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SPtClAL COLLtCTIOfiS
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THIS BOOK MUST NOT BE TAKEN FROM THE LIBRARY BUILDING.
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ANEW SYSTEM
HUSBANDRY,
From many Years Experience,
WITH TABLES SHEWING THE
Expence and Profit of each Crop;
That a Farm of a I50^cres will clear 402!, 4s, fterj, a Yeac How to ftock Farms to the bei Advantage, How the
C^CPS are to follow each other by Way of Rotation,
Of Trench-Ploughing, fliewiog how to raif; good Crops
WITHOUT MANURE
0.1 Rearing, Breeding, and a new difcovered
CHEAP FOOD FOR CATTLE,
Of Cabbage and Turnip Hufbandry Of the Naked Wheat, with many othei- lsw difcovered
Grains and Graffes fuitable for the Land and Climate of America.
Alfo (hewing the great profit of Rabbit Warrens, and how to Uock tl\8ro,
A Farmer's and Kitchen Garden Calendar Of all Sorts of Manures. Marls^ Claysj Sands, &c, ANEW INDENTED THRASHING FLOOlt
Alfo many chofen RECEIPTS in PhyJJc and Surgtry^
For the Human Species,
and others
For the Cure 'of all forts of Cattle.
To which are annexed a few Hints humbly offered for the perufal of the Legiflatorj of America, fliewing
How to put^ftop to runaway Servants " '"By C^ V^A R L O, Efq,
VOLUME lU
PHIL A D EL PHIA: Printed for the Author. 1785, [Prus 3 dsllars in Icardi or 3 and a haf bo.nd.
CONTENTS.
V^ HAP. I The management of white Max. Page ■^
2 The pulling, watering and ma- nagement of flax feed, kc, 12
3 Diredions for the management of black or bunch rate flax, bzc. i ^
4 DirecfHons how to manage dew rate flax, he, 10
5 Directions for breaking &c fwing- ling flax without fire. 2 2
6 Obfervations on flax-feed &:c. 26
7 Diredions for making French fieves, and their ufe. ^ r
8 On winter flax. ^y
9 On flax among potatoes. 41
10 The management of white flax, in pulling, watering, grafling, &cc. 4;
1 1 An Addrefs to the different Le- ^iflatures of America, &cc. " 48
1 2 A few hints humbly offered for the perufal of the Legiflatures of America, on a general act of Congrefs to prevent run-away fervants, rr
1,3 A few hints humbly offered for the perufal of the Legiflature of America, relating to a dog ad, &:c. 5^^
14 Upon limiting the fizc of farms. - 5 j
J>50'\ Chap.
HV\ 27471'
CONTENTS
^Pagc
Chap. 15 On the great advantage tliat might
accrue from rabbit warrens, ix:c. 77
16 How to fct potatoes in drills with the plough. Xz
1 7 Remarks on fetting potatoes with the plough. S6
18 Remarks and lUuflrations on the foregoing table on potatoes, 5cc. 90
1 9 On ferting potatoes as in Ireland on ridges by trenching. 92
20 On different ibrts potatoes 97 21. The management and ufe of"
vetches. ici
22 Explanation and nature of dif- ferent fbrts of puKc, &CC, 106
23 On the ditierent management of clover, 6cc. iio
24. On cattle hoved by clover, and its cure. 119
25 Remarks on clover. 126
26 On lucerne, its perfection and management : alfa the method of drilling with the common plough, inc. 12S
27 The moft fuitablc lands r.nd cli- mate for lucerne, 6cc. 13^
2S How to manage faintfoin, which fuits America. ' 139
29 On rye grafs, its perfediion and maniigement. 14^
Chap
CONTENTS
Chap. 30 The perfe^lion and management
of Burnet. Page 150
31 On manuring land. 154
3 2 On manures in general 157
;^^ On the compound manure. 166
34 On liquid manure. 169
3 5 On clay and fand : (hewing how,
when mixed together, they operate to
make ^ood foil, bcc. 173
j6 On clay, fand and marl 18 1
3 7 On the weakell and woril of all fands. Sec. 1S5
38 On different forts of grafs and puUe, Sec. 193
^g The management, &cc. of the white and blue boiling pea. 199
40 The management and perfedion of the grey field pea 202
41 Directions for the plowing, fow- ing and management of buck-wheat, thro' all its variations. 205
4 2 Directions how to raife rape and cole-feed. Sec. 208
43 Dire(^lions for making a new m- vented thrafhing floor. 221
44 The management of tobacco 224
45 The management of ind ian corn. 228
46 General direcftions for ploughing fowing, harrowing and mowing, or har- I'cfting barley. 23 1
Chap.
CONTENTS
Chap. 47 On mowing and harvefling Tpiing corn. P^ge 234
48 Five forts of barley 239
49 Different forts of Jand for bar- ley. 244
50 The management of rye, both for winter-feeding and a feed corp 246
51 Remarks and illiiflrations on rye 249
52 Diredions for ploughing, fow- ing and harvefling oats 253
^3 Explanation of fix different forts
of oats. 256
54 The white vetch. 262
^^5 The Siberian or naked wheat 263
56 A dialouge between a Farmer and the Author 269
57 A few remarks made in the Weft of England. 274
^8 On thin fowing, bcc. 2^1
The gardeners calender, for work to be done round the year in the kitchen- garden 284
59 Preface to the appendix 310
60 Nature of the foil, and price of the land, with many other interefting ilibjeas, neccflary for a farmer to know through Ireland. 3 13
Chap,
CONTENTS
Chap, 6 1 Trenching land near Glafgow with fpades P^g^ 3 42
62 The price of labour and viduals in the feveral counties of Ireland, in or- der to give an idea of the different flate of the two kingdoms 345
6;^ Some approved receipts in phy- fic and furgery, by the moft able men of the faculty in England. 352
NEW SYSTEM
O F
HUSBANDRY.
CHAP. I.
'The management of White Flax,
AMONG the flax growers the word white flax fignifies when the flax is pulled before the feed is quite ripe, by which the oil is flopped of circulation, and remains in the fkin inilead of reaching to the feed to ripen it.
The intent of watering or rating, flax, is to rot the ftalks, in order to make it part free- ly from the Ikin, when drelTed : as alfo to foften, purge, andclcanfe, or difcharge any unkind harlh matter from it ; but the oil be- i^g fo ftagnated, preferves the flax from rot- ' Vol.11. B ting
ILCSUiUiMUgt
5 A NEW SYSTEM
ting in any reafonablc time, not letting the water have the power over it, as it has over a poor fubftance: were it poffible to extract all the oily fubflance frDm the flax, it would be left as poor as the ftalk whereon it grows, confequently would rot in the fame time, and be rendered as ufelefs.
This confirms my opinion, that the lefs quantity of water the flax is rated in, the better, filkicr, and ftronger it is made by the oily fubllance whicl! is permitted to remain therein ; for the beft particles gather and cling to the ftrongefl body, (being the flax) which makes it weigh heavy, adds to the llrength, and makes it of a kind, foft, filky nature.
I am confident, were a parcel of flax kcd thrown into one of thefe pits, for fome con- fiderable time before the flax was put in, fo that it might have time to incorporate with the water, it would have a happy €fFe(^, and confiderably add to the goodncfi of the flax. I do not fay that it would be worth v»'hile to do this, further than byway of experiment and proof.
I have thrown chaff", that has had fome light feed amongft ic into a pit, and found it to be of fervice.
An old pit that has had flax watered in it feveral years, is far better than a new
made
OF HUSBANDRY. 7
m^ide pit; and one that has had white flax with the feed on, watered in it, is better than one that has been uled for bunch rate, of flax that has had the feed taken off, only that it turns it a dark blue colour, which by the bye is better than a bad white. All this I have feen experienced by others, as well as myfelf.
Now feeing it is fo abfolutely necefTary for the good of the flax to prelerve this oily kind nature in it, in order to keep it from rotting and make it kind, foft and filky, what a piece of abfurdity it is to drive it out by drying it over the fire, as is univerfally pradiifed in Ireland ; and indeed by fome unfkiiful farm- ers in England too, where they are flrangers to the true method.
In fhort, it is rendered harfh and brittle, fo that it lofes confiderably in its real weight and goodnefs, and thereby lofes in its value.
In order to be convinced of this, weigh as many flieaves as will (when broken and fwingled) make two flone; one half of which dry over the fire, the other half drefs with- out, and it will be found that when both are drefl'ed, the difference in weight will be from a pound and a half to two pounds ; a great lofs in fo fmall a quantity of flax.
The experienced flax-farmers are fo fenfi* ble of the real evils tiiat attend drying it,
that
S A NEW SYSTEM
tSat they will not fuffer theirs even to be dried in the fun. It is true, when it is taken up off the grafs, it is dry, though in- deed fome chufe to take it up in an evening, when the dew is falling.
No one that is not neceffitated will offer to drefs any flax, till it gets a fweat in the mow or (lack, which adds to its foft filky na^"ure, as well as wei^^ht; and after this f^^'cat, it IS never fuffcrcd to be (as above) dried in any cale.
Bnt then we are to confider that the Eng- lilli flax farmers are true judges in rating their flax ; which if not done properly, it is hard to be drelTed well, even with fire, and much more without.
There are alfo other kinds of tools to break and fwingle it with than any in Ire- land. The quantities that are raifed in fome parts of England and Holland, could never be manufactured in fuch a paltry man- ner. Were lire of no real damage to it, it would add fo much trouble and expence of drying, Sec. to a farmer's other bufinefs, that it could never be duly attended to.
One acre managed in the Irilh manner, would give as much trouble as an hundred would in the right method : for when it is once in the barn, it is fcarce of fo much trouble as corn, having no more to do tlian
te
OF HUSBANDRY. 9
%e agree with men to work it ; and this is moftlya let price, except it milTes of a good rate (which may fometimes, though rarely happen,) or if the flax be very Ihort ; in this cafe there is a conlideration of a higher price.
The common rate for drefling white flax is fourteen pence a ftone, for breaking and iwingling; and fixteen pence for feed or bunch rate.
High or low wages vary according to the clevernefs of the workman, from the differ- ence of a fliilling to three in a day; for there are leveral degrees of workmen ; a good workman is as well known through the flax countries of England and Holland, asajuf- tice of the peace, or fheriff'in an Irifli coun-
It is neceflary that a farmer look over his fwinglers fometimes, to fee that they make Ro wafte; as alfo that they drefs it clean, for on this his fuccefs and fale in the market depends.
Some workmen will make the fame flax fell higher than others by fix pence or eight pence a ftone, and all the flax buyers know the good workmen by the lapping or making up of the flax.
A good workman is feldom made if he does not learn when young. It is far eafier
to
JO A NEW SYSTEM
to make a good hackler than a good fwing- ler, though the former is a trade of appren- ticeship, and the latter is not.
The fwinglcr generally has a pair of fcale$ by him, and weighs tlie flax as he drefles it, then takes it into his mailer who fcldom weighs it, till he gets two or three packs together, to take to the market.
A great deal depends on giving flax a |;ood even colour for fetching a good price in the market. Let the colour be what it will it ought to be of one fort ; not to be flriped or fpotted with black and white, or green and white, grey and blue, or green and yellow, he.
The misfortune of thefe mixed colours is got before it goes into the water, particu- larly if it be leed flax of any kind ; for the prevention of which, I ordered feed flax, in imitation of white, to be flacked with the feed end outwards ; this prevents the outfides of the fheaves from being weather- beaten, which will turn them black or grey, fo that it will always be of a quite different colour, from the infide of the fheaf, but the feed being outwards, can take no da- mage, but will ripen or dry much the fafler for it.
If the bunch-rate flax get a mixed colour it is for want of fpreading even and clear
of
OF HUSBANDRY, it
of lumps after the pullers. The fame evil the due-rate is fubjed to, if not properly fpread ; but it may happen to white flax two or three ways.
Firft when it is pulled, if it ftand too long to dry before it is put into the pit.
Secondly, if it be not well and clofc x:o- vered in the pit with fods, and duly trod.
Thirdly, if it be not Ipread even and clear of lumps in the time of grafling.
All thefe cautions a farmer ought to be armed with, if he means to bring this valu- able branch to its full perfe(ftion.
CHA.P,
le A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. n.
l^he Pullingy Watering and Management of Seed Flax, in Imitation of the White.
TH E feed flax mufl ftand about three weeks longer than the white. It will (hew itfelf to be ripe by the leaves fading and falling off, and the boles turning brown; but beware of letting it ftand till the feed in the bole turns brown ; for if you do, the feed will be nothing better, and the flax a great deal worfe. It is a great miftake to let the feed flax be over ripe.
Obferve the fame directions in pulling the feed flax as for white, only make the flieaves a little larger; fet them up in a propping manner, three leaning to each other. In three or four days after if the weather per- mits, make them into fmall field flacks, no larger than you can reach without getting upon them.
Make them like corn flacks, only with this difference, that the feed ends mufl: be outwards, in order to dry the fooner, and keep the fl.alks from being weather beaten.
•Thus
OF HUSBANDRY. 13
Thus let them fland about a week, and then make them over again, by which means the top of the ftack will become the bottom. Lay a httle weeds, or the under growth of flax on the top of the ftack, in oirder to make it caft the rain, and keep the upper fheaves from the fun and weather.
A few fheaves turned brown or grey, would fpoil a great parcel in the beauty of its colour, for let the colour be of what fort it will it ought to be even, or elfe it will not bleach even when in cloth, which is impoffi- ble to accompli fh without great care before it goes into the water.
Let the ftack ftand, after it is turned, a- bout ten days; after which take it into the barn, and ripple the feed off with rippling combs.
Being thus rippled, t}^c it up in fmall Iheaves, and v/ater it in the fame manner as dire(ffed for white flax ; alfo obferve the fame directions to know when it is rightly rated and grafted ; in fhort, rate it in every cafe as direc^led for white flax.
As to the feed, it m.ay lie in the chaft" or boles all v^inter, till it is wanted in fpring; at which time riddle it firft through a wide riddle, in order to take out all the long ftraws, pulfe, &cc.
Vol. 11. C This
14 A NEW SYSTEM
This fione, take it to the niill r.nd fhcll it as you woulJ oats. This is a ready way of taking tlic feed out wirhout wafle; and on the llicliing it may be winnowed at the mill wit}i(;ut the trouble of taking the dirt back.
1 ihall fparc m) feif the trouble of giving any directions about winnowing, as moll people arc pcrfed in that art; as it is win- nowed in the fame manner as corn, faving only as to the fieves, which muil be fuited to the fize of the feed.
And now, gentle reader, pler.fe to ac- company me once more to tl.c held of pul- hng, and I will Ihew you another, and a more general way ofraifmg feed-flax, which is in imitation of black or bio Dutch: but in truth I have fecn and reared belter and higher priced by the following management than ever I faw come from Holland.
Obferve that the feed flax of all forts muft Hand till it comes to the fame degree of.ipe- nefs before it is pulled.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY,
CHAP. III.
DireSiioJis for the Management of Black or Bunch-Rate Flax, in Lnhaiion of Bh or Black Dutch, and to five the Seed in perfe5fion.
HEN you begin to pull the buncli- rate flax, arrange your pullers all in a row, at one tide of the iielcl; lee every puller take about two yards broad, and lead on at about the fame dillance before one an- other.
Spread the flax after them thin and even, with the tops ail one way, as white flax is fpread on the grafs when it cornes out of the pit. Take care that the firH puller lavs his row flraight, that it may be a ^uidc to all the relt ; as one crooked row will diior- derthe whole field, and give double trouble both in turning and gathering it up.
Vvhea
i6 A NEW SYSTEM
When pulled and thus fpread, let it lie till it gets a grey colour, which will be in three or four days, particularly if there be heavy dews or rainy weather; but if not it will take a longer ti.ne.
Turn it with turning rods, as directed for white flax, that both fides may get a grey colour alike. By this means the feed will be pretty ralh, therefore handle it gently, that the boles do not lliake off in gathering and binding; in which there will be the lels danger, if you make \zvgc iheaves as there will be lefs outfides.
Hereupon take it home and beat out the feed with beaters for that purpofe, made of a piece of wood twelve inches long, two thick and fix broad, and in this fix a handful floping-wife.
When you begin to beat out the feed, fpread two rows of flax on the barn floor with the feed-ends to meet. Then beat out the feed with your beaters ; but obfei^ve that you let the beater fall level or true on the flax, or elfe it will break the handle : — there is fome art required in giving a good l\roke with the beater.
Tie the iheaves up with two bands, one at each end, and lay one half of the fheaf v/ith the tops to the roots of the other half. Make the Iheaves as large as a middle fized wheat fheaf. Being
OF HUSBANDRY. 17
Being thus prepared, take it to the water; but this muft not be funk with fods, or any other weight, but muft fwim upon the lur- face of the water, lying in rows, each {heaf clofe to another. It is beft to put it in pits that have been watered in, as it will have a finer blue colour.
It muft be turned every fecond day; which is ealily done with a long fork, hav- ing about two inches of the points of the grains bent, in the likenefs and nature of a muck-drag.
For its being well watered, obferve the directions as for white flax ; with this addi- tion only, that it will fink under the furface of the water when it is about enough rated, but not to the bottom of the pit. If it fhould be left till it fmks to the bottom, there is great danger of its being over done, or in plain terms rotten.
Thefe are known fac^s amongft the flax- farmers ; but for what reafon nature thus varies her operations, few trouble their heads to philolophize about the matter.
Were a curious perion, however, to at- tend the flax throughout the proceis of its rating, he might infer a great deal from its rifing and falling in the pit , its lofing and re- gaining its fpirits, kc.
* Being
rS A NEW SYSTEM
Being thus duly watered, take it out and let it lie on the pit iide all night to drip ; then take it to the ground intended to d-.-y it on ; but it mull not be fprcad Hat but kt up almoft like a fugar-loaf, the Iheaves be- ing in two parts, that is the heads each way; it will eaiily part in the middle, one-halt* of which is enough tor a ricklc ; take it by the top and fpread it round you, giving the root. end a good fplay, lo that the wind will not calily throw it down ; prefs tlie tops clofe together, fo that as I have obfervcd it may rcfemble a fugar-loaf, ftanding fo thin and open, that it will foon dry ; but howe- ver, it will be the better to get a little rain before it is bound up in order to walh the dirt and (limy fubflance off.
The boles of this flax will be well broke by the beater as above diredcd, fo that there will be no more to do than to winnow them and there is no doubt of the feed being very good.
I have known fuch bunch-rate flax to fell in the rough in Snaith-market, Yorklhirc, at fixty-lour Ihillings the hundred v/eight, and the feed from it, as good as any foreign if ed whatever.
CHAP.
OF HUSBAND P. Y. i^
C H A ?. IV.
DireBions how to Manage Dew Rate Flax, with or without the Seed on.
O M E fet up their dew-rate flax in ftooks after pulling to dry like corn, letting it Hand perhaps three weeks or a month.
This is a bad way ; for {landing in the flook fo long in order to dry the feed, ten- der the cutfide^ of the flieaves to luch a de- gree, that they will not take fo much rating as the infide, and wil' therefore be undoubt- edly rotten before the iniide is enough rated.
The bed way is to fpread il after the pull- -crs, as direded for bunch-rate flax in the following manner, viz.
Arrange your pullers at one fide of the field, and let them fpread the flax thin and even after them with the tops all one way; if there be rain, the upper part will be well
rated
to A NEW SYSTEM
rated in five or fix days ; but in this cafe cir- cumftances alter greatly, according to the various forts of weather that may happen j therefore a farmer muil be circumfpe(^l:, and rub a few ftalks at the uper part of the row between his tinger and thumb, and if they break and part freely from the fl<.in or bait, he may then turn it with turning rods and let it lie till he finds both fides to be rated and coloured alike.
But if the flax be not fpread upon the grafs very even and thin, but lie thick and in lumps, the inlide will be green or yellow, jnd not in any degree equally rated to the outfide, therefore it will be irrecoverably fpoiled.
If the flax be not enough rated bv the a- bove method, or that you dare not truil it on the grafs, fo to be, (for fear of fliedding the feed) then about the tiril of March, when the feed is off, fpread it on the grafs again thin and even, and manage it the fame way in graffing as white Bax ; alfo obferv* tMe fame tokens for its being well gralTed.
I have had flax well dew rated, with thr feed on, by tpreading it after the pullers as above, without any more trouble ; fo that it breaked and fwingled, and in fhort anfwer- cd well every way ; but I never knew it done by any one but myfelf ; and indeed, I never
ordered
OF HUSBANDRY. 21
ordered any thus but one year^ in which, I had twenty-fevcn acres rated in tJie above manner; however, it is to be noted^ that it was coarfe bunned fiax, which made it the eafieil: managed thus. For it is neceila- ry it Ihould be ib : and it requires a good look out, lellit Ihedthe Teedby lying too long on the grafs, or getting too much llavery under the weather.
When it is enough rated, take it home for working. It mull he breaked and fwing- led as other fiax.
The feed of this dew-rate fiax is undoubt- edly very good, and there is alfo lefs trou- ble attends the flax ; but it is not fo good in quality, neither do I think it yields fo well. Indeed it is fcarce ever done, but in a coun- try that has net' the conveniency of water.
CHAP.
Vol. 11. D
22 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. V.
r>ire6lion! for Breaking and Swingling Flax without Fire.
AS I have reminded my reader to take great care that his tops of flax be kept all one way, and the roots even, it is to be hoped that my former caution may prove fufficient; if not it will occafion the more labour to the breaker ; for it muft be very even at the roots, before it be put in the breaker's hands, or he can never make good work.
Wherefore, when he begins to break, let him take a Iheaf, and flacken the band, but not loofe it quire ; then chop the root end on the ground ; this done, pull all the loofe rubbilh it has gathered from it; then take a little more than he can hold in one hand and again jump it even at the root ; take hold as near the top as poflible, fo as to hold it fall ;
then
OF HUSBANDRY. 23
then take a little of the top from under the hand, bring it round the flax, and lap it round his thumb, by which he may hold it fafter than if he had no more than his fing- ers could meet about ; bend it two or three times backwards and forwards, fo as to make it fupple clofe to the hand ; put it into the brakes, keep it thin fpread in them, and as he works it turn it often.
When the root is breakcd, let him ftrokc it fmooth, and pull the end ; then break the top-end, and the root end again.
Being thus breaked, let him begin to fvvingle, holding it in the nick of the fwin- gle ftock, with the left hand, and the fwin- gle-hand in the right, let him always hit the top of the ftock above the nick, and it will glance down paft the nick with full force through the flax.
When the root-end is fwingled once over, hackle the top-end with the foot-hackle, to take out the rough row and fhoves which are hard to fetch out effedually with the fvvingle-hand alone.
When the flax is good and rightly water- ed, it is eafily worked ; three times going over with the fvvingle-hand will be fuflici- ent to clean it from fhoves.
If it be rightly fwingled by a good work- man, it will be quite clear of tow to all ap- pearance,
24 A NEW SYSTEM
pcnrancc, before it goes into the hackle ; fo that it will be cafy to count every harl in it; and the root will be as even as a pound of candles, and look asgloffy after the fwinglc- hand, as ir does after the hackle.
When we fee a parcel of flax drefl'ed to this perfcdion in Ireland, that will fetch, in the rough, froni fixty-eight to feventy Ihil- lings per hundred, we may venture to pro- nounce that the moft eiTential part of this noble branch, which ought to be the firft introduced, has at lail found its way into that kingdom.
But though I have given rules as above for a fwinglcr, I am certain it is impofiible to make a workman without occular demonf- tration.
It is true, if a learner had an old work- man to look at two or three days, thefe di- rections would be of great ufc to facilitate his inftrucl:ions.
Wlialevcr you do, beware not to dry flax with the fire, or even the fun, after it gets a fweat in the mow ; for if you do, it will certainly reduce both the value and weight, m.aking it light, furzy and brittle.
I have n. C Stale CoIkf«
OF HUSBANDRY. 45
I have often been told by the Irifh, that they thought it impoffible to drefs flax with- out fire ; and on the other hand, when I have told the Engliih that the Irifh dried their flax with fire, they wondered as much, thinking them very ignorant for fo doing.
CHAP,
t6 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. VL
Obfervations on flax-fee d, of its being worn out or tired, and how to refrefi it, &c»
FLAX-fecd is a very deceitful grain, for though it may look well to the eye, yet it may not be worth a penny a cart- load for fowing. Indeed if it be of a good quality, it is not worfe for looking well, by being clean and bright, &cc.
The flax-larmcrs are as much on their honor in fupporting the characfier of their feed, as that of their ho fcs ; nay more fo ; for it IS impoflible for a perfon to fell a par- cel of feed at any price, if he is not known to be in a good breed, (as they call it) and he mu I be well known to be a man of good charader, and his feed well vouched.
It
OF HUSBANDRY. £7
It is incredible to tell the difference there is in flax-feed ; which I have feen proved more than once. An inllance or two 1 beg leave to mention, viz.
A farmer of my acquai^itance lived about twenty miles from the flax-country, and though no farther off, yet he was quite a flranger to the branch, but as he was a pufli- ing fcheming man, he made a journey over to the moft famous part in England lor flax. He ftaid a few days among the fanners ; and as he was a fenfible man, without doubt retu. n^d as well intruded as the nature of fuch a journey would admit.
Upon which he ploughed up twenty acres of good old lay land, and fowed it with flax- feed, which he bought at an oil-mill, and which, he faid looked very well, being large, bright and clean ; it grew very vigor- oully till it was about fourteen inches long, whereupon it made a full flop, began to blolfom, and never got to be half a yard in length. He was greatly furpriled at fuch a dilappointmcnt ; and as the land was good could not unriddle the myftery.
However, he was not difcouraged beyond hope, as he remembered that the flax- farmers, when he was in the flax-country, fold their feed for four pounds per quarter ; fo that if he made no ufe of the fiax^ the
, feed
28 A NEW SYSTEM
feed he apprehended would pay him better than any tiling he could have (owed his land with.
Upon this prefumption, he took a fample and went to fell it at the time of year ; but not a grain could he difpofc of at any price though the farmers were felling one to ano- ther at four pounds a quarter.
He wrote me a pitiful letter, complain- ing of the flax-farmers, behevmgthcy com- bined againll: him, not to buy his feed, in order to deter him from lowing any more.
Hereupon I advifed him to employ a per- fon to fell it for him by commiflion, and recommended a noted tla^:-buyer for that purpofe.
He took my advice, by which means he fold his feed at four pounds per quarter. — However it was a bad job for all fides ; the buyers loft their crop, and the fellers their credit.
The flax was fo fhort that it could not be wrought ; and as to him who fold tlic feed by commiflion, he has told me fince, that his credit was hurt fo much by felling the faid parcel of bad feed, thr.t he never could fell H half peck flnce in the commiffion- way.
This
OF HUSBANDRY. 29
This fhews how cautious a farmer ought to be in the choice of his feed. Among many inftances of this fort, I (hall onlymen- tion one more that happened to myfelf.
About five years ago, I happened to be one bufhel (hort in finifhing about fixty acres I fo wed that year, with good feed of my own rearing. The field I finifhed in contained twelve acres, and was very good land j wherefore I thought it a pity to let any of the land lie idle.
Hereupon I bought fomefeed at a venture, which looked well and grew vigorous as the reft of the field, till it was near half a yard long, and then it made a full flop, bloffom- ed, feeded, and grew no more, though all the reft of the field was from a yard to a yard and a quarter long.
A more demonftrable proof I never faw, for it was put into a fack wherein the good feed had been ; and as fome grains of the good feed ftuck to the fack and mixed, it was eafy to gather every ftalk, of fiax that grew, from the good feed, being above twice the length of the bad fpccies.
Moreover, the branches of the good feed were long, and one afpiring above another, having a leader above all the reft.
But it is not fo with the bad fort, of which the branches are all of a height, fo that the
Vol. 11, E top
30 A NEW SYSTEM
top wiil be as even as a clipped hedge. WJien (lax comes to have fuch a top, and aharcs. fo much in heiglit, it is a fure lign than the Teed is tired, bad and worn out.
t'crhaps my reader would be glad to know what I mean by feed being tired, as alfo how to help tired, feed &cc. which is as loUows, viz,.
Firii, let us confider that it is from the hot climates that this feed comes namely, from North America and Riga. It is true tliat the heat in the latter only contmues a- bout three irionths ; but that is the feafon in which the Hax grows, during which time it is exceeding warm.
The heat in America holds much longer ; and it is well knov/n that a plant or veget- able, which produces a fluid fubftance, will ripen in fruit and feed, to a greater perfection there, than it will in our cold cli- mates ; the ikin being thin, kind nature, as it were, crams her receptacles full of rich juices hiitcd to each plant.
This in flax-feed is dcmonfh-ably proved by the oil mills, as they find a conhderable larger produce of oil from foreign new feed, than from feed that has been repeatedly fown for many years in England, though the latter Ihall look brighter, larger, and plumper than the former.
The
OF HUSBANDRY, 31
The feed therefore certainly degenerates by not producing fo much oil in our cold climates, but inftead of oil a thick ikin, and within it a grofs pulpy fubftance ; and the longer it is fown here, the more ' it runs to this harfn unkind matter.
Now, this oil is the very life and fpirit of the flax ; therefore as this abates in quan- tity, the flax abates in its length and real value.
Without doubt were a parcel of ked that is quite run tired in England, taken to thofe hot countries and fown, it would in time re- gain its'former good quality.
But let not my brother farmers be detcr- ed from faving feed in the colder climates, under fear of its degenerating, for be af- fured it may be fown four or five years be- fore it need be changed ; but I only men- tion thefe particulars, in order to lead the flax-grower thoroughly into this branch.
TKe farmers in hngland have a way of refting their feed (as they call it) which is done by barreling it up, letting it (land a year or two without fowing; the longer it llands the better. This was difcovered by chance,
A fan r happened to fpare fome feed after '. r ; he let it ftand two years : —
and, s came to fovv it at the end cf
' thai
32 A NEW SYSTEM
that term among fomc feed of the fame fori: but which had been kept fowing each year, it topped it in length eight inches. This ac- cidental experiment has brought on a gene- ral pratflice, as it is found to refrelh the fec4 in a furprifmg manner.
There is no accounting for this amend- ment, otherwife than by fuppofing that the pulp and fkin meliorates by the evapora- tion of the watery particles, -and by the cruder parts being mellowed and melted down (as it were) into the body of the oil.
Thus any fort of feed of an oily nature fuch as rape, muftard, or cole-feed, will produce the more oil, the colder it is ^ and it is oil (as I faid before) which is the very elTence of flax.
A farther caution is neceffary, that your feed be clear from button-feed, which is a very pernicious weed, and a great enemy to flax ; for where this gets footing, the flax- feed muft be condemned for oil, be it ever of fo good a quality, fo fatal is this weed to it.
The feed of this weed is white and very fmall, not fo large as the fmallefl: grain of muftard-feed ; but there are as many join- ed together in a bunch as make a head about the lize and likenefs of a waiftcoat button, from whence it takes the name of button- feed.
It
OF HUSBANDRY. 33
It grows on a fmall ftalk, which twifts round the flax, as ivy about a tree ; fo that there is no getting quit of it either by weed- ing or fwingling, as it will not part the flax ^long with fhove; and the increafe is fo very great, that if there be only a fewftalks in an acre of flax this year, the next it may deftroy the whole crop.
There is another bad feed which is by fome called wild-willow, and by others corn- bind ; this is not much unlike hemp-feed, only not quite fo large ; it alfo twifts round the flax as ivy round a tree, which makes it impoffible to be weeded out ; however as the feed is large, it will ftay in a fieve that will let flax-feed through, by which means it may be kept clear with care, and though it is not fo multiplying a feed as but - ton-feed, yet it is a great enemy to flax and ought to be guarded againfl.
There are leveral forts of flax-feed which might be explained, were it worth while to go to the nicety of matters : but as I have no intention to fwell this work with matters of fpeculation, or w ith any thing that is not of immediate confequence to the farmer, I {hall only mention the two principal feeds from w hence we derive our growth,, namely, that of America and that of Riga.
The
34 A NEW SYSTEM
The former is ^ bright bay feed, and produces a fine fmall flax; but the Riga is moflly a dark bay, broad, flat leed ; it pro- duces a grofs tall flax, which I am apt to tliink is moll fuitable for this degenerating climate, for it is cafily cured and made finer by fowing it fomewhat thicker on the ground.
I got the beft breed of feed I ever had from Memel and Riga. This Riga feed will lail good longer than American feed in Eng- land or Ireland ; but it is not fo beautiful to the eye, neither is it of fo high a price in Dublin as the American feed.
There is a fort of feed which comes from France, and when fown here produces a fine flax, but fo puny, fhort and linall, that it is fcarce worth reaping. I once fowed fome, by way of trial, but loft my crop. I have alfo f een others fuffer by it, therefore would have my reader to guard againll it.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 3^
CHAP. til.
DireBi'ons for making French Sieves, ^nd their life.
TT^RENCH fieves fo called, as they came X"^ from French Flanders. The rim is about three feet diameter, and three inches deep ; the bottom is made of parchment ; two are made ufe of, and called a fet ; one of them goes under the name of riddle, and the other of fieve.
The riddle is punched with a hole, thu& D ; it lets through the flax-feed being flat, and any round or fquare feeds ftay in the riddle.
The fleve is punched with round holes thus O . which lets through the fmall round feed,-fuch as rape, muftard, ketlock, or button-feed, but the flax-feed ftays in the fieve. Thefe holes mull be punched to aa €xa(ft fize, or they are ufelefs.
There
26 A NEW SYSTEM
There is a particular art in drefling with thefe lieves, which I Ihall fpare myfell' the trouble of explaining, as it is impoirible to be executed without feeing it put in prac- tice ; and even then it is not eafily learned.
There is not above fix pair of thefe fieves In England ; and about as many men who are capable of dreffing with them. It is a calling of itfelf ; and at the time of fowing, they are very bufily employed. A farmer pays about two fhillings per quarter to have his feed dreiTed in th^m. None requires to be dreffed in this manner, fave fuch as have run to weeds ; and in this cafe, though it is difficult to get the ri^ht knack of dreffing or turning the fieves, yet the fiirring of them any way will clear a great deal of dirt and feeds out.
The expencc of a fet of thefe fieves, at a moderate computation, is three pounds, and one fet and two men will clean all the flax-feed for ten or fifteen miles round in a flax-country.
CHAP.
OF HUSBx\NDRY. ^7
CHAP. VIIL
On Wmter-FIax,
WE may tmly call that winter- flaX which is fown in autumn, to ftand the winter, it being about five months long- er in the ground than the common.
In my travels throu^^h Ireland, 1 have met with feveral pei Ions that told me they had made trial of this method; and lome fpeak in favor of it, but there are many more who condemn it.
I was often aiked the reafon why I took no notice of it in my iirft edition ? My an- fwerwas, that 1 thought it of no uii'ity to the public, as I had tried it long ago, aad found it did not anfwer ; thcreiore 1 omitted tak- ing any notice of it lor that reafon. The particulars of the trials 1 made areas follows.
Vol. lU F VIZ.
38 A NEW SYSTEM
viz. Obicrvlng where the flax-feed had bceri a cidcntally I'cattered in aucumn, and diat ic g! evv, or kept green all die winter, 1 con- cluded that this method might be improved upon ; t/iereJbre I was determined to be con- vinced by a lair trial ; and for that realbn in OcTober 1759, fowed one acie in the middle ot a twelve acre licld, tilled well, and managed it in evciy other degree as it ought to be.
About the middle o*^ March following, I fowed the remainder of the laid field wiih the fame fort of feed. The wiiUer-flax got to be about ti/e inches long before the ie- veritv of the winter came on; after which it grew no more, but from the firO fro It changed its healthy dark green to that of a iickly pale green, and at fpring never regain- ed its former healthy complexion.
After the fpring-fiax came up to be about five inches long, 1 fet flicks as marks to buih forts.
The fpring-flax grew above one inch in twenty-four hours i but the winter-flax grew half an inch only.
The winter-flax was ready to pull three weeks before the fpring-flax ; and at pulling was fcarcely thirty inches long : the fpring- flax \vas about a yard and feven inches, ia that it was longer than the lormei by thii-->
ttea
OF HUSBANDRY. 59
teen inches or thereabouts. The winter- flax branched or fpread greatly into top, fo confqnently produced iuoyq leed ; which indeed by the by is no recommendation.
The year tbliovving i made another i"n;all trial, which was attended wuth much the fame confcquences ; therefore I was tho- roughly convinced that winter-flax is not an advantageous crop.
The failure in winter-flax, may be ac- counted tor in the foUowing few words, viz.
it is to be confidcred that flax in its na- ture, is trulling to one leader, the top of which is exceeding tender, infomucli that if any thing wound it ever fo little, it will grovv no more, but llnke or fpread out into lide-branches, which is of no other ufe than to bear the feed, being of a poor tov/y quality, therefore comes otf in dreffmg as fuch.
if a fly, or what is commonly called a flax fly, happen to bite or wound tiie lead- er, or top of a flalk of flax, when at five , or fix inches long, it Ifagnates ii:s growth, and inakes itfliort, coarfe and ftunty, much reiiembling a young fir tree that has loff its leader. 1 found the frofl: had pinched the tender leader of my winter flax, which made it liable to the faid iliconfequences.
Another
40 A NEW SYSTEM
Another thing is, that flax-land murt: bt harrowed very tine at the time of fov^ing ; thereibre much wet weather in winter makes it cement, or bake together, which iielps to bind the flax in the ground, and recaid irs growth. Any land is certainly better and fitter for a crop, that after a fevere win- ter, is opened, broke up, or pulverized ia fpring. as it fweetens and proves of great Utility thereto.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDHY. ^i
0/7 rJax J/r;:'-j Totatoss^
IF flax-feed be fovn ^^■^lOfr^ -potatoes fet with the plough, as u»reidW. in this treai- tife, there is no doitht hvs. ic wiU anfvver very welU as the potcitoes are fet thm and, in drills, having about eighteen inches be>- t een each drill, and about ten inches ibe^- tween each potatoc ; by this the tops of:th? potatoes and the flax do not incommode or croud each other, having roqai enough lof each to flourish.
The potatoes fet thus, will fpr^d under' g'-ound, and produce a lar beter crop thaii when planted thick, as the tops by this warm lituation, draw one another up weak and tender ; and nature being fo protule ia throvving her bounty upwards to fupport fo
nijch
42 A NEW ,SYSTEM
m ich ufelefs top robs herfclf of the falts Ihc ought to relervc co enlarge the pota- toes.
In rhe year 176;, I received the higheft premium in Ireland, for laving the moll and befb flax-feed among p tatoes. I faved for- ty-eight pecks of good feed ; only the land was lubjed to weeds, and had little pains bellowed to clean it, or I might have had as much more ; the potatoes were very good alio. I let them \vith the plough, a& direded in this treatife.
As foon as the potatoes were planted, I fowed the feed the broadeft way, at the rate of eight quarts to the acre ; and in or- der to tiy experiments I raUed and rolled fome ; but the moll part of it I did nothing to after fowing, but left it uncovered, which proved the bell crop ; and though it may ieem odd to my reader, yet it may be eali- ly accounted lor.
It is to be obferved, that flax-feed being of an oily nature has a great attraction, in- iomuLh, that if a field be fown and not cov- ered by harrowing or othe'-wife, the fccond da* alter fowing, it v.iU be impolVible to find a lingle gram, particidarly if there fall in the mean tmie either dew or rain, or if it be lown in green mold. Each grain ga- thers tlie fine particles of earth about it,
being
OF HUSBANDRY. 43
being candied (as it were) with mold, and much refembles a comfit; lb that after the fecond day (as 1 oblerved) one lofes it infen- libly, and fees no more of it till it rifes at the top of the plant, which it will in abi'Ut five days after it is fown. The lirfl time I found this out 1 was greatly alarmed, as fol- lows, viz.
In 17^3, I had a hrge field ready to fow on a Saturday, and having a call from home I lent a man to fow the field, and ordered it to be harrowed once in a place v/hen fown. At my coming home 1 was told the field was fown, but about an acre of it left uncover- ed.
On Monday I fent to finifh the field, hut the fervant returned in a great hurry, tell- ing me that the birds has picked up all the feed ; upon this I as well as the reli of the faiTJily, and fome of my neighbours, went to fee if it was necelTary to fow over again.
We fought a confidcrable time and could not find a fingle grain ; therefore had con- cluded to (ow it over again ; bur by chance I found a grain by rubbing the mold between my lingers ; this learned me how to feek for it, after which I found feveral grains candied wirh a coat of mold, and very fli- my.
In
'44 A NEW SYSTEM
In (^I*c1cr to fee the refult of ihis, I left it ts it was with )ut harrowing, and 1 iiever had a iner crop; 1 believe every j^rain grey, and £•1 Halted (;«s it were) iairl/ together, an! ti >t oie i^vMn biTiied deeprr than another ; V hich is not the caie when hirro.ved, for V'.ien it hvi-ieis that in cafe lo iie may be luiied deeper th:in others and if diy >vithiri n^akes tvo ^, owti^si, wiiicii in a acuiuneat
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. ^^
CHAP. X.
It&e Ma?2agement of White Fkx, in Pull- ingy Watering^ G?'rrjjtng, &c.
^HE name of white flax nrifes from the flax being pulled while green, not being fuffered to iland till the leed is ripe or even till the boles turn brown or a dark colour, by which means the fubftancc of the oil infliead of arifing to feed the feed is fcagnated and remains in the llvin of the flax, therefore it not only makes the flax tough, oily and filky, but makes it a white clear colour and drefs well.
Your flax pullers being aranged properly in order each perfon is to bind his own fheaf, make it no larger than you can hold in both hands, and as the bands (if made of good flax) will be damaged, th?y- are gene- rally tied with the fmaij under growth of flax.
Vol. U. G In
46 A NEW SYSTEM
In the evening of the day it is pulled, or the next day at faitheft, put the flax in water for being expofed in the fun it dries the oily nature out, and will make it of two colours.
The depth of water proper to water in, is three or four feet, begin to lay a layer a crofs the pond and fo continue laying the feed end uppermoft fo that no part of the flax except the feed can be feen, till you have filled the pond, but if one layer be not fuffi- cient to fill the pond fo that you may (land a minute on the flax without finking over the fhoes, you muft lay another layer, in fa£l flax always rates bell when it is put in pretty fliff.
