,
and commons, before they.feed, and burn them
to aihes; the afhes are ufed as a top-dreffing for
their meadow-lands.

This is excellent management, and worthy of
general imitation; for it faves infinite labour the
fucceeding {pring in the fields adjoining.

Moft of the farmers round Norwich carry
dung to the diftance of ten or twelve miles.
They load a waggon for two fhillings, ora cart
with three horfes for one fhilling.

A great deal of buck-wheat is fown here as a
preparation for wheat, and anfwers well. Six
pecks are fown per acre, and the average produce
is from three to four quarters. The price is ge-
nerally the fame as that of barley, and it is an
excellent fattening for {wine and poultry.

Many of our farmers. have cultivated lucerne
with fuccefs on good rich lands, On a poor foil
it feldom anfwers well.

Two-

[ 2 J

Two-wheeled ploughs are ufed in general, as
being moft eafy and expeditious; but in heavy
lands they ufe fwing-ploughs, and two horfes
always do the work. We fhould fmile at the
folly of putting four horfes toa plough in any foil,
becaufe we know it to be unneceffary, except
where the land abounds with ftone.

IT am, &c.

The preceding Letter abounds with a great deal of good informa-
tion, and is written by one who feems thoroughly to underftand what
he writes about.

(Ee
ARTICLE VI.

On the Culture of POTATOES.

{ By the Rev. Mr. Hicson, Vicar of Bath-Eafton.]

GENTLEMEN, | :

i | AVING ‘had many years’ experience in cul-
tivating Potatoes, I take the liberty of fend-
ing a few obfervations thereon, which are much

at your fervice.
; Potatoes

[ 29 J]

Potatoes flourifh moft in a dry fandy loam.
The ground fhould be well manured with rotten
horfe-dung;’ and the feed changed every year.
The Chefhire or Lancafhire kinds anfwer beft
in the neighbourhood of Bath. Warminfter or
Farringdon potatoes are alfo a good change for
this foil. Thofe from Monmouth and the ad-
jacent parts are not fo good.

They fhould be planted in frefh ground every
year. If either frefh or the fame feed be planted
upon the fame foil for two or three years fuc-
ceffively, the crops will generally fail, the haulm
come up curled and blighted, and the roots will
be worm-eaten and cankered. The caufe of this
may perhaps be affigned. Every fpecies of plant
is provided by nature with pores of fuch conftruc~
tion and magnitude as are capable of receiving
thofe particles of nourifhment only whofe dimen-
fions are correfpondent to the faid pores: Hence
every fpecies muft receive or imbibe the above-
faid particles only, and reject all others; and,
confequently, if the fame fpecies be planted, or
fown, upon the fame foil, for two or three years in
fucceffion, the greater part of fuch particles will
be exhaufted, and the plants cannot flourifh for

want of proper nourifhment,
Potatoes

[ 3° ]

Potatoes fhould not be planted deeper than four
inches or four inches and a half, and the feed. or
fetts fhould lie one inch or one inch and a half
above the dung.’ Whole potatoes-fhould - be’
planted at the diftance of two feet and a half or
three feet fquare: cuts at the cattanse of Cighteeht
inches fquare. wSists t ates

I have feen potatoes planted in this parifh upon
ground without dung ten or twelve inches deép,
and at! the diftance: of eight or nine inches,
Thefe crops have always failed, and, as I fuppale
for want of proper nourifhment.

I bade tried the (ctleaaitys experiment for: thefe
five years laft paft:—-The firft year; on the fame
day, and in the fame ground,) I planted whole
potatoes ‘in ranks; at the -diftance, of three feet.
fquare, and cuts ofthe fame. kind, /at eighteen
inches fquare. For the laft four years I have
planted whole potatoes at the diftance of two feet
and a half fquare,.and cuts at eighteen. inches,
The-whole fets were earthed up three or four
times; (2, e. as long as the haulm would ftand)
and a few ranks of the cuts were earthed up alfo.
The whole fets have always produced a greater

crop than the cuts, in proportion to the ‘quantity
of

[es 1

of ground; and the potatoes have been larger
and fairer.. I have obferved little or no difference
in the produce, of the cuts, whether the ranks be
earthed up. or not. This, J think,’ may be thus
accounted for:—if any benefit is to be received
from earthing up a plant, it muft be becaufe more
nutriment is thereby added through the pores of
the -haulm or ftalk. Now there was fufficient
room inthe ranks that were planted with whole
Jets to earth them up equally on every fide; but
not fo in the cuts, for the earth which was added

on one fide of the plant was taken away on the
other. )

There is a fmall white early fort of potatoe,
which, of late years, has been much cultivated at
Altringham in Chefhire. They plant this {fpe-
cies in January, or as foon as the earth is dry and
the weather mild. This fpecies never blows;
but is fit for ufe a month or fix weeks fooner than
any other kind,

I have known the following experiment tried
with good fuccefs:—They plant in October, and
if there come’ any fevere froft without {now, they
cover the potatoes with peafe-haulm, bean-ftalks,
ftraw, or other light covering, The whole crop

1S

C 32 1]
is dug up in May, and another fort immediately
put in, which is alfo dug up in Oétober following.
I have eaten new potatoes thus raifed in April.
This fpecies hath been of late introduced into this
parifh from Altringham, but they plant too late,
never cover from froft, nor change the feed.

Tam, &ce. J. HIGSON.

Articre VIL.

On the Culture of PoTATOES.

{Communicated by the Norfolk Agriculture Society.)

Norwich, Fan. 13, 1776.

T a general quarterly meeting of the Norfolk
Society forthe encouragement of Agriculture,

B. G. DituincHam, Efq; in the chair,

A premium of three guineas was adjudged to Mr.
Fofeph Wright, of Great-Melton, for planting and
gathering

[ 33 J
gathering the beft crop of potatoes, the quantity

of land being one rood, and the produce ninety-
one bubhels.

The Society cannot but recommend, in the
ftrongeft terms, a more general attention to the
culture of this. moft valuable root. In the pre-
fent inftance, and that not a very extraordinary
one, the labour and expence of the hufbandman
are amply rewarded by the produce, as appears
from the following particulars of Mr. Wright's
experiment. The public too muft reap advanta-
ges of the moft important nature, as the potatoe,
befides being an excellent wholfome foud in va-
rious modes of application, is well known to make
a fweet and nourifhing bread when mixed in equal
quantities, with the flour of wheat.

Tt its almoft unneceffary to obferve to the intel-
ligent farmer, that as good a crop of wheat may
be expected after’ well-cultivated potatoes, as in
any other mode of hufbandry.

Calculation for cultivating one acre of land with
potatoes, according to Mr, Wrigh?’s expences, and
the valuation of this crop:

Wot. I. D One

Bk Te

£.. seed.
One deep ploughing, — — Qo) 48
Seed 32 bufhels, at rs. per bufhel, — I 12 0
*Manure 24 loads, at 2s. per load, — 28.0
Expence of fetting, the weather being fo
dry that the fets were put in with an
iron crow, — _ £0 ‘0
Hoeing and earthing up feveral times, Io 0
+Expence of taking up, ae 5 8 o
Rent and other charges, —~- 110 0
22 0

Produce 364 bufhels, at 1s. per bufhel, 13 4 0

Clear profit, ‘{.5 2 0

* It ought to be obferved, that only half the expence of manure
eught properly to be charged to the potatoes, as the land remains in
fine order for any fucceeding crop. Nothing is charged by Mr.
Wright for carriage of the crop to market; bat as he has valued
them at only one fhilling a bufhel, which is greatly under the ufual
market price, it may be fuppofed they were either fold at home, or
that the expence of carriage, fale, &c. were deducted in that eftimate.

+ The price charged in this calculation for taking up the crop
appearing to us extraordinary, our Secretary was directed to enquire
particularly into that article. He did fo; and received for anfwer,
that Mr. Wright had all his ground ridged up when the crop was
gathered, for the greater conveniency of getting them out as clean as
poflible ;——that he alfo had the crop picked over and feparated into
two or three different forts, which took up a confiderable time ;—and
that he gave the people employed viétuals and drink all the time,
which was all included in the general expence mentioned.

From

E 3 J
ArtTicre VIII.

Abfiract of a Letter on the Culture of Potatoes.

GENTLEMEN,

s

F all the roots produced in our fields and
gardens, none appears to be of fo much
confequence as the potatoe. As food for the
poor, they are certainly to be preferred to turnips;
and might be rendered equally ufeful for cattle.
As a fallow crop, they tend greatly to meliorate

From this explanation it appears, that an acre of potatoes, produ-
cing 364 bufhels, may probably be taken up in the ufual way for
about half the expence he has rated it; and when half the expence of
manure is taken alfo from his eftimate, we think the net profit of an
acre fo cultivated, and producing fuch a crop, would be at leaft nine
pounds. It may perhaps be faid, thatin many places the rent of
fuch land as is proper for this purpofe would be higher than he has
ftated it; but, admitting this to be the cafe, the price of the crop
when fold would exceed his eftimate fo much as to balance the account.

To thefe certain advantages arifing from the cultivation of potatoes
as a food for our tables, we with to call the attention of our readers
to a ftill further ufe in which they would be a very profitable pro-
duétion ; we mean, for feeding fwine and cattle. For thefe purpofes,
they are an excellent hearty food, and it has been proved by experience
that {wine and cattle will eat them very freely.

y's the

[ 36 ]

the foil; being in this refpe& equal to turnips; ~
and, in general, pay the owner of the land much
better.

Some perfons have objected to the general
cultivation of potatoes, from the apprehenfion of
wanting a market; but while they are retailed
out at two fhillings and fix-pence, or even at two
fhillings a bufhel, (and it is very rarely that we
can purchafe them lower) this apprehenfion will
be groundlefs.

Add to this, that potatoes may be very profit-
ably ufed as food for cattle and hogs. No food
is better for rearing and fattening the latter.
Cows and oxen will alfo eat them freely, and
they are more eafily preferved from froft than
turnips: Hence they would prove an excellent:
fuccedaneum at the feafon when fpring food is
moft wanted.

If potatoes were introduced regularly in the
farmer’s courfe of crops, on light: good foils, great
advantages would enfue. He need not be at the
trouble and expence of having them dug up clean.
Let him only take up the beft part, and then
turn his fwine in: they will gather and fatten on

the

| i: ee |

the reft, and repay their value in 8 manure they
leave behind them.

Potatoes grow beft in a foil that is loofe and
deep, where-the fwelling of the roots meet the
leaft obftruGtion, and where they draw the greateft
nourifhment moft eafily. On this account, where
the quantity intended to be raifed is fmall, dig-
ging is preferable to ploughing. But if the land
be ploughed deep and well pulverized, fuccefs
need not be doubted. They ought to be planted
in lines, eighteen inches apart, and at twelve or
fourteen inches diftance in’each line or row.
This will give opportunity for earthing them up
with the horfe-hoe while young, which will greatly
promote their fertility. If the horfe-hoe is not
intended to be ufed, plant them a foot fquare,
and earth them up with hand-hoes feveral times,
which, although more expenfive, will repay the
coft.

Care fhould, however, be taken, in the latter
hoeings efpecially, not to go too near the plants,
left you cut the roots. You néed only, after they
are weeded by hand, to draw up the earth from
the centre round each plant. Vaft quantities
may be obtained by a little additional labour in

D 3 keeping

[ ¢ 7

keeping them clean, and the land will be left in
excellent order for fucceeding crops. It is necef-
fary to obferve, that the fame,kinds ought never
to be planted twice together on the fame land;
nor the fame land fet with potatoes more than
two years at the longeft.. When raifed from the
feed, great varieties, and fome excellent new
kinds, will be obtained.

Iam, &c.

T. PAVIER,
Monckton, near Taunton,
March 1, 1779.

ARTICLE IX.

State of Agriculture in the Ife of Wight.
{Communicated by a Gentleman who lately vifited that Ifland.]

GENTLEMEN,

Hears lately been in the Ifle of Wight,
“ + principally with a view to obtain fome
authentic information relative to the mode of
hufbandry and produce of that ifland, I have

. felected

tL 9 J

felected the following remarks from notes taken
on the fpot, and beg leave to prefent them to
your Society.

Firft, the Nature of its Som.

This ifland is finely diverfified with gently-
rifing hills, and fertile well-watered valleys. The
hills, being generally cultivated, and abounding
with fprings, are very fruitful; fome few ex-

cepted, which afford good feed for fheep.

_ In fome parts, the foil is gravelly, and abounds
with flints like that of Hampfhire. In fome other
parts, it is a ftrong clay; but, in the general, it
confifts of a fine hazel loam, mixed with juft
enough fand to make it work kindly, and render
it eafily penetrable to the tender fibres of grain
and plants.

Being furrounded by the fea, the air, and con-
fequently the dews and vapours when condenfed
and falling in rain, are impregnated with {falts,
which add greatly to the fertility of the foil.

Rents, are in general from fixteen to twenty-one
fhillings per acre; fome meadow-lands, near the

principal towns, confiderably higher.
Mawnures.

fF 4 J

MANnwvuRES.

I was informed by feveral farmers, that, ’till
within a few years paft, lime was almoft the only
manure ufed in the ifland, farm-yard dung except-
ed: but of late chalk has been much fubftituted
in its ftead. ‘The farmers find, from experience,
that chalk is more operative and lafting. Thirty
waggon-loads, of forty bufhels each, are generally
laid on an acre, and laft from ten to fifteen years.
It is, however, the general opinion, that a fecond
chalking is of little fervice. Their chalk is of a
hard kind, both blue and white: the former, I
think, might with greater propriety be called
marle, as in texture and quality it very much re-
fembles the blue marle found in Somerfetfhire;
but with this difference, that in putting it in vine-
gar the effervefcence is not fo ftrong. Of this
kind they lay twenty loads on an acre; and I was
told, that in lands thus chalked more than thirty
years fince, the benefit 1s ftill very apparent.

In fundry articles of good hufbandry the farmers
in general feem ftill very remifs. They neither
gather in their ftubbles, nor confine their cattle to
the farm-yard in winter. Hence their ftock of
farm-yard manure is fmall in comparifon of what
it otherwife might be: add to this, that they are

not

[ 41 ]

not in the practice of digging up the borders of
their fields, or mixing up heaps of compoft.

_ In thofe parts contiguous to Newport and Weft-

Cowes, the foil is naturally the leaft fertile; but
as great quantities of ftable-dung are made in
thofe towns, and eagerly bought by thé adjacent
farmers, the deficiency is pretty well fupplied, and
the produce of their lands nearly equal to that in
other parts of the ifland,

Their general inattention to fea~-weed* is an-
other proof of their deficiency in the knowledge
of manures,

On the eaft, fouth, and weft coafts, the fea
beats with great violence, and throws up vatt
quantities of weeds on the beach, which might be
collected with little expence, and being mixed in
compoft with lime and earth, or dung, would
prove a moft valuable and fertilizing manure in
thofe places where it is moft wanted.

* We cannot help exprefling our furprife, that this excellent
manure fhould be fo much negle&ed as itis on the banks of the
Severn; but it feems almoft impoffible to make common farmers
fenfible of the advantages arifing from improyements, not made by
their forefathers.

I enquired

: 42 J

I enquired of divers farmers why they did not
thus apply a treafure which nature had fo amply
furnifhed them with. ‘The fubftance of their an-
fwer was, “‘ that it never had been ufed ‘unlefs to
<¢ mix with chalk for their bean lands, and that
«they apprehended it promoted the growth of
“¢ weeds ;” not confidering that whatever promotes
the growth of weeds muft, for the fame reafon,
promote the growth of grain, and that its fertili-
zing the foil is the caufe of both.

Course of Crops, and Produce per Acre.

In the Eaftern part of the ifland, the ufual
courfe of crops is, on a fummer-fallow,

1 Wheat

2 Barley or Oats

3 Clover and Ray-grafs, one year
4 Wheat, Barley, or Oats.

About the centre of the ifland, the following
courfe is moftly adopted: —

1 Turnips 4 Wheat 6 Clover

2 Barley 5 Barley 7 Wheat.
3 Clover

On

{[ 43 ]
On the North-Weft part, after a fallow,

1 Wheat
2 Barley, or Oats

3 Clover and ray-grafs, or hop-clover two
years :—

Or, which is a ftill better courfe, and fimilar to
the Norfolk,

1 Turnips 3 Clover and Ray-grafs
2 Barley 4 Wheat.

When they break up clover-lays for wheat,
they feldom plough more than once; but give
four ploughings to their fallows. They fow all
broad-caft, and in general reap from three to four
quarters per acre.

For Barley, they plough three times, fow four
bufhels, and the produce is from five to fix quar-
ters per acre on an average.

For Oats, they plough but once, fow four
bufhels and a half, and the produce is about five
quarters on an average in return,

But on the Southern part, particularly near
Godfhill, they fow oats after turnips, and reap
from

[ a4]

from.eight to nine quarters per acre.—Thefe
are very great crops, but the land in this part of
the ifle is a fine rich loam, which cannot fail of
producing large crops of whatever grain is fown
upon it.

On fome of the ftiff clays, they plant Beans;
and, very unneceffarily, fet nine or ten pecks per
acre; for the fetting of which they pay two fhil-
lings and four-pence per bufhel. They never hoe
them; but, notwithftanding this bad manage-
ment, thefe clay-lands are fo rich and well adapted
to this fpecies of pulfe, that they produce in gene-
ral five quarters per acre, /

The Turnip Hufbandry feems to be but im-
perfectly underftood. In the northern part of the
ifle they are not hoed atall. Inthe eaftern part,
they plough four times, harrow, and hoe once.
They feed them all off with fheep, and value the
crop at fifty fhillings per acre. Strange it is,
that the proper mode of culture, and real value,
of this excellent root fhould be fo little known or
attended to!

Of Clover, they generally cut two tons per
acre, and then let it run to feed. Sometimes they
fow

[ 45. ]

fow tares or vetches after clover, and moftly cut
them green for horfes.. In the fouth-weit parts,
they fometimes fow them for feeding fheep.

On fome of their moft fandy lands, they fow
buck-wheat, but the quantity is {mall, and it is
only ufed for fattening {wine.

The pafture-lands, efpecially in the valleys, are
very rich, and produce excellent hay, which is
ftacked in the neateft and beft manner I ever faw.
But as, moft of the farmers keep dairies, the great-
eft part of the grafs is fed off. To each cow they
allot one acre and a half of grafs. Their cows are
moftly of the Alderney breed, many of which yield
eight pounds of butter per week. Their winter
food is ftraw before calving, and then. hay. ,

Where. the lands are wet,. they make excellent
covered drains, with chalk and heath or ling. I
examined fome, and never faw any, executed ina
better manner. Many. quick-hedges, have been
raifed within thefe twenty years, and are in fine
order; but in ditching the farmers appear to be
very deficient.

Iam, &c.

May 8, 1779, ARTICLE

[ 46 ]
ARTICLE X.

On the Difeafe called the Goggles in Sheep.

[By a Gentleman in Wilthhire. ]

GENTLEMEN,

ITHIN thefe few years, we have had a

difeafe among the fheep, now generally
known by the name of the Goggles; a difeafe which
has deftroyed fome in every flock round this
county, and made great havock in many.

The fheep moft fubjeé& to it are two teeth. It is
not infectious, but hereditary, and undoubtedly
runs in the blood. It has no affinity with giddi-
nefs, for they do not run round. It moft refem-
bles the ftaggers in lambs, with this difference,
that whereas ftaggery lambs fhew a weaknefs .
before, and fall forward, gogely fheep fhew a
weaknefs behind, and fall backward, when forced
to run.

When firft obferved to be difeafed, their ears
drop, and they rub their tails much more than
other fheep; they then difcover the weaknefs

above-~

f 4% J

above-mentioned, and grow poorer and weaker
till they cannot drag their limbs behind them,
and at length die.

I have examined a few, and found the vifcera
all found. I have blooded one, and found no
inflammatory cruft. I can neither myfelf ima-
gine, nor-find one who can venture even to con-
jecture, the caufe.* As it is a matter of confe-
quence, perhaps, were you to make it the fubject
of the two following premiums, it might be a
means of ftopping its progrefs: the firft, to the
furgeon who fhall diffect the greateft number of
gogely fheep, and give the moft accurate de-
{cription, with the beft obfervations on the difeafe ;
and the fecond, to the perfon who fhall difcover
an effectual cure.

I am, Gentlemen, &c.

_.™ It has been fuggefted to us, that the feat of this difeafe, moft
probably, is in the fpinal marrow,

ARTICLE

[ 48 j
ArTicite XI.

f ‘ = fe bs . ‘ .
Defeription of a newly-invented Machine for
Raking Summer-Corn Stubbles.

GENTLEMEN;

BOUT three years fince I found fome diffi-
culty in procuring hands to take up my lent

or fummier corn in the method ufually praétifed
in this county, that is, by forking the fwarths into
cocks, and raking the ground with hand-rakes by
women. Men are generally employed in forking
it. Ie therefore occurred to me that an inftru-
ment might be made to anfwer the purpofe of
raking it by hand. JI knew the Norfolk method
of doing it by drag-rakes, (as they are called)
drawn by men; but the men were wanting elfe-
where. Yhad often feem a horfe-rake, made for
gathering the gramen canine or couch-grafs toge-
ther .upon fallow lands, and knew a farmer who
had ufed it for his mown wheat ftubbles; but
this rake being drawn from the end of the beam
by the horfe, dragging the ends of the teeth upon
the ground, collected fuch quantities of weeds,
erafs, earth, and ftones with it, as nearly to render
the corn of no value; befides, it could not be
ufed

Fes ae

ufed for clofe-mown ftubbles at all. Having for
many years ufed the Norfolk ploughs here, I
thought a rake might be fo conftructed as to go
on the breaft-work of one of thefe ploughs in the
fame manner as the plough itfelf is ufed.

I therefore had one made nine feet and a half
long, and the teeth fix inches afunder. Upon ap-
plying it in the place of the plough on the breatt-
work, I found it anfwered extremely well, except
that when it met with any confiderable obftruc-
tion at one end, it drew the other end aflant. To
remedy this inconvenience, I took away the pil-
lar (the part of the breaft-work that the beam
refts upon, and which is raifed higher, or let down
. lower, to fink or raife the plough) and had ano-
ther made to extend about a foot or rather more
beyond the outfides of the ftandards, and from
each end of the chain, made to let out or take up
at pleafure, to each end of the pillar: this kept
the rake even and fteady. To my great fatisfac-
tion, I found it fucceed even beyond my expecta-
tion; for by means of this breaft-work, it could,
like the Norfolk plough, be inftantly fet up or let
down to the greateft degree of nicety; fo that any
ftubble, whether cut high or low, whether very
full of grafs or clover, or quite clean, might be

Vou. I. | E raked

iy ee

raked by it with equal facility; for the teeth being
made very much curved, the lower part of the
back of the teeth refts upon the ground, and the
points ftand out of it. The weight of the rake
preffes the teeth clofe to the ground, and the corn
is gathered into the throat of the rake, without
digging up the weeds or the foil. The teeth are
made fufficiently ftrong to prevent their bending. -
I have found a rake of the length above-men-
tioned very manageable; whether it would do
better if made longer muft be left to future ex-
periments. I was determined to this length by
_the breadth of our gate-ways, being juft enough
to admit it through them without taking it to
pieces,

For perfons who want to remove it to a diftant
part, two fmall wheels might be added, to put on
occafionally at the ends, to raife the teeth from
the ground as it is drawn along the road,

T am fenfible, that if a low wheel were fixed at
each end, even when in its work, it would greatly
leffen the friction, and the horfe would draw it the
eafier; but it would render it more complex, and,
perhaps, occafion it not to turn fo eafily at the
ends of the land. I have, however, had it in idea,

to

as
to fix fome kind of ftandard on the head of the
rake for a line, like the Norfolk plough-lines, to
come back to, that the man might guide the
horfe himfelf, and fave the expence of a boy to

lead him; but tothis there feem to arife fome
objections.

One horfe, and a boy to lead him, with a man
to clear the rake, will eafily rake twelve acres of
ftubble in a day; and if two horfes are taken into
the field, to be ufed alternately, twenty acres
might be raked in the fame time; but this would
be hard work for the man.

The manner of ufing it is as follows:

The rake being put on’ the breaft-work of the
Norfolk plough, in the fame manner as the
ploughs are, the horfe draws it with the fame
traces, &c. (only in the plough two horfes are
ufed, and here but one) and being fet into its
work to a proper height, according as the ftubble
is long or fhort, the boy leads the horfe acrofs the
ridges, the corn being previoufly put in cocks by
the forkers; the man follows the rake, and when
it is filled, he fpeaks to the boy, who ftops the
horfe, and puts him back a ftep or two, This is

E 2 done

[rp se J

done that the man, by drawing the rake back a.
little, may the more eafily and fpeedily free it.
from the corn; then lifting it up, and the horfe
inftantly going on, he drops the rake juft beyond
the ridge thus gathered together. This he repeats
as often as it is full, till he reaches the end of the
land, . Then he turns, and, coming back by the
fide of the part raked, - empties the rake adjoining
to the other. By this means the raked corn lies
in ftrait rows acrofs the field, and, when dry, is:
turned if neceffary, gathered up, and carried away.
—I am fatisfied it might alfo be advantageoufly
employed in raking upland hay-ground, and all
forts of feed clover-land.

It may not be amifs to mention, that in the firft
rake I made, the teeth were only 3 inches afunder.
I foon found they were too clofe. Taking, there-
fore, every other one out, I made another 6 inches
afundet—the holes in the firft not being filled up,
the teeth might, if neceffary, be replaced, and
then would be thick enough to rake any gentle-
man’s lawn which is kept frequently mown. ~

Tam, your obedient humble fervant,
Piddletown, Dorfet. GEO. BOSWELL.

¥Mr. Bofwell lately publithed an ingenious Treatife, intitled 4 Attempt te
reduce the modern Method of Watering Meadows into a regular Syftem.]

Lay ie
ArricLe XII,

Ox the Cultivation of CLovER.

GENTLEMEN, *, Dae. 40,2308.

S I apprehend every experiment in Agricul-
ture, which is attended with any remarkable
degree of fuccefs, may be of fome ufe when made
public, I take the liberty of tranfimitting the fol-
lowing to your Society.

A neighbour of mine, who is a very good far-
mer, had a field containing thirty-eight acres, the
foil a cold wet clay, which, for fome years after
he held it, fcarcely paid its rent. Determined,
however, to try what could be done with it, he
under-drained it, and in the {pring 1775, mended
it with turf-earth, digeed from the borders of
fields and highways, mixed with ftable-dung. In
March he gave it a good ploughing, and fowed it
with Zealand barley: after the barley came up,
he threw in ten pounds of the common red clover
peracre.* The advantages ef the under-draining

* Six or feyen pounds per acre is fuppofed to be a fufficient
quantity.

E 3 and

[tea code,

and manure were foon apparent. The barley was
an exceeding fine ¢rop, producing feven quarters
per acre on an average throughout the field.

The following fpring the clover fhot early, and
in the fummer proved avery ftrong crop. In
May he turned in all his cattle, which, by the roth
of June, had fed it off quite bare. He then took
them out, and let the clover ftand for feed. The
fummer proving wet, it fucceeded well, and the
average produce of the field was feven bufhels and
a half per acre, the whole of which he fold at
thirty-nine fhillings per bufhel—amounting to

5552. 155.

As foon as the feed was off, he ploughed the
field for wheat, and fowed it broad-caft, with the
red Lammas kind from Kent. The crop was ex-
cellent, and the produce four quarters per acre.

With the fame hufbandry, I had, laft fummer,
thirty-nine bufhels of clover-feed from three acres
of land, notwithftanding the drynefs of the feafon,
but the land was fomewhat better in quality.

1 Pe
S——d, Effex,

ARTICLE

Pees 53]
ArriccLe XIII,

Circular Lift of Queries fent by the Soctety at Bath
to the High Sheriffs of the different Counties in
England ;—with the Anfwers tranfmitted by the
High-Sheriff of Suffolk.

ie June 1778, the Society formed the following
lift of queries, relative to Agriculture; and
directed them to be tranfmitted to the High Sheriff
of every county, requefting him to procure an-
fwers thereto from fome of the beft farmers, and
fend to the Society.

Queries from the Bath Agriculture Society.

1/t. What are the kinds of foil from which you
generally obtain the beft crops of wheat, barley,
peafe, oats, beans, vetches, turnips, carrots, and
cabbages? And what are the ufual quantities of
feed fown,: and the average annual produce per
acre Winchefter meafure?

adly. What is the ufual courfe of crops adopted
by your beft Farmers on the different foils?

3dly. What manure now generally in ufe do you

find moft ferviceable, on the following foils refpec-
tively,

[ 56 ]

tively, viz. Stiff clays, light fand, gravelly, moory,
cold and wet, or what is called ftone brafh land?
what quantities are the feveral manures laid on
per acre,—at what feafon,—and how long will
each laft without renewal?

4thly. Have you difcovered any ew manure
more efficacious than thofe generally ufed,: and
which may be eafily obtained in large quantities?
if fo, what is it, when and how applied?

| sthly. What is the beft top-dreffing for cold wet
paftures, which cannot be eafily drained?

6thly, What materials do you find beft and moft
lafting for drains, or land ditches?

4thly. What are the kinds of wood which you
have found from experience to thrive beft on
bleak barren foils, cold fwampy bogs, and black
moory ground?

8thly. What are your methods of raifing lu-
cerne, faintfoin, and burnet?—On what lands do
you find them to anfwer beft, and what the ave-
rage produce?

gthly. How

: $3

gthly. How is your turnip hufbandry conducted;
and what is the beft method of preventing or ftop-
ping the ravages of the fly on the young plants?

10thly, Do you prefer the drill to the broad-caft
method of fowing grain;—in what inftances, and
on what foils?

_ ithly. What is the comparative advantage of
ufing oxen inftead of horfes in hufbandry?

12thly, What have you foundtobe the moft effec-~
tual preventative or remedy for the rot in fheep?

13thly. What new improvements have you made
or adopted in implements of hufbandry?

To the above Queries the Sheriff of the county
of Suffolk favoured the Society with the following
Anfwers; which he informed them were given
him by a very good farmer, and approved by all
who had feen them.

To the firft and fecond.—Good ftrong mixed foil.
Wheat on a clover-lay, after one year, once
ploughed, and fown broad-caft, with ten pecks per
acre, well harrowed in;—average produce, from
three quarters and a half to four quarters per acre.

To

FS

To prepare for Turnips, the year following,
fummer-till the land; turn-in the wheat-ftubble
about December a moderate depth, and let it
reft till the March following: harrow it well;
then turn it in fomewhat deeper, below the firft
ploughing, the deeper the better; for turnips
thrive beft where there is a plenty of deep mould.
In May repeat the harrowing, and turn it up
with a fine rift balk. After it has taken the be-
nefit of the fun, harrow it down, and gather out
the fpire-grafs, 8&c. which fhould be burnt in
heaps upon the land. If it is not clean, repeat
this a fecond time; then give it a clean earth,
and harrow it down. Manure it with twelve
loads of fhort dung, or eighteen of long dung per
acre. At Midfummer plough the dung ina good |
depth with a clofe furrow, and fow the feed clofe
after the plough. Sow from one pint and a half
to two pints and a half per acre, as the feafon and
quality of the land may require. Ina month the
plants will be fit tohoe. When they nearly cover,
the land, hoe them a fecond time, with a feven or
nine-inch hoe, and leave the plants at leaft four-
teen inches afunder. The price of hoeing here
is generally four fhillings and four-pence per acre
the firft time, and two fhillings and two-pence the
fecond. Set them out at leaft a foot diftant from

each

[ 59 ]

each other. A good crop will produce from
thirty to forty cart loads per acre, which for many
years paft, have fold for from three to four pounds
per acre.

adly. To prepare for Bartey to lay in with
Clover, plough the faid lands in February, as they
are preparing and clearing off the turnips. Two
ftriring and one fowing-earths will be fufficient.
Three bufhels per acre, well harrowed in, will be
a good feeding. Then throw in broad-caft from
nine to twelve pounds of clover-feed* per acre,
ftruck over with a light harrow. Roll it down,
or otherwife, as the feafon proves wet or dry.
Average produce, from three. to five quarters per
acre. The following year clover, two crops in
the feafon; firft mowing in June, the latter in
September ; the general produce from three to
four tons per acre. In Odctober fow the clover-
ftubble with wheat, as above directed, without
manuring, or it will be winter-proud if the land
be rich.

* We apprehend fix or eight pounds of clover-feed would be fully
fufficient; and thatthe clover fhould not be fown earlier than a fort-
night after the barley. If they are fown together, the clover, in rich
lands efpecially, will be apt to get above, and choak the barley crop.

3 dly Bs ix

f 6 J]

3dly. To improve ftiff Clay-Lands, lay on
coarfe wafh-fand, cinder-duft, wood-afhes, ftreet-
dirt, or ant-hills quartered, taken up and burnt.
Thefe mixed together, and laid on from thirty to
forty cart-loads per acre, will laft twenty years.
If in plough tilth, keep it up with good rotten
dung. Ifthe land is not kind for clover, fummer-
tilth for wheat. - Small beans, vetches, and grey
peafe, will make provifion for wheat, if clean and
well-conditioned. Red Lammas wheat is beft for
cold lands. Vetches cut green are excellent fod-
der for horfes—if feeded, they yield from two to _
two quarters and a half per acre; grey peafe,
three quarters: Wheat does well after them.

The above land, if laid down for three or four
years until it becomes a thick flag, and then co-
vered on the flag with forty tons of clay, or twenty
tons of marle, or twelve tons of foapers’ afhes, per
acre, will produce good corn and clover for
twenty years.

For gravelly, cold, or wet lands, under-drain,
if it lays with a proper fall ;—by thus removing the
caufe, the effect will ceafe. Summer-tilth, and
make it clean; lay on from thirty to forty loads of
fand per acre, if a little loamy, the better; or

' about

Fe yee |

about fixteen loads of the above-mentioned com-
poft, or ten or twelve tons of foapers’ afhes, laid
on in hard froft, will anfwer well.

_ athly. We have not difcovered any new manure
more efficacious than thofe above-mentioned.
The burning of clay in kilns has been. talked of,
but not yet praétifed.

sthly. In cold wet paftures that cannot be
under-drained, make open. drains, floped off eafy
on each fide; keep them open, and make them
with proper falls: then lay on foot, lime, or lime-
rubbifh, foapers’ afhes, ftreet-dirt, . &c. + about;
fourteen loads per acre, and it will laft fourteen
or fixteen years.

6thly... Materials for under-draining;are; alders
and fallows, .or ling and black-thorn bushes, cut
and laid in green, covered-with peafe or wheat-
ftraw, and above it ftrone clay. Drains thus
- made will laft twenty years.

athly, The kinds of wood we find to flourith
- beft on bogsy foils are, alder, fallow, willow, and
poplar. Scotch fir does well in a barren foil,
_ efpecially if it has a gravelly bottom.

| ‘ . 8rhly.

[ 62 ]
8thly. Thefe graffes are not raifed with us.

1ofh’y. We moftly prefer the broad-caft to the
drill hufbandry.

rithly. We know of no other advantage in
the ufe of oxen, than that of keeping lefs ftock;
as horfes are more expeditious, and will pay for
their keeping by extra labour.

12thly. The moft effectual preventative for
the rot in fheep is to keep them on dry land; it
being found, by general experience, that wet lands
bring the rot upon them, efpecially if the feed is
bare. In order to cure them, many experiments
have been tried, but to little purpofe.

13thly. Few new improvements in implements
of hufbandry, that are of much confequence,
have been made or adopted in this part of the
country.

General Rules for the Improvement of Lands, by
Claying and Marling, as praéticed by us.

1. Lands that have been many years in plough
tilth, and are become foul, may be made clean by
a fummer-

[%63 4]

a fummer-tilth. When this is done, lay on from
fixty to eighty tons of clay, or from twenty
to thirty tons of marle, per acre. Work it well
into the lands, and then fow turnips as before-
dire€ted. Feed the turnips off, or at leaft half:
by the treading of the cattle and their manure,
the clay will incorporate and work more kindly
with the foil. The fpring following fow it with
barley. Or,

To clay upon a clover ftubble before the wheat
is fown, is a very good method ;—it will he fit for
a fummer-tilth the next year,

2. To improve wafte or heath-lands, clay or
marle on the flag, from thirty to forty loads of -
marle, or one hundred and twenty tons of clay,
per acre, Turn-it in with a good whelming-
plough, a moderate depth, in the beginning. of
February; the fooner the better. Ifthe foil be
red and fandy, fow it with white oats. Ifa black
gravelly foil, fow black oats in the middle of
March, at leaft four bufhels peracre. As foon as
the crop is off, fow fix pecks of rye per acre on one
ploughing: this will make excellent ftheep-feed,
and expofe the clay to the winter frofts: then
fummer-tilth for turnips; feed.them off in March

with

E 6 ]

with fheep or other beafts. Such manuring is
beft for fuch lands.

If it is a kind of loamy foil, fow barley; if a
black gravel, oats. Experience teaches know-
ledge. Try alay of clover with the following
mixture, viz. clover-feed, and black and white
nonfuch. If the lay takes, /et red wheat upon it
—fuch lands fometimes produce three quarters
per acre. When they begin to wear out, improve
them by the following method:—lay them down
with fuch grafs-feeds as fhall be thought proper,
and let them reft for three or four years till they
become a flag.

Another method of improving fuch lands is,
to lay them up againft winter in round ridges, four
furrows on a ridge. Early in the fpring, or
fooner if the feafon will admit, turn it back, and
make an early fummer tilth; then fow it with
buck-wheat, fix pecks per acre, and let clover
follow, as above direéted. Forbear feeding it in
the fpring, as fuch land will not bear treading. —

It will anfwer to lay it down with any kind of
srafs-feeds in the above method, and for a longer
time. _ Let the land be well drained, for wherever

the

Cae x

the water ftands, the clover will decay. Sow
buck wheat the latter end of May; it will pro-
duce three quarters per acre.

On ftrong rich lands, clover lays with nonfuch,
or any ftrong flag, /et wheat, as it will anfwer far
better than fowing it broad-caft. Three pecks
and a half per acre, fet in two rows on each flag,
is fufficient. . Strike it over with a light harrow
bufhed. The faving of feed more than pays the
planting when wheat is only ss. the bufhel; the
price of planting from eight to ten fhillines per
acre.* Small tick beans, 7s. per acre planting,
hoeing 6s.; produce 34 quarters to 4 quarters
per acre. Windfor tick beans, 7s. planting; 6s.
hoeing ; produce four to five quarters per acre,

ArTICLE XIV.
On the Ufe and Effect of Marie m Norfolk.
{By a Gentleman Farmer in that county, ]

GENTLEMEN, March, 1778.

N anfwer to your enquiries refpeéting the ufe of
marle in this county, our farmers feldom lay it
gn pafture, but conftantly on arable land, from

* The expence is now reduced to about fx fhillings per acre.

FE thirty

[ 66 ]

thirty to eighty, and, in fome inftances, to one
hundred loads per acre. By a load, 1 mean as
much as a cart and three horfes candraw. ‘They
prefer laying it on aclover and ray-grafs, ora
barley ftubble, or layer, a year before it is plough-
ed in. By this means it is more intimately mixed
with the upper part of the foil, and will not be fo
foon buried by the plough, as when laid on and
turned in immediately.

The marle moftly found with us is, a white pure
calcareous fubiftance like chalk, but fat and unétu-
ous. When it is met with of any other colour,
our farmers will fcarcely be perfuaded it can be
marle. This I experienced a few years fince, up-
on difcovering in my park a fine light brown, or
rather dove-coloured marle, with every other pro-
perty like the white.

The effect of marle has been very great iNeed
in this county, having advanced the rent of lands
upon which it has been laid, in fome inftances,
from half a crown to ten fhillings an acre and up-
wards. ‘This improvement has been chiefly made
on light fandy foils; but marle has been found
beneficial on all foils. The general opinion with
us is, that it not only gives tenacity to the ‘foil,
| but

Pay S|

but acts alfo as a manure by virtue of its falts.
Our farmers, after the firft dreffing of marle alone,
mix it with dung or compoft, and think it much
improved thereby.

When I fay our farmers, I mean the Norfolk
farmers, for I do not know that there is one marle
pit within two or three miles of me; or that any
marle has been difcovered within that diftance,
except what I mentioned to have found in my own
park, which was applied wholly on the grafs there-
of, being no more than what was dug out of a
foffe I was making.

Our ufe of lime is trivial; and no great benefit
has been found to refult from it here: but this is
entirely owing to its having been ufed in fuch fmall
proportions as could not poffibly have much effect.
This, however, is no argument againft the ufe of
lime: by alike management, dung, or any other
manure, would prove equally ufelefs.

Your idea of the turnip hufbandry is perfectly
juft ; but an effectual method to prevent the ra-
wages of the fly remains, and I fear will ftill re-
main, a defideratum in hufbandry.

F 2 One

[ 68 |]

One obfervation, made by our farmers, I have —
generally found to be juft; to wit, that the mif-
chief is greateft in the midft of the land ; and have
frequently found, that when every other part of the
crop was deftroyed, two or three ridges next the
hedges have efcaped all injury. This, with fome
other particulars, carefully attended to, may,
hereafter, lead to fome method of preventing the -
evil.

I am, &c.

ARTICLE XV.

x

On Feeding Wheat in the Spring with Sheep.
[By a Gentleman Farmer in Effex.]
GENTLEMEN,

Now comply with your requeft in giving you

my thoughts on the practice of feeding off
wheat with fheep in the fpring, and alfo an account
of my fuccefs therein laft fpring.

This practice ought not to be generally adopt-
ed, even where the crop is rank, or, as we term it,
winter-proud; becaufe, in many cafes, it would not

anfwer

[ 69

anfwer any good purpofe, but, on the contrary, in-
jure the crop. In fome inftances, however, it has
fucceeded, and the advantages are thefe :—it af-
fords feed for ewes and wethers when turnips are
over, and before the fpring feed comes in; it

Led

caufes the wheat to branch out into a greater num-
ber of {talks than it would otherwife do, and, of
courfe, the crop is increafed: by the warmth of
the fheep when lying on it, and the manure they
leave, the crop is brought forwarder, and the grain
heavier than it otherwife would be. In light lands
efpecially, the treading of the fheep fixes the earth
about the roots of the corn, and caufes the ground
to retain its moifture longer in a dry fpring.

On the other hand, this practice is liable to the
following difadvantages :—in fome lands it checks
the growth of the corn, and makes the fecond
fhoots weak and fmall—of courfe the ears will be
{mall, and the grain licht in proportion ;—in foul
_ lands and a wet feafon, it gives opportunity for the
weeds to rife above the corn fo as to choak itr.
Sheep are alfo apt to bite off the knot of the plant.*

* To prevent this, the Farmer fhould turn them in hungry, and
take them out as foon as they have filled their bellies. When hun-
gry, they will eat the leaves of the plant; but when their hunger is
fatiated, they will pick out the knot or crown of the plant, that be-
ing the moft fweet and delicate.

ik This

Ep e7o I

This practice aniwers beft on clean land, anda
light foil. Here the treading of the fheep is of
fervice ; and there is no danger of the weeds rifing
fo as to injure the crop.

In September 1777, I fowed fourteen acres of
wheat, which, foon after Chriftmas, feemed winter-
proud. The foil was a loofe loam, and I had laid
on plenty of dung. In the beginning of February,
I turned about fixty fheep into the field, and fed it
down; but the weather coming in milder than I
expected, the weeds produced by the dung got fo
much a-head of the wheat, that the crop was a
very poor one—not more than nineteen bufhels
per acre, .

I had another field of wheat, which was poor
land, and being a turnip-fallow, was clean, and had
not been manured. In February, I obferved the
plants to be fmall, and to ftand thin, and therefore
turned in fome fheep, thinking it would caufe the
plants to throw out more fide ftems. The knot of
the plants not being much above ground, there was
no danger in that refpect: the experiment fuc-
ceeded, and I reaped near four quarters per acre.

