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CATALOGUE OF BOOKS

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No.

65 Trigonometrj-, Mechanics, and Optics, by Wells

130 Natural Philosophy, by the Society of Useful Knowledge, 3 Vol.

131 Mathematical Elements of Natural Philosophy

132 Saumarez' Principles of the Science of Philosophy

133 Conversations on Intellectual Philosophy 2 Vol.

134 Clarke's Readings nn Philosophy 1 Vol.

133 Treatise on Natural and Chemical Philosophy

158 Lectures on Mechanics, by Furguson 1 Vol.

159 * Transactions of Civil Engineers 1 Vol.

225 Chemistry, by Dr. Ure, 1 Vol.

226 Chemical Essays, by Watson 4 Vol.
265 Art of Employing Time 1 Vol.

296 Marshall's Agricultural reports of the southern counties of England 2 Vol

297 Western Counties 2 Vol;

298 Midland Counties 2 Vol.

899 Agricultural reports of the County of York 2 Vol.

300 of Norfolk 2 Vol.

301 Young's Agriculture of Yorkshire 1 Vol.

302 Agricultural Reports of the West Riding of Yorkshire 1 Vol.
303 SuflFolk 1 Vol.

309 Gwilt's Rudiments of Architecture 1 Vol.

310 Arithmetical Architecture of the Solar System 1 Vol.

329 The pursuit of Knowledge under difficulties 2 Vol.

330 The History of Llanrwst 1 Vol.

351 Analytical Mineralogy, by Accum 2 Vol.

352 Lycll's Geology 4 "Vol.

353 Conversations on Geology 1 Vol.

354 Bucklands' Geology 2 Vol.

355 • Transactions of the Geological Society of London Vol. 5, part the first.

356 Dr. Man tee's Geology 2 Vol.

375 Botany, by Bingley 1 Vol.

376 Gray's Arrangement of British Plants.

377 Elements of Botany 1 Vol.

386 Pennant's British Zoology 4 Vol.

398 The Taxiderroi-''< Manual 1 Vol.

413 Conchologry, by Wodarch 1 Vol.

426 Gall and Spurzeim's Outline of Phrenology

440 Jamieson's Mechanical Dictionary

441 Dr. Owen Pughe's English and Welsh Dictionary 2 Vol.
462 The Mining Review No. 9.

462 Mechanic's Magazine for 1830

464 Sir Humphry Davy's Discourses 1 Vol.

465 Reports of the Polytechnic Society of Cornwall 4 Vol.

466 Philosophical Magazine for April, May, June, July
484 Annals of Edinburgh, Leith, and Glasgow

492 Bell's Geography 4 Vol.

504 Franklin's second Voyage to the Polar Sea I Vol.

526 Travels in Western Australia, by Powell 1 Vol.

527 Africa, Parks 1 Vol.

550 Antiquities of Mexico 2 Vol.

656 History of Greece 1 Tol.

597 Life and Works of Llwyd

650 Chambers' Journal

656 The Mechanic's Magazine, for September

657 The Repertory of Arts and Sciences, for September and October
65 s The Athenasum, for September

659 Analyst, for July

660 Addresses delivered before the Geological Society of Dublin 6 Vol.

661 The Mining Review and Record

JAMES DATIBS, PBINTBR nOLTWELL.

.J .H » i^ji^'i^

C. W. FORSTER LIBRARY

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS DEPT.

N. C. STATE COLLEGE

EALEIGH, N. C.

THE

RURAL ECONOMY

OF THE

MIDLAND COUNTIES}

INCLUDING

THE MANAGEMENT of

LIVE S T O C Ky

I

I N

LEICESTERSHIRE and its ENVIRONS:

TOGETHER WITH

MINUTE S

O N

AGRICULTURE and PLANTING

IN THE DISTRICT OF THE

MIDLAND STATION.
By Mr. MARSHALL.

THE SECOND EDITION.

V O L. n.

LONDON:

Pibtcd for G. Nicol, Bookfeller to His Majefty, Pall Mali

G. G.and J. Robinson, Paternofter Row ;

and J. Debrett, Piccadilly.

1796.

ANALYTIC TABLE

6 F

CONTENTS

O F T H E

SECOND VOLUME.

Al^ERTISEMENT.

DIVISION THE FIRST.

MINUTES ON AGRICULTURE, &c,

MiN. i.On the Fair of Belton, i.

The Show of Cattle, there.
A Remark on Grazing, 2.

2. On the Lime Works of Breedon, 2.

The Nature of Breedon Lime.

The Quarries, Kims, and Burning, 3.

The Price, and Coft, an Acre, 4.

3. Incident of Practice, in Watering Lime, 5.

4. On the Ufe of Rubbing Pofts, in Sties, 6.

5. On Sowing Oats, over a thin s»rop of Wheat, 7.

6. On the Hoing of Turneps, 8.

The Norfolk and Midland Praflices compared.
The Midland Hoe, Three-fided, 9.

Not ill fuited to a Stoney, Stnbbom Soil, IC

7. An Experiment, wiih the Berbery, on Wheat, zi.

8. On the Smut of Wheat.

An Evidence of its being caufed by the Seed, i« .
a 3 9. An

VI Contents.

Mi !». 9. An Inftarce ofBarlcy ftccecdLng.on Clover Ley, 13.

10. Cn the liarvelling of Whe^^.t.

T R> MARIS on coveiincj the Shucks, 14.
' On the fpett of Ar^ble'Kidges, ij*
^n Iniiance of Wheat ripening unevenly.

11. On the " Statute" of^PoiefAorth.

One of the largeft irt'tr.e Kingdom.
Res5 ARKS on public Ki.-ingi, N. 18.
A Hint fefipecWng Bailaiisince^s, 19.
7 2. On Spreading IWanure cu: of Carriagt?; 20.

15. On the Fair of Fazelcy, 21.

The Economy of the Fair Stead excellent.
14. On Laying aTIiam Floor with liricks, 23.
1 5. On the Fair of ramworth, 24.

^On Ui&iiiduence e^ Snii^d(i> ^d Gpuirtry Mar-
kets, 25. ' - \^ - -
A firikiug Inftancc cf the Value of Biecd, in
Sheep.

16. Han^weeding Twncps, sw eHgibie and cheap Ope-

ration, 26.

17. Inl^ancc ci Horl'es thriving on Clover in Head, 27.
1^. InHance of Practice in Fajujwing, 2§i

The Midland fraSice delcribed.

Remarks on Harrowing, in the early Stages of a

FJxkw.
The Norfolk PratHce noticed, 30.

A pradical inference drawn.
A Dtuil of thu Imtaiice of rrac;ice, 3 r.

ks K-ffefts rwll favorable, 32.
Remarks on ti;e Roller and hiarrous united, in
working a Fallow, 3J.
An Experiment, with Dang, on Fallow.

The Refult of this Experiment, N. J4.
Remarks on Spreading Dung, 54.
A General Remark cn Varieties oH Pradice, 5J.
ig. On Ivlaixet Convcriltrion, 3D.

On th.e Proportion of Land iei out for Tithe, on

the IccloJirg of Ccminon Fields, 77.
On .the Adv-ifitages, Uc. of ii\cloring open Fields.
Eilee.'aed d;liidVu.u:ageous in lheOuife:,and why.
" Turf" the main Dtpendencq of tjbc IN'iJlaiid
Farmer, 38.
Arable Fidd^ arc long in acijuiriag it.
liow diffufc and diificuU is the Rurai Science, 39.
The Midland Courle of Pra^ice is friendly to Na-
turr.l Herbage :FaJiows and Fallow Crops def-
truaive to it.
An Jiiiprovemeiit of ihat Praclicepropoftd, 41.

MlN.

Contents. vii

.] IN. 21. The My fiery of high Ridges cleared up, 42.

22. On the fhameful Waile of Malt Liquor, 44.

Laborers muddled with Small Beer, 45.
Probable Caufe of this bad Practice.

23. On the different Means of obtaining Rural Ki^ow-

ledge, 46.
A Calendar, or Chronological Regifter adopted.
2+. An Evidence of the Confidence that Hill fubfifts
between Landlords and their TenantSj in this
Dillrid, 47.
25. An Inftanee of Practice, in improving a bad Farm-
yard, 49.
The Ufos of a Dung Pit noticed, 51.
•»6. On tlie Mifchievoufnefs of Mice, ^2.
27. On the obfolete Pradtice of Watering Grafs Lands,
by " floating upwarvls," 53.
Abundant Evidence of the Pradice adduced, 54.
One Inllance of floating downward noticed, 56.
s8. On the Situation, and Guard, of Cattle Sheds, 58.

Are beft placed in a feparate Yard, 59.
29. Inllance of Pradlice, in charring Polls, 60.

31. On carrying out Corn, 61.

An Error in the Midland Praftice noticed.
This Error accounted for, 62.
A Remark en corrccling Errors, by adapting pre-
fent Practices to prefent Circumftances, N. 63-

32. Inllance of Pradice, in Surface Draining, 63.

The proper Time and Seafon, for profecutin^

this Improvement. 64.
The Treatment of Hedges, under ihis Opera-
tion, 65.
Set the Mold in Ridgets, by the Sides of the
Drains.
Motives for this Praftice, 66.
The Rate of Workmanfhip, and total Coll, 67,
Much Plain Hufbandry may be done for a fniall

Sum, 68.
A Hint to young Far.Tiers, N. 68.
23- A Caution to the Owners and Occupiers of extra-
parochial Farms, 68.
34. Inftanee of putriiied Turneps proving a Jailing
Manure, 69.
Prafiical Remarks on this Incident, 70.

36. On tne Theory and Pradlice of Hanging Gates, 71.

37. On me Staiiior. Show of Alhby, 75.

ax ' 58. On

Vlll

Content 1.

MiN. 38. On Burning Dead Grafs, in the Spring. 77.
Accidents arifing from it.

39. Obfervaiions on the calcareous Waters of Au-

ftrey, 7S.
The Scum, left on the Grafs, wholly calcar«-
ous, N.79.

40. On Sowing Clover Ley, in Frofty Weather, 80.

Should be fown tne Day it is plowed.

41. An Incident on Plo wing-in Seed Barley, 81.

An Improvement pointed out, by this Incident.

42. On the Qualities of Waters, for Irrigation, 82.

Thofe of the Dove and the Wye inllanced.

43. On Sowing Turneps, on a dufty Surface, S3.

General Ideas are dangerous in Hulbandry.

44. On Farm Laborers planting Pouioes, in waftr

Corners of Fields, 84.

45. InHance of Yard Dung being injured, through a

Want of Moiilure, 85.

46. Inflance of Watering Meadow Land, at a fmall

Cod, and wi;h great Proht, 86.

47. An Experiment in Watering Dung, 87.

48. The Ufes cf a Smith's Shop, on a Farm, 8S.

A Wheelwright Shop fuggeiled.

49. On forining Earth B^nks, with Drain Turves, 89,
On eiFecling fwo Purpofes, at one Operation.

5c. On digefting Manure, 90.

A Rule obfervable in turning Manure.
Mcafure the new-formed Pile.

51. The Prices for £<imming Pafiure Grounds, 91.

52. A Flint for propagating Aquatic Manure.

53. Infiance of alofing Year, in Grazing, 92.

On the Quality of Herbage, in different Sc.'^-
ions, 94.

54. Farther on Hanging Gates.

A Degree of Perfection reache4, 95.
How dark and diihcult is the Path of Invention, 97.

55. On Agricultural Botany, 97.

A fummary Way of afcertaining the Herbage of
a Grafs Ground, 98.
Caulogue of Meadow Plants, 99.
. Caulogue of Upper Ground Plants, 102.

Extraordinary Ideas, refpefting the Dock,
N. 103
Catalogue of rich Grazing Ground Plants, 104.
Remarks on the Lotus, as a culturable Plaut,
N. IC5.
Catalogue of rough Ground Plants, 106.

An

Contents; ix

An Evidence that few Weeds are pernicious to Cat-

, tie, 107.
On the proper Seafon for Agricultural Botany, io8;
The Soil and Herbage of the Dairy Grounds, of this
DiUridl, afcertained, 109.
MiN. 56. Praftical Remarks on making Hay, in a dry Sea-
fon, no.
Inllance of a very deficient Crop of Hay, 1 1 2,
57. Another Inftance of Watering Dung,
58.Horfes require Water, in a very dry Seafon, rij.
59. Remarks on the Couchy Fefcue, as a Weed, and

as a Species of Herbage, 1 14.
6a. A ftriking accidental Variety of Sheep, 116.

61. On Turnep Infedls.

The Fly or Beetle defcribed, 117.

The .Aphis diicovered, and defcribed, 1 18.