The pond being thus filled, you mull cover it clofe with thin fods laying the grafs fide downwards, or next to the flax, but if you do not cover all the flax, any left ex- pofed to the fun will be of a dificrcnt co- lour.
The flax whilft in the pit, mufl be trod every night and mornijig till you bring water over the fods, the more it is trod the better and evencr it rates, when it is near being enough watered the flax will fink till the fods are under water.
When you think it enough watered, take a little out and dry it, when dry if the llaik
pr
OF HUSBANDRY. 47
or fhove break and part freely from the flifn when rubbed between the finger and thumb, it is enough watered, take it out and let it drip a day on the bank of the pit, then take it to fome even grafs field and fpread it llraight, thin, and clear of lumps, if it be fcarce enough rated in the water it will take a longer time on the grafs, when it has been about a week fpread on the grafs it mufl be turned with llraight flicks or turning rods.
When you think it enough rated tie it up in Iheaves, and let it get a fweat in the mow ' or flack before you break or fwingle it .
Take care never to rate or water flax in water that comes from a lime flone quarry, or in hard water, or in a running water, that is where a current of water runs through the pond, for while the flax is foft the ilream of water would wafh the fkin off, and lime wr.^er burns and fpoils the flax, neither is hard water fo good as foft water to rate in.
CHAP,
4S A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XL
To the diiTercnt Lcgiflatures of America, and Ibch other Gentlemen as have power, abilities and capacit)' to enforce, advife and contribute towards making Ac^s, forming Schools, &cc. as are here fet forth for the Improvement of Youth, and the Promotion of Agriculture and Trade.
T is no longer a controvertible point whe- ther the Icience of agriculture merits the diHinguifhed attention of philofophical minds, and is the proper itudy of the mod enlarged underftanding, hnce the proof is beyond contradidion, that a judicious rural ceconomy is one of the chief fupporters of the profperity of a flate.
VVe every day fee inflanccs in common life where the happieft difpofition, moll in- formed genius, luperior talents, profound knov/ledge, even probity and virtue becomes
ufelefs.
OF HUSBANDRY. 49
ufelefs, and are loft in the wreck of their pofleiTors fortune, if he omits to regulate his domeftic affairs by the rules of a wife and prudent csconoray.
The fame obfervation may be extended to the wifeft fyftems of legiflature, and in- deed the beft political inftitutions will lofc their efiicacy and are incapable of defend- ing a ftate from abfoliite ruin, unlefs a ge- neral fcheme of ceconomy fenfibly executed provides for the fubfifcance of the people ; either by finding within itfelf thofe produc- tions requifite to the fupport of individuals, or exciting a fpirit of induflry to exchange with foreign nations the produce of manu- fartories for the neceffaries of life.
There is fomething fo feducing to the imagination in this lad method, that there is danger of fuffering ourfeives to be de- ceived in giving it a preference to the for- mer.
Through the medium of commerce ma- nufadlures invite into the country (where they flourilh) not only the neceffaries of life, but every luperfluity of wealth and luxury.
However pariimonious the hand of na- ture may have been to fuch a country, it foon becomes m.ore affluent than the moft fertile foils, and increafes in power and po- pulation almoft miraculoufly. Yet if agri- culture
50 A NEW SYSTEM
culture remains negledcd, all thefc advan- tages' will be fluctuating and uncertain, whilft on the contrary where that is conlidcred as the firll object: of national attention, it corv- du(^^s diredly and invariably to the end de- Tired, without expoling us to the caprice of fortune.
A flate that amply produces the fufte- nance of its inhabitants from its own bowels, has at leaft the advantage of independency ; whilft the richeft nation when obliged to have recourfe to the affillance of foreigners for the neccffaries of life, fubmits to all the viciflitudes of unforefeen events, and in ma- ny inftances muft be fubfcrvient to the cor- dial or unfriendly difpofition of its neigh- bours.
The late king of PrulTia, an excellent fi- nancier in many refpe(^s, and who had very enlarged frhemes for augmenting public re- venues, reafoned very jul\ly on the eftabliili- ed principles of his political fyftem that a- griculture is the foundation of the opulence and profperity of a ftate. He encouraged in the flrongeft manner, and made feveral regulations in its favor, whofe wifdom wa? unperceived till many years after ; the con- ftant attention he paid to the obfervance of thefe regulations, compleated their {alu- fiarv effcds.
"^ UBRARY. This
Dldsicm of Hortieulhire,
V. 0. D»i>'t of Amcnltnre.
OF HUSBANDRY, 51
This monarch had undcrftanding to know (and all financiers ought to be proud of re- ceiving inftrucftions from a mafter) that the moft lluborn and infertile foils are melorated by manuring and ploughing, and that rich land is made ftill richer. He therefore in- filled that farmers of his demefnes and pro- prietors of cftates in lands fhould manure them fufjiciently, and plough deeply and frequently.
When the king was expecfted to pafs thro' the provinces, the gentlemen, the farmers, nay even the peafants thought they could not pay their court better than in placing a dung-hill before their doors.
A powdered courtier might Ineeringly deny this ceconomical attention a place a- mong the royal virtues, but the fagacious monarch was fenfible that thefe dung-hills fpread over the fields woiild produce a crop of ducats.
He had the fatisfadlon to fee after reign- ing fome years the fands of the marlh of Brandenburgh, the heaths and morafl'es of PrufTia covered with a plentiful harvefl of the fineft corn in the v/orld.
The king his fon fupplied all that was wanting to bring this noble plan to perfcdi- .on ; and we have feen in a fhort fpace of
time
52 A NEW SYSTEM
time the fandy defart that extended to the very gates of Berhn, converted into good and profitable land.
How are we to account for the variation of rent in cftates where the foil is naturally the fa*mc, fituate in the fame parifh, and ad- jacent to each other, a variation fo remark- able that a farm of a hundred acres is fome- timcs let for more than one of a thoufand, and the produce very nearly anfwers that proportion, or how clfc fhould it happen that the fame ground rifes and falls in value fo confiderably at diflferent perfods. I have feen fome eflates fold for a third lefs than had been given for them twenty years be- fore, and others whofe purchafe has advanc- ed in my time to three times this ellimation fifty years back.
The different degrees of llvillfulnefs, in- duftry, or negled in the occupiers of thefe eftatcs was undoubtedly the caufe of the va- riation, and I am apt to believe it depends on our Own diligence and induilry whether wc will double the fertility of our lands and by that means relieve ourfelvcs from the itate of dependency. However a great ma- ny of the improvements whether in agri- culture or commerce depend chiefly on the laws cnaded by the Lcgiflaturc, or fchemes fct on foot by the leading men in a neigh- bourhood
OF HUSBANDRY, 53
'bourhood who has abilities and judgment to plan and encourage them, fuch as fpinning Ichools, weaving fchools^ or other mecha- nichal arts, premiums, ^c.
How ealy would it be for a fet of gentle- men who live a few miles only from each other, to take a houfe, provide a maRer and miftrefs to teach their black chil- dren to read and fpin, which they are very capable of from three years old and up- v/ardsi and whom at prefent are brought up in idlenefs.
Alfo if a fcciety of gentlemen were to form 3n academy and give premiums for the beft invention in mechanics, for implements of huibandry, he. the beft growth or moft: corn, flax and hemp, from, an acre, kc. Sec. it would be laying a foundation for improve- ments.
Societies of thefe forts are very common all over England, for which they raife mo- ney by voluntary fubfcriptions, and though many farmers may have an eye to the pre- mium or a medal offered, yet ambition is the chief fpur to make them ftrive for pre- eminence.
The dog-aft which is herein pointed out, would be a fuineient lund for any ftate in America to enable them to give copious pre- miums, if gentlemen did not chufe to raife Vol. II. H money
54 A NEW SYSTEM
money by fubfcription ; and as the money raifed by this zd: would return back among land-holders, no doubt but the adt would give general Iati«fadion,
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 5-;
CHAP. XII.
A few hints humbly offered for the pcrufal of the Legiflatures of America, on a ge- neral act of Congrefs to prevent run-away fervants.
BY advertifements and* rewards ofltered daily in the news-papers, he. we find that run-away fervants, for which money has been advanced, is a growing evil and if poffible ought to have a Hop put to, as the matter is not only deprived of his property but fuch vagrants when at liberty, moll:iy turn out to commit depredations on the public.
Suppofe
j;6 A NEW SYSTEM
jSiippofe an acl: from the Congrefs was to run nearly in words or fubftance as fol- lows :
Whereas it appears to the congrefs af- ■fembled, bcc. That a pubhc evil has long prevailed, and iiill fcems to gain ground, that fervants for whom money has been ad- vanced, and* they bound to ferve a certain number of years to repay it by their labour run away from their mafters (which is the lame thing as robbing them of fo much caih) bcfides putting them to great trouble and expence in advertifemcnts, rev.'ards, he.
In order to put a Hop to this evil as well as to prevent as much as poflible fuch loole vagrants from llroling about the country to commit depredations on the public.
Therefore be it enacted from the authori- ty aforefaid. That Irom and after the firft day of 1 7 any
perfon who takes a fcrvant for whom he advances money, and which fervant is to ferve a limited time, in order to repay it, that it fliall and may be lawful for the faid purchafer of any fcrvant to fct a mark on the back of the arm, under the lleeve of the fliirt, imprinted letters fignifying the piafter's name and county in which he lives,
tho
OF HUSBANDRY. 57
the year of our Lord in which he was in- dented, and a figure to fignify the years to icrve.
And be it ena^ed by the authority afore- faid, that the faid mark or letters Ihall be made with the point of a needle, by piick- ing or railing the Ikin (which may be done without pain, or even without drawing blood, if the performer be dexterous) after the letters are made, bruife gun-powder fine and rub it over them until it works un- der the Ikin, which will turn the letters all black and legible, and which time or art will never efface.
The mark or writing will fland thus :
'John Ddvis, St. Maiy's co. 1784. 5
Be it further cnaded, that if a fervant thus marked, run away to any other Hate, and offer himfelf to be hired or aik. for work, &cc. it Ihall and may be lawful for any one prefent to examine his mark, to know whether he be a bound man or free ; if it appears from the figure of years to ferve, when compared with the prefent year, that his time is not expired, it ihall and may be lawful for the conftable of the parilh to hire two men as a proper guard to conduft him back to his mailer, who muft
pajr
5S A NEW SYSTEM
pay the men wages, other expences and all reafonable charges.
And be it enacfted by the authority afore- faid, that if any one who indents or hires a fervant, and if the faid mailer neglects or omits to have the faid fervant marked ac- cording to law as afore faid, and if the faid fervant run-away, the mailer of fuch fer- vant, fhall not demand him back but lofe the benefit of faid fervant, and alfo forfeit the fum of fifty pounds, to be recovered by law, one half to the informer, and the other to the poor of the pariih where the mailer lives.
It may feem a fort of cruelty to make marks in the fkin as above, but it is no fuch thing, for it is often done by failors them- felves before they go abroad, that Ihould they be drowned they may be known by their name on their hand or arm. I have feen a mark that has been very legible after fifty years Handing.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 5^
CHAP. XIII.
A few Hints humbly offered for tlie perufal of the Legiflature of America, relating to a Dog Ad:, bcc.
THOUGH I am no great politician, yet I wifh fo well to the conftitution of America, that, fo far as I am capacitated, I would moft willingly lend a hand to point out any laws that might be of utility to its inhabitants.
And I flatter myfelf, that fuch of my rea- ders as arc impartial, will think with me, that a dog ad would be of great utility to the public ; cfpecially after they have been told the immenfe funis it would fave to the induftrious part of mankind, and alfo the great revenue it would raif« to the public
funds
^o A NEW SYSTEM
funds out of tlic pockets of none but fuch as could well fpare it; as any one who found himfelf opprclfcd could eafe himfelf by part- ing with the caufe thereof.
Secondly, it would lop off a great many ufelefs animals ; and fuch as are of benefit would be preferved for their merit and the owner's interelt. Neither ought a poor man to keep a dog if he be not we'd able; it is inhuman to keep any dumb animal to llarve, which many mull:, did they not cat the poor children's bread and butter, or turn out to worry (heep.
It is always allowed, that what vvill keep 2 dog will keep a pig ; and 1 think I need not fay which would be found the moft pro- fitable to the poor man's family at Chrill- mas, a dog for his children to play with, or bacon to fill their bellies.
I may be alkcd, why, cannot a poor man fee theie follies himfell? I anfwer no; be- caufe fore-call docs not always get the bet- ter of folly in this, no more than in every other degree in life ; there is a natural ten- dernefs and indulgence, in every parent to- wards their children, as well as in ladies for their lap-dogs; pardon the comparifon.
Thirdly, it will appear, that there will be yearly, at leaft a half million of money iavcd, that will center among the pooretl
lort
OF HUSBANDRY. 61
fort of individuals; and alfo 125,000!. fter- ling, which will go to the public funds, out of the pockets of the abler fort.
In order to reduce this to fome fort of certainty, it may not be amifs to make a comjmtation, how many dogs may be in America, and (upon fuch an act paffmg) how many ufeful ones may he kept to pay tax, and how many of the reverfe, deftroy- edfor a faving. This cannot be done bet- ter, than by firll making a computation, how many people are fuppoled to be in America, which is at the leall 5,000,000.
There is nothing that can give a better idea of the mcreaie of people, than the mul- tiplying of new houfes ; neither is there any one object that attra<Sts the eye of a traveller, or dwells upon his memory more, owmg perhaps both to the largenels of the object, and to the tafle of building in the prefent times.
Few men have travelled more than I have done, and I have made my remarks very minutely, upon the looking over of which, and comparing my journal with all the ob- fervations and computations I can make, I am clearly of opinion that there is dally a great increafe of people in America.
This may occur to any one who lives in any part of the Continent, if he only takes
Vol. II. I notice
62 A N E W S ^' S T E M
notice of the many new houfes th?*: arc dai- ly buik^ii^g in every town and ^ity, together with all the rarni-houres and gentlemen's feats that arc llarting up in the middle of every new inclofurc or clearance that arc rapidly going on in all parts of America.
Neither are there any houfes that Hand long empt)', bcin^ immediately tenanted.
Were not this the cale, architects, or ' proprietors would foon Hop building ; but it is the great demand that makes them pufh forward the work with fpirit.
Some will compute live, and fome four people in a family ; but to a\ oid fracflions we will allow live people to a family.
This makes one million of families; and I think we may juHly compute one dog to each family; as there ai e more families that have two or three dogs in them, than what are without ; not to fpeak of gentle- men that keep hounds, who have perhaps more dogs than people.
Tlicreiore I lay, we may almoH with a certainty, fet down at leall one million of dogs in America.
The next queilion is what each dog will take in a year to maintain him ; which I think v/e may juftly fet down twenty lliil- ling ; for if a gentleman in England (and TK^I'j.ils in An:ciica are dearcrj fends a
whelp
OF HUSBANDRY. 63
«fvhclp into the country to be reared, he ne- ver pays lefs than half a guinea or fifteen Ihillings, till he is a half year or three quar- ters old, and fometimes a guinea , except lie fends him to a tenant who is under an obligation to him, in this cafehepays perhaps nothing, but then the confumption ot vic- tuals is no kfs, for the dog eats the fame as if paid for.
As to gentlemen's hounds, grey-hounds, pointers, and my lady's lap-dogs, they coft a great deal more.
We will fuppofe Pug only to defliov one pound of meat in the day, reckoning bread and butter, tea, roaft-bccf or what is (lir- ring, and call that only three-pence, tho' ready dreiled and without a bone, (becaufe it would be very imprudent to give poor Pug bone to break his teeth.) Now three-pence per day, ^vill be found to amount to four pounds eleven fhillings and tlu'ee pence fter- ling a year.
This to be fure, is nothing in a lady's pocket ; no more is dirting or wearing her aprons, 8cc. any great matter, bccauie fhc can mend them herfelf ; which fliews good houfewifery.
But tho' fuch things be not felt by peo- ple in afBuence of fortune, yet be aflured ^t hurts the public in general.
The
M
«4 A NEW SYSTEM
The greater the confumption is, the higher is the price in the articles thereof ; and a half-penny, or a farthing in a pound, in cither meat or bread, is very fenfibly tclt by the lower fort of people.
If one million of dogs confiime annually twenty Ihillings rterling each, the fum a- mounts to one million of money fterling. Suppofe an ad of alTembly to pafs, that each dog Ihould pay five Ihillings fterling yearly, the fum would amount to 250,0001. fterling a year.
But upon fuch an a<^'s taking place, wc will fuppofe all the ufelefs dogs deftroyed, and tax paid only for fhepherds dogs, far- mers houfe dogs, and gentlemen's dogs, which might perhaps reduce the number to one half, that is one to every two families, then the lum raifed, would be yearly one hundred and twenty-five thoufand pounds, to go into the public funds, which would all come from the pockets of fuch as would be well able to pay it ; and as I obferved before, if any one found himfelf oppreft'ed by the tax, he could quickly eafc himfelf by difpatching the dog.
The laid half million of ufelefs animals that would be put away, reckoning each to <;iefli-oy twenty Ihillings worth of victuals
cver^
OF HUSBANDRY,
67
«very year, this would be a faving to the na- tion of half a million of money, and this too from thofe of the pooreft fort.
Though thefe calculations are only guefs- work, yet the probability is fo great on their fide, that it almoft amounts to a certainty.
Perhaps fome of my readers may imagine, that I have fome intereft in writing upon this fubject ; but 1 will aiTure them 1 have not, fo tar from it, that were fuch an acft to take place, I fhould in all probability, pay for two or three dogs, being very fond of thofe animals, fo far as they are ufeful ; but I have no notion of keeping a parcel of yelping curs for no other ufe than to eat the poor's bread, bite horfes heels, worry fheep, run mad, &c.
And fince we cannot defend ourfelves, and reft fecurely at home, without a re- fpedable Handing army, and fince that ar- my cannot be raifed nor paid without mo- ney, and money cannot be raifed without taxes, let them be levied upon fuch fuper- fiuous articles, as reafon clearly {hews is mofl for the public good.
Was this ad to pafs, and each dog to pay five fhillings a year, there is no doubt but this would raile a lund of at leaft 125,000]. fieri, a year, which tho' very confiderable, is nothing ia con.parifon of the great faving,
which
^6 A NEW SYSTEM
which could not be lefs than half a millioB of pounds fterling per annum. Any faving plan inforced by an acH: of alTcmbly, is in- difputably as beneficial to the public, and refleds as much honor upon the member that promotes it, as one that brings in mo-r ney to the public funds ; and fuch a dog-at^ would be found to do both.
CHAP,
OF HUSBANDRY. 67
CHAP. XIV,
Upon limiting the Size of Farms,
IF an adl of Affembly vais to pais, m or- der to put a flop to the monopolizing of land, it would doubtlefs have a great tenden- cy towards making improvements flourilh, and plenty abound throughout America.
It would then be in the power of every ©ne, to make the mod of his ground ; no corner of it could elcape his eye, and lie barren. He would improve every part, and fill it with one profitable crop or other.
It is the nature of man in all ftations of life to be afpiring, and very often to grafp at what he is not well able to manage.
But in no cafe is the misfortune more fen- fibly felt, both by the party concerned, and by the public in general, than when a far- mer holds too much land.
But
68 A NEW SYSTEM
But fuppofe the farmer can ftruggle thro'' and pay the rent ; or on the other hand let the land lay uncleared ; yet the public is ftill a lofer ; as the earth does not produce half the increafc fhe would do, were (he managed to the height of perfection.
Areftraining ad would lay the foundation for plenty ; and only fuch that can make the people happy and honed.
May we not compare a kingdom to a fa- mily ? Is it not the firft care of a mafter to provide bread for his family ? If he ncgleds this, can he exped that his fervants will be honeft and induftrious ?
Is not the legiQators the fathers of the" people ? Are they not impowered to enad fuch laws as may appear to them to be moll for the public good ? Is there any that ought to draw their attention, before fuch as would fatisfy the firft law of nature ? — Hunger will break through ftone-walls.
Wherein is the good of all laws which ever have been enaded in England to pre- vent foreftaUing ? Do they fatisfy the pco • pie's craving appetite with bread ; or make it one jot cheaper ? Do they add one peck of corn to the mill, or tend towards making one blade of corn more grow.
It
OF HUSBANDRY. ^9
It is inconfiftent with reafon they fhould. In fhort, werethefe laws put in force, they would have the contrary efteft ; becaufe they would cramp trade, which, like water, is the beft leveller.
What would London and all great fea- ports do, were it not for the corn-fadors, wholefaJe butchers, drovers or dealers in cattle, SccP It is fuch as thefe that keep an equality in prices throughout the kingdom. They buy where fuch commodities are low, and fell where they are high. Is it to be fuppofed that a farmer of grazier, who has perhaps no more than twenty quarters of corn, or three or four fat cattle to fell, and who lives a hundred miles from London, could go there to fell them ? And fuppofe he did, mufl he not lay a greater price up- on them, to anfwer fuch extraordinary ex- pences ? And would not this moft fenfibly effed the lower clafs of people P
A merchant who deals largely in any fuch commodities, certainly can afford to fell lower in price, than he who muft be at the fame expence in attending the markets with a trifle.
The merchant's warchoufe may juftly be called a magazine for the poor, where they can apply for fuch neceflaries as they fland
irk
Vol. II. K
70 A NEW SYSTEM
in need of. Neither have the poor caih or means to provide long before fuch things are wanted.
It is the merchant's intcreil to lay in his commodities in the time of plenty, and to Sellout in time of fcarcity. Is not this a natural policy, that will keep things moll upon an equality? Was not this the cafe with Jofeph ? He filled his ftores in the time of plenty, and fold when they grew fcarce, for he did not give any more than our merchants do.
Moil of the commodities neceffary for life are pcrifhablc, therefore under a ncceflity of being difpofcd of before they fpoil. Should any one be fo fiily or indifcreet, as to keep them too long, he is punifhed by his own folly ; but this very leldom hap- pens.
The merchant with a capital and ware- houfc proper for the occafion, is a ready mai ket for the farmer to fly to, for the fale of his crops. Had he not fuch a rcfource, he would be deterred from fowing, which would be the firll ilep towards a famine.
Thefe are all confcquences which mull naturally happen, were the acls to prevent forellalling put in force. For every perfon that buys before the goods arc brought to market, is in reality a foreflalier.
I remember
OF HUSBANDRY. 71
I reniember reading many hints in the news-papers, relating to fat cattle being re- turned from the markets in London to the ■country unfold ; and at the fame time wilh- ing for fuch laws as would enforce them to be fold, and not returned.
Certainly fuch authors judge as fuperfici- ally of thofe matters, as the old-faihioned farmer, who for a year or two paft, has ftuffed the papers with his filiy arguments, wherein he takes upon himfelf to prove to the public, that it was the inciohng of com- mons, together with turnip -hulbandry, which was the caufe of the dearncfs of pro - vifions in England.
In one of his letters about Martinmas., he thanked Providence for a mif-crop of turnips. For fays he, as this crop has fail- ed, farmers are obliged to bring their flieep and cattle to market ; which has lowered butchers m.eat gi-eatly. But. perhaps he is one of the ti-ibe of fleepers, which only want food one half of the year ; the other they live in aftate ofinfenfibility without it. His fhort- fighted und*-rftanding could not find out what would be the confequence ; that the more they killed in autumn, the fewerremamcd for flaughier in the fprmg.; that we cannot both eat our cake^ and have it.
Tliat
72 A NEW SYSTEM
That when wintcr-tbod falls Ihort, (of which turnips are the be'A) the cattle mull walk to the market with their bones half loaded with fleili ; confequcntly ths poor mull go with half a belly full.
The old fafhioned farmer's reafcning up- on the Inclofing of commons, is much the fame, for he does not lee the many thoufand- acres in the kingdom, which in then- wild Hate will not keep a rabbit on an acre , wherea?, if inclofed and improved, they might be made to keep four or five fhccp per acre. And certainly the more live Hock there is bred in the kingdom, the greater chance vvc have for plenty; bccaufe in the end, they mull come to the butcher, ex- cept turnips and other winter food fail. Then indeed the cattle may die for want, and the poor may kw up their mouths. There has been many acls palled in England to prevent furell ailing, hut fcarce any put in force.
I mention thefe hints that America may by Inch experience keep from enacting any fuch rcJlraining i.iws, hut leave trade open and the indullry of iv/dn will keep it level.
It is pail a contradidion, that the more walle barren lands there is inclofed and im- proved, the more Hock and corn it will raife; all which tends to plenty ; becaufe cxcvy article that keeps nati:re alive, Iprings from
the
OF HUSBANDRY. 73
the earth ; confequcntly it ought to be our iirrt care to make her produce abundance.
But to return to the farmers, faleimen and butchers ; (thefe are reprefented as un- merciful men by authors in the news-papers who want fome laws to make them kill the cattle when brought to market, whether it can be confumed or not.) 1 humbly con- ceive fuch laws would be very pernicious, and put a flop to the balance of trade,- which inltead of going on fmooth and even, would be continually upon a flux and re- flux. It Vs^ould be like a weigh-pole, which children ride upon, always up and down, rifing and falling ; becaufe fome weeks there would be twice as much cattle in the mar- ket as is necefl'ary for the inhabitants to confume ; therefore the meat v/ould be fold very low, or thrown away, and per- haps both.
The next market-day, there might not be lialf the quantity of cattle as was wanted, confequently the meat would be double the price. In this cafe the rich could buy, but the poor might flarve.
Experience fhews the butchers, not only in London, but all over the world, how much meat each market will take off.
Each one knows what he killed lafl: week, which was perhaps as much, or more than
he
74 A NEW SYSTEM
he could fell ; therefore he will kill no more left it Ihould lie on his hands.
Before fuch laws Ihould take place, it would be neceflary that the farmers Ihould be endowed with the fpirit of prophecy or fore-knowledge ; that he in the north might know on what day he in the fouth, at feve- ral hundred miles diflance, would fend his cattle to the market, left they fhould clalh. with each other, and over-flock it.
In fhort, I am of opinion, that it is as ne- celTary to fend cattle out of the market, when over-ftocked, as to bring them to it when fcarce ; confequently the drawing farms near London, or any other great mar- ket towns are very ufeful, and may be con- fideied as a fort of make-weight, ready to throw into the rifing fcale, to keep a ba- lance.
There is another fet of people, who ex- claim againft farmers for with-holding their cattle from the market ; as if that contri- buted to the dearnefs of provifions.
But thefe notions, like the reft, are ill grounded. Every one that judges of things rightly, muft know, that it is not the huC- bandman's intereft to keep back from mar- ket his cattle, after they are once fat ; for when they come to the height of perfci^^ion all the food they eat is thrown away ; and
the
OF HUSBANDRY. 7;
the intereft of the money is finking. It is the intereft of every one in trade to make as quick a return as pofTible ; therefore it is plain that it is the graziers intereft to fend their cattle to market as foon as they are fat.
And on the other hand, the 'public can lofe nothing by the cattle being kept away from the market till they are fat ; becaufe every pound they gain in weight is adding to the public fund of plenty ; the more pounds a bullock gains in weight, whilft he ftays from the market, confequently the more bellies he will fill when he arrives and is fold.
Upon the whole it is bad policy to cramp trade in any branch, much more in that which concerns the craving of nature.
The moft prudent ftep would be to lay a foundation for plenty, and there is no doubt but that nature will produce enough to fa- tisfy her dependents. As to things being dear, it is a natural caufe, which arifes from money being more plentiful, and from an increafe of inhabitants; and not from any real want, or decreafe of the ufual market provifions.
It is not improbable but that in procefs of time, wheat may rife to five fhiilings a peck, by gradual fteps, for the fame reaibn as it
has
76 A NEW SYSTEM
has rofe from one penny to fixtccn pence 3 peck flerling ; and every other commodity in proportion.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 77
CHAP. XV.
On the great Advantage that might acme from Rabbit War r ens in America,
IN my travels and obfervations through a great many parts of America I find ma- ny fpots of land, particularly adapted, and proper for rabbits, and am much fur- prifed fo profitable a flock fhould cfcape the iarmers attention fo long, but it m.uft cer- tainly be for want of knowing their value or how to flock or manage a warren.
The perfection and utility of a rabbit war-" ren are many, lirll they produce a whole- fome delicious food all the year round, for the ufe of mankind.
Secondly, their down or fur are valuable for the hat manufadory, and of late years fells high.
Thirdly, Vol. n. L
78 A NEW SYSTEM
Thirdly, the capital for Hocking a war- ren is a tri.ile.
Fourthly, poor land that is fcare fit for any thing elfe will do for them.
Fifthly, they are eafy managed and as cafy fed.
The rabbit generally breeds every month in tl^e ycar» and will bring forth from four to ten at a kenneling or litter, confequently their increafe is prodigious. The doe no fooner kennels (as it is called) butfhe runs immediately to the buck, who ftjikes her (a term lor copulation) and that day month Ihe brings forth again.
When the doe wants to kennel fhc goes to a diftance, makes a hole in the earth, and therein kennels; fhe makes up the door (as it were) by covering the mouth of the hole with fand, this is to prevent the buck from finding them while young, for if he docs he is iure to kill them.
Being fo great breeders a few couple will flock a large warren in a year or two, when a warren amounts to a thoufand couple it is Vv(;rth a hundred pounds fterling a year clear profit, befides iulTicientto increafe the Hock twenty or thirty pounds a year ; there are many forts of rabbits, but the beft to ftock a warren with is the grey colour, black, , wliite orfpottedare what is generally called
the
OF HUSBANDRY. 79
the tame rabbit, which is not fo good in the field breed.
Rabbits delight much in a high fandy land, and if it be fo poor that nothing elfe will live on it, it is the better for them, forbad they good ground and much grafs they would over eat themfelves, and always be poor, being a very ravenous animal, which is the reafon that they are fateft in froft and fnow, when little meat is to be got, though little meat will do, yet when a fnow covers the ground they mud be fed, either by fcattcr- ing bits of hay over the warren, or branch- es of trees, and lirewing them over the ground, the bark of which they are very fond of.
The method to flock a warren is, before you turn the rabbits out, throw up little ditches acrofs the warren, from eaft to weft, fo that the face of the bank may front the fun, and as many couple of rabbits as you intend to turn out, make fo many holes with a fpade as far as you can reach, run- ning them horizontally rather inclining downwards; in the evening put a couple in- to each hole and before morning they will dig them deeper, and as they increale will make frelh holes according to the increafe of numbers.
Tlier.c
So A NEW SYSTEM
There arc two methods ufed to take then* when wanted for market; one is with a fer- rit and a purfe net; the method is to muz- zle the ferrit and turn him into the holes, and lay the nets over all the mouths of the holes thereabouts; when the ferrit comes at the rabbit and fcratches it, which makes it immediately bolt out, and is entang- led m the net, the man who ftands ready and without making any noife, immediately feizes the rabbit and breaks its neck, ex- cept it be a doe with young, then he lets her go. The purfe net is made much like a cabbage net, only wider at the mouth, perhaps about two feet over, it is made of of common pack-thread.
The next method to take them is, with a long net about a yard wide, and long enough to reach acrofs the out-lkirts of one fide of the warren ; this net is to take out layers or Rragg'ers ; it is fet up with little forked flicks ituck in the ground, the upper part of the net is hung on the fork, and the un- der part lays loofe on the ground; the net is fet about an hour or two after dark, in or- der to give the rabbits time to go abroad, be- ing thus fet, and at the out fide of all the holes the man goes with two or three little dogs and hunts the rabbits, which makes for the holes, bur the net being in the way
they
OF HUSBANDRY. Si
they bolt againft it and are entangled, which gives the man an opportunity to take them.
There is not ten miles between New- York and Virginia, but what there is a proper fpot of land for a rabbit warren, fuch as is Tan- dy, hilly, and wore out or impoverifhed not being fit for other ftock or any crop. And 1 need not fay of what utility it would be to individuals to have fuch a fund of plenty difperfed over the country, and that raifed from the worft land.
CHAP.
%t A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XVI.
How to fet Potatoes in Drills with the Plough.
TAKE any poor worn-out flubble-Iand which may be intended for fallow j plough it in autumn in two furrow ridges ; that IS, lay two furrows back to back, thro' the piece you intend for potatoes.
By doing this it will lie dry all winter ; and in the beginning of March (or iooner, if the weather permit) harrow it acrofs, and it will fill all the furrows level ; after which plough it, either acrols or length- wile, no matter which, provided the land be all cut and turned up ; then again har- row it well and fine ; and juil before you intend to plant potatoes, plough it again
into
OF HUSBANDRY. S^
into two furrow-ridges, lying back to back, lb that they muft dole at the top; but not fo as to let any mold fall into the oppofite furrow.
Being thus laid in ridges, and the fur- rows all open, in every furrow fet a row of potatoes, each about the length of a man's foot afunder ; then take the dunging-bafkets and drop a piece of dung, about the fize of your fift upon each potatoe ; by this me- thod a little dung will go a great way, and a few hands will fct a great deal in a day.
When thus fet and dufiged, go with the plough and fplit the ridge in two ; fo that what was the furrow, will now be the ridge, and the ridge will be over the potatoes ; fo that they will come up in rows throuv^h the middle thereof.
In fummer you may go with the plough up and down every drill, to cut the weeds and earth up the potatoes.
By this method it may be well termed a potatoe -fallow, as it may be ploughed always when the weeds grow.
. In taking them up, go with a plough, and turn the whole drill over ; by which means all, or moft of the potatoes will appear above ground, and be eafily gathered ; but if a Imall part of them remam ungathered, they will all be found by harrowing, or the uext plough inr^. This
S4 A NEW SYSTEM
This is a very expeditious way, both in fctting and taking up , and it ought to be every man's ftudy to work his land with as little exi:)ence as poflible.
The next cafy way to fet potatoes with plough is in grafs-land, viz.
Harrow the fod well, both length and croiTvvife, to fcratch, wound and mangle the grafs-roots, in order to fct them a rot- ting ; which they will do fpeedily when turned up.
Then begin and plough a furrow eight inches broad ; in this fet a row of potatoes a foot-lengdi alunder ; and on every pota- toe drop a lump of dung, about the bignefs of a man's fill ; then plough two furrows, and in the third fet another row ; fo that there will be a furrow between every two rows or drills through the piece. When it is all fet harrow it well ; but take care not to turn up or diforder the fods.
When the potatoes are come up a little above ground, go with a plough up and down every drill, and lay the loofe mold, with the harrow raifed, to the ftem of the potatoes ; but be careful not to diilurb the fod. When they are taking up, turn the drill or furrow with the plough ; by which means they are eafily gathered.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. g^
The third method of planting potatoes^ is with fpadcs, as they do in Chelhire.
They dig all the ground, and bury the dung about four inches deep ; as if they were trenching in a garden ; after which they go with fctting flicks, make a hole, and drop the potatoe in j then they rake the ground to fill the holes.
They are dug up with fj^ades alio ; but this is expenfive in comparifcn of letting with the plough.
However they take care not to bury the dung too deep ; as alfo ilot to throw up any bad earth to fpoil the land, which is fco often the cafe inh'cland.
Vol. li. U CHAP.
%6 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. xvir.
Remarks onfetting Potatoes is)uh the Plough,
IVJ. Ethinks, I fe^ my brother farmer turn hither in great hurry, to fee my realon for advifing him to fct his potatoes with the plough; and not to keep him long in lufpencc I plainly tell him, that it faves both men, money, and dung, befides improving his land. Thefe are confiderations well worth his attention.
Firil, it faves men; as one man and two horfes, and five or fix boys, will fet as ma- ny potatoes in a day with the plough, as fe- venty or eighty men could let with Ipades.
Secondly, it faves dung ; as one load will go as far as four.
Thirdly, none of the dung is loft by be- ing buried in the trenches; which is evideni-
ly
OF HUSBANDRY. 87
ly th€ cafe when trenched in the old Iridi method ; as a lump is dropped upon every potatoe.
Fourthly, potatoes got thus, are nearly clear gains, as they may be Town upon land that is intended for fummer-fallow, and fuch land will ablblutely receive more benetit from this potatoe-f allow, than if norhing had grown; for what withhoeing with the pbugh, and what with the tops fmothering the weeds, &cc. the groimd is made clean and mellow, and in tine order for a wheat-crop at Michaelmas.
And there can be no di (appointment, as potatoes can be ploughed up i-peedily.
All thele realons, i hope wiii prevail up- on the farmers, or people in general, to follow this cheap and eaiy method; as no- thing concerns a farmer fo much, as woric- ing his land with the greateil diipatch, and the leaR expence that reafon can devife.
As I have travelled between England and Ireland, for near twenty years pail, 1 have had an opportunity to remark how the dif- ferent markets ruled in the two kingdoms ; and I always found that in the cities ot York, Lincoln, and in large towns, ibcli as Leeds, Wakefield, Doncallcr, Sheilield. and in fliort all over England, v/hcre it is cuiloma- ry to fe • the potatoes with the plough, they always fell lower than in h-cland. This
n A NEW SYSTEM
This fiR is inconteftable ; altho' it is well known, that, in thefe places, land is higher and fo is labour of more value.
This (hews they mud have a cheaper and cafier way of coming at them, or they could not be afforded at a lower rate. Further, the method of fctting with the plougli is fo cafy, that a man may teach in an hour as many people as could look at him.
The Expcncc and Profit of an acre of Po- tatoeSy raifed by the Plough, as diredled under that Artlclp.
1. s. d.
To twenty quarters of potatoes,
at 9s. per, or forty ftone -900
To three ploughings, at 2s. 6d. each if with one man and two horfes - - - 076
To two harrowings - 026
To one quarter of potatoes for
feed, at 9s. per - -090
To fix loads of dung, at 2s. per 012 o
III o Brought
OF HUSBANDRY. 89
Brought over - - i 1 1 o
To fix boys or girls, each at 4d.
per day - - - 020
To two men, to fee they be right- ly fet, and to help to lay the dung - - ' 018
To three times hoeing with the
plough - - - -060 To ploughing up - 026
To eight boys or girls, at 4d.
each - - 028
To carriage home - - 020 To land-rent - - 0150
Total expence 324 Clear profit ^17 S
CHAP.
po A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XVIII.
Remarks and Illujirations on the foregoing 'Table on potatoes Jet with the plough.
IN order to encourage the farmer to fall into this valuable piece of hulbandry, I have allowed him in the foregoing table, to be well paid for his trouble ; and yet he fees the profit amounts to upwards of five pounds feventeen fhillings an acre.
Were I to be very minute, the profit would be much more ; I have very often known from fifteen to twenty pounds made on an acre.
If I was to do ftri(^ juftice to this valua- ble crop, it fhould not be charged, cither with rent, ploughing or dung ; as it is part contradi(flion, that the land, after this would
be
OF HUSBANDRY. 91
be better for a crop of wheat, the fiicceed- ing year, than if it had been fallowed in the common way.
It is alfo . to be obfervcd, that I have charged the potatoes only at nine {hillings a quarter, which often fell for much more,
Thefe are all plain and impartial reafons; and I hope will encourage the farmer ta purfue this valuable method.
There are a great many parts of England that follow this method ; therefore luch may overlook this chapter, and leave it for thofc that know nothing of it ; which are a great many parts both of England, hxland, Scot- land and Wales ; fo excufe me if in other cafes I mention fometimes what is known to fomc farmers, as it may be Ilrange to odiera.
CHAP.
92 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XIX.
On fetting Potatoes, as in Ireland, on Ridges by Trenching.
THE Irifli method of fetring potatoes, is in fome cafes very ufefnl, and the chcapeft of all others, except the plough ; and would be much more valuable in all cafes, if they were cautious no to make the trenches too deep.
It is a very eaiy method and quick: too ; becaufe not above one-fourth of the ground is dug ; and few farmers ha\ e fields or clofes but what have wafte corners, where the plough cannot come ; as alio backs of ditch- es, hic. which if he lays on a good coat of manure, he may fet potatoes in, and when they are dug up, it will make good compoll for his land.
It
OF HUSBANDRY. ()2
It is alfo a good method to break up tough, ftubborn, rooty or rocky land : — becaufe this is a quick method of working it, and the crop will meliorate it to that de- gree, that it may be ploughed the year fol- lowing with eafe : as to the executing of this method, nothing is more eahly learned, viz.
When you have fixed upon a piece of land for this purpofc, you mull lay out your ridges in breadth according to the depth of your foil : that is, if the foil be fhallow, make your ridges about four feet broad, and the trench about two feet and a half wide.
This is in order that you may raife eaith enough to cover the potatoes, without en- tering upon a dead poor foil.
But if your under ftratum be good, you make the trenches deep and narrow, which will fave land.
Sometimes it happens that a rich earth, or even a kind of manure lies within the reach of this trenching : when this happens it is a treafure.
Cover your potatoes about four folid inches thick : — ^being thus learned and de- termined as to the depth and breadth of the ridge, you muft ftretch a line and cut it out, then fpread your manure ftraight and even
Vol. II. N on
9+
A NEW SYSTEM
on the ridge, leaving the breadth of the trench without any.
i\itcr this lay on your potatoes at about nine inches from each other : then dig the trench, and turn the firll Ind-grafs down- wai'ds cloic to the edge of the ridge : and \\ hat the i^od does not meet to cover, finilh covering it widi the fecond fpit • but leave the ihovellings at the bottom of the trench, till tlie potatoes are ready to peep above the ground ; then fhovel up the loofe earth, and cover all the ridge thinly over.
This will check the growth of the top, and cauie the potatoes to fpread under ground : this is a better way than to finifh the ridge all at the firft fctting, as iome will do.
If you have much old grafs or ruihes, &CC. on the ground, or that the fod is tough and likely to take much time to rot : in this cafe it is better to trench the ground in De- cember or January, and in March fet the potatoes : make holes with the planting- machine : but the pegs mufl be thicker, in order to make the holes wide enough to let the fet to the bottom : or for want of this machine, you may take a fetting Hick, like the {haft of a fpade, and fix crofs-ways a llrong peg about four inches from the bot- tom
OF HUSBANDRY. 9 ^
torn : this is to fet your foot on, in order to fmk the fetting-ilick more ealily.
Make the holes about nine inches afund- der : in them drop the potatoes, but no deeper than juil to fall between the two fods: for they love to fpread along the firm earth: rake or harrow to fill the holes, then fhovel the trenches and finilh the riJge.
Though rotten dung is doubtlefs beft, yet if the ground be trenched early enough, long dung will make a good Ihift, and may be better u led in this than any other crop, as it will have time to rot, and will keep the tvv^o fods open, fo that the potatoes m.ay have room to run and fpread between them.