From the clofeft obfervation, I find that -wheat
ought not to be fed down with fheep, unlefs it be
very

bre ck.

very rank in January; and that fuch only fhould
be fed as was fown early on Jand that is neither
rich with dune nor weedy.

After it is fed, if the land be clean, a top-dref-
fing of foot, afhes, malt-duft, &c. will greatly
cherifh the crop. I have experienced this in many
inftances, and can fafely recommend the practice,

I am, &c.

Yan. 24, 1779.

ARTICLE XVI,

Method of making Ponds in dry.Countries, for
Watering Sheep and Cattle. |

{Communicated by a Gentleman near Beverly. ]

ARK out a circular piece of ground, whofe

& diameter is twenty yards, (more or lefs) and
dig out one foot of earth, fo as to leave the fides
perpendicular that depth. Then begin to form it
in the fhape of a wooden milk bowl, till the per-
pendicular depth in’ the centre be four feet and
a half or five feet. On the bottom and fides
FE 4 fpread

7s pe

fpread lime, finely powdered, two or three inches
thick. On this lime lay well-tempered clay, fix
or feven inches thick. This clay, when laid on,
muft be well worked with circular beaters of a foot
diameter and three inches thick, firft ufing the out-
fide edge of the beater, which will indent the clay,
then ufe theflat fide fo as to leave it with a fmooth
furface. Upon the clay thus prepared, lay gravel
or chalkftone fix inches thick. The gravel fhould
have both the finer and coarfer parts fcreened from
it. No more clay fhould be prepared for the gra-
vel than can be laid and covered the fame day, as
heat or froft will be equally apt to catch it, which
mutt be particularly guarded againft, as it would
occafion the pond to lofe its water. After the .
gravel is laid in, nothing more 1s necefflary.

A piece of ground fhould be chofen for this pur-
pofe, to which there is a defcent from all fides, if
it can be found in a proper fituation,

i

Winter, or early in the fpring, are the beft fea-
fons for making thefe ponds or refervoirs.

Lay each material of equal thicknefs from the
centre to the edges of the pond.

If

ie 5S

If lime can be made fine enough without the ufe
of water, fo much the better: if not, ufe as little
water as poffible.—The clay fhould have no more
water than will ferve to make it work kindly.

In this manner ponds may be made of any fize,
the diameter and depth being kept nearly in the
fame proportion as above-directed.

After I left Bath the laft fummer, and before the
end of the long drought, I faw in a field one of
thefe ponds nearly two-thirds full of water, al-
though many cattle, fheep, and horfes, had grazed
there fince the beginning of May.

Fan. 27, 1779. Iam, &c.
A annnEnERRERREEEEEIRIenie ed

Articre XVII.

Experiments on Plants eaten or rejetted by Cattle,
Sheep, and Hogs, recommended,

GENTLEMEN,

alas fince you did me the honour of electing

me a correfpondent member of your Society,

I have wifhed to contribute to its fuccefs, by fend-

ing fomething that might prove ufeful in promo-
ting the objects of your undertaking,

| The

[ 74]

The ufe of botanic fcience has been principally
reftrited to medicine, but it certainly has a natu-
ral and infeparable conneétion with agriculture;
fome of the rnoft important branches of which de-
pend on the knowledge of it, particularly that
which refpects the feeding of cattle.

That Agriculture has not been ftudied, or en-
couraged in proportion to its great importance, or
advanced with equal rapidity as divers other arts
or branches of knowledge, is a fact generally ad-
mitted.

From an indubitable conviction of this truth,
we may date the origin of thofe publicinftitutions
for its fupport and improvement which reflec ho-
nour on our age and nation. .

The commendable fpirit which appears in the
Society inftituted at Bath, furnifhes ,encourage=
ment to hope that agriculture will receive much
additional improvement in your counties; and as
a well-wifher to the undertaking, I beg leave to
throw a few remarks before you on a fubjeé& not
unworthy your attention.

It is well known that graffes furnifh the princi- —
pal food of our cattle; but among the natural
} claffes

(475° 7

elafles of plants, there are many, of the leguminous
tribe efpecially, on which they feed with avidity.

Numerous inftances, however, occur of one clafs
of animals feeding eagerly on thofe plants which
others refufe to touch. Plants, that are noxious
and even peifonous to fome animals, are freely
eaten by others without the leaft inconvenience.—
Hence it feems that there is a peculiar ftructure in
the veffels of each fpecies of beafts, to which only
the particles of different vegetables are refpectively
adapted. But there has not, to my knowledge,
been any regular courfe of experiments made in
England for afcertaining precifely the feveral fpe-
cies of plants thus eaten or rejeCted, or a regular
lift formed and publifhed of thofe that are noxi-
ous. Such a courfe of experiments is greatly
wanted, and would doubtlefs be produétive of
much benefit to the public.

The celebrated Linnzus fuperintended a great
attempt of this kindin Sweden many years fince,
the refult of which may be feen in the fecond vo-
lume of Amznitates Academicz, and i is) I think,
highly deferving your attention.

Tt was in his Dalekarlian Journey that Linneus
conceived the firft defign of this great work. In
| that

EF 76 j

that tour he found that his horfes left untouched,
among other plants, the following: Meadow-
f{weet, great wild valerian, lilly of the valley, ange-
Jica, rofe-bay willow, marfh cinquefoil, mountain
and globe crowfoot, cranefbill, yellow wolfsbane,
and feveral fhrubs. Soon after his return, he and ~
fome of his pupils fet about the work. . Above two
thoufand experiments were made on horned cattle,
fheep, horfes, hogs, and goats, with the fole view
of determining what kinds of vegetables thoie fe-
veral animals. would eat or reject.

Thefe experiments being made with great care
and accuracy, the refult of them muft on the whole
_be true and conclufive, as it has a real foundation
in that unerring law of inftinct, eftablifhed by the
God of nature in the whole brute creation.

As thefe experiments were made on the indige-
nous plants of Sweden, they can only be decifive
here with refpect to plants common to both coun-
tries; but as they take in the greater part of Eng-
lith plants, they would greatly facilitate an attempt
of the fame kind in this kingdom.

Three-fourths of the plants growing with us are
the fame as thofe in Sweden on which experiments
have

A779: J

have been made. One fourth, only, remains te
make new experiments upon. The undertaking
would, therefore, not be fo great or difficult to ac-
complifh as.at the firft view it may appear to be.
The country round Bath, confifting of great vari-
ety of foil and furface, is particularly favourable
* for fuch a work. Fenny ground and the fea coaft
are not too remote to be vifited on the occafion.

The advantages arifing from this courfe of ex-
periments being rendered complete, would be im-
portant and lafting. ~Poifonous and noxious plants
might be eradicated. The farmer would know
with certainty what to cultivate and what to re-
ject. Fen lands might be rendered valuable by the
jntroduétion of plants fuited to the foil. By im-
proving the produce of pafture land, our hay
would be finer and better; and in proportion as
_ the food of cattle is purely ‘what inftin@ points
out to them, their flefh muft be finer, and better
adapted to human food, than when fupplied
with a mixture of juices of an unfriendly or
noxious quality.

Iam, &c..

ah ae a

ARTICLE

[ 78 J
ArticLte XVIII.

On the Bulk and Increafe in Growth of fome
remarkable Timber Trees.

GENTLEMEN,

Herewith fend you inclofed a letter which I

lately received from a moft worthy and ingeni-
ous gentleman of this county, whofe accuracy and
fidelity cannot be doubted; the fubject of it is
both curious and entertaining, whilft it will at the
fame time afford an opportunity of drawing from
it conclufions the moft ufeful and interefting to the
‘public. You will perceive, that I am permitted by
my friend to communicate it to your truly patrio-
tic Society, whofe condefcenfion in having ho-
noured me with the title of a Member of it, as it
claims every mark of refpect, and every attention
T can poffibly pay to their views and inclinations,
fo it would have left me without excufe had I
omitted adding this valuable performance to their
‘collection, which, will, I prefume, be enriched
by it.

I am, with particular refpect, your’s, &c.

Hethel, near Novas THOMAS BEEVOR.

O&. 11, 1779.

© DEAR

Loo J

‘Dear SiR, Stration, OF. 1, 1779.

© IN compliance with your requeft, I here fend
you the meafures of fome of the largeft trees, taken
by myfelf, in feveral rambles about the kingdom.
But although I have been in parts of every county
of England and Wales, perhaps larger than thefe
may have efcaped my fearch; as I never heard of
the Demary oak by Blandford, until I read Mr.
Hutchinfon’s account of it in his hiftory of Dor-
fetfhire. The largeft oak I have feen is that at
Cowthorp, or Coltfthorp, near Wetherby in York-
fhire, of which the ingenious Dr. Hunter gives a
plate in his edition of Evelyn’s Silva. “The Door
calls this tree 48 feet circumference at 3 feet from
the ground; and I found it in 1768, at 4 feet, 4of.
6in.; and at 5 feet, 36 f. 6in.; andat 6 feet, 32 f,
1 in.—Here to fave repetition, 5 feet is the height
I always meafure at, as éafier to fee the level of
the ftring, and alfo being clearer of the penis:
of the roots. |

«In 1759, the Oak in Holt Foreft, near Bentley,
was, at 7 feet, 34 f. Thereis a large excrefcence
at 5 and 6 feet, that would render the meafure un-
fair. 1n 1778, this tree was increafed half an inch,
in 1g years. It does not appear to be hollow, but,
by the trifling increafe, I conclude it not found.

Tle

80 |

¢ The Fairtop Oak in Epping Foreft, feeming
found in 1754, and the Earl of Thanet’s hollow
Oak, in Whinfield- Dem in Weftmoreland, in 1765,
were both 31 f. g in.

€ The handfomeft Oak I ever faw was in the
Earl of Powis’s noble park by Ludlow, in 1757,
though it was but 16 f. 31in. But it ran quite
ftrait, and clear of arms, I believe, near full 60
feet, and had a large and fine head.

.€ In Benel church-yard, 3 miles north of Dun-
barton, in Scotland, in 1768, a very flourifhing
Afh, 16 f. g in.

‘In 1754, a fine Wych Elm by Bradley church,
in Suffolk, 25 f. 5: in.3; in 1767, this tree was 26
feet 3in. Increafed g: in. in 13 years.

‘I have a hollow. Wych Elm by Stratton church,
at 4. feet, 29 f.6in.; and 1 had, in 1760, in my old
park in Hevingham, a headed Alder at 4 feet,
16 f, 23 inches.

©In 1755, your Hawthorn, by Hethel church,
was, at 4 feet, 9 f. rf in. and one arm extended
above 7 yards,

« The

[ 8 ]

© The talleft trees that I have feen were Spruce
and Silver Firs, in the vallies in Switzerland. I faw
feveral firs in the dock-yard in Venice above 40
yards long; and one of 39 yards was 18 inches
diameter at the fmallend. 1 was told they came
from Switzerland.

“In Lord Petre’s old park, at Writtle in Effex,
in 1764, I found a Hornbeam above 12 feet; and
the old Chefnut, (very hollow) at 3: feet, the leaft
part 42 f. 5 in.; at 5 feet, 46 f. 1 in; and at 6
feet, 49 f. 52 inches

© In 1759, the chefnut in Lord Ducie’s garden,
at Tortworth in Glocefterfhire, was at 6 feet, (the
loweft I could meafure it, as the garden-wall joins
to the tree on two fides) 46 f. 6 in.; it did not appear
hollow, but had very few and fmall boughs: as I
took the meafure in a heavy rain, and did not mea-
fure the ftring till after I returned to the inn, I can-
not fo well anfwer for this, as the other meafures.

‘I omit beech, birch, maple, abele, &c. as I
have heard of much larger trees of thofe forts than
I have feen.

‘ Perhaps an account of the annual increafe of
fome trees will not be foreign to your purpofe.—
Vo. I. G You

[ 82 J

You know it is difficult to difcover the age of old
trees, as very few old. planters kept regifters of
their plantations.

‘ T have feen a memorandum of a former Rector
of Hevingham, wherein is written, that * in 1610
‘< he planted two chefnuts by his church porch;”
the largeft was, laft autumn 1778, 14f. 8+ inches,
or 1764 inches in 168 years. Suppofing the tree
to have been 9% inches when planted, you fee it in-
creafed an inch yearly.—And I have a deed be-
tween an anceftor of mine, as Lord of the manor
of Stratton, and his copyhold tenants, upon his
inclofing fome of the wafte, wherein the abuttal to
the welt is upon the road leading from Hevingham
to Norwich, which you know cannot be miftaken:
the date is 1580, and the largeft oak on that bank,
at 4 feet, was, laft autumn 1778, 16f. 3% inches,
or 195+ inches in 198 years,

‘ Now, from the increafe of the Bentley oak, and
-the two laft-named trees, I conclude the Tortwarth
chefnut is not lefs than 1100 years old; perhaps
it may be much older.

© TI offer you the following calculation for your
amufement; from its vaft bulk, you muft conclude
it

eres ef

it was avery healthful tree. Suppofe it increafed
an inch and quarter yearly the firft century, an inch
the fecond, three quarters the third, half an inch
the fourth, one third the fifth, and thirty inches
each century for the fecond 500 years, and a little
lefs than a quarter for the eleventh century; the
account will ftand thus:

Inches.
The firft century, at aninch and quarter, -- 125
~ Second ditto at one inch - - - = = - 100
Third ditto at three quarters - - =. 95
Fourth ditto at half an inch - hase = 50
Fifth ditto at one third of an inch ~ = + 332
Second 500 years at 30 inches per century - 150
Eleventh century at 242 inches - - 243

46 feet and a half; or 558 i.

© There is a tradition, that this tree was called
the great chefnut in King John’s time; and
fuppofing it grew in this proportion, it was 540
years old when he came to the throne, and eleven
yards in circumference. |

¢ Sir R. Atkins, in his hiftory of Glocefterfhire,
(p.413) fays, § by tradition this tree was growing in
«King John’s reign, and is 19 yards in compafs 5’
and'I believe it'is at leaft fo large near the earth.
G 2 Now

[. 84 J

Now, although I have fufficient proof of young
trees increafing much more than my fuppofed
growth of this chefnut, yet perhaps I have allowed
fufficiently for that tree, as it grows on a ftiff clay ;
which, though perhaps it may in the end produce
the largeft trees, yet I believe moft trees will grow
fafter in lighter foils.

I planted an oak in 1720, which was laft autumn
7. gin.; I do not pretend to remember the fize
when planted; but in Autumn 1742, it was 2 f.
111; i.e. 572 in. increafe in 36 years, 7. e. above
an inch anda half yearly. But this oak was taken
from very poor land, to a tolerable light foil, and
{tands fingle; and perhaps the growth was helped
by digging a large circle round it in feveral win-
ters, and in other years having that circle co-
vered with greafy pond mud; and in fome dry
feafons, I wafhed the ftem: and the advantage of
wafhing I experienced in 1775, greatly to my fa-
tisfaction. You may fee the full account in my
letter to the Bifhop of Bath and Wells, in the 67th
volume of the Philof. Tranf. in 1777. But fup-
pofing thefe endeavours did not help the growth
of this oak, yet I apprehend it will not be 225
inches in circumference when 200 yearsold. For
though the Hevingham chefnut is a healthful tree,

it

[ as J

it has increafed but 25 inches and a half in the laft
36 years, (viz. from my firft meafuring it) which
fhews, if it had not gained more in its younger
ftate, it would have taken 250 years to make its
prefent bulk of 176 inches: and my oak of 198
years old has, from 1760, increafed only 123 inch-
es, in 18 years: which proportion would take 275
years to make 195 inches: and the oak by
Bentley, according to the laf 19 years increafe,
would take above 15500 years to make 408 inch-
es, the prefent circumference of the tree.

‘ If you think any of thefe meafures will afford
entertainment to the Society at Bath, you have my
leave to offer this letter to them; which will fhew
at leaft that I have pleafure in obeying your com-
mands, |

‘Iam, with great refpect,
‘ Your moft humble
© and obedient fervant,
*R. MARSHAM.’

© Thomas Beevor, Efq.’

‘ P.S, Lhave put dates to all the meafures, that
if your curiofity fhould lead you to meafure any
of the trees, you may know what progrefs they

make in a certain time.’
G 3 Mode

[ 86 }
ARTICLE XIX.

Mode of Farming purfued by a Member of the
Bath Agriculture Society.

GENTLEMEN,

HEN TI took my farm, which confifted of
115 acres, I found the arable undone by
improper tillage, and the meadows worn out for
wantof manure, I will defcribe the farm as nearly
‘asI can, ‘The foil in general is compofed diffe-
rently, of mould, fand, gravel, and here and there
clay. The farmer I fucceeded was a floven in the
abftract, and fo bad a ploughman, that he never
crofs-ploughed his land through incapability. It
was an opinion of mine, that the fooner I got my
Jand in order the better ; and that the firft expence
would be lighteft.

No. I. was a field lying near the houfe, toler-
ably clean and not wanting dung, found in a bar-
ley-ftuble without clover; this I planted with
peafe, and giving it a dreffing of dung, I hada
good crop. This was the year 1775, and the fuc=
ceeding year I had a good crop of wheat, not in-
deed equal to my improved land, but little lefs

~ than

86, Jj

than three quarters per acre. The year following
the wheat, I fummer-fallowed and turniped it,—
the courfe I afterwards invariably purfued. The
foil was gravelly with fome depth of mould.

No. I. was a coarfe unkind piece of land, of a
foil neither clayey or gravelly, but fomething be-
tween both, and which my men called chifley.
This had been cropped with oats, and a very in-
different crop indeed ; I dunged it in the fpring,
and planted potatoes on half, and fowed -vetches
on the other half; the crops of both were equal
to my expectation, but the ereateft advantage was
the benefit the land received from the potatoes, by
which it was mellowed fo furprizingly, that 1 was
refolved, contrary to my firft intention, to fow the
field with wheat, which yielded me only four facks
per acre.

No. III. had borne wheat, but the ftubble was

ploughed up for turnips, which afforded a little
fheep-feed, though not worth the expence. This

was a good piece of land, tolerably clean, but want-
edreft. The fpring turning out favourable, I alter-
ed my intention, which was to have fallowed it and
fown it with turnips, and therefore fowed it with
barley at five ploughings; with the barley, three

G 4 bufhels

[ 88 ]

bufhels per acre, I fowed a bufhel of rye-grafs,
6 lb. of Dutch clover, and 61b. of black grafs,
without any broad clover; not that I know it to
be a good method, but that I wifhed to lay it down
for fome years, being handy for feeding. The bar-
jey yielded me about 34 quarters per acre. “As
foon.as the barley was off, I dreffed this field with
chalk and compoft of dung and earth feparately,
the chalk about eight waggon loads per acre, and
the compoft about twelve cart loads; I had the
year following a moft excellent fwarth of grafs,

No. IV. had been cropped with beans. This I
fowed with wheat at three ploughings. After the
wheat I had it tilled and dunged for fummer
vetches, of which I had a moft noble crop. When
the vetches were off, I had it ploughed three times
and fowed with wheat.

No. V. a clover-lay, I fowed with wheat at one
ploughing ; it was very foul, and produced only
about three facks per acre. The year following
it was turniped.

No. VI. was a rowetty coarfe piece of pafture,
that had not been ploughed for fome years. Here
I fowed black oats; the produce was three quar-

ters

[ 89 ]

ters and half per acre; the next year it was fum-
mer-fallowed and fown with turnips.

No. VII. a mixture of fandy and gravelly foil,
was from a wheat ftubble fummer-fallowed, well
dunged, and fown with turnips, as was alfo

No. VIII. which was drained and chalked. The
turnips on both were remarkably good. No. VII.
was the next year turned into a garden, and bore
very large crops of potatoes, Windfor beans, car-
rots, cabbages, and parfnips, but a very few onions,
which I apprehend was as much owing to want
of care as as any thing elfe; among the beans I
tried fome turnips, but they were not good, being
jn general worm-eaten, and fticky or ftringy.

No. IX. part of which was an orchard, was alfo
in grafs: this I dunged well, and planted with
beans, thinking to fummer-fallow for turnips the
next year, but in this I altered my mind, and fowed
winter vetches, which anfwered moft incomparably
well cut for horfes, and for feeding the fows and
pigs. The beans produced rather more than four
quarters per acre: they were hoed three times,
which did them great good, but deftroyed no

couch. After the vetches, I fummer-fallowed for
turnips,
No. X.

[ go ]

No. X. was a meadow which had been ftrangely
neglected ; a breok ran through it, and frequent-
ly overflowing, had given nurture to abundance of
rufhes. I ordered water furrows to be cut, fuffi-
cient to carry off all wet, and fpread ‘over the
whole meadow wood afhes brought dry from a lime
and brick kiln to the quantity of forcy bufhels per
acre ; I kept it clofe fed that fummer inftead of
mowing it: in the winter a little before Chriftmas,
I dreffed it well with dung, and the produce of
erafs anfwered well the expence; I cut full two
tons per acre of excellent grafs free from rufhes.

My aim was to bring all my land as foon as
poffible to bear turnips, which I confider as the
foundation of good hufbandry, in the following
order: Turnips, barley, clover, and wheat, and
this fucceffion invariable. After I got my land in
order, for which I fpared no expence, my crop was
large, five quarters of barley, and from eight to
ten facks of wheat in general. I made it a rule
always to manure my clover as foon after the bar-
ley was off as I could; and this dreffing was of
the beft materials I could collec, with ftable dung
if I could get it. But to proceed in my ftory with
the reft of my farm; for I have only yet mention=
ed fifty-two acres.

No. XI.

“ Se lle

{fo 7

No. XI.. had borne a fecond crop of oats felf-
fown: this, to be fure, muft be fummer-fallowed.
J had it ploughed fix times, and manured with 12
good waggon-loads of ftable dung well rotted to an
acre, but being ftoney land, I fowed it with wheat
inftead of turnips, and yet the produce was not
more than three quarters per acre. I think, from
the experience I have had, that the dung is not of
very effential fervice when applied for a crop of
corn, but to turnips, pulfe, grafs, or vetches, it is
of the utmoft importance; and after thefe crops,
will wonderfully affift the corn crops, as barley
after turnips, and wheat after peafe, vetches, or
clover.

No. XII. was a clover lay, which, not having
~ been dreffed for grafs, I manured for wheat, but
the produce was very fmall, not more than three
facks and a half to an acre; this was turniped af-
ter the wheat.

No. XI. XIV. and XV. I fummer-fallowed,
well dunged, and fowed with turnips ; thefe were a
light lively land, capable of being worked after a
month’s rain, and yet not burning. The turnips
were remarkably good, the barley five quarters per
acre. As foon as the barley was off, the clover

was,

[ 92 ]

was dunged; and the produce of the clover, at
two cuttings, three tons and a half peracre. The
wheat was fown at one ploughing, two bufhels per
acre, and the produce full nine facks and two
bufhels upon the average.

No. XVI. was a barley ftubble, with a good
plant of clover. I dreffed the clover well, and
mowed near two tons at two crops, and fowed the
land with wheat. In the fpring the wheat was very
thin and worm-eaten. I fowed fome foot over
the parts that were injured, which {topped the fur-
ther progrefs of the worm; and the land being in
sood heart, from the dung I had put on the clo-
ver, the wheat tillered amazingly, and produced,
totally unexpected by me, three quarters anda
half per acre. However a fpring cleaning of foul
land for barley may anfwer for that crop and the
crop of grafs, yet when the land comes to be fown
with wheat afterwards, the couch will almoft get
the better of the wheat, and inevitably do it con-
fiderable damage; of this I had an inftance in
No. XVII. which was a clover-ftubble left after
barley, where great pains had been taken to clean
the land and rid it of couch; but the land, when
turned up and fown with wheat, was fo foul, that

the crop hardly paid the expences, and I repented
I

93 J

I did not fummer-fallow and fow it with turnips
out of the clover.

No. XVIII. I fowed after peafe with white oats
and clover, but the clover did not take kindly ; and
as the oats were got off pretty foon, my man ad-
vifed me to fow it with wheat ; accordingly I had it
ploughed four times, and got out all the clutter of
couch, weeds, &c. that we could; after that I
dunged and fowed it with wheat; the crop was not
very much amifs, tho’ not equal to what I expect-
ed, and I might better have turnipped it at once.

No. XIX. was wheat ftubble, which I fummer-
fallowed and fowed with turnips.

Thus I have given the method of farming I pur-
fued in Berkfhire without impofition or exaggera-
tion.

'

No. Soil. Acres. 1775. 1776. 1777° 17786
x. Gravelly mould ‘6 Peafe Wheat Turnips Barley
2+ Gravel and Clay, 6 ome i Wheat Turnips Barley
3+ Deep loamy mould 4 Barley Grafs Ditto Ditto
4e Stiff foil 5 Wheat Vetches Wheat Turnips
5- Mellow loam 4 Wheat Turnips Barley Clover
6. Sandy loam 4 Oats Turnips Barley Clover
7. Sandy and gravelly foil 4 Turnips Potatoes, &c. Wheat Turnips
8. Ditto 6 Turnips Barley Grafs Ditto
g- Mellow loam 3 Beans Vetches Turnips Barley
10. Meadow z0

EI. Strong clayey foil 5 Sum. fal. Wheat Beans Turnips

12. Stiff clayey gravel 5 Wheat Turnips Barley | Grafs

13

[ 94 J

No. Soil. Acrese 1775+ ©1776. 27776 1778
1%, 14,15, Sandyloam 12 Turnips Barley Clover Wheat
16. Ditto * 4 Wheat Turnips Barley Clover
17+ Sandy and gravellyloams5 Wheat Turnips Barley Clover
38. Gravelly foil ; 6 Wh. Oats Wheat - Turnips Barley
49. Sandy &gravelly loam 1o Turnips Barley Clover Wheat
20,21. Meadow 16 Sie

By this mode of farming, I had only nine‘ acres
of wheat in the year 17773; .a confiderable lefs
quantity than: any other year. But in general, I
wifhed to have the farm’ as equally divided as pof-
fible into the feveral crops of turnips, beans, clo-
ver, and wheat. i ‘Bad

re
ARTICLE XX.

On the beft Method of raifing Elms for Fences ;
manuring Fallows for Wheat; and prevent=
ing the ravages of the Fly on young Turnips.

GENTLEMEN,

HE beft method of raifing elms quick is the
following: When you fell elm timber, in the
fpring, fow the chips made in trimming or hewing
them green, on a piece of ground newly ploughed,
as you would corn, and harrow them in. Every chip
which has an eye, or bud-knot, or fome bark on
it, will immediately fhoot like the cuttings of po-
tatoes; and the plants thus raifed haying no tap-
roots,

i i i

—_—

—— =

Lt 3 J

roots, but fhooting their fibres horizontally in the
richeft part of the foil, will be more vigorous, and
may be more fafely and eafily tranfplanted, than
when raifed from feeds or in any other method.
For elm fences, the plants thus raifed have great-
ly the advantage of others, as five or fix, and fre-
quently a greater number of ftems will arife from
the fame chip; and fuch plants, when cut down
within three inches of the ground, will multiply
their fide fhoots.in proportion, and make a hedge

thicker, without running to naked wood, than by
any other method yet practifed. If kept clipt for

3.or 4 years, they will be almoft impenetrable.

Stable-yard dung is commonly ufed as a manure
on land intended to be fown with wheat; but let
it be obferved, that this dung is more produttive
of weeds than any other manure. A crop of
wheat cannot be kept too clean ; hence much trou-
ble and expence are occafioned by fo injudicious a
procefs. To remedy or rather to prevent this in-
convenience, inftead of fowing a newly dunged
fallow with wheat, fow it firft with white oats ; thefe
will take off the ranknefs of the dung, deftroy
numberlefs weeds, and leave the land in. excellent
order for wheat.the following autumn, In fhort,
it is nearly equal to a turnip-fallow.

The

rT 9 J

The ravages of the fly on turnips have frequent
ly occafioned great lofs to the farmer, and many
remedies have been propofed, moft of which have
not anfwered—perhaps the following may be more
efficacious; The boughs of the common elder tree,
fixed in a gate, and drawn gently over young
turnips when they firft appear, will prove an excel-
lent prefervative from the fly ; and if the leaves of
the faid boughs be a little bruifed, and fumigated
with the fmoke of burnt tobacco mixed with a
{mall quantity of affafoetida, it will deftroy thofe
infects effectually. It will alfo be of great ufe to
brufh the leaves and branches of your wall. fruit
trees with elder boughs thus prepared. Nothing
is fo difagreeable to infects as a mixture of tobacco
and affafcetida fumigations, It will kill them in-
ftantly wherever applied. 3

I live at too great a diftance te attend your
meetings, but wifh to promote your laudable de-
figns as far as I am able.

I am, &c.

Taunton-Dean, Fuly 4, 1778.

To the above letter, we think it not improper
to fubjoin an extra from another, fince received
from a gentleman at Exeter; and recommend the

experiments

ii

ia 4
experiments mentioned in both as a remedy for
the fly on turnips.

* After the land is ploughed for turnips, and
‘when the feed is harrowing in, let fome large
* branches of common elder, with the berries on,
© be fixed in the harrow, fo as to rub on the ground,
‘ The friction of the leaves and berries will leave
‘ fo ftrong (and to thefe infects, fo difagreeable) a
© taint or odour on the foil, as will probably pre-
“vent their alighting on fo unpleafing a fpot, or
‘ make them {peedily leave it, if they can be fup-
‘ pofed to have been there before the feed was
‘fown. ‘The effects of the effluvia of elder are
‘ much greater, and more lafting, with refpect to
€ thofe infects, than would at firft be imagined, or
* even credited by the bulk of mankind.’

ArticLre XXI.
On a peculiar fpecies of Grafs found at Orchefton,
on Salifbury-Plains, Wiltfbire.
[By a Gentleman of Dorchefter.]
GrnTLemen,

AM favoured with your Secretary’s obliging let-
ter, in reply to mine refpecting the grafs-feed ;
and it gives me fatisfaction that I can herewith fend
Vou. I, H you

Ee a8

you a fpecimen in the blade for your infpection.
This grafs is found at Orchefton St. Mary, about
nine miles from Salifbury, in a meadow belonging
to Lord Rivers, now in the occupation of Farmer
Hayward. This meadow, being fituated ona {mall
brook, is frequently overflowed, and fometimes
continues fo a great part of the winter. _ It bears
the greateft burthen in a wet feafon, _ _

When I was there, it was too early in the fpring
to make any particular obfervation on the blade,
but the Farmer’s account js as follows, viz. ‘ that
it generally grows to the height of about eighteen
inches, and then falls and runs along the ground
in knots, to the length of fixteen or eighteen feet,
but that he has known inftances of its running to
the leneth of twenty-five feet.’

The meadow contains about two acres and a
half. It is mowed twice in afeafon, and the ave-
rage quantity is generally about twelve loads (tons)
of hay the firft mowing, and fix the fecond;
though fometimes confiderably more. The tythe
of the meadow has been compounded for at nine
pounds a year.*
The
* This account appeared to us fo fingular, and the crop of grafe

fo yery extraordinary, that our Secretary went to Orcheflon, to exe
- . . »
amine

[ ‘99 ]

The egrafs is of a fweet nature; all cattle, and
even pigs, eat it very.eagerly. When made into
hay, it is excellent, and improves beafts greatly.
The farmer fays his horfes will eat it in preference
to corn mixed with chaff, when both are fet be-
fore them together.

amine more particularly into it.. The Farmer, and divers other per-
fons in the village, confirmed the account contained in this letter, of
its amazing produce in fummers when the meadow had been over-
flowed in the preceding winter and {pring ;. but. when the winter had
been dry, and the meadow not overflowed, the crop of grafs was not
near fo large. There did not appear to be any thing peculiar in the
foil ; nor were the other plants or weeds growing on it more luxuri-
ant than in many other fimilar fituations. Some of this grafs was
fent to the Society at Norwich ; fome ingenious members of which
inform us, that they think it is a fpecies of the Agroftis Polymorpha,
mentioned by Hudfon in his Flora Anglica, of which there are feyeral
varieties.

Camden mentions, in his Britannia, a grafs growing near the
place where this is found, which he calls trailing Dog’s-gra/s, and
fays, that ‘‘ hogs were fed with it.”

From all the enquiry made, we have not found this fpecies of grafs
growing’in any other part of the kingdom; hence it is poffible that
there may be fomething in the foil of this raeadow peculiarly favour-
able to its growth.

We fhall not, however, determine on this point, but recommend
trials to be made of propagating it, by fowing the feed in other
places, fubje&t to be overflowed in the fame manner. If it can be
propagated generally, it muft turn out the moft profitable to the far-
mer of any grafs yet diicovered, and be of great benft to the com-
munity.

Fi’ Should

[fe 9041,

Should the Society wifh for further information
or affiftance, I fhall be happy in doing every thing
in my power to promote their views.

ArTICLE XXIL

Some Obfervations on Thiftles as mmjurious in
Agriculture, more particularly the Seratula
Arvenfis of Linnzus. °

{By W. Curtis, Author of the Flora Londinenfis.}

GENTLEMEN,

Wee fome of “your correfpondents are.

laudably engaged in enriching agriculture,
by difcovering and promoting the cultivation of
new plants, permit one whom you have been
pleafed to elect an honorary member of your So-
ciety, to lay before you afew obfervations on
‘fome of the plants which are more particularly
noxious to the farmer. Should they be confider-
ed as contributing to advance even in the fmalleft
degree the defign of your inftitution, he may be
again excited to trouble you on other fubjects,
as information may arife from a cultivation of moft
of the Britifh plants on a fmall fcale.

There

=== ee

es ee ee es ee

FL rea’ 7]

There are no plants over which the ceconomical
farmer ought to keep a more watchful eye than the
thiftle tribe. He is fenfible that they are not on-
ly ufelefs, as refifting the bite of moft animals,
the hardy afs excepted, but that they occupy
much ground; and being furnifhed with downy
feeds, are capable of being multiplied to almoft
any diftance. Hence in many parts of the king-
dom, the farmers whofe lands are contiguous unite
in preventing the increafe, by cutting them down
before they feed; but this operation, though de-
ftructive to fome fpecies, will only palliate the bad
effects of others.

To be acquainted with the qualities of each
kind, we muft .obferve them with much attention»

and view them in a botanical and philofophical
light :. this alone will enable us to judge with cer-

tainty how far and by what means their deftruc-
_ tion may be effected.

The Englith Thiftles meriting notice, as more
or lefs noxious, are,

a. The Carduus Lanceolatus, or Spear Thiftle
2. Carduus Nutans, — Mufk Thittie
3. Carduus Paluftris, — Marth Thiftle

H 3 G.

[) 102; ]

4. Carduus Marianus, or Milk Thiftle

s. Carduus Acanthoides, — Welted Thiftle
6. Carduus Crifpus, — Curled Thiftle
z. Onoperdum Acanthium, — Cotton Thiftle
8. Seratula Arvenfis, —*Curfed Thiftle

The Spear Thiftle is a large ftrong plant, about
four feet high, the extremity of each leaf running
out into along point; its heads are large, and it
grows very commonly by the fides of roads, near
dunghills, and not unfrequently in fields and paf-
tures.

The Mufk Thifle grows to the height of 2 or 3
feet, the heads hang down, andthe flowers fmell
fomewhat like Mufk; it is often found occupying
whole fields, particularly on chalky or barren land.

The Marfh Thiftle is very tall and prickly; its
heads are numerous, fmall and of a red colour ; it
grows abundantly in wet meadows, alfo in woods.

The Milk Thifile has very large leaves, which
are moft commonly beautifully marbled with

* The term Way Thiftle, by which this plant has ufually been dif-
tinguifhed, is by no means fufficiently expreffive of it. ‘The prefent
term may, perhaps, be thought too harfh; but if any es deferve
to have a mark fet upon it, it is certainly this,

white

Ce ee ee ee ee a ~~

eee ee

E193 3

white. Near London it appears frequently on
banks by road fides; in which fituation we alfo

meet with.

The Curled and Welted Thiftle. Thefe three
feldom intrude into fields or paftures.

The Cotton Thiftle is diftinguifhed by its fize,
(being perhaps the largeft of the Britifh herbace-
cous plants) and its white woolly leaves. It grows
in the fame fituation as the three laft-mentioned.

The Curfed Thiftle is more general in its growth
than any of the others, being found not only by
the fides of roads univerfally, but alfo in arable
land, and is not uncommon in meadows, even in
fuch as are yearly mown. It is remarkably
prickly, grows about three feet high; its heads
are {mall, the flowers purple, and frequently
white. The fcales of the heads are {mooth,
and may in a particular manner be diftinguifh-
ed from all the others before-mentioned, by
having a perennial root about the fize of a goofe-
quill, which runs deep into the earth, and after-
wards creeps along horizontally.

Of thefe thiftles, all except the laft are either
annual or biennial; that is, remain in the ground
3 not

>

[ 104 J

not more than one or two years, unlefs renewed
by feed. The laft having a perennial root, conti-
nues in the earth, increafing, and throwing up new
fhoots every year.

Hence it will appear obvious, that if the firft fe-
ven fpecies of thiftles are cut down before they
perfect their feed, the ground will be entirely
cleared of them; and that the laft_mentioned can
no otherwife be deftroyed, than by rooting it out,
a procefs which the following experiments will
forrowfully convince the rural ceconomitt to be
impracticable in large fields, and fcarce to be per-
formed even in an inclofed garden,

Ex P E Ril MECN Ds FR |
To afcertain the effects of mowing the Seratula Arvenfis.

The Hon. Daines Barrington, who is ever anxi-
ous to promote ufeful enquiries, defired me to try
whether this kind of thiftle could not be deftroyed
by mowing. A {mall patch of them, about two
feet fquare, was accordingly planted in a good
garden, in the year 1777. In the courfe of the
fummer they were mown three feveral times, but
without any other good effect than that of prevent-
ing their feeding ; for inftead of being deftroyed,
the next fpring they came up extremely vigorous,

; not

[ 105 J]
not only on the bed where they were firtt planted,
but all around it to the diftance of fix feet.

EXPERIMENT SECOND.

To afcertain the annual Increafe of the Root of the Seratula
Arven/is.

April 1, 1778, I planted ina garden a piece of
the root of this thiftle, about the fize of a goofe-
quill, and 2 inches long, with a fmall head of
leaves, cut off from the main root, juft as it was
fpringing out of the ground. By the 2d of No-
vember, 1778, this fmall root had thrown “out
fhoots, feveral of which had extended themfelves
to the diftance of eight feet ; fome had even thrown
up leaves fix feet from the original root. Mott iof
thefe fhoots which had ‘thus far extended ‘them-
felves were about fix inches under ground—others
had penetrated to the depth of two feet and a half;
the whole together, when dug up and wafhed from
the earth, weighéd four’ pounds.

~ Jn the fpring of 1779; contrary to my ‘expetta-

tion, this thiftle again made its appearance on and

about the fpot where the fmall piece was original-

ly planted. © ‘There were between fifty and fixty
young heads, which muft‘have fprung ‘from ‘thofe
roots, which had penetrated deeper than the gar-
dener

[ wob 7

dener was aware of, although he was particularly
careful in extracting them..

From thefe experiments it ,appears. deducible,
that no plants are more eafily deftroyed than the
generality of thiftles, or with more difficulty tha
this one; there being no foil, however poor, in
which it-will not vegetate, nor earth fo ftiff but it
will penetrate ; in proportion, however, as the foul
is rich, will be its increafe.

It were much to be:wifhed, that an_ inveftiga-
tion of this evil had afforded a remedy: at, pre-
fent, none appears. . It is, therefore; to. be feared,
that {pudding or cutting them down clofe to the
ground, once or twice in.the fpring, :is the only

operation the farmer can perform to prevent their
bad effeéts in deftroying his crops on arable land,

and rendering his paftures unfeemly.

As nature in the prefervation of this plant feems
to have exerted her greateft powers, it is poffible
that in fome future period, ufes may be difcovered
to which it has not yet been applied.

To the afs it is the higheft treat; and I have
been credibly informed, that in fome parts of Scot

land, it is cut down as food for horfes, -
It

[ 107 J

It would be well, if.a plant fo noxious in fome
refpe€ts could be rendered beneficial in others.

Pam; .éec.;; "a
WM. CURTIS,
er

ARTICLE eI LL:

On a Difeafe the Norfolk Stock {Lambs are liable te
from eating felf-fown Barley in Autumn.

[By a Norfolk Farmer.]
GENTLEMEN,

[I our open field-lands, where fheep are moitly
kept, there are every fummer large tracts of
barley, in which, after harveft is ended, and par-
ticularly when it proves a wet Michaelmas, a great
quantity of felf-fown barley comes up in OCctober.
As the fheep then run at large, they are very fond
of this crop, but it often proves fatal to them.

The cold dews in the latter end of October, and
the fogs in November, generally hang in drops on
the blade of this felf-fown crop, longer than on the
‘reft of the herbage; and the plants themfelves

being

f 108 |

being of a cold watery quality are thereby render-
ed ftill more unwholefome. After feeding on it
for about a month or fix.weeks, the ftock-lambs
grow dull and heavy, rub themfelves more than
ufual, lofe their appetite, and wafte till they die.

After they are once vifibly affected, removing
feldom faves them. ‘The flefh of fuch as are killed
appears loofe and flabby. The vifcerais of a livid
hue, and very watery; the liver is greenifh, and
full of fmall knots or kernels ; the blood is vifcid,
with a watery fediment, and very foon turns putrid.
As foon as the fymptoms appear, they are blood-~
ed below the eye: this, in the firft ftage of the
diforder, is fometimes effectual; but no other re-
medy has yet been difcovered. a pk

The difeafe does not appear to be. infectious ;
nor are either the ewes-or wethers much fubject
to it. |

I with the Bath Society may be able to ‘point
outa remedy 3;—and am, &c.

ARTICLE

[ ao9 j

Articte XXIV.
—Obfervations on the Mnyum Mo/s.
GENTLEMEN, _ |

F the following hint is worthy the notice of
. your Society, itis much at their fervice.

Wherever the mnyum mofs, the red rot, and
the marfh pennywort grow, there the water is un-
commonly cold, and perhaps of a poifonous or
mineral tinge. Grazing all low lands where fuch
plants grow, as above defcribed, will occafion the
death of many fheep, and caufe fome diforders in
larger cattle,

lam, &c.
W. B.
nr
Articte XXV.
On the fuperior quality of Grain produced from Set
Wheat, to that fown Broad-caft.

GENTLEMEN,

N anfwer to your query, ** Whether the four of
“¢ fet wheat is whiter, or in any other refpect

** preferable to that which is fown broad-caft ?”’ I
know

[ «i190 ]

know of no comparative difference but what I con-
ceive mutt neceffarily arife from fuller, more equal,
and perfec corn, than what is generally produced in
the ordinary or broad-caft mode: and as thefe
circumftances are, I believe, always attendant on
fet wheat, there is lefs neceffity of throwing and
dreffing, as practifed by the farmer, and _/creening, as
practifed by the miller; in courfe, the fhort an-
fwer will be, that_/et wheat will produce equally
good flour, without the wafte and trouble that
attend the other.

On lands where wheat is /et, the crop is free from
thofe dwinged [fhrivelled] diminutive grains that
are fo commonly found in even the beft crops of
that fown broad-caft: of courfe, it is fpecifically

heavier; and the proportion of flour exceeds the
comparative difference of weight. Our farmers

know this: they expect, and we * give a price ex-
ceeding that which is commonly given for the re-
puted beft wheats that were fown broad-catt.

I find the gentlemen of the Bath Society are ac-
quainted with our mode of fetting wheat. Every
farmer of induftry and activity, who adopts this
mode, will find’ the performance eafy beyond his

* ‘This Gentleman is a Farmer, a Miller, and a Baker.

firft

is ee

firft apprehenfion; and feel himfelf repaid with an
equal or greater quantity, intrinfically fuperior to
what arifes from the common practice. But I
think, from the carelefinefs of droppers, three
pecks of feed ought to be allowed to an acre.