Remarks on its Natural Hiftory, 120.
The Tenthredo obferved on grown Turneps, 122,
A farther Remark, on the Beetle.

62. On the Stubble cf new mown Grafs.

Its Qualities, as a Food of Cattle, 124.
65. Inftance of a Farmer and his Laborers cultivating
Potatoes in Partnerlhip, 1 26.

64. On Spreading the digelled mold of Drains, 126.

65. Remarks on the Blight of Wheat, 127.

66. Pradlice in clearing and new-forming old Dfinking

Pools, 128.
The Method defcribed, 129.

67. On the Precarioufnefs of the ^ural Profeffion, 131.

Fadls are the only Foundation, on which it can
be fecurely raifed, N, 1 34. .

68. On Watering Ridges, on Slspes, 135.

• A praftlcal Method ilruek out.

69. Further on Spreading Drain Mold, 137.

70. Inftance of great Lofs> by the Staggers, in Horfes,

, How ineligible as Beafts of Draft.

71. Method of Repairing a Sand Road, at a fmall Coft*

'39:

72. On Geele as Clarifiers of Drinking Pools, 140.

73. On the Holcus mollis, as a Weed, and the HlLiu

latiatus, as a Species of Herbage, T40.

74. Farther Remarks on ths Blight of Wheat, 141.
j^. On the Conveniency of Reaping by the Threave,

143.
76. On the Hurtfulnefs of the Spear Thiftle, 144.

In.'iance

Content

s.

Inftance of a Farm fhamefully overrun with Weeds.
Penalties OK Slovenm Ntss recommended, 146.
MiN. 77. Indance of Weeding; Siubblcs, 146.

78. On making the moll of a broken Day, 147.

79. On '1 hiiining Cluilers of 'iorncps, in moiU Wea-

ther, 148.

80. General Remarks on G lea kino, J4S.

The right Line of Condudt attempted to be
drawn, 150.
On the Propricry of employing Female Reap- '

L'K.S, 151.

Sz. On the 1 ime of Sor.vtnq; Oat<;, i;2.

The EfFecls of v^owing by the ^V./It, and by i}>e

Suf7, nbkivcd, ic^.
A pradiea] inft-rence drawn, 15^.
1 he 1 im^ of Kip?ning corrclponded with the
Time of So'.vip^, 155.
On Harvelling Oats in Sh'-af.

Should be bar^•cfted in the 5/'.;<jV, 157.
Wheat, on the contrary, ihould be e.vpofed to the
Armofphere.
S J,. Inibnces of Barley being harveftcd, in a moft un-
hufbandlike Manner, 158.
A flint to the Harvcliers of Barley, which ripen?
in two or jnore Crops, i6o.
£4. Experiments and Obfervations on the three Turnep
Infecis, 160.
Bccilcs fed fevcral Weeks, with Turnep Leaves.
Reflections on the Imali Quantity of ilie Food

they confume, 162.
A PraClical Inference drawn, i6j.

Increafe the Quantity of i>ced.
Farther Reflections on this Subje.5>, 164..
The " Fly" not guilty of all the Mifchief

laid to its Charge.
The Seafon a probable Caufc, 164.

Fatts adduced.
Note on the Slup^ and Night-Rolling,
N. 166.
Tcnthredoes fed with Sugar, 167.

A probable Mean of preventing their Mif-
chiefi, 168.
Aphides are viviparous in the Middle o^ Au-
gu(L

A. new Enemy of the Turnep, ii^'9.
Perhaps crulh them with a mufllcd Roller.

b5. An

C O N T E K T S.

X?

MiN. 85. /.n Evidence of the Palatableriefs of the Crerpirg
Crowfoot, to Cows, 170.
S6. On cclletSling Manure, 171.
87. On the Culture of Tunieps, i?2.

Evidence of an Opennels of Soil being, agreeable

to them, 1734
Oia cultivating the Interfurrows of wide higfl

Ridges.
.An Experiment, on the Qnantity of Seed, 175,
, incident on the good Effects of Hoing.

Pra<ftical DirO(^ucns on Huing, 177.
Pfadical Directions, for cultivating the Tufncp
Crop, on rich rctenti've/oil, 179.
68. Additional Evidence of the Year Eighty-Five
being lingularly unfavourable to the Farmer,
.185.

89. On the grey Marl of IVarwickOiirc, 186.

An Evidence of the Utility of Expf-rimentixg
Inftancc of an obfolete Piadlice revived, 187.

90. On the \'egetation of Barley, in 1785, 188.
I'urther Remarks on Sowing, by the ^enfon, 190.

1 he Succcls depends on the 'liine oi i'egetatiug^

not on tijat of Son.vin<r.
The EfFeds of early and late Sowing.
The Ha--Mtho,n a better Guide than tlie Oak,

192.
The Time fA Ripening correfponds with the Time

of Fege.*aii7ig, ig?.

91. Cpiuions on the Changing of Seed Corn, ' 193.

A Myllcry, which requires a Pt^BLicEsxA-
BtisHMFNi-, to clear it up, N, 194.
92- Inftances of Turncps being unfiiendly to Barley,

on rich tenac'ous Soils, 195,
93. Remarks on the EiFcCts of Frolt, in ripening Grain,

&'C. 196.
94.. An Evidence of the hard Fare of Farm Laborers,
197.
An Inllanci: of Induftry r.nd Frugality, 197.
9;. On 'f'urncps "S a Crop, un Compoft, 198.
97. A Calkkdaji, or Chrooolooical Kegiftcr, of the
current Bafinefs of Farmers, in thcMidiandDif-
tridl, 199.
9S. A Sketch of the Common Field Husbakdr-Y of
this Diiirici, ^04,
An unprofitable Syltcm, under orelent Circum-
Itanccs, 208.
On the FV-ir jcf Kazeley.

A bad Yea-r for the Grazier.-

ioo. The

111 C o N T r n T 5.

MiN. loe. The Refult of the Expariment wich Breeddn Lkfic,
209,
»oi. Oa the Incom-eniencies of Laborers refiding at a

Diilance, 210-
102. General Obfervaiions, on the Harvefting of Bar-
ley, 21:.
Harvefting is the mofi ferious Operation in Huf-

bandry, and why.
Pradical Diredions on the Harvefling of Bar-
ley, 212.
703. Further Remarks on Breedon Lime, 2I5.
104. Further on the Staggers in Horfes, 217.
J 05. On the Profitablencrs of fatting young Sheep.
ic6. Practice in UnJerdraining, 219.
Criterions of defedive Subfoili.
Defcent, Length, Dimenllons, Filling in, and

Coil of Trenches, 220.
On the Di:lance between Trenches, 222.
On the previous Caa.io»s requiike, in marking;

the P.-irrs affected, 123.
On other Precautions obiervable, 224.
On Lancing boggy Tumori, 225.
Note on Mr. hikington's Pradicc, 226.
Cafes in Underdraining related.
Kemarks on the Operation of Drains," 22S.
General Remarks on U x i e r d r a i n i n c .
The ExpcnCc moderate, when properly condufted.
A Line of Condud pointed out, 229.
107. On the Fair of button, 230.

On the Spirit of jobbing, prevalent in tiie Mid-
land Counties, 23-1,
General Kemarks on Dealers in Farm Stock.

I»Icre Jobbers arc Vermin, which prev on the
Pronts of vhe Grazier, or on the Income of the
Comumer, 233.
io3. Infiances of liming whole furrows, as a Top" Drcf-

hng, for Vv' neat, 234.
iro.On the Scarcity of Livelto(!k, 235.

Some Cauf:;s aiTigned.
II I.. A focce'olul txpcrimcnt with acjjiati'c ma-

N V R F , 2 56.

4 12. On the Lie of Lobbies to Farmyards, 237.
ri5. Opinions on Checking, &c. rank Wheat.
114. An Inllancc of the Uncertainty of the Price of
Farm Produce, 2^39.

115. Inllance

Contents. xi^i

MiN. 1 15. Inflance of Turneps being injured, by Froil.
^ The Operation of the Injury, 240.

The Method taken to prevent its Etfefls.
On Collecling Turneps, in Froll, with Hooks, ancl
Prongs.
1 16. Further Obfervation on the Staggers, 241.

A Remedy, and a Preventive, luggefled, 242.
J 1 7. Another Proof of the Uncertainty of the Price of
Farm Produce, 242.
Very little maltable Barley produced, in this Dif-

trifl, in 1785.
Barley is a difficult Crop to cultivate, with Cer-
tainty, 243.

118. Evidences of the Ufe of Shelter to fatting Cattle,

in fevere Weather, 243.

1 19. On the fat Cow of Croxall, 244.

120. On the Death and good Qualities of Georgb

Barwell, 247.

121. On Scotch Bullocks, as a Species of grazing Stock,

in this Country, 24S.

122. On a Circuit taken, in the Midland Difeift, 249.
Further on the Scarcity of Cattle, 250.

On the Fair of Market Harborough.
On the prefent Supply of IriQi Cattle.

A Dilgrace to hnglilh Agriculture, 251.

DIVISION THE SECOND.

MINUTES ON PLANTING, 6cc.

M'N. 123. Praftice in Hedge Planting, 252.

124, On the Cultivation of Woodlands, in Wannick-
Ihire, 255.
An Inllance of Praftice dcfcribed.
The Acorns, in this Cafe, planted.
The Method of Training.
The Profits, in this Inllance, 256.
A Remark on Thinning young Woods.
How eligible to plant poor clayey Soils, 257.
Other Inllances of Practice.

The Acorns, in thefe Inftances, fown.
Inllance of Mifcarriagc, cccafioned by Rabbits,
258.

126. Inilancc

tW Contents.

MiN. 126. Inftance of M) riads of Chafers.

127. On the Manufaflure of Charcoal, 259.

The Procefs ds.ailcd, 260.
izS. On the Number of you ig Oak Plants, in the Grafj
Grounds of this iJiiiricl, 164.
Conje^^lares on their Rife, 265.
Afford a riint fortlic Culture of Woods, 266.
1 29. Further on the Chafer.

Are partial to Individual Trees, 267.
Are great Enemies of tlic Oak.
Hard Winters appear to be favorable to this
Infed.
Jlcmarks on Linneus's Idea, refpefling the Growth

of the Oak.
An extraordinary Flow of Sap fucceeded a fevere
V/intcr, 26S.
J }o. On the remarkable Appearance of the Oak.

Further Kemarks on its annual Increafe, 2651.
Iji.Pradical Remaiks on Traini-.g Hedges.

Calculations and Remaiks on the Advantages of
pruning their Si<ics, 270.
133, On the hi'iefts of ftagnant and running Water, on
Hedges 27 3.
On the lii'propricty of ferting the Hedge, on the
upper bije ot the Cr.ch, 274.
i_53. On the (irowtli of the Afh.

KciJt'ttior.s on the Difparity of the arnu'^l
Growths, /.75.
I j4. On the Growth of the Elm.

Inllance of a rapid Growth.
Remarks on the proper Tiine cf felling Stand.;rd
Trees, 276.
13;. On the Growth of the Poplar, i-^j.

Overgrown, .it fifty ye«r5 old.
176. Cn the .--nlc of the Oak ot .VicrevJe, 2;*?-
Cunditions of Sale.
The 'i imher cf e;;traordina'-y Length, 279.

137. On the Rife of the Sap of the Oik, 260.

Kife? early in old I'rees.
Co.ijeccurts on this Circa:r.lTance.

138. On the Snle of Wecford Fark Tiraber, 281.

Conditions of Sale.
A Ciution ufrd by the Seller.
On the Proportion of Kjrk to ] imbcr, 2S2.

139. On

Contents.

XV

MiN. 139. On the Sale of the Oak of Statfold, 2Sz.

On the deceitful Appearance of Woods, 283.
The Age of :>uifold ^yood.
The Conditions of bale.
Precautions in Selling, 284.
1 he Propdrtion of Bark, 285.
On the differed!: Qualities of Bark.

The Price of Bark depends much oi) the Car-
riage required, 286.
14.0. A further Proof of the early Rife of th? Sap of Old
Trees, 2 86.
RefleAiors on this Fa£l, 287.

141. On the Difeafe of '• Lag," in Timber.

142. Further on the Rife 6f Sap, 288.

The Tops run freely, while the Stems are peeled

with Difficulty.
A Theory refpei^ing this Circumftance, 289.

143. On Taking down Timber.

The Ivjechod of " Stocking" defcribed, 290.
Much Caution and Skill requiiite, jn this Ope-
ration.
Remarks on the Growth of the Oak, on a good Top
Soil, and bad Sublirata, 291.
A prailical inference drawn.
Rem.arks on the Training of Timber, 202.
How abfurd to prohibit Pruning.