In the county of Leitrim, there is a great deal of wet rulhy land worth little ; and [ have feen very good potatoes in it, from no other manure than cutting the ruflics, and laying on the ridge, and making it no broad- er than the furrow or trench, fo that the fods meet. They trench it early, and make the ridges only three feet wide.
However, if they doubt the land will not bring a good crop thus, they may be fure of a good crop, if they only give it a thin covering of either lime, marl, or Ume ftonc gravel, along with the rulhes: but the foon- er this manure is laid on, (in order to grow
to
^6 A NEW SYSTEM
to the fod and rot) the better, and the greater certainty of a crop. Such land generally gives a good crop of bear or wheat, after the potatoes arc dug out.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. ^^
CHAP. XX.
On different Sorts of Potatoes.
THERE are various forts of potatoes, more perhaps than I am acquainted with ; however the following is a lilt of the various forts which I have cultivated.
Firft, white ruffeting; this is a round po- tatoe with a rough ikin.
Secondly, red ruffeting; this is a red round potatoe with a rough ikin.
Thirdly, the large Iriih white fmooth potatoe.
Fourthly, the large round red potatoe.
Fifthly, the culgee.
"Sixthly, the early-wife potatoe.
Seventhly
9^ A NEW SYSTEM
Seventhly, the white kidney potatoc.
Eighiihly, the Jeruialc;-n potatoc.
Ninthly, the bull's eye potatoe.
The bull's eye is a large red potatoc, which will grow and yield a plentiful crop on poor ground ; but it k a veiy bad eating potatoe : it taites not much unlike a yam.
As they produce a plentiful crop, fomc gentlemen low them in Ireland, and parti- cularly near Waterford, and the county of Kilkenny, v/here they feed and fiaughtcr many fwine for exportation.
The Jerufalem-potatoe is long, and full of eyes, and is of a great produce ; each eye makes a fet; as indeed fo they do in every other potatoe; for the Irilh always cut them infets, which is a good way, though not generally pra coifed in England.
The culgee is a very fweet eating potatoe, one fide is generally red: in their growing they do not fpread and grow from itrings, like another potatoe, but Hick to the bot- tom of the ilalklike a bunch of grapes, and rife to the furface, infomuch that often the red lide will be above ground.
I have had a fine crop of them, they arc very fond of a well-tilled foil, tlicrcfore the drill method of fetting them with the plough in broken land fuits them beft.
The
OF HUSBANDRY, ()()
The wife potatce is of an early kind ; they produce a fmall top but no bloffom, and the top Vv^ithers early ; they do not grow ve- ry large, are of a light red call lull of eyes ; they are of a great increafc, but a great ma- ny of them fmall, they are very ufeful for an early crop ; as they are dry and ready for ufc two months before others ; but it is not a good keeping potatoe.
The large red Iriih potatoe is of a good kind, and particularly on ftrong cold land, where it thrives beft ; it grows large and produces a good plentiful crop.
As the hilh poor eat potatoes inftead of bread, thefe are the beft of all others for that ufe ; they vrill tell you, that they will he longer than any others on the ilomach ; fo coniequently are of a found prm texture ; their colour is of a deep red, and of a round fhape ; they have a grofs ilrong ftalk or top.
The white- ruffe ting is a very pleafant eat- ing potatoe ; but I do not thmk them good yielders : neither will they thrive well, without rich v/ell tilled land.
The red ruffeting is of a hardy fort, and will grow almoif on any fort of land ; but they do not produce many at a root : nei- ther are they large, fo confequently are bad yielders, and not a defirable crop, where other feed can be got. The'
loo A NEW SYSTEM
The toad-back is nearly a-kin to the large Irilh potatoe, only not fo large : the fkin is almoll black and rough like a rulTeting : — this is a found, dry, firm, good eating po- tatoe : it is fond of good frefh land, and agrees very well with the Iriih method of fetting on lay-land, as direded in the chap- ter that treats thereon.
The kidney (or by fome called Spanifh) potatoe is of an oblong fliape, a white co- lour, with a yellowilh call : it is a fweet good-eating potato s ; but not fo dry, or mealy as fome others, therefore not fo pro- per to be ufed in the place of bread, as is the cafe in Ireland) but it is very good to be chopped up, and ufed as fauce to meat : it is an exceeding good yielder, and by na- ture feeks its food deep ; and therefore re- quires a good covering with mold when fct; it will thrive well on a ftrong deep foil ; buC requires to be well tilled.
UhiBion of Horlicultur^j
L V. 0. Bdp't of Agriculture, cHAP.
'i
OF HUSBANDRY. loi
CHAP. XXI.
T^be Management and TJfe of Vetches,
VETCHES are a very ufeful good crop,' and particularly for winter or fpring- fceding for fheep, or indeed other cattle -, and what adds flill to their value is that they want no dung or manure.
They may be Town, and will grow upon land that lie ufelefs all winter ; and what is more, they add to the fertilizing of luch land ; neither does a farmer pay one penny more rent for his crop, than he would for the Hubble Handing on the faid land.
The chief ufe of vetches is to fupply the farmer with winter-feeding on his flubble- lands, that would otherwile be wafte, from
Vol. U. O the
loz A NEW SYSTEM
the time the crop is reaped, which is about )Sej)tei)"ibcr, to Ivlarch or April following : in iliis caic they are very valuable ; as what benefits either the land or the farmer gets by .them is clear gain.
But as ufcivl as vetches are in this cafe, they are too inconiiderable a crop, to ftand all fummer, and take the year's rent upon them ; except in very poor, fandy, or gra- velly land, which is generally of a low rent.
The better the land is which they are fown on for the winter-feeding, doubtlefs the bet- ter herbage they will make ; alfo the fooncr they are fown in autumn, (fo as to have as much benefit of the declining fummer fun as pofTible) the better and llronger your herb- age will be ; therefore the more cattle it will fupport; and if the land be a rich, deep, fl:rong loam or clay, it will produce good herbage ; though it is not proper for feed ; bccauie the richnefs of the foil would force it all into ibaw, but little corn.
The method of thofe that would fow vetches upon theil* wafle flubble land, for w^inter-feeding muft be this :
Take any fort of land that has been under rap;, cole-feed, turnips, or any fort of corn, and as foon as the crop is reaped and off, plough the ihibble under; begin in the mid- dle of the ridge, and raile it as high as pof-
fible
• OE HUSBANDRY. loj
fible with the plough, (by gathering or taking it up) in order that it may lie as dry as po(- fible all winter ; which will add both to the goodncfs of the crop, and the cleannefs of the cattle's feeding.
This done, fow your vetches at the rate of ten flone to the Englilli acre ; then har- row them in ; after this water-furrow and gripe-crofs your ridges, in the lowed places of the land, leading to the fide drains ; in order to give a ready pafifage for the winter's water when it falls.
If they be fDwn at the latter end of Au- guft, or the beginning of September, you may turn your Iheep in, about the middle of December.
Eat them all winter, and in the fpring the land will be in fine order for oats or bar- ley.
Some chule to preferve their vetches till fpring, to feed early lambs or weathers on, which is very profitable : others will eat them all the month of May, and then give the land a couple of ploughings, and fow it with turnips or rape at midfummer : this is alfo a good way.
Others again will fallow all furamer, af- ter the vetches are eat off ; which will great- ly enrich the land ; and then fow wheat on
it in autumn.
U
I04 A NEW SYSTEM
If you intend your vetches for feed fow them in Februaiy, at rate of fix ftone to the acre ; and harveft them as peas. But if they be intended to plough in for dung, (which is the word way, as it is better to make dung by eating them on the ground) fow them in March, at eight ftone to the acre ; and plough them in, when full of bloObm, as direcfted for buck-wheat.
If you intend this crop for fodder, by the way of hay, they muft be mown be- fore they are ripe , that is, when the ftraw is full of juices and fap.
By taking them thus green, when the flraw is full of fap or rich fubftanccs, the grain does not fhake out ; and the horfes eat llraw and corn all together ; which is excellent fodder
In this cafe the hay muft be made by the fame method as any other hay : only by be- ing cut in this Hate, the draw will be parti- cularly full of fap ; therefore you muft be careful that it neither rot nor mold.
The quality of vetches is fuch, that they will grow almoll on any fort of land ; if they rtand for feed, poor, gravelly, or light fandy land fuits them bell : for indeed they are moftly fown where nothing elfe will grow, and I think they exceed any other grafs or crop whatever, except turnips for
winter
OF HUSBANDRY. 105
winter feeding, as they fuit our climates, being a native of thefe kingdoms, and a plant that keeps green all winter.
Indeed they are of fuch a juicy herbagy nature, that though the feed ripens, dries, and fheSs, yet the ftalk or ftraw will be a green herbage, and full of juices, after the feed has deferted it.
CHAP.
io6 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XXII.
Explanation and Nature of different Sorts of PuJ/e, fuch as Vetch, ^are. Lentils, &c.
THE following multiplicity of names, confufedly made ufc of by authors to convey the meaning of one plant, may well puzzle or confound the ideas of a far- mer, and fend him in fearch after plants, corn or grain, of which perhaps he himfelf may be already poflclTed.
However it cannot be expected he fhould have a fufficient library of books, always at hand to clear up referrences. It is enough to tell him, that though the many following names are made ufe of in different parts of the two kingdoms, yet vetch is a name that fuits our Englilh tongue befl, and what may
be
OF HUSBANDRY. 107
he underftood by every one that underftands the language : to this name is added fitch, fetch, thetch, thetches, fitches, chick and checkes : and thefc abfolutely mean one and the fame thing ; fome make the word of the fingnlar, and others the plural num- ber.
Moft people are inclined to believe the real name of this pulfe to be vetch ; but this cannot be, as vetch is the Latin word for tare, and though the tare is of the pulfe-kind yet it hardly bears a refemblance to the vetch in queftion.
Befides the tare is confidered amongft the judicious farmers as a weed, and v/ith great reafon too, for it is as deftru6live to corn as any vi^eed whatever, being a weak, climbing, heavy topped, feathery plant, which puUs the corn dovv^n and rots it.
The, feed alfo when once it gets a footing is very hard to get clear of, as it is of a fmall round fhape, and blackilh colour. It is likevvife fpoken of in fcripture as a weed.
Notwithi\anding all this, I with regret fee it largely treated on by fome authors, as a valuable crop ; however I know the ill confequences of it fo well by woeful experi- ence, that I Ihall not bellow a finglc line a- bout it, except to advife the farmer, that already has it, to clear his land of it, as faft as pofiible. There.
io8 A NEW SYSTEM
There are two forts of vetches, namely^ the large and the fmall : the large is of a^ grey colour, and is moll proper to fow, when the crop is intended to Hand for feed.
The fmall fort is a fmall black grain and a hardy plant, and not fo grols ; therefore not fo apt to lodge, and rot by the feventy of the winter as the former.
The vetch bears a blue, or rather purple bloffom, much like a grey field-pea; the pod of much the fame likenefs, but fmall : the ftalk has a refemblance alfo, but will not grow to near the length or grolTnefs, and is clad with a fmall narrow feathered leaf.
The lentil (but corruptly called by fome till) is a fpecies of pulfe, and one that de- lerves the farmers attention. It is nearly of the fame nature as the vetch ; therefore muft have the fame manageinent, but will afford to be fown fomething later in the Ipring, as it is rather of an earlier kind.
The ftalk of the lentil is more taper than that of vetches, fo confequently will ftand better without a fupport.
For this reafon the farmers may fow it with fucccfs among their oats, as it is able to fupport itfelf without pulling the oats down.
Again, it is a great bearer, and adds much to the mealy part of the oat, and
confequently
OF HUSBANDRY. 109
confequenliy has more flrength of food for the horfe, and the ftraw beins: mixed with the oat-ftraw makes excellent fodder.
The pod that holds the feed is fomewhat like that of a pea, but broader in proportion, and very thin, as the two fides fall clofe to- gether round the feed.
The feed is grey, and of a round flattiih fliape, the leaves grow in pairs oppofite each other, are long, fmall, and pointed, of a palilh green, and a little downy at the un- der lide.
The corn is very good for pigeons or fowls of any fort : it is alfo made ufe of for the fame purpoies as the grey pea or vetch.
One thing is to be laid of the lentil, that it will grow on any poor, light gravel, or fandy land, perhaps better than any other grain or fort of pulfe : but though this be its perfedion, yet doubtlefs the better the land the ftouter the crop ; provided it be of a warm fandy nature. Indeed any gram of the pulfe kmd is fond of fuch land ; but v.'hen it is richer than common, the feed muft be fown thine r in proportion, and particularly when the crop is intended to iland for feed.
Vol. ir. F CHAP.
no A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XXIII.
0« the different Management of Clover, through all its Variations,
CLOVER fuits the climates of Eng- land, Ireland and America, better than moll other graffes, and is a veiy beneficial crop, either for grazing, or meadow; be- fides it is a great improver of land, having a ftrong fibrous root, which quickly incor- porates with the earth:, and when ploughed up or dillurbed by tillage, foon rots, and becomes a very rich manure.
This together with the ieveral rich crops it produces, makes it of more value than an/ odier artificial grafs.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. in
The way to make the moft of it, I take to be this, viz.
Sow it with a fpring crop , that is, after the corn is (own and harrowed, fow the clover-feed, at the rate of ten pounds to an Englifh acre.
When fown, either bufh-harrow or roll it ; but the latter is bell:.
When the corn is reaped, eat the clover for about a month : though there are many who object againft this method : (but my reafons for it may be feen in the enfuing chapter on clover) then lay it up. It .will be well grown by April, at which time you may turn ni your ewes and lambs.
It is an excellent thing to create milk for feeding lambs with : aifo feeding for any fort of cattle ; but be watchful to keep your horned cattle walking or flirring about ; or they will be very apt to hove and burll, as it is a very fwelling food, and particularly if the weather be wet; for when the cattle are firft turned in, they eat greedily not tak- ing time to chew it.
Therefore, it is beft only to fuffer them to be in about ten minutes at a time, the fiift day, twenty the next, and fo on : but it is beil to turn them in with a full belly of iiay, or fome dry meat ; which will abate
theii-
112 A NEW SYSTEM
their greedy appetite, and help to dry up the watery particles.
One great ufe or advantage in clover is its early fpring ; for it comes in at leart a montli before natural grafs ; and a month's grafs early in the fpring, is worth two at any o- thej- time of the year.
This is a confideration a farmer ought to hear in mind : and that for feveral reafonSj viz.
Firft, for feeding early lambs.
Secondly, to fupply the place of hay, which at this time of the year is generally fcarcc and dear.
Thirdly, it is a great Arengthener to young cattle ; fuch as calves and foals ; for it firft purges, and then puts them in health and vigor, to enter with a good conftitution into the natural grafs-p'aflure. It is always obferved, that when they go weak and poor into the fummer grafs, the bell part of the fummeris fpent (in which time they fhould grow in bone) before they reco\er their iieili.
Fourthly, it fprings the in-calving cows to milk : and a farmer ought to bear in mind that a fortnight's good feeding, before a cow calves, is worth a month after ; as it flulhes her to milk, by opening her milk- veins^ flretching her udder, teats and milk-
velTcls
OF HUSBANDRY, 113
'Teffels ; and it ftrengthens and feeds the >calf within, and herfeif to undergo the painful talk of calving.
A cow with health and ftrength at calv- ing, is worth one and a half that is poor, for milk in fummer.
After this moft valuable grafs has per- formed all thefe good offices, by its early fpring, lay it up for meadow, about the firft of May ; and it will be ready to mow in a month or five weeks after.
By good mana8;ement, it will produce three crops in one year ; befides the after- grafs, or winter-herbage, which is almofc of as much value as the reR.
The different fiages for a crop of clover, are as as follows, viz.
Suppofe the feed to be fown amongfb corn in the beginning of April : this year the rent of the land is paid by the corn- crop; therefore the clover has no charge of rent upon it till May following : however it is of great ufe in this year for winter-feed- ing- ^
After the corn is reaped, the Hubbies
mud be kept free from cattle, till the clo- ver get to be a good herbage ; which vvill be about the firft of November ; then turn light cattle in : eat it till the firil: of December, or till you fee that they have cropped off all the tirll Ihoots. Then
114 A NEW SYSTEM
Then take them out, and lay it up till the firft of April : at which time it will be a good herbage.
Therefore if your grafs be fcarce, and you chufe to eat the clover, you may turn in cattle for a month : and the lirft of May lay it up for a meadow-crop.
If a wet fummer follows, and the ground be good, it will be ready to cut by the tenth of June for hay : the next crop will produce feed, or if you chufe another crop of hay.
The time to cut the fecond crop for hay, is about the middle of September ; or when the flowers are all full blown, and fome of the mofl: forward begin to fade.
But if you would fave the feed, give it time enough to ripen, as there is no fear of its fliedding : it is fo well inclofed with a very Packing, tough, wirey pod, therefore deler cutting it till very ripe ; as alfo make it very dry or raib when cut, or it will not part from the ftraw or pod by trelhing, without more labour than it is worth.
By taking out the feed, the ftraw will be trcflicd very ihort and mufhy : however it will be good fodder, though not near cq'jal to the crop managed for hay in its proper Icafon.
He
OF HUSBANDRY. 115
He Is a good workman that can trefh out a peck of clean feed in a day : he muft firft trefh the pods, and rub and winnow the {ccd out : then dry the pods or hufks again ; and fo repeat thefe operations, till he gets the feed feparated from the hufk.
But the befl way is to threfli the pods or hufks out of the flraw, and then take them to the mill, and fhcll them as you would oats ; this is very cafily done, and faves 2 great deal of labour and feed, as little by this will be wafted.
There is one piece of care or obfervation that a farmer (hould never lofc fight of, if he expects a full crop of feed ; and that is, never to lay up his hrft growthof clover for feed ; for though it may grow vigoroully, bloflbm, and look well to him who is not a true judge, yet it will not bear feed.
Therefore, when a farmer eats his clover in April or May, he mufl fee that his cattle eat it near and crop every branch, as thofe that mifs cropping, though they flower will not (eed ; for this reafon I recommend eating it in April, mowing the hay crop in June, and laving the feed from the laii: crop, whichvriil produce the moll and bell; feed.
But if the farmer choofcs he may not eat it in fpring ; by which means he may mow
the
ii6 A NEW SYSTEM
the firft crop of hay by the middle of May^ and tlie next crop raife feed from.
This will bring the feed crop more in the middle of fummcr, when the heat is ftrong;, fo confequently it will- be in lefs danger of being fpoilcd by autumn-rains, which come earlier in Ireland, and the north of England, than they do near London.
I mention this that every farn^er may be a judge of his own fituation, and fuit his crop accordingly.
It IS a grols miilake and very often com- mitted, to let the firft crop of clover hay Hand too long before it is cut, for feveral reafons.
Firft, when it ftands till the bottom of the ftalk turns brown, it is drained of all its fubftance, and alfo has cxhaufted or weak- ened the root too much of its vigour; there- fore when it is mown, the ftubble is left as dead or lifclels as that of corn : and the next fhoot or branch which comes forth muft be from the very root, which admits of a fortnight's delay in tlie growth of the crop : whereas on the other hand if it was cut when the ftalk is green aiid ftill of fap or juices, it would fend forth frelh Ihoots out of the very ftalk a little belOw the cut: and the coat of clover being ftripped off, the roots are fupplied (bciore they are left
to»
OF HUSBANDRY. ik/
too weak and fickly) with frefh air, and kept in vigour and flrength, to fupport and bring to maturity, the fucceeding crop.
It IS true, there may not be fo great a bulk of hay in the firll crop when cut io young ; bccaufe the llalk is cut when foft and full of juices, and therefore flattens, clofes, and runs or cakes together when in (iack, he.
It alfo requires more care in making ; but as this happens in the height of fummer, there is not fo much danger that way ^ and aftone of fuch hay is worth two of that which is left to ftand till the ftalks are left dry, hard and inipoveriihed.
Clover may be fown with fliccefs amongft oats : alfo if wheat or rye be fown in broad ridges, it may be fown amonglf them irk May and rolled in.
I have fecn good clover where the feed was fown amongft flax : but the befl of thefe crops for raifing clover is barley, as this grain is not apt to grow with fo long and grofs a flraw as oats, wheat or lye ; there- lore the clover is not in eoual daneer of be-
A, O
ing fmothcred.
Yet there is no general rule without an exception.
I have
Vol. II. • CL
11$ A N E W S Y S T E M
I have feen good and bad clover among all thefe crops ; a deal depends upon a good feafon : barley however has the beft chance ; as we generally till well for it; barley being, a. tender grain.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 119
C H A P. XXIV.
On Cattle boved by Clover , and its Cure,
THO' it may feem ftrangc or odd in mc to make acomparifon between the hu- man and the brute creation; yet true'it is that what will cure one will alfo cure the other, if due regard be had to proportion the dofe agreeably to the ftrength of the ani- mal.
In many inftances, limilar cafes might be quoted to flipport this alTertion, but as few words will anfwer my prefent purpofe, I Ihall leave every thing elie to the recolledi- -on of my reader.
The mofl natural difference between the entrails of the human and the brute fpecies, is that the former lie in a perpendicular, and the latter m a horizontal diredion.
What
r2o A NEW SYSTEM
Wliat I aim nt by this inference, is to make my reader feel by himfelt the difor- der that affects a beaft by eating over gree- dily.
I dare fay not one of my readers but upr on recollection, will find that he fome time or other has eat his meat haliily, without taking time to chew it, till it has given him unealineis in his bowels, by a fiippreffion of wind, infomuch that he has been obliged to halt, or paufe a little, till tlie bit let- tied ; after which he breaks wind with a belch..
This difjjrder when coming on, he plain- ly feels, is no other than fwaliowing too quick.
Therefore T fay, when he finds the gullet overcharged, and the wind fo preft, he ilops till all is right again ; but if he was {till to perfiH in eating, the confequence might be dangerous : and I donht not but many lole their lives by it, as we often hear of people dying at meat.
Juil fuch is the cafe vith cattle eating clover : for the nature of clover is fuch, that a beall can iill his mouth quicker with it than with any other grals ; which is ow- 211^ to its bulhy top and foft, and fmall Aalk.
Ail
OF HUSBANDRY. 121
All natural grafs is fmall at the top, and thickeft towards the bottom ; it therefore takes a good pitll to break it off ; which gives time for a fwallow ; neither can the bead fill his mouth fo quick. But clover being quite the reverfe, he can gather it fader or quicker, than the gullet can dif- charge it into the maw.
Therefore one mouthful, which is very large, rolled up in balls, overtakes another, till it flops up the paiTage of the throat, and fuppreiles the inward air, and fo puts a final ftop to refpiration, infomuch that all the inward machinery is like a blown blad- der.
All thefe preffmg upon the lungs, hin- der them from playing ; which caufes a to- tal fl agnation of the inward machinery ; and if a remedy cannot be procured, before the blood abates in its circulation, and cools in the veins, death muft unavoidably en- iue.
I remember an accident that happened -when I was a fchool-boy, and as I was pre- fent, I fhall repeat it as follows^:
A farmer turned a parcel of cattle into a clover-field in the month of May ; but in a fmall time after they were turned in, a bullock was obferved to be very fick : he was immediateiy drove out of the field into
the
ii22 A NEW SYSTEM
the town, which was within two or three hundred yards; but in town before he could reach the tarmer's houfe, he dropped down dead to all appearance : it was oppofite to an ale-houfe.
Immediately people flocked about him : a drunken blackfmith was in the ale-houfe with a gun-barrel in his hand, and the breech-pin out, as he had been cleaning it : Jhe came out, running among the reft, and thruft the gun-barrel up the bullock's fun- dament; out of which iflued a deal of wind.
Another by-ftander run his pen-knife in- to his flank behind his laft rib.
I had a pellit-gun in my hand, and they put it into the orifice, out of which alfo ruflied a deal of wind.
They alfo bled him. This was all per- formed inftantly.
He began to Ihew fign of life ; they then gave him a cliftcr of warm milk, oil and iljrown fugar.
In fhort with one cookery or another the bullock recovered ; and I believe every thing that was done was new : as moft prefcnt were ftrangers to clover.
As it was only then, making its entrance into the neigb.bourhood, therefore they were all ftrangers to its cffeds. And though they
llumblcd
OF HUSBANDRY. 123
•ftumbled upon a cure, yet not one of them perhaps could give a rational coherent aa- fwer upon the fubjecl.
The perlon to whom the bullock bc*> longed was a very feniible, curious, enter- prifing man.
He was the firft that introduced any new- thing into the neighbourhood j of which clover was one inftance.
As he believed the bullock dead, he iiood very coolly looking on, and let them do what they would. After which he made very fenfible remarks.
I have heard him fince fay, that v^as a, lucky bullock ; as he had been the rneans of faving him many cattle.
By the experiment he afforded, the peo- ple's attention was fo much engrolTed with- this bullock, that a cow and a two year old heiffer were dead in the field before they had prefence of mind to attend to them ; but the farmer told me' he never lofl one after.
I afked him his cure, he told me that he never wanted one, for he looked upon a prevention as preferable to a medicine, or any other operation. ,
His method was always to keep the cat- tle flirring when they were firil turned into clover,, fo that three or four mouthiuls were
as
124- A NEW SYSTENf
as mucli as they were admitted to take atT once, and then to walk a few yards, till that had time to fettle into the inaw i fo as the gullet-wind, as he called it, had time to arife.
Thus he kept them llirring till they were full ; and for a few nights at tiril:, turned them into a common grafs-pailure.
There is no doubt but this is a very nc- cedary precaution, and if duly attended to would render every other operation or me- dicine ineffefiual.
However, left through neglcd:, ignorance or accident, cattle fhould break into clover, it is ablolutely neceifary that a cure Ihould be pointed out.
I believe my reader will adm.it that the nearefl rtep to a cure in any caie is, to know the difeafe, and the caufe of it : this will make the cure more certain.
Now we find that the caufe of this mala- dy is by fuddenly over-filling the neck-gut„ which fwells and ftops all the vent of the throat or wind-pipe.
This over-prell'ure clofes the lungs, and hinders them from playing, which puts a final flop to the circulation of the blood through all the veins.
When this loles its motion, it immediate- ly cools and thickens.
Therefore
OF HUSBANDRY. 12^-
Therefore, in this cafe, every ftep muft be very quick; as delay will put it out of the power of medicine to relieve.
The fjril thing is, to open a vein ; the next, to make an incifion with a knife in the flank, about three inches from the hinder rib, as near the hip-bone as can be, fo as not to enter into the flefh; there is no danger can enfue from this, provided you keep high enough up, not to touch the entrails.
Put a quill in the orifice, to keep it o- pen : while this is doing warm a quart of milk, and put it into a half pound of trea- cle, an ounce of annifeed, and a table fpoon- ful of fweet oil : mix all together, and give it as a clifter : thiS will nourifh the entrails, and keep warm and alive the blood, till a refpiration can be recovered.
if a clifter of this fort cannot be got, ftamp an onion , mix with it butter and pepper, and put it up the fundament ; it v/ill caufe an attraction and a heat : pour feme fweet oil, or quick-filver down the throat ; which will help to force a paiTage for the wind to operate.
Vol. II. R CHAP.
126 A NEW SYSTEM
C H A P. XXV.
"Remarks on Clover^
SOME perfons objecn; to the eating of clover, the tirft winter after it is fown ; believing it to weaken the crop, but on the contrary, I believe it flrengthens it : for as clover grows amongil corn, it is drawn up Vv eak and tender by its warm fituation, be- ing furroundcd by the crbp : and when a tall weak plant of this fort comes to be fud- denly expofed, it is a wonder if the delica- cy oi" its conflitution can bear the fudden change without a fhock, as it is not fit to encounter with the inclemency of a win- ter.
I IcJok
OF HUSBANDRY, 127
1 look upon it to be much better to eat off this weak alpiring top, which makes the root ftrikc downwards, grow ftrong, and incorporate with the foil and the earth: the top alfo will fend forth frelh fhoots, more of them and of a firmer texture or kind.
To convince myfelf of this, I once di- vided a field of clover into two parts, one of which I eat in common with the reil of the flubbles ; the other I did not eat at all till May.
The part I eat, I found to be a good deal ranker or thicker {qI on the ground than the other : and I obferved that the leaves of the clover that were not eaten, turned yel- low with the frofl, and died away.
In this cafe, as in moil others, (reafon fpeaks for itfeli) that it is better to take off a fickly, tender, weak, part or fibre, than to let it die away, and thereby communi- cate its llate ot moitiiication to the main body.
CHAP,
liS A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XXVI.
On Lucernt, its Perfection and Management', alio the Method of Drilltng with the com- 7non Plough, &c.
LA Lucerne, lb called by the French, but lucerne by the Englifh, is a very profitable grafs, and particularly where the climate is hot, and the land light and fandy, or gravelly and rocky.
It is an excellent food, either as herbage or hay : but its greatell perfedion is for foiling of cattle, which makes it of great fervice in fome parts of England, and would be particularly fo in America.
This
OF HUSBANDRY. 12^
This grafs is not fo early a Tpring as clo- ver ; for if we confider, that it is the fun we may thank for nonrifhing the earth, and niakes her fend forth her early fpring ; and that it is unqueftionably the furface which firll feels the warmth thereof: we muft conclude that any vegetable which roots fhallow or runs horizontally, will make the carlieft fhoot, confequently lucerne muft have the more backward fpring, as it ftrike* a great deal deeper than the clover, and therefore feeds in a colder climate, which makes it a very fit crop for fo hot a climate as America.
I would further obferve, that clover im- proves land better than lucerne by its root Spreading more largely and plentifully thro' the fod.
I am ftrongly of opinion that nothing in nature improves land equal to the root of clover ; for if it only lies one year, plough it up, and the furrow or fod will be a per- fect mattrals ; and after that ploughing the root foon rots, and becomes the fineft ma- nure upon earth.
But this we cannot fay for lucerne : for though what root there is, may make good manure, yet it does not fpread or produce half fo much root in the fod, becaufe it
firikes
130 A NEW SYSTEM
llrikes downwards, like a parfnip, and thereiore a great deal of it lies too deep to be raifcd by the plough.
The two chief perfedions of lucerne arc, firft, its yielding a plentiful produce, tho' fown in a fandy, gravelly or rocky ground, provided it is made tolerably rich, and finely tilled.
The climate and lands of America are very proper for lucerne, as the climate is hot, the land light, and in general pretty deep, which will admit the top root to ftrike deep alio, and feek its nourifhment out of the reach of the rays of the fun, confe- quently in this country it has the preference to clover, as the latter never ftrikcs deeper than the plough goes, but runs horizontally is interwoven, and feeds entirely from the the upper fod or ftratum, fo that in a hot climate the fun will not permit it to flourilh to periedion, particularly if it be not attrad- ed to a colder eaithly climate by deep til- age.
Every farmei however, is the beft judge what fort of land he has, or what fituation he is in, and accordingly may fuit his crop thereto.
When a perfon hears two tales, though he be a llranger to the affair, yet he may
give
OF HUSBANDHr. ijt
^ivc a (hrewd guefs which is the moft rea- fonable or likely to fuit his purpofe.
Lucerne requires a deep foil ; and though the feed rnuft be thinly covered, when fovvn yet the land mull: be prepared by deep ploughing : as the rool firikes deep.
It is necelTary that the land have a good fummer-fallow ; when the corn is fown and harrowed, fow the lucerne, and harrow once in a place with the harrow turned the wrong end forcmoft ; and when the corn is come up, roll it.
If the lucerne be intended for fummer- pafture or meadow, fow it in the broad-caft way, and in order to fow it even, fow it twice in a place.
Take no more rn your hand than you can hold between one finger and thumb, and on a ridge that is twelve feet broad make three calls ; this will fow at the rate of four pounds to an Englifh acre, at fixteen ounces to the pound, and five yard and an half to the peich, and fo in proportion for the Scotch and Irifh acre.
If the lucerne be mtended for foiling cat- tle, it is by much the bell to fow it in drills, viz.
Two drills, eight inches afunder, and then an mterval of three ieet, and then two
drills
132 A NEW SYSTEM
drills more, and another interval of three feet ; and lo on through the piece you in- tend to fow.
It m-^y appear to farmers that arc Gran- gers to the drill-hulhandry, that it is a very nice affair, and not to be done witliout the expcnce and nicety of a drill plough : nor did 1 ever read any infi-ructions that direded it to be done by any other way : but be af- fured there is nothing more eafy; for a com- mon plough will malcc a very good iliift, when managed in the following manner, viz.
The land being well prepared for the feed it~ lucerne is to be fowcd in drills, without a corn-crop, begin to plough at one fide of the field, and plough a furrow two inches deep and eight broad : in this fcatter the feed ; then plough another furrow ; in this fow none j but in the next fow another rov/: this leaves a fpace of eight inches between the rows ; then plough five more, and in the fixth and eight fcatter the feed : fo go on, leaving five furrows unfown, and two fown : this will leave room enough between the two rows in the wide interval, for the plough to go.
As foon as the lucerne is above ground, go with the plough and lay a little mold at the Hem of each row, and always when the
weeds
OF HUSBANDRY. 135
weeds grow plough a couple of furrows in the wide interval, which will kill the weeds and fallow the ground, and give additional vigor to the plants : weed or hand-hoe in the narrow intervals.
If lucerne is to be fown amongft corn, it cannot be let in drills as above with the plough ; therefore ft retch a line at the fame diftances of forty-eight inches to the wide interval, and eight to the narrow, and fhake the feed along it, andharrowit in, as if it was fown in the broad-caft way ; and as foon as the corn is out, plough the wide intervals, and hand-hoe in the narrow fpaces between the two drills.
There can be nothing more eafy than drilling and horfe-hoeing in the above man- ner; which may anfwer the end, by fow- ing any fort of grain, and particularly wheat beans and peas.
Inftead of a drill-box or hopper, which is ufed in ploughs, take a tin porringer, and punch three or four holes in the bottom, in the nature of a cuiiendar, juft the fize of the grain or feed you have to fow, by {baking along the furrow, you may bring yourfelf to a tolerable deg! ee of exacinel's, and fwiftnefs too : for one man may iov7 as faft as a plough v/ill go.
liie
Vol. II. S
134 A NEW SYSTEM
The time to mow lucerne is, when jufl: bcginnin<y to flower.
Avoid making the hay too green ; for it will appear to be dry when it is not, and therefore may give again and damage, it being fo full of fap or juices.
When it is cut for foil, there is nothing more than to cut the oldelt firft.
It may begin to be cut, when fix or eight inches high ; and fo continue cutting as it is wanted.
CHAP
OF HUSBANDRY. 135
CHAP. XXVU.
'J^be mojl fuitable Lands and Climate for Lucerne, with Remarks thereon, &c.
THOUGH the lands of England, Scot- land and Ireland, are generally pret- ty good, and naturally given to grafs ; yet I dare venture to fay, that more than three fourths of all thefe kingdoms are not proper for lucerne. America in general is proper for it, becaule the land is deep and in gene- ral fandy, and the climate hot and dry.
The farmer that propofes to cultivate this plant, muft firfl duly confider its nature;that it is a native of a v arm climate; and that it has a long, grofs, tap-root, which runs })er- pendicular; and therefore feeds cheiPiy from the under flratum, perhaj^s at the depth of two or three feet.
Then
136 A NEW SYSTEM
Then again, let him turn his eye on his land, and Ice ii' it be of a deep, rich foil; if the under-llratum be a loam, or limellone- gravel, or a deep loamy fand, or a warm rich gravel, or a black hazel earth: if it be any of thefe, he may venture to fow his lu- cerne thereon; provided he ploughs deep, and till well.
However, in mofl: parts, I am afraid he will find, inftead of the above, a ftrong clay bottom, at the depth of about four or five inches, which is of a folid, clofe, hungry nature, that will not admit the root of a plant to enter.; nor has it any nourilhment that a plant can feed upon, without firil being opened by tillage and the air.
Ar.d what ilill adds to the evil, is, tiiat it hoIJs water like a difh, and v/ill not let it fink through, but keeps it flamming on the top amoneft the lod, furface or upper- llratum all wmrer ; fo that if cattle tread thereon it iniinediately works, or poaches to mortar.
Then certainly fuch land cannot be fuit- able for a plant of fucli a tender nature, and which feeks its nourilhment fo deep.
I.i luch land clover has the advantage; as it requires not fo deep land, bccaufe the root runs horizontally and keeps near the warm fui'facc.
A farmer
OF HUSBANDRY. 137
A farmer feeing the nature of the plant, and the land iuitable thereto may fquare his aHairs accordingly, in fuiting proper crops to proper land.
A voluminous writer tells us, that the lands of England are more fubjed to run to natural grafs. than any other country what- ever; infomuch fays he, that it is with great labour and expence we can keep it from getting head of the lucerne, and fpoiling the crop.
This I grant is the cafe ; and this alone is fufficient to fhew, that in general lucerne is not fo valuable in thcfe grally countries as in dry, hot, fandy countries, where natural grafs, or any other plant that roots {hallow, is burnt up.
From that author's faying that England is the moft gralTy country, I fuppofe he was a flranger to Ireland, or he muft have except- ed it ; and why it fhould be fo, is eafily ac- counted for : as that is occafioned by the moiftnefs of the climate, and the coldnefs of the foil, peculiar to that kingdom.
It has a rold clay-foil, intermingled here and there with loughs, lakes, moraffes or bogs, the damp from which is exhaled by the fun, and therefore fbftens the air, and again defcends in thick mills or fogs, heavy
dews
nS A NEW SYSTEM
'J
dews and fmall rains, which ahvajs keep the land wet, the grafs green, and in a growing Hate.
The rain is never fo heavy as in England, but much more conftant.
But England has few bogs, lakes, or loughs ; therefore the air is more clear and dry.
The rains of England fall feldomer, but much heavier.
Alfo the winter-froft and the air is {harp- er and more intenfe.
All thefe'confiderations muft fhew, that Ireland is the moft grafly country of th« two.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 139
CHAP. xxvm.
Now to manage Saintfoin, which fuits Ame- rica*
SAintfoIn is a valuable grafs, particu- larly where land is rocky, gravelly or fandy : and though in general, clover is the heft crop for this climate, yet faintfoin may anfwer in fome places very well, where the land is fubjed to rocks and ftones ; which makes meadow very Icarce (though the fummer herbage is good and plentiful) as the Toil amongft thefe rocks is naturally good, where it can be cultivated, fo as to be brougiit to any tolerable tildi,
Cn
140 A NEW SYSTEM
On fuch fow faintfoin ; and if tlic foil be ever fo fcanty, it will Rrike into every linall nitch or crevice, and feek its noiirilhment very deep, where no other graCj will live, or indeed can get a footing.
It is alfo good for foiling cattle : but in this lucerne has the advantage ; as it is of a quicker growth and lefs ftagnated with cut- ting : but as I before obferved, this is of little fignification to England or h'eland ; as they abound fully with good fummer-herb- age.
It is winter-feeding that we are to confi- der; as alfo to keep the land in full profit, till the return of natural grafs, after long tillage : and this is beft etTected by th^ two graftes clover and faintfoin : clover for the wet and fmoothefl land, and faintioin tor the fandy, rocky, or more ilony parts thereof, fuch as the wolds in Yorkfhire or Lincoln- ihire, Chiltern-hills, hcc.
As I have in a few words, given the vir- tues of faintfoin, I fhali not make a long chapter on the management thereof; as there is little alteration to be made between the raifing of faintfoin and lucerne or clo- ver.
Saintfoin maybe fown earlier than clover ©r lucerne ; as it is in lefs danger of being hurt by the frofl.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. 141
The land muft be well tilled, whether it be fown alone, or amongft corn : if it be fown amongft corn in the broad-caft method, harrow the ground once in a place, after tlie corn is fown, before the faintioin is Town.
This will make the ground a little level, that it may not be buried too deep in places. Yet as it is a large huiky leed, it inui.l have a covering, or it v/ili not grow ; but by be- ing harrowed in when the land is pretty rough it will be all fafficiently covered, pro- vided it be well harrov/ed aiterwards.
If it be fown in drills amongft the corn, llrelch a line and fcatter the feed along it, leaving intervals, the broadeft about three feet, and the narrowell eight inches, as di- rected for lucerne.
If it be fown by itfelf it muft be got into the ground by the firft of March.
Some will fow it at Michaelmas ; but I do not think this a good time, for it will not be a great deal earlier ; befides a fevere wm- ter may hurt it: and it is further to be con- fidered, that by keeping it out of the ground till fpring the ground can be winter-iallow-
edi
Vol. II. T
142 A NEW SYSTEM
ed ; which will add greatly to the fertility thereof. ^
If it be fown in drills and alone, fow it in every fixth or eighth hirrow as diredcd for lucerne ; but have a care not to cover it a- bove an inch deep at the moll.
Four bufhels of feed are generally ufcd to an acre in the broad-call ; but half a bufhel in the drill-way is fall enough for an Eng- lifh acre.
Lay up the faintfoin for hay about the firft of March, and it will be in blolfom about the firfl of June; when it is full in flower it is time to mow it; manage it in making as clover,
Obferve in eating it with flieep, not to eat it too near ; which will damage the root, and put it in danger of rotting, if they enter upon the head of the root : it is alfo dangerous to turn large cattle into a crop of faintibin, till it is wel ellablilhed in the ground, as they will be apt to tread it up and fpoil the plants.
The beft method to manage faintfoin, is to mow the tirft year, and caution the fcythe-man not to cut too near.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. 143
The next year, (heep may very well be fed on it ; and after this, it may be paftured or mown at the farmer's dilcretion ; as the roots by this time will be properly efta- bUlhed.
CHAP.
144 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XXIX.
On Rye Grafs, its FerfeBion and Management,.
•rv-YE-grafs is a native of our own king- doms : its quality is fuch, that it will grow in almolt any kind of land.
In cold clay or wet land it fiourifhes great- ly ; it will aifo grow well on high, dry, or fandy land ; which is very extraordinary, as as the oppolite extremes are fo great.
It is not nice, for it will grow amongfl any fort of grafs ; it will alfo encroach a- mongl\ corn ; but while it is Healing its foot- ing there, it is deemed a weed, and is known by the name of darnel.
It
OF HUSBANDRY, 145
It flourifhes greatly by culture, and will grow to the height of four feet, upon, good land.
The feed alfo grows large in proportion, and full of meal.
There are two forts, one called drokc, and the other darnel, in Latin, lolium.