Before I conclude, it may not be improper to
inform you of an experiment I am now making in
planting horfe-beans. I had a piece of meadow-
land, or rather wet watte, almoft conftantly under
water in the winter, and not unfrequently fo in the
fummer. It produced little but rufhes, and (in
the agricultural fenfe) other unprofitable aquatic
plants. In February laft, I opened, drained, and
furrounded it with a ditch, the earth of which I
threw into the hollow parts to render it level, It
was then ploughed in the fame manner as we
plough the clover-lays for wheat, by turning the
turf downwards. On this I fet horfe-beans, and
the promife of a crop is abundant; there being
from eighteen to forty-eight pods generally on a
plant; and the rufhes feem to be eradicated.

In order to bring a confiderable hollow in this
field to a level, I had the furface pared off a piece
of furze ground pafture, and laid upon it. On the
fpot fo filled up, I expected the beft crop; but, on

the

E 12 j

the contrary, here the-blofioms dropt off confider-
ably, the plants had a blafted appeatanee, and the
produce was inconfiderable.

I am, &c.

Norwich, Aug. 15, 1779.
ne
Articte XXVI.
An Account of the Cultivation of Siberian Barley.

[Sent to the Norfolk Society by the Rev. Ad. Howman,
of Bracon, in Norfolk; and tranfmitted to the Society
at Bath by Thomas Beevor, Efq. of Hethel-hall.]

GENTLEMEN,

N confequence of your having invited the mem-
bers of the Society to communicate their ex-
periments in any branch of hufbandry, Iam ex-
cited to relate the refult of one which I made laft
year, in order to form fome judgment of the ad-
yantage of cultivating Siberian barley.

A {mall inclofure, containing 3 acres, 1 rood, 2
perches, which had been under turnips the two
preceding years, was fown with common barley,
excepting one ridge of land in the middle of it,

containing 20 perches, which was fown with Si-
berian

> ae

E273 «4

berian barley the fame day. The foil was very
dry, and much inclining to a gravel.

The time of fowing was the 28th of April 17745

and the ftate of the experiment as follows :
Seed per Produce per Weight per Total weight

Acre. Acre. Bufhel. per Acres

Bufhels. Bufhels. Pounds. Pounds.
Common Barley, 3 367 52 1898
Siberian Barley, 3 32 53% v9 1856

Excefs of meafure in favour of the common barley, 42 bufhels.

Excefs of weight in favour of the common barley, 42 pounds.

A few particularities attended the growth of
the Siberian barley, viz.

' 1. During the firft three weeks after the corn
came up, the Siberian was of a much deeper
green, and had a much broader blade than the
common barley ; after that time the difference

gradually diminifhed.

2. The Siberian was in all its ftages a fortnight
forwarder than the common barley. It was
mowed and houfed accordingly.

3. The ears of the Siberian were much fhorter
than thofe of the common barley ; being only from
five to nine grains in length; whereas the ears of
the common barley were from nine to thirteen.

Vor. I, J From

[ r4 ]

From the firft particular I had raifed my expec-
tations high in regard to the Siberian: barley, and
was confequently much difappointed at the appear-
ance of the third. Ithen thought that the pro-
duce would be greatly deficient; but the fize of
the grains in a,good_meafure prevented it.

The conclufion which I am tempted, to, draw,
from. thefe two.circumftances is. this, that the Sibe-
rian requires richer land than the common barley.
In my land, there appeared to be fufficient ftrength
to produce all that luxuriance of growth which
feems natural to.the plant while in the grafs, but
not fufficient to fupport it: in forming theear. I
am the more inclined to think this, having feen
ears of Siberian barley of. feventeen grains in
length, which is the greateft length I remember to
have obferved in the common. barley,

It may be remarked, that the circumftance of its
requiring richer land does. not feem.to recommend
it particularly tothe county of Norfolk: On. the
contrary, the circumftance of its. being, forwarder
than the other greatly recommends it to that coun-
ty; for it feems evident from thence, that the
Siberian barley may be, and perhaps ought to be;
fown a fortnight later than the common barley.

A very

[i-1831.J

A very large portion of our barley is conftantly
much damaged, both as to produce in meafure and
weight, by being fown too late,* in confequence of
the neceffity we are under of preferving fome of
our turnips as long as poffible.

I am fufficiently aware that this experiment is
not decifive ; and that a fingle experiment, how-
ever decifive it may feem, is not properly conclu-
five; but I hope you will foon receive many others,
and this may then contribute its mite towards
forming an average, from which a juft conclufion
may be drawn.

I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient humble fervant,

Bracon, near Norawich, E, HOWMAN,
Feb, 11, 1775.

P.S. As it has been demonftrated before the
Houfe of Commons, that the weight of the flour
of heavy wheat exceeds the weight of the flour of
jight wheat more than the difference between the
refpective weights of the grain; it may be fafely
concluded, that the fame thing holds true with re-
{pect to heavy and light barley of the fame kind :

* The Norfolk Farmers feldom begin to fow Barley till May.
iy and

[i 1267 J

and with refpect to the Siberian barley, it may cer-
tainly be concluded, that the weight of its flour ex-
ceeds the weight of the flour of common barley in
a ftill more eminent degree ; becaufe a part of the
weight of the common barley arifes from a hufk,
whereas the hufk of the Siberian barley is left upon
the ear when threfhed. So that in this experiment,
as the weight of the grain of the Siberian. fo far ex-
ceeded the weight of the grain of the common bar-
ley, as c/moft to compenfate for the great deficiency
of meafure per acre, the weight of the flour of the
Siberian barley per acre would probably have been
found equal to, if it had not exceeded, the weight
of the flour of the common barley.

As a bread-corn indeed in this county, barley
feems to be out of the queftion ; but the nourifh-
ment muft be in proportion to the weight of the
flour, however ufed.

Two things, however, want to be afcertained by
-well-authenticated experiments, viz. the quality of
-the Siberian barley in malting; and the pe
the beer made of that malt.

ARTICLE

[ ‘rg I

AS reek XXVII.

io the Ue f Fern-Athes as 4 hoes yer
n19} to - Wheat eng.

GENTLEMEN, Aug, 10,'1779.

OR feveral years paft' Ihave entertained a
notion, that fern being burnt upon a fallow-
eround would produce an excellent drefling for
turnips and wheat; but have had no opportunity
of making ufe of it myfelf, nor could:I prevail till
Jately on either of the numerous farmers to whom
I have mentioned it, to give it one trial.

The afhes of fern are ftronger than any other,
and muft, confequently, on account of the great

‘quantity of falts it contains, be of infinite fervice
in promoting vegetation.

I have great reafon to believe, that fire has a
beneficial effect on land, by reducing many parts
of it to a more proper ftate for diftriburing its
nutritive particles to the roots of plants. It mutt
alfo deftroy a great part of the roots and feeds of
all kinds of weeds which may be in the ground,
and, confequently, in that refpect of very effential —
fervice.

F3 Tn

[ 118 |

In the courfe of laft fummer, (1778) a farmer
who lived in my neighbourhood, had a field of five
acres undef a fallow for wheat. It lay adjoining to
a common which produces abundance of fern, and
I obtained a promife from him to drefs a part of it
therewith. One other part of the field was dreffed
with dung alone; and the remainder with a mix-
ture of lime and old mud taken out of a mill-pond
at the bottom of the field. This laft-mentioned
dreffing was well mixed, and laid on in a large
quantity. No exact account was kept of the ex-
pence of the fern-dreffing, nor of the quantity
ufed ;* we can, therefore, only gueis at thefe par-
ticulars. It is, however, an undoubted fact, that
3s. 6d. is more than fufficient to pay for cutting,
drying, and carrying a waggon load in fuch a
convenient fituation; and upon due enguiry, I
was informed that about four waggon loads were
Jaid on an acre; confequently it muft have been
as cheap a dreffing as could poffibly be laid
on it.

* Thefe are fome of the omiffions which render the experiments
made by conimon farmers fo indecifive. They ought to be particu-
larly accurate in eftimating the quantity of manure, and the
expence per acre; 2nd in defcribing the nature of the foil. With-

out this, a juft conclufion cannot be formed on the fuccefs of any
experiment,

This

[ «19 ]

This field-of wheat was reaped the 3d inftant,
as faras the fern was burnt, (which was two acres)
the wheat wasin-every refpect the beft in the field,
being taller, ftronger, thicker, the ears larger and
finer, “and the crop very clean from ografs and
weeds. Thereapers all declared they shad not
cut any wheat fo good this feafon.

The part dreffed with lime and ‘mud was better
‘than that dreffed with dung only, that being the
worft of all. The owner of the wheat and myfelf
were both of the opinion, that the difference in
refpect of quantity of fheaves was in favour of the
fern-dreffed part, nearly as feven to five; but the
difference with refpe& to the quantity of clean corn
muft certainly be in a greater proportion, by rea-
fon of the ears being fo much larger and finer.

I hope the above relation (the truth whereof may
be depended on) will be fufficient to convince
thofe who are properly fituated for carrying the
experiment into further execution. But here per-
mit me‘to obfeérve, that ‘fuccefsful “as the above
“experiment proved, it was not fairly tried, for the
following reafons: Firft, the fallow was not good
for want of one or two more ploughings at the
proper feafon ; fecondly, the fern was not cut until

I 4 the

[ 120 ]

the latter end of Auguft, and fome in September,
confequently there could not be fo'much virtue in
the afhes as there would have been in eae. July.

I iil recommend sate who are: difaaied to
try this dreffing, to burn the fern at two different
times—the firft after the fallow has had the fecond
ploughing—the other part after the afhes of the
former are. fpread and ploughed in; by which
means they will be more intimately mixed with the
‘foil. I would alfo recommend that five waggon-
loads of fern be burnt on an-acre.

I am, your’s, &c.

THOMAS PAVIER, -
Weft-Monéion near Taunton. _

ArtTicLteE XXVIII.
On the Cultivation of Heathy Ground.
[By a- Suffolk ee

GENTLEMEN,
Soe vears fince I Wain up ten acres of ae
ground, which had long been only a fheep-
walk, and produced little elfe than furze, ling,*
and mole-hill thyme.

* Erica, or Heath.

The

[ aa 9

The foil was a loofe blackifh fandy. gravel, and
in general very dry. In March I turned. it over
with a whelming plough, about ten inches deep;
and ran. apair of heavy harrows over it to get out
the roots of the-furze, ling, and other; trumpery
with which it had been over-run. Thefe I burnt,
and f{pread the afhes. In May, I ploughed it acrofs
with the fame plough, harrowed, burnt the weeds,
&c. and fpread the afhes as before. In July, I
ploughed it-again, and fpread thirty buthels of lime
per acre. In September, I ploughed it a fourth
time, with a common plough, harrowed it, and
burnttherubbifh. By this time it wasin fine tilth.
In October, I fowed half of it with wheat, and the
other half with rye; the former nine pecks, and the
latter three bufhels per acre; the winter proving
favourable, the rye came up thick and grew winter-
proud. In January, I. run a hurdle-fence acrofs,
and turned in my fheep to feed it off—they re-
mained there till the end of February, and left the
field almoft bare. I then top-dreffed it with fix
bufhels of lime per acre, which made the crop
fpring vigoroufly. It was as fine as I ever faw,
and yielded me near five quarters per acre.

The wheat did not feem fo ftrong as I expected;
but toward {pring it thickened, and I had near four
quarters

{ we J

quarters per/acre. Both the‘crops were clean, and
anfwered very well. 2

The next year I brelee up fe acres more of the
fame kind ‘of land, ‘and treated ‘it°in ‘the’manner
defcribed above, 'till June, when I fowed it with
‘turnips. ‘They came up very well,andefcaped the
fiy. ‘I-gave them two good hoeings, ‘leaving the
plants fifteen inches fquare. The-crop proved very
good in ‘quality, but the turnips.were rather {mall.

‘At Michaelmas Iturned in beafts and fheep,
and in fix weeks ‘fed them off. The land was
very clean, and the manure left by the cattle had
fo enriched it, that I'thought there would be no
great rifque in fowing it'with wheat.

T gave it a good ploughing—fowed the wheat
under furrow, and harrowed itdown. Tt came up
well, and the eke turned out near four quarters
per acre.

In the autumn J faid on twelve loads of clay per
acre; and in January, after a froft had made the
clay break and mix-eafily with the foil, I ploughed
it in with the ftubble. In March, I ploughed it
acrofs. In April, I ploughed it a third time, and

harrowed

f 123]
harrowed it fine: Then I fowed it with Zealand
barley, ten pecks per acre; two weeks after fow-
ing the barley, I threw in three pounds of Dutch
clover. Both the clover and the barley foon
made a fine appearance; the latter yielded five

quarters per acre, and the former was a good thick
plant at Michaelmas.

In the {pring following I dreffed it with forty
‘bufhels of foaper’s afhes per acre, and in the fum-
mer mowed it twice: the firft cutting was upwards
of two tons, and the latter about twenty-five hun-
dred per acre. I then broke it up for wheat, and
had an excellent crop the fummer following.

The lime, clay, and afhes, had doubtlefs their
fhare in producing thefe crops; but I attribute
my fuccefs chiefly to the repeated ploughings and
burning the rubbifh.

This land, which when I broke it up. was not
‘worth five shillings, is now worth twenty-five
fhillings per acre.

I am, &c,

G. iL
une 20, 1779.

ARTICLE

: ff Yaa J

ARTICLE, 2m:

Inftrustions for the Prevention and: Care of the

EpizoorTy, or Contagious ‘Diftemper “ among
rb Cattle: ditseeseas
oO icy) : ; 1S Fou
[Tranflated from the French of Monf. De Saive, Apothecary to the
Prince Bifhop of Liege, by Mr. Moreau, of Bath.]

ARMERS have no need to be informed, how
important a matter the prefervation of their
cattle is. ~ The confiderable advantages they reap
from them when free from accidents, and the loffes
they fuffet when diftempers fpread among their
herds, are fufficient motives to make them feel the
intereft they have in preferving their cow-houfes,
ftables, 8c. from infe€tion, and in ufing all poffi-
ble means to prevent its progrefs. But as fatal
experience has proved ‘that the ufe of medicines,
with the powers of which they were not well ac-
quainted, has been frequently more prejudicial
than falutary in the Epizooty; and that country
people by placing an unlimited confidence in pre-
tended fpecifics, purchafed at a very high price,
have very often been drawn into a double lofs, by
the death of their cattle, as well as the expence of
fuch drugs; it is thought the communication of
an efficacious and cheap manner of treating cattle
when

ee ee

when attacked’ by this diftemper, and of the means
to prevent their being fo, will be rendering an
effential fervice to the public.

The moment any fymptoms of the diftemper
are perceived, about a pint and a half of blood
fhould be immediately taken from the beatt,
except he has been ill a day or two, in which cafe
he muft not be let blood; but in both cafes let
the following draught be given :

No. 1. An ounce of the beft theriaca (Venice
treacle) diffolved in a pint of vinegar, after which
the back bone. and the whole hide muft be well
rubbed with a dry hair-cloth, to heat the hide and
promote perfpiration. _No drink fhould be given
him but a white drink, compofed of

No. 2. A handful or two of rye-meal in a pail-
ful of clear water; and, fhould the beaft feem to
want food, mix up fome crumbs of rye-bread with
fome of the faid white drink, and give it him.
The animal’s mouth muft be wafhed twice a day
- with a cloth dipped in a mixture of

No, 3. Vinegar and water, (equal quantity of
each) with a fpoonful of honey to a pint of it.

if

126% 7

If on the fecond day the beaft has not dunged,
aclyfter compofed of ~

No. 4. A pint of water in which bran has been
boiled, two fpoonfuls of falt, and a {mall glafs of
vinegar, muft be given and repeated every day ’till
the evacuations are natural and regular,

Befides the above remedies, the following cor-
dial mixture :—

No. 5. A pint of clear water, the fame quantity
of vinegar, four fpoonfuls of honey or fyrup, and
two glaffes of brandy,—muft be given four times
a day to facilitate and keep up perfpiration;
taking particular care to repeat the friction as
directed above.

Should the beaft ftill continue low and heavy,
the draught No. 1. muft be repeated, unlefs he
fhould be found to be hot and thirfty, in which
cafe, ufe only the drink No.2. On the fourth
day, if he feems more lively and free from heat,
purge him with

No. 6. Two ounces of falts, and one ounce of

common falt, diffolved in a pint of luke-warm
water,

Poe,

ey ea

water, with two:fpoonfuls of honey. If this does
not procure four or) five evacuations, repeat. the
clyfter the fame day.

This mode of treatment muft be continued
without intermiffion. ’till: the beaft begins. to: eat ;
then you muft only give him the white drink No.
2, and alittle good fodder; or, fome rye-bread
dipped in ftale beer, moderately fweetened with
honey or fyrup.

The exterior treatment confifts in the applica-
tion of fetons in the: beginning: of the: diftemper,
at the bottoia of thedew-lap, and. of cauteries
towards’ the horns, between. which fome weight
mutt be fixed, fuch as, aftone of a pound weight,
or more, wrapt up ina cloth, to keep: it fteady.
This is neceffary to keep the head warm. But
above all, the friction muft be clofely attended
to, in. order to determine the critical efforts of
nature.

It would be well alfo to evaporate vinegar in
the cow-houfe, &c. and if it could be done with-
out rifque, blowing of a few grains of gunpowder,
twice a day in them, would be avery ufeful
fumigation.

if,

Eat

If, notwithftanding thefe aids, the beaft be not
perfectly cured in ten or twelve days, they muft
be continued without bleeding, unlefs the inflam-
mation be very confiderable; but if, after all, the
diftemper does not give way, the beaft mutt be
killed, and then too much care cannot be taken
to bury it very deep, cover it over with the earth
which came out of the hole, and a turf over all, in
order to prevent the putrid vapours, which exhale
from fuch carrion, corrupting the air, and fpread-
ing the infection.

As to the prefervatives from infection, the prin-
cipal, after having taken every precaution poffible
to prevent its communication from other herds,
confifts in wafhing the racks, troughs, &e. and
the hide of the beaft.every day, with plenty of wa-
ter; and, as the generality of people feem to place
great confidence in {trong aromatic fumigations,
they are advifed, inftead of the expenfive drugs of
which fuch fumigations are compofed, to ufe fires
made with the branches of green woed, throwing
pitch on it to quicken the flames and perfume the
air; thefe fires muft be lighted at fome diftance
from the houfes, for fear of accidents.

Common falt, given in fmall quantities every
day to horned cattle, is reckoned an excellent
prefervative,

Ee J

prefervative, particularly in a learned differtation

on the contagious diftempers among horned cattle,
by Monf. De Limsorc, M.D. and F.R.S. of
of London. It fhould be obferved, that though
the report of an Epizooty is often fpread, yet all
the diforders to which cattle are liable fhould not
be attributed to this epidemical diftemper, fince
they are not exempted from this even when not
affected with any contagious diftemper. There-
fore, when a beaft is taken ill, enquiry fhould be
made if the infection be in‘ the neighbourhood, as
in fuch cafe, a fufpicion of its being the Epizooty
would be well grounded, and immediate recourfe
fhould be had to the remedies above-mentioned.

But as it often happens that cattle fall fick after
having eaten bad fodder, or having grazed in frofty
weather on the tops of herbs, &c. when covered
with ice and fnow, (to prevent their doing which,
all poffible care fhould be taken) to thefe accidents
only are frequently to be attributed the ficknefs
and death of many beafts which fall victims to
them.

There is another accident no lefs dangerous, to
which cattle are liable, which is, the wafhing them
with waters prepared with different forts of poifons,

Vou. I, K efpecially

[> 130: J

efpecially with arfenic to kill the vermin; thefe
waters occafion an itching in the fkin, which ob-
liges the animal to lick himfelf; in doing which
he fucks in the poifon. It is evident, that fuch
pernicious practices may occafion as fatal difafters
and unhappy loffes to farmers, as even the Epizooty
itfelf; it cannot, therefore, be too much recom-
mended to them, to forbear the ufe of fuch things,
which never fail doing the mifchief above de-

fcribed.

Articte XXX,

On the Conftruction and Ufe of Machines for
Floating Sa hes and for Draining Wet
Lands.

[By a Gentleman in Wiltthire.]

GENTLEMEN,

Beg leave to propofe to your confideration, the

propriety of offering a premium for the moft
fimply conftruéted Machine, which fhall fully
anfwer the purpofe of raifing water either for drain-
ing or floating land; fuch Machine to be worked
by a {mall running ftream, where there happens to
be a fufficient fall of water:—And another pre-
mium for a Machine capable of being worked by

wind to anfwer the fame purpofes.
- Machines

tf agdy 4

Machines of thefe kinds, properly conftructed,
would at once improve lands, enhance their value,
and reward the ingenuity of perfons fkilled in
mechanics.

There are many inftances of pafture lands being
raifed two-thirds in their annual value, by being
floated; viz. from one to three pounds per acre.

Any gentleman, therefore, who has twenty acres
of land capable of fuch improvement, might well
afford to expend fifty pounds in erecting fuch ma-
chines as would effectually anfwer the purpofe;
efpecially as land fo watered affords, in fpring, the
fineft pafturage for ewes and lambs.

Where the wind is to be the moving power, the
chief merit of the engine wili confift in its being
fo conftruéted as to be worked with the leaft at-
tendance, and turn about eafily of itfelf to receive
the wind from every direction. There is a certain
point between the fimall felf-working wind ma-
chines, and the large ones which require conftant
attendance ; which point, could it be exaétly hit
upon, would determine what is the largeft fize of
the vanes, and what the greateft weight of the ma-
chinery, that can be conftruéted fo as to be ufeful

without attendance,
K 2 An

pe 132° J

An attention to the conftruétion of fuch ma-
chines as that erected on the top of Newgate, to
work the ventilators, might throw fome light on
this fubject. ‘This turned on a pivot, to receive
the wind from every quarter, by the impulfe of
the fhifting winds impreffed on the horizontal
vane; and its force was equal to what would be
required to raife a confiderable quantity of water
to the height of two or three feet, which is gene-
rally fufficient for the ea a of draining or
floating land.

It feems to me that a method might eafily be
found to check or counteract the force of the
wind when too violent, and even to {top the mo-
tion of the machine, by means of any great
increafe of the wind’s force.

I therefore doubt not, but if the exercife of
ingenuity were called forth, by the offer of fuit-
able rewards, it would be exerted fuccefsfully in
conftructing fome engine which would effectually
anfwer the purpofe.

I am, &c.

Marlborough, Dec. 8, 1779.

ARTICLE

ya ea

~Articre XXXI.

Experiments to afcertain the Ufe of Soaper’s-
Ajfbes and Feathers, as Manures.

[Communicated to the Society by an Effex Farmer.

GENTLEMEN,

N April lait I top-dreffed half a field of clover
with afhlep, or foap-boiler’s afhes, at the rate
of fixty bufhels per acre, leaving the other half in
its former ftate. The effect exceeded my expecta-
tions. There was no apparent difference either
in the foil, or in the crop it produced laft year;
but in confequence of this manure, the dreffed
part of the field produced,-the laft fummer, nearly
double the quantity of hay as the other.

I have alfo ufed this manure with great fuccefs
in cold wet fpungy meadow-land. It has appa-
rently dried ‘it, and, by its warm quality and the
falts it contains, made it produce much greater
crops of grafs than before. I would therefore
recommend it for both the above-mentioned pur-
pofes, if it is not already in ufe in your country,
and can fafely anfwer for its fuccefs. The farmers
here will readily give from twelve fhillings to a
K 3 guinea

-

f 134 J

guinea for a waggon-load, and fetch it fiveor fix .
miles, and they find their account in fo doing.

Another experiment, Ithink, may ‘not be im-
proper to mention: In October laft, having a field
ready for fowing wheat, I manured one.acre of it
with ten bufhels of old feathers, procured from an
upholtterer, ploughing them in as* they’ were
fpread; and from the fuccefs. of this; experiment,
am perfuaded there is no kind of manure;),for ei-
ther wheat or fummer corn land equal to it.. The
acre thus manured produced me near forty-eight
bufhels—the other part. of the field not twenty-
eight bufhels on an average. The quality of the
land, and of the feed fown, was equal; the extra
produce could, therefore, only proceed from the
manure. |

I with all poffible fuccefs to your undertaking ;
and am, ;

: Your's, &c.
ay ipa
O&. 4, 1777:

ARTICLE

Liegs J

ARTICLE XXXII,

On Planting Boggy Soils with Afb; and the
Slopes of jeep Hills with Foreft Trees.

[By Mr. Fletcher, near Northleach, in Glocefterthire. ]

GENTLEMEN,

AVING been pretty largely concerned in
planting Foreft Trees, on various foils, for

more than twenty years, and tried different me-
thods, I have found, by repeated experience, that
no land whatever is fo proper for the growth of
Afb in particular, as fwampy, rufhy,. and boggy
foils. I have planted Afh on land which was fo
boggy and rotten, that the men were obliged to
ftand on boards, to prevent their being mired, and
which, from its fituation, could never be drained
fo as to render it fit for the cultivation of corn or
grafies. It was aftonifhing to fee their growth.
Facts can be eafily produced to prove, that fuch
land (not worth a fhilling per acre for any other
purpofe) has, in divers places, produced, in thir-
teen or fourteen years, from fixty to feventy
pounds’ worth of the fineft afh poles, at a mode-
rate price, befides leaving a proper quantity of
Oaks, &c. fown with them, for maiden timber.
Where labour is not very dear, an acre of fuch
K 4 land

[ 136 J i

land may be planted with four thoufand five hun-
dred Afh fets, (which are a proper number) for
eleven or twelve pounds. This, Gentlemen, I
have frequently done, and I think it isan object
worthy the attention of your Society.

A fmall expence of weeding, pruning, &c. will
arife for two or three years after planting, but then -
it is over; and I think no method of cultivation >
can poffibly prove fo advantageous on bogey foils.

A dead foxy foil, or land over-run with furze
and fern, will alfo anfwer exceedingly well for
copfing ; and, as wood is in many places become
fcarce, I think planting ought to receive every
poffible encouragement.

There is another kind of land, which, although
fit for fcarcely any thing elfe, I have planted with
ereat fuccefs; and that is, the fides of very fteep
hills, particularly in a northern afpect. If there
is any depth of foil, Afh trees will do very well
there; and for Scotch firs, and beech, it is a very
proper fituation.

I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c.
JOHN FLET CHER.
oda 9 “ee

OF. 15, 1777.

f as7 7

[ We are too apt only to take the better fide of
a matter in which our judgment or our. intereft is
concerned... An acre of Afh, &c. may be planted
for eleven or twelve pounds; but avery material
expence is here omitted, the, fencing them from
ithe incroaches of common cattle, &c. which.can-
not amount. to lefs than eight pounds per acre.
We do not infert this to prevent planting, but
only that others may not be mifled. ]

-

Arricre XXXII.
‘Mode of Cultivating Turnips in Suffolk.
[By a Gentleman Farmer near Ipfwich.]

GENTLEMEN,

S the Turnip hufbandry, properly managed,

is the foundation of the beft fyftem of Agri-

culture hitherto difcovered, I take the liberty of

fending you an account of our method of raifing

that valuable root, which we find very advantage-

ous, both as food for cattle, and as a cleanfing
fallow for fucceeding crops of grain,

In November, we plough in our wheat ftubbles,
and give the‘land four ploughings afterwards, at
fuch times as fuit our convenience. Previous to

the

[ ws J

the laft ploughing, which “fhould’ be in the latter
end of June, we cart’on twenty loads (as much as
three horfes can draw) of rotten dung, or muck,
from the farm-yard,‘turned up in April, or early
in May. Sometimes; a as-lime'is the readieft and.
cheapeft manure in thefe parts, it is ufed inftead
of crap but I think the latter see.

One beak of feed is fificient for an’acre. New
feed will come up three days fooner than old.—
What is ploughed for the laft earth fhould be fown
the fame day, elfe, unlefs rain falls, the ground
will be too dry for the feed to vegetate.. When
the turnips are within three days of being fit for
hoeing, if the weather be dry, we run a pair of
light harrows over the field, in a direction contrary
to that of fowing, and before they are hoed the
firfttime. We find this to be of much fervice.

The Turnips fhould be hoed with a feven-inch
hoe, and left full twelve inches* diftant from plant
to plant. We always hoe them twice, and by that
means gain near double the weight in produce.
The labourers, who by ufe become very expert
in this bufinefs, have three fhillings and fix-pence
per acre for the firft hoeing, and two. fhillings and
fix-pence for the fecond, with fmall beer.

* Fourteen, or even fixteen, is better.

Crops

[ ag9 J

Crops vary according to the quality of the land,
from fortysullings to. three pounds pér acre in
value,} and are moftly fed off in the field,

In feeding them off we generally firftt draw off
a rod in width round the field. This is done to
prevent the cattle from fpoiling them, by getting
near the hedges for fhelter in bad weather. The
farmer firft puts in ‘his beafts{—then his beft
wether fheep, and laftly,his lambs, who eat up all
the refufe left by the others. .

As foon as.the field is cleared of its ftock, we
plough it up for barley, and give four earths. —
Sow three bufhels of barley per acre, half above
and half under-furrow.. Fourteen pounds of red
clover feed* is harrowed in with the barley, and

+ This is a very indeterminate quantity, as what may be worth
forty fhillings in one place may be worth three pounds, or more, or
lefs, in another.” > x

t We cannot agree with the cuftom of turning in beafts before
fheep intended to be fatted. If the beafts are intended to be fatted,
_we apprehend the intention will be very materially leffened, by their
running about. A ftalled Ox ever while you live, except in fine
meadows,

* Too mich. Eight pounds are enough, if the feed be good, but
on all light lands, five pounds of black grafs, or hop clover milled,
and five pounds of broad clover, will anfwer moft incomparably well. '

the

[ 140 ]

the land rolled after the barley is come up.
The produce from thirty to forty bufhels per acre.
An excellent crop of clover generally fucceeds the
following feafon, which, after being once cut for
hay and then feeded, is ploughed in for wheat.

The Turnip is our fallow, and the better that »
crop is, the’ finer are the crops’ of barley and
wheat which fucceeds it. When the land is too
wet to feed the Turnips off, we draw and sie
them on fome contiguous pafture.

I am, your’s, &c.

NOP ag
Nov. 19, 1777

ArticLeE XXXIV.”
On raifing Potatoes from Seed.

[By the Rev. Mr. Lamport, of Honiton.}

GENTLEMEN,

{[ 8 the liberty of recommending to your
confideration, to offer a premium for raifing
Potatoes from feed ; and alfo of fending you the
method of raifing them, prefcribed by the inge-
niows Dr. Hunter, which, from feveral. trials,
I have

[ 11 ]

I have found to anfwer all the encomiums that
gentleman has beftowed on it.

My reafons for making this propofal are,

I. It perfectly coincides with a material part of
your benevolent plan to increafe the quantity of
food for the poor: As an acre cannot be planted
in the common method for lefs than twenty-four
or twenty-five fhillings, the mere purchafe of the
roots; the procuring plants from /eed will not
coft more than five fhillings :* So that Potatoes
of the beft kinds to the amount of twenty fhillings
an acre, will be annually preferved for food,

* The principal advantage arifing from raifing Potatoes from feed,
will be the obtaining a better or a larger fpecies, which will be more
profitable in its cultivation for fome years, than a {pecies planted for
many years together, without change: But furely no immediate

advantage can happen to the planter: Let the oppofed accounts
afcertain the fact.

Boi as fea Sen de
Sowing the feed o 5 0o Potatoes a? 4 *o
Rent of the land o15 o Rent — o15 ©
Hoecing ——— 0 9 0 Hoeing — © 9 0
Planting — —= 0 8 o Planting —0o 8 o
£117 0 £.2 16 9

Difference o 19 ©

£.2 16, 0
. Produce of fown 150 bufhels, at2s, — /. 15 0-0

Produce of the planted 200 buthels, atzs. {£.20 0 0

inftead

inftead of being cut for planting. ‘This will be'a
faving to the four counties, in proportion to the
number of acres Pinna # in the methed recom-
mended. )

II. Various forts of Potatoes are produced from
the feeds of the fame apple, and by this means
new kinds would be. introduced, fome of which
might be more valuable than. any yet raifed.—
The farmer will have it in his power, at his own
option, to preferve for his own ufe the beft kinds,
or thofe beft adapted to his foil, and to difpofe of
the reft either by fale, or as food for his cattle.

III. Potatoes will, after a few years, unavoidably
degenerate, and decreafe in produce; while thofe
newly raifed from the feed will produce, at leaft,
one third more than thofe which have been ufually
propagated in the county, or which can be pro-
cured from other counties, unlefs the farmer could
certainly know that the Potatoes he purchafes
were newly raifed from feed alfo.

For thefe reafons, this method appears likely to
prove of great public utility, and to deferve a pre-
mium for encouraging it, efpecially as the procefs
is neither difficult nor expenfiye.

The

[ 143 ]
The method is as follows :

Let the farmer, or gardener, gather the apples
of his potatoes in O&tober, and hang them up in
a warm room till Chriftmas. Then wafh out the
feeds, {pread and dry them on paper, and preferve
them from damps till the fpring. In March fow
them in rows one foot afunder, in ground well
prepared; and when the plants are three inches
high, gently earththem up. About three weeks
after, tranfplant them in land well dunged and
made fine, and dig tham up in autumn.

By this means you may have great varieties,
and your crop next year will be large both in fize
and quantity.

ARTICLE XXXYV.

On the Method and great Advantages of extraéing
the Effence of Oak-Bark for Tanning.

[Communicated to the Society, Dec. 7, 1777.]

GENTLEMEN,
S there are large quantities of oak bark
annually imported into this kingdom, the
bulk of which renders the freight very high, and

confequently makes the article very dear, befides
endan-

[ i144 J

endangering its being fpoiled by getting wet, it
would be of great advantage to the community if
the aftringent qualities of the bark could be ex-
tracted on the {pot where it grows, and reduced to
the confiftency of athick effence. By this means,
the virtues of a large bulk of bark might be col-
lected into a {mall fpace, which would make a
great faving both in the freight and inland car-
riage, and render it a ftaple commodity for trade,

On confidering the fubject attentively, I am of
opinion, that the fcheme is practicable, and would
anfwer extremely well. With refpec& to the pro-
cefs, this extract muft firft be made either by
decoétion or infufion; and then the watery parti-
cles muft be evaporated, to reduce it to the
confiftency defired, in fuch a manner as not to lofe
any of the qualities neceffary in tanning.

Suppofe the operator has at his command a
common family brew-houfe, with its neceffary
utenfils: let him procure aton of good oak-bark
ground as ufual for the pit; and having placed a
{trainer to the mafh-tub, fill it two-thirds with
the bark ; heat as much water, nearly boiling, as
will fufficiently moiften it, and mafh it well toge-
ther. After it has ftood about two hours, draw it

off

[345 7)

off clear, and put it into a cafk by itfelf. .Makea
fecond extract with a {maller quantity of boiling
water than.before, fo as to draw off a quantity
nearly-equal to the firft, and put that alfo into the
fame cafk with the former.

Thefe two extracts will probably contain in
them as much of the virtues of the bark as the
quantity of liquid will abforb.

A third. extract, rather more in quantity than
the other two, may be made from the fame bark,
and as foon as drawn off, fhould be returnéd into
the copper again when empty, and applied for the

firft and fecond mafh of a quantity of frefh. bark,
vas thecthree extracts may be fuppofed to have
carried off the virtues of|the firft. ‘Then proceed
as before till all the bark is fteeped, and a ftrong
sliguid extract is drawn from it. The.bark, when
‘taken out of the copper, may be fpread in the
fun to-dry, and ferve as fuel in the fucceeding
Operations.

The next procefs is, to evaporate the watery
particles from the extract, by a gentle heat, till
it comes to the confiftency of treacle. This may
be done either by the air and. heat.of the fun, or

Wor. I, L by

[ 146 |

by the ///, or iron pan, over the fire. « For this
experiment, fhallow veffels will be fufficient. It
muft not be heated to boil; for that would be
likely to drive off by fteam* what we want to re-
tain. Let the evaporating veffel be covered, du-
ring the procefs, with a wooden lid, through which
a number of holes are bored with a gimblet, as
the fteam will fly off much quicker this way, than
if left uncovered ; and for this reafon, that in the
latter cafe, the air prefling on the whole furface,
would prevent the {team from rifing fo freely as
it will do through a number of {mall apertures.

You will be pleafed to obferve, Gentlemen,
that my firft object was, to get this extract made in
America, from whence large quantities of rough
bark were annually imported; but the unhappy
{tate of the colonies prevents its taking place there
at prefent. In fome future time, perhaps, the
attempt might fucceed; and as the fun is much
hotter there in fummer than with us, the evapo-
ration might be made by its heat, without the
expence of fire.

* In this point, we think our correfpondent miftaken ; being of

the opinion, that boiling would not caufe any evaporation of the
effence itfelf.

+ In this refpect alfo we think the Author miftaken.
In

£47

In the colder climates, fuch as Canada, where
Dutch ftoves are ufed five months in the year, the
fame fire would ferve for evaporation; fo that
when the procefs, which is not difficult, becomes
generally known, the country people might col-
lect bark in the feafon ; and during winter, when
they have little to do, extra& its effence. But
were it carried on in a manufactory, the heat might
be fo frugally applied as to occafion little expence;
for the evaporating veffels might be fo conftru@-
ed and placed, as for the fteam to empty itfelf
into the fteeping tub, and there condenfe itfelf
into hot water. This would fave both time and
expence.

The univerfal ufe of leather, and the great
{carcity of oak bark, make thefe confiderations of
great importance to the public; and it were much
to be wifhed, that fair trials were made, both of
extracting the effence, and tanning leather with it
when extracted, with an accurate regifter of the
expence attending each procefs.

I am, Gentlemen, &c.

L 2 ARTICLE

[ 148 J

ArTIcLE XXXVI.
On Drilling PEASE.
[By a Gentleman near Taunton. }
GENTLEMEN,

ERHAPS the following obfervations on a
crop of peafe, may not be wholly unworthy
your notice.

A farmer in my neighbourhood*fowed a few
peafe in drills, in a common wheat field, in the
beginning of November laft, for the ufe of his fa-
mily. We had fome meals of them well grown,
when the price was two fhillings and fix-perice per
peck; and when they were fold at Taunton mar-
ket for fixteen-pence per peck, the ripeft being
gathered from four of thefe drills only, (from which
.none had been gathered before) produced two
pecks of peafe ; and as the drills were only eighteen
feet in length, and two feet diftant from each
other, the whole fpace of ground occupied by the
four drills was no more than fixteen fquare yards :
from whence it appears, that one acre of ground,
ftatute meafure, would have produced upwards of
fix hundred pecks of green peafe at the firft ga-
thering ; or, if you calculate by the acre of fifteen
feet

[.149 ]

feet to the perch, (which I take to be the faireft
way) the produce would be five hundred pecks,
which, at the then current price, amounts to thirty-
three pounds fix fhillings and eight-pence. An
ample encouragement for trying this method on
a larger {cale.

fam, &c:
T. PAVIER. -

[ We are obliged to this as well as the reft of our
correfpondents, for communicating accounts of
experiments, and making calculations thereon ;
but muft beg leave to obferve, that the advan-
tages arifing from many experiments made on a
Jmall feale, will not be proportionably great, when
that {cale is confiderably enlarged. In the inftance
before us, we doubt not the truth of the account
given: the calculation is right, and the profit
obvious: but we cannot think that the produce
of an acre (much lefs of a larger quantity) would
fell for the fum mentioned. An additional quan-
tity of five or fix hundred pecks of green peafe, at
the time they are fold at fixteen-pence a peck,
would immediately reduce the price in any coun-
try market. We by no means hint this with a
view to difcourage experiments and calculations ;
but merely to guard againft expectations of profit
3 too

[ 150 ]

too fanguine to be realized. If the above-men-
tioned crop were fold at only nine-pence a peck,
the farmer would be well paid for his labour. ]

ARTICLE XXXVII.

Ain Account of the Culture of Siberian Barley,
; im 1774. :

{Tranfmitted by the Norfolk Agriculture Society. ]

HE intention of the Norfolk Gentlemen be-

ing to afcertain the pofitive produce of the
grain, and alfo the comparative produce in the two
methods of fowing in broadcaft, and of fetting

by the dibble, the following experiments were
made:—

The ground chofen for this purpofe was a fandy
loam, containing, exclufive of hedges, 1 acre, 3
roods, 6 perches, 19 fquare yards, ftatute meafure.
It had been in grafs three years at the autumn of
1772, when it was broke up. In the fummer of
1773, it bore oats, and in autumn the fame year,
had three ploughings; in the fpring of 1774, it
was ploughed three times more,

Being

eect ea

Being then in good order, it was divided into

two: parts.

No. 1. contained 3 roods, 2 perches, g fquare
yards. This was fown with Siberian Barley, by
dibbling, from the gth to the 13th of May 1774.
The diftance of the holes was about fix inches one
way and four the other. The directions given were
to drop not more than two grains into each hole,
and they were in general executed exactly. The
quantity of grain fown in this part was one bufhel
and ahandful. On the 18th of June, the ftalk was
two feet in height, and the ear completely formed
in the fheath. It proved a very wet fummer, and
the rain beat it down. It was cut September the
6th; fome of it grew before it was carried home,
and fome could not be threfhed out of the ftraw ;
but the produce was forty bufhels one peck,
- Winchefter meafure, each bufhel weighing fifty-
four pounds,

No. 2. (the other part of the field) contained

I acre, "4 perches, 10 fquare yards. This was
fown under furrow with Siberian barley, May the
roth and 11th, 1774, by which means this part
had one ploughing more than the other. The
quantity of grain fown was four bufhels. This was
L 4 fooner

Lee J

fooner and more beaten down by the rain than
the other, as it grew thicker; but as it was cut
fooner, (viz. Auguft 26) it was not fo much da-
maged, the other having begun to grow before it
was cut. ‘This produced forty-nine bufhels Win-
chefter meafure, each bufhel weighing fifty-four
pounds. Bread was made of this barley, mixed
with wheat flour, in the two proportions of half
each, and of two-thirds barley and one-third
wheat. ‘This was repeated feveral times, and the

latter proportion was thought to make a fweet and
pleafant bread.

C,-O..4M, 2? A poe 1) tS eee

EEO ANY Cn So

Time of Sowing. Quantity of grain fown.
May to—1l. 4 bufhels.
Time of Cutting. Produce.
Aug. 26. 49 bufhels, 54lb. per bufh.
DIBBLED.
Time of fowing Quantity of grain fown.
May 9g to 13. 1 bufhel.
Time of Cutting. _ Produce.
Sept. 6. 54 bufhels, 541b. per bufh.

So far as a fingle experiment can be conclufive,
it appears,

1f. That

{ 153° J

_ xft. That on land in good order, the produce
of Siberian barley is great.

2. That the method of fetting by the dibble
is moft productive in the proportion of about one
tenth part.

It is to be obferved, that three-fourths of the
feed is alfo faved; but this is allowed for the
extra expence of dibbling.

The increafe on the dibbled part was forty from
one nearly.

ARTICLE XXXVIII.

On a new Oi! Manure.

{From a Gentleman Farmer in Norfolk to the Norfolk
Society ; and communicated to the Society at Bath by
Thomas Beevor, Efq; of Hethell-Hall.]

GENTLEMEN,

Now take the liberty to lay before your re-
{fpectable Society a Receipt to make a manure

for the improvement of lands, which I have with
much pains been fo happy as to find out, and
which bids the faireft of any thing yet thought of,
: for

To 154 J

for general benefit. It is equal to either muck
(dung) or oil-c2ke, both of which are allowed by:
all who ufe them to be of great utility; but there
are few who can find a fufficient quantity of the for-

mer, and the latter is too expenfive -for general
ules

As the prolific quality of oil-cake is only in pro-
portion to the oil it contains, the compofition I
now recommend mutt be preferable, having a
much greater quantity of oil in it; and as malt-
coombs are a manure of themfelves, efpecially for
turnip-land, at about eighty or ninety bufhels per
acre, I dare venture to affert, that twenty-four
buthels, with the addition of oil, is equal to the
above quantity, or even to twelve loads of muck:

* Manure for one acre of land, with the expence.