144. Qn the proper Age of felling the Oak.

inftance of Lofs, by its Handing too long.
Further on the extraordinary Length of tne Mere-
vale Timber, 293.
Age of that Timber.
146. In'iance of Praftice, in Planting, 294.

Tile Sledge a valuable Implement of the Planter.

Method of Planting, in a dry Spring.

A new Method of Preparing the Pits.

An improved Methodof planting, tire over

TIRE, 297.

GENERAL Remarks on watering the pits,

prcvioufly to planting.
Gi;n£r.al Remarks on pruning after

PLANTING, 300.

An Accuracy of Pradice, in Pruning, at the

Time of i-;emoval, 301.
Oil Lightening the Boughs of the Pine Tribe, 303.
The favorable Eflccb of thdc Praclices, in this

Initance, xc^.

' ' '~ 148. Li.^ances

Xvi C O K T I N T 5.

Wilt. 143. Infbmces of Mifcarriagc, in Planting, in the Spring
of I7S6, 305.

J 49. On the Oak Timber of Ncedvrood Foreft, arju
Ba^ctPark, 305.
Swilcar 0:;k defcribed.
Sir Walter's Walking StaF noticed, 306.
On the Age of the Oak.

OvergrowD at '2:0 Years old.
Ca!culatior.5 on the rr.oll profitable Age of Felling

the Oak, for Timber, 307.
Ge:^ir.al Riic.^RKS on this SubjeS., 308
Ship Timber fhould be under the Caje of a

PUBLIC BOARD, 5C9.

Gexhral Remab-Ks on i imber Trees, as private

Prcpert)'.
The different Clafles of Prcprietors confidered,

znd their Motives of Marugemcnt examined,

310.
The proper Ages of Felling, fonr principal Species

of Timber, fet down, 311.

. ^ c. Another Eneicy of the Oak : a Semi-hcetle, 312.
J 5 1. On the Fewnefs of the Real Wants of Mankind, 313.

Fnnhcr on the Charring of Wood, 514.

On Charcoal Aihes, as a Manure, 315.

J52. InSance of Pra&icc in Weeding young iaj^ng
Hedges.
The Cofl nothing, compired m-ith the Advantage.
On iaceraiir.g the Barks of old Hedges, 317.

The Intention and Effect.
Infiance of ibwicg Haws and Hollyberries, on the
Faces of old Hedge Banks, N. 318.
155. OntheScccefsof ■aaierir.gPits, before, and jMTining
the . lams after, planting, 318.

1 54. On the Decreafe of Tin»ber, in tiiis. Country, 3 1 9.
ia:tance of the Price of Oak beL'g lowered, by an

Importation of foreign Dtal.
Building Timber may be imported.
BuiShip Timber cannot, with Safety; ar.d it,
therefore as Obieft of public at i i.NTio.s,
5Z0.
: . 5 On Training Hedgerow Oakling?, 321.
A leady and effectual Way praclifed.

156. Farther

^^ONTINTS. XVU

MiK. 156. Further Obfen-ations on the Culture of Woodlands,

Soils, eventually, find their proper Produce, 322.

Many of the prefent Woodlands of this Kingdom

are probably the Produce of Cultivation, 323.

The Soil of Statfold Wood lies in high, wide,

arable RiJges.

157, On the Effects of Raifing Soil into high arable

Ridges. 324.
The Quantity ot cultivated Mold is increafed.
The Ears of Corn have an Increafe of Air, 325^
On Planting the Sides of Hills.

The Quantity of Soil and Canopy are equal, on

Slopes, and on level Ground.
Hence the Propriety of planting unculturable
Steeps, 327.

158. On Converting Timber.

Inftance of a Maturity of Judgement being re-
quifite.
The Advantage of planting Rocky Heights, in-
ftanced in the Woods of Merevale.

159, On the natur;il Growth of the Hia thorn, 328.

The Roots throw out Fibers, in the Soil, and
Twigs, in the open -Air.

160. On the Folly of high Hedges, between Arable In-

clofures, 3-29.
l6x. On the general Management of Hedges, 330.
Inftance of Mifchief, for want of Cutting.
The Duration of Hedges depends on Treatment.

162. On the Origin of crooked Hedges, 332.

The Myltery unfolded, hy a Ruftic ! 333.
Inftance of the Ule of provincial Regilters, 334.

163. On the Value of Poplar, for Packing Caf^s.

164. On the Economy of \'egetablc5, with Reiped lO

Moiftureand Drougnt, 335.
Each Species, has its natural Situation.

165. Obfervaiion on Practice, in converting Tiinber, 336.

The different Wares enumerated.
Defcription of a two-handed Saw, N. 338.

166. Obfervations, further, on the .Age of the Elm, 339.

Obfervations, further, on the Age of the Afh, 3^0.
Incident in the Culture of U'oodlands, 341.
Afhes planted in the \'acancies of young Oaks,
Further on Cajtio.i in felling I'imber, 342.
An Evidence of the Ule of pruning young limber
Trees clofe to the Stems.

Vol. 11. b V67. The

xviii Contests.

MiK. !67.The Midd'.etonOak defcribed, 343-

i6g. Further Incidents, in my own Pradice, m Plant-

^g' 344-
InRance of extreme Scarcity of Acorns, 345.

Appear to He liable to Blight.

Tr.e Voracitv of Rooks, for this Fruit.
On the Exper.ce and Utility of Double Diggbg, 346.
On Staking tdl Plants, 547.
On the proper Depth of Planimg, 34S.
On Planting in Froft.

Further on the Sledge, in carrying Plants, 349.
On Forming Plantation Paths.
Planting Ac^ms, in the Intenpices of Omamenul

Plants, 35c.
Planting Acorns after Potatoes.

The Number and Quantity of Acorns; and the
Expence, an Acre, 551.
Method of planting fourfeet Plants, b thisInfUnce

of AUTUMNAL PLANTING.

Midland Method of preparing Poi^sand Rails,352.
The Refult of pruning the Pinus Tribe, 353.
On earlv SPRING PLANTING, 354.

Febraar)- tco early to e.tpofe a large Number of
Plants, to a Journey.
Remarks on the Seafon and Circumftaaces of Re-

moN'al.
On the natural Habits of Plants, 356.
Exemplified by Firs and Pines, in Snow.
Vegetables, as Animals, appear to have a Po-ver
of refining their natural Enemies, or coun-
terafting their Effefts, 358.
On the Caution requifiie, in taking up Plants.
A ibameful Inftance noticed.
Mere Nurrer)'men cannot be depended upon ;
thev have an Intereft in injuring them, 359.
On the proper Diftantes between Plants.

Tne Expence of Planting depends, chiefly, oq

the 'dumber cf Plants.
Young Plants require Warmth, 360.
Perhaps, fill up Interfpaces, with J^aJ Plun::.
The Sa^-ing, by this Method, calculated.
The Method cfPlannng, in this Inllance, 362.
The Arrangement of \\ orkmen, 363.
The Expence of Planting noted.
Deiiberauon requiUte to fucccf^fal planting.

A D.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO T HI

SECOND VOLUME.

TTT^HILE I was refidentin Glocester-
' * SHIRE, in 1782*, I received a
flattering letter, from the Midland Dis-
trict ', the writer of it intimating, that
he had lately come into the poflefiion of a
confiderable landed eftate, that he had read
the Minutes of Agriculture, and that
he was defirous of becoming my companion
in literature and my pupil in agriculture ;
propofmg to me a parfJierJJjip in farming.

At lirft fight, this appeared to be a moft
providential incident ; Angularly favorable

b 2 to

* See the Advertifement prefixed to the Rural
Economy of GiocESTgRSHiRe,

XX ADVERTISEMENT.

to my general defign : the four quarters of
the kingdom I had feen ; but to the center
of it I was flill a ftranger : yet, without
fome knowledge of its pradicc, the plan, I
had in view, would necefTarily prove abor-
tive : but, with fuch information, I fliould
bf courfe bring within my power a compe-
tent knowledge of the practice of the king-
dom at large, to enable me to carry my ori-
ginal DESIGN into execution.

But a partnerfliip, or any other perm.a-
nent connej^ion, was altogether impradica-
ble ; as being incompatible with my plan.
There was only one alternative j — either to
decline the offer ; or to accept it under the
fpecies of agencv, which derives a com-
mission from the receipt of the estate,
without being immediately dependant on the
f^roprietor.

When I had fulfilled my intentions, in
Clocellerlliire, I returned to London, by
way of the Midland Counties : and finding
part of the eflate on hand, and (through the

mifufage

ADVERTISEMENT. kxi

mifufage of a tenant) in the lowed ftage of
ncglecfl ; — feeing alfo other improvementa
wanting upon it, I agreed, on the terms
above fpecified, to make St at fold my

PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE, duringTWO YEARS!

holding myfelf, however, at full liberty to
attend to any other concern, or avocation,
which might occur.

But having committed myfelf, once more,
to the field of practice, my time and my
attention became imperceptibly abforbed in
it ; thus entering into the minutia of agri-
culture f with an ardor I never intended ;
and uniting, for the firft time, the prad:icc

of RURAL ORNAMENT, W^ith that of RURAL

ECONOMY (of which, in reality, it forms a
part) : referving, however, a fufficiency of
leifure and application, to colle(ft the pro-
vincial PRACTICE of the District of
the Station, as well as to obtain a gene-
ral KNOWLEDGE of the RURAL ECONOMY

of the Midland Counties *.

THE

* See the Advertifement to the Firft Volume.

nu ADVERTISEMENT.

THE MINUTES, of which this Volume
confilh, are leleded from a feries, that I
continued to iiiake, as circumftances oc-
curred, during my refidence in the Diftri<5t 3
whether they arofe in my own practice, or
in my obfervations on the nature and prac-
tice of the furrounding country.

Such as relate immediately to the efta-
bhfhed pra^ice of the Diilrid, I have in-
corporated with the regiftered matter, in
the Firil: Volume 5 and fuch other, as are
not hnc^ly intitled to public attention, are
referved for a future revifal.

It may be proper to mention, that although
thefe MINUTES were made with a diilant
view of publishing fuch as might, on due
revifal, appear fit for pubUcation ; yet they
were purpofely written, in the manner of
private memorandums (and in reality for my
own fiiture government), that nothing but a
plain extemporary recital of circumftances,
and of refieaions aptly ariUng out of them,
mi^ht find admittance,

la

ADVERTISEMENT. xxili

In feleding thefe minutes for publican
tion, I have judged it proper to arrange them
in two feparate feries, the one of agricul-
ture, the other of planting (includ-
ing the management of wood land and
hedges), as well with a view to perfpi-
cuity, as for the greater conveniency of rea-
ders, who may be more particularly inte-
refted, in the one, or the other, of thefe
two branches of rural economy.

1796. IN REVISING the firft impref^
fion of thefe Minutes, I have made fuch
alterations as fix years additional attention to
rural fubjedls have enabled me, I trufl, to
make with propriety. Some few have been
cancelled, and others have been incorpo-
rated with preceding Minutes, on the fame
fubje(fts. Many details have been abridged,
or wholly omitted, as not being fufficiently
interefling, to fill the places they feverally

occupied ;

xxir ADVERTISEMENT.

occupied ; and, ifl one indancc (that of {ci-
ting up {heaves in the field) where the
remarks were genera/ and detacbedy they have
been referved ; for the rcafons which have
been afTigned, in the Advcrtifement to the
Fjrft Volume.

MINUTES

MINUTES *

O K

AGRICULTURE,

IN THE

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

I.

1784.

1/0.1. ' I ^HIS morning, rode to
June 14th. X the fair of Belton,
a village in Leicefterfhire : the laft fpring
fair of note, in this country.

A great fhow of cattle: not lefs than a
thoufand head : principally yearling and
twoyearold heifers : very fmall and very
poor : all of the longhorned breed, and are
many of them brought, from the extreme
parts of StafFordfhire and Derbyfhire.

The prices of lean cattle were extremely

high. Some tripling heifers, bought at fe-

ven pound ten (hillings to eight guineas, a

piece, cannot weigh more than forty flones.

Vol. IL B at

D. H. HILL LIBRARY

MINUTES AoRic.

at Michaelmas ; and it is a hazard whether
they will, then, be worth the money now
given for them.

>^Jt certainly would be more pnident, in in-
dividuals, to (hut up their grounds, for hay,
than to buy cattle, for which no ade-
quate profit can, on a fair chance, be ex-
pected.