They are both nearly the fame quality : there is no knowing the feeds afunder, they are fo nearly alike : the droke has a little larger or fuller grain, and I think is fomc- what more delicate in its growth ; for it ge- generally flourillies bell in tilled ground amongft corn.
It produces a far greater head of feed than darnel. I have counted a hundred and thirty-five feeds in one ear. '
The ears of droke and darnel differ con- fiderabiy.
That of darnel or rye-grafs grows clofc to the ftalk in two rows : but droke has a fpread ragged head of many branches, five or fix inches long, fpreading from the main ftalk, on the end of which branches the feed grovsts in bunches..
There is the fame diflint^ion to be ob- ferved in common hay-grafs, as to the form of the ear ; for though the root, flalk and feed are nearly alike, yet the ears dilTer,
fomc
146 A NEW SYSTEM
fome having an ear like darnel, and others a loofe, open, fpread ear like droke.
The greateft virtues of rye-grafs arc its early growth, and its good quahry ot" grow- ing on any fort of land. It is much better fodder than timothy grafs, and will thrive much better on the lame land and with greater fuccefs.
Thefe two excellencies fhould induce every farmer to provide himfelf with fomc of it.
There is no farmer but would be glad of a piece of early grafs to feed lambs on : or if he had not lambs to turn in his cows^ that are generally dropping their calves in the fpring, which would be greatly forward- ing their milk.
It is alfo an excellent feeding for recruit- ing' calves and foals, who have hardly ef- caped the feverity of the winter.
In fhort a few acres of rye-grafs would be of more value to a farmer, than he can well conceive ; and when his natural grafs- paflure comes to a head, he may lay up his artificial grafs-land for l^ay, and not doubt of a good crop.
Rye-grafs is alfo wholcfome feeding to mix among clover- feed when fown, as it will help to prevent cattle from hoving.
However
OF HUSBANDRY. 147
However though I have faid fo much in letting forth the advantages of rye-grafs : yet it is not without its fauh ; and this is its be- ing an impoverifher of land, though not in a very great degree ; for a crop of rye-grafs with rhe land laid dov^^n in heart, , will hold good for ten or twelve years.
Your beft oeconomy is, to mow it one year, and graze it another alternately : and though it may be its property to reduce land a little, I do not think a farmer can fow a better crop, provided he does it with dif- cretion, and fows it on his ftrongeft, wet, .clay-land, or where clover wall not fucceed fo well.
But where clover will thrive, it is furely preferable to all other artificial herbage; and if I recommend rye-grafs, it is only for a- bout live or ten acres in a hundred, to be applied chiefly for fprinr feeding.
The culture of rye-grafs is very fimple and eafy.
It may be fown amongft corn with any fort of grafs feed or by itielf, as there is no dovbt of its growing.
If it be fown with clover and barley w^hich is the beft management, fow two bulhels on an Englifh acre ; but if it be fown alone, fourbufhels is the compliment,
and
148 A NEW SYSTEM
and fo in proportion for an Irifh or Scotch acre.
The old broad-cafl: way is the bell: to low it in ; for which choofe a calm day, krt it fhould blow on heaps as the feed is hght.
It may be fown with the corn; for it will take as mych harrowing, being a light feed.
Neither is there much fear of burying it too deep, and yet it will grow if it lies above ground.
Where grafs-land of any fort is too thin rye-grafs or white hay-feeds may be fown on the furface and rolled, and they will grow the firft rain.
The greatefl care mull be taken to mow ryc-grais in the proper feafon, if no rej^ard be paid to the feed.
The time to mow it is the firft ihoot- ing of the ear when it is full of lap, but if it be for feed let it Hand till the ear begins to turn brown.
There is a medium however to be ufed between both : and diat is, to mow it when the ear is full, but the feed not above lalf- ripe, by this a good deal ofjuiccs arc catched in the llalk, and the feed ripens and hardens as the hay is making.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. 149
The feed will be very fmall, but found, and will grow very well , it muft be trelhed like corn, to take the feed out.
An tnglifh acre may produce upwards of thirty bufhels of feed.
CHAP.
Vol. H. U
150 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XXX.
7'he PerfeMion and Management of Burnet,
THE world is obliged to one Mr. Bar- tholemew Roquc, who has for many years laft paft been a farmer near London ; but is a native of France.
I mention his place of abode, becaufc the lands and climate near London differ greatly from thofe in Ireland, Scotland and the north of England.
In 1 76 1 this plant was firft began to be cultivated for the ufe of cattle. It is a
pimpcrncll.
OF HUSBANDRY. ip
pimpernell, and commonly cultivated for fallad, and has a fmell very like green cu- cumber ; its feed is rough like fpinage, and much about the fame fize ; its fhape is of a triangular oblong : the iphnt never grows high, being of a fpreading creeping nature, and has a very bufhy top ; it alfo has an exceeding long root that runs per- pendicular, and therefore requires a deep foil.
Mr. Rpque*s account of it is as here fol- lovk^s :
Says he it muft be fown on fandy or gra- velly ground ; and the longeft drought will not in the leaft hurt it ; it alfo will either grow or keep green the entire winter : its growth will be about a half a yard in length/ for the winter half-year : it may be mown twice in the fummer, and will produce two crops of feed ; it may be fed all the win- ter, vvith every fafety from injuring or kill- ing the plants ; though fheep mull not be allowed to crop it too clofc, left they da- mage the root.
The feafon for fowing it, is, from Fe- bruary to July.
It will bear tranfplanting ; but it muft be fown the broad-caft w^ay ; it muft alio be trenched two or three fpades deep ; but take care, fays he, not to turn up dead ground. Sow
iSt A NEW SYSTEM
Sovf twelve pounds of feed on an En- gliJh acre ; harrow the ground before fov> - ing, and lightly after ; when the feed is ripe, threfh it between wet and dry ; the liay ife very good feeding for all forts of cattle.
He fays, that, if it be laid up for mea- dow in May. it will be ready to cut for feed the beginning of July.
If it be mown for hay (having no regard to the feed) it will bring three crops in a year, and mud be cut for hay, juft before it begins to flower ; it muft be made for hay, lllie ^ny artificial grals.
Such is Mr. Roque's account of burnet ; jhrd as he has a right to know it better than any other perlon, being the ftrfl introducer I fhall neither add to, nor diminifh from his experience.
i-Jowever I cannot help taking notice, that if we cannot raife burnet to perfecftion v/ithout digging two or three fpades deep, as he directs, I am afraid the expence will overbalance the profit : fince an acre of ground, by fuch digging or trenching, and tjiat to be doue only once over, will coft at lead about fix pounds, bcfides leed, ma- nure, land-rent, and all other naceifary ex- pences.
Again
OF HUSBANDRY. 153
Again, if we take care not to turn up any dead foil, we muft not go above five or fix inches deep : becaufc in fa(ft, all that lies below the upper ftratum or corn-mold, is dead earth, till it is turned up to the air, and incorporated with manure, or roots of fome fort or other : for thefe are the princi- ples that mull enliven, ferment and bring it to an adlive body ; for till then it is a dead one.
So that in fhort, I cannot tell what fort of foil Mr. Roque expels us to work in, except in garden-mold, whofe upper flra- tum or furface is kept two or three feet deep by conftant trenching.
I rather think he Ihould have told us to take care, and not throw up the under-i^ra- tum, except it can be done with fafety ; nor to hurt or fpoil the corn-mold, y/hich it certainly muft do, if it be a hungry, cold, red clay, or ramel.
If this be the cafe, as doubtlefs it is, the farmer muft fii ft examine how deep the fta- ple of his land is, and fix upon that wliich (u its it beft, being the good deep fort : it is true a ftrong rlay bottom may be mude to anfwer for it ; but it muft be by dint of la- bour and manure.
CHAP.
154 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XXXI.
O;; ManuriKg La?id,
JVjR. Tull tells us (and very warmly fup- ports his allertion i that dung is a ufelels article to a farmer, particularly in corn- land ; and recommends tillage before it ; daily experience tells us, he was in fonic degree miilaken. For though I admit, and am as clearly fatisfied, as he could be,, that ploughing will enrich or fertilize land to a great pitch ; yet I am well convinced, that dung, manure, or compoll of any fort, which bears a proportion of falts or ferti- lizing oils, will caufe a fermentation, by adding to, and mixing with the falts of the air, and therefore doubtlefs will add to the enriching of the loil. Again
OF HUSBANDRY. IC5
Again, though reafon fpcaks fo much in favour of: enriching the foil by ploughing ; and though Mr. Tull, and all the authors in the world were to make it as plain as one and one makes two, that tillage is fufficient to make poor land rich enough to produce any crop ; yet nine tenths ot the farmers would not follow it ; and though a farmer may give his land a good dreffing, fit for any crop, by ts^^elve ploughings, at about thirty {hillings cxpence ; yet he would ra- ther bellow three or four pounds an acre in manure to put thereon.
So blind is man to his own intereft, par- ticularly if it lead out of the old road.
For my part, I am of Mr. Tuli's, and feveral other authors opinion ; and there- fore fhall not manure corn-land, but en- rich that by ploughing, and lay the manure upon grafs-land; where reafon tells us it is of moil ufc.
Firfl, becaufe grafs-land lies in a clofc confolidated body ; and therefore is depriv- ed of the enriching qualities of the air pe- netrating there amongll, which ploughed land enjoys, or receives, every time it is turned up.
^Secondly, it nourifhes the roots ofgrafs, and fuppreffes, or at leafl retards the growth of mofs.
Thirdly
-156 A NEW SYSTEM
Thirdly, it is obfervable, that manure always links; therefore, if it be laid on when in tillage, it is an equal chance, but pne half of it will be lort, becaufe what the plough turns to the bottom of the farrow, ftill keeps finking lawer and lower, till it gets out of the reach of the plough to turn up or plant to feed upon j but on the ocher hand, when it is laid on the grafs, or lay- land, it drains through the furface in its paiTage, and ferments with, lightens and opens the earth, and makes it rich and mellow.
Fourthly, dung, in particular, breeds weeds, flies> worms, &cc. which caufes fmut and mildew.
All thefe reafons muft appear very plain and obvious to a farmer's underftanding ; and I would have him to bear them in mind ; and when he reads over the follow- ing lift of manures, he may the more eafi- ly determine with himfelf, how to adapt this or that to its proper foil, or part of hufbandry, according as it fuits his convc- nicncy for carriage and cheapncfs.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 157
CHAP. XXXII.
On Manures in general.
ANY thing that has the moil falts or ni- tre, is thericheft manure ; and there- fore a lefs bulk is required to be laid on the land.
As for inftance, fome fort of marl re- quires to be laid nearly as thick as the plough goes ; and others not much thicker than lime ; being fo ftrong that were too much laid on, it would overpov/er or deflroy the land, to fuch a degree, that nothing would grow well for at leaft two or three years af- ter.
Marl will laft longer in the ground tham any other manure.
Vol. II. X I have
158 A NEWSY STEM
I have known land, which -has given fif-^ teen good crops running, alter being well marled.
Ffvv farmers but what may know which is the bell manure, and the eafied to come at, according to tJieir own lituation ; tliere- fore 1 Ihxil leave them to jud;.£e for them- lelves, which fuits their purpofe or fituation beft.
Horfe and cow dung is good almoft for every fort of meadow-land ; but 1 do not approve of it for corn : the former is the hx)tteft in nature ; and therefore muft: (to chufe) be laid on the coldeft land : every one knov/s bell: what condition his land is in,, whether rich or poor ; for thcroto it inuR be fuited in quantity.
Pigeon-dung is a very rich manure, and will bear land-carriage better than mofl others ; as a little will go a great way.
In England it will fell from ten to thir- teen pence per bufhel ; forty of which will give an Englilh acre a good dieffing : it muft be fown upon the ground, and harrowed in with the grain, by the way of a top-dreiring; it will be found to enrich the land two or three crops.
Thofe that wauld make the moft of a pi- geon-houfe, fhould fpread over the floor, everv ten d'i;s, three or four buihels of
aihe5|
O F HUSBANDB.Y. ijp
-afhes ; which will help to keep the pigeon- 'dung from caking together, and make it Ipi ead even and go farther.
Hen, or fovvls dung of all forts, fhould be mixed with alhes lor the above rejlfon.
Lirtle-houfe dung is one of the richeil: of manures, but the leaft regarded, on account of its foft, (linking, naufeous quality; but this is eafily cured, by throvring a fufficient quantity of roch-lime into the iirtle-hou(c, which will dry it to fuch a coniiilence, thai: it will fpread as well as -alhes, and have no dif^greeabie fmell.
Thirty bufhels will fpread an Englilh acre : harrow it in with the corn, by way of a top-drefiing ; or Ipread it on in Febru- ary, for a wheat crop.
Soot is a rich manure for any kind of land.
Writers differ greatly in their opinion, ^whether coal or wood foot be the richeft or bell ; but this is throwing words to the wind as no one will change his fuel for the fake of "the difference in the foot : the matter is fo 'trifling, that it is not worth entering into any particulars about.
Soot is foot ; and he that lays fixteen
"bulhels on an Englilh acre, of any fort of
foot, gives his land a good drelfmg ; and
•kfs will not do: it mull be harrow d la
^ tvit
i>6o A NEW SYSTEM.
with the corn, by way of a top-drcflTing ; or it may be Tpread, after the corn comes up, and it will dcftroy red worms alfo.
It will do very well for meadow ; pro- vided it be laid on, jufl: after the hay is got off: it will lad five or fix years fo as to an- fvver for crops.
Afhes is another good manure for a crop or two, and particularly for turnips ; as turnips fi'om burn-beating are the fweeteft and bell of all others.
Afties are raifed by feveral means, and from various principles.
Some by burn-beating, others from our conilant firing, fuch as coal, turf or wood : the richeil of thefe is wood : the next in value is turf- : and the worll of the three is coal : though between turf and coal there is no material difference : all forts of alhes lofe much of their flrength, by being thrown out of doors to get wet ; they will laft in the ground two crops.
A hundred and fixty bufhels of wood- allics, and two hundred and twenty of ei- ther turf or coal, is the due for an Iriih acre, and fo in proportion for an Engliili one ; they mufh be harrowed in ; but if for wheat-land, it is bell to fpread them, by w ay of a top dreffing in February.
Burnt
OF HUSBANDRY. i6i
Burnt clay, or backs of ditches is another forced manure, and will bring one good crop ; about three hundred and twenty bulhels on an Irilh acre, being two bufhels to each fquare perch, will give land a toler- able good dreffing ; this muft be harrowed in with the corn ; as fo much carriage go- ing on wheat, would fpoil it.
Now I come to treat of the mother of all manures, namely fait ; for every fort of manure is higher or lower in value, accord- ing to the faits it produces ; and every fort of manure is proportioned to the land, ac- cording to the quantity of falts or nitre it is thought to have in it, and not to the bulk.
Formerly, fait was thought to be an im- poverilher of land ; but experience has taught wifdom ; it is now found to be other- wife ; provided it be duly proportioned to the i\ate the land is in, and mixed to mol- lify it, as follovvs, viz.
Take fix bulhels of fait, fix bufhels of ^ lime, and fix buihels of dry afnes : mix all together : let them lie fome time to incor- porate together ; then fpread them on the land, and harrow them in with the feed : this is a fufficient dreffing for an Englifli acre : for it is better to repeat it, than tQ lay too much at once.
By
idz A NEW SYSTEM
By being thus mixed, one particle incor- porates with and molitics the other. Sak in itfelf is rather too levere and harih in its nature, and if laid too thick on, might prove of bad confequence : whereas if con- veyed into the earth by a foapy fmooth me- thod, it will prove the very enrichcr the earth wants to fend forth vegetation ; this will lail for three crops.
I am convinced, it a farmer was to mix lalt with any fort of earth or manure, and let it lie long enough to inco:porate, he might lay it on thinner in bulk, in propor- tion to the falts it contained : and he would find his ends in fo doing.
Sea weeds, Ihells, filh, fea-water, fea- fand : all thefe bear a proportion of falts or nitre, and therefore muft be efteemed a manure : though fuch will not laft more than two years in a tillage-crop.
Old rags, rotten i\icks, or in {hort any thing will make manure that will rot or pu- trify : for by luch comes on a fermentation with the earth : and crofling nature, in any cafe, makes it work, ferment, and divide the particles of each other. Kven taking one piece of foil, ten or fifteen perches from its native fpot, and mixing it with ano- ther piece in the fame field, will fct it a wo- king, fo that oae will help the other in fertility. Lime
OF HUSBANDRY. 163
Lime is a manure known by every one, though but {ew know rightly how to pro- portion it to the land : as fome land will re- quire more by twenty bulhels an acre, than ethers : and on the other hand, a hundred bulliels of fome lime will be ftrong, and give the land as good a dreffing as an hun- dred and thirty of others.
A farmer muft confider all thefe circum- ftances before he can be a thorough judge how to drefs his land properly : he muft obferve that the deeper the corn-mold is, the more lime is taken to enrich it : and in- deed this is the cafe with all forts of ma- nures ; therefore he muft bear this in his mind r it will lad eight or nine years.
An hundred and lixty buibels, being one on every fquare perch, are fufficient for the worft land in England, at one dreffing : but if the lime be ftronger than common, low- er the quantity thirty or forty bufhels.
The flrength of the lime is known by the Icffer or greater quantity of fand it contains : for the more grit or fand much the weaker it is.
The way to try lime-ftone is, hy drop- ping a little aquse-fortis on every ftone, that is likely : and if it hiffes and froths, it will make lime : but it will take no more effedl on any other fort of ftone, than water would. Lima
i64 A NEW SYSTEM
Lime is one of my favourite manvires, as I have fcen it work miracles : and if pro- perly managed by proportion, never fails its proprietor.
The bell way to try marl, lime-ftone- gravel, &cc. is with vinegar : take a glafs of vinegar, into which put a little marl, or lime-ftone gravel : and if it be good, it will work up, froth and fly in fparks over the glafs like champaign, and make a noife like new barm : but if the earth be poor, the vinegar will take no effecl : but the earth will fall to the bottom, without life or motion, and the vinegar will be quite fine above.
Soaper's waRe is a very good manure : about twenty tons are fufficient for an Eng- lifh acre.
Large quantities arc made ufe of about Liverpool: which are brought over from Dublin, as ballaft in fhips.
They generally fell it for about three flill- lings a ton. The land will receive benefit from this drelTmg for five or fix crops.
Afhes made of weeds, for the time they iaft, are nearly as good a manure as can be laid on land : and there are few farmers but what have plenty of thofe weeds about their houfes : but the way to make the mofl: of them^ is to dig thern up by th« roots, and
■ take
OF ttUSBANDRY.^ 165
take a fod along with them ; by this means they will yield a greater quantity of afhes, and the roots are fuller of falts than the top; this manure is fpent by the firft crop ; and therefore the fecond crop will not receive much benefit by it.
Forty bufhels will give an Englifh acre a good dreffing ; harrow them in, with the grain ; or they may be fpread on green wheat, any time in winter or fpring, by way of a top-dreffing.
Vol.11. Y CHAP.
i66 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XXXIII.
On the Compound Manure.
r M'\
4 HIS compound manure as follows, I have tried, and find to be a great en- richer, and very cheap.
Take eight bufhels of bay-falt, the like quantity of lime, and the like quantity of allies ; mix all thefe together, and let them lie two or three days in a heap, and fprin- kle over it four gallons of train-oil, or for want of that, the fame quantity of any fort of greafe boiled, and ten gallons of cham- ber-lie.
If you intend it for corn-land, throw up the corn-mold in the middle of the field you intend to manure, to the bulk of about fixty bufhels ; with this mix the compound well ; then ciap it up clofe in a heap ; and
turn
OF HUSBANDRY. 167
turn it every week, till you lay it on the land : the oftener you turn it, the better, as the air will affift the different particles in working or fermenting together.
If you provide it fix or twelve months be- fore it is wanted, the better and fmoothcr it will be.
This is alio to be applied as a top- dreffing, either to be harrowed in with the grain, or fown over green wheat in winter.
Jf you would lay it on grafs lay-land, mix it v/ith backs of ditches, or the like, in the mod convenient place for carriage.: the befl time to fpread it on the meadow-ground, is, about Michaelmas ; but, if corn -land, harrow it in with the feed : this is a due quantity for an Englifh acre.
The expence, in the middle of England, would be about twenty (hillings. And the ground will be better for three or four crops.
Malt-dufl is an exceeding good manure for ftrong or deep land, by way of a top- dreffing, either to be harrowed in with the feed, or (own on in the beginning of Fe- bruary.
Sixty bufhels is a good dreiTrng for an Engliih acre.
It
i68 A NEW SYSTEM
It is particularly good to fow on a crop of green wheat ; but if it be fown among fpring-corn, it muft be harrowed in, along with the feed.
It will anfwer for fand-lancl ; but, in this cafe, it fhould be laid on early in winter.
This manure will not laft longer than two crops.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 169
€ H A P. XXXIV.
On Liquid Manure,
J^ H I S is a ftagnated refervoir of water, of a rich, green, or blackilli colour ; and few farmers in England JDut what have it near their houfes, by way of horfe ponds, and where cattle drink, or ftand to keep them from flies in fvimmer, which by their urine and dung is turned green or black, and made very rich ; alfo where dung-hills . difcharge themfelves into ; as there is gene- rally a receptacle for fuch near a houfe.
I am greatly furprifed to fee this valuable manure made no ufe of in America, Eng- land, Ireland, or Scotland : did the far- mers know the value of it, as well as I do, they would not have one gallon loft.
In
I70 A NEW SYSTEM
In Germany and Flanders, they think more of it than they do of a dunghill, and will go and buy a pit of liquid manure, and carry it feveral miles.
They make their little-houfe dung into liquid manure.
In Ihort, I know nO manure that is more certain to give one a good crop, than this.
The fir ft time I tried it, was, in watering a garden out of a hurfe-pond, which- the dunghill dripped into ; I found a fediment at the bottom, which I conftantly, at the time I was uling it, kept ftirring from the bottom, fo as to raife all the fediment or manure.
1 never ufed any other dung, yet 1 had remarkably great garden-crops ; fuch let- tuce I never faw , my grofs-lettuce was like cabbages.
I watered my wall-fruit, fuch as peaches, nectarines, apricots, rigs, vines, and cher- ries ; and I never, in my life, either had or fav/ fo great crops.
The next time I had an opportunity to try it, was in this manner, viz.
It happened to be a dry fummcr, and corn was dear; which was the occafion of many beggars ; which, indeed, Ireland never wants (for it was in Ireland) being naturally of a charitable difpofition, I gave a deal away. Whe.x
OF HUSBANDRY. 171,
When flurdy able beggars ufed to. come, it was natural to alk, why they did not. work ; the anfwer was, they could get no work.
At this time, I had little employment for labourers ; however, I was refolved to ftrike out fome work for them. 1 had a meadow near the houfe, which was burn- ing by the heat of the fun ; for it was a very hot time.
I got tubs, that held about four gallons each, and agreed to give ev^ery beggar, that faid he wanted work, a farthing for every tub of water he carried out of a horfe-pond, and fpread over the field , I kept the water always ftiriing, to raife all the mud I could.
This fcheme anfwered two or three good ends, as far as it continued to take place.
Firft, it got the people a little money.
Secondly, it raifed me an exceeding good crop of hay.
Thirdly, it effe<5lually cleared the houfe of beggars ; for it was foon reported, that if they came near my houle, they would be made work ; but, as it proved, this was the worft part of the ftory, for they left me too foon ; if they had flaid, I Ihould have had a good crop of hay through the field, but they left me by the time an acre was
manured :
i7e A NEW SYSTEM
manured: it coft me between four and f-/e {hillings, but a good many tubs were carried gratis ; for when fome of them had carried two or three tubs, if I turned my back or went into the houfe, they threw down their veffels and fneaked off without afking for their wages.
I would advife every gentleman or farmer ta provide themfelves with a (launch pit or refer voir for this purpofe, fo fituated as to receive all the drippings of their dung-hills, hog-yards, or wafhing water, or the like.
In order to carry it on the land, fix a hogfliead in a cart, the hind part ot which muft be loweR : inclofe the cart with boards and the hind board muft be bored fiill of gimlet holes all the breadth of the body : the top or bung hole of the hogfhead being be- hind, let go the M^ater and the gimlet holes will divide it the breadth of the cart^ m the nature of a water pot.
Keep the horfes moving flowly on, and the water unlades itfelf equally over the land.
Carry out your water in the firft dry time, fo the land will not cut: it is valuable for grafs or corn : broad wheels are moft pro- per for this work.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 173
C H A P. XXXV.
On Clay and Sand: fiewing how\ when mix- ed together, they operate to make good/oil^ though when feparated they are of very Ih- tle ufe.
TH E mo ft delirable ftate of land, is that of a loamy clay : it is known in fbme parts of England by the name of wrap- land ; it is in a middling ftate, neither a binding clay, noF-a loofe fand, it is a mix- ture of both,, but the clay is moft predo- minant, which is the reafon why it is called a loamy clay; it is of a bluilh greafy colour: it is generally of a deep llaple, and if it be well tilled, fcarce ever fails of bringing a Vol. II. Z good
174- A NEW SYSTEM
good crop of any fort : nothing can be fown in it (fuitable to the climate) but what it will make nonrifh.
The next in value is that of a loamy fand ; this is alfo a mixture of clay and land ; but in this the fand is mod predominant, there- fore the emphafis or ftrefs ol'the word is laid on fand : this flaple of earth extends irfelf to that of hazel earth ; for tho' hazel earth and laamy fand differ in name, in quality they are nearly alike, only the lighter and opener they are, the more fand is in the compound.
Sometimes indeed the fand is mixed with a black, light, fmooth earth, inclined to a turf, or peat-mold.
This is a light water-fhaken earth, and lower in value, than if mixed with a flrong clay.
In my travels through England I have of- ten feen a farm, one part of which was a flrong, tough, obdurate clay, and another a light blowing fand : fo that in fa(ft, the two bodies feparate, lie in a barren ufelefs ftate.
If we lay dung upon the fand, its loofe open nature foon lets the falts drain through it, fo that its virtue is foon exhaufted.
If we lay it on the tough clay, its particles are too weak to adhere to it, or to open or
divide
OF HUSBANDRY. 175
divide the folid cpngealed bo Jy ol clay, fo as to work it by fermentation, iuid open or divide it into fmall particles, widioat ii;i im- menle quantity.
And where there is fo little laid on, as not to eilabliih itlelf into this confolidate(i body, or move it by fermentation, it mtics away with every fhower of rain that falls, and runs off by the furface, or purges itfelf out of any vent-hole it can find.
But if a coat of fand was laid on the bed of clay, it would be fure to make its way amongll it, bccaufe it is of a cutting, pon- derous frarching nature ; therefore it will divide the glutinous clinging body of clay, into fmall particles, which would cling or flick to every grain of fand.
The nature of the two bodies mixing to- gether thus, admits or rather opens a paf- lage for the air to penetrate amongfi: it, fo as to caufe a fermentation ; for nothing wil or can ferment without air.
It is the air that raifes every thing to life and action : it is the air that is conveyed into drink in the body of barm that makes it work or ferment : this is the cafe in flour alfo ; for conveying the air among the fiour by the means of the barm, caufes a ferment- ation : for barm is fcarce any thing elfe but air; you fee, if you put new ale into bot- tles.
176 A NEW SYSTEM
ties, before it has purged itfclf of barm, or more properly ipeaking of air, it will burft the bottles.
Or if you drink it, you convey among the body of n\<: drink, air into your own belly, which you generally difchargc foon after in a bre?.ch of wind.
I mention thcle things to open the ideas more fully to my reader, that he may know what 1 mean by fermentation : for if he does not open a pailagc into the body of clay with lome mlirument, or compound, io as to admit, or make a palTage for the air to penetrate therein, to raife it to action by fermentation, it will remain a dead inactive body ; and if any Iced happei to be bound or mclolcd therein, it will never grow or v-cgetate till the earth is opened about it to give it air.
I fay any fort of feed th?3t contains an oily matter, iuch as rape-feed, cabbage-feed, turnip-fccd, kctlock-iced, muftard-fccd, or the like, will lie in the ground a thou land years or more, and will neither rot nor grow, till it gets air.
The oil prefcrves it from rotting, and grow it cannot, unlefs it be raifed to adion l3y fermentation, and fuch fermentation can- not mile without air.
This
OF HUSBANDRY. 177
This is evidently experienced almoft eve- <iy day : for if we plough up a piece of lay land that has not been ploughed for feveral generations, there is great odds ; but upon being turned up, fome of thefe oily feeds I mentioned will grow : and it is evident that they would have grown before, if they had air.
1 mention thefe things to prove how ne- ceffary it is to open the earth, either by til- lage, or by mixing different natures toge- ther.
And as we fee that loain is the beft fort of corn mold, how eafy is it to make a loam, by mixing fand and clay together.
If a held be a ftrong clay, lay a cart load of fand upon every fquare perch and this will make a compound or body of earth, commonly called loamy clay, bccaufe clay is the ])redominant article.
This will open and divide the body of clay ; the air will incorporate therewith, -and bring on a fermentation, which will fwell^ open and reduce the earth to a friend- ly confiilence, vvhich v/iil admit the roots ■of plants to incorporate or iearch among it for their food.
Suppofe a field be fand, it is of little ufe, perhaps to its proprietor, as it will not feed either the roots of corn or grafs ; that is, it
is
178 A NEW SYSTEM
is of too open a nature, and wants a flimy, fmooth, gluey fubllance (fuch as clay con- fifts of) among it to unite the gritty, pebbly particles of the fand together ; each of which particles before was a caUfed, hard, feparate body, out of which iilued no nou- rifhment for plants, as the grain or itaple w^s too coarfe or large for the fine fibres of a root to feed upon ; but when clay is in- troduced amongft it, the flimy, fmoother particles thereof wrap round or clog about the grains of fand, which being affilled by the air, and the falts thereof, divides thefe little flubborn round bodies into Imaller particles, by Ihelling or melting fcale aftpr icale from them : fo that the body of the fand, and that of the clay, being mehed into a thin, fine, fmooth matter, between them they create a nourifhing fine food for plants.
Thus farmers fee how effential it is to mix fand and clay together. A two-horfe cart-load of clay upon every f([uare perch of fand land, would change the nature of the foil to fuch a degree, that it might be called a loamy fand, which is the fecond befl earth.
The above is taking in all forts of clay and fand, as it fpeaks in general, becaufe a mixture, let it be what fort it will, is valu- able
OF HUSBANDRY. 179
able ; but however there are different de- grees of both clay and fand, and where we are fo lucky as to find on our lands, that which contains the moft falts, it is the great- eft treafure.
Moft marls are a fort of clay, and differ according to the colour and weight of falts or oils contained in them.
According to the quantity of falts or oils you fuppofe your marl or clay to contain, and the depth of foil or corn-mold you have to work in, fo proportionably mix your marl or clay and fand together.
The blue marl and brown marl arc near- ly of one ftrength : they arc generally very hard to be dug: fometimes the labourers are obliged to ufe pick-axes to loofen it with ready for the fpade.
Thefe are good forts of marl, and to be found in many places in England and Scot- land, where they lie difregarded, owing to their owners not knowing their value.
When they come to be laid on the land, and expofed to the air, they fall to duft, and melt with rain or froft : any clay or marl that does this, is fure to contain a great body of falts ; for it is thefe that fhi- ver and melt the earth about them to come at the air, and the air at them.
A deep
i8o A NEW SYSTEM^
A deep corn-mold, and particularly it* fandy, will take about three cart loads to two fquare perches, at five yards and a half per perch.
The next marl in quality, and which is moft fuitable to ftrong land, ia white fhelly marl, it generally lies under bogs and mo- rafles : it is light, but of a very rich nature, has a great likenefs to lime, and indeed will almoft go as far as flecked lime in manuring: however it may be laid on a cartload to each Iquare perch, without hurting the land, tho* lefs may do.
The next is a frcc-ftone-marl : it is white as lime, but has no fhells in it ; it is moft proper for clay; it has a fharp acid fpirit, and therefore muft be laid thin on the land ; it is the worft of all marls.
There are three clays, the blue, red and white ; the beft of thele for manure to fand land is the blue, as it comes the neareft to marl: but they will all melt and open when mixed with the fand.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. i8i
CHAP. XXXVL
On Clay, Sand and MarU
THERE are feveral denominations of fands and gravel ; of thefe the lime- ftone gravel is the belt ; it abounds greatly all over Ireland, except in the county af Cork.
This is of a very rich quality, particu- larly if it be of the marly fort : in fad it is no other than marl ; only that is m^ixed with a fmall blue lime-ftone, from the fize of a hazel-nut, to a good fized paving-flone, which would all burn and make good lime: it is thofe that give it the name of li^e-
ftonc Vol. U. A a
rS/ A NEW SYSTENf
ilonc gravel : it is a very valuable manure ani-l which contributes greatly to enrich Ire- land.
A coat of this will change ling or heathy ground, to ihamrocks or wild clover ; it is to be met with in Scotland and England, in foine places.
There is another fort of lime-ftone gra- vel, which is of the gritty, fandy kind ; but it is not fo good as the marly fort : it is fuitable for clay-land.
There is a iort of fand in Ireland, that is alfo very good manure for ftrong land. I have lecn it in England, but never faw it made ufe of.
In (act the Englifh farmers are not fo piy- ing into the bowels of the earth as they ought to be, to find out thefe valuable ma- nures : this fand is of a rough, round, grit- ty kind, a bluilh caft ; it abounds much vvith-falts. I have feen it produce amazing- ly great crops both of corn and grafs, for fifteen or fixteen years together.
Sea-fand is another good manure, where farmers are fituatcd conveniently, fo that ta^t'iage will not bring it too high.
The red or blue fand that lies on the fur- face of the earth, in many parts of England and fuch as wc raifc corn in, is no manure,
except
OF HUSBANDRY. 183
except to clay-laiiil, as above obferved; and it is on luch land as this that clay is fo valu- able, where marl cannot be got.
Chalk is an excellent manure for clay- ground, and will lail many yeai-s ; it is- ve- ry good for fand, but not of that value as for clay.
What adds to the value of chalk, clays, or marl as manure, is their lading fo long in the ground.
If land be well covered with any of thefe heavy manures, it will fhew their value bv throwing up good crops for ten or fii'teen years.
Such bodies of manure are very ponder- ous, and therefore generally keep finking till they get below the reach of the plough to turn up : when this happens it Ihould be trench-ploughed.
The beft method of liming, marling, claying or chalkirg land, is to lay thofe ■manures on the fod : and let them remain (after being fpread) for one year or tvv^o be- fore the land is ploughed, in order that they may adhere, grow or incorporate with the earth, which will make them much more valuable and Lifting. Befides, the air ope- rates more violently and quickly upon them :by their being expo fed, w^hich if they were
coverei
184 A NEW SYSTEM
covered with earth they would in fome de- gree be Icreened from ; and it is the air that caufes them to open and fhiver to pieces, and ferment with the corn mold, as will ap- pear more fully in the next chapter.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 185
CHAP. XXXVII.
On the weakeft and worji of all Sands, or worn-out or fired Earth : how to make Marl or Clay unite thereto, &c.
AS I have feen a bad blowing white {and in many parts of England, and par- ticularly in Norfolk, which has baffled all the Norfolk farmer's boafted management to improve, and the fame is in fome parts of America ; I (hall beftow a chapter on this fort alone, and (hall think my time well fpent, if I can put them in a way to make fuch land ufeful, as at prelent lies ufelefs and neglecfted.
There are two forts of what we call blow-^ ing fand, viz. white and grey which is of a very fmooth, fine grain, and deflitute of
any
lU A NEW SYSTEM
any clayey, oily, or glutinous fubflance to iiold it together, or for plants to feed upon.
Among the many tracls of this fort in England, I lliall mention one which lies round Thetford in Norfolk. Though the Norfolk farmers imagine themfclves fuperior to any other for management, yet they con- fefs themfelves not qualified to impro\e this fort of foil; and the reafon they give, is that it is fo poor and weak, that the marJ or clay will not unite therewith, of which they have great plenty under thefe beds of fand in mo ft parts of Norfolk.
I was told of a farmer near Thetford, who was noted for being a better manager than the reft of the neighbours ; I went to view his crops, and was agreeably furprifed to fee about two hundred and forty acres of barley, that was extremely good, in the midft of a very fandy, barren country ; in ■{hort, one acre might juftly be deemed as good as any of the beft two I faw in the country ; the crop might be judged to pro- duce forty-four bulhels an acre, upon an average.
This farmer had been brought up a fhop- keeper, and had taken this farm a lew years before, to the no fmall diverfion of fome of the bigotted farmers about him, who hoped to fee him breal:, for his prefiiming to be a farmer. Hr
or HUSBANDRY. t%j
He was a rational, fenfible man, and laid Bis plans upon reafon, and not upon old Guftoms, which are very prevailing amongft the illiterate, however abfurd.
The rent of the farm was two hundred pounds a year, for which he had perhaps about twelve hundred acres of land, fome- part of which was valued at five Shillings aa at:re, and oth^r at little or nothing.
His chief improvement conlifted of marl- ing on the fod, for the land had been a fheep-walk for many years ; it had been- ploughed formerly till they could get no more corn, and then left to chance. It had been perhaps twenty or thirty years in com- ing to a thin fod, which was fcarce then fuf- ficient to keep the wind from blowing the ground away; and though the flieep were fmali, two acres would fcarce keep one of them alive.
His crops confided chiefly of barley^ rye, turnips and clover : he had a little wheat on his bcft land, that had been ftrongly marled.
He marled upon lay ; though moft farm- ers in Norfolk marl upon fallow, or broken ground ; this is the rock they fplit upon, where they ufe it at ail. But indeed m.arl is much negle(R:ed in Norfolk ; I do not know a county in England, that is more
capable
i88 A NEW SYSTEM
capable of improvement by marl than this, were they to apply it with judgment.
The fad is, the country is moftly under tillage of barley, clover, rye-grafs and tur- nips : the clover and rye-grafs feldom lie above one crop, or at moft tw^o, before they break ir up again for turnips ; there- fore tney are neceffitated to marl upon bro- ken ground, except they would lay it upon the clover-ftubble as foon as the barley is off ; which by the bye, is the befl way, tho* they have not the leall notion of it.
Were they to do this, the ftubble would keep it up, till the young clover grew thro* and united and incorporated it with the fod or corn -mold ; the frofl would alfo fhiver and temper the clods, and bring them to a reparation : this is one great reafon why all clays or marls ought to lie on the fod a year or two expofed, and to unite therewith.
But on the contrary, the Norfolk farmers lay it on a loofe, fine, weak foil ; there it is in clods, tumbled about with the plough, in the courfe of the fallow ; and as it is 2 clofe, heavy body, it is generally covered and fcreened from the air by the corn mold, fo confequently as the mold about it is a dead ina^ivc body, having no moift or oily matter, fuch as grafe or clover roots a- mongft it to incorporate or raifc into a fer- mentation ;
OF HUSBANDRY. 189
mentation ; I fay, for want of thefe affift- ances, the dead, weak, light body of fand, or corn-mold, has not fufficient ftrength to adhere or unite with the heavy body of clay ; therefore the two parties he each inadive in itfelf.
This evidently Ihewed itfelf to be the cafe between the above farmer's good crops, and his neighbours flarved bad ones ; many of which were fcarce worth reaping, which had been marled on the fallow, though the marl and land were all of one nature ; there- fore, it was plain that his fuperiority of crops proceeded from no other caufe, but that of being marled on the fod ; the roots of grafs, or other vegetables raoiilen and unite the two bodies of earth : and its acid and nitrous nature raufes- a fermentation, which is produdive of a mixture and unions that could never take place between two fuch dead and inactive bodies, as the fand and marl are alone in themielves.
If it fhould be alledgcd, that the frefh- nefs or reft this grafs land had got,, by lying fo long dormant, or in a (heep walk, was the caufe of fo great a produce in the crops: iiich a fuppofition is anfwered by feveral ex- periments, that were tried in the fame forft . of ground ; nay the fame Iheep walk which neither hedge nor ditch parted, viz.
Vol. II. Bh That
j^o A NEW SYSTEM
That all the farmers, except he who had the good crops, break up their grafs land by tallow, and Tow it with turnip feed; and two or three farmers, particularly, had marled upon the fallow, but their crops were not half fo good as his, which was marled on the Ibd ; and upon turning up earth, it w-as eafy to difcover the marl lying in lumps, in the fame inadive Hate as when lain on ; this was alfo the caie with all the old going corn land in the neighbourhood, which had been more marled in the courfe of tillage. But upon repeated trials they find it docs not anfwer, therefore feldom marl at all.
It is a prevailing opinion, and a common laying among them, that their land is too weak for marl, that the marl and fand will not mix or unite together.
An open town-field lay next to the two hundred and forty acres of good barley, the owners of which ^had fevcral ridges mixed among his neighbours in that field, feveral of which he had marled upon fallow ; but had no better crops on thefe than the reft of his neighbours.
All thefe circumftances proved beyond a contradidion, to the opinion of the farmers there, that marl will not] anfWer with them, but upon grafs-land, which had r)nly
been
OF HUSBANDRY. 191
!been lately tried ; for the two hundred and forty acres of good barky was the firil m- (lance, and fourth crop after marling.
It is worth obferving, that this [enfible farmer forefaw the fuccefs which would ac- crue from marling the faid land on the fod, as he took a leafe of the farm at double iis former rent, though feveral people had been broke on it ; but he on the contrary, was making a good fortune ; |for the crops I faw on the ground, were at leaft worth ten rents.
He had better turnips than any one elfe ^ which enabled him to keep a large flock of ihcep : he kept every thing as private as he could, and defired me to take no notice of what I had feen ; for which reafon I fup- prefs his name.
Many farmers looked upon his crops v/ith wonder, and a longing eye ; but partly de- fpaired of making his cafe their own ; as his land had been fo many years coming to a fod : and theirs was chiefly broken land.
To fum up what has been faid, all the ' above obfervations, as well as reafon, prove clearly, that marl is a treafure, when found and applied properly to light fandy land ; but yet the fame obfervations prove, that it cannot be applied with fuccefs to weak, worn out land, without lome fort of vee;et-
able
19* A NEW SYSTEM
ahlc or gralT/ particles, to bear up the marl, putrefy, keep moift and caufe a fermenta- tion, in order to mix or unite th« the two bodies of fand and marl together : and as it is generally worn out corn-foil that ftands in the greateft need of improvement ; and as it is alfo very difhe^rtening for farmers to wait fo long for their land coming to a fod for th-e faid purpofe of improvement, I re- fer them to the next chapter, where they will find artificial management will make up for deficiency of time and nature.