Rape, or train-oil, 6 gallons, atzs. 6d. -- {£.0 15 ©
Sea-fand 6 bufhels, at zd. —— — 0: 2'0
Coarfe Salt 2 buthels, at 1s. — —— och ele
Malt-coombs, 24 bufhels, at 42d. — ° 90

a Ege gut

The method of preparing it is, to fpread the coombs on the floor
about four inches thick—then fprinkle the falt as level as you can 5
throw on half the quantity of fand, and half the quantity of oil, out
of a watering pot—turn it and rake it well—-afterwards add the reft
of the oil and fand as before—turn it well ‘till thoroughly mixed,
and then throw it in a heap for ule.

The

ea SS tua

The fand, and falt mixed with it, not only occafion
it to imbibe the oil more freely, but likewife give
it a better body for the conveniency of fpreading
on the land.

Some Gentlemen may think that the quantity of
falt is too little ; but I am truly convinced of the
contrary, having found by experience, that a ton,
or even a tonand a half, has not anfwered fo well
as three or four hundred. ‘The cafe is very fimilar
with regard to lands near the falt marfhes, where
the tide fometimes overflows them ; and it is well
known by thofe who occupy fuch lands, that no-
thing will grow for three or four years; but
afterwards, they will become very fertile. The
reafon I fhall not take upon me to give, but have
found it fo by my own experience.

If Gentlemen willmake trial of this manure, I
have no doubt but it will anfwer their utmotft withes.

Some farmers here have ufed only half the above
quantity per acre, notwithftanding which they had
good crops; and it is the opinion of many, that it
will prove of great utility as a manure, which is the
* hearty with of your obedient humble fervant,

5 oll Oh

Be §;

Wells, (Norfolk) June 12, 1776.

{; 156, J

P.S. Yiwas.obferving a-few days fince a field
of barley belonging to,Mr. Tuttle, of Wareham,
that was. overflowed by the tide two,or three years
ago; and nothing has grown upon it finge till the
prefent year; but there is now a profpeét of the
fineft crop I ever faw, efpecially on that part of the
land which was overflowed. ‘This. I confider as a
proof that too much falt is very injurious ; and.
would: therefore advife every farmer who makes
ufe of it, toadopt the quantity as may be found
neceflary according to the quality of the land.

fOn this Gentleman’s manure we beg leave to
remark, that nothing appears to us againft its be-
coming generally ufeful but the extra expence that
mutt attend it, from the great advance of oil, and
which muft alfo be occafioned by the carriage of
fea-fand and drofs falt, in moft inland fituations.
Yet to thofe who live near the coaft, and are willing
to ufe oil at its prefent price, we have no doubt of
its anfwering the purpofe ; perhaps common fand
ray be as proper as that from the fea fhore; but
in this cafe we think more falt will be requifite.]

ARTICLE

{ 157 ]

ARTICLE XXXIX,

An Account of a Mode of Weaning and Rearing
Calves, by a Norfolk Farmer.

[Communicated by the Norfolk Agriculture Society. ]

R. Whitby, of Wallington, did, between the

firft of December 1776, and the firft of

April 1777, wean and rear on*his-farm, ten cow
calves, and thirteen bull calves, by the method
following:—At three days old, they were taken
from the cows, put into a fhed, and fed with
flet ({kim’d) milk for -a month, allowing three
quarts to each calf morning and evening. When
a month old, they were fed with the like quantity
of milk and water, morning and evening, with hay
to feed on in the day time, and at noon they were
fed with oats and bran equally mixed, allowing
half a peck to one dozen calves. At two months
old, they were fed only in the morning with milk
and water, they had hay to feed on in the day time,
and at evening, inftead of noon, had the‘ fame
quantity of bran and oats, with water to drink.
"They were fed in this manner until the middle of
April, when they were turned out to grafs all day,
and taken into a fhed at evening, and fed with hay,
until

Riese, | ¥

until there was plenty of grafs, and the weather
erew warm.

Such of the calves as were weaned in March
were continued to be fed with milk and water
every morning until Midfummer. All the faid
calves are in good health and condition; and the
Society allowed the premium offered on that head
"the preceding year. hp

ARTICLE XL.

On raifing a Crop of WHITE Oats and
GRASS-SEEDS.

[By a Berkfhire Farmer.] °

GENTLEMEN,

S I obferve in your advertifements frequent

invitations for the correfpondence of prac-

tical farmers, the following account, being a juft
One, is much at your difpofal.

In the year 1774, I bought twelve acres of land,
which had been fown w th white oats and grafs-

feeds to lay down for meadow.
Orn

f 359 J

On examining my plant of clover, &c. after the
oats were off, the couch-grafs and clutter, [zoeeds]
from its having been laid down very foul, had
almoft totally deftroyed the young grafs; there
being fo little left, that no profit could be
expected from letting it ftand. I therefore had it
ploughed up immediately; and my crop of oats
having been houfed pretty early, I gave it a good
tillage. After getting out as much of the couch-

-grafs and rubbifh as I-could, before the winter
came on, I had it ploughed up in rough ftetches,
(or fingle ridges) that it might have every advan-
tage of the winter’s froft to mellow it, which it did
very effectually. Inthe fpring my plough went
to work again: we found the roots of couch, &c.
which had been difturbed by the tillage in autumn,
generally dead. Then I fowed it again with white
oats and. grafs-feeds, not the rubbifh of a hay-loft,
which abounds generally with the feeds of num-
berlefs weeds; but the beft I could collet. My
neighbours perfuaded me to dung it; but this I
omitted till the crop of oats was got in. I then
dreffed it well with the beft ftable-dung I could
procure. My crop of oats was but indifferent ;
but my grafs the following fummer, being of the
moft excellent kinds, was full two tons per acre at
one cutting, I did not mow it a fecond time, as

I wanted

[ 360 .]

{ wanted the feed—nor-did I cut it the -year fol-
lowing. At the latter end of the fucceeding year
I dreffed it again, and have had.as good crops
fince as from meadew-land held at one-third more

annual rent.
I .am,. &c.
MNS Be
Berks, Aug. 24,1770. |

ArticLe XLI.
Anfwers to the Society's printed Lift of Queries.

{Communicated by Epwarp Sampson, efq; High She-
riff of the County of Glocefter. _

‘Henbury, Dec. 14, 1778.
GENTLEMEN,
Have the pleafure herewith to tranfmit;anfwers
to the lift of Queries, with which. you fome
time fince honoured me. If they in the leaft de-
gree anfwer the Society’s expectations, it will be
a fatisfaction to

Your very humble fervant,

EDWARD SAMPSON.

Anfwers to the Queries propofed by the, Agri-
culture Society at Bath, by
Ruricora GLoogsTRIs.
To

SS a |

To the Firft Query.—Cone wheat, and blue ball,
on ftrong clays, and deep rich loams; the feveral
kinds of Lammas wheat on loams, fand, gravel,
and ftone brafh land. Barley moft natural on
fandy, gravelly, and ftone-brafh ; but it will re-
turn large crops on clays, although the grains are
more coarfe and brown.

Peafe for culinary ufes on fands and loams ;—
for pigs, on clays, gravel, and ftone-brafh.

Beans on ftrong clay and deep loam, the fame
as cone wheat.

Vetches on gravelly foil and ftone-brath.

Turnips on every kind of foil, with good and
repeated ploughings, and proper manures ;—moft
natural on a fandy loam.

Cabbages on ftrong deep clays and rich loams.

Carrots on deep loams abounding with fand,
and not too ftiff; and on any deep light foil duly
cultivated,

The quantities of feed depend much on the fea-
fon and time of fowing. Wheat from feven to ten
Vou. I. M pecks

[ 162 J

pecks per acre. Barley from ten to fixteen pecks.
Peafe and beans ten pecks if drilled, twelve if
planted, fixteen if fown, and earthed or harrowed
in. Vetches from eight to ten. Turnips from
ten to twenty-four ounces. Much depends on the
fkill of the fower. Cabbages and carrots have the
like dependence.

The average produce cannot be afcertained with
precifion, becaufe of blights, mildews, earth-grubs,
and many other accidents to which all forts of
grain are incident; and, exclufive of thefe, much
depends on the nature of the foil and mode of
cultivation.

To the Second.—On clay and loamy foils, if old
arable long in tilth, the following courfe is gene-
rally practifed: 1. Turnips, as a fallow-crop ;
2. Barley; 3. Clover, mowed early, and then fed ;
4. Wheat, on one earth; 5. Peafe, or Beans; 6.
Wheat, then Turnips. Ifa new farm from paf-
ture, 1. Beans or Peafe; 2. Wheat; 3. Barley:
Or, 1. Turnips; 2. Barley; 3. Clover; 4. Wheat,
and then Turnips again,

On light thin and ftoney foils, 1. Turnips; 2.
Barley ; 3. Clover, mowed early and fed till Mid-_
fummer,

{ 163 ]

fummer, then let it grow, and plough it in for
wheat. Vetches in winter, and fed off for Turnips.

To the Third.—For {tiff clays, fand in due quan-
tity; for light fand, clay in due quantity ; and for
both, lime duly prepared; lyas lime for light
fands ; marble lime for heavy foils.

For gravelly and loamy land, yard-dung, lime-
chalk, and fhovelling of highways in compotts.

For moorifh and cold foils, gravel, highway-
earth, very fmall ftones, coal-afhes, foaper’s-drains,
and pig’s-dung.

For cold wet lands, no manure effeétual without
draining, and then the fame as for the laft,

For ftone-brafh land, any kind of manure laid
on ina half rotten ftate. The quantity per acre
mutft be learned from experience. It is better to
lay on at twice than too much at once. The fea-
fon from February to September. The time of
lafting is according to the underftratum, which, if
compact and warm, will render the manure
durable; if loofe, or a cold clay, it will foon

be gone.
M 2 To

[ 164 ]

To the Fourth.—No new difcovery of manure in
the fouth parts of Glocefterfhire, except about
Briftol. The dung and urine of pigs, fatted by
the wath of the diftillers, is found to be excellent
manure for any kind of land, but more efpecially
cold clays. . The lees or fuds of foap-makers are
alfo found of great ufe, as well as the urine of
pigs, by being fprinkled over paftures in the fame
manner as the roads are watered about London,
Care muft be had to the due quantity, or the ver-
dure will be deftroyed. Experience is the beft
guide.

To the Fifth.—All dreffings on cold wet. lands
will be very ineffectual, unlefs the lands are firft
dried by under-draining. Soot is the moft bene-
ficial, only the hay will {mell of it.

To the Sixth.—Stone is the beft and moft laft-
ing; wood is a fubftitute, and will be lafting alfo if
conftantly wet; if not, it will foon be Wie and
then the trenches will clofe.

To the Seventh.—The wood which ftands beft
again{t weft winds, on high expofures, is the beech
and the black mountain fallow, (Salix Latifolia
Rotunda, being the thirteenth fpecies of Miller)

with

L165, ]

with a plumb-tree leaf; on moorifh and bogey-
ground, the black alder.

Lo the Eighth.—Lucerne is cultivated by very
few, and thofe more for fancy than profit, as it
will bear no rival, but muft be kept hand-weeded,
or it will foon decay ; nor will it fucceed even with
fuch care on lands of acold or moift-underftratum.

Saintfoin is cultivated on dry, gravelly, and
ftone-brafh land, when the underftratum is not of
a clofe compact texture, but of a loofe open ftoney
nature, or chalky. It anfwers well in the broad-
caft method. The caufe of its often failing is
owing to the nature of the land, rather than to the

mode of cultivation.

Burnet (the Pimpernella Sylveftris of Ray,
Pimpernella Sanguforba major of C. B. 160, and
Sanguforba of Linnzus) grows naturally in moitt
clay meadows, in this county; but the cattle will
prefer almoft all other common plants found in
thofe paftures toit. The leffer Burnet (or Pim-
pernella Sanguforba minor herfuta of C. B. P. and
Poterium of Linnzus) delights in a gravelly dry
foil, and is frequent in healthy fheep-paftures, and
eaten greedily by thofe animals. |

; i) Je) To

”

{ 166 4

To the Ninth.—Turnips are generally fown as a
fallow crop, after the land (of any fort) is well
tilled, cleanfed from weeds, and dreffed with yard
dung, lime, or any compoft. We generally fow
them about Midfummer, and hoe them twice; they
may be effe€tually preferved from the fly, if, as foon
as the feed-leaf appears, wood-afhes be fown over
them as often as it is wafhed off by dews or rains.

To the Tenth.—The drill is preferable to the
broad-caft method, in loofe or loamy land ; but
not in clays or ftoney foils.

To the Eleventh—The comparative advantage
of oxen is great where they are bred by the far-
mer who ufes them, and fed on commons in
fummer, and on ftraw in winter, till three years
old, (but not fo much where they are bred in
inclofed lands, or bought at four years old) and
worked till fix or feven; they are lefs liable to
ficknefs than horfes; and if accidents befal them,
they are of fome value. Two oxen will do more
work than one horfe of equal value with them,
nearly in proportion as fix to four, and they coft
lefs in keep.

To the Twelfth.—In places fubje&t to rot fheep,
fold them before the dew falls, and keep them in
fold

bi a6; J

fold it till it exhales in fpring and fummer; in
winter attend to this as much as the weather will
admit; and feed them in the fold, or on turning
out, with hay on which falt has been fprinkled at
ftacking up at harvett.

It is a known truth, that the paftures (though
marfhes) which are overflowed by the falt water at
the vernal or autumnal high tides, never rot fheep,
but are an antidote to the difeafe, if the infected are
depaftured thereon while the difeafe is recent.

To the Thirteenth.—Chiefly in the crofs-tree, pot-
hook-drail, fwing-plough, which with two horfes
will plough moft kinds, and with three horfes any
fort of land; having a point to the fhare for ftoney
lands, and no point in lands that are not ftoney.

ArticLte XLII.
On the great Increafe of Milk from feeding
Milch Cows with Saintfoin.
{By an Effex Farmer. ]
GENTLEMEN,

N looking over your lift of premiums, I was
much pleafed to find your Society had encou-
raged the cultivation of Saintfoin, In this neigh-
M 4 bourhood,

[ 168 }j

bourhood, we have many large fields of this
excellent grafs, and find it the beft and moft pro-
fitable of any that we raife. .

As the roots ftrike iN in our chalky foil, this
plant is not liable to be fo much injured by drought
as other eraffes are, whofe fibres fhoot horizon-
tally, and lie near the furface. The quantity of
hay produced is greater and better in quality than
any other. But there is one advantage attending
this grafs, which renders it fuperior to any other ;
and that arifes from feeding it with milch cows,
The prodigious increafe of milk which it makes is
aftonifhing, being nearly double that produced by
any other green food. ‘The milk is alfo better,
and yields more cream than any other.

I give you this information from my own obfer-
vation, confirmed by long experience ; and if your
farmets would make trial, they would find their
account in it far more than they expect.

fam, &c.

; J. B,
Near Saffron- Walden, Feb. 1778.

*

ARTICLE

[ 169 ]

Nee Aes XLIil.

An Account of the Succefs oe tBe plant-
ing Moor-Land with Afh Ti ees.” 2 |

GENTLEMEN,

5 5 enh lately in the county of Effex; I was
informed that a gentleman farmer there had
raifed a very fine plantation of Afh trees; on #
piece of moor-land, which was worth little for any
other purpofe. Knowing him to be 4 very inge-
nious and: capable farmer, both.willing and able te
communicate ufeful knowledge, I thought my ex-
amining, the plantation, and giving you a juft
account of. its planting, progrefs, produce, and
prefent ftate, might be acceptable to the Society.

The foil was a, black,bogey moor, and had for-
merly been a hop ground; but fo wet that it
would not anfwer for that or any other purpofe in
agriculture, although, it had been cut -acrofs with
many open drains, five. feet; deep, to, take off the
water, -‘The quantity. was, three ftatute acres, and
the following account of the planting and. produce
was given me by. the farmer in WHTIRED: from. his
own Regifter,

‘In

a>

{ 170 J

©In the {pring of 1764, I planted thefe three
€ acres of black moor with fmall feedling Afh
¢ plants, drawn from my woods, hedges, and wafte
« grounds, at four feet diftance from each other.
© When they had ftood two years, I cut them down
‘within four inches of the ground. [ then let
¢them ftand ten years, during which time they
‘throve exceedingly; and in February 1776, I
€cut lone acre and half. The produce was as
© follows : .

s. d.

© 31 hundred of poles, fold on the pre-
‘mifes for — — — 39.6 0

© rs loads of firewood, fold alfo on the
‘ premifes, at 16s. per load = — 8 16 0
£48: Qaem

© The other acre and a half is ftill ftanding, and
© much fuperior to that already cut,’

On examining the ftanding part of the planta-
tion, it appeared to be in the moft healthy and
vigorous ftate.. The fhoots were generally three
in each root, ftrait and clean; the bark being
clear, fmooth, and of a fine blueifh green. The
annual fhoots were frequently from three to four
feet in length; and from their prefent appearance,

Iam

Egat

I am fully of the opinion that, if cut next fpring,
this part of the plantation will exceed the other at
leaft one-third in value.

The young fhoots, in that part of the plantation
cut in 1776, are remarkably ftrong and healthy, and
bid fair to be fit for a fecond cutting in feven years,

By this eafy and judicious management, ‘one
acre and a half of land, not worth five fhillings a
year for any other purpofe, has paid the planter
near fifty pounds in twelve years; and the acre
and a half now ftanding will, if cut next feafon,
probably bring him full feventy pounds.

The firft five years after planting, they were
kept clear from weeds, but that trouble and ex-
pence has been long fince at an end; and in time to
come, after deducting the {mall charge of cutting,
the whole produce may be reckoned clear gain.

This, furely, muft be a fufficient encourage-
ment for gentlemen in other counties to plant fuch
lands in the fame manner, as it will at once prove
beneficial to the owner, and to the community.

I am, &c.

EDMUND RACK.
Bath, June 28, 1779.

[E 78 |

ArticLte XLIV.
On the Ufe of Stagnant Water asa Viet
[By a Gentleman Farmer in Norfolk.]

GENTLEMEN,

Make no apology for tranfmitting to you an

account of the following experiment, becaufe
I think ic may prove as ufeful to others as it has
been to myfelf.

At the lower end of my farm-yard is an old
pond, or refervoir of water, which is the common
receptacle of every thing that drains from the other
parts of my yard, ftables, and the ditches of feveral
fields. On my firft coming into the farm, it was
nearly dry, but during the courfe of the winter,
a confiderable quantity of water was. collected in
it, which, as fpring advanced, grew very. thick
and dark coloured, and in the fummer abounded
with infects.

The weather proving dry, and my pumps fail-
" ing, I ufed a quantity of this water for my garden,
and was foon furprized to fee how ftrong and vigo-
rous the plants proved that were watered with it.
This led me to confider that it might probably

prove

373

prove a rich manure for pafture-land; but the
quantity then remaining in the pond was too final]
to make any confiderable trial with. Determined,
however, to afcertain the truth or fallacy of my
conjecture, in the latter end of July, 1772, I mea-
fured out two fpots of fifty fquare yards each, in
an adjoining meadow, which had been mowed, and
was much burnt up. And in order to prove how
far this exceeded other water, I watered one fpot
with it, and the other with water from a fmall ad-
jacent river, three times a week, for a month to-
gether, there being little rainall thattime. I ob-
ferved the effects carefully, and at the end of the
month, the two {pots were in the following ftates :
That which had been watered from the river was
far better than the reft of the field. The grafs
was tolerably thick and high, but weak and faint,
feeming to have little virtue in it, and of a yel-
lowifh green, But the other fpot, which had my
pond-water, the grafs was much thicker and high-
er; being as ftrong and fucculent as any part of
the firft crop had been, of a deep healthy green,
and near eighteen inches high. I then determi-
ned to cut both and keep them feparate, in order
to afcertain the comparative value of the hay. I
did fo; and when it was made, on weighing each,
I found that on which the pond-water had been
ufed

&

Bin: & Cate |

ufed near double in quantity, and much fuperior
in quality, to the other.

I did not water either of the {pots any more that —
feafon ; but the next fummer, I found the effects
of this watering to an inch in the faid meadow ;
the grafs being much thicker and higher than on
any other part of the field. I confidered this as
proof pofitive, and determined in future to in-
creafe the quantity of my pond water. For this
purpofe I emptied the pond, enlarged it, and lined
the bottom and fides with clay eight inches thick,
to prevent the water from foaking into the earth.
T then laid covered drains into it from my ftables,
ox-ftalls, kitchen, dairy, and neceffary, (the latter
IT regularly emptied once a year into it) and threw
in all the offal made in the houfe, cabbage leaves, —
rotten fruit, and the like; by thefe means, the
water foon grew very putrid, and I had it in great ~
plenty. In my garden I now ufed no other ma-
nure, and yet found the produce much fuperior to
my neighbours, who dunged ground equally good
freely. Having acommon water-cart made with
a trough behind full of holes, I then watered my
paiture and meadow lands with the greateft fuccefs.
Twenty carts of this water on an acre in the be- |
cinning of May, and in July, would render my

crops

[ 175 ]

crops of grafs and rowen* far better than any
manure I could lay on without it. After this fuc-
cefs, I tried it on arable, and found it equally
ferviceable on corn as on grafs-lands.

If relating my experience fhould induce any of
the weftern farmers to follow my example, they
will have no caufe to repent their labour ; and it
will fufficiently recompence me for the trifling
tafk I have undertaken in communicating this to
you.

I am, &c,

WwW > July 10, 1779.

ARTICLE XLV.
On the Management of CLoveER.

[By a Gentleman Farmer in Suffolk. ]
GENTLEMEN,

S Clover is a grafs which fuits our climate

better than almoft any other, I think the
proper cultivation of it an object of national
importance; and therefore take the liberty of
informing you, how I have for feveral years ma-
naged it with great fuccefs.

* Aftermath.

In

be

In April, after my barley is come up, I fow
about eight pounds of clover-feed per acre on it,
and roll theland. ‘This anfwers two. good pur-
pofes, namely, prefiing and covering the feed, and ©
fixing the roots of the barley more firmly, which,
in-a light foil efpecially, is of great fervice.

After the corn is reaped, I omit turning in any
cattle till the crop of clover gets up pretty high
and thick, which it will generally be by the end of
Oétober. I then turn in fheep and other {mall
cattle for about a month, or, if the crop is large,
fix weeks. After this time, I let it remain unfed
till April. My cattle are then turned in, which
eat it off pretty bare by May, at which time I
clear it for a crop ofhay. If the feafon is not re-
markably dry, it will be ready for the firft cutting
by the middle of June, and generally yields me
two tons per acre.

Experience has taught me, that the nearer the
ground clover is cut the better, if it be cut early ;
but if it has ftood too long, the bottoms of the
ftalks will be dry and naked.* In that cafe, it

* To this the writer might have added, that the ftalk bemg dsin-
ed of its moifture, the root is alfo much exhautfted, and will require,

longer time before it fends forth new fhoots for a fecond crop.

ought »

od ba alae

ought not to be cut fo low, as the hay would be
more fticky and coarfe. If rain follows the firft
cutting, the fecond crop will be ready about the
roth of September. The beft time is when the
flowers are all full blown, and the earlieft begin
to turn brown.

When I intend the fecond crop for feed, I
ufually let it ftand till near Oftober. This occa-
fions it to threfh the better, and there is no danger
of the feed fhedding in the field.

In order to prevent the inconveniences that
feed clover is liable to in a wet autumn, I generally
leave half my crop unfed in April, by which
means it is fit for cutting near a month fooner than
it otherwife would be; and the fecond, or feed-
crop, is brought more into the fummer. When
the autumn proves wet, this method is attended
with many advantages; the feed ripens better, and
is threfhed with much lefs trouble and expence.
The fample is alfo better coloured, and the ftraw
being lefs beaten to pieces, makes better fodder
for my cattle.

The beft method I have ever found to prevent
cattle from being hoved, as it is here called, or
Vou. I. N choaked,

L 373 ee

choaked, on their being turned into green clover,
is to let them remain at the firft no longer than till
their bellies are full; and while feeding, to keep
them conftantly ftirring. For asitis their greedi-
nefs in fwallowing the mouth-fulls too. faft, and
before it is fufficiently chewed, which occafions
thefe accidents; if they are interrupted every two
or three mouth-fulls, fo as to give time for the
balls to fink into their maw before the next fol-
lows, it will effeftually prevent fuffocation.—
Whenever, notwithftanding this precaution, any
of my cattle have fwelléd, I have immediately
opened a vein, and ftabbed them in the flank near
enough the hip-bone to prevent wounding the in-
trails. As foon as this was done, I puta quill or
reed into the orifice to keep it open, that the wind
might have a free paffage out, and keep the animal
warm till it recovered its breath. By this means
I never loft more than one, and that was occafion-
ed by the remedy being applied too late.

I am, &c.

Wi. E,
Near Halfworth, May 20, 1779. ©

ARTICLE

—e

[ 179 ]

ArticreE XLVI.
Thoughts on the Rot in SHEEP.

To Mr. Rack, Secretary of the Bath Agriculture Society.

S 1;R; |
HE great attention of the Bath Society to
. fuch ubjeéts as promote the public good,
induces me to trouble you with a few loofe
thoughts relative to a diforder moft fatal in an
animal of vaft importance to the ‘* agriculture,
« manufactures, and commerce of this kingdom.”

The caufe of the Rot in Sheep, fays Mr. Bof-
well, imhis late ingenious Treatife. on. watering
Meadows, is unknown.—Mr. Arthur Young, in
recapitulating all the information he could: get in
his Eaftermn Tour, obferves, that “ she accounts
are fo amazingly contradictory, that nothing can
be gathered from. them,” but concludes, that
“© every one knows that moifture is the caufe.”

In. differing: from.jan' author of Mr..Young’s
acknowledged merit, fupported by the general
opinion of mankind, I am Jed to examine my own
fentiments with caution and diftruft;—bur, unlefs
it is only meant, that moifture is generally the remote

N 2 caufey

) 180 1

caufe, it will be difficult to account for the Rot
being taken on fallows in a fingle day, and in
water meadows fometimes in half an hour, when
in grounds of a different fort, although exceffively
wet and flabby, theep will remain for many weeks
together uninjured,

Another opinion, which has many adherents, is,
that the rot is owing to the quick growth of grafs
or herbs that grow in wet places.

Without premifing, that all-bounteous Provi-
dence has given to every animal its peculiar tatfte,
by which it diftinguifhes the food proper for its
prefervation and fupport, (if not vitiated by for-
tuitous circumftances) it feems very difficult to
difcover on philofophical principles, why the quick
growth of grafs fhould render it noxious,—or why
any herb fhould at one feafon produce fatal effects,
by the admiffion of pure water only into its com-
ponent parts, which at other times is perfectly in-
nocent, although brought to its utmoft ftrength
and maturity by the genial influence of the fun.
So far from agreeing with thofe who attribute the
Rot to quick-growing grafs, which they call
flafhy, infipid, and deftitute of falts, to me the
quicknefs of growth is a proof of its being endued

with the moft active principles of vegetation, and
is

rah 3

is one of the criterions of its fuperior excellence,
Befides, the conftant practice of moft farmers in
the kingdom, who with the greateft fecurity feed
their meadows in the fpring, when the grafs fhoots
quick and is full of juices, militates directly againft
this opinion.

Let us now confider whether another caufe may
not be affigned, more reconcileable with the vari-
ous accounts we receive of this diforder. If our
arguments, however fpecious, are contradictory
to known facts, inftead of conducting us in the
plain paths of truth, they leave usin the mazes of
error and uncertainty.

Fach fpecies of vegetables and animals has its
peculiar foil, fituation, and food, affigned to it.
Taught by unerring inftinct “ the fparrow findeth
«¢ her a houfe, the fwallow a neft, and the ftork
«© inthe heavens knoweth her appointed time.”—
The whole feathered tribe, indeed, difplay a won-
derful fagacity and variety in the choice and ftruc-
ture of their habitations. Nor can it be doubted
that the minuteft reptile has its fixed laws, ap-
pointed by Him whofe ‘tender mercies are over
*¢ all his works,”

Nea The

[ “182 J

The numerous inhabitants of the air, earth, and
es are - ftrongly influenced by the feafons, and
by the ftate of the atmofphere; and the. fame
caufes,. perhaps, that rapidly call myriads of one
fpecies into being, may frequently prove the de-
ftruction of another. Is it then improbable, that
fome infect finds its food, and lays its eggs, on the
tender fucculent grafs found on particular foils,
(efpecially wet ones) which it moft delights i in?
Or that this infect fhould, after a redundancy of
moifture, by an inftinétive impulfe, quit its dank
and dreary habitation, and its fecundity be greatly
increafed by fuch feafons, in conjunétion. with the
prolific warmth of the fun?

The fiefh-fly lays her eggs upon her food, which
alfo ferves to fupport her future offspring; and
the common earth-worm . propagates its {pecies
above ground, when the weather is mild and
moift, or the earth dewy.

The eggs depofited on the tender, germ are
conveyed with the food into the ftomach and in-
teftines of the animals, whence they, are received
into the lacteal veffels, carried offin the chyle,
and pafs into the blood; nor do they, meet with
any obftruction until they arrive at the capillary

veffels —

for J

vefiels of the liver.—Here, as the blood filtrates
thro’ the extreme branches, anfwering to thofe of
the Vena Porta in the human body, the fecerning
veffels are too minute to admit the impr@gnated
ova, which, adhering to the membrane, produce
thofe animalculz that feed upon the liver and de-
ftroy the fheep. They much refemble the flat fith
called plaice, are fometimes as large as a filver two-
pence, and are found both in the liver, and in the
pipe (anfwering to that of the vena cava) which
conveys the blood from the liver to the heart.

If the form of this animal is unlike any. thing
we meet with among the infect tribe, we fhould
confider that,it may be fo fall in its natural:ftate
as toefcape our obfervation.—Or might. not its
form have changed with its fituation ?—< The
* caterpillar undergoes feveral changes before it
“< produces a butterfly.”

The various accounts which every diligent
enquirer muft have met with (as well as the inde-
fatigable Mr. Young) feem very. confiftent, with
the theory of this diforder.

If dry limed land in Derby thire will rot.in,com-
mon with water-meadows, and ftagnant marfhes ;
. N 4 if

[ 184 ]

if fome fpringy lands rot when others are per-
fectly fafe ;—is it owing to the circumftance of
water, or that of producing the proper food or ni-
dus of the infect? Thofe who find their after-grafs
rot till the autumnal watering, and fafe afterwards,
might probably be of opinion, that the embryo
laid there in the fummer is then wafhed away or
deftroyed.

With regard to thofe lands that are accounted
neverfafe, if there is not fomething peculiar in the
foil or fituation, which allures or forces the infect
to quit its abode at unufual feafons, it may be
well worth enquiring, whether from the coarfenefs
of their nature, or for want of being fufficiently
fed, there is not fome grafs in thefe lands always
left cf a fufficient length to fecure the eggs of the
infect above the reach of the water.

Such who afiert that flowing water alone is the
caufe of the Rot can have but little acquaintance
with the Somerfetfhire clays, and are diametrically
oppofite to thofe who find their worft land for rot-
ting cured by watering. Yet, may not the water
which produces this effect be impregnated with
particles deftructive to the infect, or to. the tender
germ which ferves for its food or nidus ?

For

=a

ak ae

[ 185 ]

For folving another difficulty, “ that no ewe
«¢ ever rots while fhe has a lamb by her fide,” the
gentlemen of the faculty can beft inform us, whe-:
ther it is not probable, that the impregnated ovum
paffes into the milk, and never arrives at the liver.
The fame learned gentlemen may think the fol-
lowing queftion alfo not unworthy their confi-
deration :—

Why is the Rot fatal to fheep, hares, and rab-
bits, (and fometimes to calves,) when cattle of
greater bulk, which probably take the fame food,
efcape uninjured ?

Is the digeftive matter in the ftomach of shefe
different from that of the others, and fuch as will
turn the ova into a ftate of corruption ; or rather,
are not the fecretory ducts in the liver large enough
to let them pafs through, and be carried on in the
ufual current of the blood?

It feems to be an acknowledged fact, that falt-
marfhes never rot. Salt is pernicious to moft in-
fects. They never infeft gardens where fea-weed
is laid.* Common falt and water is a powerful
expellent of worms bred in the human body.

* And yet feaeweeds, fteeped a few days in, the puret {pring
water, abounds with animalculz of yarious {pecies.

could

f. we J

T could wifh the intelligent farmer would con-

fider thefe truths with attention, and not negle& a

remedy which is cheap and always at hand.

Lrste, in his book of hufbandry, informs. us of

a farmer who cured his whole flock of the Rot, by -

giving each fheep a handful of Spanifh falt, for
five or fix mornings fucceffively. The hint was
probably taken from the Spaniards, who frequently
give their fheep falt to keep them healthy.

On fome farms, perhaps the utmoft caution can-
not always prevent the diforder. In wet and warm
feafons, the prudent farmer will remove his:fheep
from the. lands liable to rot. . Thofe whe have it
notin their power to do this, 1 would advife to.
give each fheep a fpoonful of common: falt, with
the fame quantity of flour, in a quarter of a pint
of water, once or twice a week. When the rotis.
recently taken, the fame remedy given four or five
mornings fucceffively, will in all, probability, ef-

feé&t acure. The addition of the four and water |
will, in the opinion of the writer of this, not only)

abate the pungency of the-falt, but-difpofe it. toi
mix with the chyle in a more friendly.and efficaci-.
ous manner. “3

Were

.
]
|

L 187, }

Were it in my ;power..to communicate to. the
Society the refult of actual, experiment, it would
doubtlefs be more fatisfactory.., ‘Phey will, :-how-
ever, I am perfuaded, accept, of thefe hints, at leatt
as an earnett of my defire to be ferviceable: Should
they only tend to awaken the attention of the in-~
duftrious hufbandman, or to excite the curiofity
of fome other enquirer, who has more leifure-and
greater abilities, I fhall have the fatisfaCtion: of
thinking that my fpeculations, however imperiatt,
are not entirely ufelefs. |

“fam, Sie’ C
; . + ; J EREE HO) ,
your very humble fervant,,. .

| } BENJAMIN! PRICE,
Salifbury, Dec. 3, 1779. . Ul yon

Articte “XEVIL.
On the Mode of Cultivating and Curing. the
Rasum, Patmarum,, on true Rhubard.

GENTLEMEN,

S the. true Rhubarb. of the fhopsilisca wery
valuable'drug in médicipe, andy :confidered

as an article of foreign commerce, very expentive ;
I would

f 83 F

I would bee leave to propofe to the Society at
Bath, that they endeaveur to encourage its culti-
vation in this country, by offering'a premium to
the perfon who fhall raife the greateft quantity of
the beft kind, and cure it in fuch a manner as to
render it equal in quality to that annually import-
ed from abroad. Jt is a plant to which our cli-
mate is not unfriendly, and it may eafily be
cultivated with fuccefs.

I had laft fummer fome plants of it in my gar-
den, which were very vigorous, rifing to the height
of eight feet. The roots weighed from eight to
twelve pounds, and when cured, the quality was
allowed by the faculty to be equal to that of the
Turkey Rhubarb.

But to give an opportunity for the medical
gentlemen of Bath to examine and afcertain its
quality, I herewith fend you a fpecimen of the
cured root, and a quantity of the feed in good pre-
fervation, for fuch perfons as may chufe to culti-
vate it.

As to the culture of this plant, my knowledge
has been chiefly acquired by my own experience;
and that it may become an ufeful article of agri-

culture

[ 189 ]

culture and commerce is, I think, not a very ha-
zardous prefumption.

The feeds, fown upon a very gentle hot-bed in
March, readily vegetate; and when the roots are
about the fize of a crow’s quill, they fhould be
carefully drawn up to preferve the tap-root, and
planted in fine rich earth in a deep foil; and if
the weather fhould prove dry, they muit be wa-
tered. When the plants are once in a growing
ftate, all further care and trouble, but that of
keeping them free from weeds, is at an end.

The diftance of the plants from each other
fhould be eight feet; and as they difappear about
feven months in the year, in this interval the
ground may be ufefully employed in many articles
of gardening, from the middle of Auguft to the
beginning of April.

I am of opinion, the feeds will grow in the na-
tural ground, if fown in a good expofure ; but this
Ihave not tried: It is, however, a little remark-
able, that although innumerable feeds fall annually
into the ground, I never perceived a fingle plant
to grow fpontaneoufly.

The

L 199]

The feed which -T now préfent td the Society
will afford opportunities for making various ex-
periments, from whence fome certain principles
may be drawn. The beft feafon for taking up
the root for curing ts} I think, wheh and as foon
“ag thé-fteth and leaves decay. If taken up in the
fpring, it'1s fo facculent as to be dried with diffi
culty; and I believe lofes a good ‘deal of its Fefid
nous particles ‘ash is clutinous juice that iffues
from it. Me

The: aga fent herewith is from a root of
fix or feven years growth, taken up about a month
fince. It fhould, om taking up) be divided into
proper parts, and the outer rind fliced off, then
hung on a ftring expofed to fun and air, and de-
fended from wet. Each piece fhould hang fepa-
‘rate from the other, and care fhould be taken
that it does not grow mouldy. When hardened
on the outfide, let it be removed to the corner of
akitchen chimney, where a moderate’ fire is con-
ftantly kept, till inis perfectly dry. It.may then
be rafped, and all the difcoloured outfide taken off.

Tam convinced>that the older* the plant is, the
better the quality will be; for although it may

* See ARTICLE XLIX.
have

{ 191 ]

have great virtues at four or five years growth,
and may attain to upwards of twenty pounds
weight when green, yet the root will be horny and
flinty when dried, and not of that woody fine tex-
ture or appearance which it acquires at a more
mature growth.

The ground on which mine was raifed 1s a gar-
den; the foil deep and fertile, but has not had
any fort of manure fince the feedling plants were

firft raifed.

I would juft add, that this. plant does not feem
fitted by nature for tranfplanting ; and if-it fhould
be found capable of being raifed in the natural
ground, I think it would thrive much better.

If fome fuch method as the following were tried,
it might anfwer :—After marking out the ground
at proper diftances, take out the earth twelve inches
deep and eighteen diameter; let the faid earth be
fifted and put in again loofely, then fow a few feeds
thereon, and cover each plat with a hand-glafs.
if they fucceed, the moft central plants may be
left co'ftand, and the reft drawn up.

I am, ‘&c.
Minehead. Rod

ARTICLE

ArTicLre. XLVIII.
On the Cultivation of RHUBARB.
[By a Gentleman near Norwich.] ,

GENTLEMEN,

AM greatly obliged to you for the favour of

your letter, inclofing fome feeds of the Rheum .
Palmatum, together with the diretions fent by
your ingenious correfpondent at Minchead ;* in
return for which I have tranfcribed and fent you
thofe which I fome time fince received from a gen-
tleman who has refided many years in Ruffia, and
who affured me he received them from the late
Dr. Mounfey, who was archiater to the Emprefs,
and who had conftantly followed the method here
dire€ted in that country. The Doctor’s words
are thefe:—

‘ The proper time for planting the feeds of the
« Chinefe, or the Turkey Rhubarb, isin April or
‘ May: they may be planted in flower-pots, three
‘ or four feeds in a pot, and plunged in a hot-bed
‘ until the feeds vegetate. When the plants are
* about two months old, let them be tranfplanted
‘ into the place where they are to remain, which

* See preceding Letter.

fhould

[ i263 J

© fhould be in a fine light foil. It may not be
* improper to keep fome of the plants in the pots
€ till October, and fome till the {pring following,
‘and then plant them out as above. When by
‘ thefe precautions you have fecured a fufficiency
‘of plants, you may afterwards venture to fow
* your feeds in the open air, as I have conftantly
© done with fuccefs. If the feeds vegetate late in
‘ the feafon, they ought to be covered with mulch
‘or mofs, to preferve them in winter. When
‘ tranfplanted, fet them at leaft four* feet afunder
‘in the quincunx order, or in fquare rows; hoe
‘ them and keep them clean from weeds, and fet
¢ the ground between each row be turned up yearly,
‘ taking carenot totouchthe roots. Inthe fecond
‘ or third year, the plants will begin to bear feeds,
© which you may fow at various times after their
‘ maturity, till you find which feafon fuits them
‘ beft. The earlieft period at which the roots are
ufeful, is at four years’ growth, but even then
* they will be foft and fpungy. So that unlefs for
‘ curiofity, or through neceffity, they fhould remain

* This, in our climate, is not a fufficient diftance—they thould be
eight feet apart; and even then, if the plants are ftrong and vigorous,
the leaves will mect each other. This we affert from our own know-
ledge; and are of opinion, that in a rich foil, if they were left ten
feet apart, the roots would be ftill larger and better.

[ 194 ]

Seight years undifturbed,* although ftill more
‘ years will add greatly to theif perfection. The
“roots are to be taken up in autumn: after the
« {tems and leaves are withered and decayed, but
‘ the planter may take them up in every feafon of
‘the year, when he has a fufficient number, as it
“jis uncertain at which feafon the roots will prove
‘ moft folid.. Upon taking them up, fplit them
‘into two or three pieces, and hang them upon
“ cords or rods in akitchen or room with a ftove
‘init, thatthey may dry with a gentle heat.”

Thus far Dr. Mounfey.

Some few gentlemen in Norfolk have, for their
amufement, cultivated Rhubarb; they have plant-
ed the Rhaponticum, the Palmatum, and the Com-
pactum, and managed their plants very much as
above directed. A near relation of mine, who is
a phyfician, has ufed the Rhubarb of his own

* We apprehend that this part of the Do&tor’s direStion muf have
been occafioned by the difference in climate between England and
Ruffia, The latter is not fo favourable to vegetation as the former.
Perhaps four years here may bring this plant to as high a ftate of
maturity as ejght in Ruffia; and we are the more induced to think
this is the cafe, from having {een plants raifed in this country, the
roots of which when properly cured, at four years’ growth, were
equal in quality to Turkey Rhubarb.

growth,

Deans 1]

growth fome time, and pronounces it.as good as
any foreign Rhubarb. . He had fome plants of the
palmatum and compactum ftanding fo.near toge-
ther, four or five years ago, that the feeds faved
from them produced only mule plants, the rvots of
which, he believes, will prove as good and effica-
cious as thofe of the beft original plants. They
are now growing in his garden within a mile of
Norwich.

The following is his account of the difcovery and
introduction of the different forts into medicine;
which I flatter myfelf may not be unacceptable.
‘ The Rhapontic was the rba or rheum of Diofco-
‘rides, and all the antient Greeks and Romans.
‘ The Turkey and India kinds were utterly un-
‘known to them. ,The Khapontic was long fup-
© pofed to be the true Rhubarb, till the difcovery
¢ of the Undulatum about eighty years fince; which
‘was looked upon to be the true officinal Rhu-
‘barb for half the prefent century. It was then
‘ difcarded for two competitors, the Pa/matum and
‘ the Compaétum, to both of which the preference
‘ has been given by different perfons. Linnzeus
‘ afferts the Palmatum to be the true Turkey Rhu-
‘barb; Mr. Miller the Compactum.’

O 2 I have

[ 196 J

¥ have now about twenty plants of the Rheum
Palmatum of one year’s growth only. They were
raifed in a box of good moulds, fet upon one of
the borders in my garden, and planted out at two
months old where they are to remain. They ap-
pear to be ftrong and vigorous. I have alfo fome
from the feed fent me by your Secretary; and
others from a friend in Ruffia, fown in the open
ground, where I have no doubt of their coming to
perfection.

Tam, &c.

Sept. 16, 1778.
SE I ee
ARTICLE XLIX,

On the Cultivation and Cure of ibe’ True
RHUBARB.