Perhaf's GTEic'EifALLV, mcp.v a greater
proportion, when cattle are dear, graze more,
when they are cheap. A flack of hay may
be kept, till it be ' wanted, without ex-
pence; but a bullock muft be fold, with-
in a limited "time, or lofs may .be added
to lofs.

a.

tI^fE. June 14. Came round by Breedon

" LIME WORKS." - -. •'

Breedon Hill is a femiglobular eminence 1
formed of an irregular mafs of limeftone.
The lime produced, from this rock is of a
' ■Angular quality. Five or fix quirters, an
acre, are found to be a heneficial drefTing,
for the lands of this neighbourhood. But
*^it is an opinion, univerfaily admitted,
'".,.... that.

.MjMxIk)

t7.84- MIDLAND COUNTIES.

that, if much more than that quxintity be 2.

kid on, it i^ " poifon to the land :" it hav- lime-
ing been obferved, that v/here, by. accident,
a greater quantity has been fcattered, no
grq/s will grow -, and that, where load heaps
have ftood, no cor?i will thrive ; but> in-
ftead of it, a bed of couch and thiftles ap-
pear : a cireumftance which has prejudiced
many men againft it^ under an idea, that it
^ree{/s thefe two peils of cultivated land.

Some fmall proportion of this rock has
every appearance of vitrifadlion, except the
color ; which is that of rufty iron* See i. 1 50.

The quarries, that are now in ufe, are
thirty or forty feet high ; each a cliff of
heterogeneous rock, with fcarcely any co-
vering.

, Having no regular feams, the rock is
obliged to be blafted j but the fragments fall
eafily under the hammer; breaking into ir--
regular pieces, like glafs.

There are fix or feven kilns, at work : each
built at the foot of its refpedlive quarry j
and againfl: the bafe of the hill; with only
one fide open, to draw at; but with two, and
fome with three, eyes or drawing places;
made wide and commodious ; with an arch,
B 2 turned

M I N U T E S Acaic.

2. turned over each, to fupport the top of the

UME. kiln; and, within this archway, above the
eye, there are air holes, to feed the fire (a
new idea) ; thefe air holes being fix or
eight in number ; reaching half way up the
kiln.

From the top of the archway, proje<fts a
penthoufe, or roof, of faggots ; forming a
ihed, under which a quantity of drawn lime
may lie, out of the way of rain.

The burners make their layers unufually
thick: the flone half a yard, and the coal
five or fix inches ; coaling very highly (the
pits not more than two or three miles from
the kiln) ; throwing in coals as large as
the head : their only idea feeming to be
that of keeping up a llrong fire, within,
the kiln.

They are all drauung kilns (fee York-
shire) ; being never let out, during the
burnmg feafon, unlefs to repair : drawing,
it is /aid, four or five loads from each kiln,
daily!

The pricf of this lime, at the kiln, is
eighteen pence, a quarter; with a perquifite,
to the burners, of meat and drink, or, in lieu
of it, two Lhilimgs, a load; and with a bribe,

- -^ the

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

the firft load, that they may cheat their
mafters (and at the fame time themfelves),
by giving a falfe gauge of the waggon.
Altogether a ridiculous cuftom.
The coft of five loads ftands thus :
Thirty quarters at 1 8^. - - ^T. 2 5 o
Lime men zs. z load, and 2 s.
over - - - - 9 12 o

' ^ £-2 17 o

or 1 1 /. 5 ^. a load, of fix quarters ; namely,
about a chaldron and a half, common lime
meafure.

The coft of fetching, lixteen or feventeen
miles, may be eftimated at a guinea, a load ;
with turnpikes, near three fhillings, each
load ; together with watering, turning, and
fpreading: the whole amounting to about
40 J. an acre, for the drefiing.

2.

LIME.

• July 3. Yefterday, limed part of No. i.
with Breedon lime, treated as follows:
See vol. i. p. 151.

Nine loads, — between twelve and fifteen

chaldrons, — fet in three heaps, acrofs the

B 3 piece.

WATERING
LIM£.

i MINUTES Agric

p piece, and by the fide of water pits, for the

^'"^"ml^^ conveniency of waterir.g.

The principal part was watered, as it was
thrown out of tlie waggons. Three days ago,
the heaps were turned over, and the unflaked
|)art« rewiltered.

The turning and watering coft fourpence,
fl load ; the ufual price : a mere trifle com-
pared -with the utility. See Yorkshire,
^rt. Li-ME.

KOo-TTiss, - ^ iJuLY -27. Evety sty fhould iiave a rub-
^mg poil.

Huving occaficn to fliift two hogs, oat of
*afty ^tliout one, into another with a poft,
•pirt- up 'to ftrpport the plate of the roof, J,
had a full opportunity of obferving its ufe.

The animals, when they went in, were
dirt)' J with broken coats, and heavy counte-
nances. In a few days, they cleared away
their t)ld c-oats, cleaned their Ikins, and be-
.came ileekly haired: the enjoyments of the ,pofi
were evident.

It is not probable, that any animal fliould
thrive, while it is afflided with pain, or un-
ca^iiefs, Graziers

1784. MIDLAND -COUNTIES.

Graziers fuiFer fingle trees to grow, or put
up pofts, in thtir grounds, for their CATJLE
to rub themfelves againil; yet, it is proba-
ble, a rubbing pofl has never been placed^
intentionally, in a Jiy : though, perjiapjs,
rubbing is moil requifite to swine.

I

4-

HOG-STIES.

July 28. A thin crop of wheat
may be improved, by fowing oats over it,
in the fpring,

Mr. WiiLiAMs Rice of Tamworth had
a piece of wheat, lafb year, which w£nt off,
in patches, in the fpring; fo as not to be
worth ftanding, alone, as a crpp. He there-
fore fowed, and harrowed in, oats, in the
vacant places. The confequence was a very
full crop of odfs and ivheat -, which were
feparated, principally, by the fan, in win-
nowing.

The head wheat was bought, freely, by
the millers; who, in this country, where
wheat is univerfally grown after oats, and of
courfe is feldom or never free from them, are
lefs fcrupulous about a few oats being
B 4 mixed

WHEAT.

MINUTES

Agric.

5-

WH£AT.

mixed among wheat, than they are in other
diflrids.

This is a hint, by which much may be fre-
quently profited. The advantage arifmg from
the expedient confifts, not more in the increafe
of crop, than in the diminution of weeds,
which, in a thin or partial crop, feldom fail
of being abundant. By a machine fan, pro-
perly regulated, oats may be feparated from
wheat, eafily and effe(^ually.

HOING

TURNIPS.

6.

September 15. This year, I have given
eight ihillings, an acre, with beer, for hoing
TURNEPS3 and, even at this price, it has
been with difficulty I have got tliem pro-
perly done.

This price, compared with that of Norfolk,
(fee Norfolk, Art. turneps), is extrava-
gantly high. But there are two reafons for
this difparity.

In Norfolk, every plowman, and every

harrowboy, is a turnep hoer: here, hoIng

is a myftery, pra<5tifed only by a few, who

have it in their power to make their own

terms.

Befide,

HOING
TURN£PS.

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

Befide, in Norfolk, the foil is light, and ^«

free from flones : the hoe palfes freely thro
it, and the hoer, fweeping his tool round the
plants, at pleafure, works, from hour to hour,
without a check. But, here, the foil, in
moil: places, abounds with pebbles, and,
being of a more ftubborn and cloddy nature
than the fands of Norfolk, the hoer is fre-
quently under the neceflity of chopping,
perhaps, three or four times, in the fame
fpace of furface, which a Norfolk hoer would
clear, with one fweep of his hoe. Were
he to attempt to draw his hoe, in the Norfolk
manner (perhaps not the befi), he would be
liable (by reafon of the obfl:ru(flions turning
afide his tool from the intended dire<I^ion) to
cut up the plants he meant to fet out, and
to fmother thofe he had already fingled.
Befide, he cannot, here, ufe fo wide a hoe,
as is ufed in Norfolk.

The Midland hoers generally ufe thiiee-.
CORNERED HOES ; cach fide of the triangle
being about feven inches. The reafons given
for uling thefe hoes, in preference to thofe
of the ufual one-edged form, are, that they
require to be carried fcldomer to the grinding
llone, and that they are handier to fingle a

plant

AO M 1 N U T E S Agric.

6. plant wkh, thsrn a one-edged hoc. It is

Hoisc allowed, however, that a threelided hoe re-
quires more labor, tlian a Angle one ; whole
blade, forming a more acute an^e with the
handle, lies fxatter, and ptifTes more freely
through the foil, than the triangular ones ;
which, ilanding nearly at right angle to the
handle, are drawn tigawjt the foil, rather than
under it; and, while that cuts the weeds,
thefe have to pull them afunder ; befide,
Avhere the foil is futiiciently loofe, to admit
the hoe to be drawn, they are mifchievous,
in burying the fingled plants.

To obviate thefe evils, the handles are
made {hort i about three feet long j the
workmen flooping, proportionably, in ufmg
them. If they were more dijhcd (they are
a little), the mold would lodge in the hollow,
a^d make themiliU lefs manageable.

Among ilones and clods, the triangular
hoe has its merit ; ading the part of the
Wefl India hoc, or a mattock. Eut, where
the furface is tolerably free and friable, the
one-edged hoe, from fevcn to eight inches
wide, and about two and a half inches deep,
is a more eligible tocL

September

MIJDLANP COUNTIES, ii

September ao. This fprino-, I planted the effect

f. OF BERBERV

a BERBERY BUSH, in the wheat of No, i8. on wheat.

It blowed the ift of June, with the wind
at northeafl. The wheat blowed the iirfl of
July, with the wind at northwell:, and the
weather fine.

The effeift, in this experiment, has not
been fo flriking, as it was in that made in
Norfolk. See Norfolk, MiN, 13.6c 133.
Neverthelefs, althouorh I have not, from
this year's experience, been able to form
any probable conjecture, as to the caufe of
the mifchief, it ferves to fix me fi:ill more
firmly in my opinion, that the berbery is
unfriendly to wheat.

8.

September 20, An evidence that smut smut.

OF

is caufed by the JecJy not by the /oil, the wheat.
lillagCy the ?nanure, or i\iQfeafon, occurs this
year, in the wheat of No, 18,

Perceiving

1* MINUTES Agric.

8. Perceiving a row of Ihucks to be very full

SMI T Qf fmut, while the reft of the piece was free

OF ^

WHiAT. from it ; and, on clofer examination, finding
that the fmutty ears were of white wheat,
the clofe in general being of red, I was led
to enquire into the caufe of this circum-
ftance ; and was well informed, that the red
wheat was bought, and was very free from
fmut ; but that the quantity falling fhort, a
builiel of white wheat was taken from the
barn, to finilh the piece : and, that this
bufhel was very foul and fmutty.

As to the preparation, the red was " fwuni
and limed :" the white fown dry and dufty,
as it went out of the barn.

Therefore, whether the caufe of fmut ori-
ginated in the fpecies of wheat, in the cir-
cumftancc of the feed being Jhiuftyy or in that
of its 7ict being prepared, is uncertain.

Neverthelefs, it fliows, evidently, that the

evil, in this cafe, was caufed by theJeeJ ; not

by the Joi/, the tillage, the manure, nor the

fcafon \ which were uniform, in this incident.

September

17S4. M I D L A N D C O U N T 1 1: S. i^

September 20. This fprin^, I fowed barley oi^

^ ° CLOVER.

with barley, by way of experiment, about ley.
half an acre of oneyear's clover ley, on one
plowing.

It was fo wn the 27th April (the fpring
backward) : at the rate of two bufhels, an
acre. The foil is a good middle loam, which
had been plowed, fome days, and worked
well.

The crop, where the foil lies perfe<5lly
dry, has proved very good : as much as four
harvefl loads, an acre : the flraw remarkably
flrong and reedy.

'Janna7'y lyS^. This patch, meafuring
ninetyfix rods, produced twentythree bufhels
of barley, from one bufhel of feed. An evi-
dence of the eligibility of clover ley, on a
free foil, as a matrix for barley.

10*

September 21. In this country, wheat harvest-
is univerfally ** hooded," is covered with wheat.
two fheaves inverted, — at the time it is fet
up, in fhucks. The '

JNG
WHEAT.

r4 MINUTES Acittc.

10' The univerfality of this practice is of late

"''^^,\^^'^* date. But it being obrious to common ob-
fervation, that, during a very wet harveil,
the wheats, which were naked, fared much
worfe, than thofe which were covered, the
alarm fpread, and the pradice of hooding
has fince become general.

It is obfervable, however, that the covering
of ihucks, being a new pra<ftice, is ill per-
formed. The caps are fet too upright, and
their flraw, inftead of being kept flraight
and fmocth, as thatch, is broken, and a
lodgement or lap is formed, as it were, to
catch the rain water, as it falls, and to con-
du(ft it into the iheaves, rather than to fhoot
it off.