So much as this chapter contains, I thought neceflary to fay, in order to prove, both by reafon and precept, the necefTity there is for the farmer's keeping up to the rules laid down in the next, and confequent- ly of his crops alfo.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 193
CHAP. XXXVIII.
On different SorU of Grafs andPulfe, which mujl befown before Marl is laid on broken, old going, fandy, worn-oui hands for the Improvement thereof ^ &c.
SHOULD the reader happen to turn to this chapter before he reads the fore- going one; 1 would advife him to turn back, and read it firft, in order that he may more fully be acquainted with the reafon why I dired:, or lay down the following manage- ment.
There are few fandy farms in England, but what have beds of marl or clay under one part or other of them : did the owner but apply himfelf for finding them out.
The
194 A NEW SYSTEM
The firft ftep he ftiould take, is to view his hedges and trees, as their afped of vi- gour or runtifhnefs, generally (hews the fort of ground they grow upon: as for inftance, all tap roots thrive bell where the interior earth is good, though at a great depth un- der ; particularly oak ; it llrikes its root perpendicular to a great depth to find out nouriftiment; and if a good clay or marl be under at the diftance of fifteen or twenty feet, the flourifhing ftate of the tree will fhew it, by rearing up its head high in the SLir.
One can hardly be deceived in thrs re- mark : for though the furface appear fandy for miles round, yet if there be any good oaks growing thereon, we may be affured that either a good clay, or marl is under; therefore the farmer may apply himfelf to a diligent fearch near the faid trees.
What he wants beicg found, liis next method to take, is how to apply it to his (ground; and if his land be of ever fo poor, light, fandy nature, the following method will enrich it, viz.
As foon as the crop of corn is off, plough the land once, and fow it with x^etches pret- ty thick ; then harrow them in ; if this can be done a fortnight before Michaelmas, the better ; that the Michaelmas fpring may pufh
them
OF HUSBANDRY. 195
them forward to a good head before winter: and though the land be ever fo poor, open or fandy : if lown at this time of the year, it will produce a crop of ftraw, though per- haps it would not have ftrength enough to fupport a crop of corn ; but ftraw will an- fwer his end.
The vetches muft not be eat : but as foon as the bufhy fpring feed time is over, the farmer muft prepare for marling, or claying; upon them, viz.
He muft firft roll the vetches flat with a roller, fo far as he thinks he can cover with marl the fame day, but no farther ; and al- fo fpread the marl even the fame night, fo as to cover all the vetches clofe therewith, to prevent the fun or weather from exhal- ing or drying out the juicy fubftance, which it foon will do from any part that is expof- ed thereto.
When marl or clay is firft drawn out of tke pit, it is generally wet and tough ; but when it has lain a little expofed to the weather, it ftiivers and falls to powder, par- ticularly if it be cf a rich fort, for then the air opens it, to come at the falts itcontains.
As foon as you fee that the clods are come to a confiftence, {o as to break and fpread, draw a harrow over the marl, turned the
wrong
196 A NEW SYSTEM
wrong fide up in order to break and fpread the marl more even j and cover the vetches clofe.
The next confideration is what to fow it with ; and doubtlefs your choice will fall upon fuch as fuits your flock of cattle, or your opinion of farming, and crops the beft; but was I to choofe it ihould be fown with turnips at midfummer: however, whatever it is fown with, it muft not be ftirred with the plough, but as foon as the marl is level- led on the ground as above, fow the feed, and fhovel the furrows, and Ipread the mold you throw out an inch thick all over the ridge.
If you cannot get mold enough without, you muft either dig a fpit deep, or run a plough up and down the furrow, in order to raife mold fufficient for the purpofe.
Two men will fhovel an acre in one day, which is cheaper than ploughing, and the work is done etfedually ; the marl lying be- tween two bodies of fand, and the vetch- es being reduced to dung under the marl, that caufcs a thorough fermentation aad union amongft them.
If you eat off the turnips with flieep, in the moving houfes, you complete an effect- ual improvement ; be the land ever fo poor
or
OF HUSBANDRY. 197
•v fandy ; in lliort, this is the. bcft method that can be taken to improve any fort ol bar- ren, light land, by marl or clay.
If clay-land, it will anfwer the end, by applying land upon it in the fame manner ; only with this difference, that inilead of vetches you fow grey peas, which will pro- duce a greater burden of haum for manure.
Roll your peafe, and when your fand is laid on, cover them, and the fand together, by fhovelling the furrows as above : but the deeper you cover the better. Suppofe you dig or plough a good fpit deep, and make a furrow two feet wide, to throv/ over a ridge fixteen feet wide.
This is alfo an excellent method to cover in buck -wheat, vetches or peafe, or any other crop that is fown for manure : fuppofe you would not lay on any fort of fand mar! or clay.
As for inftance : if you would fow wheat at Michaelmas, you muft firft fow your peafe the latter end of May, or begimung of June : at Michaelmas they will be in full bloffom, then roll them flat, and fow your wheat upon them, and trench the furrows as above, covering the feed and peafe to- gether two or three inches thick. Thefe peafe being covered, or fmorhered in their mofl juicy tender ftate, ferment and rot very
Vol. II. C c foon
19^^ A NEW S:YSTEM
foon ; they will be turned into a mafs of ipanure in a ' fornight, at which time the wheat begins tq ftriice root, and feed upon the ground.
This is a very fure method of getting a good crop, be the ground ever io poor, as the feed takes root immf^diately among the manure.
This alfo cft'cc^ually deftroys the weeds ; and as the furrows are deep and open, it is- a good drainage for cold, low, wet land, in ihort it is the next beft method to trenching land, and for the firll crop pei haps may ex- ceed it.
It is like wife a good preparative for fuch land as may be thrown into the courfe of Cjench-ploughing, as the furrows are ready open, ^c.
Any fpring-crops may be treated in the fame manner with good fuccefs. „ Six men may trench an acre thus in one day, and cover the ridge three inches thick; but it the mold be loofcned with the plough, fp that nothing but the Ihovel will want to> be ufed, it will come much lower.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 1.99
C H A P. XXXIX.
^be Management, &c»' of J /je white and
Hue
boiling Fea.
THIS fort of pea is chiefly raifed lor the good of mankind, and is ufed ior puddings, kc.
It is only here and there we can meet with land fuitable for this crop: for though it may prod^ice a full crop and good looking peafe ; yet if the land be not natural for them they will not boil foft \ in which cafe they are of no value but for cattle.
The land nioft; likely to anfwer for them is a dry (harp fand, or gravel : but experi- ence muft be the farmers guide herein ; for
if
Eoo . A NEW S Y S 1' E M
if two pieces of land be both alike, to a man's thinking, und only an hedge parts them, yet oiic may bring a foft good boiler 2nd the other not.
The fcafon for fovving it is about the mid- dle of March : it mull be managed in every relpect as the grey pea ; it is generally fold Tor about the fame price as wheat.
I ha\e known more than once, twenty pounds an acre made by a crop of them; befidcs the crop is generally early enough reaped for the land to low turnips on the fame year ; \v liich is another great advan- tage : cattle do not like its flraw fo well, as that of grey pca-Ilraw.
There arc two forts of this pea, but both nearly unfwer the fame end : and the land that will produce one a boiler, will not mifs in the other ; one is called the blue boiler, being of a bluiih cail or colour, and very imall and round, and without any dints in it.
The other is called the white boiler, and is generally a little larger than the blue fort: this is alio rOund, and is not dinted : it is not c[uite fo much valued as the blue fort.
'I'hey are both of the early hotfpur kind ; the feed mull be changed every year to choofe : and that which comes from the b'outh of Enj^land is generally the bell ; the
land
OF HUSBANDRY. 201
land being in that country, a very warm, fandy gravel. The farmers raife great quan- tities to fend abroad, and find their account in it.
CHAP.
fe©4 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XL.
I^he Management and PerfeBion of the grey Field Pea.
THERE arc two forts of peafe which may be cultivated in the field with fuccefs,
Firft, the common grey field-pea, raifed for the fuftenance of the brute creation, an- fwering the fame end, or made ufe of for the fame purpofes as field beans.
The next is a boiling pea. I fhall ti*eat of it in another chapter.
The grey peafe delight moft in a light gravel or fandy land : but if fown with
beans
OF HUSByVNDRY. w^
I^ans> (which will be a rodding forth^mjl they will grow with fuccefs on ftrong lands j but the richer the land, the greater naed they have for lupport, as their ftraw grows Ibng" er, and therefore they muft be fown^ thin^ ner alfo.
Sow the pooreft land you have with pea^fe, as they will enrich the land, and on fuch poor land they corn bell, for when the land- is too good they run too much to flraw, and the more ftraw the lefs corn.
Oat or barley ftubble, if the land be poor will bring a good crop, provided you give it a couple of ploughings in autumn and winter ; but if the land be in a good hearty you need only plough the Hubble in juR be- fore fowifig.
They may be fown with fuccefs, from the f^rft of February to the firil of April : but about the beginning of March, is the befl* feafon.
The land being ploughed, fow the peafc at the rate of eight ftone to the acre, Irilh meafure : when fown water furrow and grip the land.
This crop mufi: not be rolled ; in May is the time to weed them.
If they happen to be a fhort ftanding crop, they may be mown i elfe they muft
be
204 A NEW SYSTEM
be reaped and rolled, or lapped up in round little bundles, like a fheaf of corn: thus they muft be left in fingle lumps or fheaves till they arc enough weathered, and dried for (lacking, or houfing ; but while they are on the ground, they mull be turned two or three times, left the under part of the Iheaf grow.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 20jr
CHAP. XLI.
DireBions for the ploughing, fcwtng andma^ nagement of Buck -Wheat, through all its Variations.
THE chief ufe of buck-wheat, in Eng- land or Irelaryd, is for manure ; tho* feme make ufe of it for bread; but it is very- ordinary bread, not much better than that of peafe ; it will teed hogs ; but peafe are full as good and will yield more corn on an acre: befides, they are a furer crop, as they will grow on almoft any lort of land.
I will fay fo much, hotvever, for buck- wheat, that where it hits and is a full crop, it is the fined thing for manure that I have ever feen.
Vol. 11. D d I once
2o6 A NEW SYSTEM
I once had a crop, that, when it was roll- ed down, gave a talk to a hoiTe to walk through it , and the land gained fo great ad- vantage from this drefling, that the proprie- tor has good rcafon to remember it.
The plant is very luxuriant, and predo- minant over any weeds ; To that the benefit does not wholly lie in the dung it makes, but partly in its being an cffe(^hial clearer of ground from weeds.
The land that fuits it beft, is that of a light foil, of a fandy gravelly nature, tho'in truth, (except a very ftrong clay) any land v/ill bring a crop; provided it be well tilled to a fine mold.
Any fort of flubble that is intended for it, mufb be winter fallowed, ploughing it early in autumn, in order that it may meliorate with the froft, &c. and again, as foon as it begins to (hoot in the fpring, and the laft time in April, jufl before fowing. . The middle of April is the bef> time for fowing it.
When ploughed before it is fown, har- row it once in a place ; in order to level it, that the feed may not be buried too deep ; then low the feed, at the rate of two bulhels to an Englifli acre ; after which harrow it very fine.
When
OF HUSBANDRY. 207
When harrowed, roll it : then you have no more to do with it, till it is fit to plough in for dung, which is, when full in blolTom about midluinmer.
This is done by firfV rolling it down the ftriping way of the plough : and thci; ploughing it in.
If the land be for turnips, as foon as the dung is rotten (which it will be in about ten days) if it be ploughed in the fullnefs of fap or juices, plough it up and harrow it once in a plage : a man mull follow the harrow with a rope tied to it, to fhake it, leil it drag the dung in h^aps. Being thus har- rowed, fow the turnip- feed, and roll it af- terwards.
But if the land be for wheat, let it lie unploughed, till the grafs or weeds begin to grow, then plough the dung up, and in a pVoper time after low wheat, and plough it m with the dung.
If you intend the buck-wheat to fland for feed, treat it in every refpect like peafe, as it is har veiled the lame way*
CHA?,
3o8 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XLII,
DireSfions how to raife Rape and Cole- Seed, and alfo how to manage Burnbeating, ^c.
I Shall treat of thefe two feeds under one management, in the fame chapter, as they are nearly of one quality : all the dif- ference i?, that cole-feed requires a greater depth of foil.
Rape and cole-fced are very profitable, where they meet with land that fuits them ; which IS a black and deep foil : cold, riiihy bottoms, bog, or deep mountain are very good, provided it be duly pared and burn- ed.
For
OF HUSBAHDRY. 209
For paring and burning, (by others called burn-beating/ take heathy, boggy, moun- .tainy, or rufhy, we"" and cold low ground ; the more ling or heath and coarfe grafs the better.
If it be for reclaiming of bog, follow the diredions under that article. '
If the ground be deep, and will allow it, pare a fed tv/o inches thick, in order to raife all the aihes that is pofTible ; but be- fore you begin to plough or pare for burn- ing, take a roller fix teet long ; in this faft- en three bel-s of iron, quite round the roll- er, at two feet diilancc : the(e belts, r)r ra- ther cutting knives, as they are to perform this office, are about the breadth of a fey the, and are to have prongs to drive into the roller, fo that the edge will ftand up- right.
With this go acrofs the ground intended to be pared ; which, when pared, it will turn up in fods two feet long and fave a great deal of labour of cutting by hand; the knives may be taken off, or put on oc- cafionally : and the roller will ferve for other ufes, of rolling corn» Sec.
About the middle of April begin to pare, and do not mifs an opportunity of burning the fods, when once dry ; which will be in
thie€
zio A "NEW SYSTEM
three weeks after cutting, if the feafon be ncTt wet; but in a wet feafon, they mull be fct upon an edge, and they will dry the readier.
Being thus dry, and ready for burning, make heaps of about a cart load in each, with the grafs-fide downward : lay them as light and hollow as poflible, that they may burn the readier.
Put feme fort of kindling under to fet it on fire, fuch as ftraw or fticks, hcc. but little will do/ if there be any rough fluff, fuch as heath, rulhes, Sec. on thefod.
The v/ay to burn it to the greatefl advan- tage, is not to let the blaze break out, but keep it fmothering within ; for the more it blazes, the more of the nitre afcends into the air.
Being thus burned, fpread the aihes, and plough them und^r with a very thin furrow at the mofl not above two inches thick ; then harrow it, and when harrowed pretty fine, fow tlie feed. After fowing bufh-harrow It.
A peck of feed is the due for an Englifh acre, which is about one third lefs than an Irifti one.
Take care to water- furrow and grip it well.
In
OF HUSBANDRY. 2n
Tnthc Ipring weed it, and where it is too. thick pull up fome plants, and tranfplant them in thin places, if any there be ; if not throw them away.
Some will hoe the rape ; but I take thi* to be a fuperfluous piece of labour.
The mo A; famous place in England, for rifing this crop, is the fenny countries; and they never hoe any ; but I have feert farmers in other countries, take great pains^ in hoeing it ; but this may be partly owing to their being ilrangers to the right manage- ment, and to their taking over abundant pains, through a fear of not doing enough*
The chief thing is, to fow it even, and till it well, there is then no fear of a crop ; for the plants coming up thick, and having a broad leaf, fmother the weeds, cover the ground, and keep it light and mellow ; {o that in this cafe, 1 fee bat little need of hoe- mg.
{ had a field one year, and in order to be fatisfied which was the beft way, I fow- ed a piece in drills, and hoed it with the plough : and another piece I hoed by the- hand.
I did not tre{h. it feparate ; but in all ap- pearance to the eye, there v/as no great dif- ference, or at-leaif, not in any wife equiva-
J 12 A NEW SYSTEM
lent to the labour it coll: me ; but in fa<ft, it was all as good a crop as could well grosv.
Where there is not burn-beating, a good crop may be got by fumnier I'allow, iria- naged dirertly in every degree as tor wheat, with the fame manures.
One advantage in fowingrape is this, that the feed cofts a triRe, perhaps not above eighteen pence an acre ; and'if it hits, it is a valuable crop ; and ihould it mifs, the lofe of feed is infigniiicant, and the land can be fown with bailey at fpring, as there is time enough to difcover what kind of a crop the' rape will be, before barley feed time.
Obferve that it is ready to reap when the upper branches turn brown ; be fure you let it not be too ripe ; of the two evils, the leaft is to reap it too foon, rather than let it ftand too long : for if the pcxls be too dry, they will open in reaping, anti fhcd the ieed.
Birds of all forts are very fond of it thereiore it mull be watched for a month- before its reaping, to the end of threlhing : it is not altogether the value of what they cat, but in opening a pod, perhaps they will not get above one grain, and all the reft will drop out.
It is reaped in the fame manner as wheat: but the handfuls are laid fingly and light
upon
OF HUSBANDRY. 213,
upon the ftubble, behind the reapers : thus it mtilt lie without flirring, till it is ready to trefh ; which %vilibe in about three weeks after reaping : for it muft be very rafh or dry, or there will be a lofs in its not trefh- ing clean. ,
When it is thus ready for trefhing, pre- pare a floor in the middle of the field, (or in any other place moft convenient for the carriage,) by levelling the ground, on which nwiHi be fpread a large rape-cloth in the na- ture of a winnow-iheet, to trefh the rape upon.
Spread the rows round, and trefh round.
One man fp reads before the trefhers ; another turns it after them ; a third fhakes off the ftravV, and a fourth carries it away.
Thefe four men arc to fupply i^ix trefhers and four carriers in ; with four to fill the fheets, and one to rake oft" the piilfe and riddle them.
Thefe fet of people being in all nineteen, will trefh fix or feven acres in a day.
It is better to proportion the labourers ac- cording to the quantity of rape you have> that it may difpatched in a day or two, as rainy weather may prove dbflruciive ; but if the rain fhould happen to catch you, throw up the corners of the clotli, and eo-
VQC
Vol. II. E e
214 A NEW SYSTEM
ver it with pulfe, fuch as flays in the riddle, which will turn off rain extremely well.
'1 here is no need of taking the Teed off the cloth, but keep treihing upon it till all is done.
Some will fell the feed to the oil-mill, as foon as winnowed from the cloth : others that do not want money, will heap it upon the floor, mixed with chaff, and covered up with the pulfe, fo that it will be round and fharp at the top like a hay-cock : and thus they will let it lie perhaps two months till it gets a fweat in the chaff, which is very necellary ; for being of a clammy oily fub- ftance, it would turn moldy, when clean in a granary, if it did not get a Iweat in the rh^ff as above : but this precaution will prevent the faid evil.
It is immaterial to fay any thing about winnowing ; as it is eafily done by any one that can winnow flax-feed or corn ; as it is only fuiting it with fieves to the lize of the feed.
The ftraw was thought of no value for- merly in England, but rather a nuifance ; but of late years the aihes it makes are found to be valuable for making foap ; and the foap -boilers will buy the ftraw, per- haps-two or three months before it is reaped
and
OF HUSBANDRY. 215
and will give from three to fix fhillings per acre, according to the quantity that may appear to be thereon.
About the latter end of November, if the rape be ftrong fo as to bear eatirg, (which you may judge of by the flrength of tile plant, or groilnefs of the ftalk,) turn iheep in and eat it till Candlemas ; provided you do not overllocic it ; but take care that they do not eat the ftalk tcjo near ; they ought to go no further than juft to eat the leaves cflf, without entering on the body of the lUlks, for fear of wounding them too deep.
Cole-feed may be eaten a great deal fafer than rape, as it produces a grolTer ftalk ; and when all the leaves are eaten off, about Candlemas it -makes frelh ifioots, and pro- duces larger heads than if it had not been €aten; and if the land be good and deep, it will produce a more profitable crop than of any other grain whatevei .
1 have difcourled with Several farmers in England, who know no other difference be- tween cole and rape-feed than the name.
It is true that the feed is nearly alike ; and no difference is made in the price to the oil mills as they produce one fort of oil i but there is a materiid difTerence in the plan':, and it is the advantage of a larnier to be well acquairrted with it too. The
2i6 A NEW SYSTEM
The cole-fccd is a fpccies of cabbage ori- ginally from Holland.
It produces a very large luxuriant plant, in good ground: it will produce a flalk like that of a cabbage, and the feed in propor- tion to the fize of the ftalk.
A very full crop will turn out a laft on an acre.
When the fhcep have eat the (talks bare, it is ae eafy matter to take them up, where too thick on the ground, and tranfplant them.
I once took as many fuperfluous ftalks out of two acres, as tranfplanted fix ; which bore as good a crop as the refl, only a little later.
I am certain a very great advantage might be made in this method, in the manner lol- Jowing, VIZ.
It it to be obferved, that land for rape or cole- feed is fallowed all winter, and till the time ot lowing, which is the latter end of June or in July ; by which means the rape rakes up the land this year, and till it is reap- ed, which is about the latter end of June the next year ; therefore it is too late foi- f >vving any fort of crop but turnips when the rape comes off.
Now fuppofe you had half an acre [of good land, or made it fo by dunging it bet- ter
OF HUSBANDRY. 217
ter than common, and tilling it a little ex- traordinary.
At the proper feafon of the year, which is at Midfummer, fow on this half acre one peck of either rape or colefeed : but if I was to choofe it fhould be cole-feed.
Now we fuppofe this to produce a very plentiful crop of plants, perhaps very few grains would rnifs : thus let them grow till Michaelmas : and fuppofe you have ten acres of either wheat, here, barley or oats: as foon as the corn is reaped, plough the {lubble : let it lie a month or fix weeks to rot, and then plough it again : this will be nearly as good as fummer fallow.
Begin at one fide of the field, and plough a furrow : in this fet a row of thefe plants one foot afunder, leaning againll the fide of the furrow : then plougii another furrow againft it : make the furrow about a foot broad : fo continue till all the field be fet: but it is the bcft method to fet them with the tranfphnting machine, as direded for wheat.
If the land be good, there will be no need of dung, &cc. but if it be poor have rotten dung in the field, ready laid in heaps; take balkets, and lay a little st the root oi' every plant: about the fize of a large pota- roc will be fufficicnt : by this means, a lit- tle
2i8 A NEW SYSTEM
tie dung will go a greater way, and not any of it will be laid in vain, as every plant will have the good of it.
This is a mighty ready way of tranfplant- ing : for except the ploughing it will not coil above two fhillings an acre.
The plants will be the better lor leaning on one lide.
About March, if the mold be drawn up to the Hems, they will be the better, tho* they may do very well without.
I do not doubt but there are as many grains in a peck of rape-feed as will fet at a foot diilance from each grain, a hundred acres ; therefore without doubt, there will be as many plants to pick and choofe, as would plant ten acres at the fame allowance.
When the rape is reaped fow turnips.
This is getting three profitable crops, and part of a fummer's fallow in two years : and the two laft crops ai^e of an improving quality.
It is true I never faw this method put in practice by any other perfon. However I made trial enough in this way to prove it valuable.
This experience joined to the reafonable- nefs of the thing, makes it clear to mc, that a farmer, by this management might make great protits of his land.
If
OF HUSBANDRY. 219
If itfhould be a bufy time about Michael- mas, the tranfplanting might be deierred till the beginning of February, and keep the land fallowing all winter, and indeed I doubt not but this is full as good a feafon as Michaelmas, and the land may be kept fallowing as I obierved.
The fpring planting will drive the crop a little later, but I am convinced that there is no doubt of the plants growing from either feafon : it is my opinion not above one in an hundred would mifs.
I ihould be glald to fee this profitable piece of hufbandry put in pradice in a large degree, as reafon fpeaks fo clearly in its favour.
It would a'fo make good winter feeding, if the farmer dijd not choofe to let it Hand to feed.
What a fine affair would it be for a far- mer to make ten or fifteen pounds an acre of his ftubbles : the land the better for it, and the expence not above three or four {hillings per acre ?
If it fbould mifs, the lofs is fcarce worth notice, and the land will be the better for the fallow a*: any rate.
The middling produce of an Englifn ac re of rape is half a laf^ : it fometimes happens that an ac e will produce a lalt ; but it muil be very good. Cole-
220 A NEW S'YSTEM
Cole-feed will very often produce a laft ; being a ftronger plant, it confequently throws out larger feeding branches, where the land is deep and proper for it.
The rape or cole-feed is very proper for the land and climate of America.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 221
CHAP. XLUI.
DirsBlons for making a new invented Trejh- ing Floor,
TAKE boards three inches thick, and ten or twelve inches broad, and fo long that two will reach acrofs the barn floor, from door to door ; in thefe fix feet to make benches three feet hi^h : there muft be fix of thefe forms or benches, which will reach three times acrofs the floor, one at each fide, and the other down the middle, put a hafp &c ftaple to the middle end of each bench to fallen them together that the motion of ihc flails will not fliake them a funder.
Thefe benches is by way of platforms to lay the flooring boards upon, which boards
Vol. II. Ff mua
Ill A NEW SYSTEM
muft be three inches thick, and as broad as may happen, a-^d as long as will reach acrofs the benches from fide to fide. •' Joint and plane' the upper tide of the boards, then bore them full of holes \^ith a cooper's tap bit at three inches diftance from each other, the tap bit being taper, the wide part of the hole muft be at the un- plancd (idc of the boards which mufl: lye downwards, by which the ilraight part of the hole which muft be half an inch wide being uppermoft, will not choke or ftop up with corn or chaff when trelhing thereon.
This ftage or upper floor is to trefh up- on and the old under floor is to receive the corn which is riddled through the holes as foon as it is trefhed or lofe from the ftraw.
When you want ta winnow, the boards being loofe are quicklv thrown to one fide, and the two middle forms being taken away the corn is winnowed on the bottom fioor.
This is a fimple, cheap and cafy made floor, and is of great utility, as it faves both labour and corn, for as the corn falls thro* ^he holes as foon as trefhed, it keeps the floor fharp and clean fo that the flails will j-ifc eaficr to the trcflier, than when it falls on a heap of corn and chaff, and the boards being loofe and hollow^ will fpring, andmakc the flails alfo rebound and rife with more
cafe
OF HUSBANDRY. 223
eafe to the trciher than when it falls on a folid laid floor : the next confideration is that it faves near one part in four times which is ufiialiy taken up in raking or mak- ing up the Moor.
Another advantage is, there can be no loofe corn loft or thrown out with the ftriw by not Ihaking it well, as is the cafe when the ftraw and corn lies together j neither is the corn a glut on the floor 'till winnowing days, as the undei* floor ferves as a refervoir for that purpofe.
CHAP.
224 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XLIV.
'^he Management of T'obacco,
TOBACCO is a profitable crop when rightly managed, but requires good land, and in fome llages very careful attend- ance, particularly in drying and making it fit for the hogfliead.
The ground muft be well tilled and ma- nured, except it be new cleared, good ficlh ground ; then it may bring three or four crops without manure.
'rhe feed of tobacco mufl be fown in feed beds, as early in the fpring after the froft brealcs up as poffible, fo that the plants may be large enough to plant out from the middle of April to the firfl of May.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. 225
The ground mull be ready to receive the crop by digging deep, and loofening the earth, with a Ipade, particularly in the fpot where the plant ft and s.
In the middle of every fquare yard fet a plant, preifing the earth clofe to the roots thereof. When weeds grow they muft be cut up with a hand hoe, and at the fame time draw the mold up about the the ftalks of the plants.
As foon as you lee the plants begin to bud for flowering, you muft go over the ground and pinch all the buds off, between the linger and thumb, in order to make the plants ftrike more into leaf, at the fame time ftrip any dead or withered leaves from the bottom of the ftalks and throw them away. Some indeed will take off two or three of the largeft leaves from the bottom of each ftalk, and dry them for tobacco, which I think the beft method : firft bc- caufe it lets air circulate more freely among the crop, which encourages vegetation : fe- condly the leaves will improve no more, they being ripe fome weeks before the up- per leaves : thirdly, though thefe bottom leaves make a coarfer fort of tobacco than the reft of the plant ; yet they will very well pay the trouble, and it is getting io much work out of the way, before the re- mainder
226 A NEW SYSTEM
maindcr of the crop comes on fo he ma- naged, which is generally a buly time.
From Augull to September is the time for cutting the plants.
They mult be cut down below the leaves: when cut they muft lie a few days to wither and then take them under cover, and hang the plants fingly acrafs ilicks till they are quite dry, lo that when they are put toge- ther in a heap to fweat, they will keep their colour, and not turn to a white mold, which will rot and fpuil the tobacco.
If the weather be wet or hazy, the to- bacco will not dry withovit fires being made on the floor of the tobacco-houfe, which will warm and dry the whole tobacco that hangs over them.
While the tobacco is drying in the houfe it muft be looked at every day, leaft it turn to a white mold, and rot where it hangs too thick. In this cafe it muft be fhifted and thinned in time, to prevent the worft of malady's.
The Tobacco being properly dried, it muft be put in a heap to force a fweat, and the leaves muft be ftripped from the ftalks, and made m hands (as they call it) by ty- ing four or five together, and then it muft be prefTed very hard in a hogfhead for ufe.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. 227
The crop is ripe for cutting when the leaves turn a yellowifli brown at the edges, or when you can double or bend the ribs of he leaf without breaking.
When the crop is ripe to cut early, there will other leaves fpring from the roots, that will produce a fecond crop (but this) ex- ' cept the weather prove favorable, is hard to fave.
It is a tolerable good crop of tobacco that will produce a hogihead an acre.
There are feveral forts of tobacco, but the beft which I have feen, is what they call the bull- face ; it produces the flrongeft plant, confequently the fulleft crop, "rhe finell tobacco, is that of a yellowilh green (fome, when they ftrip the Italics) will pre- jferve all the leaves of this colour by them- felves, and fell the tobacco at an a.dvanced price from the reft.
CHAP.
228 A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XLV.
The Management of Indian Corn,
T.
HIS is a crop the Americans are in ge- neral mailers in the management of, fo I {hall be (hort on the fubjecl, and only add one particular to the common manage- ment, which reafon tells me will be an im- provement it' clofely adhered to.
In this, as in all other crops, the richer the ground and the better and deeper it is tilled, the greater chance of a good crop. — However in many parts, and in particularly in new cleared ground, the roots of trees prevents ploughing deep for Indian wheat, and w^heat abfolutely requires' it to bring it its beft perfection ; therefore, when all the ground cannot be tilled deep with the plough
1 would
OF HUSBANDRY. 229
I would advife three or four fpits with the rpade to be dug deep in the place where the corn is to grow, one rnan would do an acre each day, and it would well pay for his trouble, but in doing this he mull turn the upper furface to the bottom of the hole, for tlie fame reafons that are mentioned in the chapter for trench ploughing.
When the ground is fallowed and thus ready to receive the crop, the next flep is to make marks where the corn is to grow at fix feet diftance every way from each other, and at the center of every fix feet, make a circle of a foot diameter, in which (et at an equal diftance from each other four grains of corn three or four inches deep in the ground : three grains is fuflicient for a crop, but the fourth is eafiiy pulled up when thev are a fize to be difcovered which is the weakeft.
When the corn is growing plough be- tween the rows as clofe to the roots as you can, in order to kill the weeds and treiheii the plants by cutting fuperfluous fibres that runs horizontly near the furface of the earth, this will make the tap roots ilrike deep in the ground, which adds vigor and ftrength to the plants.
Ifthere are weeds growing among the roots of the corn or in luch a fituation that the
Vol. II. Qy '^ plough
230 A NEW SYSTEM
p]9Ugh cannot come at them they muft be dcAroyed with the hand hoe.
The befl time for fowing the feed is from the middle of March to the firil of May.
The crop being thus fct and properly hoed, the chief part of the care attending, it is over.
The crop is generally ripe in September, the harveilingis very fimple, being nothing more than to cut off the ears and throw them into a carriage and houfe them.
The beft managers ftrip the blades from the ftalks and tie them up in fmall fheaves and prelerve them dry in flacks or houfes for fodder for cattle in winter, others will let them ftand till wanted in winter, and then pull and throw the 0alks andblkdes together to the cattle and let them pick the blades from the flalks themfelves.
Some fti'ip or fhell the corn fVom the ears by hand, others trefh them on hurdles made of fmall flicks when they want to fell a quan- tity, but in feeding their own hogs or horfes they generally throw the whole ears to them who will quickly fhell the corn oflf and feed' upon'it.
A very good crop will produce fixty bufhels an acre^ but thirty is a fine crop.
CHAP.
QF HUSBANDRY. 231
€ H A P. XLVL
General dire'Slions for ploughing, fowing, bar- rowing and mowing y er harvejiing Barley.
I
N October begin to plough your land for the winter fallow, which is intended for bar- ley, except turnip land, which muft be ploughed as foon as the turnips are eaten off.
Obferve to gather, or raife your ridges high in the middle of your winter fallow, by which means it will keep itfelf dry, fo that it may be ploughed any time in winter ; and the more it is ploughed the better and richer
232 A N E VV S Y STEM
it is mack : take care that yonr land be got into lowing order by the firil of MarcJi, as tlie bell ieaibn for fowing barley, is from that to the middle of April, though fome will fow till the middle of May ; but a good deal may be owing to the fcafon; for it is better to wait a month, than to fow in a dirty, cold, bad feafon; as barley is a grain, above all others, that will not bear incle- mency of weather or hardfliip.
If you intend to lay your land down with any fort of fmall grafs feeds, fuch as clover, lucerne, kc. as foon as the barley is fown and harrowed, as above, (o\v your grafs- fceds, and harrow them once in a place, with the harrow turned the wrong end lore- moft, that tlie pins do not fink too deep, which would bury a great deal of thefe Tmali feeds j but larger forts of grafs-feed, fuch as fain tfoin, burn f^t, and the like, may l)e fown, when the land is about half har- rowed for barley, and then harrowed along with it ; by which means they will be the better covered ^ and, being' a hufl<y feed, they require it. '
When the barley has been fown about .i month, roll it.
bow your barley immediately after the laU ploughing, and harrow- it extremely well.
Six
OF HUSBANDRY. 233
Six ftone of Iced is fufficient for an Eng- lilh acre.
One great article, on which the farmer's fuccefs depends, is, to keep his crop clean ; he mull therefore take care it will be well weeded, and throw the weeds into the fur- rows ; being thus cleared from weeds, the bufinefs is over, till ready for harvefiing.
As moll per ions know when it is ripe, I fhall only fay, that the chief token is, to obferve the joints of the ftraw ; when thefc turn from a green to a dry flraw-colour, it is ready for cutting ; but no corn is ripe, as long as the joints are full of fap ; for thofe are the juices which fupply or feed the grain with its lafl nourilhment ; as'' it keeps feed- ing or filling, until the joints are fucked dry; ardthen the green. call departs along with the fap, and nature has done its work ; therefore fall to, and mo\^^ it, as directed in the next chapter.
CHAP.
234 A" NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. XLVa.
On mowing and harvejling Spring-Corn,
WHAT may be properly called fpring- corn, is, that which is fown in (pring ; luch as barley, oats, beans, peafe^ buck-wheat, and the like.
Thefe are what the Englifh farmers call mowing crops, which is done by a cradle on the fcythe ; or, for want of this, a hoop, made of a ftrong brier, fallow, or the likej the root-end of which is faftened in a hole, made by a fpikc-gimlet, in the Ihaft, about eighteen inches from the heel of the fcythe ; and the top end of the Hick muft be brought with a bend over the heel of the fcythe.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. 235
The hoop muft be croffed feveral times, with cord, like a net work, in order to keep the corn from falling through .
Upon trial experience will teach him far- ther.
The mower being thus equipped, let him begin to mow, leaving the Handing corn on his left hand ; that is to fay, he muft leave^ the fwarth leaning againft the ftanding corn; and if he is a dexterous workman, he may leave it fo even and ftraight, that a crofs ftraw will fcarce be feen.
After each mower comes a gatherer, with reaping-hook, or a fmall rake to make it into fheaves.
The complement, for every two mowers and two gatherers, is, one binder ; fome- times, when the corn is rank, or a heavy crop, the two gatherers will have a band- maker between ; and thefc five or fix perfons day's w^ork to mow, gather, and bind, is, four Englifh acres of fair ftanding corn^, cither barley, beans, blendings, or oats.
Being thus bound, it mult be fet up in ftooks ; the fheaves propping againft each other, prefs the tops well together, in order to make them thin and fharp; which will fhoot off the rain the better.
The farmers in England, feldom put any covering-fheaves on their barley-ftooks ; but
leave
236 A NEW SYSTEM
leave the corn-ends expofcd to all weather ; believing that the corn hardens the quicker, and more kindly ; however, as Ireland is a wetter climate, 1 would advife the farmer to cover them at night, and uncover them in the morning.
After Hooking, the barley-ftiibble muft be raked with a fwarth-rakc ; fo called from the length of its head, which is fix feet, to take a fv^arth-breadth at a tiinc.
It has one row of iron pins, each pin eight inches loi^s: out of the wood, and thj-ce in- ches alunder.
It has a handle, in proportion to the reft of the rake, m which is fixed a belt to go a- bout the man's flioulders, to drav/ ic in the nature of a harrow.
When he finds his rake full, he muft Hft it up, whereupon the corn drops out ; he then goes on again, aKvays leaving the corn in the fame place or range, in the nature of a wind-row.
When the field is raked, cock the rakings like hr?y; and this is very ufeful to lay on tops of the held Hacks ; as it will lie better than iheaves, and fhoot the water ofl'; but in England they never flack their corn in the field; but let it ftand in the (look, till it is ready to take home to the barn or hay- yard.
However
dt iTXJSB ANl^uf. 237
However, as Ireland is a moifter climate, t believe it is A very good way, particularly if the corn is to be houfed.
And perhaps, if England W^S to do the like, it might be better ; as it would put the ebrri out of danger of bad weather.
H. B. Spring corn, fuch as barley, oats, beans and peale, are all harvefted the fame way by mowing; therefore, I fliall refer my reader, for diredicins on thoie heads, to the ioregoing inftruaions. I fee no better me- thod than the .above, for harvefting fpring corn in America, both for difpatch and ehcapnefs*
Vol. 11. H ^ The
23.8 A NEW SYSTEM
ThoExpcDGC andProfit arifmg from an Acre of Barley, fown after Turnips.
To eight quarters, at 20s. per 1. s. d. Total produce - - 800
To two ploughings, if only with one
man and two horfes - 056
To harrowing, fowing, rolHng,
and water-furrowing - 030
To chance of weeding- - 020
To feed - - -050
To mowing - - o i o
To gathering and binding 006
To raking with a fwarth-rake 004.
To ftooking, carriage home, and
extraordinary attendance 046
To carriage to the market, and
expences extraordinary -060 To land rent, upon a par - - o 15 o
Total expence 224
Clear profit 5^7 ^
Note^ The ftraw pays for trcfhing.
GHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 239
rCHAP. XLVIIL
On Jive Sorts of Barlsy.
IRST, fprat or battledore-barley. Second, long-eared barley. Third, round-eared fummer barley. Fourth, round-eared winter, or by fome in England, called big ; but its true name in Ireland, is here.
Fifth, fix-rowed barky. Were I to add a long chain of names, (as is ufual with fome authors) it would be Xwelling my work into a ufelefs chit-chat, as every name that is added ta thofe, is only explaining the fame thing over again ; for it is the different language, or rather gibberifti
of
2+0 ANEW SYSTEM
of diflercnt kingdoms or counties which ^ivc rife to fo many names for one fort of grain.
This may well confound the ideas of a far- mer, who does not know how to account for all the names that are given to the fame fort of grain. May not this lead him to feck, under a difguifed name, for the very feed liimfelf has growing ?
It is true, different land and tillage will, in fome degree, change the form of feed, as to a thick or thin Ikin, a fmall or a large iize or the like : but the fpccies is yet the fame.
The fprat or battlc-dore barley, has only two rows of grain ; for w4iich rcafon the ear is flat, the corn is fhort, plump and thin Ikinned, not inclined to have a long grofs flraw, (btit indeed this varies accord- ing to the richnefs of the ground it is lown on) it is faid it will grow well on many other ibrts of land.
1 have had great crops, on tough, flronsf, cold clay, or gravel land ; but fuch mufb be weU pulverifed, fweetened, enriched, mol- lified and warmed by tillage.
Manures on fuch land, will not do for barley, unliefs the cold four nature of the ground be changed by tillage.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. 241
The manure which afcends and dcfccnds 'from th,e clouds, is of a warmer and ear- lier nature than any other ; therefore it will produce tlie carlieil and thinneft ikinned crops.
The long-eared barley is fo called from its having a long ear, by which it may yield more cont under the flail : but the grain is fmall and lung, and has "a thick fkin ; it de- lights in much the fame land and tillage as fprat-barley.
Round-eared fummer- barley is an excel- lent good yielder : it is a. middle fpecies be- tween berCj, or winter-barley, and fprat- barley ; and therefore muil be fown early in fpring.
Tile lands of Ireland, Scotland and the North of England, are very fuitable for it, provided they are well tilled. It has alfo a plumper, fuller, or bolder grain than here, though not in this cafe, equal to Iprat-bar- lev.
It is not fo delicate or tender as fprat- barley, neither is it fo hardy as here : in- deed, it is my choice, next to fprat-barley, for aim oft any fort of land which is proper for barley-crops.
Bere, winter-barley, or big is beft known in Ireland, or the North of Scotland : and, indeed by their tillage, it is moft fit for them. 1 have
242 A NEW SYSTEM
I have held feveral arguments with Irl{h farmers about this grain, and I generally found the ftrength of their arguments to hang upon prejudiced old cuftoms, believ- ing as their forefathers fowed it, though in darker days of improvement, that they would not be right, if they did not follow their Heps : and in fhort, it is as hard to ihake their refolution from the purfuit of this their favourite grain, as from being drunk by the whifkey or fpirit it makes.
This bere is generally fown at the fame time with wheat ; and though flovens fome- times get good crops, perhaps chiefly from the ftrength of manure (as they moftly fow it after potatoe-crops, or on their rankeft land which would in fad bring onions) yet I ob- ferve, thofe who manage better have in ge- neral better crops ; and bring it nearer to the refemblance or barley, for plumpnefs, but at beft, it is far ihort of barley in value, infomuch that it would hardly be fold in the Englifh markets at any price, except for hen-com.
It is a poor, long, fmall grain, with a thick fkin ; but notwithftanding this, it is not without its good qualities, where it is ufed in its proper place.