GENTLEMEN,

ERUSING the Farmer’s Magazine for Sep-
tember, I was much pleafed with fome judi-
cious remarks on the cultivation of the Rheum
Palmatum, made, I think, by a gentleman at
Minehead. With the utmoft deference and re-
{pect to that gentleman’s abilities and experience,
I beg leave to fubmit the following obfervations,
relating

;
:
;

[ 197. ]

relating to the culture of that valuable plant, to
your confideration; which may be depended on
as fats, proved by myfelf and others from long
experience.

The feeds of this plant do not require any hot-
bed to make them vegetate; but if fown in the
natural ground in the fpring, when the weather is
open, foon come up and thrive very faft. ‘It de-
lights moft in a rich, light, deep foil, and warm
expofure; but will thrive in almoft any foil or
fituation. Ifthe roots be covered with litter, or
the earth be drawn over them in winter, they will
rife the. ftronger in the following fpring. The
feeds fhould be fown where the plants are to re-
main; and when they appear, the ground fhould
be kept clean from weeds. When thinned out,
the diftance from plant to plant fhould be eight
feet.

The above is all that is neceffary to be under-
ftood by thofe who with to cultivate this plant in
perfection.

As to curing the root for medicinal ufes, I muft
own myfelf a novice in the art, this being the firft
year I ever attempted it; and my roots being dry,

O 3 I cannot

[ 198 J

I cannot with any precifion fay how they will turn
out; but fubmit the following hints to your con- .
fideration :

To have the root of a fine clofe grain or texture,
drying it gradually feems to be effentially necef-
fary. I take mine up, clean it from all dirt, and
lay it in the fhade, under a fhed for two or three
days, where, without becoming fhrivelled, it will -
lofe by degrees the exuberant moifture it had when
recent from the earth. If it be expofed too fud-
denly to heat, either natural or artificial, or a very
drying air, the root grows wrinkled, and is always
horny or flinty.- Herein lies the chief difficulty ;
for after it issonce well preferved thus far, it is
fafe: you may afterwards. finifh, the procefs of.
curing, fo it be done gradually, in any manner you
may chufe, with fuccefs. )

I cannot hold with barking or flicing the root,
becaufe, by the too eafy admiffion of fun: or air,
great part of that refinous and glutinous matter,
which I apprehend to be the richeft part of the
root, is drained off and. evaporated; and which,
under cover of the bark, would by degrees con-
denfe and harden with the root itfelf. You will
therefore, I am fatisfied, find roots fo cured to be

of

[ 199 ]

of a much better texture, and richer quality, than
thofe that are barked. ‘The older the root, the
better itis for.curing. ©

lam, &c.

Gok.
Ot. 5754778. [.

P.S. I forgot in its proper place to inform
you, that that part of the root (for there are feveral
buds, or eyes, which will bloom in future) from
whence the main or any flower ftem iffues, on per-
fecting its feed, immediately, or at leaft very foon
after, begins to decay, and leaves the other buds
found, fome or one of which will bloom the fol-
lowing feafon, according totheir maturity. This
is an undoubted fact ; and therefore, although the
older the root is, the better it will be for curing,
yet when it has paffed its meridian, that propo-
fition muft be erroneous.

It is therefore my opinion, that the moft proper
time to take up the root for curing will be imme-
diately on its perfecting the feed from its main or
flower-ftem, and to preferve ‘hat part only, every
feafon, and to plant the buds with their refpective
roots again,

ARTICLE

[ 200 J

Articre L.

On the Cultivation and Curé of the True

RHUBARB.

fLerter Il. by G. P.]

GENTLEMEN,

OUR Secretary’s remarks on my objection to
the flicing of the roots of Rhubarb when
taken up to dry, feem very juft: but give me
leave to obferve, that on my cutting the root, a
quantity of matter, of the confiftence of melted
glue, iffued from it, which, after the aqueous par-
ticles were extracted, hardened, and formed a gum
or refin.

Query, Whether it is not neceffary to. preferve
as much as poffible of this fubftance with the root,
as poffeffing a quality equal, if not fuperior, to the
root itfelf? And allowing the root to be cut in
lengths, but not barked or fliced, (which was my
meaning*) would not a great deal of that refinous
matter be thereby preferved ; and would not the
admiffion of air and fun, at the extremities of fuch

'* See Page 198.
pieces

{

f 20r }

pieces only, be fufficient to extracé& the aqueous
particles, and to purify and concoét the juices?

As to his fecond remark, €on the decay of that
part of the root from which the flower-{ftems arife)
he might poffibly have never made the obferva-
tion, This is the firft time of my obferving it,
though I have at divers times heard it attefted by
thofe who have experienced it. In the fpecimen
I fend you, the fide-bulbs are apparent, and the
main root in a ftate of decay.

It feems to me that this. plant, like many other
perennials, upon its firft bloom, exhaufts (if the
bloom be ftrong) its vegetative principle in that
part. Iam fenfible the root cannot be cured
without fhrinking confiderably, and it always ap-
pears much fhrunk when cured with the bark on.
If it be expofed to heat, or a drying air, when firft .
taken up, it will fhrivel very much, and be horny ;
to prevent which, I advifed laying it in the fhade,
or under cover.

I am, &c,

G. P,

ARTICLE

[ 202 J

ArTIcLE LI.

Reply ta fome Enquiries relebsouys to the true
RHUBARB.

[By Dr. Joun peste Lexrsou, FR. S, 6. ‘S ea.

GENTLEMEN,

HERE is every reafon to ébnchide with

Linnzus, that the Rheum e suniovee is the
Turkey or Ruffia Rhubarb.

The root is perennial, but throws out annually,
from its crown and fides, new fhoots or bulbs,
which flower and decay in fucceffion.

It may probably be of little confequence, as to
the vigour of the roots, whether they are taken up
in fummer or autumn; but as warm weather is beft
for drying them, the former feems moft eligible.

The roots, if large, fhould be fliced, fo as to
admit of a free exficcation.

1 believe Rhubarb delights in a fandy foil, on a
fomewhat elevated fituation ; fuch a foil as carrots

will flourith in.
Dr.

[f 20g5 J

Dr. Hope, of Edinburgh, has paid great atten-
tion to this.exotic, and is'very capable of giving
its hiftory; a very effential part of which, [i. e. its .
medicinal powers] are yet uneftablifhed ;—to him,
therefore, I refer you.

*..2 And am, &c.

. LC. LET TSOM.
London, Nov. 21, 1778.

Articre — LI.
Anfwers to Queries from the Bath aie
refpeciing RHUBARB. |
[By Dr. Hope, of Edinburgh. ]
GENTLEMEN,

HE Rheum Palmatum is the Turkey, or
Ruffia Rhubarb. The Indian Rhubarb is
the root of another fpecies, or variety.

2. I believe your obfervation refpecting the root
dying at four years old to be well founded ; and,
therefore, it fhould be raifed at that age.

3. I am of opinion, that the entire root fhould

be hung up in the open air for two, three, or more
weeks,

[ 204 J

weeks, and thereafter cut into. marketable pieces
before it be put into the drying ———-N. B. The
cuticle fhould be rubbed off as foon as poffible.

4. The fucculent root is more purgative than
the dried, therefore the more recent the better.

5. A foil that is fit for carrots will fuit. Rhubarb,
It is believed that the roots raifed in a dry foil are
preferable to thofe raifed in a moift one.

6. The feafon for. taking up Rhubarb is from
the end of: July to the firft of January; it fhould
be taken up after the weather has been fome time
dry.

7. I know nothing to prevent its being tranf-
planted.

I have the honour to be,

your moft obedient fervant,

JOHN HOPE,

ARTICLE

T 25 J

ArTice LIII.

On the Growth and Application of RHUBARB.
[By a Gentleman near Norwich. ]

GENTLEMEN,

I Herewith inclofe you an account of the growth
‘& and application of fome Rhubarb, fent to me
by a particular friend, whois a phyfician of very
~extenfive practice, and on whofe accuracy and in-

“teority I can fully rely;‘in which you will per-
“ceive his experiments, as’to the’ weight and fize of

‘the To0ts, “entirely ‘militate! with the! idea one of
your ‘correfpondents adopted ; “that in’ confe-
“ quence’ of the annual decay of that part ‘of ‘the
‘root which correfponds “with ‘the Aéweting ftem,
« the'foots are in fat never more’than four years
old, that being the ufual time of their Aowering.’

~For'this difference’of opinion, if’ Dmay hazard
“a conjecture, I fhould endeavour ‘to’ account; ‘by
fuggefting, that although that part of the bulb or
root from which the flower-ftém arifes may decay,
yet that the fangs or’tap-roots of the plant do not
decay with it, but increafe annually for feveral
years, ~My friend the phyfician has, you will ob-
ferve,

[ 206 J

ferve, an idea of its becoming ufeful as a dye,
which is, I believe, new, and may, if properly
purfued, prove of much importance ; but take his
account in his own words :=——

«Tn the fummer of 1771, I had a plant of the
true Rheum Palmatum, in great vigour and in full
flower, growing at the diftance of about four yards
from a plant of the Rheum Compactum, which
was likewife at the fame time in flower... As the
firft was the plant generally allowed to be the true
Turkey Rhubarb, I carefully collected -and_ pre-
ferved the feeds of it, which 1 fowed. early, in the
{pring of the year 1772, in a’.bed of .common
_light earth, about half an inch: deep. In about
five weeks, the plants appeared in, great plenty,
and were, in the beginning of the. winter follow-:
ing, thinned; .and tranfplanted at the diftances of
fix and.feven feet from each other.. The plants
were healthy and ftrong, although they had no
particular.care or attention. paid, to. them.—But
what feemed moft remarkable in them was, that
the leaves were neither thofe of the .Palmatum or
Compactum, but a perfeét»mixture of both; very
- large and broad like the Compaétum,:but.termi-
nating in long fharp points, and in fome degree
indented, and refembling the Palmatum. In the

fummer

[867 J]

fimmer 1775, they were all in flower, the {tems
being fix and feven feet high: when their feeds
were ripened, they were carefully gathered, as they
have been every year fince, and regularly and con-
ftantly fowed every. fpring, ‘but without ‘having
ever produced a fingle plant. Many botanical
gentlemen have viewed thefe plants, and all pro-
nounced them to be mule plants, betwixt the Pal-
matum and Compactum fpecies.

<¢ In the winter 1776, I took up a root of thefe
plants fown in 1772,‘and laid it in a fouth window
todry.. It had feveral long’ perpendicular pyra-
midal roots, about nine inches in length, and bet-
‘ter than:half an:inch in-diameter..: They fhrunk
very much in the winter, but were in the {pring
‘fuficiently dry to be reduced: to powder. . I gave
different dofes of it to divers perfons with alb the
good effect of very mildsTurkey Rhubarb, altho’
the. quantity. was nearly-doubled, — In the ,begin-
ning of the winter 1777, 1 took up another root ;
the increafe of the fize and. quantity of’roots was
then very great... The weight of the root taken up
in 1776 was only between eight.and nine pounds;
that of 1777 weighed full, fourteen pounds: this
root dried better; fhrunk lefs, and in every refpect,
when dried.and prepared, refembled more the true
Turkey

[ 208 J

Turkey Rhubarb. The effects were likewife pro-
duced: by much fmaller dofes; but it was not al-
together fo purgative as the Turkey Rhubarb of
the fhops. I gave to two or three. perfons this
root in vits frefh {tate, that is, wadried; directing
them to bruife about half an ounce, and boil it in
half a pint of water, till reduced to one, quarter of
a pint. This had all the good and fimilar effects
with the true fhop Rhubarb, infomuch, as: lam
greatly inclined to think, that the green root of
the Rheum, Palmatum may -be, ufed with fafety
and-effect.. This root, when dried and.prepared,
yielded a good quantity of well-looking Rhubarb,
which,:when powdered, had:all the appearance of
fhop'Rhubarb, but was milder and: more grateful
tothe tafte. Etook once a dofe of this Rhubarb
cmyfelf, for acomplaint in my -ftomach; ‘for which
had always before taken Turkey Rhubarb, and
found exactly the fame relief I had ufually received,
‘only with alefs purgative effec in the bowels.

“€In the beginning of this prefent winter 1778,
] have taken up two more roots; ‘the one weighed
eighteen, the other twenty-one pounds, and I have
‘little doubt of their: virtue and~ efficacy having
‘been improved as well as their’ fize- and quantity

inereafed ; and Iam of opinion, they will continue
fo

[ 209 ]
f

o todo in all the above refpects for two or three
years longer. Eight years old, Iam inclined to
think from fome obfervations, is the meridian of
their perfe@tion. In thefe mule plants, produced
without doubt from the farina of the Palmarum
and Compactum intermixing with each other in
1771; the root does not appear to have been at
all affected either in effect or appearance, having
accurately compared it with that of the genuine
Rheum Palmatum. Itried thefe roots both freth
and dried with the fhop Rhubarb, by an experi-
ment of another kind. I infufed them in a portion
of water, and to the infufion, when ftrained, J
added a few grains of falt of tartar, whereby I ob-
tained a very beautiful red tinCture, fuch as would
be valuable for the purpofes of dying a colour
which at this time is fo very expenfive, and which,
by this means, may probably be amply provided
for by the ufe of this root when it is more gene-
rally cultivated, as with very little trouble and ex-
pence itmay be. The foil in which my plants
were raifed is very light for about twelve inches
deep, under which there lies a {tratum of red fand
of great depth.” Thus far the Door.

Iam, Gentlemen, your’s, &c.
Dec. 7, .1778. :
Mou. I. Pp ARTICLE

i, ae:

ArTicLeE LIV.
On the Extirpation of Plants noxious to Cattle on
Dairy and Grazing Farms; and the Cultivation’
of fuch as are wholefome and nutritive recommend-

ed: with /cme Hints on the breeding and rearing
Milch Cows.

{Communicated to the Society by Mr. Benjamin Axford.]
GENTLEMEN,

HERE is no branch of agriculture which to
me appears more important in itfelf, or to
open a larger field for improvement, than the con-
duéting and management of Dairy Farms. This
will be very evident, when we confider it as a fact,
that the health and good condition of milch cows,
and all grazing cattle, depend in a great degree on
the conduct and care of the farmer, in keeping his
pafture-lands clear from weeds and plants of a
noxious quality, and in ftocking them with fuch
‘as are healthful, falutary, and medicinal.

But the moft effential and weighty confidera-
tions are, that the health and lives of mankind are,
in fome meafure, dependent on the health and
good condition of milch cows; milk being a vege-
table juice, partaking more or lefs of the good or
bad qualities of the plants on which cows feed.

Milk

Pitus. |

Milk, and its produce, in cream, butter, cheefe,
and many of our luxuries, are conftituent parts of
our daily food, from the earlieft to the laft ftage in
life ; confequently, great care ought to be taken
with refpeét to the food of animals, who furnifh us
with fo great and neceffary a part of our fuftenance.

Granting the above premifes, it is humbly con-
ceived, that the attention of the Bath (and every
other) Agricultural Society, cannot be employed
in any purfuit that tends more to the intereft and
health of mankind, than the increafing the quan-
tity, and improving the quality of cow’s milk. The
tafk may be arduous, but in proportion to the fuc-
cefs attending their endeavours will be the reward.

That cows are frequently difeafed, is a well-
known fact: and, I believe, molt gentlemen who
keep cattle are convinced, that the difeafes gene-
rally proceed from unknown caufes. Few dairies
of cows remain a fummer all healthy. Among
many inftances that might be adduced, I will men-
tion one, which, in the fummer 1777, came within
my own obfervation. I was witnefs to the lofs of
five cows; out of a dairy of only thirteen ; and the
moft noted Cow-Leaches could not difcover, or
even guefs at the difeafe or its caufe.

P 2 I have

EF. om J

I have alfo reafon to believe, that the milk of
difeafed cows is too eften mixed with the reft, and
made into butter, cheefe, &c. If then it appears;
that numbers of cows are difeafed, and die annu-
ally, without the nature or caufe of the difeafe
being difcovered; and of difeafes to which this
fpecies of animals are not naturally fubject, I pre-
fume it will be moft reafonable to fearch for that
caufe in their food.

On infpecting pafture and meadow-lands in ge-
neral, many noxious and poifonous plants will be
found, and fometimes in confiderable quantities,
Of thefe kinds are, among others, the following: -
henbane, hemlock, the aconite, or deadly night-
fhade, and feveral fpecies of dropwort; which, if
taken in with their food by cows, &c. will gene-
rally caufe difeafe, and fometimes death.

1 am aware of the objection that may be made
to this fuggeftion of danger to cattle from noxious
plants, i.e. that z/tin is a certain guide to almoft
every fpecies of animals in the choice of their food.
This is generally, but not unexceptionably, trué,
If cattle were at liberty to rove at large over ex-
tenfive tracts of pafturage, with a plenty always
before them to chufe out of, there would. be little

danger ;

P3983 ff

danger; but when herds of them are confined
within narrow inclofures, where fuch noxious
plants abound, and kept there till little that is
green remains, I think it almoft impoffible but
that fome of the cattle muft be difagreeably af-
fected by fuch plants when they are eaten.

In proportion then as pafture-lands are cleared
of thefe and other noxious plants, the danger is
leffened ; and a confiderable advantage will be
derived from fuch lands being, by this means, ren-
dered capable of producing a larger quantity of
wholefome herbage.

All neat beafts have a natural tendency to fcour-
ing and flautulent diforders. Itis therefore a duty
ef the greateft importance to the farmer, to fow
and plant in his paftures and hedges fuch herbs,
in proper quantities, as are found to be the beft
~remedies for thefe and fuch other complaints as
cattle are moft incident to. Among many that
might be mentioned, the following herbs are very
falutary ; lovage, agrimony, Carraway, and cum-
min.

The general produce of ant-hills in this coun-
try has often been (through miftake) fuppofed to
| r 3 be

[ 2m J

be wild thyme; and as this herb is falutary in
its nature, farmers have fuffered thefe hills to
femain in their paftures, from an apprehenfion
that they furnifhed a medicinal repaft to their
fheep and cattle. But ona careful examination,
any perfon may be convinced, that, in general,
the produce of ant-hills is, a Jittle of the wild
thyme, (which I never obferved to be touched by
cattle) and a much larger quantity of poor fmall
rufhy four grafs, which is a very pernicious kind
of food both for cows and fheep. The extirpa-
tion of ant-hills is, therefore, an effential part of
good hufbandry. If the contents of them are
mixed with lime and mulch (long dung) to rot,
they make an excellent compoft for the fame or
any other land that wants manuring; and this
method will prevent the ants from bringing it in
heaps again, which they are known to do when the
hills are only levelled by fpreading the earth
roundthem. The bare places left by the removal
of ant-hills, are very proper for fowing the medi-
cinal herbs and plants above-mentioned, or the
fmall Dutch clover, marl-grafs, 8c. which will
fpread in and greatly improve the land at a {mall
expence. 3 )

To perfons unacquainted with agriculture, or
who have not confidered the above matters, this
effay

[ ag J

effay may appear frivolous and uninterefting ; but
thofe who have obferved the impropriety and bad
hufbandry of fuffering fuch plants to grow on
their lands as fhould not be eaten, or if eaten will
injure the farmer’s intereft, by hurting his cattle,
will admire, that fuch indolence and extreme in-
attention fhould fo generally be found amongft us.
To fuch, it will appear an extraordinary act of
negligence, to fuffer-pafture-lands to remain over-
run with hemlock, thiftles, docks, rufhes, &c. and
our hedges and ditches filled with poifonous
plants of feveralfpecies. Equally furprifing will
the inconfideratenefs of farmers appear, in fuffer-
ing fuch quantities of nettles, thiftles, &c. to re-
main on the fides of our public roads, till. their
feeds ripen and are carried by the winds into all
the adjacent fields, where they produce moft plen-
tiful crops the fucceeding fpring.*

Cattle, when confined in fuch foul inclofures
till their food becomes fcanty, will, (as before ob-
ferved) through hunger, devour a confiderable part
of fuch noxious plants with the reft of the herbage.

* We cannot help exprefling our entire concurrence with Mr. Ax-
ford’s obfervations on this head, The evil he complains of is fo great
and fo general, that it cannot be too much expofed or cenfured. In
vain may the farmer clean his fallows, or hoe his crops; while this
remains, all his labour wil) be lofte=all his care ineffegtual.

Obvious

[ 216 ]

Obvious as thefe inftances of bad management,
and the many difadvantages attending them, are,
the greateft difficulty feems to be, that of making
farmers in general fo fenfible thereof as to induce
thern to purfue the above eafy plan for redreffing
and removing them. I think it is out of the
reach of premiums; but perhaps fome honorary
reward might ftimulate the more intelligent to
undertake fo neceflary a work; and Iam of the
‘opinion,. that if a few would fet the example,
others would foon follow, and in time it might
become general.

Some Gentlemen farmers are very curious in the
breed of cows, and management of their {tock on
dairy farms. Such will, doubtlefs, improve on
any hints that may be communicated through the
Bath Society.

* Much depends on the choice of cows, and the
care taken to mend their breed, and increafe their
milk. Cows of a red and black colour are pre-
ferable to white, of which not more than one
fhould be admitted ina dairy. Heifers, intended
for breeding, fhould not be bulled till the fourth
year. The third, fourth, and fifth calves. are. the
moft robuft, and of courfe the beft to breed from.

A bull

t ey J

A bull fhould be well fed, and kept from coition
at leaft till the fecond, if not till the third year.
His vigour lafts only two years.

In the choice of cows to breed from, fee that
they have eight or ten white teeth in their jaw,
that the breaft be broad, the tail long, the veins
of the belly diftinguifhable, the brace of the navel
large, a broad forehead, large black eyes, wide
noftrils and ears.

The feeds efteemed the moft falutary in promo-
ting an increafe of milk, are thofe of trefoil,
faintfoin, angelica, pimpernel, cummin, and anife,
About the walls of houfes, and on the infides of
hedges, fow lovage,

Since the foregoing remarks were “written, a
work, called Minutes or AGRICULTURE, has
come under my notice, and ferves to confirm my
fentiments of the great benefit that would arife
from clearing pafture-lands of noxious weeds, and
ftoring them with fuch as are falutary and medici~
nal. The writer of this work fays, that ‘‘on the
“ 20th of Auguft acow died of the red water, and
** that on opening her, the maw was full of half-

<< digefted

Pr 2 |

« digefted vegetables, although fhe had not eaten
“ for many days.” Again,

« Auguft 17, 1775, an ox died fuddenly in a
«¢ Feld that had been eaten down. The farmer
<¢ could not account for it.”

<< December 4, two oxen and one cow died with
« fcouring ; one ox blowed ; two bulls furfeited ;
<< and one cow had the red water: all died, and
“‘ the writer cannot account for the difeates.”

ArticLte LV.

Account of the Culture of CARROTS ; and
Thoughts on Burnbaiting on Mendip-hills.

[In a Letter to the Secretary. ]

SIR;
N purfuance of the directions of the Society,
I herewith tranfmit particulars of the culture,
expences, and produce of my carrot crop, which
you lately did me the favour of infpecting.

From a hearty wifh to promote the public-

fpirited defigns of that moft laudable inftitution,
I have

{219 J

I have taken the liberty to annex a few remarks
on the comparative advantages of liming and
burnbaiting, in refpect to the foil of the new in-
clofures on Mendip-Hills.

As the fpirit of cultivating thefe waftes feems
to overcome every obftacle, and as a knowledge
of the ineficacy of burning may prevent much
ufelefs expence, I truft thefe few hints, drawn
from real experience, will not be thought trifling
or unimportant.

The field in which my carrots were raifed was
a few years ago part of the foreft of Mendip. It
contains eight acres: the foil a gravelly loam, of
a good depth.

In the year 1776, it received an ample manuring
with lime, (about twenty quarters per acre) and
was fown with turnips ; in 1777, with barley; in
1778, it was again manured with horfe-dung, to
the amount of fifteen cart-loads per acre, and
planted with the large Scotch cabbage. The
produce of this crop was very great, being more
than thirty tons per acre, and the ftock I main-
tained with them would aftonifh the farmer un-
accuttomed to the cultivation of this plant. And

here

[ 220 J

here I cannot forbear recommending, in the warm-
eft manner, the culture of this cabbage (in con-
junction with turnips) to every f{pirited Agricultu-
rift, and particularly to thofe who keep large flocks
of fheep. Every perfon in that branch of farm-
ing muft have frequently experienced, during
fevere froft, and deep {now, great difficulty in get-
ting at his turnips. Now, this inconvenience
would be entirely obviated by his poffeffing three
or four acres of this plant. For their height and
hardinefs render them acceffible and found at all
times, and in the moft fevere feafons. I will not
fay that the produce will be equal in weight toa
well-managed crop of turnips, but will be bold to
affirm, that one hundred pounds of Scotch cab-
bage will go as far, in keeping or fattening horned
cattle, as one hundred and fifty pounds weight of
But to return:

turnips.

In the fpring 1779, I began preparing for my

carrot crop. Particulars as follows:

: Sf. aie

Feb. 15. Firft ploughing acrofs the ridges of .
the cabbages, 4s. per acre - I i200
March x. Firft harrowing, gd. per acre - oO 6 0
April 15. Second ploughing, 4s. peracre - § I2 0

20. Second (bufh) harrowing, od. per

are - = = = «© = - -0 60
peace S5-.“

2° 1D 2

{ oo: J

Le ches
Brought over - - - 1 18 oO
3olb. red Sandwich carrot feed, at
1s. perpound - - - -°- 1 10 9
_24.. Sowing by hand in drills, one foot
apart, and covering the feed, 13s.
peracre - - - + - - § 40
June 4. Hand-hoeing-and thinning, 20s. 8 oO ©
OGober. Digging up, 30s. - - - - 12.0 0
Carting home, cutting off tops,
and fecuring = - - - - 10 0690
Rentofland - - -.— - 8. 0-09
48 10 0
The produce was 640 facks, of 4. bufhels each,
valued at 3s. afack - - - - - - 96 00

Each fack weighed upwards of 200 pounds.

—

Nett profit of the crop £47 10 6G

Or nearly 61. per acre. Quantity of carrots, 8 tons per
acre. :

From experiments which I have made, I am
fully perfuaded that carrots are worth more than
three fhillings per fack, in fattening hogs,

I will now proceed to give proof of the ineffi-
cacy of burn-baiting when applied to the foil of
Mendip-hills, drawn from real experience, and
defigned as a caution to thofe who may be dif-
pofed to adopt this mode of improvement.

Lt Having

[ goo J

Having frequently met in different authors,
with the moft flattering and encouraging accounts
of this plan of cultivation, and alfo been an eye-
witnefs of very large crops procured thereby, on
black moory foils, 1 formed a refolution of trying
the effects of the afhes thus procured in compari-
fon with lime. For this purpofe, I felected a field
in which there was no apparent variation of foil.
As it was anew inclofure, and had never been
ploughed, the furze, fern, &c. with which it
abounded, added to the turf, furnifhed more than
three hundred bufhels of very fine afhes.

I then divided the field, and fpread the three
hundred bufhels on half of it, fully expecting the
moft beneficial effects from fo ample a manuring.
On the other half of the field I fpread four hun-
dred bufhels of lime, and fowed the whole in one
day with wheat.

On the coming up of the wheat, I was very at-
tentive to the field, and not a little furprized to
fee the limed part affume the moft lively and
healthful verdure, whilft the other part appeared
very weak and languid, infomuch that the differ-
ence was perceivable at a mile’s diftance.

The

E 323°]

The limed part maintained its fuperiority from
that time to harveft; and on threfhing, I found
the produce of the limed part to be twenty-four
bufhels, and the burnt part only fourteen bufhels
per acre.

Befides this was not the only difference, for in
lefs than a month after harveft, the furface of
that part of the field to which the afhes had been
applied, was entirely covered with young furze,
while the other part remained perfectly clean and
free from it.

I have alfo tried burn-baiting as a preparation
for potatoes, and have been equally difappointed
and unfuccefsful.

Withing the Society all the fuccefs which their

generous attention and activity merit ;
I remain, Sir,
Your humble fervant,

JOHN BILLINGSLEY.
Shepton-Mallet, Dec. 7, 1779.

ARTICLE

ArTIcLE LVI,

Refult of Experiments to afcertain the Advan-
zage of cultivating RHUBARB.

FTER the receipt of the feveral letters re-
lating to the expediency and advantage of
cultivating the Rheum Palmatum, or True Rhu-
barb, on a large fcale in this country, the Society
requefted feveral medical gentlemen to make
experiments on the fpecimens fent by their cor-
refpondents. Thefe experiments were made with
care and accuracy, and the refult is contained in
the following Report, which was fent to the Society
by Dr. Fatconer, of Bath. In confequence of
this Report, premiums, to the amount of one
hundred pounds, were offered for cultivating and
properly curing this plant in the four counties.

Dr. Falconer’s Report.

Ruveare is the Rhaved of the Arabians; the
Rha Barbarum of Alexander Trallianus; the
Rheum of Paulus Agineta; the Rheum Barbarum
of Myrepfus; the Rha Barbarum Oficinale of
Cafpar Bauhin, and of the London Difpenfatory.
What it is of Linnzus, I cannot fay. Dr. Lewis
fays, it is the Kheum foliis fubvillofis peliolis equati-

bus,

L s2¢ J

bus, Linnei, Spef. plant.; and fo fays Mr. Vogel.
Now, this defcription is affixed by Linnzus tothe
Undulatum, which is not at prefent underftcod to
be the true Rhubarb. On the other hand, Dr.
Rutty afferts the Palmatum of Linnzus to be the
true Rhubarb; and I believe that opinion is now
generally thought to be right by the beft Botanifts
and ableft phyficians. Itis called Rha, by the
Tartars; and from thence is derived Rha Barba-
rum, as growing among barbarous nations, It is
named Rha, from the river Volga, which is fo
called by the Tartars, near which it is cultivated.
It was firft mentioned by Alexander Trallianus,
in the year 560, but appears to have been’ in ufe
among the Arabs prior to that period.

In earlier times, the Rbapontic was thought to
be the true Rhubarb, and fpoken of as fuch by
Diofcorides and Celfus ; being the Rheum or Rha
of the former, and the Radix Pontica of the latter.

The marks of its goodnefs are, to be perfectly
dry, and friable, yet with a good degree of hard-
nefs or folidity, and perfectly uniform in its fub-
ftance. It generally comes to us in roundifh
pieces, with a hole through the middle of each,
and is externally of a'yéllow colour; buf that in

You. I, Q. foreign

ir 9065 3

foreign Rhubarb is often artificial When cut, it
is of a fine reddifh yellow, variegated with lively
reddifh ftreaks, intermixed with white. When
powdered, it appears of a bright yellow, and, on
being chewed, imparts to the fpittle a deep faffron
tinge. Its tafte is rather acrid, bitterifh, and fome-
what aftringent; its fmell is lightly aromatic ;
when chewed, it feems gritty, as if fand were
mixed with it.

The fpecimen of Rhubarb prefented to the So-
ciety, and fubmitted to my examination, anfwered
to all thefe qualities. 1 compared it with fpeci-
mens of the beft Turkey and Eaft-Indian kinds.
it was rather, though very little, lefs aromatic and
refinous than the former ; and had fomewhat fewer
of the reddifh ftreaks through its fubftance, but
was much clearer, and more diftinétly marked,

than the Eaft-Indian.

In fpecific gravity, it was near the Turkey, and
not fo hard or heavy as the Eaft-Indian. In tafte,
I could not diftinguifh it from the Turkey, except
that I thought it fomewhat, though very little
fainter. The tincture made with brandy was ofa
bright, clear, yellow colour, not diftinguifhable
from the Turkey, but fuperior to the Eaft-Indian.

The

[ ea9!° 7

The infufion with water was alfo nearly, if not
altogether, equal in colour, taite, and fmell, to the
Turkey, and fuperior to the Eaft Indian. The
fmell of the powder was not diftinguifhable from
the Turkey, and fuperior alfo to the Eaft-Indian.

I tried its purgative virtue in feveral inftances ;
and another gentleman, to whom I gave fome of
it, tried it alfo in feveral other cafes. We agreed
perfectly in our account, that its operation was,
in every refpect, fuch as might be expected from
the beft foreign Rhubarb.

Finally ; I think the fpecimens fhewn to me
are extremely good in their kind, very little (if
at all) inferior to the beft brought from Ruffia or
Turkey, and fully fufficient to fupply the place of
foreign Rhubarb.

Articre LVI.
Obfervations on the beft Method of deftroying
Vermin, and preventing the deftruttion of
young Turnips by the Fly.

Beg leave to offer to the Society an account of

a few trials I have made to prevent the de-
ftruction of feed and fpringing grain, pulfe, &c.
Qe a

by ae it

by vermin of different kinds. J am not excited to
write by motives of intereft, or with a view to ob-
tain honour; but wifh to caftin my mite for the
promotion of ufeful knowledge.

T have for fome years paft left off trade, and
taken a fmall eftate into my own hands, princi-
pally for my own amufement and inftruétion in
the operations of nature.

AsIam fond of a garden, I have frequently
attempted to raife early peafe; but was often
difappointed by their being deftroyed by mice.
To remedy this, [ confidered that_/qweets were their
delight ; and ordered the gardener to fteep both
my peafe and beans in common water three hours ;
and after fowing them in drills as ufual, to fhake
fome coal chimney foot over them pretty thick
before he covered them in; by which means I
have not loft any for feveral years; and the foot
proves a good manure.

Soon after I took the farm, I found I had many
enemies to encounter with ; fuch as the black flea,*
grub-worms, birds, rats, &c. I generally fow cab-

* By the fubfequent part of this letter, it appears, that by the
black Flea, our author means the Fly that preys on young turnips.

bage-

{ 229 ]

bage-feed enough to plant out two acres of land,
for the fupport of my ewes and lambs* in the
fpring, when grafs is fcarce. But when I firft took
my farm, after feveral fowings, I could fcarcely
raife enough for my purpofe, the black flea eating
them off while young; but confidering that thiS
infect loves to be in the funfhine, I fowed my feed
under the fhade of apple-trees, and was not dif-
appointed. This laft fummer twelve-month I
attacked them in the funfhine, by fowing the feed
in the garden, and fcattering foot on the ground
directly, by which means all my feedling plants
were faved. This laft fummer, abfence from
home prevented my repeating the experiment. It
is, however, an eafy trial for gentlemen to make 3
and [ think it may be depended on as an effectual
remedy.

Chaffinches are alfo very eager in preying on
feedlings foon after they are out of the ground,
pulling them up by the roots, although they only
eat the feed leaves, But whether they would at-
tack them on ground that has been fown with foot,
I cannot from my own experience fay—the expe-
riment is, however, eafy and worth making. I

* This Gentleman feems not aware how good and profitable cab.
bages are early in {pring for oxen.

Q 3 think

[ 230 ]

think the beft mode of trying it would be, while
the dew is on the ground, for fome perfon to
powder over the feedling plants lightly with foot,
before the third leaf appears. It 1s probable that
the bitter flavour of foot is very difguftful to birds
as well as infects.

The firft year I fucceeded very well in planting
out my cabbages; the weight of the crop being
from ten to twenty pounds, which was equal to
my expectation, confidering the ground was light
and fandy.

The next year, I fowed my cabbage-feed as
ufual, When the plants were fit for tranfplanting
from the feed-bed, I attended, and found many of
them had knobs or warts on the roots, fome the
fize of a pea, and others larger. On cutting fome
of thefe knobs off, I found a very {mall worm in-
clofed. I ordered them to be planted out; and
looking over the ground after they had formed
pretty good heads, I obferved many of them
jJooked fickly, having a blueifh caft on the leaves.
{ pulled feveral of them out of the ground, and
found the roots fwelled as big as a child’s fift, the
grub-worms being then come to perfection,

Tq

a ee

ft 433 J

To prevent this, tranfplant only fuch as are
quite clean from warts. At the time of planting,
the ground is frequently dry, and fometimes even
fcorched with heat. In that cafe, Jet the planter,
after making a hole with his dibble, pour in fome
water, and ftir it in till he has made the earth a
foft puddle.* A boy fhould dip the roots of the
plants firft into water, and then into dry foot im-
mediately before they are planted. According
to my idea, this will prevent the grub from ever
touching them.

I fhail now follow the grub-worms and birds
into corn-fields. The two firft years of my fow~
ing wheat, I could not get, from nine to ten acres
produce, more than ten bufhels per acre. Ona
nice examination, I found the grub-worms attacked
my wheat wader ground, and birds of various
forts above it. It was neceffary to feek for a re-
medy. I ordered two buthels of feed wheat to be
put on the barn floor as ufual, with a proper quan-
tity of lime and fea-water, (fome ufe brine.) I
then ordered a quarter of a peck of foot to be
added, and worked well in with the corn, that all

* This is certainly a good method, and may be practifed in a
Garden—but when a Farmer wants to plant feveral acres, the procefs
would be too tedious, if not quite impraéticable.

Q4 might

F 992 }

might be rendered bitter by it. Ifa larger quan-
tity of foot be ufed, the better, as it proves good
manure. My fuccefs the firft year was, that I had
twenty bufhels on an average per acre. This laft
fummer the produce was {till larger. After fow-
ing, my fervant told me, that if I did not fend a
perfon to frighten the birds, the wheat would be
half carried away; however, I let it alone, to fee
the effect of the foot. Pheafants and partridges
had feraped the ground very much. I particu-
jarly marked the fpots, and at harveft, found the
corn thicker there than in other places. This
convinces me, that the birds could not find any
corn fuited to their palates, the foot having ren-
dered it very bitter; and I had a good crop for fo
light a foil.

Secondly ; The crops of young turnips are fre. _

quently deftroyed by the black flea [Ay] notwith-
ftanding many things have been tried to preferve
them; all of which Iam informed have failed.
On this fubject I will offer a few thoughts :—The
fenfe of fmelling in the black flea, [fly] and in all
other infects, is exquifitely acute; without it they
know not one plant from another, as their fphere
of vifion is probably confined to a very few inches.
It is by this fenfe that they are guided to their

proper

fF 23a J

proper food. The only thing neceffary then Is, to
overpower the fweet fmell they are attracted with,
by one that is ftrong, foetid, and difagreeable,

What I would therefore propofe is, that an
acre of turnips be fown in the ufual way, and af-
ter the ground is finifhed, for the feedfman to
throw on a peck or more of dry foot, as regularly
as he fows the feed. If Iam not very much mif-
taken, this will banifh or deftroy all the black fleas,
and by that means fave the crop.

Thirdly ; When I firft came to the houfe I now
inhabit, we were much troubled in the night by
the noife of rats. Mentioning this circumftance
to the farmer, who was about to leave the pre-
mifes, he told me they had done great damage in
the barns and corn-rick. In the fide of a bank
which ran along the path-way to my barn, I ob-
ferved anumber of holes, in which the rats har-
boured and bred in warm weather, The next day
making fome matches with flips of brown paper
dipt in brimftone, I put them into the holes—the
mouths whereof I ftopt, to drive the fmoke in-
wards. After the matches were burnt out, my
man opened the ground, where we found feveral
nefts; but both old and young were fled. The

rats

[[ 234 ]

rats left my houfe, barn, and ftables, direétly; and
for five years paft have never returned. The dif-
agreeable fmell of the burnt brimftone, doubtlefs,
occafioned their leaving the premifes. I would
therefore propofe, that when a barn is cleared out
juit before harveft, a pan of charcoal be lighted up
in it, and fome pieces of brimftone thrown on the
fire, to fumigate the whole barn. If the doors
and windows are fhut clofe, this will be done moft
effectually.

Fourthly; Having a field over-run with moles, I
had the frefh mole-hills fhovelled off, and the holes
‘opened; I burnta match in each, keeping in the
fmoke. ‘The confequence was, that all the moles
left the field directly, and returned no more. But
fhould they return in future ; it is only repeating
the experiment, and I doubt not but it will have
the fame effect.

T fhall now conclude for the prefent; but may
probably employ fome future hours in fending
fuch other obfervations as may occur in the courfe
of my experience; and which may be ufeful in

promoting the laudable purpofes intended by your ©

inftitution, to which I wifh all poffible fuccefs.

And am, with great refpect, your’s, &c.

Arne, near Wareham, Dorfethhire, LE JACOB,

Jan. 20, 3780,

ArticLe LVIII.

On the Culture of Carrots, and the Rot in
Sheep ; by a Gentleman near Norwich.

[In a Letter to the Secretary of the Bath Society.]
SIR,

| Thank you greatly for the two letters you
tranfmitted to me in your laft; the one from
Mr. Billingfley, on the culture, expences, and
produce of a crop of Carrots ; the other containing
Mr. Pryce’s thoughts on the Rot in Sheep.

On the firft fubje&t, as fomewhat informed by
having fometimes grown four or five acres, never
lefs than one or two in every year, for a confider-
able time, I dare venture to affure you, that Mr.
B.’s ftate of the expences incurred are, in the arti-
cles of ploughing, harrowing, carting home, and
fecuring, rather beyond the price I have ever paid
for the fame ; and that he is not in any other of
his articles beneath the fulleft price here, nor is
his produce greater than common, or what may
be expected from fuch management; fo that it is
both as juft and accurate an accountas I have met
with, The only objection to it which ftrikes me

1S,

F. 236.7

is, the heavy expence he was at of thirteen fhil-
lings per acre for fowing and covering the feed in
drills, which practice, from two trials only which
I have made of it, appears to me not fo eligible |
as fowing the feed broad-caft. The two drilled
crops were with me the worft I ever grew. The
feed of carrots, although ever fo well rubbed with
fand or any other fubftance, will {till adhere toge-
ther to that degree, as to render the delivery of it
in drills not only tedious, but very uncertain;
and wherever they fall in patches, the lofs of
ground is confiderable ; befides, the difference of
nine-pence or a fhilling per acre at moft for ran-
dom fowing, and thirteen fhillings per acre for
drilling, is an object worth attending to.

The great expence attending the culture of
earrots, being the chief, perhaps the fole obftacle
to the general growth of them, every abridgement
of that expence fhould be ftudied, as it bids fair
to promote their common ufe. Perhaps the me-
thod in which I have for fome few years paft pro-
ceeded, where it can be adopted with convenience,
wilt be found as profitable, and attended with lefs
trouble than any other. The proportions of it
may be varied to fuit the wifhes or wants of every

cultivator.
In

L). 237 J

In a field containing four acres, I firft grew a
crop of Turnips, which were clean hoed, and left
very free from weeds; they were afterwards fed
upon the land, which was immediately (in the
beginning of March) manured with ten loads of
dung, firft ploughed in with a common plough,
and afterwards trench-ploughed about fourteen
or fifteen inches deep; two acres of which were
harrowed very fine, and the feed fown about the
middle of March, (though in general I prefer
fowing towards the latter end of that month, as I
have always found the plants come up nearly as
foon as the earlier fown, and attended with fewer
weeds.) The carrots came up regularly and well,
were ready to hoe in the beginning of May, and
tolerably free from weeds; fo free indeed that
they were hoed out with large hoes, and proved an
excellent crop. The other two acres (part.of ‘the
four which had been turnips) were prepared. by
ploughing and manuring as for the carrots, and
fet with potatoes, which came up very clean, and
proved an abundant crop. Inthe fucceeding year
I grew one acre of carrots (with the former pre-
parations) on the land where the potatoes grew,
and one acre of potatoes where the carrots had
grown; the othertwo acres were turnips. Ever
fince, for eight or ten years, this field has grown

turnips,

E235 7

turnips, carrots, and potatoes, in the rotation
above-mentioned: the carrots and potatoes com-
ing upon the fame ground only once in three
years, the turnips every other year, whereby the
land is become fo clear of weeds and fo rich, that
my crops are annually better, and the expence of
hoeing leffened at leaft one-half. The foil, on
which this hufbandry has been practifed, is a good
loam, inclined to fandy.

I have kept fo few fheep, and obferved them fo
little, that I cannot prefume to offer my thoughts
to you upon that fubject.