If wheat be ripe, and the grain plump,
hooding is an eligible pradtlc^ ; but, when
it is cut, before the f;:p be well out of it, or>
if it has been injured by any difeafe, fo that
the grain is thin and fhrivciled, and the chaf
leather)^ and clofely embracing the grain, as
is generally the cafe of mildewed or blighted
wheat, the practice of covering the fhucks,
immediately alter the whent is cut, is, in my
opinion, ver)- improper management.

The

r7S4. MIDLAND CQUNTIES. t^

The Surrey and Kentifh farmers, among lo.
^vhom the pracClice of hooding may be faid "'^'J^'^^^*
to be unknown, are well aware of the benefit "wheat.
arihng from wheat being well " weathered,"
in the field: if.it be blighted, they even
wilh for a fliower upon their uncovered
fluicks ; finding that the corn, in this cafe,
not onlv thra/lics better, but yields better,
after having been thus expofed to the at-
mofphere.

With refpedt to thraihing, and of courfe
with regard to yield, fo far as clean thraihing
encreafes it, there can be little doubt, but
that an alternacy of wet and dry will pro-
mote it. Expofe a leaf, or a flower, to the
atmofphere, and, after a few days, alternately
wet and dry, it may be readily rubbed tcr
powder. But, if the fame leaf or flower
be placed, in a book, or under a botanical
prefs, it will acquire a tough leatheriikc
texture. Covering up the ears of corn, be-
fore the chaf has acquired a fumcient degree
of brittlenefs, is produ(ftive of the fame, oY a
hmikr cfFed:.

At prefent, lam clearly of opinion, tliat
all wheats ought to be more or lefs expofed
to the atmofphere, in proportion to the fbates

in

ft MINUTES Agric,

lo. in which they have been cut, between the
HARVEST, cutting and the carrying.
WHEAT. If, at the time of cutting, the weather be

imfettled, and much incUned to wet, cover
immediately, and, afterward, when the wea-
ther becomes fufficicntly fettled, and fafe
enough for the purpofe, uncover -, keeping
the ears expofed to the fun, wind, dews, and
moderate fhowers, until they be fufficiently
weathered ; and, then, if circumltances re-
quire it, re-cover.

But, if the weather be tolerably good, at
the time of cutting, fet the fheaves up naked,
and, in that flate, let them remain, until the
cars be opened, the chaf loofened, and the
grain mellowed ; and, then, if the weather
be hazardous, cover them, until the butts be
thoroughly cured.

Thefe rules have been my guide, this
harvefl. The wheat being confiderably mil-
dewed, I let it ftand, in naked (bucks, until
it had had a (hower, and, then, as foon as
the ears were thoroughly dry, covered it
fecurely.

It is obfervable, that fhucks fliould be fet
up, northandfouth, not eaftandwefl ; for,
in this cafe, the (lieaves, on the north fide,

are

SOIL
PROCESS.

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 17

are feveral days later, in refped to fitnefs io»
of carrying, than thofe on the fouth fide. .,

I write from the experience of this year :
when I have alfo had an opportunity of ob-
ferving a ftriking inftance of the bad effedt
of RIDGE8, lying eaftandw^ft. The corn oa
the fouth iides of the ridges of No. 18 (not
high ones) fhot into car, changed, and
ripened, a week at leail, earlier, than that of
the north fides. At the time of reaping, the
wheat, on the fouth fides, was, in fome
patches, too ripe, while that, on the north
Iides, was, in many places, literally green.

Similar eftedls took place, on the north and
the fouth fides of hedges.

Every year, no doubt, produces effedts, in
fome degree fimilar ; but I never remember
them fo flriking, as they have been, this year:
when there- has been a general complaint
that wheat ripened unevenly.

II.

September 27. This morning, rode to servants.
**PoLESWORTH STATUTE:" a hiring place
for farm fervants j — the only one, of any

Vol. II. C note.

MINUTES

AGRl<f»

II.

SIRVANTS.

GEN. OBS.

•n

PUBLIC

HIKINGS.

note, in this part of the country ; and, pro-*
bably, the largeft meeting of the kind, in
England. Servants come (particularly out
of Leicefter(hire) five and twenty or thirty
miles to it, on foot ! The number of fer-
vants collecfted 4:ogethcr, in the '* ftatute
yard," has been eflimated at two to three
thoufand. A number, however, which ia
the lefs extraordinary, as Polefworth being
the! only place, in this diftricft, and this the
only day, — farm fervants, for feveral miles
round, coniider themfelves as liberated from
fervitude, on this day * ,

Formerly,

* There are men in this country, and thofe poffeiUng
the moft comprehenfive knowledge of rural concerns, who
condemn, in the ftrongeft terms, all public hirings of
farnn fervants. Not on account of the wafte time they
occafion (which, however, in Lekefterlljire, where moft
towns and many villages have their ftatutes, is not incon-
fiderable) but as tending to vitiate the minds of fervants,
to render them fickle and unfettled in their places, and to
make the good ones liable to be drawn away with the bad :
condemning, not only public places, but fixed times of
hiring j as tending to create, what in reality takes place
every year in every diftridl, a ccflhtion of country bufuiefs,
during fome days, and an aukwardnefs for fomc confide->
rable time afterward j and this, in moft diftridls, at a bufy
feaibn^

MlCHA£JLMA3

i7i}4- i^ilDLAND COUNTIES. fij

Formerly, much rioting and difturbance Ji«
took place, at this meeting ; arifing, prin- SERVA>rTSi
tipally, from gaming tables, which were
then allowed, and for want of civil officers,
to keep the peace. But, by the fpirited
(exertions of the prefent high conftable,
Mr. Laking, thefe riots have been fup-
preiTed, and prevented.

The principal nuifance, at prefent, arifes
from groups of balladsingers, dilTemi-
nating fentiments of diffipation, on minds
which ought to be trained to industry and
frugality. A ballad goes a great way towards -
forming the morals of ruftics j and if, inftead
of the trafh which is everywhere, at prefent,
dealt out, at all their meetings, fongs in praife
of conjugal happinefs, and a country life,wcrc
fubftituted, fortunate might be the effecfts.

if a Lord Chamberlain have a power of

control, in the theatres, where the audience

■might, ?26'w, be prefumed to be thenlfehes

G 2 fufficient

Michaelmas is certainly an improper time. (See
MiN. of Agr. and York. Econ.) and whether Mar-
tinmas or any other fixed time be right, I will npt
pretend to fay. The idea is new to me j and the fubje(ft
of fome importance. See WtsT of En'gland, Art,
Servants.

II.

SERVANTS.

MINUTES

Agric

fufficient judges, how much more requifite
it appears, that a high conftable, or a higher
officer, Hiould exercife a funilar authority,
over the productions to be deUvered at 2.
fair or a flatute.

SPRlADl>rG
MANURE.

October 2. Oblerved an inilance of
ipreading dung out of carts. See Vol. i. 148.

Seven men and a boy, with four carts,
were arranged thus : three men filhng (the
heap in the piece), four fpreading out of
two carts, and the boy driving the loads.

Two fpreade.s flood u^on each cart;
Shaking about the manure (pretty ripe) with
forks. Two horfes in each cart. When
the men had finilhed their refpe(ftive fides,
the horfes were fpcken to, and, having
moved a few paces, were ftopt again, before
they had proceeded too far, for the men to
be able to join their work.

From this fpecimen, however, I have not
formed any very favorable idea of the ope-
ration. The fituati. r: of the men is auk ward.
ShouM they drop a fo.kilill, by accident, or

not

1784. MIDLAND C0UNTIE;S.

not fcatter a lump in the manner intended,
they cannot ftep to it, and give it a blow
with their fork, or a kick with their toe;
but where it falls, there it muft lie : befides,
driving on and flopping the horfes, take up
no fmall fliare of their time.

Neverthelefs, I find the pratftice is ufed by
fbme confiderable farmers, and confequently
Uierits farther attentiou.

21

12.

SPREADING

MANURE.

13

October II. Attended Fazeley fair,
which is held the firft Monday after old
Michaelmas. It is the largeft fair in this
country, for fat cows, and, lately, for
(heep.

It is kept in two, or occafionally in three,
grafs inclofures. The fheep pens were
pitched againil three fides of a fmall pad-
dock, (about three acres) with a few pens
in the middle. The cattle were headed
againfl the fence of a larger inclgfure, of
eight or ten acres; reaching entirely round
it j forming a rich border ; with a group of
(heep pens, in the center : a fine fight ! the
C 3 ground

MARKETS.

ii

MINUTES

Agric,

^3-

MARKETS.

CATTLE.

5HIEP-

ground green, firm, and dry, and the niorn-
ing fine : altogether the beft arranged, anci
the moil commodious fair I have feen. Sec
Glocestershire, vol. i. fecfl. markets^
alfo vol. ii. CATTLE of Herefordshire.

This fair begins with the day : being full
fair, between feven and eight o'clock. To-
day, above five hundred head of cattle, and
s.bout three thoufand fheep.

The cattle were chiefly fat or forward
cows: feme few cows and calves; with an
unufual colledlion of bulls ; chiefly ofFcafi: or
aged. The buyers were butchers, from
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and other
manufacturing towns. The bulls were
bought up chiefly for the collieries; going
off in droves ; many of them completely
tgly.

The fheep, longwools of Leicefterfliire,
and fhortwooled mountaineers, from Shrop-
lliire, Staifordfhire, and Derbyfhire. Moflly
ewes, to be put to the ram ; with fome for-
ward wcddcrs, to be finilhed with turneps,
on the light lands, weft of t^ Tame.

pCTOBEH

17S4. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

14.

October i-:. Finifhed lay In? a barn ^arm

•^ J ° BUILDINGS.

rLooR, with BRICKS, agreeably to the prac-
tice of this diftrid: * .

Levelled the floor : fet the bricks edge-
way, upon mortar; but without any between
brick and brick; placing them as clofe as
their uneven furfaces would permit -f*.

The entire floor being paved, in this man-
ner, poured " grout," made of lime and
water, of the confiftency of thick gruel,
by a pailful at once, upon the floor; work-,
pg it into the joints with a broom.

Having remained two or three days, to
dry, (the weather in this inftance happened
to be very dry) gave it another dreffing-;
working it well into the joints, as before :
and, having remained two or three days
longer, to flifl^en, the grout which lay on the
furface (between wet and dry) was cleared
pfl^, with a fpade, a trowel, and ^ broom;
C ^ and

* To be covered, hereafter, with plank. See vol. i. p. 29.

t Bricks are fometimes « dreffcd'* between wet and drvT
(as tiles are) for this purpofe. ' ♦'

24 MINUTES Agric.

14. and the joints pointed; by drawing the point

bu/ldincs. ^^ ^^^ ^^°^^^1 ^^^^ ^long them.

A iioor, eighteen feet by fifteen, took fe-
venteen hundred and fifty bricks, and about
four bufhels of lime *.

1750 bricks at 16^. with the car-
riage of them 1 3 J". - - 210

Four bufhels of lime - - 030

Bricklayer and laborer four
days - - - - o 1 1 4

>C-2 15 4
about 22 il. a fquare yard^ or 2i^. a fquare
foot.

^5-

MARKETS. October 25. Tamworth fair : held
the 24th October, principally for fheep, with
fome fat cows, and lean flock.
sHiFP. About five thoufand fheep; with about a

hundred head of cattle.

The SHEEP were fat and forward wed-
ders, and fat and ftcre ewes, of the lon?-
wooled kind, with feme fhortwooled ewes,
wedders, and Iambs. In

—' * 1 he grout is generally made of mortar^ narr.e'y, a

* rolxture of lime ai.d :andi but, in this cafe, fome ftale liroc

wa£ ufed.

i7§4' - MIDLAND COUNTIES. ^5

In the morning, the fheep " hung:" ow- ^S*
ing to a rumour of a great " drop" in the ^^^^p*
London markets : a circumftance which
iliows hovy much, and how far, the markets
of the kingdom ere influenced> by the me-
tropoHs.

Notvvithftanding, however, this unfavor-
able circumilance, and notwithftanding the
fulhiefs of the fair, the demand was fuch that
every Jheep!^ (generally fpeaking) was fold by
one o'clock : and at high prices : a proof,
that, at the diftance of a hundred miles,
the influence of Smithfield is weak, compared
with that of the markets of the neighbour-
hood j f fpecially, perhaps, in the neighbour-
hood of manufadtorie§,

Mr. fold fifty *^ iharhogs," of the

new Leicefterfhire breed, for thirtytwo
fhiHings, ahead: a great price for yearling
flieep : yet, notwithftanding their age, they
were the fattefl Iheep in the fliow : a circum-
ftancp attributed, by the advocates of the
breed, entirely to 6hcd. ^ And an evidence
Itfongly corroborant of this idea was, the

circumrtance of Mr. , a very conli-

derable grazier, on the Melton fide of Lei-
ceilerfliire, felling fix fcore twoyearold wed-

ders.