It
OF HUSBANI>RY. 243
It is to be obferved that the poor of Ire- land live about eight months out of twelve OH potatoes.
A potatoe-garden for a poor family, is generally about half an Irifh acre ; they keep no team; therefore cannot till the potatoe fhibble fit for a crop of barley; for it is to be obferved, that there is no more of the ground flirred, than what they throw out of the trenches to cover the potatoes with.
The bed on which the potatoes grow, lies unmolefled till the third crop ; therefore, when they dig the potatoes, they fow the here, and fhovel up the trencher to cover it, which is all the hufbandry it gets or wants.
But fuch hufbandry would not do for bar- ley ; therefore in this cafe it may have the preference.
CHAP.
244 A NEW SYSTEMS
CHAP. XLLX;.
On different forts cf hand for Barky.
BY dint of ploughing, good huTbandry and rotation of crops, almofl any fort of land may be brought to produce barle>- ; however, fome is better or more fuitable for this crop than others ; therefore I Ihall begin with the beft firft, and go regularly on to the worft, which fhall be placed lalt, viz.
Firft, loamy fand.
Second, loamy gravel.
Third, chalky land.
Fourth, fandy land.
The above four forts by nature, will pro- duce a long ear and fhort ftraw, a plump, ftout grain, and thin Ikin, which is certain- ly of the beft quality.
Fifth,
OF HUSBANDRY. 245
Fifth, loamy gravelly land that lies over limeftonc.
Sixth, wrapy land.
Seventh, black hazel earth.
Eighth, ftrong clay land.
Ninth, black mountain land.
Tenth, black, deep, moory bottom land*
The lafl iix forts of lands generally pro- duce a long ftraw and a fmall ear, a lonsj fmall grain, and thick ikin, but may be helped greatly by tillage, fowing thin, and particularly if the barley follow turnips ; as they in all cafes are an excellent preparative for this crop, and deferve to be made a more general choice of.
VoLU,^ li CHAP.
2^6 A NEW SYSTEM CHAP. L.
On the Management of Rye, both for Win- ter-Feeding, and a Seed-Crop,
THE Management of rye is very fim- ple and eafy, which few words will explain.'
A farmer having ftubble-Iand, particu- larly if of a warm fandy nature, would wifh to have it under profit the winter half year ; let him plough it as foon as the corn is reaped : begin in the middle of the ridge, and gather or take it up, that it may lie very high and dry : this done, fow two bufhels of rye on an Englifh acre : harrow it in ; and by being thus early fown, the Michaelmas-fpring will pufh it up fo for- ward, that it will be mid-leg deep by De- cember : but though it may be a full eata- ble crop by this time, yet the bell way is not to turn cattle upon it till fpring: then the fcarcity of other herbage will make this more valuable. You
OF HUSBANDRY. 24.7
You muft eat it off, time enough to Tow fuch a fpring-crop as you intend ; but bar- ley is the mofl fuitable, as it will bear to be lateft fown, and therefore will give the rye more time to be eat off.
If you would have your rye to fland for leed, there are two feafons for lowing it, namely at Michaelmas and in February.
The large winter-rye nruft be fown at Michaelmas, and the fmall fpring-rye in February.
bix pecks of feed are enough for an acre. You mult cover it with the harrow.
This fpring-rye is fometimes made ufe of amongft the Englifh farmers, if a crop of wheat ibould mifs to low in its place.
In fpring roll your rye, (which you in- tend to (land for feed) if too forward, eat it with (beep or calves, in the beginning of May.
As the farmer's fuccefs partly depends on keeping his crop clear of weeds ; this, as in others, muft engage his attention.
As to reaping or harvefting rye, it is done in the fame way as wheat. «
Grafs- feeds may be fown among rye, be- fore it is rolled in fpring, and will anfwer as well as if fown amongft wheat : a crop of rye is of about the fame value as a crop of oats: but it is a greater impovenfher of land.
The
24? A NEW S Y S T E M ,
' \
Tlic land moil proper for rye, is, that of a dry, open, loofc, weak, fandy or nioory nature : and though flrong land of a good fort will produce rye, yet other crops may be adapted for fuch land, which are more profitable^
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 24^
XV
CHAP. LI.
Remarks and lUufirations on Rye,
^'' E, formerly was greatly efleemed in the light fandy counties of Eng- land ; as the farmers thought fuch land would bring nothing elfe : but fince the new hulbandry of turnips and clover has made its way into the world, it is found that they change the nature ot the land, and confo- lidate it in liich a manner, as to prepare it for a crop of wheat, which is much more valuable than rye ; however, rye is ftill ufe- hil in- its place ; and particularly for fpring feeding, as it creates much milk; M'hicli makes it particularly uieful to feed early lambs on : and what Itill adds to its value in this cafe, is that the land mofl proper for rye is that of a dry, light, landy nature, which if the weather be ever fo wet, the rain no fooner talis upon, but it finks thro* and leaves the furtace dry ; therefore the lambs can feed and lie dry and warm ;
whereas
t,so A NEW SYSTEM
whereas if the ground was clay, fuch as would hold water on its furface, the con- sequence would be bad ; for it would de- ftroy the lambs, or at Icaft be prejudicial to their feeding and growth. Alfo in fuch land, they would tread and dirty the crop ; fo that their feet would deflroy as much as their months.
Again rye is the beft of all other corn to fow on reclaimed bottom, bog, or moun- tain. I fay the beft of corn, but I appre- hend no corn is equal to turnips, rape, or cole-feed, for fuch reclaimed lands ; but when rye is propagated on fuch land, it muft be fown very thin, as it will ftool very much.
The confequence of fowing thick, on fuch land would be dangerous ; as it would produce much ftraw and little corn.
The great ufe for rye, is to mix it with wheat for bread : about two-thirds wheat and one of rye, make well tafted bread, but black.
In this mixed ftate, it is called meflin. Some fow wheat and rye mixed, which is called meflin : but I do not like this method; neither do I fee any meaning in it : lor in the firft place they do not ripen kmdly to- gether ; befides if the land will bring one ear of wheat, by the fame rule it may bring
two
OF HUSBANDRY. i^i
two or more ; and certainly wheat is a much more deiirabk crop, if it can be got on the fame land.
Notwithftanding, rye is ftill ufeful (as before obferved) in fand countries, and for reclaiming bog with, where the farmer is obftinately bent againft the turnips and clo- ver.
Rye makes good malt for the diflillers ; being of a particular fweet tafte or nature, it therefore produces a great deal of fpirit. Again, a farmer may make ufe of rye with fuccefs, to hn^g his fows in leafon for the boar ; it having a furpriiing effect that way : fo that they tell you, one peck of rye will make a fow take the boar, be (he ever fo poor, or foon after pigging ; others fay, that it will have the fame effed on cows and ewes.
For the truth of this laft affertion, I can- not vouch ; but I have tried it on the fow more than once.
Note, there are only twa forts of rye worth the farmer's notice, namely, fmall and big, and by others called winter and fummer-rye.
The winter-rye is a large full grain ; but the fummer-rye is a fmall grain, and is generally fown in fpring, and will be in as early at harveft, as that fown at Michael- mas. The
25i A NEW SYSTEM
The winter-rye, fown to ftand the winter is a hardy kind, and will anfwer cither to {land for feed or to be fown and eaten for winter-feeding,
Rye-ftraw is a very good thatch or litter, but bad fodder for cattle.
CHAP,
OF HUSBANDRY. z^:^
CHAP. LII.
s
DireBiofis for Ploughing, Sowing and bar- njejiing Oats.
O/VTS is a grain that will grow alnioft on any fort of land, or with any kind of hufbandn/ ; but though fometimes toler- able crops are got by flovens, yet thofe who manage better may be fure of a larger re- turn ; and this is, or may be got chiefly by tillage, and letting proper crops come in their right fucceiTion, by which means the one crop is an ufeful preparative to ano- ther.
If ilubble of any fort be intended for oats, it is the better for being ploughed as foon as the grafs is eaten off; which is generally about November; and then it being turned under, and the roots of the grafs or weeds expofed to the froil and the inclemency of the weather, they arc killed, and inllead of a nuifance, become a friendly manure. "Vol. II. K k Many
f
25-4 A NEW SYSTEM
Many farmers m^ake a pra(ftice of fowlnfg oats upon lay : that is in or about Febiuary, they plough up the lay, fow the oats, and then harrow them in very well, fo as to be all covered.
This may anfwcr wh^re the land is good, and of a tender fod, not given to coarfc grafs, or rufhes : but however in general^ 1 do not approve of it, as I look upon fal" lowing out of the fod to be the moft capi- tal management in nature, for the reafons- ]r have mentioned in the proper place.
The land mull be ploughed and the feed fown in February, or from thence till the latter end of March.
I look upon three bulliels of oats to be a: fufficient qviantity for any kind of land ; for though it is a grain that does not ftool, or branch fo much as barley or wheat, yet it corns in proportion to the nourifliment it finds in the ground.
When the oats are about three weeks or a month in the ground, fbw any grafs- feeds- you intend and roll them in, as it will cover I he feed, level the ground, and help the oats at the lame time.
The oats mud be weeded about the mid- dle of June ; then any farther bufincfs is over until harvell ; for which obfcrve the dirertions under the head of mowing corn;
they
OF HUSBANDRY. 235
they mufl be mown and harveilcd the fain>c way.
Without doubt, by mowing, there is more fodder, and confequently more ma- nure ; bcfides all the hands it faves ; which is a valuable confideration, at this bufy fea- fon of the year ; moreover, it fhould be the farmer's chief ftudy, to work his lands with as little expencc and labour as poffible ; and yet not to be fo penurious, as to flint his land of its proper due.
There is^a rnedium to be ufed in all things; and alfo much to be faid in favour of genius and contrivance, particularly in farming matters ; as it is, of all occupations of the ?moll general benefit to mankind.
'CH^P.
56 A NEW S Y S T E M
CHAP. Lir.
"^he Explanation ofjlx different forts of Oats*
\j ATS like moft other grains have got a jnultiplicity of names, to exprefs one and thciamc thing; but this (as obferved in bar- ley) is owing to a diS'ercnt dialed or confu- fion of tongues, peculiar to each country or kingdom. In fad, I imagine there is none more proper for thefe climates, than theft lix forts, viz,
Firfl, the fmgle Englifli white oat.
Second, the Poland-oat.
Third, the Scotch black oat.
Fourth, the naked oat.
Fifth, the red oat.
Sixth, the brown oat, fown much in the fouth weft part of England.
If there be any others that vary from thcfc it is not becaufe they are different forts or fpecies, but becaufe they have been altered
in
OF HUSBANDRY. 257
in cither colour or fizc by the nature of the ground or climate they were fown in.
However there is a particular choice to be made in all forts of oats, which is very ma- terial for the farmer to know, in order tq h-^ighten his fuccels in this crop.
It is to be obferved, that in mofl oats, there are fome which grow in couples, that is a large and a fmall one together, but in fome a great deal more than others.
The farmers, who know the bad confe- quence of thefe double oats, are very care- ful in choofing their feed, to be all (if pof- fible) of the i\ng\e oat : and indeed, they have iuft grounds for this nicety ; as a bar- rel of fingle oats will weigh more, by about two f\one, than a barrel of the double fort: and every one will allow, that it is the weight that diflinguifhes the goodnefs or badnefs of any corn.
The oat grows double from three caufer^
Firfl, by being Town too often on oneTort of land without changing.
Secondly, by being lov\^n too thick on the ground.
1 hirdly, by the ground being too rank.
When oats liave once got into the double flrain, they ought to be fown no more, as it is hard to bring them back to the fingjc oat again : though this may be done by fow-
X58 A N E W S Y S T I- M
ing very thin on good flrong land, and till- ing well to prevent weeds Irom fmothcring the oats, and drawing them tip weak.
I look upon the Engliili fingJc \vhire oat to be the beft of all or!;.ers, Tor the climate and lands of England or Ireland, as it is. a good yielder, botli in corn and meal, and ripens even : which is a very niatcr al point in this crop, it being Co fubjed to Ihcd, or ihake its feed.
The next in value, particularly for the wet or cold lands of Ireland, or the north of England, is the black Scots oat : this yields well, both in corn and meal, and is early ripe ; therefore niay be fown later, if a cold v/et fpring, by three weeks, than any other fort : the meal alfo has a peculiai' rich fvveet tafle.
The Poland oat is a fine, ihort, plump grain : the flraw fhort and fine : but it will not turn out near fo much corn on an acre as the two former.
Again it is very fubje(r{: to /lied, with the icalt wind, the top and the befl of the corn whilft that on the bottom branches is green; particularly if the land be cold and wet : but indeed on warm, gravelly or fandy land, it ripens more even : thereiore a farmei has ;i better rhance to catch his crops before it iheds : h\it "Lb o;^t jntin: be cut, while the
chaflF
OF HUSBANDRY. 259
cha:ff or huflv on the lower branches is grcenilh : for if they be let Hand till they turn as white as the top-branches, half of the crop will be loil in harveding.
The naked oat is a fmall grain : it is call- ed naked, becaule it has no bran upon it, like other gram, but grows in the fame ilate as the kernel of the common oat when fhelled : therefore it is a ready grain fo3- bread : as, when it is threflied, there is im more to do to bring it to meal, than to grind it, and then it is all meal, and no bran : it is a fweet meal, and confequently makci good bread.
When it is fown on land proper for it\, it will produce as good or profitable a crop as other oats: for though the bulk will be wanting, the meal is there: and if it be a good crop, the grain may be as large as the kernel of com.mon oats, when fhelled
The ftraw is fhort aud fine: therefore good fodder for cattle. This oat does not Rool or branch much : therefore it muft be fown pretty thick on the ground : two bufhels will do this, as the grain is fmall.
They muft not be fown under furrow, but harrowed in : as the grain's fmall weak nature would not be able to work through <L thick furrow*
The
26o A NEW SYSTExM
The land for this crop mul\ be finely till- ed ; and as all land, alter ploughing, has an uneven furface, it is necelVaiy beiore this grain is fown, to harrow it once in a place, to le^el it, to prevent the feed falling too deep, and alfo to make it fpread even, and go farther ; after the grain is fov, n, harrov^r it fine.
Delay lowing grafs- feeds, till the firft of May, that thefc oats may get a-head, or they vviil be fmothered, being a fmall plant. The feafon for fowing the oats, is about the firrtjof April.
The red oat takes its name from the co- lour it bears ; though in fa6t it is not abfo- lutcly red ; therefore 1 think the name is wrong applied ; the colour is of a fandy cai\, much like oats that have been heated in the Hack.
It is a heavy thin (Vanned oat ; therefore yields well in meal, and will nearly produce as much on an acre as the Englifh white oat ; how^ever, it requires a rich, .waj"m, well- tilled loil.
I have heard gentlemen fay, they have had greater produce from this than any other crop : but as that was not my cafe, I can- not fpcak fj'orti experience in this particu- lar.
Tiic
OF HUSBANDRY. 261
The Expe.ice and Profit arifing from an Acre of Oats, EngUfh Meafure, at five Yards and a Half to the Perch.
1. s. d.
To feven quarters of oats, at i8s.
per - - - 660
To ploughing twice, with one man
and two horfes> - -050
To harrowing, fo wing, rolling and
water-furrowing, - -020
To chance of weeding, - 020
To feed, - - -092
To mowing, - -^ 010
To gathering and binding, -010 To fwarth-raking, - - 004 To {looking, carriage home, and
attendance, - - 02a
To carriage to* the market, 2tnd
expences, - - -060 To land-rent, - - 0150
Total expencc '^3 3
Clear profit 42^
CHAP.
i6% A NEW 1$ Y S T E M
CHAP. LIV.
On the White Fetch.
THE white vetch, in fomc degree, partakes of the nature of a white or boiling pea, as it will boil foft and fmooth like that grain ; and is chieily uled for mak- ing puddings of; it is mild, good and pa- latable, conlequently very proper for that purpofe.
It only diiFers from the common vttch in colour, which is milk white, but the fhape of the grain and the draw is like it ; how- crer it will not (land the winter fo well. being of a tender ngturc.
The proper time to fow it, is in April, it thrives beft in light fandy land, and like* to be fet in drills, and hoed ; it it be ma- naged thus, it will produce a great return.
C«AP.
OF HUSBANDRT. 263
CHAP. LV..
On the Sihorian, or naked Wheats
TH E naked wheat is a native of Siberia> a very barren and cold climate. The land is covered with fnow nine months in the year ; confequently there ar« only three months to till, fow and reap in.
Their chief fupport of corn, is this naked wheat. This grain partakes of two fpecies of corn, viz. wheat and barley ; one fide of the grain refembles the former, and the other the latter.
Tt is a very quick grower, and lies but a fh^rt time in the ground before it vege- tates.
it is a full plump corn ; about five hun- dred grains weigh an ounce ; therefore it is about one fixth bolder than Engliih wheat.
It comes up with a very broad, llrong, healthy blade, owing to the longnefs of the gram, and the quantity of nitrous particles
it
264 A NEW SYSTEM
it contains. The ftrarv is as (Iron^ or as ^^lofs as that of wheat, ar.d the grain grov\'$ in a chaff Jike it.
As it partakes of the Hkcnels, fo does it of the quality, of both whea^ and barley, lor it makes good bread, and good drink.
in order to prove its value more particu- larly, a bufhel was ground and made into bread j twelve pounds of wheat feconds were made into a loaf ; and a like quantity of this Siberian wheat was alfo made into a loaf, and both put into one oven. When they were backed, the Englilh wheat loaf weighed iifreen pounds, and that of the Si- berian eighteen; and the bread of the latter wa3 as good as that of our Englifh wheat ; neither does it produce half the quantity of bran as common wheat.
There are two forts of this Siberian wheat; one has a flat ear with only two rows, like tliat of flat, or what is called battledore- bailey ; the other has fix rows in one ear, and the grain in them much fmaller than that in the ear with two rows. Both forts arc bearded like barley.
One bufhel was melted and made into*^ fmall beer and ale. both of which v ere very good and picafant to drink; and it was found to produce a greater yield than our common barley ; perhaps owing to its thin ikin, and fullnefs ot flour. In
OF HUSBANDRY. 265
In 1767, a nobleman brought from Si- beria one pint, and gave it to the Society of Arts and Sciences.
• Thofe gentlemen judged from the look •f the grain, and from the nature of the country and climate it came from, that it would be of great utility to England, could a quantity be raifed fufficient to feed the the kingdom.
Upon which they divided their fmall por- tion among fuch perfons as they thought would be induflrious and careful enough to make the mod of the produce.
A common wine-glafs full was given to Mr. Halliday, of Liverpool, half of which he gave to another gentleman.
Mr. Halliday, like a faithful fervant, did not hide his talent in a napkin, but by pro- per judgment and induftry, he fowcd and made it produce thoufands, and ten thou- fands, as from this fmall quantity has fprung, in the four laft years, many hun- dred buflie.'s.
The Rev. Mr. Meredith was not idle in this public fpirited undertaking. He pro- cured a quantity from Mr. Halliday, ar.d divided it among fuch of his acquaintance, as he hoped would propagate it to the beft advantage.
He
Vol, II. L 1
266 A N E \V SYSTEM
He was fo kind as to fend me one buihcl, which he got from Mr. Halliday; for vvhith I return both thofe gentlemen my fincerc thanks, and Ihall ever think niyfelf under a great obligaiion Jbr the favour.
But the lall feafon I had not an oppor- tunityto do it juftire, which was owing to a difappointment occafioned by the negle<fl of carriers ; for though it left Livei*pool the laft day of April, yet it did not arrive in York till the 7th of June, which gave mc great uneafinefs, as 1 looked upon the leafon as over, the feed loft, and my great expec- tations at an end for that tmie.
However^ as foon as it arrived, on the 7th of June, I trench-ploughed a piece of bad land, covered with heath and other rubbilh, and which had been lately inclofed from a common.
On this I lowed it, and notwithftanding all difadvantages, it was a tolerable good crop, and much better, I am fatislied, than any fort of Englifh grain would have been, had it been fowed on the fame land, and at the fame time of the year.
I had received a few grains from another hand. This 1 {et in a proper feafon, and upon good land, each grain at a foot afun- dcr, which gave a produce of about two thoufand fold.
In
OF HUSBANDRY. 267
In ihort it*is the greateft multiplier I ever faw ; for. though it will grow better than other grain upon bad land, yet if the ground be good, it vviil ftool out, and flourilh in proportion, but the grcatcft care mull be taken not to over (eed tlie ground.
The proper feafon for fovving it, is about the beginning of April. Trench-plough the Jand to {mother the weeds, and to raife a glod deep mold.
Then harrow it well, but with^rare, not to drag up the fods or weeds with the har- row pins.
' Being thus prepared, fet your Siberian wheat with a dibble or fetting-ftick, and make the holes at one foot diftance from each other i into each hole put three grains, and let the land be of what degree of rich- nefs it may, doubt not but nature will force out flooling branches fufficient to fill the furface of the earth, and give a greater pro- duce than If you croud the ground too much with {ced.
Ev the above method, it will not coll for fetting above two or three (hillings an acre at mod ; but if the ground were holed with my tranlplanting machine, the labour and cxpence would be ftill lefs ; and the feed is a mere trifle, for about twelve pounds of naked wheat will feed an acre, and thirteen
pounds
i6Z A NEW SYSTEM
pounds and a half of English wheat will fet an acre hkewife, and fo in proportion for every fort of grain, according to the largc- nels of the feed.
After the feed is fet, cover it by filling the holes with a rake. One man will cover at leaft two acres in a day, by this method ; and if you pleafe, you may fow grals-fecds before the ground is raked, and be affured they will grow, and thrive better amongil; corn thus regularly fet, than if fown pro- jnifcuoufly in the common method This is a fuitable ieed for America, as it is a quick grower, and likes heat and a light foil.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 269
CHAP. LVI.
A Dialouge between a Farmer and the Author.
Varmtr,
1 culture P
tT7 HAT is the firll principle of agrl-
Author.
The firft principle in agriculture, is to make heavy land light, and light land
heavy.
Farmer.
How may this be effe^cd ?
Author,
It may be done two ways ; neither of which can fail of fuccefs. Firft, by laying fand upon heavy clay land, and clay upon light Tandy ground; which tempers the
twt
170 A NEW SYSTEM
two extremes, and brings them to a friend- ly loam. Secondly, by trench-ploughing as direded in this work.
Farmer,
Why trench-p'! onghi ng ; will not our common method do better ; particularly on our thin down-lands, where, if wc plough above two or three inches deep, "we Ipoil the ground ?
Author^
This is a bugbear that many farmers arc frightened at without any real caufe, as any land will bear trench-ploughing. For, though the under ftratum of lomc land, at firll turning up, may be ftubborn and un- kind, yet, being expofcd to the atmof- pherc, together Avith a top-dreffing of a compoft, or fome other fine, rotten manure will bring it to a mellow temporate corn mold.
'Parmer.
In what fort of foil will trench -ploughing anfwer beft ?
Author,
In all forts vrithout exception. . Farmer
• OF HUSB ANDRf* 271
Yarmer,
In what fortf will thin ploughing anfwcr beft ?
Author,
In none, for the oppofite rcafon.
Yarmer.
Pray favour me with your reafons, upon which you ground this bold affertion? And take care they be iubftantial, or I fhall bring a jury of farmers upon you.
Author,
It is not the firft time I have been criticifed upon by them ; and yet I have convinced a great many of them, either by ocular dc- monftration, or argument, ot their error ; and fome, to my certain knowledge^, have ventured out of their old road, and are now reaping the profit of it.
Yarmer.
Your rcafon upon fhallow ploughing, if you pleafe P
Author
■i^t A NEW S Y S T E M Author.
On high, thin, gravelly, or fandy land, which lies near chalk or hme-ftonc,' and the furface, or corn mold, mixed with any fort of fmall ftone or pebbles. If fuch be tilled fhallow, it is not confident with reafon that it can jproduce a good* crop : for it is well known, that corn roots llrike no deeper than the plough has gone.
Suppole a plough only turns up two or three inches of earth, fo thin a body of mold is, by the fun, foon heated throui^h to the roots of the corn ; and, being mixed among flint, or llonc, adds to the evil, as^ they reflect a double portion of heat, which burns or extrads the juices from the tender fibrous root ; confequently muft render the crop weak and fickly : in a dry fummer the crop is fcarce worth reaping, and in a wet one, which luits fuch land beft, it docs not produce above half the • crop it would, if properly tilled ; for, by nature, fuch land is good and full of falts, and could not mifs of a crop, were it tilled or brought to a proper depth of corn mold.
Varmer.
In what cjfe docs trench-ploughing pre- vent the fun from burning the roots, 5cc. complaioed of in tjie oppolite cafe P
Author
OF HUSBANDRY, 257
Author.
Indeed, Mr. Farmer, you feem to trifle with your own underftanding, or you would not make me walle time in anlwering fo Ample a queftion : befides, I have already treated pretty largely upon this fubjed, in my firft volume ; however, as few words will do, you ihall be indulged.
By trench-ploughing, the upper fod, or corn-mold, talis to the bottom ot the furrow, perhaps eight or ten inches deep. That fod, which is interwoven with, and full of roots of grafs, weeds, ftubble, &:c. contains a great deal of nitrous and juicy particles ; and thefe roots, being covered with a fuf- ficicnt quantity of maiden earth, cannot vegetate, but are fmothered and killed. The death of them brings on a fermentation ; then follows a putrefadion, which turns them into manure ; and confequently makes them food proper for other plants.
And as thefe juicy particles lie too deep for the iun to extradt them trom the earth, their enriching fubftance is a kindly food for the corn-roots to feed upon all fummer \ neither can the earth, fo long as they remain in it, run together in a dole folid body nor can it be called barren or thirfty ; but the root will always find admittance and
Vol II. Mm uounlhment
27V A NEW SYSTENf
nourlfhment in it, and will not fail to cn^ large the ear upwards, in proportion to the depth it goes ; For no fibre will go farther than the earth contains food iuitable to its nature. In Ihort, if the ground be hot and fandy, trench-ploughing makes it cold and moift; and, if ftrong and clayey, it opens it, and keeps it loofe and mellow.
CHAP. LVII.
hfew Remarks made in the Wejl of England.
BEING glad both to give and receive any inRrudions, that may be of utility' to the public, for the improvement of agri- culture, when upon my travels, I generally wait upon^ fuch gentlemen-farmers as I am told are beft able to fatisfy my curiofity ; and alfo moft likely to take advice.
And as 1 am well convinced of the great advantage that would accrue, not onl) to r'-ic huibandman, but alfo to the public in
general
OF HUSBANDRY. ^^^
general, could the farmers be prevailed upon to put in pradice trench-ploughing, and fettmg the feed regularly.
I generally introduce thofe fubjecT:s, and am as often anfwered, that fetting the feed grain by grain, would be too tedious and cxpenfive ; and as to trench- ploughing, their land will not bear it.
However, I ftldom quit the field till, by trying the ground, I have convinced them of their miliake in the matter of trench- ploughing.
I have fometimes ftarted this fubjeift among a company of farmers ; and have had the fatisfadion to find fome of them quote circuml\ances to back my arguments i two ©r three of which I (hall mention as follows :
iVir. William Lacy, of Ropley, in Han^p- fhire, faid that he had a piece of thin chalky land, which a few years ago he ploughed in a very dry time ; his orders to the plough- men, were to plough it as ufual, perhaps not above two or three inches deep, for fear «f coming too -near the chalk, which would fpoil the land.
However, as the ground was extremely hard and dry, the men could not obey their mailer's orders; for inftead of three inches, the earth broke up from the bed of chalk, and turned up in large furrows, perhaps a .foot thick. Tive
t75 A NEW SYSTEM
The farmer as well -as his neighbours, thought the land was fpoilcd for ever; but contrary to his expedations, he never had fo good crops on that ground before, as lie had both that year and Tince.
The like cafe happened to ore Farmer Baker, not far from Warminfler Wilts, — For though the land broke up from the chalk, yet it brout^ht better crops after thii deep ploughing than before.
A gentleman farmer, near Froome, in Somcrfetfhire, ploughed a piece of f\iong clay-land, in a dry time. His intention was to plough it thin ; for as it had a white clay imder the corn-mold, he was afraid to turn it up, leaft it fhould fpoil the ground. But contrary to his defire, the ground rofe in large thick furrows, and brought up much clay with it. However, the clay melted with the fun in fummer, and the froil in "winter; and both the ground with the crops upon it, have been much better fince tha» before.
Mr. Davis of Frampton, in Dorfetfhirc^ a very worthy gentleman farmer, ploughed a piece of down-land much deeper than common, and his crops were a great deal better for it. I have forgot the particulars of this experiment, but well remember the fubftance, as it caufed a laugh ia the com- pany at dinner. I as
OF HUSBANDRY. ey/
I, as ufnal, was extolling trench-plough- ing, but Mr. Davis was not without a grraC many doubts and fears, that his land would not bear it. However in the midft of his fcruples, he recollec^led the above cafe, which had happened to himfelf.
Mr. Ingram df Clarendon-Park, near Sa- lifbury, Wilts, rents a down farm. He has a large field near his houfe, which he fal- lowed laft fumnier. The ground was very full of weeds and fcutch-grafs, and he had taken a great deal of pains to deflroy them, by ploughing, and harrowing it many times over. At the time I was there, he was burning the weeds, and fuch lubbifh as was harrowed up.
J told him he might have improved the land much better, and with a great deal lefs cxpcnce, if he had trench-plowed it, for by that means all the fubllance of the weeds would have remained in the ground, and turned into a rich manure ; whereas by burning them, fuch enriching qualities arc evaporated.
In fhort, I explained to him the whole method and value of trench-ploughing, which he feemed to liften to with attention but was not without his doubts and fears, fhatthe ground would not bear it ; however $hofe doubts were foon removed, by trying
the
2j% A NEW SYSTEM
the ground with a fpadc. But what ftrengfh- ened my argument the more, was a garden which had been inckifed from the faid field. He told me that for fome years after the garden was inclofed, it produced very bad crops. Every thing that grew in it was fmall and runtilh ; neither could the ground be kept free from weeds. A gardener told him. as a great fecret, that if he would have good crops, he muft trench to the depth of three fpade-grafts, and throw to the bot- tom all the upper mold which contained the weeds. He did fo, and ever fince it has been the beft garden in the country.
When he ronfidered well the whole af- fair, he liked the fchemc ; and immediately got a plough made according to my direrti- ons ; and as wheat feed time was then com- ing on, he trench-ploughed the land on ■which he fowed his wheat. He allowed to each acre only about half the quantity of feed that is commonly ufed. And at this time, there is not a crop in the neighbour- ing country that looks fo well as his.
The laft time I faw him in Salilhury, he told me that many farmers hearing of his proceedings, came to fee his trenched-land and crop; and every one approved of it; and that he knew a great many who were then getting trench-ploughs made from his
pattcrp
OF HUSBANDRY. 2j^
pattern, and that he was fure it would gain ground amazingly.
Mr. Hardy, of Martins-town, Dorfet, is* a very confiderable gentleman-farmer, and' feems to be indued with talents and a fpirit for improvement, I (hewed him how to alter his plough, for the purpofe of trench- ploughing. He told me that he would cer- tainly begin this piece of hufbandry.
Mr. Thomas Nicholls, of Burton, Dorfet, is a confiderable gentleman -farmer ; and one" that feems to excel in hufbandry. He is fo much bent upon this method oi^ trench- ploughing, that he offered my ploughman' thirty pounds a year, which by the bye, I ^o not thank him for; as it has made the jnan faucy ever fince.
William Helyar, Efq. of Coker in Somer- ffetfhire, a gentleman fond of improvements is alfo determined to begin the method of larench-ploughing.
Upon looking over my memorandum book, 1 find no Ids than two hundred and twenty-nine, to whom I have ihewed in the Well of England, how to alter the ploughs' for trench-ploughing; and who told me that they would abloiutely put in pracftice, what 1 have taken fo much pains to make thewi underiiand tor their own mteieit.
Arid-^
2So A NEW SYSTEM
And now I beg leave to clear up a doubt which may arife in my reader, for (lavs he) felf-intcrefl is the firil law of nature; therefore, if Mr. Varlo has no private view, why fhouid he take all this trouble to iii- ilrud the farmers P But, 1 can allure him mine are public fpirited, and not (ellifh views. For though 1 have fpent confidcr- able fums in travelling, and taken a great deal of trouble upon the occafion, 1 defy any one to fay, that 1 ever reaped a Ihl Hi ng advantage, for any thing 1 ever ihewed him; and to avoid any appearance of private in- terefb, 1 would rather go to an inn, and pay for what I had, than live at Iree coll at the houfes of gentlemen ; whom, to give them their due, 1 have found in general very hof- pitahle.
Should it be objecfled to me, that I have foine intcrcfl in publifliing this work. 1 an- fwer that I have, indeed, a Imall profit there- in i but 1 could have reaped three times as much, had 1 ftayed at home and wrote it by my own fire-lide. But though this would have turned more to my advantage, yet it would not have been i'o much for the pub- lic good. For 1 am convinced, that many farmers to whom I have explained thefe ia- tcrelling methods of huibandry, will prac- tice irom what I Ihewed j who probably
would
OF HUSBAliTDRY. 281
would have overlooked them, had they on- ly read the books. Precedent joined with precept, is very prevailing ; and both tend towards pradice.
CHAP. LVIII.
On thin Sowing, &cc.
AS in my laft chapter I gave fome fa- vourable hints upon deep ploughing, gathered from feveral counties j this chap- ter, in like manner, will prove the value of thin rowing, which particularly deferves the farmer's attention.
A tradcfman in Gloucefter, has one acre ©f land, which lies within the turnpike. The iame has been fome time occupied as a garden ; but it being overun with v^eeds, he was advifed to fow it with wheat, and lay it down with grafs-feeds, which accord- ingly he did ; but contrary to the common
Vol. 11. Nn method;
2^ A NEW SYSTEM
mexliod : for he bought a peck of wheat,, rjid after the land was properly tilled, hired" two woaicn to fct it grain by grain, with letting ilicks.
They ulcd only feven pints of the feed, •and finilhed the acre in thirteen hours.
I'hey had orders to make each hole nine inches aiunder, and in each to drop one grain of corn. However, as they had no regular rule to go by, they might err in the diftanrc, and alfo fometimcs put more grains than one in a hole.
The feed was fet in. February, and the land hoed in April, to keep down the weeds, which Iprung up very plentifully. Clover feed was fown immediately after.
In July, I viewed the crop, which was remarkably good ; but had it been kept clear from weeds, the clover would have been much better, as I perceived it was much crowded.'
The flraw was at leaft fix feet long, th^ ears, in general, about fix inches long, and contained, upon an- average, about eighty grains each.
1 fpent feveral hours in counting how ma- ny ears fpiung from a root, which varied, all the way from fifteen to thirty. So that upon a medium, i fudged that each root tlirough the acre, taking one with anothcr,^., produced twenty eais. It
OF HUSBANliiRY. :2%
\t was believed by all. the judges in corn, that the acre would produce at lead fitty Wincheller bufnels.
The Rev. Mr. Sandys, Reclor of Yeo\cl, Somerfctfliire, fet a piece of ground (in quantity about an acre and a half) with, wheat, grain by grain, in the fame manner as they dibble beans. It took a peck and a half of feed ; the labour coft half a guinea. The produce was eighty bu^ieis oF clean corn Winchefter meafure.
A gentleman in Warwickfhirc, fet four acres alfo, grain by grain, The feed it took was thr-ce pecks and a ha^f. The labour coll feventeen fliillings and fix-pence. The produce was two hundred and two bufhels of clean corn, Winchefler meafure.
A gentleman near Newcaftlc-upon-Tyne, ietfome naked or Siberian wheat, one foot afunder each grain; it pro<:luced about two thoufand fold.
In lliort, w^ere I to Infert all the experi* ments of the fort, which have come to, my knowledge, they would fill a volume : nei- ther is there any neceffity for it, as every fenfible man will admit, that if any expe- riment will ftand good for one acre, it will for any greater quantity in the fame fort of land..
ni
284 A NEW SYSTEM
ne Gardeners Calendar, for WarJi to he done round the Tear in the Kitcben-Gardcn.
JANUARY.
Asparagus forced, to have a regular fucceflion of it, from November to April, muft be planted every month, and will be near a month before it is fit to cut ; the fourth hot -bed muft be made.
Beans of the early fort, plant the fecond crop.
Beets and cabbages of all forts, plant for feed, if omitted in Ocf^ober.
Carrots, fow the firft crop, to draw young and plant fome for feed.
Cauliflowers examine and defend from froft.
Celery cover with ftraw, and dig up fome for ufe, when the froft firft begins.
Crefs, muftard, radilh and rape, fow eve- ry week on a hotbed.
Cucumbers, if you choofe them as early as March are proper to be fown now, when they arc three or four days old, put each plant into a fmall pot, and fow a little feed every week to have plenty of plants.
Dung fliould be wheeled in frofty wea- ther, when other work cannot be done.
Endive
OF HUSBANDRY. 2S5
Endive, cover with draw, and dig up Ibme for iife when the froft fets in.
Ground which is vacant, fhould be digg- ed over, and thrown up into ridges.
Hotbeds and loam muli be prepared for aiparagus, cucumbers, melons and failading, • Lettuces fow on a hotbed, if thofe under glafles be killed, and plant mint.
Mufliroom-beds, cover well with dry flravv, to keep out both froil and rain.
Onions, fow on a warm border to draw young.
Peas for the firft crop, under the fouth wall, fhould have the earth drawn up to them in a dry day ; and if fticks be placed to them, they help to fcreen them from the violence of the wind. Sow the fecondcrop.
Plant afparagus for the fourth crop.
Beac-s, the fecond crop of mazagan.
Beets, cabbages, carrots, parfnips for feed.
Mint and potatoes on a hot-bed.
Onions, for eicallions and feed.
Radiibes, fow the fecond crop in a warrn lituation, and the fii*il on a hotbed.
Small failading, as crefs, muftard, rape, radiflies, fow every week on a hotbed.
Sow carrots the firft crop, peas the fe- cond.
Sow on hotbeds, carrots, cucumbers for the firft crop. Cre/s, muftard, -radifh, rape for fallads. February
zU A NEW SYSTEM
FEBRUARY.
Asparagus for the fifth crop on hot- beds, plant and keep the mats off' the lights in good weather, to give it colour by the lun and air.
Beans of the early fort for a third crop muft be planted, and at the end of the month the firft crop of the larger lort, as Windfor, long- podded, &c.
Beets low, but dig the ground very deep.
Boorcole and Broccoli will want earthing up, and the dead leaves picked off'.
Cabbages, low for the fecond crop of fugar-loat' and red, aiid plant out thofe fown in Auguft.
Carrots, for a general crop, fow at the end of the month, on a deep fandy foil.
Cauliflowers under glalTes will want exa- mining ; pick off" all decayed leaves, fflr up the earth, and in mild weather give them air, and plant fome out, leaving only two to each glafs.
Sow the fecond crop on a gentle hotbed.
Celery, for the ffrff crop, mult now be fown on a gentle hotbed, and earth drawn, up to blanch what is in the ground.
Coleworths fow the firft crop.
Crcfs and muftard fow every week on hotbeds.
Cucumber-
OF HUSBANDRY. 2S7
Cucumber-beds mud be conftantly at- tended to, to keep them up to a proper heat and another made for the plants raifed lallr month : when they have four or five rough leaves, plant them out, three or four to each light. Then fow more feed.
Endive, tye up for blanching, and plantr fome for feed,
Efchalots, garlic and rocambole fhould now be planted, to have the roots large.
Ground which is vacant ihould be digged^ and thrown up into ridges^ ready for fowing^
Horfe-radi(h will now require to be planted. ■ Hotbeds, for cucumbers, melons^ fallad^ ing, prepare and have plenty of dung.
Leeks fow, and mark fome for feed.
Lettuces from under glailes, if the wea- thei: be mild, plant ouC and fow the fecond crop. Give plenty of air to the forced ones.
Melons, for the firfl: crop, may be fown. the firft week in the month, and when about" three days old, plant each in a fmall pot.
Mint, plant in pots on a hotbed. ^ Mufhroom-beds defend from wet.
Onions for the gcn'eral crop, fow at the. «nd of the month, or beginning of March, and weed the others, and plant fome for feed.
Parfiey^
2J?8 A NEW SYSTEM
Parfley (ow for edging, and fomc curled very thin on a bed, to grow large for gar- nifhing of difhes, and the large rooted.
Parfneps, fow on ground digged deep.
Peas out of the ground will require fre- quent earthing as they advance and flicking. Sow marrowfats, and other large forts, and the third crop of hotfpurs.
Plant afparagus, for the fifth crop, for forcing. Beans tor a third crop, windfor* the firft. Cauliflowers from under the glaff- es. Endive lor blanching and feed. Ef- chalots, garlic and rocambole. Horfe-ra- difh. Lettuces from under glaffes. Leeks, onions and parfley for feed. Potatoes on hotbeds and the tirfl crop.
Radifhes, uncover in mild w^eather, and put on the flraw again at night. Sow the third crop, and the fecond on a hotbed.
Snails fearch for in the holes of walls.
Sow beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflow- er*, coleworts, fennel, leeks, lettuces, muf- tard, onions, parfley, parfneps, peas, ra- difhes, fpinach.
Sow on hotbeds cauliflowers, cucumbers, melons, muftard. Rldilh and rape for fal- lads
Spinach, fow the firfl: crop, and hoe the winter crop, if too thick. Water carry off if it flands any where, by making drains or cutting trenches March
OF HUSBANDRY. 189
MARCH.
^/\Lirai^ders fovvn in Auguft mull be hoed to a foot afunder, and more feed fown.
Aromatic fhrubs and herbs on beds, weed and earth, and foW and plant more of all lorts.
Artichokes muft be dreiled, and the fuck- ers taken off for a frefh plantation.
Afparagus-feed mufl now be fown. Plant out that fown laft year. Fork up the beds, and rake them fmooth. Water the beds in \'ery dry weather in a morning, and make frelh plantations.
Beans, for the fourth early crop, plant, and the fccond of Windfors. Cut off the tops of thole in flower
Beets linifh fowing
Boorcole muft be fown for the firft crop.