Mr. Arthur Young’s obfervation, that ‘ the
“© accounts are fo amazingly contradictory, that
« nothing can be gathered from them,’
as I am inclined to think his conclufion is, ‘* that
“¢ moifture is the caufe ;” and in this opinion J am
confirmed as far as a fingle inftance can confirm
me. It was in the cafe of a paddock adjoining to
my park, which had for feveral years caufed the
rot in moft of the fheep which were put into it.
In the year 1769, I caufed it to be under-drained
with covered drains, which have worked well ever
fince, effectually curing its wetnefs ; and, notwith-
{tanding I have fince kept my fheep in it, I have

never

>

is as true

[ 239 J

never killed one whofe liver has been at all
affected.

This, furely, feems to prove, as far as a fingle
inftance can do it, that, by taking away the fuper-
abundant water, I have entirely prevented the
diforder. Whether the fame arofe from plants
peculiar to a wet foil—whether from the eges of
infects lodged on fuch plants—whether from the
nature and quality of all or any plants growing in
fuch fituations—or whether, as fome have thought,
from the mere act of lodging on fuch land,—are
queftions of more curiofity than ufe. The mere
knowledge of the means of preventing fo dreadful
an evil being fufficient to anfwer every wifh and
purpofe of the farmer.

Mr. Billingfley’s opinion, confirmed by his
experience, of the impropriety of burn-baiting,
coincides entirely with the idea I had ever con-
ceived of that practice. It can never be good,
but where the foil is very deep, and full of large
coarfe roots and other vegetable fubftances. The
earth itfelf, when burnt, I have found to be a mere
caput mortuum. I am,

Your obliged friend,
| qe B.

ARTICEE

[ 240 J

ArticLte LIX.

An Abridgement of feveral Letters. publifhed by
the Agriculture Society at Manchefter, in
confequence of a Premium offered for difco-
vering, by actual Experiment, the Caufe of
the Curled Difeafe 72 Potatoes.

1 We OU gales at a eile ©

| Nie writer of this letter is of opinion, that
this difeafe is caufed by an infect produced
by froft or bad keeping before fetting ; and that
the neweft kinds, fuch as have been raifed within
thefe nine or ten years, are moft apt to curl, be-
caufe they will not ftand te be kept in winter and
fpring before fetting, as the old kinds will; for in
one experiment he took an equal quantity of fine
potatoes (what are called Manley’s) out of the
heap; one part he kept moift and cool, which
made them full of virtue, and firm; that when
they came to be fet, there was moifture to diffolve
the fet, and feed the branch, and not one curled
amongft them.

The other part he kept dry and free from wet,
till wrinkled and foft, and the moifture almoft ex-
pended, fo that when fet, inftead of putrifying and

decaying,

Laux. Ff

decaying, the fet itfelf received nourifhment from
the ground, and became folid and harder than
ever, and all in a manner curled.

In autumn 1776, he got up a bed of ‘potatoes
to lay by in winter, leaving plenty in the ground
as regular as poffible ; and, before the feverity of
winter came on, covered part of the bed with ftraw
and peafe-haulm, and left the other part of the
bed uncovered ; that part of the bed which was
covered was quite free from curled ones, but the
uncovered part produced a great many curled,
owing, as the writer fays, to froft and feverity
of the weather.

| NR A, RG PAO Ge

THE writer of this letter had about a quarter
of an acre of potatoes, well manured with cow
and horfe-dung, and took the greateft care in
picking the fine {mooth-fkinned potatoes for fets :
yet nine out of ten parts were curled. He attri-
butes the caufe of this difeafe to a white grub or
infect, which he found near the root, about half an
inch long, with eight or ten legs, its head brown
and hard; as upon examining a number of the
curled roots, he found them all bitten, chiefly
from the furface to the root, which of courfe

Vou I. R ftopped

[ 242 J]

ftopped the progres of the fap, and threw the leaf
into acurl. The uncurled roots were not bitten.
He tried a few experiments as follow :—Firft, he
put foot to the infects in the rows for two days ;
and after that, he put lime to them for the fame
time, but they {till kept lively: next he put a
little falt, which deftroyed them in a few hours.
From which he infers, that if coarfe falt were put
into the ground at the time the land is preparing for
potatoes, it would effectually cure this diftemper.

Lb Te te, oe dL

THIS writer attributes the caufe of the difeafe
to the method of earthing the ftems while in
cultivation; and that the branch, ftriking root
into the new earthed-up foil, produces potatoes.
of fuch a nature as the year following to caufe
the difeafe complained of.

To prevent the difeafe, he recommends the fets
to be taken from thofe potatoes that have not
bred any from the branch covered; or otherwife,
to dig the part the fets are to be raifed from.

Ls Tt TER oy.

THIS writer thinks that the diforder proceeds

from potatoes being fet in old tilled or worn-
out

t 242 4

out ground; for, though thofe potatoes may look
tolerably well, yet their fets will moft, if not all,
produce curled potatoes; hence he is convinced,
that no fets ought to be ufed from old tilled or
couch-grafs land; and that, in order to have good
fets, they fhould be procured from land that was
purpofely fallowed for them; from frefh ley land,
where they are not curled; or from ley land that
was burnt laft fpring: Plant them on virgin
mould, and your potatoes will have no curled ones
amongft them : meep them for winter from any
other kind.

To avoid the uncertainty of getting good fets,
he recommends crabs to be gathered from pota-
toes growing this year on frefh land, free from
curl, and the next {pring to fow them on frefh ley
land, and continue to plant their fets on frefh ley
land, yearly, which he is convinced will prevent
the curl.’

There are different forts of curled potatoes,
fome badly curled, others not fo bad: thofe that
are badly curled will not be recovered by planting
them on fine frefh ley land; and thofe that are
but little curled may be recovered by planting
them on the afore-mentioned land.

R 2 Somé

f 244 J

Some potatoes will have one good ftem, and
one curled ftem, owing to the. fet having two
eyes: one end of which rots, and will have a
good ftem ; the other end is hard, and will have
a curled ftem.

Several perfons have fown feed in old-tilled
gardens, in hopes to have been free from the curl ;
but wherever they planted them next. year, they
have been curled.

All the good potatoes he faw this year, either
on frefh ley land, or on old tilled land, were raifed
from fets that grew upon frefh ley land laft year ;
and where he has feen curled potatoes, he found,
upon enquiry, the potatoe-fets grew upon old
tilled and worn-out land laft year. He gives as
a general reafon for the diforder, that the land is
oftener cropt than it had ufed to be, much ‘more
corn being now raifed than formerly. _

DP EMTiER :-¥.

IN 1772, this writer planted fome potatoes by
accident full wime inches deep: when taken up,
many of the plants were rotted, and a few curled.
He kept the whole produce for feed, and planted
two acres with it in 1773, not quite fix inches

deep :

[ 45 J

deep: the crop was amazingly great ; and he did
not obierve any curled plants among them. In
1774 many of thefe were planted in different foils,
yet they were fo infected with the curled difeafe,
that not one in twenty efcaped. In 1775, the
complaint of this difeafe became general. In
1776, it occurred to him that the good crop of
1775 was owing to the accidental deep fetting of
17723; and that the reafon why the fame feed be-
came curled in 1774, was their being fet fo near
the furface in 1773, and attributes the difeafe to
the practice of ebb-/etting. In 1777, he took fome
potatoes from a crop that was curled the year be-
fore, and after cutting the fetts, left them in a dry
_ room for a month.~ Half were planted in ground
dug fourteen days before ; the other half; having
been fteeped in a brine made of whitfter’s afhes for
two hours, were alfo planted in the fame land, at
the fame time. The fteeped ones came up ten
days before the others, and hardly any miffed,
or were curled. The unfteeped ones generally
failed, and thofe few that came up were moftly
curled.

He therefore advifes as a remedy,

1. That the potatoes intended for next year’s

fetts, be planted nine inches deep.
R 3 That

[ 246 ]

2. That they remain in the ground as long as
the feafon will permit.

3. That thefe fetts be well defended from froft
till the beginning of March.

4. That the fetts be cut a fortnight before
planting.

5. That they be fteeped as above, two hours in
brine or lye.

6. That the dung be put over the fets. And

4. That frefh fets be got every year from fandy
foils near the coaft, or on the fhore.

P.S. At planting, the hard dry fetts fhould be
caft afide, for they will probably be curled. Curled
potatoes always proceed from fetts which do not
rot or putrefy in the ground.

LET PER. ve.

THIS writer had five drills of the old red pota-
toes, and four of the winter whites, growing at
the fame time in the fame field. The drills were
prepared exactly alike. Among the red not one

was

[ 247 |]

was curled; the winter whites were nearly all
curled. He fays he has found by experience, that
the red never curl.

TE 07, E Ro Wile

TWO of the writer’s neighbour’s had their fets
‘out of one heap of potatoes. They both fet with
the plough, the one early, and the other late in the
feafon. Moft of thofe early fet. proved curled ;
and moft of thofe fet late, fmooth; the: latter on
clay land.

‘

A few roods of land were alfo planted with fmall
potatoes, which had lain fpread on a chamber
floor all the winter and fpring, till the middle of
May. They were foft and withered ; they proved
fmooth and a good crop. Middle-fized potatoes,
withered and foft, which had been kept in a large
dry cellar, and the fprouts of which had been
broken off three times, produced alfo a fmooth
good crop. :

Hence he was led to,think a fuperfluity of fap,
occafioned by the feed being unripe, might caufe
the difeafe. To be fatisfied in this, he afked the
farmer whether he had fet any of the-fame pota-

toes this year, and what was the nature of his Jand.
| He

Cage iy:

He told him “ he had; that they had been fet on
- his farm fourteen years, without ever curling;
«© that his foil was a poor whitifh fand, of little
«<< depth ; that he let thofe he defigned for keeping
<< orow till they were fully ripe.”

Hence he concludes, the only fure way to pre-
vent the curl is, to let potatoes, intended for feed,
ftand till they are fully ripe, and to keep them dry
all winter.

Lent eRe Vie

THIS writer fet a quantity of the red potatoes,
without having a curled one amoneft them; his

method is, when the fetts are cut, to pick outfuch — .

as are reddeft in the infide. On digging them up
at Michaelmas, he mixes none of the curled feed
among the others. The curled are eafily diftin-
guifhed, by. their ftalks withering two months
before the reft of the crop.

The caufe of the curled difeafe he attributes to
potatoes being of late years produced from feed
inftead of roots, as formerly. Such will not ftand
good more than two or three years, ufe what me-
thod you pleafe, Laft fpring, he fet the old red

and

Pag .j)

and white ruffets, and had not a curled potatoe
amongit them.

On the lime-ftone land about Denbigh, in
North Wales, they have no curled potatoes. If
this be owing to the nature of that land, perhaps
lime might prevent the difeafe.

ey Pe Bye EX

THIS writer fays, that all forts of grain wear
out and turn wild, if fown too long on the fame
land; the fame will hold good in all forts of pulfe,
peafe, beans, and (as he conceives) potatoes. It
generally happens, that thofe who have moft curled
potatoes plant very {mall fetts,

Eleven years ag he bought a parcel of frefh
fetts, of the golden-dun kind, and has ufed them
without change to the prefent year, without any
being curled. This he principally attributes to
his having always planted good large fetts.

About four years fince, he thought of changing
his fetts, as his potatoes were too fmooth, too
round, and much diminifhed in fize. But the

curl at that time beginning to be very alarming,
he

L eo J

he continued his fetts till part of his crop miffing
laft year, he was obliged to buy new fetts this
{pring, which, being {mall, were curled like other
people’s.

He allows, that the curl has frequently hap-
pened to perfons who have ufed large potatoes
for fetts ; for, as all roots are not equally affected,
fome curled ones may be mixed with the reft.

To prevent the evil, cut your fetts from clear
and middle-fized potatoes, gathered from places
as clear of the curl as poffible ; preferve them as
ufual till fpring. If any are harder, or grafh more
in cutting than ufual, caft them afide. He would
alfo recommend the raifing a frefh fort from the
crab produced on the forts leaft affeéted, which in
Lancafhire are the /ong-duns. ;

N.B. Here follow three certificates from per-
fons who have raifed their crops from large fetts
of the long-duns, for many years, without being
affected with the difeafe.

Le ee ee.

SET Potatoes with the fprits broke off, and they

will (fays the writer of this letter) be curled ones 5
if

[ 253 3

if fet with the fprits on, they will not be curled.
Again, take a potatoe which is fprit, and cut.a fett
off with two fights; break one fprit off, and let
the other ftay on, and fet it; the former will be
curled, and the latter will not.

When you have holed your potatoes, take them
out before they are fprit, and lay them dry until
you have fet or fown them, and you will have no
curled potatoes.

fd Saad ny os ee

THIS writer was at the expence of procuring
fetts at fifty miles diftance, and where this difeafe
was not known; the firft year’s trial was fuccefs-
ful ; the year following he procured fetts from the
fame place ; but one-fifth of his crop was infected.
By way of experiment, he planted fetts from roots
which had been infected the year before, and fomeé
of thefe produced healthy plants, free from all
infection.

As every effect muft have a caufe, he fuppofed
it might be fome infect, which, living on the:
leaves, gave them that curled and fickly appear-
ance, as is the cafe in the leaves of many fhrubs
and trees. But whether the infect is lodged in the

old

| ee

old fets, and to be deftroyed at the time of plant-
ing, or, proceeding from fome external caufe, can
only be deftroyed afterwards, he is not yet certain,
although he has made the following experiments.

On a piece of ground that had not been dug for
twenty years, he planted four rows of fetts, which
he knew to be perfectly clear: the drills were two
feet diftant; the fetts one foot diftant in each
drill. He then planted on the fame ground four
rows with fetts from curled potatoes, at equal dif-
tances ; in each row were about twenty fetts.

Lot 1ft, the curled ftate.

No. 1. without manure, | No,3. in foot,
. in falt, 4. in quick-lime.

i)

Lot ad, the clear fets.

No. 1. without manure, | No. 3. in foot,
. in falt. | 4. in quick-lime.

i>)

Thofe planted in falt and foot in both lots, were
deftroyed. In Lot 1, No. 1, and 4, all curled.
Lot 2, No. 1, and 4, quite clear.

This experiment was made on a fuppofition,
that the infect lodged in the fett, and muft be de-
ftroyed

Tees sae

ftroyedon planting. But of that he is not fully
fatisfied. He repeated falt, foot, and quick-lime,
on the branches of feveral curled potatoes, Salt
‘deftroyed ali he touched with it. Lime and foot
had, he thought, a partial effect on the plants.
After fome time, they appeared almoft as healthy
as the reft. Thus, although he had done little
towards the cure, he flatters himfelf he has pointed
out the caufe, the infects on the curled plants be-
ing not only very numerous, but vifible to the
naked eye.

BET. TeReR 2: si,

THIS writer afcribes the caufe of the curled
difeafe in potatoes to the froft and bad keeping
in winter and fpring before fetting. They are
liable to be damaged by froft after they are fet, -
but this may be prevented by covering. If it be
aiked why froft did not injure them formerly, he
an{wers, it is only the new kinds which are apt
tocurl. To this may be added, that lefs care is
now taken of the feedthan formerly. To prevent
the latter, let them remain in the ground covered
with haulm or litter, till the time they are wanted
for fetting; and, in cafe no froft touches them

afterwards, they will be free from the difeafe.

LETTER

LiL T & Re ae

THIS writer fays, the red potatoe was as ge-
nerally planted as the winter white and the Lin-
colnfhire kidney are now. The firft, being a later
potatoe, did not fprout fo early as the others.
The white fprout very early, andtherefore fhould
firft be moved out of the place where they have
been preferved in the winter. Inftead of that, ©
they are often let remain till their roots and fprouts
are matted together. On feparating them, thefe
fprouts are generally rubbed off, and they are laid
by till the ground is ready; during which inter-
val they fprout a fecond time: but thefe fecond
fprouts, being weak and languid, will fhrink,
ficken, and die, and the fruit at the roots will be
fmall, hard, ill-fhaped, and of a brown colour.

Now, if putting off the {prouts once or more,
before the fetts are put in the ground, be the caufe
(as he verily believes it is) of the curled difeafe,
an eafy remedy is at hand. When the potatoes
intended for fetts are dug up, lay them in a weft
afpect as dry as poffible: in fuch a fituation they
will not fprout fo foon. The beft time for remo-
ving moft forts is, the firft fine day after the 24th
of February. Cut them into fetts as foon as pof-

fible,

f 2s J

fible, and let them remain covered with dry fand
till the ground is prepared, which fhould be a
winter-fallow. Lay the fetts in without breaking
off any of the fprouts, for the fecond will not be
fo vigorous. This accounts for ee fprout out of
three from the fame fett being curled. The two
ftems not curled rofe from two later eyes, and were
firftf{prouts. The fprout curled was afecond, the
firft having been rubbed off.

LE TIER, xVM

THIS writer fays, that laft fpring one of his
neighbours cut and fet, in the ufual way of drill-
ing, fome loads of the largeft potatoes he could
procure; and more than half ef them proved
curled. Being a few fetts fhort of the quantity
wanted, he planted fome very fmall potatoes,
which he had laid by for the pigs. Thefe being
fully ripe and folid, there was not a curled plant
among them. He apprehends, the others being
curled was owing to their not being fully ripe.
A crop of potatoes, fet this year in rows, on
ground that had borne acrop of them laft year,
were moftly curled ; but many plants came up
from feed left in the ground laft feafon, and there
was not a curled one among them.

LETTER

Ee

Las Tf 2a,

ALTHOUGH, the writer of this letter ob-
ferves, it is generally believed, that taking up
potatoes, intended for the next year’s fet, too
foon, is a principal caufe of the curled difeafe, he
has his doubts refpecting it; having let fome re-
main in the ground all winter, and vegetate the
following fpring, fome of them were curled, and
others not, in like manner as thofe fetts proved
which he took up and planted as ufual. This,
therefore, he infers, cannot be the principal caufe.
The old white rough, and the kidney potatoe, are
asfubject to this difeafe as the reft. Red potatoes,
of moft kinds, are feldom affected with it.

LE T.T,EOR ¢ .XVE

OF late years, this writer fays, great improve-
ments have been made in fetting potatoes, and
cutting the fetts. The ground is dreffed cleaner
and dunged ftronger. Many people, in drilling,
wrap up the fetts entirely in the dung; by which
means, though their potatoes are larger, the dif-
eafe feems to be increafed, They alfo cut their
fetts out of the richeft and largeft potatoes, which
is perhaps another caufe of this evil. In cold

countries,

E 257 J

countries, where they fet their own feed, which has
grown on poor land, with Jefs dung, they have no
curled plants. On the contrary, when they bought
rich and large potatoes for feed, they have been
curled in great quantities. He believes, the rich-
nefs and largenefs of the feed to be the caufe of
the evil; for he does not remember to have feen
a curled ftem which did not fpring from a fett of
a large potatoe.

LA TT eR eve.

THIS writer apprehends the curled difeafe in
potatoes, to proceed from a defect in the planta
_feminalis or feed-plant ; and from comparing curled
ones with others, there appeared to be a want of,
or inability in, the powers of expanding or un-
folding the parts of the former ; which, from this
defect, forms fhrivelled, ftarved, curled ftems.
On examining fome of the fetts, at the time of
getting the crup, he found them hard and unde-
cayed; fo hard:indeed, that fome of them would
not be foft with long. boiling. This led him
to think that fome manures might have the fame
effect on them as tanner’s ooze has on leather,
and fo harden them that the embryo plant could
not come forth with eafe; but aclofer examina-

Vou I. S tion

tion taught him otherwife, and that they grow
equally in all manures. '

Some have thought that the fermentation is
occafioned by too great quantities being heaped
together; but the writer has feen an inftance,
wherein a fingle potatoe, preferved by itfelf, when
fet, produced ftems of the curled kind. . He thinks
the moft confiftent and rational opinion is, that
the difeafe is occafioned by the potatoes being
taken from the ground before the ftamen, or mi-
niature-plant, is properly matured and ripened.

For let it be obferved, that the potatoe; being
a native of a warmer climate, has there more fun,
and a longer continuance in the ground, than in
its prefent exotic ftate ; confequently, it has not

the fame natural caufes ere to mature the feed-

plant, as in its native ftate. We ought, there-
fore, to give all the opportunities our climate will
admit for nature to complete her work, and fit the
_ ftamen for the next ftate of vegetation, efpecially
in thofe intended for feed. But if the potatoe be
taken up before the feed-plant be fully matured,
or the air and fap-veffels have acquired a proper
degree of firmnefs or hardnefs, it muft, when thus
robbed of further nutrition, fhrivel up; and when

the

the vefiels, in this immature ftate, come to act
again in the fecond ftate of vegetation, they may
produce plants which are curled.

If ic be afked, why are they more common now
than formerly? he anfwers, that before the pre-
fent mode of fetting them took place, people co-
vered them, while in the ground, with ftraw, to
protect them from froft.

If it be afked, why one fett produces both curled
and fmooth ftems ? he anfwers,-we fuppofe every
eye to contain a planta feminalis; that all the
embrios, or feed-plants, contained in one potatoe,
are nourifhed by one root; that as in ears of
corn, fome of thefe feed-plants may be nourifhed
before others. |

One of his neighbours, laft year, fet two rows of
potatoes, which proving all curled, he did not
take them up; and this year there is not a curled
one among them. Such potatoes, therefore, as
are defigned for feed, fhould be preferved as long
in the ground as poffible.

|e DE I Wes | ara i

THIS writer advifes fuch fetts to be planted as
grow in mofs-land; and, he fays, there will not
he a be

[ 260 Jj

be a fingle curled one the firft year. This is
affirmed by the inhabitants of two townfhips,
where they grow amazing quantities.

A medical gentleman fowed laft year two buth-
els of fetts from one of the above places, and had
not one curled; but on fowing them again this
year he had a few.

N.B. Although the foregoing letters do not
point out with certainty the real or general caufe
of the curled difeafe in potatoes, or difcover any
fpecific remedy which reaches all cafes, yet as
they contain many interefting obfervations both
on the difeafe itfelf, and the beft methods hitherto
adopted for preventing it, we think they are not
improperly introduced in this work. And, not-
withftanding there feems to be a diverfity of
opinions in the writers, occafioned by the diffe-
rent appearances of their crops, and the feemingly
contrary effects of the means ufed to prevent or
cure the difeafe, we conceive, that the following
general propofitions may be fairly drawn from the
whole :

Firft; That fome kinds of potatoes are (ceteris
paribus) much more liable to be affected by the
difeafe

fier 266.’

difeafe than the reft; and that the old red, the
golden-dun, and the /ong-dun, are the moft free
from it.

Secondly ; That the difeafe is occafioned by one
or more of the following caufes, either fingly or
combined ; ift, by froft, either before or after
the fetts are planted; 2d, from planting fetts cut
out of large unripe potatoes; 3d, from planting
too near the furface, and in old worn-out ground ;
4th, from the firft fhoots of the fetts being broken
off before planting, by which means there is an
incapacity in the planta feminalis to fend forth
others fufficiently vigorous to expand fo fully as
they ought.

Thirdly ; That the moft fuccefsful methods of
preventing the difeafe are, cutting the fetts from
fmooth middle-fized potatoes, that were fully
ripe, and had been kept dry after they were taken
out of the ground; and without rubbing off their
firft fhoots, planting them pretty deep in frefh
earth, with a mixture of quick lime, or on lime-
{tone land.

S$ 3 ARTICLES

ARTICLE LX.

Defcription of, and Obfervations upon, the
Cock-Chaffer, 50th zn tts Grub and Beetle
State.

[By the Secretary of the Society. ]

A: there are few infects more prejudicial to
the farmer than that generally known by
the name of the Cock-Chaffer, | beg leave to make
a few obfervations thereon.

®, In different parts of this kingdom thefe infects
are called by different names, fuch as, the Chaffer,
the Cock-Chaffer, the Feffry-Cock, the May-bugz,
and (in Norfolk) the Dor.

In what clafs Linnzus ranks them, I do not
remember; but they feem to be the Scarabeus
arboreus vulgaris major of Ray.

When full grown in their grub-ftate, they are
near an inch and a half long, and as big asa child’s
little finger. Their heads are red, their bodies
foft, white, and fhining, with a few hairs on the
back. They have three hairy legs on each fide,
all placed near the head, in which are two forceps

or

t 363 }

or jaws, like the hornet; with thefe they cut afun-
der the roots of grafs, corn, &c. and frequently
deftroy whole fields in a fhort time. In this ervca
or grub ftate, they continue three and fometimes
four years.

In their beetle-ftate they have two pair of
wings; the one filmy, and the other fcaly. The
interior pair are folded up in a curious manner,
and. remain hid, unlefs when expanded for flight.
The elytra, or cafe-wings, are of a reddifh brown
colour, and fprinkled over with a fine white pow-
der, like the auricula. The legs and tail (which
is pointed) are whitifh, The body is brown, ex-
cept at each joint on the fides of the belly, which
is indented with white. The circles round the
eyes are yellowifh; the antena fhort, and termi-
nated by fine lamellated fpreading tufts, which
the creature expands more or lefs as it is brifk and
lively or otherwile.

The firft account I find of thefe deftructive in-
fects, is given by Mouffett, who tells us, that in
the year 1574, fuch a multitude of them fell into
the Severn, that they clogged, and even ftopped,
the wheels of the water-mills.

S 4 f ; There

f 264 J

There is alfo an account in the Tranfactions of
the Dublin Society, that the country people fuf-
fered fo much in one county, by the devaftation
thefe infects made, that thev fet fire to a wood
feveral miles in length, to prevent their. further
progres.

In the day-time they feldom fly about, but
conceal themfelves beneath the leaves of oak, fy-
camore, maple, hazel, lime, and fome other trees,
which they foon eat to a fkeleton; but about fun-
fet they dre all on the wing, and fly about the
trees and hedges as thick as a {warm of bees.

While in their grub-ftate, they entirely deftroy
all the grafs, corn, or turnips, where they harbour.

I have feen fine meadows, which in May and
June have been all withered, and as brown as
thatch.

Thefe grubs generally lie near two inches be-
low the furface, and eat the roots of the grafs fo
regularly, that I have rolled up many yards of the
withered turf as eafy as though it had been cut for
a garden,

When

[ 265 J

When they attack turnips, they eat only the
middle of the fmall root; but by that means, kill
all-they bite without remedy.

Neither the feveretft frofts in our climate, nor
even keeping them in water, will kill them. I have
kept fome in water ‘near a week; they appeared
motionlefs; but en expofing them to the fun and
air a few hours, they recovered, and were as lively
as ever. Hence, it is‘evident, they can live with-
out air. On examining them with a microfcope,
I could never difcover any organs for refpiration,
or perceive any pulfation. |

Hogs will root up the Jand for’ them, and at
firft eat them greedily; but feldom meddle with
them a fecond time. To rooks and crows they
feem to be a high regale. “When numerous, they
are not deftroyed without great difficulty; the
beft method is, to plough up the land in thin
furrows, and employ children to pick them up in
bafkets ; and then ftrew falt and quick-lime, and
harrow in.

About thirty -years fince, I remember many
farmers’ crops in Norfolk were almoft ruined by
them in their grub-ftate; and.in the next feafon

when

f 266: J

when they took wing, the trees and hedge-rows in
many parifhes were ftript bare of their leaves asin
winter. At firft the people ufed to brufh them
down with poles, and then fweep them up and
burn them. One farmer made oath, that he ga-
thered eighty bufhels; but their number feemed
not much leffened, except juft in his own fields.

Their mode of coupling is fingular; and the
time of their continuance in that aét, fometimes
two or three days. Ihave feen one of them fly
in that ftate, with the other hanging pendant
from its tail; and am in fome doubt whether (like
{nails) they are not hermaphrodites, as there feems
to be mutual infertion.

They depofit their eggs in the earth. The
firft year the grubs are very fmall, and do little
mifchief ; the fecond year they are increafed to
the fize of a goofe-quill, and are very injurious to
the herbage; the third year they attain full fize,
and fly.

I am, &c.

EF. R A # Bue
Bath, March 26, 1780.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

Bee O POS A! L

FURTHER IMPROVEMENT

peeee PU PO eB

THE REV4j0 WILLIAM LAMPORT.

SECOND EDITION.

Multum adhuc reftat operis, multumque reftabit; nec ulli nate

poft mille fecula precluditur occafio aliquid adjiciendi.

PLIN, HIST. NAT.

M DCC LXXXIII.

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SOCIETY OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND

COMMERCE, IN LONDON;
THE

AGRICULTURE SOCIETY AT BATH;
AND

THE OTHER AGRICULTURE SOCIETIES

IN
GREAT-BRITAIN AND IRELAND;
THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL IS ADDRESSED,
WiodeTy FE
ALL DUE DEFERENCE AND RESPECT,

BY THETR

MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

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HE only difagreeable circumftance
which the Author ‘experienced in
drawing up the following Propofal, was, the
neceflity he found himfelf under of enlarging
on the prejudices and untractablenefs of the

illiterate Farmers and their fervants.

Cenfure can be no pleafing tafk, except to
thofe who deferve the fevereft cenfure them-
felves,—the proud, the envious, and the

malicious.

But the Author’s intention is, to raife the
humble fpirit of Agriculture, and to con-

vince thofe who are practically employed in

wo. I. #4 It,

[ 274 J

it, that the more it is made an object of
reafon, the higher it will rife in the fcale
of perfection.

He afferts nothing upon the report of
others: his own reafon, aided by fome prac-~
tice, has enabled him to exhibit the follow-
ing Propofal for the improvement of an Art,
on which the wealth, ftrength, and profpe-
rity, of this nation principally depend.

A PROPOSAL

[ 2x5 J

;

A PROPOSAL ror THE FURTHER IMPROVE-

MENT or AGRICULTURE.

Noble fpirit, for making improvements in
Agriculture, hath lately gone through this
nation, for which pofterity will thank the prefent
age in terms of the higheft approbation. The
principles on which thofe improvements have
been conducted are as judicious as the fubjeét is
important; and it is highly probable, that many
good effects will take place in every part of the
kingdom.

Agriculture has been confidered of national im-
portance by the moft difcerning part of mankind
_ in all ages.

Every civilized nation, at one period or other,
have been convinced of its intrinfic excellence;
and the wifeft men, of every age and country, have-
unitedly beftowed the higheft encomiums ‘on it.
In the prefent times, we have the fatisfaction of
feeing, that the noble, the wife, and the learned,

T 2 do

a

do not think it beneath them to refcue it from that
obfcurity in which it had long been involved, and
to bring it forward to public view, under the fanc-
tion of their own practice.

But it is not the purpofe of this Effay to write
an eulogium on the dignity and utility of Hufban-
dry, either by adverting to the difpenfations of
God himfelf towards the Jews,* or by extracting
from the writings of the moft eminent men, an-
cient and modern. ‘This is needlefs. Rather let
us collect fome of their beft ideas concerning the
means of advancing Agriculture to the higheft
perfection, and thereby fulfil, if poffible, the pur-
pofe of this eflay, which, it-is hoped, will recom-

* Vide S. S. paffim, particularly Lev. 25. The command in this
chapter, that every feventh year fhould bea year of reft, or fallow, to
the land; and that the produce of the fixth year fhould fupply the
nation for three years, had a peculiar tendency to make the Jews
frilful, as well as induftrious, in works of hufbandry ; and I believe,
it is pretty well known to every fkilful cultivator, that land well
tilled, dreffed with proper manures, and fown or planted with a judi-
cious rotation of crops, will {carce ever ftand in need of a fallow, till
the feventh year at leaft; and that the labour of the fixth year will
be peculiarly bleffed to fuchan hufbandman. ‘Thus much, however,
is certain, that ground, cultivated as above, will frequently refift the
il effects of intemperate feafons, by which neighbouring fields gyeatly
Suffer when under unfkilful and indolent management. |

mend

[387°]

mend itfelf to the attention and regard of the
public, merely from the importance of the fubject.

Julius Czfar,* fpeaking of the manners of the
Germans in their rude uncultivated ftate, makes
the following inftructive obfervations, which are
applicable indeed to all people in fimilar circum-
{ftances. ‘ Agriculture they difregard; their diet
* confifting chiefly in milk, cheefe, and flefh: for
© none of them have any certain quantity of ground,
© or even country, which they'can call their éwn.
* But their magiftrates and chiefs allot, for one
© year only, among the fcattered inhabitants,+ and
‘ their tribes, who affociate together, fuch a por-
© tion of land, and in fucha diftrict, as they think
‘ proper; and then oblige them to refide at fome
‘ other place for another year. They affien feve-
‘ral reafons for this conduct:—That the people
‘ might not be induced to exchange the ftudy of
¢ war for that of hufbandry ;—that they might not
© wifh to increafe their fettlements, and fo the
« {tronger expel the weaker from their poffeffions ;

‘© De Bell. Gal. lib. 6. cap. 22.

+ Gentibus. On this word fee a judicious criticifm of the
Monthly Reviewers, in their account of Holdf{werth’s remarks on
Virgil, for June 1768, p. 426.

T 3 ¢ that

E398 J

‘ that they might not erect any buildings, except
©‘ barely to keep out heat and cold, &c,”

A country will be cultivated only in proportion
as its inhabitants advance in civilization. Nations
will not begin to civilize themfelves, till they ceafe
migrating from place to place: neither will a man
attempt to cultivate any fpot, ’till he can fay ras
is MINE. But when men unite together for mu-
tual protection and advantage, and fettle in one
place, the cultivation of that {pot immediately be-
comes neceffary, that it may fupply them with the
conveniencies of life. Property, therefore, muft
be gained and defined, fettled and fecured. Thefe
are circumftances on which the advancement, if
not the very exiftence, of Agriculture depends.

But thefe are not all. There are two others of
equal importance to its improvement and _ profpe-
rity; the one is, the fruit of a man’s labour muft
be fecured to him: the other, that as the wants of
men increafe in confequence of civilization, the
earth muft be encouraged to yield proportionable
fupplies.

This, however, can be effected only fo far as
the powers of the human mind are enlarged in

confequence

[ 279 ]

confequencé of civilization. Hufbandry can rife
no higher than the knowledge of thofe who are
engaged in it will permit. It hath been indebted
for its principal improvements, not only to the
natural abilities of the cultivator, but to an edz-
cation formed upon an acquaintance with other
branches of f{cience.

Whenever any of the above circumftances fail,
Agriculture mutt feel a ftagnation :—in proportion
as they are regarded, will be the progrefs made in,
it, and its fuccefs.

This appears tobe the cafe in fact: for thefe
circumftances, efpecially the laft of them, were
not heretofore fufficiently attended to by this na-
tion ; which will fully account for the defective
ftate of hufbandry in former times, its flow pro-
grefs, and its prefent improvements; while it alo
points out the moft probable method of carrying it frill
nearer to perfection.

If we expect to find Agriculture in a thriving
ftate before the Reformation, we fhall be difap-
pointed: it was indeed confidered of importance ;’
but the fruit of a man’s labour was not fecured to

him ; and the nation was immerfed in grofs ignorance.
‘E4 The

3 280 }

The feudal conftitution, the military difpofition
of the people, the tyranny of popifh ecclefiaftics,
were unfriendly to fkilful and vigorous cultivation.

There was no great encouragement for the own-
ers of eftates to exert themfelves in the cultivation
of them, while others were to reap the fruit of their
labours: this was, therefore, left to their meaner
vaffals, whofe fpirits were fufficiently humbled to
fubmit to almoft any impofition.. The fame rea~
fon which is to be given for the uncultivated ftate
of Italy, though in itfelf the garden of the world,
may be affigned for the general difgrace into which
rural ceconomics had fallen in England, till the
time of the Reformation. ‘* For one may venture
to pronounce, without prejudice, that Agriculture,
ceteris paribus, will always flourith moft in free
governments and proteftant countries.”*

In fuch a fituation of things, when Agriculture
was, as it were, banifhed into defarts, and in every
refpect took up its refidence among mountains
and dales, where knowledge had made {mall pro-
grefs;—when the mind of the peafant was not
enlightened by the rays of fcience; when he tilled
the earth merely by the labour of his hands and the

* Harte’s Effay I. p, 67.
f{weat

[ 28% ]

fweat of his brow, without any ued principles ;
it is not to be fuppofed, that any confiderable im-
provement could be made by him, »

Nor was this ail. Admitting that the princi-
ples of vegetation had been accurately delineated
to his view, or experiments founded thereon pro-
pofed, it was not for him to inveftigate the one,
or practife the other, while ecclefiaftical tyranny
prevailed, and he knew that the priefthood would
reap the far greater part of the fruits refulting
from his labour.

Tyranny over the ‘mind will ever retard the
progrefs of every kind of knowledge.

But even after the Reformation, altho’ many of
the arts and fciences were cultivated with peculiar
fpirit, Agriculture did not receive encouragement
proportioned to its great importance. Every thing
cannot be attended to at one time. A new world
had been difcovered, which opened the brighteft
profpects to thefe kingdoms, and the attention of
England was fixed chiefly on trade and commerce.
This circumftance, which for a while appeared
to be a principal impediment to husbandry, and
was the caufe of little attention being paid to

Fitzherbert,

f 282 J

Fitzherbert,* proved in the event one of its prin-
cipal promoters. By commerce, the various pro-
ductions of different parts of the earth have been
brought into this kingdom, and intrufted to the
eare of the fkilful botanift and gardener, who,
having naturalized them to this climate, commits
them to the care of the hufbandman. In return,
Agriculture has ever fince been affifting commerce
in the increafe of corn, hemp, flax, madder, &c.
&c.; and in proportion as both have been at-
tended to, it is evident they have mutually affifted
each other.

But as improvements prevailed, the importance
of hufbandry, in a national view, became daily
more and more confpicuous ;—the difadvantages
and impediments it met with, under the manage-
ment of common farmers, began likewife to appear.
The weeds fprang up with the wheat, and {kill
was wanting to prevent this evil.

To check thefe weeds, by enlarging the views
of thofe intended for the profeffion of Agriculture,

* The father of Englifh Hufbandry: made Judge of the Common
Pleas about the year 1524. His book of hufbandry was printed in
3534, after forty years’ attention to the fubject, in his recefles be-
tween the Terms.

was

[ 233 ]

was the noble attempt of the great Milton, who
not only recommended, but eftablifhed, a fchool,
in which rural ceconomics were to bear a princi-
pal part in his fyftem of education. His pupils
were to read the works of Cato, Varro, Columella,
&c.* on Agriculture. But, unhappily, his lofs of
fight prevented him from realifing in practice what
he had fo judicioufly adopted in theory.

That Evelyn, one of the moft ufeful men of
the age in which he lived, entertained the fame
fentiments as Milton, appears from the preface to
his Sylva.t To him the nation is now, and will
be for many years to come, greatly indebted for
the ftrength of her navy.

To form a glorious triumvirate, we can invite
the very modeft and fenfible Mr. Cowley, in
fupport of the fame plan. He recommended a
College to. be erected in each Univerfity, and the
appointment of profeffors for the inftructing young
perfons in the principles and praéZice of this ufeful
employment.t

* Letter to Hartlib, and Biog. Britan.

+ Many millions of timber trecs (befides infinite others) have
been propagated and planted at the inftigation and by the dire&tion
of this work,—See Dedication of Sylva to Cha. IT.

t Cowley’s works, vol. II. p. 656, 7. -
But,

[ 184 ]

But, as it is always the fate of the moft ufeful
defigns to meet with difficulties at the beginning,
Agriculture itfelf began, foon after, to fall from
its flourifhing {tate into national difregard. This,
however, is eafily accounted for.

I have laid it down as a general rule, that civi-
lization encourages hufbandry: yet it is poffible
that rural ceconomics may be impeded by this very
civilization, unlefs it be well regulated. A nation
may be civilized to fo high a degree of refine-
ment, as that the politer part of its inhabitants
will affociate in cities and towns, and attend to
nothing but pieafure and the fine arts. The con-
fequence is, that Agriculture will be nearly in the
fame predicament as it was before the commence-
ment of civilization.

In fuch a ftate of fale refinement, the cultiva-
tion of land will be confidered as beneath the
notice of the rich and the learned, and be left to
the ruder part of the people.

Such was the ftate of this nation in the reign of
that gay Prince Charles II.; and could any thing
elfe be expected but that Agriculture mutt feverely
fuffer, in an age fo deeply immerfed in luxury,

pride,

{ 285. J

pride, and diffipation? efpecially if it be confidered
that the perfons, who paid the clofeft attention
to it, had “ crept into the confifcated eftates of
‘‘the nobility, gentry, and clergy,” and were
many of them originally in very inferior ftations.

At that period, the maxims of the celebrated
Bacon, the example of Milton, the efforts of the
Royal Society, the propofal of Cowley, the com-
plaint of Evelyn, and his juft obfervations on the
neceflity of an enlarged education, in order to
improve the lands of England, were exhibited
in vain.

It was to little purpofe that the miniftry, after
the Reftoration, permitted the exportation of
wheat :* it increafed tillage, but did not improve
the mode of culture; or reconcile the nobility and -
gentry ‘ to what had been the object and care of
“mean and defpifed perfons.’

Thus Agriculture fell into difrepute, and was
driven back again to the mountains and vales,
where Fitzherbert firft found her; with this dif-
ference only in her circumftances, that fhe might

* Combruae’s Hiftory of the Prices of Corn, Ann, 1663 and
31670.

be

[ 286 J

be more eafily recalled by the writings which were
extant, whenever the nation fhould be reftored to
its characteriftical fedatenefs.

Whenever any fcheme of real utility and national
importance is formed by men of genius and true
patriotifm, the worft kind of impediment it can
meet with is, that of national fupinenefs and inat-
tention. If it be not actually oppofed, it is not
promoted ; and if people do not reflect on it, they
cannot fee its importance.

Nothing, however can totally check the vigour
of great minds. Evelyn, in the midft of this ge-
neral indifference, publifhed, in the year 1675, his
Terra, or, a Philofophical Difcourfe on Earth,* which,
with the affiftance of former publications, began to
open the eyes of his countrymen to their true
intereft, to the dignity of his fubjeét, and the
neceffity of more than a fuperficial knowledge, in
order to make improvements in it.

The next writer we fhall mention is, Lord
Molefworth, who, in his Con/fiderations for the pro-

# In 1778, Dr. A. Hunter re-publithed this work with notes.
moting

[ a7 j

moting of Agriculture, and employing the Poor, makes
the following judicious remarks, quite in point to
the purport of this eflay. ‘ As to Agriculture,
I would humbly propofe that 4 /chool for bu/bandry
fhould be eftablifhed in every county, wherein a
matter well fkilled in Agriculture fhould teach at
a fixed yearly falary: and that Tuffer’s old book
of hufbandry fhould be taught the boys to read,
to copy, and get by heart; for which purpofe it
might be reprinted.”*

Complaints of the impractticability of illiterate
peafants making any confiderable improvements
in rural ceconomics, and the necefflity of affifting
them, began now to be as general as juft; being
founded on facts and fad experience, which were
pregnant with many pernicious confequences. It
was clearly feen, that they could not deviate from
the beaten track ; were not capable of reflecting
on the nourifhment of plants, in order to increafe
vegetable food by judicious and frequent plough-
ings and fuitable manures; of introducing new
claffes of vegetables, however advantageous ; or
of making any experiments on fcientific princi-
ples; efpecially as they knew, that if the failed,

* Dublin, Ann. 1723, Harte’s Effay I. p. 356,
they

f we. ]

they fhould rifque the failure of their rent. On
all accounts, therefore, they muft continue in the
courfe marked out by their anceftors, however
defective and injudicious.

Thefe imperfections having been long obferved
and lamented, feveral gentlemen of public fpirit
(the leader of whom was the famous Tull) took
their eftates into their own hands, and cultivated
them with—‘ fpirit, tafte, and fenfe,'—by regula-
. ting the courfe of crops according to the nature of
the foil—by banifhing wafteful fallows,*—by de-
ftroying weeds—by ftirring and pulverizing the
earth while a crop was growing, and thereby pre-
paring it for the immediate reception of a fuc-
ceeding one—by introducing new plants for the
better fupport of man and beaft in winter as well
2s fummer, &c. But, unhappily, thefe capital im-
provements remained for a long time within the
circle of thofe farms where they originated, or
thofe counties where fuch public-fpirited gentle-
men had fet the example by their own practice.