*k MINUTES Agric.

15. ders, for lets price: niimely, about 30 j., a
SHEEP. head, one with another.

What a difference in profit, to the gra-
ziers, upon thele two parcels of Iheep ! The
laft year's keep of the latter was worth as
much, nearly, as the entire coll of the for-
mef. Yet thefe were " fafi:," and fit for the
butcher; thofe forward, but llill " looic,"
and only fit to be put to turneps: and the futt
was, the diarhogs were fold to a butcher; the
twofhears, to the Hints and other turnep far-
mers; and this, notwithllanding the latter
came off tlie beff land.

How fuperiorly delicate is the bufinefs of
grazing ! How much depends upon breed !
Mr. , whofe breed is, in this neigh-
bourhood, cfleemed fuperior, fold his rtiar-
hogs for 271. a piece: Mr. , fhill fu-
perior in breed, fold his for near thirty fhil-
lings*,

16,

TVRKLPs. October 29. Handweeding turnep*
is a good practice; and not expenfive.

Upwards.

• In thtfe inftances, fomething might be diic to keep;
but the great difference in produce "was, beyond dil'pute,
Qccaftoned by breed.

j^84. MIDLAND COUxNTTIES.

V

. Upwards of twelve acres, partially yel-
low with charlock, which had efcaped the
hoers, and fome of the feeds of which were
fully formed, took a man- and a boy two
pieces of days. The coil about twopence,
an acre.

If the laft hoing take place, early enough
for the feeds of weeds to come to perfediion,
^ handweeding is indifpenfably neceffary to
good management ; though rarely given.

i6.

V«

17'

October 30. Horfes afFed clover. A
fecond crop of this herbage, which had flood
until it had got into full head, by reafon of-
part of the piece being in corn, had a flrik-
ing effedl upon yearling colts, which had
throve very indifferently upon turf;, but
which, after they had been a few weeks on
this clover, grew fat and fleek. Even when
it was eaten down to the ftubbs, they hung
after it, in preference to well graffed turf:
fo that, notwithflanding its Ihrublike ftate,
when they were turned upon it, no wafle
was made; every ftalk was eaten up.

Perhaps,

H0RSE3

on
CLOVER,

lALLOvMICG

^a MINUTES AcRiG,

ly^ Perhaps, from an incident like thir, the

HORSFs fingular practice of this country, with reipe<!>

clq'vir. to the clover crop, was ftruck out. See i. 21 6.

18.

November 3. Finifhed landing up the
SJJMMERF ALLOW of No. 9. to lie ovcr the
winttr, for barley and grais feeds, in the
fpring.

Sum ME RF ALL ovriNG, except In tlip com,-
mon fields, is not a pra<5tice of this country.
The *' pjfi/'cjllow' is the forte of the Midland
farmer. He breaiis up his wheat ftubble, in
autumn or winter, and, having croffed it, in
the fpring, immediately fets about harrowing
it; in order " to get the twitch to the top ;'*
which done, he gathers it up into lands, fows
liis barley, reharrows, and having got fome
more twitch to the furface, the fallow is
t'cm.pleted. In this way, nine tenths of the
inclofed lands of the diftrid: have been, and
ftill continue to be, laid down to grafs.

To a 'zcvVz/tv- fallow, this is all that can be
done: the fooner it is harrowed, after the
crcfs plowing, the longer the twitch has to

lie

1784- ^IIDLAND COUN TIES. «9

lie on the farface to wither, and the more 18.
time the feed weeds will have to veo-etate, simmer

^ FALLOWWG

before the feed plowing : but, at befl, it can
only be faid to be an ingenious method of
planting twitch: for althoughfome of the
creeping bentgrafs, and a fmaller proportion
of the couchgrafs (indifcriminatelv, here,
called ** twitch") are, by this meanSj'^ought
to the top ) yet a principal part of the latter,
the chief enemv, is not onlv buried in the
foil but is broken into fets, by the tines of the
harrows, and planted among the pulverized
mold, with every' advantage that art can
give it. Neverthelefs, the praftice of har-
rowing, immediately after crofs plowing, is
extended, not to the turnep fallow only, but,
when it is made, to the fummer fallow, alfo:
the Midland farmers appearing to be unac-
quainted with the advantage which a fallow
receives, by lying in a ilate of roughnefs, fb
as to have a large furface expofed to the in-
fluence of the atm.ofphere.

In Surrey, Kent, and other fallowing coun-
tries, it is well underftood, that, without this
roughnefs of furface, no radical cure can be
effeded.

■^ In

30 M I N U T E S Agkic.

1 8. In Norfolk, this idea is carried, perhaps,

^r.vMiR too far. • A Norfolk farmer never begins to
harrow, until he is ready to follow the har-
rows, alnloll: immediately, with the plow;
without, perhaps, allowing fufficient time,
between tlie two operations, for the feeds of
weeds to vegetate.

This, in the early flages of a fallow, when
the roots, and not the feeds, of weeds ought
to be the main obje<5l of attention, is a venial
crime ; but to continue this practice, through-
out the fallow, is almofl as great an impro-
prict)', as to level the furface, immediately
after the fecond plowing.

Out of thefe two improper methods of
treating fallows, a third and improved me-
thod naturallv arifes: namelv, that of our-
fuing, in the early ilages, the Norfolk, in the
latter, the Midlard management. Or, in other
words, of firfli.dcilroying the root weeds,
with tlie PL0W,and aitervvards unlocking the
SEEDS, with the hakrow and the roller ;
t'lc lall an implement which,- in every country
I have yet e?:amined, is too fparingly ufed^
in the laft flages .fef a fallow.

The foundation of this theor}' is fhown,-
ii^ the LUow of No. 9, which, with four

plowiiTgs

17«4« MIDLAND COUNTIES. jl

plowings only, received a radical cure^ not- iS.
withftandine: its original foulnefs, and the summer

iirririi • r - FALLOWING

unravorablenels of the fallcwin? lealon.

o

The firfl crofnng (the fecond plowing) the
foil drove before the plow; a perfect mat of
twitch.

The feafon continuing wet, I let it lie, in
the rough ftate, received by this crofs plow-
ing, until its furface was as green as a piece
of lattermath. Some docks and thirties
having efcaped being turned under, I had it
handweeded, to prevent their feeding*

The firft favorable weather, I perfuaded an
old plowman, with fome difficulty, to re-
crofs it (turning the warps back again), U7//5-*
out harrowing;.

Having Iain, a few weeks, in rough plit,,
a fair opportunity was embraced of pulling it
to pieces, with a pair of large harrows. And,
prefently after this llight harrowing, I gavQ-
it a fourth plowing, lengthway; the weather
then fcorching. hot : neverthelefs, I forbore
to harrow it, until it had been thoroughly
parched.

. The furrows v/ere then broken, by one
full tine of a pair of rough harrows, and, .hav-
ing lain a few days, till the frefh furface was

perfeifllj^.

31 M 1 N tr t E S Agri?.

SUMMER
FALLOWING

1 5. perfectly dr\', the harrows wefe hung, with
traces, behind a light roller; and with thefe
it was rolled and harrowed,- day after day ;
firfl with rough and afterward with finer har-
rows ; until the fufface was as firfe as a gar-»
den bed.

Immediately after this operation, three or
four days rain fucceeded, and fome of the
Couch, not yet thoroughly cured, began to
flioot on the furface; but the drought return-
ing, it died away, and a flufli of feedlin'g
weeds fucceeded. Thefe weeds are now
plowed under, and a frelli furface cxpofed,
for another croo.

Thus, with foiir plowing?, and the ufual
number of harrowings, properlv timed, with-
out any picking, carrying off, burning, or
any hand or other team labor whatever, one
of the fouleft fillows^ that ever was broken
up, was brought into a ftate of cieannefs and
tilth (as appe-jrs evidently by the prefvjnt
plowing) ; and this, too, in a fummcr un-
favorable to fallows.

In this method of fallowing, the imper-
ceptible wafling of t^ie coach is remarkable.
Notwithftandins: tlie original foulnefs of this
fi^ld, there did not remain, after the fourth

plowing,

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES. Ii

plowing, a ftring of couch long enough to 18.
hang; upon the tine of the harrow. Had summer

° ^ _ FALLOWiN*?

even the furfaee been handpicked, there
would fcarcely have been a load of couch
alive or dead, upon eighteen acres !

This is another ftrong argument, in favor
of deilroying couch with the plow. If it be
harrowed to the furface, in its fucculent, ropy>
tough, bulky ftate, it muft either be carried
off or burnt, at fome coniiderable expence,
or lie a nuifance on the furface 5 an obftruc-
tion to the plow and harrow.

Too much cannot be faid in praife of the
roller and harrow united, in working a fallow.
By hanging the one to the other, drivers at
leall: are faved : and the roots, neceflarily
preffed into the foil by the roller, are, by this
method, moil immediately releafed by the
harrows.

By way of experiment, manured two ^IA^■LRE.
lands of this fallow, at the rate of about twelve
loads of ftrawyard dung, an acre. The whole
to be fown in the fpring, with barley and
grafs feeds, which are intended to be ma-
nured the fucceeding autumn.

Will the manure, now plowed in, be bene-
ficial, or detrimental, to the barley crop ?

Vol. II, D Will

34

MINUTES

Agric.

SPREADING
-•viANUHE.

1 8. Will the manure plowed in, this autumn^

MANURE, with the prefent and fifth plowing (the foil
to receive one more plowing in the fpring),
or that to be fpread upon the furface, next
autumn, be of more fervice to the young
gralTcs * ?

This manure was spread out of carts,
agreeably to the pra6tice of this diftri<ft (fee
MiN. 12.), but with what appears to me an
improvement.

The waggoner fcattered it from the cart,
in the ufual way, and his boy broke the lumps,
and evened it, after him.

This double operation makes good work.
But, query, is not the extra time, thus taken
up, of a man a boy and a team, of more value
than a penny, a load,— the highefl: price for
fpreadlng?

Three horfes a man and boy are, in this
country, rated at feven fliillings and iixpence,

a day,

FALLOWING * 17S5 Scpicmh:r. The barley received no obvious
benefic from this manure; nor do the young graffes yet de-
clare its ufe ! But the fallow has given fuch a flow of
vegetation, the ufes of the manure, if any have yet ac-
crued, are the lefs difcernible. Land which is naturally
rich, and has lain long in a ftatc of foulness, wants no-
thing but a SUMMER FALLOV/ to render it highly pro-
^Uiflivc.

1784.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

3i

a day, of eight hours : half an hour of which
is taken up in baiting; bringing the coft to
a fhilHng an hour, or a penny, each five mi-'
nutes.

The difference between fetting on a load
of manure in hillocks, and fpreading a load
out of a cart, is not, I apprehend, lefs than
ten minutes : fo that a penny, a load, ap-
pears to be loft, and the boy's time thrown
away.

An advantage, however, of fpreading ma-
nure out of a carriage, is the prevention of
hillfteads, and of the evil confequences ariling
from them, where the manure is not prefently
and carefully fpread ; the bottoms of the hil-
locks getting more than their lliare of the
dreiling.

Hence, on the whole, perhaps, there is
little or no difference between the two prac-
tices. There are three roads between London
and Tamworth 3 yet, though widely different,
neither of them, it is faid, is even one m.ile
nearer than another : neverthelefs, many a
doughty argument has doubtlefs been heldj^
about which is on the whole the beft.

And thus it will fometimes happen, in ru-
ral affairs. But, 7nore generally^ there is one

n 7. PRE-

iS.

SPREADING
MANURE.

GENERAL

MANAGi,-

MENT.

i^

MINUTES AGR19.

PREFERABLE PRACTICE; which, if men

would feek it Induftrioufly, and d'lfpojfiojiately^
they would feldom fail of fijiding out.

19

MARKETa. November S. ^^ way of making my-?
felf familiar with the business of markets,
and of forwarding my general defign, by an

INTERCOURSE with PROFESSIONAL iMEN, I

have, fince my arrival in this diftrid:, at-
tended, for the firll: time, a weekly market j
and dined, regularly, at a market ordinary *•
It is fomewhat extraordinary, however,
that I fhould have done this, almoft unre-
mittin^lv, for the lall fix or eight months,
without having, until today, picked up on§
idea, worth bringing home.

It is true, I have not ^Jhed for ideas. Yet
it is very remarkable that, in fitting in a
company of profefiional men of the higher
clafs, three or four hours, week after weck^
fome valuable ones Hiould not have rifea^
fpontaneoufly.

Toda^^

• At the Castle at TAM^70RTH,

tj?4. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 37

Today, two or three were flarted, which
may be worth preferving.