Broccoli fow for the hrft crop on a hot- bed. Cabbages, fow the third crop of fu- gar-loaf, the fccond of red, and the firft of lavoy Carets, for the principal crop muft be fown Capficums, for pickling, fow on a hotbed. Cauliflowers muft be planted out, leaving only two to each glafs ; draw earth up to the ftems, and prop up the glaffcs
Prick out thofe fown laft month, and fow more for the third crop.
Vol. II. -. O o Celery,
X90 A NEW S Y S T E M
Celery, prick out the tirfl crop from the feed-bed, and low the fccond. Chardons muft be fown, and cives planted, Colewurths prick out the hill crop Crels, muihiid, raciiih and rape now fow in the open ground lor faliading
Crels and nuiilard fow very thin for feed. Cucumber- beds keep up' to a good heat, by lining ; and piant out tiie lecond crop
About the twentieth low tor bell glalTes and fome Turkey-feed
i-iOtbeds muil be prepared for planting out cucuinbeib and melons
Jerulalem artichokes plant. Leeks fow. Kidney- beans fow at the end of the month Lettuces plant out under frames and fow the third crop of cos, or any other.
Melons plant out from the firll hotbed — Sow cantaleupes lor the fec('nd crop, and £ome on a tan-bed, and for bcUglalfes , JViint-beds weed, and plant moie iv;ulhroom-beds make for fummer ufe Nallurriums for pickling, now low Onion beds ihould be carciully weeded ; the general crop hnilhed lowing
Parlley, both curled and large-rooted fovr Parfneps lliould be finilhed lowing. Peas earth, and.llickany which want, and fow the fecond crop of marrowfats
Pot and ivvect herbs ihould now be fown.
Slip
OF HUSBANDRY.
291
Slip pot-marjorum and thyme
Plant artichokes, alparagus, beans, cu- cumbers, feruf. artic. lettuces, melons, po- tatoes, taiTagon, and aromatic herbs and ihrubs, as balm, camomile, lavender. Sec
Potatoes, plant the principal crop. Radifhes, fovv the fourth crop, Scrampions -^ — faifafy, icorzonera, Ikirrets and forrel fow
Sow alifanders, angelica, afparag^s, baiil, beets, borage, boorcole, broccoli, bnrnet, cabbages, capficums, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, celeriac, chardons, chervil, clary, corianders, ere is, cucumbers, dill, fennel, hyfop, kidney -beans, leeks, lettuces, marjo- ramj marygolds, melons, mudard, naftur- tiu'iis, onions, parflcy, parfneps peas, pur- flane, radilhes, rampions, fallafy, favory, fcorzonera, ikuTets,fea-kale, forrel, Ipmach, tarragon, thyme, tomatoes, turneps, water- •crelfee.
Weeds fhould be dedroyed when youngo
Aprl
592 A NEW SYSTEM
APRIL
J\Vn\ being the latefl time for fovving the principal crop of the kitchen-garden, it any thing diredcd lall: month were omitted, per- form it early in this Aromatic herbs and ilirubs fow and plant. Afparagus iTiould be finilhed early in the month, ^oth Towing and planting, and the beds forking and raking : ii' it be very dry, water the bed in the morning.
Beans in flower murt have their tops cut ofl, and draw the flalks of the lirft: crop ciofe to the wall by fbings, and earth them up Plant the tirft crop of windfors Boorcole and broccoli prick out the firft crop, and fow the fecond.
Cabbages, tye up the leaves of the early fort to forward their cabbaging — prick out the third crop of fugar-loaf, the fecond ot* red, and the ih-ll of favoys
Capficums mud be pricked out from the feed-bed, before they are too crowded
Carrots, weed and thin the firfl crop, and fow" the fecond to draw young
Cauliflowers muft have the earth drawn lip very high to raife the glafles, and at the end, of the month take them away — break down the lea\ es when any begin to flower ; earth the fecond crop, and prick out the third crop Celery
OF ^HUSB ANDRY. 293
Celery, prick out the fecond, fow the third ■ — crefs and muftard fow every week
Cucumber-beds muil be lined with frefh dung, if wanted and give them plenty of air — make a gentle hotbed within the ground, for thofe that are to be under bellglaffes, and plant them on it at the end of the month — fow more feed to haveplentyof plants
Endive for feed fhould have the earth fre- quently ftirred about it. Sow the firft crop.
Finochio fow in drills a foot afunder, firft crop
Hotbeds for fowing of melons for bell- glaifes mull be prepared.
Kidney-beans fow the fecond. crop, and the firli crop of fcarlet-flowered
Lettuces fhould be tied to aiiift their ca- baging j thofe in beds thinned to a foot dif- tance, others planted out and the fourth crop very thin
Melon -beds muft be kept up to a good heat and the fecond and third crop planted uut
Mufliroom-beds mull be ftni(hed making
Onions fow to draw young
Parfley hoe and fow the large-rooted.
Peas muil be frequently earthed, be ituck as foon as the tendrils appear
Sow the third crop of marrowfats.
Plant afparagus, beans, lettuces, mufh- rooms, pot-herbs, potatoes Plant
29+ A NEW SYSTEM
Plant on frelli hot-beds, cucumbers and melons
Potatoes muft be finifhed planting
Pot and fvveet herbs m.iy iliil be Town ard planted and weed and earth the beds
Prick out from the feed-beds boorcolr, broccoli, cabbages, capficums, cauiiilovvers and celery
Purllane (ovv on a warm border
Radifhes fovv in a cool place for the fifth crop
Rofemary, rue, fage, favory and thyme may be Hipped and lail year's planted out.
Snails and Hugs fhould be fearched for
Sow aromatic herbs and fhrubs — Alpara- t^us.boorcole, broccoli, carrots, celery, crefs endive, finochio, kidney-beans, lettuces, niuftard, onions, peas, ppt-herbs, purllane radillies, fpinach, fweet-herbs and turncps. , i>o\v on a hot-bed cucumbers and melons
Spinach low the third crop m a cool place
Turneps hoe the firfl crop and few the fecond
Weed all beds of feedlings, while the weeds are fmali and any other crops alio
May
OF HUSBANDRY. 2()^
MA Y
/\ Romatic fhrubs and herbs may ftill be fown and planted
Art'chokes (hould have the young fhoots pulled off, not to rob the principal one
Afiparagus beds Ihould be confluntly weeded
Beans will frequently require earthing, and cut off the tops as they co-ne in flower.
Boorcole, prick out the fecond crop.
Broccoli, prick out the fecond, fow the third crop
Cabbages fhould be often hoed and earth- ed Plant the fecond crop, and the tirft of red — fo V the ^fourxh crop, and the fecond of favoys.
C'abbage-turnep and turnep-rooted cab-, bage, American and white Scotch cabbage, and Anjou boorcole, muft now be fown ; and as they are chiefly intended for cattle, and are required to grow large, fow the ieed' very thin.
Caterpillars will now be found In the web.
Capiicums piant out where thev are to fiower, and tomatoes, in rich ground.
Carrots ihould be weeded before the weeds over-top them, and thined by hoeing
Cauliflowers, for the Oetober crop, now i5)W, plant out the lecond crop.
Gclery,
iq6 a new system
Celery, prick out the third crop, foW the fourth.
Colcworths, plant out the firfl crop.
Crefs and muilard fow every week, and hoc that which is fown for feed.
Cucumbers of the fourth crop may be planted out, and let fome be againft walls, both for feed and their fuperior flavour.
Sow now in the open ground. If attack- ed by black flies fumigate them with to- bacco fmoak.
Endive thin the firJl: crop and fow the fe- cond.
Efchalots, garlic and rocambole, may have a few roots taken up for prefent ufe.
Finochiofow for the fecond crop.
Hoe the beds of beets, carrots, leeks, oni- ons, pariley, parfneps, &cc.
Kidney-beans, fow the third crop of dwarfs, and the fecond of runners.
Lettuces in beds thin, and fow the fifth crop.
Melons on the tan-bed muft be thinned. ' — Sow feed for an autumn crop : prick out each into a fmall pot, when the rough leaf appears.
Melons attacked with fpiders muft be fu- migated with tobacco fmoak.
Nafturitums thin to a foot afunder.
Onions will require weeding and hoeing,
Thofe
OF HUSBANDRY. 297
Thofe planted for feed will want fupport by ftakes and ftrings. Sow feed to draw young.
Peas, fow the fourth marrowfats in a cool place. Plant cabbages, coleworts, cucum- bers, capficums, cauliflowers, lettuces, ra- difhes, fage. Potatoes hoe, before the plants appear.
Pot-herbs and fweet-herbs in beds, mujfl be frequently weeded, particularly feedlings.
Prick out from the feed-beds, boorcole, broccoli, cabbages, melons.
Radifhes for feed muft now be planted. — fow the fixth crop in a cool place.
Sow broccoli, cabbages, cab. turnep, cau- liflowers, celery, crefs, cucumbers, endive, iiniochio, kidney beans, lettuces, melons, onions, peas, purflane, radifhes, fpinach, turneps.
Seed of all forts, nearly ripe, will often require flacking and defending from birds.
Turneps, fow the third crop, and hoe the others.
Water often, in dry weather, beds of feedlings.
Weeds of no fort mufl: be liiffered to feed.
Weed, before the weeds are as high as the crops, the feed-beds and crops of car- rots, endive, finochio, leeks, lettuces, oni- ons, pot-herbs, fpinach, turneps.
Vol. II. X p June
29^ A NEW SYSTEM
JUNE
J\ Romatic herbs, for diying and diililling gather
Beans want earthing and cutting oflf the tops. Beets ihould be thinned to a proper diiiancc. Boorcole, plant the firft crop, and fow the third. Broccoli, plant the firl^ crop prick out the third, and ibw the fourth.
Cabbages, plant the third crop, prick out the lourth, and fow the fifth. Plant the fecond crop ot red cabbage, and fow the third. Savoys, plant the tirll crop, and prick out the fecond, and fow the third.
Cabbage-turneps, fow the fecond crop.
Canots and pai fneps tinilh hoeing.
Cauliflowers, plant the third crop ; prick out the fourth.
Celery, plant the firft crop, prick out the fourth, and low the lifth.
Colefeed and rape may now be fown.
i'olc worts, fow the fecond crop. Endive, plant out the firll crop, thin the fecond, and fow the third, and third crop of finochio.
Hoe and thin all the crops of carrots, Sec. properly, before the weeds are high.
kidney-beans, fow the fourth crop, and place flicks to the runners.
Lavender
OF HUSBANDRY. 299
Lav.endcr, rofemaiy, rue, and fagc cut- tings, may now be phmted in the ibade.
Leeks ihould be hoed and thinned. Lettuces, low the lixth crop in a cool place; Melons in frames, cover with mats in the heat of the day, and lay tiles under the fruit — plant out thofe for the oiled papers.
Onions muft be thinned, to five or fix in- ches, and leave a few at three.
Parfley in beds for garnifh, and the large- rooted, thin to fix inches diftance.
Peas, low the lail marrowfats in a cool place. Plant boorcole, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, endive, lavender, let- tuces, rofcmary, rue, fage.
Prick out broccoli, cabbages, cauliflow- ers, celery.
Radiihes, fow the feventh crop, and tur- nep-rooted and black Spanifh in a cool place
Rape and cole-feed may now be fown.
Seeds, as they ripen, muft be gathered.
Sow boorcole, cabbages, celery, colcfeed, coleworts, endive, finochio, kidney -beans^ lettuces, peas, radifhes, rape, fpinach, tui*- neps, turnep-radifh.
Spinach, fow the fifth crop thin, in a cool place.
Turneps, fow the fourth crop, and hoc others.
Water all beds of feedlings frequently.
July
300 A NEW SYSTEM
JULY
J\ Romatic herbs for drying and diRilling muft be conftantly gathered.
Afparagus, for a crop in autumn, muft be cut down, the beds lightly forked and raked, and watered every night for a week after, if dry weather. Weed the (eed-beds.
Beans, plant the fifth crop of mazagan, and the fourth of Windlors, for late crops.
Boorcole, plant the fecond crop, prick out the third, and the fitrfl of Anjou.
Broccoli, plant out the third crop, and prick out the fourth.
Cabbages, plant the fourth crop, and prick out the hfth. Red cabbage, prick out the third crop. Savoys, plant the fecond, and prick out the third crop.
Cabbage- turneps, prick out the firft crop. Carrots, to draw young, fow the third crop Cauliflov/ers, plant out the fourth crop. Celery, plant the fecond crop, and prick out the fifth.
' Colefeed, rape and coleworts, finifh fow- ing : prick out the fecond crop of colcworts
Cucumbers in open ground fhould be fhick with branches of rticks.'
Efchalots and garlic may be taken up, if the ftalks be (juite withered.
Fipochio, fow the fourth crop.
Kidney-
OF HUSBANDRY. 301
Kidney-beans, fow on a fouth border the lifth and laft crop.
Lavender and rofemary cuttings flill plant
Leeks plant out in double rows.
Lettuces, fow the leventh crop in a cool place.
Onions when their leaves wither, pull out of the ground, and fow the firft crop of Welfh, and laft crop to draw young.
Peas fown laft month will want fticking, and fow the fourth crop of hotfpurs.
Plant beans, boorcole, cabbages, cauli- flowers, celery, lavender, leeks, lettuces, red cabbage, rofemary, favoys.
Prick out boorcole, broccoli, cabbages, celery, coleworts.
Radifhes, fow the eighth, alfo turnep- rooted and black Spanifh, and hoe the firft crop
Sow carrots, colefeed, coleworths, endive, finochio, kidney-beans, lettuces, onions, parfley, peas, radifhes, fpinach, rape, tur- neps, turnep-radifhes.
Spinach, fow the fixth crop, and the firft of prickly thin, in a cool place.
Turneps, fow the fifth and principal crop for winter ufe, and hoe the other crops.
Water beds of fcedlings, and all young crops.
Auguft
102 A NEW SYSTEM
AUGUST.,
LIfanders, angelica, chervil, fennel, forrel, are now to be fown. Beans fown laft month, will want water-
A
mg.
Boorcole, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers and coleworts, lately planted, will require hoeing around them, and earth drawn up to their flems.
Broccoli, plant out the third crop.
Cabbages, for the firft crop at fpring, muft be fown about the tenth day of the month.
Cabbage-turneps prick out the fecond crop.
Cauliflowers for the firft fpring crop, fow about the twentieth, and (hade them in the middle of the day by mats.
Celery, earth the firft crop for blanching, and plant out the third.
Coieworts, plant out lome of the fecond crop.
Crefs and muftard feed muft be gathered if ripe, and fow every week for fallads.
'Cucumbers for pickling, fhould now be gathered, and they will be free from fpots.
Endive, frequently tie up for blanching ; plant out the third crop, and thin the fourth.
Efchalots, garlic and rocambole, may be taken up it the ftallcs be quite withered.
Leeks
OF HUSBANDRY. 303
Leeks fini(h planting out.
Lettuces, for Handing through the winter and forcing, muft now be fown very thin at three different times. Plant out the laft fown on a fouth border.
Melons in rainy weather mull be defend- ed from wet, by putting hand-glaffes over them ; and place fticks for the pickling me- lons to run up.
Onions muft be frequently turned, that they may be well dried.
Sow the fecond crop of Welfh.
Peas, fow fome hotfpurs on a fouth bor- der for the fifth and laft crop.
Plant celery, endive, leeks, lettuces.
Prick out Anjou boorcole, cabbage-tur- neps.
Radifties, fow the ninth and laft crop.
Seeds nearly ripe muft be guarded from birds, — Sow alifanders, angelica, cabbages, cauliflowers, chervil, crefs, fennel, lettuces, muftard, onions, peas, radiflies, forrel, fpinach, turneps
Spinach, fow the fecond crop of prickly.
Turneps hoe, and low the fixth crop.
Water feedling beds in a morning.
Weeds begin to grow very faft in moift- weather, therefore muft be hoed frequently.
September.
364 A NEW SYSTEM
SEPTEMBER
^^Romatic herbs and fhrubs, cut down their decayed ftalks to ftrengthen the roots and tranfplant them.
Beans planted in July mull be earthed up, and the tops pinched when in flower.
Boorcole, plant out the third crop
Broccoli, plant out part of the fourth crop
Cabbages, plant out the fifth crop, and prick out 'the firft crop on a fouth border, and earth out any which want — plant out third crop of favoysand red cabbages.
Cabbage-turneps, plant out the iirft crop
Carrots fown in July mull be hoed.
Cauliflowers fown laft month muft be pricked out, watered and fhaded till rooted — earth up the fourth crop, and break the leaves if they begin to flower.
Celery, plant out the fourth crop and earth up the firft and fecondto blanch.
Chardons will require blanching
Coleworts, plant out more of the fecond crop, a few at a time, to thin the bed.
Crefs and muftard fow every week.
Cucumbers for pickling fhould be flnilh- «d gathering
Endive, plant out a little of the fourth crop to thin it, and give the reft more room — tye up forac to blanch
Efchalots
OF HUSBANDRY, 50^
Efchalots, garlic and rocambole, fhould have all the offsets or fmall roots planted.
Lettuces mull be early thinned m the feed- bed, if fown thick, and pricked out on 2 fouth border, to about four or five inches.
Melons for pickhng will be fit to gather.
Mufhroom-becis muft now be made.
Onions, finilh lowing early in the month the Wellh onions, and weed thofc fown laft month, before the weeds are high.
Plant boorcole, broccoli, cabbages, cole- worts, endive, elchalots, garlic, rocambole, tarragon.— Prick out cabbages, cauliflowers, lettuces, — £ow crefs, Ipinach, muftard, tur- aeps.
Spinach^ finifh fowing for fpring ufe, and hoe that fown lalt month.
Tarragon-roots may now be planted
Turncps, turnep-radilhes, and black- Spanilh, will all require hoeing.
Weeds muft be particularly attended to among the onions and other crops.
Vol, n. Ctq Qaober
:jo6 a new system
OCTOBER
J\S 0<?kober is the only time to crop a garden before winter, omit not any thing till next month.
Aromatic herbs and fhrubs in beds weed, and fpread fomc earth over them.
Afparagus ftalks cut down, hoe the weeds and fpread earth Irom the earth on them — hotbeds prepare for forcing, and plant three- year old plants for the firfl; crop
Beans, the early mazagan muft be plant- 'Cd on a fouth border
Boorcoie plant out the fecond crop, and hoe the ground about the others
Broccoli, plant out the reft for the fourth crop
Cabbages, fown in Auguft plant half out in a warm lituation
Cabbagc-turneps, plant early in the month and earth up the others
Carrots fown in July, finifh hoeing.
Celery, plant out the fifth and laft crop,, and earth up the fecond to blanch
Coleworts, finilh planting.
Crefs and muftard fowon a hotbed
Endive, tie up to blanch, and plant more-
Elchalots, garlic and rocambole plant.
Ground which, is vacant, throw up in- ridges
Hoe
OF HUSBANDRY. 307
Hoe boorcole, brorcoli, cabbages, cab- Ijage-turneps, and draw up the earth to their ^ems
Hoe carro^s and fpinach
Hotbeds prepare ior forcing afnaragus
Lettuces, plant out cabbage and brown Dutch on afparagus beds
Mint, plant in pots on a hotbed,,
Mulhroom-beds cover well with ftraw "and mats, to defend them from rain.
Onions mtSft be well weeded
Peas, the early hotfpurs, fow on a fouth border, for a fird crop.
Plant afparagus on a hotbed for the firll crop, and beans, boorcole, broccoli, cab- bages, cabbagc-turneps, cauliflowers, celery^ coleworts, endive, efchalots, garlic, lettuces, mint, rocambole.
Plant out to ftand for leed, beets, parfley cabbages, parfneps, carrots, turneps.
Pot-herbs and fweet-herbs on beds, weed, 0ir up the earth, and Ipread fome uver them
Seeds of all forts fhould be trellied out, dried and put into bags.-
Sow crefs and muflard on hotbeds.
Hoe fpinach for the laft time before win- ter, and fow peas on a fouth border.
November
3o8 A NEW SYSTEM
N O V E M B E Pc.
j^\NY thing omitted laft month, perlbrn* early in this, before the rain prevents you.
Artichoke llalks cut down, and earth them
up. — Afparagus on hotbeds muft have air
given it, and make and plant the fecond bed.
Beets, cabbages and carrots, plant tor feed.
Cauliflowers under glalTes and frames, give fome air to in the middle of fine days.
Celery earth up when dry, to blanch.
Crefs and muftard low on hotbeds.
Endive not planted out, take up, and plant on the fouth Ade of a ridge.
Ground which is vacant, threw up int* ridge*.
Hotbeds prepare for forcing of afparagus.
Mufhroom-beds guard from wet.
Peas and beans above ground, draw earth up to, and place traps to catch mice.
Radifhes, early fhort-topped, fow about the tenth, and i'pread llraw over the beds.
Roots of beets, parfley, falfafy, carrots, potatoes, fcorzonera, parfheps, Ikirrets, turnep-radilbes take up to preferve in land.
Sow crefs, mullard, radilh and rape on hotbeds for fmall fallading.
Spinach lioe, it it be too thick.
Weed all the crops and rake off the weeds to prevent their rooting again.
Dcgcmber
OF HUSBANDRY. 30$^
DECEMBER.
A SPARAGUS muft be planted for the -*^ third crop, and give it both light and air to colour it.
Boorcole, broccoli and cabbages, muft be well earthed up to keep them upright.
Cauliflower-plants muft have air, when the weather is mild, &cpick off dead leaves.
Celery, when dry, earth for blanching.
Crefs, muftard, radifh and rape, fow oa hotbeds every week.
Dunghilis, weed and turn in frofty wea- ther.
Endive, tye up for blanching.
Hotbeds muft be attended to, and plenty ^qf hot dung and loam provided.
Lettuces under glalfes muft have air given them in the middle of mild days.
Mufhroom-beds muft have dry ftraw if wanted.
Peas and beans above ground, earth up.
Roots for preferv^ing in fand fhould be fined, before the froft lets in.
Snails, fearch for in holes.
Sow crefs, muftard, Sec. every week.
Tools, repair, grind and put in order while you have leifure.
Traps muft be let to catch mice.
CHAP,
TO A NEW SYSTEM
CHAP. LIX.
Preface to the Apfendix*
THE following obfcrvations by the au- thor while on his travels, may fcem fuperfluous and unnecefTary to an American reader, being made in foreign countries ; for fay they, the land and climate of thefe countries are different from ours, therefore how can this information be proper for us to go by.
Thofe obfcrvations have been often made to the author by men in all countries ; {q confined are the ideas of human nature till enlarged by experience or philofophical re- fearches iato the works of nature.
It is a matter of wonder to me what fome farmers think the earth of other countries or kingdoms is made up of, when they ar- gue that the management of lands in the forementioned countries will not do for theirs ; that they muil certainly know beft what fuits their lands, who have lived there - on all their life-time. Sec.
I fuppofe fuch reafoners think that the earth in countries they have not fcen, is
made
OF HUSBANDRY. ^ir
made up of fome very extraordinary mate- rials; that if it produces fuch and fuch crops the foil cannot be Uke theirs.
But they may be allured that the whole world is made up of the fame materials of fand, loam, clay, ftone, gravel, 8cc. that clay will be clay, and fand, fand, in all coun- tries ; that the grain proper for each fort in one country, will alfo enfure fuccefs in ano- riier ; and that if by induftry, ingenuity or chance, a feed or any improvement be found out in one country, it may be transplanted
or propagated in another with fuccefs. ■
And the untravelled farmer may be far- ther alTured, that the interior parts of each, country is thus variegated.
1 have travelled over mofl parts of Ame- rica, and muft own I am amazed at the backwardnefs of their improvements, parti- cularly when I confider the number of emi- grants that have arrived from England and other countries, who fhould have intro- duced thofe pracHiifed in their countries.
Indian corn and tobacco are the chief productions of the American farms, and I believe the former to be the principal bar ta a general improvement in other crops. It is true wheat, rye, barley and oats are raifed in America; but the produce is fo fmall that ilfcarcely pa^^s the expencfei indeed it would
nat
3IE A NEW SYSTEM
not pay half the expence and land rent, were it as high as in England. The grain is exceedingly fmall, which arifes from bad management moftly in ploughing the ground too thin or (hallow, and fowing their corn too thick, which produces fmall ftraw, fmall cars and fmall grain, which never will fill the buihel to fatistad:ion
I have faid fo much to fhew the Ameri- can farmer how necelTary it is to be acquaint- ed with other countries and their manage- ment, in order that he may improve in a fhort time upon experiment, that has cofl many people much labour and expence. — For man is not Iik€ a brute to feed by in- ftin^l, he acquires his feedin^^ and cloathing by knowledge and ingenuity to make his life comfortable and eafy, and in order -that my American readers n^ay have an idea of what is pafling in Europe I have given in the following pages a fhort Iketch of my travels and obfervations through iome parts there- of.
GHAP;
OF HUSBANDRY, 313
CHAP. LX.
Nature of the Soil, and Price of the Land,
with many other inter ejling Subje^s, necef-
fary for a Farmer to know through Ireland,
I Thought it might not be difagreeable to my reader to give Jhim an idea of the dif- ferent forts of land, rent, manure, manage- ment, Sec. in different parts of Ireland, which by comparing one part v/ith another, may both be ufeful and amufing to him. I {hall begin in Dublin, as my memorandum - book takes its rife from thence.
From Dublin to Drogheda, in Fingal, near the fea fide, the land is a ftrong clay foil, confequently good wheat land, and in general as clear from fmut as mofl countries w^hich I impute to the farmers 'tilling better than in fome other places, and alfo manur* ing with fhort rotten Dublin dung and lime; but notwithftanding, I have feen a very fmutty piece of wheat within iis^ miles of Dublin.
Vol.il. Rr Lana
314 A NEWT SYSTEM
Land lets at about eighteen (hillings an Irifh acre, at feven yards to the perch.
The land in this country is very rich corn foil; and let in a general way for about twenty-one Ihillings an Irifh acre.
From Trim to Longford and Mullingar, their is a great deal of fmutty wheat ; and that as well as other green corn is damaged by red worms. The land is good ftrong deep wheat foil, and lets for about twent}'- three Ihillings an Irilh acre.
From Mullingar to Ballymahan, and Lanelborough, the land is not fo good, and lets only for about fifteen fhillings an Irilk acre.
From Lanefbo rough to Ro fc o m mo n, Elphin, Boyle, Caftlerea, Ballinalloe, and Loughrea, the land is very good, lets in a general way, for about tv^enty-five ihillings or twenty-iix fhillings an Irilh acre. It is a deep loamy Ibil; at about three feet deep is a rich limellone gravel, which they raiie, and lay on as manure.
They make litrle dung, as they feldom houfe their cattle. This country may be a circumference of hundred miles, and I be- lieve, there is not a fpot in our king's domi- nions, of the iize, which is clearer from black or fmutty wheat and red worms, than this; which may perhaps he owing to their
making.
OF HUSBANDRY. 315
making little ufe of dung, as it cannot be by good tillage, they being great ilovens in hul- bandry, except a few gentlemen here and there ; indeed their land is fo good, that it makes them idle, for turn it up in any falhion, corn muft grow- In the Queen's county, about Portarling- •ton, Tullamore, Muntrath, and Marybo- rough, the land is, a light corn foil, of an inferior value, lets for about twelve fhillings an Irifh acre.
In the county of Kildare, about Kildare, Naas, Newbridge, and Killculling, the land is light and fandy in a general way, and kept much in tillage, lets at about fourteen fhil- lings an acre. In this country they till pret- ty well.
The county of Carlow, the land is fome- thing ftronger than in the county of Kildare and it in a general way holds fo ail the way to Kilkenny.
It lets for about eighteen fhiilings an acre. They have plenty of lime hereabouts, and in fpots limeftone gravel.
In Kilkenny there are very confiderable flour-mills, which gnnd a great deal of wheat, and fend the flour to Dublin, though it is fifty Irith miles land carriage. Their miles as well as land are meafured with fe- v«n yards to the perch.
What
3i6 A NEW SYSTEM
What encourages farmers to carry their corn and flour fo far by land to Dublin, is a bounty which they have paid them l?y the government, viz. a half-penny for evc-y twenty ftone of corn for every mile they car- ry it above ten from Dublin ; but all within ten miles of Dublin are exempted from the bounty.
Every eight ftone of flour receives a boun- ty of two-pence for every five mile, except the laft ten miles next Dublin.
There is very little inland navigation in Ireland, which makes this encouragement of land carriage of great moment to that city, in keeping down the markets; and it alfo encourages farmers to fow more corn in the interior parts of the kingdom, v/hich would otherwife be negleded; and certainly no country can be more proper for corn than every part of Ireland.
1 know the kingdom well, and verily be- lieve, there is not a fpace of ten miles to- gether in the whole kingdom, where there is not plenty of good manure, to be railed out of the ground at a fmall expence.
The ifland in general abounds with lime- ftone gravel, which is a fort of rich blue foapy marl, intermixed with fmall cob- bles or ftones^ but of a very rich limeftone nature, and when thrown on the aground
with
OF HUSBANDRY. 317
with the marl, they ad alfo as a manure, as the weather tempers them, and makes them throw off a coat or crull, every year. It is amazing what tufts of fweet grafs are to be feen near thefe ftones.
Where limeilone gravel fails, there is ge- nerally a greety fand, which is a very rich manure ; in other places white marl, which lies under bogs, and in moll places of the kingdom, there is limeflone and plenty of turf to burn it with ; fo that in fadf, Ireland is a very rich country in this refped.
Though the county of 'Wicklow is a mountainous country ; yetthere is Tome ve- ry good fpots of land in it ; but in refped to good tillage, we can fay very little for it.
They chiefly pay their rent by fat calves and lambs, for which they are famous, and bring them the diftance of forty or fifty miles to Dublin, viz. from Wicklow, Gorey, and about Caftlebridge.
This country is a compound of various forts of land ; in the hollows or valleys it is chiefly a good rich loamy corn foil, inclined to clay.
And on the hills it is fandy, mixed with fmall ftones ; and in fome places you fee white marble ftones of a fmall lize. A great extent of mountain covered with heath, or ling, js to be found here, and which is very
improveable.
3i8 A NEW SYSTEM
improveable, both as to the nature of the foil, and chcapncfs of manure, as hnieftone is to be found in great plenty, and lime is very proper for this fort of land. 1 have icen it work miracles ©n land of the hke kind, of which 1 fliall fpeak more fully in its proper place.
Land (for this heathy mountain in its pre- fent flate, cannot be deemed as fuch) lets, from Dublin till you come near Wicklow, for about twenty {hillings an acre ; but as you go farther off, it lowers to about fifteen Ihiilings an acre. I do not ftric'^ly mean all the way from the city of Dublin, becaufc it is to be expected, that land near fuch a capital, fo far as two or three miles, muft be very dear, perhaps four or five pounds an acre.
The county of Wexford is a great corn country, and particularly in the barony of Fort and Bargy, they grow a great deal of barley. The land is of a landy nature for about five inches deep, and under that a bed of clay ; in other places, a red, hard, ob- durate, ruRy bad earth, by fome called ra- mel. In fhort, a great part of the barony of Fort and Bargy, is much fuch land as they have in feveral parts of Chelhire.
At about five or fix feet deep in many places, there is both marl and limeffonc-
gravel
OF HUSBANDRY. s^f
gfravel to be found, but they are little fought after.
T!iey make a gi*eat deal of ufe of lime and fea-weed, particularly near the fea-fide.
Jn one particular fpot in the barony of Bargy, they tell you, that every acre main- tains a chriftian, a horfe, a cow, a pig and dog. How true this may be I know not^ but it is a common report in the adjoining, neighbonrhood ; but be that as it will, the place is extremely populous and well ftock-* ed, and the land is rich as it is poflible ta be made, and with no other manure thart fea-weed, which they make ule of in great abundance, and which produces the greateft crops of corn I ever faw.
The middling price of land is about fif- teen Ihillings an acre. The farms are not ^ large in this as in many other counties m Ireland.
The barony of Fort gentlemen are the; mod hofpitable difinterefted, facetious fet of people I ever met witji, ^
They are a good neighbourhood, an^ Mve in unanimity, and joyoufly with each, other ; they keep a good table which is al- ways open to their friend or neighbour : one can (carce travel above a mile or two in this country, without falling in with a gentle- man's houfe, the proprietor qf which is
worth.
320 A NEW SYSTEM
worth from five to two thoufand pounds a year, and every gentleman is a farmer ; what corn he does not ufe himfclf he fells, there- fore they are neither too little or too great ; they are nowife flafhy, but live within their fortune, and yet quite generous.
The common people are all Romans, like- the reft of the kingdom, but not fo bigot- ted in their religion, and feem to be well" attached to the prefent government. They talk Engliih well, and alfo fpeak Irifh one to another, but their Irifh differs, fome- thing from the rel\ of the kingdom.
They call themfelves Strongbowyons ; that is, they came over from England in Strongbow's time, and fettled in this barony where their offspring has remained ever fince.
This is a very plentiful cheap place to live in, and particularly for wild fowl and tifli. Their wild fowl chiefly confifls of duck, teal, widgeon, barnacle, and win- yard.
Widgeon and barnacle, though fcarce eatable in any other part of the world, that I know of, are here the mofl delicious mor- fel I ever tafted, and remarkably Cat. The winyard is a fpecies of fowl peculiar to this place, I believe, for I never faw them elfe- where ; they are not much unlike a widgeon
widgeon
OF. HUSBANDRY. 321
v/idgeon, though fomething fmaller, but fatter, lor if they be iTiot flying, they gene- rally burft in the fall, by being fo immoder- ately fat.
Thefe three forts of fowl are nearly of one tafte, owing cejtainly to their feeding all up- on one fort of food, which is a fort of fea- weed peculiar to this coaft, and which is thrown up, and left by the tide at high- \\ ater-mark, twice in tw6nty-four hours ; fo that they are regularly fed, which makes them refortherein fuch abundance.
They can only be killed at night ; for all day, they either remain on the water, or on foine finall iflands, that are fix or feven miles within the lea.
At night the fowler is prepared with a long wide gun and a water-dog ; he places him- felf fo as to command the length-wife of their train of meat ; this he can eafily do, as he fees where the water has left it the tide be- fore, which is in a long narrow ftrip for fe- veral miles together ; as foon as it is dulkifh the fowls come up in a very great flocks to feed, fo that they cover the ground as clofe as they can fland; a fowler does nothing but make ready; and needs only one fhot to load his horfe home. It is almofl incredible vv'hat a great number they will kill at a fhot.
They
Vol. II. S s
3Z2 A NEW SYSTEM
They are generally fold for four-pence or fix-|)cnce a pair.
Kilkenny is about fifty-fix miles from Dub- lin ; the direct road to it is through a very fine country, viz. part of Kildare, Carlow, and part o-f Kilkenny ; the towns you go through are Naas, Kikullon, Timohn, Car- low and Leighlen' ridge.
This is the finetl ride in Ireland, for fc far together, as it is all an inclofed country, without in.eiception of commons, or any waile land ; and fifty- fix miles in h'eland is a long way, as they meafure with ("even yards to the perch.
But indeed there is not to be found fo fine a ride for fo far togerher in his Majell)'s do- minions, as m Ireland ; for if you begin be- hind Kells, which is to the north of Dub- lin, and go to Kilkenny, which is to 'the South of Dublin, you ride for about a hun- dred Irilh miles thro' five counties, namely, the county of JVJeath, Dublin, Kildare, Car- low and Kilkenny.
You have all the road, a good qoickfet hedge at each fide of you, and all an inclofed count y , ) ou do not go over an acre of ei- ther bog, heath, mountain, common, or any fort of waile land ; you are alfo accom- panied part of the way with cither gentlc- mens feats, or tovN'Uo, at the end of every :\vo or tlii'ee miles. The
OF HUSBANDRY. 323
The town of K Ikermy is famc'3 for four rarities, air wirhoi t tog. water without mud, coals v/itfK)ut Anoke, and the ilreets paved with marble.
How this old tr idition arofe into proverb,
I know not, but they can in ftrianefs only
claim two of the four ; which is the two
laft.
They have marble quarries near the town from which they botii build their houfc^ and pave their Ilreets with ; but neither the houfes or ftrcets cut any better (igurr, or fcarce fo good, as other good tov/n in Ire- land ; for every one knows that marble is a very rough (lone, without great labour of
polifliing
The Kilkenny coals do not in the lealt fmoke, for v. hich reafun they are made ufe of all over Ireland, to dry malt with, and in Kilkenny as common firing.
It is true, as they have no fmoke, there is not fo grofs an air, or heavy clouds over the city, as is over other great ^ cities or towns, where the coals have a Imoke, which afcencls to the clouds ; but the air is not ex- empted from fog for all that, as there is no commanding the clouds, fogs or miits of other countries, but they will blow over it,
iuft as the winds fet ^ • _, ,
■^ Through
324 A NEW SYSTEM
Through the city runs a fine river, over which there are two new bridges, built of marble, juft finiihed ; the old bridges were broken down with a great flood, about five years ago. The bottom of the river is gra- vel, therefore the water is for the moft part exceeding clean and clear, but I have fccn it muddy. ,
In the town of Kilkenny, and near the river fide, (lands on an cmminencc, a fine Gothic building, belonging to the Butler fa- mily, which was erecfted in the reign of Queen Anne, by the famous Duke of Or- mond, whofe conduct is well known in Ireland, for his government of that king- dom.
And about two or three miles farther up the river ftands the ruins of another of his magnificent and delightfully fituated build- ings, which are furroundingly ornamented with an extending plantation of afh, and other lofty towering trees, that (till remain healthfully extending without the aid of art.
The town of Kilkenny and environs is not very large, or by any means remarkably handfome or regularly built, as is fomctimes reported by many who travel through, or others who have dwelt there ; but it muH",
I think
OF HUSBANDRY. 325
I think, be acknowledged by all impartial and difinterelled obfervators, that it is a rich, populous and an improvable town, and car- ries on a good trade in the manufacilory of blankets, and many other woollen commo- dities.
Travelling for about fifteen or feventecn miles acrols the country towards Waterford the laiid appeared fully to me to be, in innumerable cafes, exceedingly barren and bad, thefe qualities added to mountains co- vered with ling or heath, cannot be of much ufe to the landlord or tenant. This rents from about five to ten Ihilhngs, per acre ; tkere is here fome vmexceptionably rich and fruitful valleys, that very well pay the huf- bandm.Tn for his toil and labourious perfe- verance, but mufl pay a higher price for thefe advantages.
Waterford lies about twenty-four miles from Kilkenny ; it is a tov/n of a pretty fmart trade, and really now deferves to drop that odium that has formerly been cafl upon it, of very bufy, and nothing to do, like Water- ford merchants : as they have now iomj- thing to do, both in the Newfoundland fifhery, and exportation of beef, butter and
> pork
326 A NEW SYSTEM
pork, in great abundance, they alio manu- farture a great deal of frize.
Waterford is not lar^e, but a populous rich town, and improving every day.
The land in this country is not good -, in general about two thirds is a mountainous, thin, weak land ; and any good veins there are, are kept under dairies, fo that agricul- ture IS negleded, and the poor alfo in a flarving condition.
A great many men Ihip themfelvcs off from Waterford, to ferve the feaion in the Newfoundland fifhery, for which they will get perhaps fifteen or fixteen pounds wages lor fix or feven months.
Being great help to this neighbourhood, for they generally Ipend it in the winter half year.
Land lets here at about twenty fhillings an arce, fuch as is fit for dairies, and lies in valleys, but a great deal of high land lets for about eight Ihillings an acre.
In about thirty or forty miles ride, viz. from Dorrow to Limerick, through moft part of the country of Tipperary, the coun- try is almofl run wild, one would think, with Iheep and bullocks ; for it is hard to fee a corn-ltack, or a plough at work.
It
OF HUSBANDRY. 327
it was in this county the White Boys have been fo troublefome. The land in mofl parts, particularly Cafhel^ Tipperary, Clon- mel, and down trom that to Limerick, is very fertile, would bring great crops of corn, but the great polTefTors of it are blind to eveiy thing but bullocks and fheep. fo that a2;nculture and every lort of trade is baniihed ; which makes a fine country look very naked, and its poor inhabitants meagre and ragged.
There is fome of the richtft land that ever I faw in ail my travels in this county, and the county of Limerick, called the golden vein ; and yet it cuts the pooreft afped as to its poor inhabitants, owing to its being kept under il.ock.
The flaple of the land confifts of a deep loamy clay ar corn foil, will bring either wheat or any other fort of grain, without fallow, dung, or any other manure; in fliort, it is rich beyond expreffion.
Land lets here for thirty and thirty- five fhillings an acre, great fai-ms toge- ther.
As they feldom make ufe of dung, ex- cept tor fetting potatoes, they are little trou- bled with fmutty wheat; but they are vifited wiih red worms fomctimes when they turn up freAi ground.
Thr
^z'd A NEW SYSTEM
Tlie graziers are gentlemen who eat and wear well, and drink plenty of punch and claret, an eafy fufficiency feenis to dance among them; but the poor are mifcrably lo and they are moiUy Roman Catholics, lor there is fcarce any poor in Ireland of aay other religion ; numbers of them I heard fay they were content with their reftri^ted fituation, and feemcd avcrfe to the interfe- rence of any laws that feemed to offer for their relief. Others who felt naturally a glow of freedom, exclaimed againil the il- liberality of thole that make laws and go- vern, faying, at die fime time, how can thofe people expecil we can be good fubjccls while their conduc!:! in not fharing equally with us, the bcnchts of the country which is held (tet to our proteflant neigbour.
In Ihort they are a very numerous and opprelTed body of people, that have to en- counter and wade through a fea of impoli- tic laws and troubles. 1 think, if 1 had it in my power to enad two or three laws, I could make Ireland one of the Urongeft and richcfl illands his Muiefty has, as its fi- tua ion is good for trade both by fea and land ; the furface of the earth by nature, is i[i general very rich, but where it is not it is eafjly made fo ; for all over Ireland the interior parts of the earth abound with rich manures of all forts.
OF HUSBANDRY. 329
The kingdom is alfo variegated with va- riety of loughs, rivulets, and bogs ; fo that there is no vv^ant of fire or water.
Likewife the kingdom is very populous, therefore muft, with the above advantages, add both ftrength and riches, were they made ufeful members of fociety, and all to ftand by the Proteftant caufe.
The gavel-adl indeed, has done won- ders in bringing over the rich; but nothing has yet tranfpired to change the poor Ca- tholics ; they are a fet of poor deluded creatures, and it is a pity but an a6l would pafs (which might be eafily pointed out) to relieve them.