* We cannot fully coincide with Mr. Tull, in the idea that all
fallows are wa/fteful. We readily grant, that by a judicious fuccef-
fion of crops, and ploughings often repeated, the annual quantity of
fallow-ground might be greatly reduced, without impoverifhing the
foil; but we ftill think that /ome fallows are annually neceflary,
efpecially where the land is naturally poor.

Thefe

[ 289 ]

Thefe raodes of cultivation were novel; on ¢his
account they were flighted, if not derided, by the
generality of the common farmers. The princi-
ples on which fuch culture was founded were
above their comprehenfion; it muft therefore
neceflarily be, as they fancied it, too expentfive for
them to run the rifgue of pra¢tifing.

This circumftance gave rife to another plan, in
itfelf moft honoutable and benevolent, namely,
the eftablifhment of a Society in London for the
encouragement of Agriculture, &c. who, by be-
ftowing large premiums for the greateft crops on
given quantities of ground, effectually fecured the
farmer under any rifk he might run. It was na-
turally imagined this would have anfwered the end
propofed. But if we may determine from Mr.
Baily’s regifter of the perfons to whom premiums
have been adjudged, moft of the candidates have
been far above the rank of common farmers.

The diffufive plan adopted by that illuftrious
Society was intended to include every farmer ; but
we find it has attracted the notice of very few, ex-
cept the more civilized part of them; while many
parifhes, [ was going to fay almoft whole counties,
-at adiftance from the capital, remain uninterefted

Vor I. U about

[. ago. J

about every thing relative to the Society, ifsnot
totally ignorant of its exiftence.

However, the advantages arifing from that-ex-
cellent in{titution excited and eftablifhed others of
a fimilar nature, in counties remote from the me-
tropolis ; each of which hath thrown additional
light on the fubjects of Agriculture. Many ex-
periments and new difcoveries* have: been made,

call

* Here let me congratulate the public, particularly, on fe inven=-
tion of the Oil Comte ; by the ingenious Dr. Hunter, of York,
which, having tried mylelf both on wheat and turnips, ‘growing on
wery-poor cround, I found it anfwer even to admiration, particularly
with regayd to the latter. . 1 think it one of the beft prefer vatixes from
the Fly ; and can, therefore, recommend it as a valuable acquifition,
being likewile a cood manure, where. dung i 1S {carce, or ‘the eee
of it expenfive. ~ It might be of ignal fervice in the improverent of
waite ground till;dung can beraifed: for, were {uch ground ito be

pared, the turf dried and thrown into heaps for burning, and in the
mean time the earth between the heaps ploughed -carefully ‘and to a
proper depth; and, after this, the afhes fpread, ploughed in, ‘and well
harrowed, the turnip-feed fown, and the oil compoft fpread by hand
at the fame time, or juiton the appearance of the turnips, I think there
would be but little danger of a good crop, if well hoed; as afhes are
peculiarly favourable to the growth of turnips: and if they were to
be eaten off with theep, and the next courfe barley or oats, with'grafs-
feeds fuitable to the foil, I am perfuaded this would prove one of the
moft fpeedy, effeétual, and cheap methods of improving fuch. watte
lands; efpecially, if in a dry {pring the afhes were to be fpread the
Vatterend of April, and the land fown with buck-wheat; to be plough-
» ed

2

Le. age ©]

~all concurring to prove that very little of the trué
principles of vegetation was underftood by thofe
who had undertaken to fupply the nation either
with food-or materials for carrying ¢ on the linen
or woollen manufactures.

Who are the perfons that have fo increafed the
produce of wheat, that the London Society admit
no claims for the premium under five quarters per
acre; although the average quantity, produced
the laft very favourable year, did not, in all pro-
bability, far exceed three quarters per acre,
throughout the kingdom,* if you except the e-
ftates of gentlemen?

Who are the perfons that have fo much promo-
ted the growth of cabbages, carrots, madder, &c.

ed in as a manure when in bloffom, and then the turnips to be fown,
the oil compoft fpread, and both to be harrowed in as above. Ihave
‘raifed pretty good turnips after buck-wheat ploughed in, without the
oil compoft: but as the expence is not great, the ufing of both would
perhaps be the ze plus ultra of improvement in the -circumftances
above-mentioned. The grand fault committed after paring and
burning is, taking too many exhaufting crops. A coarfer kind of

oil, I am informed, is made in Cornwall, from pilchards, which
would, in all probability, make the compoft come confiderably
cheaper. , For the method of making the compof, fee-Dr. Hunter's
Georgical Effays, vol. I. .

* In this we believe the Author is miftak en,

U2 : by

by field culture ? Who have been and are likely
to be, in gencral, candidates for the premiums of
the above laudable Society? And who are they
that are attending to hufbandry according to its
true principles ?—Not the uninftruéted farmers,
who are yet but little acquainted with the fubjeéct
as to feveral of its effential and fundamental points.
They are ignorant of the various properties of
different manures, and how they refpectively ope-
rate, particularly on different foils; nay, on the
fame foils when differently circumftanced; as
well as the different izberent qualities of foils ap-
parently fimilar, &c. But without the knowledge
of thefe properties and qualities, miftakes have
been and will be committed by farmers, and dif-
appointments in their crops. will happen, which
they know not how to account for, nor in what
manner to prevent in future. A remarkable in-
{tance of the neceffity of making experiments on
the different qualities of foils, may be feen in the
Complete Englifh Farmer, p, 104, 5.

Were thefe things better underftood, they would
not continually manure their ground with dung,
where lime and marle are eafily procured, nor con-
ftantly repeat lime on the fame field, becaufe it
carried feveral good crops while abounding with

vegetable

ee

f 293 }

vegetable food: they would not take three ex-
haufting crops in fucceffion, nor proceed in the
fame courfe of crops on every kind of foil.

Thefe miftaken notions and practices cannot be
removed merely by the diftributions of premiums.
The ideas of illiterate farmers will not be much
rectified by many of our publications on hufban-
dry, which fome cannot, and the generality are-too
opiniated to read: Add to this, that whoever
implicitly follows the theory contained therein will
often be led into errors that would end in lofs and
difappointments.

Premiums have a tendency to excite a {pirit of
emulation and induftry to increafe the produce of
the earth, according to the different mode to which
any diftrict or county hath been accuftomed; but
a common farmer, fhould he become a candidate,
will have no more chance of fucceeding againft
perfons of a liberal and extenfive acquaintance
with the principles and practice of Agriculture,
than any one of his draft horfes could have in at-
tempting to keep pace with his landlord’s hunter.-

Can the bare donation of premiums give in-
ftruétion to the mind? Ought not this to be
U 3 communicated

[+ sap,

communicated in ‘youth, when the difpofition is
docile? Enlarge the views by cultivating the un-
derftandings of young perfons while they are moft
fufceptible of impreffions and free from prejudices,
and they will be continually increafing in know-
ledge as they grow in years; but if the mind be
not improved early, the confequence -will be, in
general, (for the exceptions are but very few) that
they will pertinacioufly adhere to old cuftoms,
however abfurd.

Whoever hath been much converfant with the
common farmers, (and it 1s by them chiefly that
our lands are cultivated) muft have obferved that
they generally affociate together, communicate
their ideas to each other in their own way, gain
no more information from one another than the
knowledge, ‘each hath obtained, can beftow, and
that their obfervations are founded on ¢heir own
cuftoms in the country where they refide. They
are a clafs of people /ui generis, and ftand at a dif-
tance, as it were, from ‘a man of learning; and
unlefs he can make himfelf very familiar with
“them, and converfe in their own ftile, it is moft
probable, that they will either entirely miftake his
Meaning, or inwardly fneer at fome expreffions
which they do not underftand: and thus go away

| unimproved

[ 295 ]

unimproved as they came, or refolved not to fol-
low his advice. Of great importance, therefore, is
Education, to extend and call forth the powers of
the mind, and to render it ductile and teachable!

Therefore, until Agriculture is erected on this
enlarged bafis, will it not continue a vague and
abftrufe ftudy in itfelf, and remain far fhort of that
degree of perfection, which our public-fpirited and
ufeful Societies would with to fee it attain ?

If Agriculture is to be improved by learning,
why fhould not this clafs of people, the Farmers,
be better educated? They are capable of im-
provement. Let them be well inftructed; and
improvements in hufbandry will foon make their
way into every village, perhaps without much
affiftance from premiums. However, when in-
{truction is ftimulated by premiums, the great end,
I truft, will be ftill more effectually aniwered.

Every one who reflects juftly muft be fenfible,
that it is with Agriculture as with phyfic.. While
facts and experiments are producing and increafing
the beft knowledge, it is neceffary that thofe whe
may hereafter engage in either of the profeffions,
be inftructed in the firft principles of the one, and
the practice of the other.

“L296 J

Agriculture is a fcience as well as an art; and —
fome general fcientific knowledge is requifite be-
fore that art can be practifed with any rational
hope of full fuccefs ; unlefs quacks may be al-
lowed to perform perfectly well in Agriculture, ©
although they are continually breaking the fixth
commandment in phyfic.

Mr. Young, indeed, obferves, that “* experience
js an admirable foundation for any kind of ftruc-
ture; but in Agriculture fhe mutt be the ftrudcture
itfelf, not the foundation.”’* |

_ But I would have taken the liberty to afk,
what is to be the foundation of this ftructure?
had not Mr. Young himfelf pointed it out, when
he ingenuoufly confeffes, ‘“‘ in many inftances |
have been a very bad farmer, and acted contrary
to the dictates of good hufbandry.”}

No one will pretend to deny that experiments
are the life and foul of hufbandry; but they muft
not be made at random; for to what can fuch
experiments tend, except to the frequent difap-
-pointment of the farmer, and to the public lofs?

* Experimental Agriculture, pref. p. 15. + Ibid. p. 6.

Indeed

LT 27 ]

Indeed the encomium whfch Mr. Young hath
fo juftly pafled on Dr. Home evidently proves,
that the practical part of Agriculture mutt receive
confiderable benefit from {cientific knowledge.

It is hoped, that thefe remarks will not be con-
- fidered as a cenfure on Mr. Young, or ¢ as a cavil
“at excellence.’ They are intended only to place
this fubject in the moft enlarged point of view.

However fhort and defective the above account »
of the ftate of Agriculture in this kingdom at dif-
fereat periods may be; yet I hope I have made it
appear—that it is much indebted for its prefent —
improvements to learning and civilization—that
whatever deficiencies it ftill labours under, they
are owing to a defect in the education of farmers
in general—that it hath a clofe connection with
other branches of {cience—that learning and ex-
periments muft go hand in hand—that the pro-
pofals of thofe fenfible and learned men above
quoted, for eftablifhing Schools of Agriculture,
were founded on enlarged views, fubftantial
grounds, and the greateft propriety—and that the
little attention which has been paid thereto can be
attributed to nothing elfe but certain temporary
eircumftances, which retard improvements of ong
kind or other in every age.

[. 298: ji

Agricultural Societies were not eftablifhed when
thofe gentlemen wrote: and it can hardly be fup-
pofed that, whatever propriety -or utility there
might have been in their plan, they alone could
fuddenly turn the regard of the nation to a fubject
of which it had then fcarce any idea.

The cafe is now otherwife. Agriculture -hath
arifen like a ftar of the firft magnitude in our
hemifphere; and many of the wife men of our
nation, of all ranks, are continually turning their
eyes towards it. They are attracting the notice
and regard of their neighbours, in their ‘truly
' noble fpirit and conduét.

Let this fpirit continue to prevail; let Agri-
culture be ftudied by gentlemen of landed pro-
perty, on philofophic principles ; let it be taught
to their tenants; and the happy confequence will
foon be apparent throughout this ifland.

The difficulty of inftituting Schools for Hufban-
dry, is now trifling, fince fo many Societies have
been eftablifhed and are fupported with fo ‘much
liberality ; efpecially fince the Society of Arts, Ma-
nufaures, and Commerce, 1s annually offering fuch
vaft fums of money for the encouragement of ex-

periments ;

[ 299 ]

periments ; and none of the other Societies, I
fhould apprehend, are formed on fo fall a feale as
to preclude the practicability of taking into their
hands a few fields, (and a few would be fufficient)
and of appointing fome perfon or perfons to culti-
vate them, and inftruct the pupils, either accord~
ing to the idea of Lord Molefworth, which points
to the education of poor men’s children; or, ac-
cording to the ideas of Cowley and Sir William
Petty, which refpect the education of gentlemen’s
fons as well as others.

At prefent, however, let us attend to the advan-
tages accruing from each of the above plans; pre-
mifing only, that lectures on the theory of hufban-
dry muft, dy a/l means; be accompanied with a
clofe attention to the practical part of it, in fuch a
manner as may tend to correct the miftakes of fpe-
culation, to open and enlarge the mind, and to
give a clearer infight into the nature of vegeta-
tion, and the very fundamental principles’ of
Agriculture.

Were Schools eftablifhed in different parts of
the kingdom for the education of farmer’s fons
who might be but in low circumftances, gentlemen
would never want fenfible and rational improvers

of

[ 300 ]

of their eftates, who would likewife be the moft
proper perfons to inftruct parifh apprentices and
inferior fervants. This the old-experienced Varro
reckoned to be of principal importance. ‘ The
‘ bailiffs,’ fays he, ‘ fhould be men of fome erudi-
“ tion and fome degree of refinement.’ But more
efpecially ought a bailiff to be well filled in rural
ceconomics: he fhould not only give orders, but
alfo work himfelf; that the labourers might imitate

him, and be convinced it is with propriety he pre-
fides over them, becaufe he excels them in the
practical part, as well as the fcientific.*

Were this the cafe with us, local and eftablifhed
cuftoms would be regarded no farther than they
are founded in propriety ; younger fervants would’
be accuftomed to a variation in their methods of
culture as circumffances varied ; new modes will
not be defpifed, becaufe they are new; the effets
of experiments would be modeftly expected ; the
advantages and difadvantages attending them,
would be accurately difcerned; and a continual

* Qui prefint, effe oportere qui literis fint et aliqua humanitate
imbuti.—Preterea potiffimum eos praefle opertet, qui periti fint
serum rufticarum : non folum enim debere imperare, fed etiam facere,
ut facientem imitentur, et ut animadyertant eum cum caufa fibi
preeffe, qui {cientia praftat et ufu. Lib. 1. cap. 17. apud Authores
de Re Ruftica. Edit. Jucundi Veronenfis, 1529.

3 progrefs

l gor j

proerefs would be made in the fcience and practice
of Agriculture. Were fome fimart boys felected
by each Society, and educated on the above plan,
they would hereafter convey knowledge wherever
they went; and their obfervations would be better
attended to by inferior fervants, than if they came
from perfons of high rank. In fhort, they would
effect what even the fuperior knowledge of noble-
men and gentlemen could not perform, who have
more important objects in view than to cultivate
the. neglected underftanding of every ruftic la-
bourer they may have occafion toemploy. Like
fmaller rivulets, branching from the main ftream,
‘they would water and fertilize thofe lands where
a larger river cannot with propriety expand itfelf.

While under tuition they will learn the expedi-
ency of aclean and fpirited fyftem of hufbandry ;
as it is fuppofed that their tutor’s fields will be
cultivated on thefe principles. On comparing his
crops with thofe of many others, the truth of
Hefiod’s maxim would be apparent, that half may
be more than the whole.* For fhould they think of
becoming tenants, they will-view an eftate with
this ruling principle, that one of an hundred

\ 3 <
* TTAeov nuacu mwovToc. Operaet dies, v.40.

pounds

[ go2 J

pounds per annum, well cultivated, will produce
at the end of the term more clear profit than
another of two hundred a year, treated in a negli-
gent and flovenly manner. }

An injudicious courfe of cropping, imperfect
tillage, partial and improper manures,. are not
always to be attributed to ignorance, but fome-
times to the eftates being too large for the farmer’s
capital ; he does not command the eftate, but the
eftate him, too frequently to the great injury, of
both; his hands are bound at his firft fetting out,;
_ and it is much if they regain their freedom, unlefs
eventually through his landlord’s diftraining him
for rent and ejecting him from the premifes. _ But
what is the farmer to do if he cannot find a farm
in his own neighbourhood fuitable to his capital ?

hall he remove into another county, an entire
ftranger ; or commence day-labourer, or ftarve ?

The modern practice of throwing feveral {mall
farms into one, is much to be lamented as a na-
tional evil in every view; and calls loudly for the
regulation of the legiflature. |

But to return to our young farmer, tranfplanted
from the nurfery, where his mind received its firft
cultivation,

E> 399 2B
cultivation, unto) the, fpot where he is fuppofed
to fix his refidence.

While under inftruction, he was taught to form

a pretty good judgment of the qualities, fuch as
the tenacity, drynefs, or moifture of’ different
fields, from the herbage they fpontaneoufly pro-
duce; he will, therefore, immediately perceive
which are moft proper to be frf# under tillage, in
order that the efate may not be impoverifbed. The
want of attention to this circumftance has kept
-many a man poor all his days, under a notion that
the beft ground will carry one or two good crops
of exhaufting’ corn at firit, and fo far prove of
immediate great gain ; not confidering, that it ge-
nerally proves.a future heavy lofs, from the neceflity
he will be under of letting it lie fallow, and of ap-
plying much expenfive labour in order to extirpate
-weeds, and much more expenfive manure in order
to-recover: its loft ftrength. Yet ftill, there is
a certain vigour iin thofe fields, which have been
under a judicious courfe of. meliorating crops,
«though but moderately manured, which even a
-fallow and.a:complete ftercoration cannot beftow
on jany foil which: hath been’ once impoverithed ;
as may be more eafily perceived by a difcerning

seye, than deferibed.
box Our

[ 304 J

Our farmer hath been taught, that the good
ground (on which his chief dependence is for pay-
ing his rent) if preferved in good heart, will often
mend the bad; but the impoverifhing of oné or
two of the beft fields will frequently affeé& the
whole eftate in the decreafe of its pafture, in lef
fening the quantity of manure, and meets. - the
expence of tillage.

It hath frequently been inculcated on him, That
his future fuccefs depends much on his firft courfe
of crops ;—that at firft, efpecially, meliorating
crops are to be preferred, as far as circumftances
will admit, to exhaufting ones ;that the latter,
whenever they are fown, fhould be fucceeded by
the former ;—that thofe manures which are moft
apt to produce weeds, fhould either be laid on
pafture, or ploughed in for fuch crops as can be
beft hoed, or have the beft tendency to deftroy
them, viz. beans, peafe, turnips, cabbages, &c.—
that, although fome of thefe crops may require
rather more expence, and not return that expence
in money quite fo foon as fome of the éxhaufting
ones, (part of them being appropriated to the fat-
tening of cattle, by which means, the beft of
manure is raifed and in the largeft quantity) yet
like thofe bees which travel fartheft, and ftay out

longett;

ee
longe(t, they generally return home moft deeply
laden ;—that the dung-heap be moft feduloufly
regarded as the foundation of his future wealth ;—
but that no manure fhould be laid on wet fpringy

lands before they have been drained, unlefs he
chufés to fink the profits of all his other fields.

He hath been taught to venture on fome few
experiments, on general fixed principles; which,
though they might not all of them perfeétly an-
fwer his expectations, may, neverthelefs, throw
additional light on the fubject of Agriculture. In
a word, he will become fit company for a gentle-
man; he will receive and communicate informa-
tion; and at the fame time, on account of that
clofe attention which he finds requifite, in order
that he may pay his rent, he will be continually
increafing that important. knowledge which an
uninitructed mind cannot poffibly attain.

Such an inftitution as is here recommended may
poffibly be of fervice to thofe farmers who have
no particular connection with our Agricultural
Societies ; whofe fields, however, lying open to
the continual view of their neighbours, will be a
conftant leffon to thofe who moft need inftru€tion,
{peaking much more intelligibly to them, than

Vou, I Xx accounts

. 26 4

accounts of experiments ftated on paper; againft
which they will be frequently ftarting that parti-
cular kind of doubt, which I have found to be
generally expreffed in fome fuch language as this,
ft may be fo, bui I don’t know :—a doubt arifing
from a cloud inveloping their minds, which the
powers of reafoning are very ineffectual to difpel.
But they will fometimes learn that leffon from the
plants of the field which they might not chufe to
learn from the tongues of their fellow-creatures,
becaufe they will not avowedly acknowledge others
to be their fuperiors in this art and {cience.

The advantages of fuch an Academy for the
education of Gentlemen’s fons, will be no lefs
evident with regard to themfelves, their pofterity,
and the nation in general.

On this part of our fubje&t, my learned mafter
thus expreffes himfelf:—** According to the beft
obfervations, the proper time to infufe that ufeful
part of natural philofophy called Hufbandry, is in
the earlier ftage of life, when there is curiofity and
a thirft for knowledge. And, if practice here
could be joined with theory, enjoying the open
air, exercife, and activity, agree well with the turn
and caft of young people, not to mention a revo-
lution of perpetual variety which is very engaging
at their age. ie | >

[ gor }

‘« Tt is one point gained, without: doubt, to be
enabled to read the hufbandry works of Cato, —
Varro, Virgil, and Columella, with tafte and know-
ledge. It may open a new walk. onvclaffical
ground; and, in all probability, give young men
certain predifpofitions in favour of Agriculture.
Yet ftill, the whole combined together will pro-
duce but flight effects, unlefs we callin the affift-
ance of facts and experience,

*¢ Something of this kind ought certainly to be
done, and the complaint of Columella,. when he
fays with fome degree of warmth, “ Agricolationis
«¢ doctores qui fe profiterentur neque difcipulos
*< cognovi,’* fhould, if poffible, be removed.”

The former part of this quotation evidently
intimates, that the improvement of young gentle-
men in claffical learning would not be impeded,
but rather promoted, by attending to Agriculture ;
and the experience of every one who has led a
ftudious life will teftify, that the open air invigo-
rates the mind, and prepares it for receiving
inftruétion, becaufe it‘can bear application only
to a certain degree, and ftands in need of being
frequently re-invigorated by amufements and
lighter ftudies.

* Harte’s Effay I, p. 157.
X 2 Time

[ 308 J

Time is precious, and might be virtually
~ lengthened by a proper difpofal of it. When the
mind is fatigued with clofe application, exercife
in the open air will renew its ftrength and activity.
Additional to their being taught the value of the
different fields over which they may walk with
their tutor, from the various plants each field na-
turally produces, Botany may be attended to as a
pleafing and inftructive fcience; neither fhould
planting and gardening by any means be neg-
lected ; nor the art of furveying and delineating
eftates be confidered as beneath their notice.*

In bad weather they may be occafionally amufed
with experiments on various branches of natural
philofophy ;—the effects of the air with regard to
vegetation, and the nature of different earths and
manures, after the manner of the Doctors Home,
Fordyce, Ainflie, Prieftley, &c.

They fhould alfo be inftructed in the principles
of Mechanics, efpecially that part which relates to
Hydraulics, it being of principal utility in drain-
ing and other modes of improving eftates.

* It is not meant wholly to exclude the fons of poor men from
thefe fludies,

Thefe

[ 309 J

Thefe are circumftances from which many of
the capital improvements lately made, in a great
meafure, originated. They were indeed confidered
of principal importance by Sir William Petty,
“one of the greateft men of that or any other age,’*
who recommends them with earneftnefs, for rea-
fons highly worthy of himfelf, and which will be
mentioned hereafter.

Having gained fome knowledge of Agriculture,
they will read the works of the ancient agricultural
writers with improvementand pleafure; a circum-
ftance which will much expedite the knowledge of
the languages. For without excluding other profe
authors, may I not venture to affert, that the an-
cient writers on hufbandry are, from the nature of
their fubje&t and their claffical ftyle, as proper for
young perfons, and as fuitable to their difpofitions
and capacities, as any they generally read? Indeed
I have always been apt to fufpect, that putting the
works of Homer, Horace, Virgil, Ovid, or in fact
any other poet, into the hands of boys, before their
minds are properly furnifhed, and their tafte and
judgment fufficiently advanced, to enter into the
fpirit of thofe excellent writers, has: been only
rendering learning irkfome to them; and proved

* Biog. Britan. Article Boyle.
X 3 the

[ 310 }.

the means of their bidding a‘final adieu, not only
to thofe.:authors, but;to all claffical literature,
when they have left their; grammar-fchools; not
to mention that pro/e writers feem, inthemfelves,
beft calculated to teach any language. by, .as well
as to.convey the moft ufeful infor arene to the
minds of youth.

Poetry and painting are fifter arts; they alike
receive advantages from rural fcenes: witneis the
fix paftorals of Mr. Smith, than whom, as aland-
{cape-painter, and as a poet, this age hath not,
perhaps; proiluced a greater.

The: balbeekd is one inftance, among many
others, to prove how.favourable an. intimate ac-
quaintance « with rural images is to nee
defcription : | ;

~ « The night was Rill—the filver moon on high
ms Dappled the mountains from. a clouded tky':
-«« Silerit.as fleecy clouds thro’ether fail, |.
«: Before the gentle-breathing. Summer's gale; _
“6 So thro? the mifty vale in twilight greys .
The fleepy waters gently ae d away.’

Eiceding in rural concerns will ftrengthen the
uwhole human: frame, ‘the powers of the mind, as
well as the members of the body; will give a manly
turn

{ grr ]

turn to thought, duly regulated and refined by po-
lite literature. A perfon thus educated will never
want a variety of entertainment in the country to
fill up his time in a manner equally innocent,
rational, and ufeful. He will be continually in-
creafing in valuable knowledge, and preferve
himfelf from that diffipation which enervates the
mind, renders retirement burthenfome, and the
more public and momentous concerns of life too
arduous to be executed with propriety and deco-
rum. He will enjoy his otium cum dignitate, and,
at the fame time, his private amufements will give
acertain dignity and polifh to his fentiments,
which on all occafions he will be the better ena-
bled to exprefs in public, with a truly Britifh
fpirit, Roman firmnefs, and Attic elegance. There
will appear in his whole manner and’ addrefs that
fimplex munditiis which is equally removed from
empty affected foppifhnefs and mere clownifh ruf-
ticity. He will be fitted for fuch department in
the government of the ftate as may beft fuit the
natural bent of his genius, whenever his’ affiftance
may be thought neceffary ; and may rank hereaf-
ter among thofe worthies who have acted the fame
part before him, and whofe eulogium may. be,de-
livered in the words of the Roman orator: “Ab
‘¢ aratro arceflebantur qui confules fierent—Suos

enim

i. ee, J

<< enim agros ftudiofe colebant, non alhienos cupide
<< appetebant, quibus rebus, et agris et urbibus et
“¢ nationibus rempublicam, atque hoc imperium
¢¢ et populi Romani nomen auxerunt.”* 9 —

But to return into the more humble walk of
cultivation and emolument.

When our young pupil fhall come to the poffef-
fion of his paternal eltate, he will immediately per-
ceive what is to be'done to the beft advantage ;
he will be able to dire his fervants, rather than
be impofed upon by them, which muft ever be the
cafe when the mafter is unacquainted with the bu-
finefs he fuperintends. This is a matter of high
importance. For, if in any other profeffion he
fhould fpend his fortune, it is poffible he may be
the only fufferer ; but it is not fo in Agriculture.
Every field is, in fome refpect, public property ;
and if his crops fail through unfkilful manage-
ment, whatever is loft by the owner is, in fome
degree, a lofs to the community at large.

When I reflect on this, and confider how much
the crops are diminifhed through the miftaken
notions and obftinacy of the common farmers,

* Orat. pro Ligario.

efpecially

et. |

efpecially when they rent larger eftates than they
have ftrength to manage; and when I view the
almoft immeafureable quantity of improveable
land which yet remains wafte and next to barren ;
I cannot but agree to the fuppofition of Mr, Harte,
that the lands of England may be made to pro-
duce one-fixth part more than they do: a point
this of great national importance, amounting to
near four millions of money annually !

Whatever advantages may accrue to Gentle.
men from committing their eftates to the manage-
ment of fuch a fkilful and well-educated bailiff.
as hath been above recommended, yet they fhould
not be left «wholly to him; for experience hath too
often fhewn, that the integrity of a man’s heart
does not always keep pace with his underftand-
ing. Indolence, felf-intereft, pleafure, and other
temptations, may caufe him to negleét his matter’s
intereft at a critical time ; the evils of which neg-
lect may not be remedied for years together,
Every one who hath attended'to works of hufban-
dry muft be fenfible, that in all their feveral parts
they are only links of one chain ; either of which
being broken, the whole work is frequently thrown
into confufion, particularly with regard to the
moft proper feafons for the different labours of

the

E 314 J

the field ;—a circumftance of no {mall moment
in our varying climate. doco haved

This fentiment fhould be impreffed with all
poffible energy; and it cannot be done in “mote
forcible and comprehenfive terms than thofe’ of
Cato, “ Res ruftica fic eft, fi unam rem ferd feceris,
“© omnia opera ferd facies.” |

It is likewife to be obferved that, although the
Gentleman’s crops may, in many inftances; be
larger than thofe of other men; yet, by trufting
too much to his fervants, he is often put to need-
lefs expence, which the common farmers avoid,
and on account of which they object to the pro-
priety of his method ; fo that hereby the public- -
fpirited Gentleman fometimes hurts the caufe he
intends to ferve.

However, the well-educated bailiffs are more
likely to do their mafters ftrict juftice than the
illiterate ; thofe little meanneffes which the latter
hardly think any thing of, though frequently at-
tended with confiderable difadvantages, the for-
mer are in fgeneral above committing, becaufe
the know better.

Indeed

Lr 3

Indeed I cannot confider the ftudy and_profef-
fion of Agriculture as any way unbecoming the
charaéter of a Clergyman ; he may hereafter prove
of great fervice to his country parifhioners, as his
advice and method of proceeding would be readily
attended to by: the younger part of his parifhion-
ers, and he \wili have :frequent opportunities of
conveying juftideas of improving their modes of
cultivation. Thus the knowledge of Agriculture
may be diffufed in every part of the country, where
fuch a gentleman fixes his refidence. Should his
cure be but fmall, he will have a fair opportunity
of preferving himfelf from that dependance, which
might too ‘often leffen the weight and energy
which fhould always accompany his religious
jnftruCctions.

It was thought proper to referve Sir William
Petty’s Advice for the advancement of Learning,* for
this place; becaufe his plan is \in itfelf highly
judicious, and includes the ideas:of Cowley. and
Lord Molefworth.

~ Sir William propofes,

«« That there béinftituted literary work-houfes,
where children may be taught as well to do fome-
thing towards their living as to read and write.

* Publithed in 1648. <' That

[ 316 ]

«¢ Fhat the bufinefs of education be ferioufly
ftudied and practifed by the beft and ableft perfons.

<¢ That all children, above feven years old, may
be prefented to this kind of education; none be-
ing excluded by reafon of the poverty and inability
of their parents; for hereby it hath come to pafs,
that many are now holding the plough, who might
be made fit to fteer the ftate.*

<¢ That all children, though of the higheft rank,
be taught fome genteel manufacture, in their mi-
nority, or turning of curious figures, &c. limning
and painting on glafs or in oil colours, botanics

and gardening, chymiftry, &c. &c.

« And all for thefe reafons:—They fhall be lefs
fubject to be impofed upon by artificers; they will
become more induftrious in general; they will
certainly bring to pafs moft excellent works, be-
ing, as gentlemen, ambitious to excel ordinary
workmen. They being able to make experiments
themfelves, may do it with lefs charge and more
care than others will do it for him, It may en-
gage them to be Mzcenas’s and patrons of arts.

* Cincinnatus was called from the plough, in order to fteer the

ftate as Di€tator; and returned to it again after he had delivered
Rome from her danger.
It

boty 4

It will keepthem from worfe occafions of fpend-
ing their time and eftates. Asit will be a great’
ornament in profperity, fo it will be a great refuge
and ftay in adverfity and common calamity.”

After thefe obfervations, need any thing be ad-
ded to fhew the advantages of fuch an education,
except attempting to obviate an objection which
may poffibly arife with regard to the difficulty of
procuring proper tutors ?

This, however, feems to be a difficulty, which,
in this enlightened age, may be foon furmounted,
I imagine there are many perfons in the kingdom
well fkilled in fcientific and practical knowledge,
who would, were they encouraged, readily ftep
forward, and reduce Agriculture (both in theory
and practice, with all its conneétions and depen-
dencies on botany, chymiftry, and other branches
of natural philofophy) into a fyftem of education
as regular, plain, and introductory to right con-
duct, as in any other art or profeffion in life. Let
it but have a beginning, and inftructors would,
no doubt, foon abound,

The Author will not be wanting in any thing
which lies in his power, however fmall, to promote

fo defirable an end.
And

b.gae (7

And with this declaration he fubmits the fore-
going obfervations to the judgement of the wife,
the candid, and benevolent.

ADVER TAS EME NW,

N order to render the ftudy of Agriculture more gene-
| ral, efpecially among the rifing generation, the Author
propofes, fhould it be thought eligible, to publifh, for the
ufe of fchools, an Abridgement of the writings of Cato,
Varro, and Columella ; by feleéting fuch paflages as feem
more efpecially adapted to the hufbandry of thefe king-
doms, and to be of public utility.

This advertifement owes its exiftence to Mr. Aikin’s.
edition of Seleéta Quedam ex Plinii Hifi. Nat.* which can-
not but be confidered as a very valuable addition to our
{mall ftore of Claffic Authors, proper for the ufe of {chools.

It is thought that a judicious felection from the writings
of the three Authors above-mentioned, if well tranflated,
would be of fervice.

* Seleét paffages from Pliny’s Natural Hiftory.

A
idee or OR
T Oo
MONSIEUR HIRZEL,
FROM
mG CTO Re PPS § OT;
IN ANSWER TO

MONS. LINGUET’s TREATISE

| BREAD-CORN ano BREAD,
PRESENTED TO THE SOCIETY IN FRENCH
By Str JOHN PRINGLE, Barr. P.R.S.
AND TRANSLATED BY A MEMBER.
SECOND EDITION,

M DCC LXXXiMiI,

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TRAN: 5S DL AT TO: N

OF A

LETTER FROM. DOCTOR TISSOT
LO ‘MONS, HIRZEL:

HAw’s frequently received much informa-
44 tion from the works of Monf. Lincuer, I
always read them with pleafure and with full ex-
pectation of further improvement ; but, however
well grounded fuch an opinion of any author may
be, it fhould never go fo far as to prevent a ftrict
and impartial examination of facts. The exami-
nation which I have made of his Treatife upon
Bread-Corn and Bread,* does not permit me to
adopt his opinions on two fuch interefting fubyects
to mankind. I even think it might be of dange-
rous confequence, fhould they become general ;
and when an author of fo much genius, learning,
and eloquence, undertakes to eftablifh an opinion,

* Annales Politique, Civiles, et Literaire, tom 5, p. 429-

Von. f, Y however

[ 322 ]

however abfurd, it may probably bias the judg-
ment of fome part of his readers, and be a means
of perfuading them to adopt the fame fentiments ;
I therefore thought it might be ufeful to publifh
the reflections which I made in reading this fedu-
cing Treatife.

I fubmit them to you, Sir, as to one of the
moft competent judges, engaged, both by ftation
and natural abilities, in every thing that tends to
the enriching your country, and the welfare of
your fellow-citizens ; profoundly verfed in all the
branches of Economics, Agriculture, and Phyfic,
you will be equally capable of difcuffing the ob-
jections of M. Linguet againit the ufe of Bread,
and my obfervations upon them; your decifion
will certainly have very great weight in the fcien-
tific world.

Monfieur Linguet affirms, that the culture of
bread-corn is prejudicial, and that bread is an un-
wholefome food. The latter of thefe principles
only can be properly confidered in a medicinal
view. However, I muft.be permitted to examine
the firft alfo; fince it would be of very little im-
portance to defend the ufe of bread, if the culture
of the grain which produces it be prejudicial.

; It’

if 323. J

It is a certain fact that, in fome countries, one
arpent* of land, fown with corn, yields lefs than
the fame quantity planted with vines, or of good
meadow-land; and, according to that manner of
reckoning, a diftrict: which had one thoufand. ar-
pents, of arable land,. would receive. lefs. profit
from its produce.than that which had one thou-
fand arpents of vines, or.one thoufand arpents of
meadow-land; however, this is not owing to the
corn, but to the foil; for they fow it with corn,
becaufe it is not good. enough for meadow-land or
vineyards; and if the profits of an arpent of ara-
ble is lefs than that of meadow-land, it is becaufe
the foil of the one is not fo richas that of the
other. If corn were fown on a foil naturally good,
without the help of manures, I am perfuaded that
more advantage would always accrue from arable
lands than. from meadow; the fame comparifon
cannot be made with refpect to vines, becaufe they

* Tam obliged to ufe the word Apert, as our Englith acre does
not anfwer to it; and I know no other word in Englith applicable :
The; common arpent in Switzerland is called a pole, and meafures
40,000 fquare feet ; the Arpent of Paris, 100 perches, réckoning 18
feet to the perch, is 42,400 fquare feet} but as the foot. of Berne is
lefs than that of Paris, in the proportion of 1500 to.1440, thé Arpent
of Paris contains 36,735 feet of Berne ; and as the difference is but
2265 feet, one may be taken for the other, without any error of con~

. fequence.————N. B. The Englih acre contains only 4o perches.

sae

Y Y 2 St adc anglais

[| 324 ]

muft have'a particular fituation; but corn‘is more
eafily cultivated than-grafs ; for although they are
two plants of the fame fpecies, the former will
thrive in lands where the latter will ‘not, or, at
leaft, it grows fo weak and thin, as to be eafily
over-run with weeds, or dried up by the ‘heat of
the fun; it has therefore been found neceffary, in
diftriéts where the land is not good, (which is moft
commonly the greater part) to leave the ‘beft for
hay, and to put the corn into that ‘which is’ but
indifferent, or even in the worft of all ; and though
they cannot expect very great crops, yet they reap
fomething. |

If there are fome diftricts of very poor lands,
almoft entirely fown with corn, they are not poor
becaufe they produce only corn, but becaufe they
are not fit to produce any thing elfe. Their foil is
fo bad, that they can grow but very little fodder,
confequently they maintain only fuch cattle as are
abfolutely neceffary for labour, and thofe are ill
fed, and frequently perifh. They have but little
manure, and their crops are {mall ; for large crops.
of all forts can only be expected from lands natu-
rally rich, or ftrongly manured. Thus the poverty
of the inhabitants is only owing to their poffefling
an ungrateful foil.

What

f 325 Jj

What proves evidently. it. 1s the natural foil
that is in fault, and not the corn, which impove-
rifhes it, is, that where there 1s meadow and.arable
Jand, the price of the meadow-land is much more
confiderable than that of the arable. In moft
parts, of this country,* the proportion is nearly
ten to one; and there are even fome arpents of
meadow, for one of which they would give thirty
of field lands, and fome of vines for which an
hundred of arable land would be given. “Thofe
diftriéts, where the foil will produce nothing but
corn, are poor; but in thofe which furnith fodder,
and alfo fine crops of grain, the inhabitants are
wealthy and happy, unlefs they are oppreffed by
taxes... There are many. inftances of this kind in
this country, which Monf. Linguet has not given
himfelf time enough to confider with proper at-
tention; and furely, it is moft probably fo in other
countries, Flanders, Brabant, fome parts of Ger-
many and Poland, Milan, and England, which
furnifh great quantities of grain, are countries
abounding alfo with all the neceffaries of life,
enriched by the money which the exports of their
corn bring in return. If there are many poor in
them, it is not their raifing corn that occafions it ;
but the unequal diftribution of it. Whatever

* Switzerland.
Fy commodity

| 926 1

commodity’ a country produces, if it is not enjoyed
as private property, but’is reaped for nabs nn
inhabitants fill continue poor.

In fome provinces there are lands of very confi-
derable extent fown with corn, which belong ‘to
the church, or fome nobleman, perhaps. ~’The
peafant may be poor in the midft of this opulence ; “
but it isnot becaufe there is corn, but becaufe it
does not belong to him. If there are countries
where they reap plentiful harvefts, and where, ne-
verthelefs, the owners thernfelves are poor, this
poverty is not owing to thar plenty, but to fome
other. caule ; frequently, perhaps, their fituation
is unfavourable for vending their grain, and: ‘then,
undoubtedly, i it would be better to fow lefs of it;
perhaps, indeed, (almoft univerfally) too much
land is appropriated to the culture of grain. If
lefs were cultivated, and the hufbandman would
be more attentive to the cultivation, better crops
might be produced at lefs expence: thus the ad-
vantage would be much more confiderable.—but I
thall fpeak of this again hereafter. However, this
proves nothing againft the cultivation of bread-
corn, fince if it is cultivated with care, the produce
will be very confiderable. If farmers in general

fow more than double what is neceffary; if they
fow

C 327 J

fow it only in very poor land; if thofe lands are
badly prepared, and they do not allow the necef-
fary quantity of manure ; it will be with wheat as
with all other crops; it will not grow, becaufe it
has not-been properly cultivated.

You know, Sir, that the experiments of Mr.
Tull, Duhamel, Mougres, and many others, have
demonftrated the advantage of fowing much. lefs
feed than is ufually fown., Perhaps you recolleét,
that this method, any more than the ufe of the
feed-bag, is not anew difcovery, but has been
proved by experience more than an hundred years..

In the Philofophical TranfaCtions for 1670, No.
60, we find a very full and particular memorial of
Mr. Evelyn’s ; in which, after the Spanifh memoir
of M. the.Chevalier Lucatello, he gives. the de-
{cription of a feed-bag ufed in Spain, called a
Sembrador, which the inventor, after haying fully
eftablifhed its great utility, by repeated trials, in
the prefence of the Emperor, took. into ‘Spain,
where.the government ordered feveral. new trials
to be made, which were alfo attended with great
fuccefs. By this means, two-thirds lefs is fown,
and jthey reap more. The, care required in the
conftruction of the plough, to which the feed- bag

Yi4 is

[ 8 J

is adapted, and the work it requires, are explained
very clearly ; and it is very probable, that it was
from thence that Mr. Tull has drawn his difco-
veries. One finds alfo in the fame publication,
that about the year 1665, the Royal Society ap-
pointed a committee, who employed themfelves in
enquiring into every thing relating to the hiftory
and progrefs of Agriculture in thefe kingdoms :
This committee publifhed queftions the moft in-
tetefting; and the beft calculated to anfwer their
defigns in enquiring into all the different branches
of Agriculture, in order that from a knowledge
of the true ftate of it, and from the obfervations
of perfons fkilled in ceconomics, whom they re-
quefted to communicate their fentiments, they
might fully eftablifh that part of it which feemed
to them of the greateft importance. Thefe quef-
tions contained almoft every thing that has been
propofed firice that time; and it appears that this
committee were employed without being much
known, on the fame objects which have engaged
thé attention of all Europe for twenty-five years
paft, with fo much enthufiafm and oftentation.

But to return to my fubject. Suppofing the
common increafe of wheat to be fix and a half, as
it is generally fown at prefent, this would be

thirteen

F 329

thirteen to one, if only half that quantity were
fown, and this would be a very fine produce.

~M. Linguet has, I think, gone too far in fup-

pofing that the culture of wheat requires more
time than it really does. One arpent of wheat
requites no more than four days’ labour in the
year for fowing, two for reaping, and the fame for
manuring ; ee us then reckon fix for threfhing,
and two for grinding it; and’this, in the whole,
makes fixteen days, which is all that it requires.
Let-us then fuppofe a family, confifting of fix per-
fons, (three men and three women) three arpents
would fupply them with more corn than would be
fufficient for their fuftenance, and would require
only forty-eight days’ work; and even of thefe
forty-eight days, it would be only thofe of harveft
that would employ the women; thofe of cleaning,
weeding, or halifig, if néceffary, would employ
them but two, ‘and they would have nothing to
do with the fowing or manuring. The grinding
and baking take up but little of the men’s atten-
tion, neither would they be always employed in
the other thrée parts of the work; therefore all
the remainder of their time may be employed in
othér occupations. I am well aware, that if more
Jand be cultivated, it will necéffarily require more
time,

Ingao. J

time, although the.time neceffary for the culture
of arable lands does not increafe in proportion to
their extent; but in that cafe, the extraordinary
time employed is making a trade of the produce,
and not that which is barely requifite to acquire a
neceflary fubfiftence ; and this may..be increafed.
in any degree,) even till their whole. time would
not be fufficient.