The inclofure of Newton fields became inclosing

OPEN

the topic. iMr. faid the incumbent "^^s.

wanted " a fixth and a half" for the tithes.

Mr. (the venerable vicar of Tamworth,

hale and handfome, at eighty !) faid he had
taken a " feventh/' in a fimilar cafe, and he
thought it a fair proportion *.

This led to the advantages and difadvan-
tages of inclofing common fields.

The prevailing idea was, that it is difad-
vantageous to the tenant, during the firfl fix
or feven years after inclofing -, by reafon, he
cannot, in lefs than that time, bring his land
to a good " turf" — a full fward.
, Appleby field was mentioned,- as a cafe in
point ; for, although it is now ten or twelve
years fince it was inclofed, the lands have
not yet reached their mofi: profitable ftate.

Newton fields, however, being of a more
loamy, lefs clayey nature, it was admitted,
that they would come fome years fooner to
** turf", and confequently to profit : it being

D 3 a rooted

* In this cafe, the lands to be inclofed were, chiefly, or
wholly, arable fields : the meadows and common paftures
having been formerly inclofed.

3^

M I

T E S

AoRi'c.

1 o
* 7

INCLOSING
OPEN

FIELDS.

COURSE
of

a rooted idea, here, that nothing can be done
without " turf," or natural grafles.

Mr. oblerved that their old inclofures,

at Newton, bear heavier wheat, than their
common fields. Thefe, he fays, give a more
beautiful lamplc, and, he does not deny, a
thinner fkin j but the kernel from the other,
he lays, is more " iteely ]" and it was the ge-
neral opinion, that ** land which has got
fome turf in it," grows the heavieft wheat.

Thus, mighty turf being the Midlander's
pitACTicE. anch6r, no wonder he is io tenacious of it, as to
preferve it, with reverential care, by pinfal-
lowing j lefl:, by a turnep or a fummer fallow,
he iliould deflroy his turf, and therein dellroy
his hope.

From what I can underiland, however,
by the exprellion of ** land having turf in it"
is not meant, literally, at leafl not altogether,
the unbroken fod or roots of grafs, which
remain undifTolved in the foil ; but is, more
or lefs, a figurative exprefTion, ir.eaning, that
land which has lain fome time in graf?, will
bear better cr licavicr corn, than that which
has been under the plow, time immemorial ;
an idea perfectly well underflcod, throughout
the kingdom: .ind, it i< an opinion as uni-

vcrfally

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

39

verfaily received, that land which has been 19.
long under the plow, more particularly com- course
monfield land, is prone to grafs *. And I practice.
never had, before today, any idea that com-
monfield lands were .longer in acquiring a
turf, than other lands, which had been under
the plow. Bccaufe, I had never, till lately,
known grafs land broken up, and laid down
again to grafs, without having, during the
time it was in tillage, received a turnep or a
fummer fallow.

What an endlefs labyrinth is hufbandry !
I have, till now, confidered it, as an unerring
rule, to cleanfe land, thoroughly, from every
thing vegetable, before it be laid down to
grafs. But, I confefs, I now begin to be of
opinion, that there may be cafes, in which,
even this rule may be erroneous ; and the
pradice of this diftrid, founded on long ex-
perience, ftrengthens my opinion.

I have frequently been ftruck, with the
rapidity, with which the lands of this diftridt
acquire a natural {^zx^ : three or four years
after they have been laid down, they begin
to wear the face of old grafs lands : yet it

D 4 never

* See Yorkshire, Se»5l. Cult. Herbage.

40 MINUTES AcRiC,

19. never firuck me, till now, that this new turf
coL'RSE ig raifed out of the ruins of the old. For al-

cf

PRACTICE, though a Midland farmer turns over his old
turf, and takes a cpop of oats ; re-turns it,
and crops it with wheat ; and, this being
harveiled, repeats the operation of turning
over the old turf, twice, or perhaps thrice ;
pulling it about with the harrows, and dif-
engaging it from fome of its foulnefs ; — yet
it is iliil the old turf in ruins. The roots and
feeds of the grafTes, which formed it, are
ftill there : for although the farmer has had
two crops of corn, he has, at the fame time,
had two crops of grafs 3 the roots of which
a winter fallow, of two or three plowings, i^
wholly inadequate to dejiroy ; though it may
give them a confiderable c6ecA : and this
accounts for the received opinion, here, that
the '* fecond year's feeds" are the worll: grafs :
becaufe, tlie clover is then gone oil, and the
natural srailes, having been checked by the
pinfallow, and kept under by the barley and
the clover, have not yet recovered them-
felves : but, the third year, having nothing
to ftruggle with, they ri/h again ; refuming
the appearance, and, in a confiderable degree,
the protitablenefs of old grafs lands !

\\^hat

1784 MIDLAND COUNTIES. 41

What a new fyilem of hufbandry is this I 19.

at firft fight, flovenly in the extreme j yet, it course
is pojjibk, that before I have been twelve practice.
months longer in this diftrid:, I may con-
ceive it to be, for lands which are equally
productive of grafs and corn, an eligible
fyftem of management.

A turnep or a fummer fallow delays the
laying down to grafs, a year extra, and the
hoe or the plowing, and the expofure through
the fummer, do more toward the extirpation
of the turf, than all the five plowings of the
pinfallow fyft^m.

Extirpating the roots of twitch and other
root weeds, without deftroying thofe of the
better grafles, is the leading principle of this
plan of management : and if, by a winter
fallow, judicioufly conducfted, the former
can be kept fo much under, as not to prevent
a profitable turf from forming, the pradiice
is at leaft plaufible.

The labor and expence attending this plan
of m.anagement is fmall. Five plowings in
ten years, and a crop every year *.

An evident improvement of this fyflem
of management prefents itfelf. If the pin-
fall aw

* But fee Vol. i. page 145.

4^ MINUTES AcRie.

ig. FALLOW cannot be got clean enough, for
coLRSE BARLEY, continuc to fallow, until the foil

of

PRACTICE, be fulficiently cleanfed, and then fow the
grafs feeds, without a corn crop.

The herbage, even the Jirjl year, becomes,
under this management (I write from fuf-
iicient experience), of confiderable value
(prcportioned, of courfe, to the time of fow-
ing and other circumftinces), and, by having
an opportunity of fowing feeds, repeatedly,
through the fummer, wherever tlie iirfl fow-
ing may mifs, a clean full crop, the enfuing
years y may be had with a degree of cer-
tainty : advantages, thefe, which would
probably be, in the end, much greater, than
a crop of corn, in the firll: inftajice, fuccceded
by a feries of deficient crops of herbage *.

21.

PODGES November 20. In paiTing through Shut-

tington field, I entered ijito converfation
with fome plownien, who were plowing in
wneat, upon the fubjedt of high ridges.
An old man, who was fowing, drew up and

joined

* Sec, however, as above.

J784. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 43

joined the converfatlon. " Yea, Sur, we 2 J.
mun lie 'em up, a-thiiTen, or we canno get ^l^^
onny wheat. An us lie 'em flat o'th' top,
th' firfl pafli of rain runs 'em into lakes, and
fets th' crop. It hen been tried a many time j
but it wunno do."

** Well, but how ij it. friend, tliat, when
you inclofe common fields, you bring down
the lands ?"

** Yea, yea, Sur, when they ha' gotten Tome
turf in 'em, they wunno run, athaten : but
here we fallow, fallow, fallow, every three
year, every three year, till they runnen likt
lime welly : and if they dunno lien up fharp,
we canno get onny wheat, il^ant."

Thus, in a few words, did Old George
Barwell explain that, which has puzzled
the learned, from the beginning of time,
until now.

The barley lands, I fee, are likewife
gathered up, Iharp, to lie over winter, and
to be flit down and regathered with the feed
plowing, in the fpring : yet, even in this
rooflike ftate, I find, all the farmer dreads is
a ** pafli of rain !"

The fame kind of experience, no doubt,
raifed the flill more mountainous ridges ot

the

44 Al I N U T E S Acric.

21- the vales of Glocefter and Eveiham* : yet,
«"^^« is it not allonilliino:, that the real motive for

JUDGES. o '

the pra(ftice {hould not be more generally
uaderllood ?

22.

B£ER.

November 20. In this country, the
wafle of malt is beyond meafure. Beer and
ale are not only brewed unreafonably ftrong ;
but the quantity allowed to workmen is un-
necelTarily great. That which is termed
*' beer" or ** finall beer" is nearly equal, in
ftrength, to the harveil ?nild ale cf many
counties.

In hay and corn harvell:, the cuflomary
allowance is a gallon of beer, a man, (in hot
weather they drink more), and, befide this,
mowers expcdt two quarts of ale, and never
have lefs than one.

Reapers have no regular allowance of ale j
but, neverthelefs, cxpedt a little " drink."

With fome difficulty, I got turnep hoers
to accept cf two quarts of beer, and one of
ale : they demanded two of beer and two of

ale?

♦ See Glocistershire, Art. Laying up Ridges.

J784- AilDLAND COUNTIES.

*S

ele ! enough to ftupify any man, and to make 22,
'i, fiber man drunk, from morning to night. workmei^'S

Durmg the wmter months, the quantity
of fmall beer drank is not much lefs, than
in haryeft. Mr. WilUam Moor of Thorp,
a leading man in this neighbourhood, allows
his laborers a gallon, a day, the year round !
Each man has his gallon bottle filled, in the
morning, and what he does not drink, he
takes home to his family. His motive for
eftablifhing this cuftom, I underftand, was
that of his men, when they had the beer
cafk to go to, or had it given them, when-
ever they afked for it, by carelefs wafteful
fervants, getting drunk, or becoming fo
muddled and ftupid, as to be unfit for their
work : and, upon other farms, this it feems
is no uncommon cafe. Hence, it is wife to
allowance therp j for, under this regulation,
they drink no more, probably, than is fer-
viceable to thern ; carrying home, to their
wives and children, that which, if drank,
\vould probably have done them harm.

So great a tyrant, however, as cuftom is
faid to be, I am of opinion, that, if the far-
mers of this country were to pay money, out
of their pockets, for the malt, this fhameful

wafte

iS MINUTES Agric.

22. wafte of it would be put a ftop to. And I
WORKMEN'S am perAiaded, that nothing but the praftice
of malting their own barley, at public
MALT HOUSES (the prevailing pracflice of
this di{lri<fl) could prolong fo extravagant a
cuftom.

23-

KKQw*. November 21. The idea of keeping a

*'^^^" CALENDAR, of the pradice of a diftridt un-
der furvey, never ftruck me, until now.

Minuting is one method of catching, or
rather retaining, ideas: an analytic re-
gister commands a general view, and dif-
covers a variety of ukftil objects, which
mere minutinsr mi^ht overlook : and a
CHRONOLOGICAL REGISTER, by viewing
the wheel of agriculture, as it turns round
with the feafons, and catching the feveral
proccfTes and operations, as they pafs under
the eye, becomes a third fpecies of idea trap ;
not lefs requilite than the other two.

li it not extraordinary, that a mean fo
obvioufly eligible, now that It is known,
iliould not have occurred before ! If it were
put in pra(5tige, at the end of every month,

onlv.

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

only, the advantages muft be confiderable.
For, in an undertaking fo arduous, as is that
of collcdiing the rural pradices of a diftrid,
too many receptacles of information cannot
be opened.

The farmer's year begins at Michaelmas.
His laft year's crops are then harvefted, and
he is then beginning to fow and prepare, for
thofe of the fucceeding year : I will, there-
fore, open my calendar with the month of
October *.

RURAL
KNOW.
LEDGE.

.i^<

December 4. The letting of a large
farm never fails to become, in the neigh-
bourhood in which it is fituated, a popular
topic of converfation.

A farm, of three or four hundred acres,
has lately been let, in this neighbourhood, to
a man about thirty years of age.

The

* In purfuancc of this idea, I afterward kept a journal
of occurrences, the contents of which have afliiL'd me^
very much, in correcting the foregoing regifter of the
pra(f\icc of the diftridl : and an abridgement of it will ap-
pear in thefe Minutes, at the clofe of the year.

JVIANAGJi-

MENT

of

ESTATES,

of

j;STATES.

^ M I N U T E S Agric.

24. The general idea, refpeding this tranfac-

**MEv'^^ tion, is, ihat it was imprudent in a man, at
that time of life, to engage in a farm of fuch
magnitude.

In Norfolk, a man will take a leafey at fifty
or fixty : here, it is thought that a tenant at
will fliould enter, at eighteen or twenty,
and hand down the polTeffion to his pofterity.
What a ftriking inilance, this, of the con^
Jidcnce which ftill remains, with the tenantry
of this dii"lricl. And it may be a moot point,
whether under fuch confidence, well placed,
as it rtill remains to be in this diftridl, leafes,
or no leafes, are, in a general point of view,
including landlord, tenant^ and the commu-
nity, moft eligible.