Moftly all over Ireland the fairs for cattle are very large; but particularly in Con- naught: the fair of BallinaQoe is incredibly fo for wool, horned cattle, fheep and horfes, I am credibly informed, that the cuftoms amout to feven hundred pounds ilerling a year; which fhews its immenfe value, as the toll for a fcore of iheep, perhaps worth thirty pounds, is only three-pence, and three- pence each for a cow, or any other cattle.
The poor generally fow a little flax feed, which they buy from a fort of petty mer- chant, at an extravagant price, perhaps for five or fix (hillings a Winchefter peck, for which they get a years credit, till they
Vol. 11. Tt fpin
330 A NEW SYSTEM
Ipin it into thread, in confideration of which they pay about two hundred per cent.
If they run in debt for half a peck or a peck ot flax-feed, they give a note payable before the fummer-alfizes in the enfuing year; if they mifs payment they are fure to be procelTed at the aifizes.
And here the merchant or creditor has another apothecary's profit, of about eleven- pence to the fliilling; for he will buy a blank procefs for a penny, and fill it up himfclf ; he charges for the procefs an En- glifli Ihilling, which is thirteen-pence Irilh, and perhaps the original debt will not be ^bove two or three fliillings.
If the debtor do not pay it before the afTizes, he is decreed, which is eight fhil- lings and four-pence expence. An honeft man would abhor the oppreflion.
. It is generally Roman Catholics that are thofe Jevvilh like merchants, for there are few Proteftants in that trade, and there are none in Ireland more opprefTive to Romans, than Romans them lei ves.
The county of Cork is very large, fo confequently confifts of various forts of foil, but the major part is mountainous, and lets perhaps at about eight ihiliings an acre; but in the valleys it is high priced, perhaps twenty Ihiliings an acre.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. 331
The favourite manure of Ireland, viz. limeftone gravel, is fcarce to be found here ; but they have plenty of limeftone, which they burn with whins, and comes pretty cheap ; it is common to fee a lime-kiln that will contain four or five hundred bufhels of lime.
Though we cannot fay much for the neat hufbandry of thefe farmers, yet I cannot pafs by them without taking notice of a piece of invention, I think very praife- worthy, and interefting to every one fituated as they are.
I obferved above, that they have plenty of limeltone, which they make into lime by burning it with whins, other firing be- ing fcarce; and as they make ufe of a great deal of lime, they confume great, quantities of this fort of fuel, therefore it requires contrivance to keep up a proper fund for that purpofe.
This is done by raifing large ditches for fence; and as their land lies high, and the country fcarce of flielter, being thin of woods or hedges, they fow each fide of the bank, which they raife by making the ditch, with whin-feed; and when the whins are ready to cut for fuel at three years old, they cut only one fide of the ditch, and leave the other for flicker and fence till the cut fide grows to fulfil that ofBce, then they cut the
oldeft
332 A NEW SYSTEM
oklefl fide for fuel ; fo they go on alternate- ly, cutting the oldeft fide from generation to generation. This is a piece of manage- ment that I would highly recommend to rny American readers in their cleared land, as whins are not only a fence, flicker, and firing ; but alfo good food for cattle all winter; they being an evergreen and full of fap, the Iheep, horfes, and horned cattle delight in thenx while young. Several farmers in Wales have large fields which they cut fuccefiively, from a year to two, or three old, and have mills turned by a horfe to grind them for their horfes, which ferves inftead of corn; and others who have not mills, beat them in a morter, with a wooden mall, filled in the l^ead with horfe nails : when the whins are thrown in the manger they will fwim with liquor, of which the horfes are fond.
And thus they are fupplied with fuel, fence, and fhelter, from the fame ditch, which perhaps takes up not more ground than two yards, though by meafuring round the top of the bank, we fhall find a furface for the whins to grow on of near four yards. »
How many places are there in America, England, Scotland, and Wales, that are fcarce both of fire, fence, and fhelter, that would be glad of wliins to burn inflead of flravv and cow-dung, which are ufed in ma-
^7
OF HUSBANDRY. 333
ny parts, particulary in England. And how eafy and cheap would it be for them to raife thefe three valuable articles of fire, fence^ and ftielter, by the above method ?
But though this fimple method is very praife- worthy ; yet it falls much fhort of the great oeconomy they pra(5life, by break- ing limeftone to powder, and applying it as manure for land inftead of lime.
It anfwers the fame end, comes much cheaper, and lafts longer than lime; it an- fwers for any fort of land, but befl for flrong, as its angular points cuts through and opens it, and the weather foftens the little flones, fo that it keeps peeling and difcharging a cruft, which adls as a perpe- tual manure till the latl bit be wafted.
I happened in company with a gentleman farmer who firft tried it, and he aiTured me that it anfwered full as well as lime, and that it did not cod half fo much breaking.
I viewed a piece of grafs ground covered with this bruifed limeftone, which aflonifh- ed me with furprife, at feeing fuch a fine verdure in the middle of a very barren field, moftly grown over with heath; but as far as the limeftone had been laid on, it had quite changed the nature of the foil, killed the heath, and fubftituted honey-fuckles and wild clover in its place.
Several
334 A NEW SYSTEM
Several more gentlemen about Mallow- were following this pradlice, and doubt not but it will in time be univerfally uied there, inftead of burning lime, particularly where firing comes high.
I am fatisfied that limeftone bruifed to powder and laid on grafs ground, is better than lime or even any other manure, parti- cularly if the ground be ftrong, coarfe, and four, or inclined to heath or ling; and it is far the bed manure I know of for fuppeiling mofs.
A man may break a chaldron or four quarters in three days, or in lefs, if the ftone be of a foft nature.
The fmaller it is broke, the fooner it will take efFecfl ; none ought to be left larger than a hade nut.
A great improvement might be made by a horie-mill, to grind limetlone in,, in the nature of a bark-mill or an oil-mill.
The city of Cork is a very rich flourifh- ing place, and drives on a confiderable trade in the exportation of beef, pork, and but- ter.
It is alfo improving very much in its buildings ; it is a ready market for a farmer to vend the produdl of his land in. It is well fituated for trade; and ihould there ever be a union becwecn I^ngland and Ire- land, it would loon be a far richer city than Dublin. The
OF HUSBANDRY. 335
The upper part of the county of Sligo, Mayo, and Galway, leading to the weltern fea, the land is only good in fpots ; in all thefe counties there is a great deal of gra- velly, rocky, heathy, fhallow land, inter- mixed with bogs ; however in the worfl of it there is every necelTary material for im- provement.
In thefe counties land varies much in price, according to its value, but, upon a medium, it may be rated at about twelve fliillings an acre.
There is no part in Ireland where land varies fo much as in the county of Leitrim. In order to give my reader an idea of it, I {hall juft mention, that in the year 1759, I let about five hundred acres of land, in four different farms, all lying within one ring fence, one for fix fliillings, another for twelve fliillings, another for eighteen Ihil- lings, and another for a guinea, being one pound two flii lings and nine-pence Irifli cur- rency, per acre.
And indeed the land varies accordingly through the county, in fome places fine rich limeftone foil, in others ftrong cold clay foil, all grown over with rufhes, and in others thin gravel foil, grown over wdth heath.
But this county, like moft others in Ire- land, abounds with all forts of manure for
improve-
336 A NEW SYSTEM
improvement, fuch as limeftone gravel, white rich marl, a fine rich fand mixed with {hells, and limeftone in abundance, together with turf in plenty to burn it with.
I have had extreme good wheat and corn of all forts here. I feldom fee them troubled with fmutty wheat, or red worms, which is perhaps owing to their fweet method of manuring.
Their method of farming is very bad, atid their way of yoking horfes as barbarous ; they draw their plows and harrows with their horfes tied by their taiis. I have very often feen a mare and her offspring, viz. a three years old, two years old, and one year old colts, plowing all a-breafl, two going upon the plowed land and two upon the unplowed land with neither hemp or iron about them ; their whole gearing confifled of a whity, or twifled flick, tied to the hair of each horfe's tail, and fo through a hole made in a long pole or flick, which reached the breadth of the four horfes, and ferved by the way of a fwingle-tree, which pole is faflened in the middle by another withy to a hole bored in the end of the plow- beam.
The man that drives, or more properly fpeaking, leads the horfes, has a long flick to which each horfes head is tied with a withy halter J the man by holding the flick
has
OF HUSBANDRY. 337
Jias all the horfes at his command ; he walks backwards before the horfes heads all the day ; when he wants them to follow him, he pricks them with a long flick he has in the other hand, in the end of which a fharp nail is fixed. Thu^ we fee them equipt in the plow way.
They harrow in the fame wooden manner, having a withy faflened to the hair of each horfe*s tail, and to a harrow which each horfe drags ; the harrow teeth are made of whin flalks inflead of iron, fo that in fadl there is neither hemp, leather, or iron, ex- cept the coulter and fock, about theii* teams ; and yet I have feen as good corn grow there as I ever faw in England, which is all owing to the natural goodnefs of their land, and maiden manure they raife out of the interior parts of the earth.
Was no better plowing or management ufed in England, we fhould grow nothing but weeds inflead of corn.
The greatefl misfortune which generally attends their crops, is that of their being too rank, fo that the corn is fmall and lean, as the richnefs of the foil, and the foftnefs of the climate, together with the double portion of feed they throw into the ground, forces it too much into flraw.
But as I have defcribed their barbarous method of drawing their horfes by their
Vol. lie U u tails
33S A NEW SYSTEM
tails, I muft alfo do juflice to the legiflature, by telling my reader, that they have made a law to put a flop to this cruelty which has in a great meafure contradled it to the moft diftant or remoteft parts of the country at prefent, but formerly it was general all over the kingdom.
The counties of Monaghan, Tyrone, Lon- donderry, Fermanagh, Donegal, Down, Caven, Armagh, and Antrim, are in the north of Ireland.
Moft of thele counties flourifh much ia the manufadluring of linen cloth, particu- larly towards the fea-coaft, oppofite Scot- land.
The moft conftderable manufadluries begin at Dundalk, and fo on to Newry, Loughbrickland, HillftDorough, Lift^urn, Belfaft, Lurgan, and Armagh: through all thefe places the land is very good, ex- cept fome mountains interfperfed here and there.
The lands here are in general better in- clofed, and divided into fmaller farms, than in the reft of Ireland, which is a great bleiT- ing to the inhabitants, and adds much to the beauty and richnefs of the country; becaule when a man is not over-burdened with land, he can, as it were, make his farm into a garden, by attending to, and beautifying every part of it; and he cer- tainly
OF HUSBANDRY. 339
tainly can make one acre, well cultivated, produce as much as five in its wild barren Hate.
What pity it is that the worthy gentlemen of Ireland will not open their eyes to fuch plain fadls, and curtail thefe unmerciful farms, that ruin the beft part of this fine, healthy, and eafy to be made, a very rich kingdom.
The land within the ride of the laft men- tioned towns, lets at about eighteen fliillings an acre. It is in general, flrong wheat foil; but however their chief crops are oats, beans, and potatoes.
Here are many little bogs lying between the hills, under which is a good white marl ; there is alfo plenty of limeftone, aild lime is often ufed as manure.
The right honourable lord chief baron Fofter has an eftate at Colon, in the county of Louth, amounting to about two thou- fand acres, that formerly let at half a crown an acre, which he has improved by lime to fuch an amazing degree, that it now lets from eighteen to twenty- three fliillings an acre ; an immenfe rife indeed : and what is more, the firft crop generally paid the expence of liming, though he had the lime- ftone to carry four miles, which is a dif- tance that feldom happens in Ireland.
The
340 A NEW SYSTEM
The coals that burn it he gets front England. He told me that he can lime well for four pounds an acre, at feven yards to the perch; aiid he lets the land the firft year to break up to fet potatoes in, at four pounds an acre, the next year he lets the fame land where the potatoes grew, to fow oats in^ at three pounds an acre, and thd third year to fow again with oats, at fifty fhillings an acre.
In all this, he is at iio other expence, but jufl laying the lime on.
Sometimes inftead of oats after potatoes, they fow flax- feed or bare; but they may fow what they will, as they are fure of good crops.
The lime generally lies on the fod about a year before it is broke up, and as it lies pretty thick, it prefles down any grafs, heath, or other rubbifh that may be on the land, and turns it to dung, by which means it ferments and unites the lime to the fbd and particles of earth, which otherwife would not incorporate and unite fo kindly.
The original llate of this land was a heathy wild mountain, without hedges, ditch, tree, or bulb of any fortj and had as wild a look as the liighlands of Scotland.
The flaple of the ground is inclined to a clay gravel of a reddifh caft, intermixed with thin ilaty gritty ftones.
The
OF HUSBANDRY, 34^
The fituatioii of the ground is not to be called very hi^h^ nor is it level, but in waving hills, and takes a good pull for a carnage to attain the top.
They generally plow in all this country with four horfes, two before two, except in breaking up grafs ground, then they gene- rally ule fix.
They grow a great deal of bats and round eared barley^ in the counties of Louth and Down^ till you come to Do- naghadee.
Farther north towards the county of An- trim, Donegal, and Londonderry, the land lowers in its value^ having a great deal of flrong, cold, fpewy, rufliy, and heathy- land interfperfed all over the country; and the country is alfo uneven, rlfing very much into hills, fometimes to a difagree- able height.
They grow little elfe here but potatoe^^ flax, and oatSj the oats moftly of the black fort ; not but the land will grow both wheat and beans, as I have feen good of both raifed by gentlemen, but the farmers do not care to venture out of their old track of hufbandry.
The land here varies much in rent; in good fpots and near towns, it lets for about twenty fhillings an acre; but in the high and more opea country, it does not
let
342 A NEW SYSTEM
lee perhaps for more than ten fhillings an acre.
CHAP. LXI.
Oti trenching Land near Glajgoiv with Spades,
UPQN finifhing my travels, and obfer- vations through Ireland, I took a tour through Scotland and England, to make further oblervations ; but as I do not think it of moment enough to trouble my Ameri- can readers with it, having fufficient mat- ter of more confequence, I fhall only men- tion one piece of management of trenching land with fpades near Glafgow, to which I referred my reader, from page 44. vol. I.
When the farmers here have a piece of ground wore out by tillage, fo that it will not bring any more crops without manure, is then trenched with a fpade, fometimes two, and fometimes three fpit deep; that is, they begin and dig thiee fpade-grafts deep, and make a trench, into the bottom of which they throw the top fod, and over that the fecond fod or fpade- graft, and alfo the third, fo that the bottom fpade-graft, taken up at three feet deep, becomes the up- per ftratum for corn to grow in.
If
OF HUSBANDRY. 343
If the farmer lets his land to be trenched by the acre, the price is let without varying, and is as follows.
For trenching two fpit, or fpade-graft deep, (without fliovelling the loole mould out after the fpit) forty Ihillings an acre; for digging two fpit, and {hovelling the loofe, forty- five fhillings an acre ; for digg- ing three fpit, without fliovelling, fifty-five fhillings an acre ; for digging three fpit deep, and {hovelling, three pounds an acre.
They find by experience that it is better for the land, and they are more fure of a crop of any fort after trenching, than if they lay on lime or any other manure to the amount of three pounds an acres ; and wh^t is more furprifing, this is pradlifed in a country where manure is plenty and eafy to be got.
After fuch trenching, the land will bring five or fix good crops before it need be trench- ed again, and it will grow corn even of one fort without changing from generation to generation, if it be again trenched to revive its exhaufted fpirits at proper periods.
I know fome of my readers, who only caft a curfory view upon things, may think my account fabulous, but 1 afTmre them what I have faid is abfolutely fad ; for I faw the whole work performed with my own eyes ; I faw alfo the crops grow, and I ne- ver
344 A NEW SYSTEM
ver faw better wheat, oats, and barley in my life; and I took particular notice of fuch trenched corn as it happened in town-fields, and found that ridges along fide which were dunged and fallowed, were not fo good by much, nor fb clear of weeds; that both the ear, grain, and ftraw were fmaller.
When we confider the thing attentively, it is eafily accounted for, particularly if the land be of a proper fort, viz If loomy clay or loomy fand, or fand itfelf ; becaufe if land be ever fo poor, it is generally covered with a coat of fome fort, either flubble, weeds, or grai's, which being thrown into the bottom of a trench, and covered with earth two or three feet thick, it ferments, rots, and evaporates its vola- tile fpirits, which penetrate through every particle of the body of earth over it.
In fhort the whole body thus mixed, mud be in a ftate of ferment, beiides the weeds and rubbiili being buried too deep for vegi- tation, rots and becomes manure. Any reafonable man will allow that there muft be a wide difference between the root of a weed growing and partaking of the ftrength of the g»ound, and the fame root being rot- ted to feed the ground ; but as I have han- dled this fubjedl pretty fully in another part of this work, I fhall drop it here.
CHAP.
OF HUSBANDRY. 345
CHAP. LXIL
The Price of Labour and ViBuals in the fever at Counties of Ireland^ in Order to give an Idea of the different State oj the Tivo King- dom in thefe Particulars,
DUBLIN, beef by the quarter at two- pence half-penny a pound, from Mi- chaelmas to Chriftmas, but is very dear in fpring, which is chiefly owing to the fcarce- nefs of winter feeding, as the people of Ire- land fow very little turnip-feed.
Good beef in April perhaps will give four* pence a pound by the quarter. Mutton keeps at a much more equal price; for as their land is good, and their winters mo- derate, fat fheep will keep their flefh through the winter, fo that the markets feldom vary above a penny a pound ; it fells at Michael- mas at two-pence half-penny a pound, and in fpring at three-pence half-penny a pound. Pork and bacon bears an equal moderate price, which is owing to plenty of potatoes for feed, for they feldom feed fwine with beans.
Pork at two-pence and two-pence half- penny a pound; bacon at three-pence half- penny a pound. ■ Vol.11. Xx Veal
346 A NEW SYSTEM
Veal in winter is five-pence and fix-pence a pound, but in May and June at two- pence.
There is as good and as bad veal in Dublin as in any part of the world. Calves fell here from two fliilUngs to four pounds a piece.
All the dairies near Dublin fell their calves as foon as they drop for two or three fliil- lings a piece, which is a barbarous cuftom : but the county of Wicklow which chiefly fupplies Dublin market, keep their calves three or four months old ; nay, I am told, fome will keep them five months old. In fhort, they make very good veal, and they are alfo famous for early lambs in this county, by which Dublin market is fup- plied.
In Dublin, a good goofe for two fhillings, a good fowl for eight-pence, rabbets, are dear, as there are few warrens in the king- dom, the land being too good for them, Co that there are fcarce any to be got, except tame rabbets bred in houfes.
Frelh butter in Dublin is high in winter, eight-pence and ten-pence a pound, and in fummer at five-pence and fix-pence a pound.
Wheat this year from twenty to thirty- two fhillings a barrel, or four bufhels Win- chefter meafure, in the fame market the fame day.
The
OF HUSBANDRY. 347
The quality of wheat varies much, ac- cording to its cleannefs or drynels. They are very often obliged to dry it on malt- kilns.
Englifli wheat generally bears a higher price than the beft Irilh by two fhillings the barrel in the fame market.
They import from England a great deal of malt, which is fuperior to the Irifh made malt by three fhillings a barrel. In fliort, the Iriih maltfter cannot be content with moderate profit, for if he cannot profit other ways, he will have it in weight or meafure.
Formerly they ufed to fell by meafure, then they grew it out fo much, that it had no ftrength in it; and as they never fift it, but fell cums and all together, it was fo long one might almofl fill the bufliel with a dung fork.
The legiflator faw the cheat, fo made an a<5l to fell by weight, and now the extream is full as much the other way, for they do not above half grow it, fo that the thick end of each grain does not turn to malt, but dries and becomes a hard flinty fub- flance, which weighs heavy in the bufliel, but yields no fpirit to ftrengthen the ale. Thus the publick are impofed upon by the maltfliers being too avaricious, and not do- ing the fair thing.
Malt
348 A NEW SYSTEM
Malt fells at about fixteen fliilUngs a bar- rel, or four bufliels.
Oats being fo general a crop in Ireland, bne might exped: them to be very cheap ; but however, though a great many are grown, there is alio a great confumption, as all the poor in general eat no fort of bread except that made of oats ; and the time of the year when potatoes are out of feafon^ their whole living is oat-bread and butter-^ tnilk ; but fo long as potatoes are good they fupply the place of bread; therefore oats bear a better price than could be expcdled, bemg fo general a crop.
t^otatoes in the year 1759, was a failing Crop, which made- dats and oat-meal very dear.
Good oats fold this year in the interior J)arts of the kingdom at fourteen and fifteeil ihillings a barrel, which is at the rate of thu'ty fhillings a quarter. The year after, being a good potatoe year, I bought good oats at five lliillings a barrel. This fhews the great dependence there is upon potatoes,
in the year 1769, good oats fold at twelve fliillings a barrel in Dublin, grey peafe at eighteen fhillings a barrel, and a large field bean at twenty Ihillings a barrel.
The round black magazine field bean fcarce any to be got, being little lbv\ed in Ireland. White boiling peale at thirty ihil-^
lings
OF HUSBANDRY. 349
lings a barrel. Very little rye is made ufe of.
All forts of artificial grafs feeds are im- ported hither from England.
Bricklayers, mafons, and houfe carpen- ters or joiners, are two fhillings a day*, Labourers in Dublin a ihilling a day ; but farmers labourers in the country round Dub- lin, is eight-pence in winter without meat, and a fhilling in fummer.
In the counties of Wexford, Kildare, Garlow, Weflmeath, and Queen's County labourers are fix-pence a day in winter, and eight-pence in fummer, without meat. Beef and mutton two-pence and two-pence half-penny per pound in the cheapeft feafoa of the year.
Mofl cguntry gentlemen kill their own meat, and the country labourers and far- mers fddom eat any ; ih that the chief con- fumption is by the tradefmen and fliop- keepers in market towns.
Eggs and fowls are cheap. Good chick- ens at three half-pence and two-pence a piece. Lean geefe at eight-pence a piece, lean turkeys at ten-pence a piece, and a roafting pig for a fliilling or fifteen-pence, eggs at {even or eight a penny.
In the counties of Kilkenny, Cork, Ker- ry, Tipperary, Limerick, Waterford, Gal- way, Leitrim, Mayo, Rofcommon, Sligo,
Clare,
$50 A NEW SYSTEM
Clare, Londonderry, Tyrone, and Far* managh, being diftant from Dublin, and partly deflitute of trade, but fubfifting chiefly by grazing, the living and labour is cheap, and partly bears an equal rate in all thefe counties.
Beef and mutton at the cheapeft feafon from three half-pence to two-pence a pound, lean geefe at four-pence a piece, lean tur- keys at fix-pence a piece, chickens at a penny a piece, eggs at ten a penny, roaft- ing pigs at fix-pence a piece, butter at three- pence a pound. Day labourers at four-pence a day in winter, and fix-pence in fummer, no meat, plough- wrights a fliilling a day and meat, houfe- carpenters or joiners two fliillings a day, no meat, ma- fons two {hillings a day, no meat.
The reader is to take notice, that in fpeaking of labourers, I fpeak in. general terms, fuch as are employed by gentlemen and farmers all the year round; but in market and great towns, at times, par- ticularly in March and April, when the fhop-keepers and tradefmen are fetting their potatoes, labourers are perhaps fix-pence or eight-pence a day and meat. However this is a matter of little confequence in the farming way, but I thought proper to take notice of it, left fome unthinking readers, not making proper allowances for
thefe
OF HUSBANDRY. 351
thcfe things, might think my account er- roneous.
Corn is at a more equal price, fince a bounty was given by the government for land carriage, fo that there is not above four or five per cent, difference between the coun- try and DubHn prices ; and when a mifs year in the potatoe crop happens, DubHn is the loweft market, they being obhged to fend corn apd meal into the country to fup- ply the deficiency of potatoes.
The counties of Down, Louth, Donegal, and Armagh, being manufacfluring coun- tries, labour and victuals bear a higher price than in the grazing countries. Beef and mutton at two-pence half- penny and three-pence a pound, geefe at eight-pence a piece lean, turkeys at ten-pence or a fhilling a piece, chickens at two-pence or three- pence a piece, pork two-pence a pound, a roafting pig a fhilling, oat-meal at fixteen pence a peck, baft wheat at twenty-eight Ihillings a barrel, malt fourteen fliillings a barrel.
Labourers at fix-pence a day in winter, without meat, and eight-pence in fum- mer, without meat; houfe-carpenters two i3iillings a day, and mafons two fhillings a day.
A farmer's man fervant fix pounds a year, a llrong boy three pounds a year, a
woman
352 A NEW SYSTEM
woman fervant three pounds a year, a lufty girl thirty (hillings a year.
There is little difference in the "wages of yearly fervants in any part of the king- dom.
The gentlemen of Ireland give good en- couragement to Englifh fervants and Rew- ards, with good charadlers.
Ireland is two hundred and feventy-five miles long, one hundred and. fifty nine miles wide, and fourteen hundred miles in circumference.
Their land and mile meafure is by feven yards to the perch.
Their weight and meafure are all Win- chefter.
CHAP. LXIII.
Some approved Receipts in Phyfic^ and Surge'- ry^ by the moji able Men of th^ Faculty in England.
AS I have faid every thing that is ne- ceflary in Hufbandry; and as this work may fall into many hands who live in the country, at a diftance from help in time of ficknefs, &q, J thought, it might
not
OF HUSBANDRY. 353
not be airjirs to give a few chofen receipts, for the cure of diforders xao(\. common to the human body.
It is common in books of Phyfic to add feveral receipts, for the cure of one difofder; but as I do not place this book among that denomination, I fliall in general, put one receipt for one diforder, and fuch as has been tried, given, qr approved on, by the mpft able men of the faculty in pngland^
To Jlay luoofinefs,
TAKE a yery good nutmeg, prick it full of holes, toaft and grate it, then boil it well in milk, and eat it in a morning; pr the nutmeg toafted and grated in a glals of red port, will dp full as well and fejdom mifles of a cure.
To take out the Fi?'e^ of a Burn or Scaid,
Scrape a raw potatoeandapply ittoaburn pr fcald, as a poultice, when it is dry apply another till the fmarting has done; there is nothing fo quick and fure as this. The fore may be healed with yellow balilicon, or by nothing but dry lint laid on the place cover- ed with a linen rag burned brown and laid over it, if very bad it may be waflied with allum whey ; but the operation of the potatoe poultice is fo eifedtual that it feldom breaks the fkin.
Vol.11. Yv To
354 A NEW SYSTEM
To Cure a Cough inclining to a Conjumption,
Take balfam of fulphur one ounce, and oil of anifeeds one ounce, mix them toge- ther and take a tea fpoonful every morning, and evening the firfl and laft thing, this has recovered thofe when in a confumption.
For the Gripes,
Take a glafs of fack warm'd, and dijQblve in it as much Venice-Treacle^ or Diafcordiuniy as a hazehiut; drink it off going to bed; cover warm.
For the Stranguary.
Take half a pint of plantane-water, one ounce of white fugar-candy finely powder'd, two fpoonfuls of lallad-oil, and the juice of a lemon ; beat all thefe together very well, and tirink it off.
For a Draught in a Fever,
Take of fal- prunella one ounce, and dif- folve it in fpring-water, and put as much fugar to it as will fweeten it ; fimmer it over the fire till 'tis a fyrup ; and put fome into poffet-drink, and take it two or three times a day, or when very thirfty.
• A Plajler for an Agud
Take right F^fw/V^-turpentine, and mix with it the powder of white hellebore-roots,
till
OF HUSBANDRY. 355
till 'tis ftiff enough to fpread on leather. It muft be laid all over the wrift, and over the ball of the thumb, fix hours before the fit comes.
For a Chin-Cough.
Take a fpoonful of wood-lice^ and bruife 'em, and mix them with breafl-milk, and take them three or four mornings, accord- ing as you find benefit. It will cure ; but fomc muft take it longer than others.
To take off Blacknefs by a Fall.
Rub it well with a cold tallow candle, as foon as 'tis bruifcdj and this will take off the blacknefs.
To break a Boil.
Take the yolk of a new-laid eg:g, fome honey and wheat flower; and mix it well together, and fpread it on a rag, and lay it on cold.
A Poultice for a hard Snvelling.
Boil the fineft wheat-flour in cream till 'tis pretty thick ; then take it off*, and put in mallows chopt; ftir it, and apply it as hot as can be endured ; drefs it twice a day, and make frefli every time.
To
356 A NEW SYSTEM
To Jlay Voiniting,
Take afli-leives, and boil them in viiie- gar and water, and apply them hot to the Itomach ; do this often^ and put the hands in cold water.
A Poultice for afore Bi-eafly Leg^ or Arm.
Boil wheat-flour in ftrong-ale very well, and pretty thick ; then take it off, and fcrapd in fome boars-greafe ; let it hot boil aftei* the greafe is in ; ftir it well, and apply it hot.
For /pitting Blood,
Take of cinnabar of antimony one ounces, and mix it with two ounces of confer ve of red rofes ; and take as much as a nutmeg at night and morning.
To cure the Tooth-ach.
Let the party that is troubled with the tooth-ach lie on the contrary fide, and drop three drops of the juice of rue into the ear on that fide the tooth acheth, and let it re- inain an hour or two, and it will remove the pain ; if a needle is run through a wood- loufe, and immediately touch the aching tooth with that needle, it will ceafe to ach: fometimes tooth-ach proceeds from a cold, fo that the air gets between the gums and
the
Ot MtrSBANbRY. 35?
ike te^th, and raifeS theiii but of the fockefj ■v?hich caufes a very great pain tho' the teeth be all found, the cure in this cafe is to prefs a cork very hard betw^een the teeth a conii- derable time to prefs them down even, and rub the gums v^ith gun-powder till they bleed.
An excelkni Medicine for Shortnefi of Breathe
Take half an ounce of flour of brimftone^ a quarter of an ounce of beaten ginger, and three quarters of an ounce of beaten fena, and mix all together in four ounces of ho- ney; take the bignefs of a nutrtieg night and morning for five days together; then once a week for fome time; then once a fortnight.
To ct&e a piinpltd Face^ and fixjeelen tht Blood,
Take fena one ounce, put it in a finall none pot, and pour a quart or more of boil- ing water on it; theta put as many prunes as you can get in; cover with paper, and fet in the oven with houfhold-bread ; and take of this every day, one, two, three, or m.ore of the prunes and liquor, according :^s it operates ; continue this always, or at ieaft half a year;
358 A NEW SYSTEM
To cure the Dropjy^ Rheujfiatifm^ Scurvy^ and Cough of the Lungs.
Take EngUp orris-roots, fquills, ahd ele- campane-roots, each one ounce, hyfTop and hore-hound-leaves, each one handful, the innet* rind of green elder and dwarf-elder, of each one handful, fena one ounce and half, agarick two drams, ginger one dram ; cut the roots thin, and bruife the leaves, and put them into two quarts of the beft Lisbon wine ; let thefe boil an hour and half on a gentle fire in an earthen mug, very clofe ftopt with a cork, and ty'd down with a bladder, that no air come to it, and fo fet it in a large pot of boiling water ; fet it fo that no water get into the mug, which mufl hold three quarts, that all the ingredients may have room to go in ; when it is almofl: cold, ftrain it out very hard; you muft fcrape the elder downwards; take this for a week together if you can, and then mifs a day ; and if that does not do, go on with your other bottle of the fame ; take it in a morning falling, ten fpoonfuls at a time, without any pollet-drink ; it will both vomit and purge you; it is an unpleafant tafte, therefore take a lump of fugar after it; ■when it is quite cold, after it is flrain'd •if, let it ftand in a flagon to fettle a night and a day, then bottle it up clear and fine for ufe: it is an admirable medicine.
To
OF HUSBANDRY. 359
To cure a Cancer,
Take a dram of the powder of crabs-claws finely fearced, and made into pafte with da- mafli-rofe-water, and dry'd in pellets of lo- zenges; powder the lozenges as you ufe them, and drink the powder in whey every morning falling: if there be a fore, and ic is raw, anoint it with a falve made of dock- roots and frefh butter ; make a featon or ilTue in the neck, keep a low diet ; keep from any thing that is fait, four, or ftrong.
To cure the Joint-E'uiL
Take good (lore of elder-leaves, and di- ftil them in a cold ftill ; let the perfon drink every morning and evening half a pint of this water, and walli the fores with it morn- ing and evening, firfl warming it a little, and lay frefh elder-leaves on the fores, and in a little time you will find they will dry up, but be fure to follow it exa61:ly ; it has cured when all other remedies have failed.,
For the Green- Sic kne/s.
Take centaury the lefs, and wormwood and rofemary-flowers, of each a handful, gentian-root a dram, coriander-feeds two drams; boil thefe in a quart of water, fweet- en it with lyrup of fleel, and take four or five fpoonfuls in the morning, and as much in the afternoon. To
56o A NEW SYSTEM
To take off Freckles,
Take bean-flower- water, or elder-flowcrr water, or May dew gather'd from corn^ of either the quantity of four fpoonfuls, ai^d add to it one fpoonful of oil of tartar very jiew drawn ; mix it well together, and pftei} y^alli the face with it; let it dry pn.
A Salve for a Sprain.
Take a quarter of a pound of virgin-wax, a quarter of a pound of fr^nkincenfe, half fi ponnd of burgamy-pitch ; melt them well together, flirring them all the while till they are malted; then give them a good boil, and ftrain them into water; work it well into rolls, and keep^t for ule; the more it i^
'Mk
work'd, the bett^lp is ; fpread it on leather.
To take out Spots of the Small-Pqx,
Take half an ounce of oil of tartar, and as much oil of bitter almonds ; mix it toge- ther, and with a fine rag daub it often oa the face and hands, before the air has pene- trated into the fkin or flefli.
A Receipt that curd a Gentleman ivho had (^ long time jpit Blood in a great ^jmntity^ and ivas iva/icd ivith a Coiifumption.
Take of hylTop-water, and of the pureft honey, of each a pmt; of agrimony and
colt^-
OF HUSBANDRY. 361-
coltsfoot, of each a handful ; a fprlg of rue, brown fugarcandy, liquorice flic'd, fliavings of harts-horn, of each two ounces; anifeeds bruifed one ounce, of figs fliced, and raifins of the fun ftoned, of each four ounces : put them all into a pipkin with a gallon of wa- ter, and boil it gently over a moderate fire till half is confumed; then fi:rain it, and when it is cold, put it into bottles, being, clofe ftopt : take four or five fpoonfuls every morning, at four in the afternoon, and at night, the laft thing: if you add frefh water to the ingredients, after the firft liquor is flrain'd off, you will htlve a pleafant drink, to be ufed at any time when you are dry.
An infallible Cure for the s^^hping Confump^
tion, ^^f
Take half a pound of raifins of the fun ftoned, a quarter of a pound of figs, a quar- ter of a pound of honey, half an ounce of Lucatellu's balfam, half an ounce of pow- der of ileel, half an ounce of flour of ele- campane, a grated nutmeg, one pound of double refin'd fugar pounded ; flired, and pound all thefe in a mortar ; pour into it a pint of fallet-oil by degrees ; eat a bit of it four times a day the bignefs of a nutmeg ; every morning drink a glafs of old Malaga fack, with the yolk of a new-laid cg^^ and as much flour of brimftone as will lie upon . Vol. 11. Z z a fix-
362 A NEW SYSTEM
a fix-pence ; the next morning as much flour of elecampane, alternately ; and if this will not cure you, the Lord have mercy upon you.
For the Scurvy, ^
Take a pound of guaiacum-bark, and half a pound of faflafras, and a quarter of a ^ pound of liquorice ; boil all thefe in three quarts of water, till it comes to three pints; and when it is cold, put it in a vefFel with two gallons of ale : in three or four days ie is fit to drink, and drink no other drink for fix or twelve months, according to the vio- lence of the diflemper; it will certainly cure.
For Corns on the Feet,
Take the yeft of beer, (not of ale) and rpread it on a linen rag, and apply it to the part aflfeiSted ; renew it once a day for three or four weeks ; it will cure.
For Chi/blanes, ivhen broke,
Roaft a turnip foft, beat it to mafh, and apply it as hot as can be endur'd to the part affeded ; let it lie on two or three days, and repeat it two or three times.
For
OF HUSBANDRY. 363
For a Cough fettled on the Stomach,
Take half a pound of figs fliced, raifins of the fun ftoned as nnany, and a (lick of liquorice fcraped and fliced, a few anifeeds, and fome hyfTop wafli'd clean j put all thefe in a quart of fpring-water, boil it till it comes to a pint ; then flrain it, and fweeten it with white fugar-candy : take two or three fpoonfuls morning and night, and when the cough troubles you.
To give Eafe in a violent Fit oj the Stone.
Take a quart of milk, and two handfuls of dry'd fage, a pennyworth of hemp feed, one ounce of white fugar-candy, and one ounce burdock feeds : Boil all thefe together a quarter of an hour, and then put in half a pint of rhenifti-wine. When the curd is taken off, with the ingredient, put it in a bag, and apply it to the grieved part; and of the liquor drink a good glafs-full. Let both be as hot as can be endured. If there is not eafe the firft time, warm it again, and ufe it. It feldom fails.
For the Strangury,
Take three fpoonfuls of the juice of cha- momile in a fmall glafs of white-wine, thrice a day, for three days together.
To
364 A NEW SYSTEM
To procure eafy Labour.
Take half a pound of figs, half a pound of raifins of the fun fton'd, four ouncts of liquorice fcrap'd and flic'd ; one fpoonful of anifeeds bruifed ; boil all thefe in two quarts of fpring-water, till one pint is wafled; then drain it out, and drink a quarter of a pint of it morning and evening fix weeks before the time.
To procure fpeedy Delivery ivhen the Throivs are gone.
Take half a dram of borax powder'd, and mix'd with a glafs of white-wine, fome fugar, and a little cinnamon-water: if it does no good the firft time, try it again two hours after, fo likewife the third time.
To bring the AJter-Blrth,
Give 30 or 2,^ drops of oil of juniper in a good glafs of fack»
To prevent After^Pains.
Take half an ounce of large nutmegs, and toaft them before the fire, and one ounce of the beft cinnamon, and beat them together; then mix it with the whites of two eggs, beating it together in a porringer; and take every morning in bed as much as
will
OF HUSBANDRY. 365
•will lie on the point of a knife, and foat night J and drink after it the following caudle :
Take a quarter of a pint of Alicant wine or tent, a quarter of a pint of red rofe-wa- ter, and a quarter of a pint of plantain- water; mingle all three together, and beat three new-laid eggs, yolks and whites, and make a caudle of them; put into it two ounces of double-refin'd fugar, a quarter of an ounce of cinnamon; you mull boil the cinnamon in the wine and water before the eggs are in; and after all is mixed, put to it half a dram of the powder of knot-grafs ; take of this fix fpoonfuls morning and even- ing after the electuary.
To Jlop Floodings,
Take the white of an egg, and beat it well with four or five fpoonfuls of red rofe- water, and drink it dW morning and night nine mornings together; it has cured when all other things have failed.
Let the party often take ifing-glafs boiled or dilTolved in warm new milk, a pint at a time.
A Piajler for a Weaknefs in the Back.
Take plantain, comfry, knot-grafs, fhep- herd's-purfe, of each one handful; ftamp
them
366 A NEW SYSTEM
them fmall, and boil them in a pound of oil of rofes, and a little vinegar ; when 'tis well boiled, drain it, and fet it on the fire again, and put to it four ounces of wax, one ounce of chalk, bole-armoniac one ounce, and ter- ja-figillata one ounce ; boil all well, keepiivg it ftill ftirring ; then cool it, and make it in- to rolls, and keep it for ufe; fpread it on leather when you lay it to the back.
A Drink for the fame.
Take four roots of comfry, and of knot- grafs and clary one handful, a fprig of rofe- mary, a little galengal, a good quantity of cinnamon and nutmeg fliced, the pith of the chine of an ox. Stamp and boil all thefe in a quart of mufcadine, then drain it, and put in fix yolks of eggs ; fweetcn the caudle to your tafte with double refin'd fugar, and drink a good draught morning and evening. Take of crocus m arris, and conferve of red rofes mixed together, three or four times a day.
For the Dyfentery or Bloody-Flux,
Take an iron ladle; anoint it with fine wax; put into it glafs of antimony, what you pleafe; fet it on a flow fire, without flame, half an hour, ftill ftirring it with a ' fpatula; then pour it out on a clean linen
cloth,
OF HUSBANDRY. 367
cloth, and rub ofF all the wax. Grind it to powder.
This is the receipt as I got it ; but I kept it three quarters of an hour on the fire, and coiled not rub off any wax. The dofe for a boy of 7 or 8 years, 3 grains ; for a weak adult, 5 grains ; for a ftrong woman, 1 2 or 14 grains; for a very ftrong man, 18 or 20 grains.
N. B. I never gave above 14 grains, and in the making of it put about a dram of wax to an ounce of the glafs. It fometimes vo- mits, always purges, and feldom fails of fuccefs. I always intermit one day at leaft betwixt every dofe,
A good Purge.
Infufe an ounce of fena in a pint of wa- ter, till half be confumed ; when 'tis cold, add to it one ounce of fyrup of rofes, and one ounce of fyrup of buckthorn ; mix chem well together- this quantity makes two ftrong purges for either man or woman, and four for a child.
For the Green-Jicknefs,
Take an ounce of the filings of fteel, or nifty iron beaten to powder, and mix it with two ounces of the flour of brimftone ; then mix it up into an eleduary with treacle;
the
368 A NEW SYSTEM
the party mufl take the quantity of a nut- meg in the morning fading, and at four in the afternoon, and continue it till cured.
For Cojlivenefs.
Take virgin-honey a quarter of a pound, and mix it with as much cream of tartar as will bring it to a pretty thick elecfluary, of which take the bignefs of a walnut when you pleafe ; and for } our breakfaft, eat water- gruel with common mallows boil'd in it, and a good piece of butter; the mallows muft be chopt fmall, and eaten with the gruel.
For the Hiccup,
Take three or four prelerv'd damfins in your mouth at a time, and fwallow them by degrees.
For the Cramp. Take of rofemaiy-icciv..^, and chop thrni very fmall, and few them in fine linen, and make them into garters, tie the garters tight below the knee, and wear them night and day ; lay a down pillow on your legs in the night.
N I S.
M fL State Colleftt
UBRARY.
Didtkm of Horticulture,
^-