Water-meadows, which alone may, be deemed
truly fertile, require daily care to. water them at.
leaft ix months in the year; and the’ harveft .alfo:
requires much care. The culture of vines requires
much more attention and time; and it is there-.
fore fuppofed, that if a Vigneron can take care of
a certain number of arpents of vines, the farmer
can, with the fame time and trouble, attend to a
farm eight or ten times as large. I know very.
well, that the one requires cattle, and the other
does not; but thefe cattle, far from being expen-
five, will, if properly managed, increafe the gain
of the farmer; therefore, they muft not be looked
upon as an expence.. Corn is fubjeét to many ac-
cidents, but vines.are fubject to many more; and
thofe which the vine fuffers, fometimes fpoil the
vintage for feveral. years ; thofe which happen to
arable land only fpoil the harveft for the enfuing

feafon ;

Bcah a

feafon’: And as the expence of cultivating vines,
for which only manual labour can be employed, is
much more confiderable ; therefore the Vigneron,
who;engages more largely thanothe Farmer, will

confequently be a much greater lofer, if unfucs
cefsful.

~ Hay is alfo fubject to frequent and very dif-
agreeable accidents: the fecuring it is fometimes
very difficult ; and when it is badly made, it be-
comes very hurtful to cattle. A fingle fa& will
be fufficient to prove the cafualties hay is fubje&
to, which is, that it varies in, price as much “as
grain. Accidents of hay-mows. taking fire.are
but too frequent,,and this is not to be feared in
corn-mows.

The prefervation of vines is not attended with
lefs difficulty than that of grain, and the accidents
they are liable to, being more fudden, cannot be
fo.eafily prevented. When grain has been well
taken care of in the harvelt, it is very feldom any
accidents happen to it, except the mows are made
very large; and even then, every one knows there
arecertain means of prevention. It may be faid
with truth, that if wheat does not keep, it is the
fault of the farmer: Nature has formed it for long

prefervation ;

t 9 7

prefervation ; and this isfo well confirmed ‘by re-
peated obfervations, that it is no longer to be.
doubted, that wheat is the moft durable of all eat=:
able grain. The care it requires in grinding 1s
common to all other forts of grain; and the acci-
dents which they are liable to are as many as thofe
of wheat: their produce is not fo certain; and,
finally, the ftraw of wheat is of more general ufe
and importance than that of any other grain.

Maize and Millet impoverith land very confi-
derably ; and in thofe countries where maize flou-
rifhes the beft, the owners, when they leafe out the
farms, particularly fpecify, that only fuch a por-
tion of the arable lands fhall be fown with maize:
And in Piedmont, one of the diftrits where they
cultivate the moft, this proportion is not to exceed
the forty-eighth part.

With regard to Rice, every one knows, that it
will not grow without being under water; and
that four months out of the fix that it is in the
ground, the land muft be kept flooded; confe-
quently the countries where rice is cultivated are
very unhealthy ; and in the county of Verceil, a
man of forty years of age is old and decrepid.

The

a

L 3x J

The culture of Rice* is, therefore, detrimental,
and far from being proper to be encouraged ‘in any
ftate : they ought rather to guard againft its being
‘introduced ; for even though it might’ be very
‘advantageous in a lucrative view, yet it is cer-
‘tainly of more confequence to. preferve the health
and lives of the inhabitants, than to feek the
means of enriching them. The fovereign coun-
cil of Roufillon prohibited ‘it about forty years
-fince, becaufe they thought that the exhalations
‘of the lands fown with it had occafioned an epi-
demic diftemper.t Another argument againft
the culture of rice is, that it requires a confider-
able degree of heat as well as moifture, and there-
fore will not grow beyond the latitudes of 46 or 47
degrees, and perhaps even not fofar. Mr. Rye,a
very accurate obferver, has affirmed, that it dimi-

minifhes by tranfplanting; therefore, if-it were
advifable in countries where there is great plenty,
it would not be fo where it is already thin.

* The culture of Mountain Rice wou!d, no doubt, be very advan-
tageous ; but befides the great uncertainty of its growing in Europe,
the procuring it is attended with much difficulty, -fince the zeal and

‘ardour of Monf. Poivre, who’ firft made it known to us, hath not
been able to furmount.it.

t+ Thofe inhabitants. of the mountains,- who come down into. the
vallies of Piedmont. in the autumn, to the Rice harveft, are moftly

feized with the fever. Sai
Tt

[ 33 ]

It appears then from-what has been faid, and
which may alfo be relied on from a great number
of treatifes on the fubjeét, that Wheat is not a com-
modity that is. impoverifhing in itfelf; for, in-an
equality of foil, it is as advantageous as any other ;
and that this grain will grow indifferently at leaft
in lands and fituations which are ‘unfavourable to
other plants. One may alfo add, that this grain is
adapted to moft climates; and that if there are
diftricts almoft entirely fown with wheat, and yet
poor, it is the fault of the foil, or fome other cir-
cumftances, and not of this ufeful grain.

~The comparifon between the oppultne of fae
-provinces, cultivated with corn, which are. thinly
inhabited, and others of vineyards and pafture-
lands, which are more populous, fimply proves. this
only, That one foilis more rich than the other, and
that a fertile foil will maintain moft inhabitants.

No perfon is more capable of ahticaaney the caufe
of the fubjection of the Roman empire to the
Northern powers, than M. Linguet ; but he can-
not furely be ferious, when he fays, that they were
enabled to conquer them, becaufe thofe Northern
countries produced no corn, and that population
decreafed fince the introduction of grain. |

I fhall

rags: J

I fhall make three obfervations on this paflace,
Firft; the armies of Guftavus Adolphus, Charles
the XIIth, and the King of Pruffia, whofe food was
bread, would be as formidable againft the Italians
of thefe times, who eat lefs than was eaten in the
days of Scipio, as their anceftors were fourteen
hundred years fince againft the Romans: And as
M. Linguet fpeaks of conquefts, he muft know
certainly, that thofe Greeks, who fubfifted on
bread, thofe Romans who ate nothing but bread
and vegetables in pottage, fubdued all the known
world, amoneft whom were many nations who ate
lefs bread than themfelves. ‘The ration or allow-
ance of bread for a Roman foldier was much more
than what foldiers have at prefent ; and they were
alfo much ftronger: The allowance to a Roman
foldier was 64 pounds of wheat per month, which
he was ftrictly forbidden either to fell or exchange:
They had very feldom any cheefe, bacon, or pulfe ;
wheat was then almoft their only food, and the
proportion was double what is allowed the foldiers
in our days: they ate it in bread, in flour-milk,
_and in thin cakes; and they were not fubje& to
epidemic and putrid diforders, as is but too much
the cafe with our armies at prefent. Bread-corn
then did not diminifh their ftrength, as one may
judge from the weight of the accoutrements which
they

L 336 J

they carrried, neither did it make them lefs brave,
or in any degree unhealthy; nay, it is very pro-
bable, that the moft certain method of preventing ©
epidemic difeafes inthe army, where it is fo diffi-
cult. to procure good animal food, would be to
reduce them to the fimple diet of the. Roman

foldiery.

Secondly ; It is ‘very doubtful whether. thofe
countries were more populous, than -they are at
this time; it is even very probable, that they were
lefs fo. (

Finally ; The people of thefe Northern countries
_-were not without wheat ; it was the bafis of their
food and their drink: without quoting other.au-
thors who atteft it, fuffice it to fay, that Tacitus
affirms it in his De Morib. Germ. cap. 23, 25,263"

Monf, Linguet’s fecond remark. is, that of nine
hundred millions of men, there, are fcarcely fifty
millions

* Portui humor ex hordeo aut frumento, cap. 23.. Frumenti mo-
dum dominus injungit, cap. 25. Agri per vices occupantur, cap 26,
Non contendunt ut pomaria conferant et prata feparent et hortos ri-
gent fala terre feges imperatur. Corn then was the only object
of their culture: and milk boiled with flour, wild apples,’ frefh
game, and curdled milk, appears to have been their principal, nourifh-
ment or food.

Note

a ae

rhillions that ufe corn for’their food; But in this
he is certainly guilty of a very great miftake, ei-
ther wilfully, or through inadvertence ; for, altho’
there may be fome fmall diftricts in Europe where

Vou. f. Z rice

NoTE By ANOTHER MEMRER.

* Tacitus’s words are, ‘ Cibi fimplices agreftia poma, recens
fera, et lac concretum.” From this Mr. Tiffot concludes, that the
bafis of their nourifhment was corn, which is not once mentioned. It
is true hehas added, bouillies de cetteferine ; but this is a mere inter-
polation of a French difh, and not to be found in Tacitus. It is
probable they made ufe of corn more for the purpofé of brewing
drink, than for folid food. What Tacitus fays negatively, Mr.
Tiffot has interpreted pofitively ; he fays, indeed, that all they raifed
from the ground was crops of corn, and that they neglected the cul-
ture of fruit-trees, and improving meadows. But their culture of
corn muft have been very little, when they never cultivated the fame
tract for two years together, and fti]] there was a fuperfluity of land.
«* Arva perannos mutant, et fupereft ager.” Tacitus alfo fays, that
the whole wealth of the people confifted in their cattle; and that all
their fines and muldts were paid incattle. ‘* Sed et levioribus deli&tis
*¢ pro modo penarum, equorum pecorumque numero conviéti mulc-
«‘tantur.”’ Cap. xii.—** Luitur enim etiam, homicidium certovarinene
*torum, ac pecorum numero.”’ Cap. xxi.

Befides, it is highly improbable that a people, who lived upon
corn, fhould have no word in their language to exprefs the autumn
or harveft time of the year, as Tacitus exprefsly fays, ‘* Unde annum
‘€ quoque ipfum non in totidem digerunt fpecies, hiems, et ver, et

“ eftas, intellectum ac vocabula habent, autumni perinde nomen ac
‘¢ bona ignorantur.”’

But there is another proof more dire&ly to the point, which is,
that Julius Czfar, in his VIth Book, giving an account of the Ger-
mans, fays exprefsly, that they did not mind Agriculture, but lived
‘ en

L 33% -]

rice, maize, buck-wheat, and *chefnuts, are the
principal food of the inhabitants; yet one may
aver, that there is not the fmalleft province, if we
except a part of Lapland, where corn is not the
bafis of their nourifhment. Europe certainly con-
tains not only fifty, but one hundred and twenty
millions ; and it is not in Europe only that corn
is the principal food of the inhabitants.

Monf. Linguet makes an exception to this va-
luable grain, by faying it will not ripen but in the
latitudes between 25 and 60 degrees; but it is pre-
cifely in thefe latitudes that population flourifhes
the moft; itis there that mankind increafe the
fafteft; the number of the inhabitants of the Torrid
and Frigid Zones does not bear any proportion to
thofe of the Temperate Zones; and the fuitable-
nefs of thefe climates being more favourable both

on milk, cheefe, and flefh meat; and that Agriculture was purpofely
difcouraged among thein, left it fhould lead to effeminacy. Add to
this, that a diet of fichh is much more fuitable to a cold climate, —
than one of vegetables.

Had Mr. Tiffot read thefe paffages with accuracy and candour, he
never could have made fo abiurd an affertion.

* The ufe of chefnuts, as food, diminiflies daily ; and it is acom-
plaint of the ceconomifts of France, that the chefnut-trees are much
deftroyed in thofe provinces where they ufed to be in the greateft
plenty, in order to plant mulberry trees in their place.

to

to men and corn, is a ftrong indication, that the
one is deftined for the other; befides, there are
many places in the Torrid Zone where bread-corn
is cultivated; it may therefore be fairly prefumed,
that it would grow in many others; and [ would
boldly afk Monf. Linguet, what other eatable grain
is accommodated to fuch a number of climates?
and, above all, what grain is fo generally known
and made ufe of amoneft fo great a variety of
nations ? It is found in all Europe, in Egypt, and
throughout Barbary ; that is to fay, in all the moft
populous parts of Africa, in Mexico, in the moft
flourifhing provinces of Peru, and in thofe of
North America; it is the principal food of the
Englifh colonies ; and, for fome years paft, Ame-
rica has been enabled to export quantities of flour
to Europe. Wheat is alfo the food in many pro-
vinces of Perfia, Mogul, and Indoftan; and it is
found in all China, where there are three provinces
that have no rice. Thus you fee, it is. cultivated
by all civilized and induftrious nations.

That wheat is not ufed among favages, or the
Arabs, is no argument againft it; for even fome
of thefe have cultivated it in all ages, as Tacitus
affirms, in thofe countries where the foil will only
admit of particular cultures; and efpecially in

Z2 that

[ 340 ]

that fort of land which is only favourable to the
manioc, the inhabitants are obliged to feek for
means to take away the poifonous quality of this
plant, in order to make it: their food ; but, not-
withftanding, feveral perfons are poifoned by it
every year; wheat therefore is, no doubt, the moft
general food of all civilized nations ; and there
is the ftrongeft prefumption, that it is alfo the
moft advantageous to cultivate; but this would
be a moft cruel miftake, if it were fo unwhole-
fome a food as Monf. Linguet affirms.

Iam not an enthufiaftic admirer of bread: I
have even faid that bad bread only, or the wrong
ufe of it, may be hurtful. I alfo added, that in
fome languifhing diforders, even the beft bread
ought to be ufed with moderation; and there is
no other food that may not be liable to the fame
objections; but it is neverthelefs true, that of all
foods, wheaten-bread, well made, is the moft
wholefome; and I am too much attached to the
prefervation, the health, and the happinefs of the
people, to be fufpected of having given any advice
on thefe three important fubjects, without due
confideration, You will fee in the fixth volume
of my Differtation on Nervous Complaints, all
that I have written to diffuade them from the ufe

: of

fp *t41 Jj

of PErgot,* a grain certainly poifonous, which
fome able phyficians (deceived by fuperficial ob-
fervations) efteemed a wholefome food, and which
might be ufed without rifk. I write now to pre-
ferve them againft that bad opinion of wheat,
which an ingenious and eloquent philofopher (who
from fome few particular objections, has drawn a
falfe general conclufion) might incline them to
adopt. It appears to me as neceffary that man
fhould have good bread, as it is dangerous to have
bad: And it is very fingular that there fhould be,
at the fame time, well-meaning and learned men,
who forbid the firft as a poifon, while others re-
commend the latter. Vegetables have always
been neceffary for man. Nonation has ever been
difcovered who lived wholly on animal food. All
have made ufe of bread, or fome equivalent for it ;
that is, fome vegetable farinous fub{ftance, which
prevents the fatiety of all animal food, and the
corruption which would be the neceffary confe-
quence: even the bark of fir-trees has been ufed
for this purpofe; but I do not fcruple to affirm,
that of all thefe vegetable fubftances, bread made
of wheat is certainly the beft. Of all the objec-
tions which M. Linguet makes againft it, there is
not one well-founded. Itis very certain, that if

* Spur-cornm
Z 3 wheat

wheat be fimply pounded, as maize, buck-wheat,

or millet, in the kneading it and baking it, much

better cakes are made than from any other flour.

I have already mentioned, that the Roman foldiers
ate it in all thefeforms. None of thefe grains can

be eaten green. Wheat is, undoubtedly, the leaft

difagreeable and the beft; but were it to be ufed

without dreffing, it might be attended with dan-

ger; and Monf. Van Swieten has feen the bad

effects of it: but all the other grains would be

more hurtful, even were it poffible to fubfift on

them. The bran, which is fo much objected to,

is only the outfide or rind: all other grains have

fomething of the fame kind, and that of wheat is
the only one which is worth preferving. It may

have the fame objections with other grains, of

being a vifcous food, (if not made into bread)

difficult to digeft, except by the moft robuft con-

ftitution, and likely to caufe obftructions even to

the moft healthy, if they lead a fedentary life ;

but it has lefs of this quality than any of the other

vegetable fubftances which are efteemed whole-
fome food ; and it is much eafier taken off by.a

gentle fermentation, to which it is peculiarly a-

dapted, and far from injuring the dough; it only
takes away that vifcous quality, by clearing it of

that fixed air which combines its parts together,

rendering

[ 343 ]

rendering it more light and much eafier of di-
geftion, and confequently more wholefome. This
fermentation makes it much better inftead of f{poil-
ing it; and it is not more reafonable to fuppofe,
that bread fhould be fpoiled by this method of
fermentation, than wine is fpoiled, becaufe it is
produced from the fame kind of fermentation.

What food is fo proper, fo refrefhing as bread ?
Nothing cloys fo little. If the fermentation be too
great, the bread may be a little acid; this is a de-
fe&t; but even this defect does not make it lefs
wholefome for many conftitutions: and M. Lin-
guet is miftaken, in admitting, that of all digeftable
fubftances, there is none more hurtful, ‘ more hard
‘ of digeition, or more heavy in the ftomach;’ he
alfo adds, that ‘ it occafions the blood to be thick
‘and corrupt; and one of the moft celebrated
‘ aphorifms in phyfic is, that the indigeftion pro-
© duced by it is certain death.’ Thefe affertions
have been too carelefsly advanced on the teftimony
of fome perfons who have examined the effects of
bread very fuperficially. Of the flour or bread
which is produced from grain, there is none of
which one may eat a greater quantity, that digefts
more eafily, or which corrupts the blood fo little.
Thick blood is the effect of too ftrong an action of

Zt the

[ 344 J]

the veffels, or too quick a circulation ; bread does
not quicken it too much, nor does it caufe that
flow circulation, like other farinous fubftances. A
light deco¢tion of bread is a very wholefome nou-
rifhment and beverage in agues, putrid fevers, and
in the cholera morbus.

The aphorifm which M. Linguet quotes above
is an error of the leaft enlightened times. I dare
affirm, that no perfon ever died of indigeftion from
bread ; and in oppofition to this quotation, I fhall
bring an authority more refpectable than the fchool
of Salernum. - You know, Sir, that Hippocrates
remarks, that in a fcarce feafon of wheat, when
they were obliged to fubfift on other vegetables,
many paralytic complaints appeared, the natural
confequence of bad food and relaxed fibres.

‘We may further add, that if the fuperiority of
wheat, above all other eatable grain, had not been
demonftrated by fo many indubitable fa¢ts, it
would be proved by the feveral accurate trials of
M. M. Beccari, Kerfel, Meyer, Roell, and Macker,
upon flour ; that glutinous or animalized fubftance
abfolutely unknown till within thefe forty years,
which is the fourth part of wheat flour, and of
which the flour of other grains have fcarcely any,

| abicas feems

[ 345 ]

feems defigned to render this four more eafy of
digeftion, and more nutritive, fince it lofes lefs in
being reduced to a proper ftate for food, and is
more ftimulant. I fay this glutinous quality af-
certains the fuperiority of wheat above all other
grain; and it feemsto me, after many obferva-
tions, and on a comparifon between the inhabi-
tants of thofe countries which have no wheat, and
thofe where it is the principal food, one may ven-
ture to afirm, that it is the nourifhment, of all
others, moft favourable to the mental faculties.

Thofe whofe food is maize, potatoes, or even
millet, may grow to a large fize, or be tall; but I
much doubt, Sir,.if any one, who lived wholly on
them, could ever write the Political Annals of the
Sixteenth Century, the pleadings of Monf. Le Duc
D’Aiguillon, and the defence of Monf. Le Comte
De Morangier, &c. |

If the inhabitants of Europe are, in all refpects,
fuperior to other parts of the world, it is owing,
perhaps, to their great ufe of wheat. If many
nations eat lefs of it than others, and yet appear
equal in all refpects, it is that the nature of their
other food and drink requires lefs: thofe who drink
beer make ufe of foaked bread; or, indeed, it

may

[ 346 J

may be deemed a kind of bread diffolved, which
has the double effect of bread, both as to nourifh-
‘ment, and as an antifeptic, preventing the putrid
effects of other food. There are others who eat it
under a variety of forms, and, if they eat lefs
bread, may confume an equal quantity of flour ;
and again, there are others who do not eat enough,
and that is, perhaps, the occafion of thofe difeafes
which carry off fuch numbers. Thofe diftricts
which confift chiefly of dairy farms have lefs need
of bread than others ; and for the fame reafon, the
inhabitants of the mountainous countries fhould
eat more.

But Monf, Linguet fhould take notice, that itis
becaufe milk is of much the fame nature as bread,
that it yields a nourifhment partly vegetable and
partly animalized ; and that it alfo contains a fub-
ftance fimilar to that valuable glutinous quality of
wheat. And M. Macker, whofe decifions are a
law in chymiftry, has difcovered, that the curd of
milk, joined to thofe particles which contain only
the ftarch, would be one of the beft means to render
it capable of making good bread. What ftill
proves farther the fuperiority of wheat above all
other farinaceous grain, it is neceffary to make the
ftrongeft beer; and nothing can be found as a

fubftitute

{. 347 4

jubftitute for it. Is not this union of an anima-
lized and vegetable fubftance, in the fame grain, a
certain indication that it is defigned as the princi-
_ pal focd of a being, who, like man, is deftined to
fubfift on animal and vegetable fubftances ?

f there are men very lean, withered and de-
trepid, in countries where they fubfift on bread,
this is not, Sir, becaufe they eat only bread, fince
it is known that the Roman legions lived upon it,
and were very healthy; butit is becaufe they do
not eat enough of it, or that it is bad; either it
does not afford nourifhment fufficient, or the qua-
lity is bad, and they are alfo worn out with hard
labour,

If there is a fmall diftrict in the Pyrenean
mountains, where every houfe contains a patriarch,
and every garden receives a happy man who fub-
fifts on maize, which does not grow on many
other mountains, it is becaufe they are entirely
ignorant of our manners, and are wife enough not
to have any ambition of knowing them; but this
way of thinking would render them equally happy
with flour-milk as with their Turkifh corn. In
thefe countries, the clearnefs of the air prevents
the inconveniences which are occafioned by this

kind of food in other places.
It

C ge J

- ft is happy for the inhabitants of thofe countries
where corn will not grow, that they are able to
fubfift without bread, and where nothing is pro-
duced to give in exchange for thofe things they
want; and it is alfo a great happinefs, that in
countries which produce nothing, but where the
induftry of the people brings in a great deal of
money, they can, with that money, import from
foreign parts, and fometimes from very diftant
places, a fpecies of provifion which will bear very
long voyages, and may be preferved many years
unhurt ; but moft other grains can be kept only a
little time, and will not bear exportation fo well.

In 1713, wheat fold here at fix livres the French
quarter, which came to at leaft twenty-eight livres
the quintal; and the quantity that each perfon
was allowed to purchafe, was regulated ; and about
eight years ago it was nearly that price, anda like
fcarcity may be again experienced.

There would have been a famine in Switzer-
land, if they had not imported grain, not only
from Piedmont and Milan, but alfo from Sicily
and Barbary.

Maize, which is not reaped till October, is not
eatable immediately, unlefs very nicely dried (and
this

{ 349 ]

this drying requires much more caréthan wheat ;)
it alfo {poils very foon ; and, however well it may
be got in, even if it does not appear to be altered,
it acquires from the month of June, aconfiderable
degree of acidity, which renders it lefs agreeable,
and lefs wholefome ; befides, the property which
it has, of fo quickly fattening animals fed with it,
proves that it is not fo wholefome a food as wheat,
which, without fattening them fo foon, gives
them a firmnefs and flavour; it appears alfo by
this, that it does not give them a firmnefs of fibres;
and may not this be one of the caufes, fo well efta-
blifhed, that many people in America, who live
only on maize, are fo inferior in phyfics and mo-
rality to the European nations ?

Monf. Linguet has not had an opportunity of
tafting preparations of buck-wheat or millet; if
he had tafted them, he would not have advifed any
perfon to fubftitute them in the place of thofe
prepared from wheat: And even if thefe plants
could furnifh fo agreeable and fo wholefome a
food, yet they would be liable to many real ob-
jections, All the millets impoverifh land to fuch
a degree, that if they are often fown in the fame
land, it will produce nothing elfe for a long time:
it is for this reafon, that the culture, very flightly

recommended

E 350 7

recommended fome years ago, is now abfolutely
decried. Buck-wheat, the produce of which’ is
fometimes very confiderable, when it grows, has
not the fame inconvenience; but \it is the moft
tender of all plants, and the moft uncertain; the
flichteft intemperance of the feafon reduces its
produce to nothing; and one may venture to
affirm, that thofe countries in Europe, which de-
pend on buck-wheat for their fubfiftence, run a rifk
of being frequently threatened with a famine.*

Before I faw M. Linguet’s Treatife, I did not
know that there were no poor people in Ireland
and Scotland ;. but I know very well, that if the
police does not hinder it, there is a great number
in all fertile countries, becaufe the indigent, from
the poorer diftri¢ts, will go thither,

Ido not believe, and permit me to tell you fo,
Sir, that one fack+} of wheat takes more from the
land

* But little is fown in this country, where it is feldom ufed but
for fattening poultry ; and they fow only the buck-wheat of Bri-
tanny. As the months of July, Auguft, and September, when it is
on the ground, are often very dry, perhaps it would be better to
fow the large buck-wheat, which grows better in dry feafons.

+ What is called in this country a fack of wheat, ought to weigh
twe hundred pounds: And an ingenious phyfician at Lyons, one of
my

[ 351 J

land than is fufficient to bring up and fubfitt a
poor perfon; but I know that a fack of wheat
would be fufficient for him to live upon at leatt
four months; and I have feen, that where there is
one ear of corn to be gleaned, ten poor people
who are in want of it, will go from afar to gather
it. And if we admit what Monf. Linguet ad-
vances, that there are poor perfons who are fhame-
fully obliged to beg their bread on the very fur-
rows which produce it in plenty; in comparing
this propofition with the little quantity of corn

my friends, has made the following experiments with great precifion :
gorlb. of ground wheat, without feparating the bran, yielded 297]b.
of flour, which produced 448lb. of pafte, and 430lb. of good bread.
_A fack which weighs 200 lb. will yield 286 lb. of bread ; andif 2olb.
be allowed for the bran being taken away, there will remain 266 lb.
of very good bread, of which 2]b. per day will certainly be a very
fufficient quantity for one perfon, who, with thefe 266 Ib. of bread,
may fubfiit 133 days, or at leaft four months : Allowing a tenth part
for the expence of grinding and baking, it appears that, accordiag to
this calculation, 2 man in an uninhabited ifland, who poffeffed but
three-fourths of an arpent of land, of which he could eafily dig up
half an arpent, to fow wheat, and who could, in the remaining part,
cultivate fome forts of pulfe, (of which I fhall treat hereafter) above
all cabbages, would reap abcve 800 lb. of wheat ; he would then have
600 lb. to fubfift him ; and although he fhould have only 200 lb. to
fell, yet this would furnith him with what falt and butter he would
have occafion for; and the ftraw would procure fufficient manure ;
and I much doubt, if this {pot would, employed in any other man-
ner, afford him fo certain or fo wholefome a fubfiftence.

which

[ 352 ]

which is fufficient to fubfift a perfon, it is impof-
fible to fuppofe, that he is in danger of being
ftarved, becaufe his country produces a plenty of
corn.

I hope what I have faid will undeceive Monf.
Linguet, and alter the wrong opinions which fome
mifinformed phyficians have given him concern-
ing the bad qualities of bread, which is certainly
the moft wholefome of all foods; and that in re-
examining all the circumitances of thofe countries
which produce it, he will find that thefe are rich
er poor in proportion to the goodnefs of the foil,
and that a plenty of wholefome food can never be
the caufe of poverty.

If monopoly,* bad regulation, or bad manage-
ment in the corn trade, bad cultivation, or fraudu-
lent practices, have caufed Monf. Linguet to be
difeufted, it is not the fault of the corn itfelf, in

* Monopolies will be carried on in every country, where covetous
wretches are found, who are not afraid to attempt it. I bave read
in the public prints, that a monopoly of hay in one part of the Eccle-
fiaftical Territories, had reduced them to great difficulties in providing
for their horfes. A monopoly of potatoes, maize, or buck-wheat,
might be much eafier made than of hay, and money will always in-
duce the greateft number of peafants to fell that in the morning
which ought to fubfift them at noon.

which

E 352. J

which trade fewer would be employed, and on
which ftill fewer fpeculations would be made; if it
were of lefs value, or not of real importance... A
value for which, could any thing elfe be fubftitu-
ted by the individual that cultivates only for his
own fupport, it never could be by the minifter who
has fleets and armies to provide for, which could
not otherwife be fupplied, and alfo magazines to
furnifh in cafe of a {carcity, or unfruitful years;
but magazines cannot be formed of provifions
_ which take up a great deal of room, and which
mutt be often changed. It would be very dange-
rous to truft to any of thofe grains for a fubfitt-
ence, which are fubject to more accidents than
wheat, and of which even the harveft may totally
fail, and whereof one cannot lay up a ftore to ferve
in cafes of neceffity ; this would be expofing us te
very frequent famines ; and certainly that is a very
convenient provifion, of which the great plenty of
fome years will more than compenfate for thofe of
{carcity. Befides, bread has the great advantage,
when well made and baked, of keeping a long
time, of bearing exportation, of being always
ready without any frefh baking; this is alfoa very
valuable property, and perhaps is a property pe-
culiar to wheaten bread, fince other compofitions
with pafte, unfermented, will not keep near fo long.

Vou. I. Aa I fhould

[ 354 ]

_ I fhould ftill have further remarks to make on

other fubjeéts of this Treatife, but I do not like
to write fo long in contradiction to this author. I
fhall therefore conclude, with pleafure, by fpeak-
ing of a fubje& on which our fentiments are nearly
the fame, and thatis Porators. Iam perfuaded,
and I have mentioned it in a work nearly ready
for publication, that there are few kinds of food
fo wholefome: and there are none of the farina-
ceous kind unfermented, of which one may eat fo
much. I think them far preferable to maize,
buck-wheat, millet, or even rice; and one may
eat almoft'as much of potatoes as of bread, with-
out being furfeited ; they require no preparation ;
as foon as they are dug up, one may boil and eat
_ them ; and it is certain that Europe has more rea-
fon to blefs the difcovery of them, than of all the
fruits of both the Indies ;* therefore the culture

- * We owe the difcovery of the Solanum Tuberofum, which is dif-
ferent from the Convolwvulus caule viride repente, to Admiral Drake,
who difcovered them in his firft voyage in 1578, in the iflands to the
_ weftward of the Streights of Magellan, and brought them home with
him; but for nearsa Century, they were only cultivated in Ireland;
and it is not more than fifty years that they have been cultivated in
this country, and but twenty that they have been very common,
They did not make that rapid progrefs in England which might
have been expected, although in 1671, it was publifhed in the Philo-
fophica! Tranfactions, No. go, that they had been of the greateft uti-
jity m Ireland, in adearth which they had fuffered the preceding year.

of

{ 355 ]

of Potatoes cannot be too much encouraged, nor
can I fay too much to recommend the ufe of
them; yet there are fome obfervations to be made,
by which we fhall find, that the preference muft
always be given in favour of wheat.

Potatoes are much more bulky than wheat;
that is to fay, there is lefs weight and lefs nourifh-
ment contained in the fame fpace; for this reafon
then, as alfo from their being of a moift nature,
they do not bear long carriage fo well, nor are they
fo fit for exportation; and yet they muft be ex-
ported, if there are countries where they are

“neceflary, and do not yet grow. It is ttue, they
will thrive in very poor lands, and indeed, this

might naturally be prefumed from their native

foil; but they will not grow well in rich land.

There is a great difference between thofe potatoes

which grow on our mountains, and thofe which

are produced in the valleys: thofe in wet lands

are bad, and have an acrid difagreeable tafte,

which might render a long ufe of them improper.

A fecond reafon is, that in dry years, their produce
is very fmall. Laft year, for example, they had

not one third of the ordinary crops; and if this

were to happen frequently, there would be no re-

fource, for thofe of the preceding years cannot be

A a2 made

[ 356 ]

made ufe of, becaufe they will not keep more than
a year; except much greater precaution and care
be taken of them, than the farmer can attend to,
they grow and fpoil. The independent gentle-
man, who is fond of them, may preferve fome with
care till he can dig frefh ones, which he has caufed
to be planted very early ; but I believe the poor
cottager muft be without them, at leaft three
months, and this is along time. A third reafon is,
that they are very foon hurt by the froft; and
when they are frozen, they are good for nothing;
and the peafant is feldom in a fituation to be fure
of preferving them in a fevere winter; they were
almoit every where fpoiled in thofe three days of
hard froft in January 1776, which, however, did ‘
not exceed ten degrees: by this it appears, that
potatoes are liable to more inconveniences than
wheat; and it muft be alfo remarked, that they
require more care.* It has then been fufficiently
demonttrated, that wheat has greatly the advan-
tage even of potatoes; which, however, as Monf.
Linguet juiily remarks, fhould be eaten in their

* If thofe who have not cultivated them with to be convinced of
this, they fhou!d read what is faid of them in the Socrate Ruftique,
where their u ility is well difplayed, and where the culture of them
by Adiock is fo exactly and clearly deferibed, which produced him a
very great crop; but however, not fo large an increafe as tliey are
capable of,

natural

B-ss7 J

natural ftate, rather than in bread; but I would
with to-do all poffible juftice to M. Parmentier,
who has taken great pains to recommend them,
and to perfect the art of baking them in bread:
in this refpeét, we may be more obliged to him
than we are at prefent fenfible of, and he merits
our moft grateful acknowledgements; andI think
he alfo deferves much praife for the abilities
which he has exerted, and the perfeverance he has
‘fhewn, in difcovering a method of making very
fine flour, and very good bread, from potatoes.
I think it would be wrong if he had advifed the
peafant not to eat them in a natural ftate, but only
in bread ; but this, furely, is not his intention ;
every thing fhews, that he only meant to render
them more ufeful; and when an author publifhes
a work for the public welfare, it would be hard to
fubjeét it to fevere cenfure, even if the fuccefs of
it did not anfwer his expectation ; which, however,
is not the cafe of M. Parmentier. Employed in
examining all the farinaceous fubftances, of which
he well knew the qualities and ufes, Monf. Par-
mentier has carried his experiments as far as he
could, and has made a difcovery, which is not only
perfectly fafe, but alfo renders potatoes very ufe-
ful, fince it does not encourage either a monopoly,
_ or laying them up in ftore-houfes, which might
Aa3 occafion

£ set J

eceafion a icarcity; but is a mode of making
them more generally ufeful; for, if in a great
plenty of potatoes, the labourer fhould be fatiated _
with them, or if the fervants complain that they
have nothing elfe to eat, in this cafe, the making
them into bread will give that pleafing variety
which every one likes; and, as it is very difficult
to preferve potatoes from one feafon to another,
the flour prepared in the depth of winter, with one
part of good frefh potatoes, would be a very ufe- ‘
ful refource when they cannot be had in their
natural ftate.

If the idea of making bread from potatoes were
as hurtful as Monf. Linguet affirms, it is not the
fault of Monf. Parmentier: it has been tried many
years. Monf. Muftel and Monf. Engel, both good!
citizens, were employed to accomplifh the wifhes
of the peafants in this refpeét; but their experi-
ments did not completely anfwer.

Monf. Parmentier has difcovered that method
which was eagerly fought for in vain; and would
greatly benefit thofe countries where they are
obliged to ufe millet, buck-wheat, and maize, if
he could alfo find a method to take off their vif-
cous quality.

; To

;

iss 4

To render the common food of any country
more falubrious, is adding to the health, ftrength,
and longevity, of each individual, and has a greater
title to the Civic Crown than faving the life of
a fingle individual; and I heartily congratulate
Monf. Francois de Neuchateau, that amiable
friend of Monf. Linguet, in whom the moft ex-
tenfive knowledge and poetic talents are united
with the wifdom of philofophy: I heartily con-
eratulate him, I fay, in having done juftice to
Monf,. Parmentier, and in having celebrated, in
fome very fine verfes,* the motive of his works,
and the obligations and gratitude due to him.
The Authors of the Journal de Medicine have alfo
been duly fenfible of the utility of this difcovery;
but they have taken care, at the fame time, to
declare, that however good this bread may be, it
is inferior to wheaten bread.

Thefe, Sir, are the principal obfervations which
T have made on this Treatife of Monf. Linguet,
and which I thought would be ufeful to thofe
who might, perhaps, be perfuaded by his authority.
Men better acquainted with thefe fubjects than

® Le plaifir de faire le bien
Et le prix de Phomme qui penfe,

Aas mytelf,

[ 360 ]

myfelf, might, perhaps, have difcuffed them with
more Bre HER.

I fhall conclude this letter by remarking, that

although the culture of bread-corn may not be ©

detrimental, and although bread is a wholefome
food, yet, neverthelefs, I am perfuaded, as I have
already faid, that perhaps (almoft univerfally) too
much land is appropriated to the culture of corn;
and this error is very general in this country,
where, however, it is decreafing. I do not mean
that lefs fhould be reaped; on the contrary, I
would wifh to have more plentiful harvefts, be-
caufe fometimes we have a fcarcity; but I believe,
to accomplifh that, (as I have already faid) much
lefs fhould be fown; and I am perfuaded, from
the beft treatifes on ceconomics, from the obfer-
vations communicated to me by perfons fully
experienced in this matter, and from the foundeft
phyfical principles, that in fowing lefs corn, and
putting the remainder of .the lands to fome other
culture, there would be as much grain reaped, and
alfo many other ufeful produétions,

It were much to be wifhed, that we could return
to the principle of the wife Mr. Kliock, and attend

clofer to that plain and fimple-fyftem of Agri-
culture,

[ 361 J

culture, which an experience of thirty years has
fully eftablifhed, and which you have defcribed
with fo much perfpicuity and elegance.

_ Your Treatife has been read with the greateft
pleafure and eagernefs; they have praifed, they have
admired, they have been enraptured by your wif-
dom, much more worthy of that name than thofe
fages which were almoft adored in Greece: But
your work has had the lot of all good books; it has
wrought but few changes. New practices, fay they,
are plaufible, but they are not certain; and there-
fore they retain the old. A man, for example, who
has thirty arpents of arable-land, and a proportion-
able quantity of meadow, fows, one year with ano-
ther, twenty arpents, ten to wheat and ten to maize,
which is the cuftom in this country: For a trial,
I fhould fow but feven; by this method three
arpents in each divifion might be fet apart to
other ufes: Let him fow three arpents of the beft
land with lucerne, three with faintfoin,* which is
perhaps the beft of forage, becaufe it will grow in
bad land; it will laft twelve years, at leaft as long
as lucerne; it affords better nourifhment, and for
which a little manure, once in three years, 1s fuffi-

* Saintfoin is whatis called in this country Efparcette, [Oxebry-
chis.] We cali Saintfoin what is elfewhere called Lucerne, [ Medica.]

cient;

[ 362 J

cient.* Now, it is certain, that thefe ten arpents
would, one year with another, produce fufficient
to fubfift two horfes and four horned cattle;
or, which would be much better, feven or eight
horned beafts, of which the profit would be more
confiderable than thefe fix arpents,t if three weré
fown with wheat and three with maize, indiffe-
rently cultivated; and this would be a certain
profit, becaufe having his lands better manured,
and being enabled to give them one or two more
ploughings, his crops will certainly be more plen-
tiful, and fubjec& to lefs cafualties, becaufe the
ftreneth of the productions would guard it againft
accidents, and render it more certain; he would
have as much grain; he would be enabled to fell
as much or even more, becaufe his cows and the
produce of the other three arpents, which I have
not yet mentioned, would furnifh him with food,
which, according to Monf. Linguet’s with, would
ferve him inftead of bread; he would then be

* J affirm thefe fa&s from my own’ obfervations.

Three horfes cannot confurme annually the firft mowing of fix
arpents fown with lucerne and faintfoin ; and as thefe graffes furniffi
a@fecond crop more plentiful than the firft, lucerne always a third,
and fometimes a fourth, and faintfoin often a third, there would re-
main from thefefecond mowings, and the furplus of the firft, fufficient
to:-fubfitt four horned cattle.

richer

[ 9

richer and live better, and his fubftance would be
{till increafed alfo from the produce of the other
three arpents, of which I would wifh him to make
a kind of kitchen-garden.

This is the method of the wife Kliock, the fuc-
cefs of which was thought at firft to be exagge-
rated; it has, however, not only borne the teft of
thirty years experience, but even increafed con-
fiderably; and what proves it to a demonftration
is, that the people of the country followed his
example.

Of this garden, a part fhould be fown with
maize, which would enable him to fatten his pigs
and poultry; another part with Alface radifhes,
either the {pring fort, or thofe which are larger; a
good portion with potatoes ; the reft with the yel-
low carrots, wholefome pulfe, light and favory
herbs, which are not too tender, but which re-
quire as little care as potatoes and cabbages, which
with very little culture will yield more fine plants
than will be fufficient for his confumption. The
overplus and refufe of his pulfe will furnith very
excellent food for his fheep and cows.

Carrots are very ufeful for horfes, and the re-
fufe of the cabbages may be ufed as an excellent
manure 5

t 66g J

manure; and I doubt not but he would live much
better, and be much richer, without more labour;
and above all, if to his method he would add fome
other corrections and amendments to his Sy{tem
of Agriculture, viz. In the firft place, (which has
been frequently mentioned already) he fhould
never fow wheat and rye together; for thefe two
grains, though of the fame kind, do not thrive
well in the fame foil, nor require the fame care in
the culture, neither do they ripen at the fame
time, and never grow fo well together as fepa-
rate; for when the rye grows well, it almoft hides
the wheat, which, being fo much fhaded, neither
bloffoms nor ripens well; therefore, the grain is
not fo large, nor of fo firm a texture, as when the
wheat is fown by itfelf.

The fecond is, not to let his grafs ftand too
long before it is mown; fir/?, becaufe it has been
fully proved, that hay is lefs nourifhing to ani-
mals, when it comes to feed; and_/econdly, becaufe
as foon as the bloffom drops, the plant is nourifhed
wholly from the roots, which impoverifhes the
Jand; and finally, I wifh him to keep a greater
number of fheep; but, inftead of feeding them in
clofe and hot ftables, where they frequently die,
he fhould feed them in inclofures near the houfe,

or

Es Gey 4

or in fields bounded by partitions, fix or feven
feet high on the north fide, and five feet high on
the other fides, without any covering, or, if any,
only two feet wide on the north fide. The moft
exact and conftant experience, for twenty years,
proves, that this is the only method of making
them thrive well, and of having fine wool and
better flavoured mutton.

Thefe obfervations may be depended on, as
having been made with great precifion by Monf.
D’Auberton, one of the moft general obfervers
of thefe days, a gentleman thoroughly acquainted
with the nature of thofe animals, and: very exact
in his obfervations, and that in a country farther
north, and certainly colder than Laufanne, and
which appears to be about the fame climate of
Zurich and of great part of Switzerland.

This great Phyfician has proved, that fheep are
neither hurt by cold nor by fnow, nor rain, but
that too great heat hurts them more than any
thing elfe;—an obfervation which is confirmed by
the care they take in Spain to drive them from
the plains of Andelufia to the mountains of Old
Caftile, before the fummer heat comes on. On
the contrary, in this country, they feem only to

fear

in ftables and clofe places; and by this manage-
ment, very frequently lofe numbers of them.

Thus, Sir, have I written a very long letter;
and I fhall be much flattered, and alfo be much
more certain that I am in the right, if you think
as I do. }

{ 366 ]
fear their being hurt from cold; fo they keep them
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BiKDING SECT. NOVI 1964

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