"December 1789. Unfortunately, how-
ever, fcr the tenant, in this inftance,
his farm (part of a confiderable off eftate
of a nobleman) is now on fale, or fold,
and the very expenfive improvements,
which he has been making, are, pro-
pablv, in a jrreat meafure funk.

1785.

tySj. MIDLAND COUNTIES; 49

1785. January 20. It is difHcult to farmery-
conceive a worfe farm yard, than this was,
nine months ago. It naturally inclines
fteeply toward the north, with a barn and
hovels to the weft, and with the houfe and
ilables to the eaft -, but without any flielterj
on the north j except a hovel and a (hort
range of iheds^ which flood on the lower fide
of it. But between the yard and the fheds
was a pit, four or five feet deep in mud and
water, which prevented the yard ftoek from
getting near it, for flicker. They might as
well have been expofed on the top of Bardon
Hill, as in this yard.

The area of the yard — the foddering place —
lying with a great defcent, the bed of the
dung was wafhed away, by heavy rains ;
and, when the pit was full, ran down a fliore,
entirely wafte : ^ though lands, belov/, lie
particularly convenient, for watering *.

* Thefe circumftances, nor thofe which follow, are not
meiUioned to fet ofF this petty improvement ; but ns cau-
tions and hints to thofe, who have the laying out, and im-
provement, of farm yards : a fubje£l which has, heretofore,
been very much negledted 5 but which, of late years, has
been more attended to ; and which ftill remains an ob}c£l
well deferving attention.

Vol. II. E The

50 MINUTES Agric.

25* The evident principle of improvement was

FARMERY, (j^^j. q£ building a range of fhedding (an
open fhed in the center, with a fodder houfe
at each end, much wanted on the farm)
acrofs the lower fide of the yard, to defend
it againft the north winds. But the exa(ft
fituation of this buildinjr was difficult to de-
termine.

A degree of elevation was necefiary, to
give the required fhelter ; but, to place it
above the pit, would have contracted the
area of the yard, too much. It was, there-
fore, run acrofs the hollow ; raifing up the
floor, in the middle, level with the yard, at
the ends ; leaving a deep pit behind, for the
drainage, and a fliallow one in front for the
dung, and to receive the fulliage of the fe-
veral buildings.

The utility of this dung pit, made wider
and more commodious by the general diiliing
of the yard, is evident. Had the rain water
run through the yard, into the pit below,
without a check, much of the dung would
have been carried away with it : but, by rai-
fing the mouth of the drain, or channel of
communication between the two pits, fomc
height above the bottom of the dung pit,

by

tyiS' MIDLAND COUNTIES. 5*

by means of a grate and a covered dram 25*
running immediately beneath the floor of farmery.
the (hed, little more than the tindlured water
palTes away ; leaving behind it, a iirfl de-
polit, in the dung pit : and, having arrived
in the lower refervoir, it makes a fecond de-
pofit : by which the water is, in a great mea-
fure, dilburdened of its riches. And, finally,
when the lower refervoir becomes fur-
tharged, with this clarified tindture, it is
thrown over the land which lies below -, {o
that, generally fpeaking, not a particle of
manure is loft;

The ufes of a dung pit fcarcely need to
be enumerated*. In winter, when the re-
fervoir is filled with dung, the quantity of
water is inconfiderable ^ merely fufficient to
moiften the bottom of the mold on which
the dung lies ; in fpring, when the dung is
turned up, a little water may be made eilen-
tially ferviceable, in moiftening the heaps,
and thereby promoting their digeflion -f 5
and, in fummer, after the dung is carried
out, a pit becomes the moft eligible recep-

* See Minutes of Agriculture, in Surrey.
t See the following Mikutes 45, 47, and 57.

E 2 taeJe,

52

MINUTES

AORIC.

25. tacle, not for ftable dung only, but for offal

FAJuiERY. of every kind : for, by being fome times moift

and fometimes dry, the compoft ripens much

fafler, than it would in a conftantly parched

fituation.

Upon the whole, from what I have yet
experienced of it, the plan (executed in
this infrance on a fmall fcale) appears to be
on juil principles : though, I confefs, I can-
not take to myfelf much credit ; it having
grown out of circumflances, and a kind of
neceility, which could not, eafily, have been
overlooked or avoided.

26.

VERMIN. January 24. A ftriking inftance of the

induflry and mifchievoufnefs of mice occurs,
in the intended plantation, in the corner of
No. 3.

This field was, in autumn, fown with
"dheat : the intended fite of the plantation
being an oat flubble, and has not borne wheat,
for many years : yet, on digging it, a large
hoard of wheat was founds fome four or
five yards, from the fence of the wheat

field;

1735. MIDLAND COUNTIES. S3

held i between which and the fite of plant- 26,

ing is a very high bank, with a deep ditch, vermin.
(fee MiN. 123.) acrofs which every grain
muft have been carried, and, perhaps, one at
a journey !

The workman thinks the hoard confiiled
of near half a gallon of wheat : if of one
quart, it corroborates, ilrongly, the idea of
mice being more mifchievous than moles, to
the farmer. See Yorkshire, Sect. Ver*

MIN.

27,

January 25. In opening the fhore of watering

, * , X- ^ 1 T r 1 GRASSLAND,

the meadow, r<o. 6. the workmen found a
large flone, with a groove along its middle,
and with a hole through it, at one end.

One of the laborers, an intelligent man,
fays it has been the foal of a floodgate, for

FLOATING THE MRADOW UPWARD I name-
ly, penning up the water, in times of floods,
by means of a dam and floodgate, acrofs
the bottom of the meadow, or flat, to be
watered.

This he fays was, formerly, the method of

floating meadows ; and, in corroboration of

E 3 his

5+ MINUTES Ac^ic,

27. his alTertion, farther fays, that, about twenty

WATERING years aeo, he bein? fervant to Mr. of

GRASSLAND. ■' ^ o

, his mafler fetched a load of ftones,

for the purpofe of repairing a dam and flood-
gate of this nature : but, having travelled, he
told his maftcr, the dam and floodgate ought
to be fet acrofs the top, not acrofs the bottom
of the meadow ; and, foon after, it was
watered, agreeably to the modern method.

Acrofs another fuite of meadows, thero
are not lefs than four or five of thefe dams :
not particularly againfl: the hedges (as in the
above inftance), except one at the bottom;
but acrofs the areas of the meadows ; where-
ever the valley, or dip, happens to be con-
tracted, by riling ground on either or both
iide?.

Thefe banks have frequently flruck me.
At firft fight, they appeared to be old roads
acrofs the meadows ; but, on examination, |
found they are formed of mold, not of hard
materials. I afterward imagined that fome
whimfical or extravagant occupier had
chofen to have a chain of waters, from the
top to the bottom of this valleylike dip ;
pither for the purpofe of ornament, or of

1785- MIDLAND COUNTIES. 55

filh. But the above intelligence explains the 27.
matter fully*. "^^^SS

^ J GRASSLAND.

In looking, today, for fomething fimilar
to thefe dams, in meadow No. 6, I per-
ceived that the hedge bank, in the foot of
which the ftone, with fome brickwork, was
found, is evidently a dam, adapted to this
purpofe : for, notwithflanding this meadow,
like the others, lies difhing in the middle,
the hedge (which I will warrant two hun-
dred years old) ftands upon a bank, as level
from one fide of the meadow to the other,
as the head of a modern-made piece of
water.

In order to fatisfy myfelf, moil fully, re •
fpe(5ting fo interefting a facft, I enquired of
Old Barwell (who lived upon the eflate
when a lad, and who, having fmce worked
feveral years upon it, knows more of the
farm, probably, than any other perfon) in
general terms, for what ufe he fuppofed
thcfe banks to have been raifed ? He
anfwered, without hefitation, ** for flooding
the meadows." I alked him if he could re-

* Several ftones, fimilar to that above mentioned,
which lie fcattered about the yards, are farther evidences
of the fad,

E 4 colledl

if> >I I N U T E S AcRic.

27. collect their being in ulc ? He fa id, " No,
/^D'lTfr^^^'i! ^hey have never been in ufe in my time'^
(feventy years). But he fpeaks familiarly of
the pradtice : fays, the waters were not fuf-
fered to fland long upon the land : but f«j
foon as it was judged that they had dropt all
their fediment, they were let off: and he
fpeaks of the benefit arifing from this method
of ufmg iiood waters, as having been con-
fiderabje : but thinks that the method of
floating meadows, by means of *• floating-
trenches," coming into praQice, and being
found more advantageous, than the old me-
thod, this became old falhioned, and grew
out of ufe *.

Thefc queftions led to another interefting
particular. He fays, that in the parifli oif
Auftrey, where he was born, it has been the
cuflom, ever iince he can remember (fixty
years), to throw the rich waters, which are
collected, in rainy feafons, from the common
fields, lying on the fide of the hills above
the village, over the meadows, which arc

• I piiblifti this minute, to prolong the remembrance of
an operation in hufbandry, which, to tradition, may be
in a few years |oft, and which, perhaps, is no where ui
record.

fituated

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 57

V

fituated below It — by means of floodgates

and FLOATING T]?ENCHES,fome what agree- watering

' O GRASSLAND.

ably to the modern prad.Ice.

3ut, ^yhat is flill more interefting, he fur-
ther adds, that the farmers did not only
make ufe of the waters from the fields and
the wafli of the towp, whenever floods hap-
pened, during winter ; but, in the month of
March, were ready to quarrel about who
/hould have the *' marly hard fpring water,"
which rifes, in conflderable quantity,out of the
fide of the hill ; and which, though as clear
as rock water, they found of eflfential, and
mofl: immediate, fervice to their meadows ;
giving an almofl: jnftant greennefs and flufh
of fine fweet grafs : it being obfervable, how-
ever, that if they remained too long uporj
them, at once, a fcum was liable to rife, to
the injury of the herbage.

The idea refpe(£ting thefe waters, Vv^hich
are flill I underiland hi ufe, is, that they
contain a " warmth" at that feafon of the
year, which caufes their eood efledl.

But query, is it not rather fome. calcareous
quality, imbibed by the water from the marl,
which caufes the beneficial efi*e<5t ?

See MI N. c!9. in which this idea is con-
firmed.

}S MINUTES Agric.

28.

fARMERY. January 29. A fence is an encum-
brance to a CATTLE SHED ; and yet a fhed,
which fronts into a principal yard, is incon-
venient without one ; rendering the yard in
a manner ufelefs, for loofe cattle, as well as
for fwine j 'which cannot be kept, with any
degree of propriety, in a yard with open
cattle fheds.

In this point of view, a fmall quadrangle,
apart from the main yard, with a dung place

in the middle, as Mr. 's of , is a

more eligible fituation for flieds, than an
open farm yard : for, in that cafe, no fencing
is required.

Mr. — — of has a range of cow flieds,

in a feparate yard ; but it forms one long un-
broken range j the three other fides lying
open, without a building, or a tree, to break
tlie wind : the confequence is, a hair cloth is
obliged to be hung up behind the cows, Ijx
fevere weather.

Mr. 's of — front into the general

yard ; and have, therefore, fences to them ;

compofed entirely oi gates ^

But

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 5$

But this, I think, is ill judged : gates are 28.
expenfive, and are liable to be out of repair : farmery.
yet when the fhed is narrow, a number of
gates are necefTary. I have therefore deter-
mined on half gates, and half paling, refem-
bling the gates, placed in alternacy ; and the
plan, thus far, appears to be as commo-
dious,, as that of a fenced (bed can be.

But, I arn clearly of opinion, that, when
ilieds are not wanted, as a Shelter to the main
yard, they ought to be placed in a feparate
yard : not, however, in one long range ; but
in fuch a manner as to form three fides of a
quadrangle, or fquare, open to the fouth;
with two fodder houfes, in the northeaft and
Dorthweft angles, or corners ; the north fide
forming a leanto, or being otherwife conve-
niently iituated, to the barns : with a hay
rick yard, on one fide ; and the dung yard,
in the center : admitting the yard pigs, while
the cattle are letloofe to water, or to ftretch
their legs, and clean their coats.

1796. For an improvement of this plan,
i^e West of England, min. 29.

January

60 MINUTES AcRic

29

CHARRING January to. The partition polls of

this fhed llanding continually dry, I put
down, unburnt ; but thofe of the fence,
which ftand in a peculiarly aukward fituation,
between wet and dry, I charred, agreea-
bly to the Norfolk pradlice ; and in the fol-
lowing manner.

Dug a trench, eighteen inches wide, eigh-
teen inches deep, and fix feet long. Aired it,
by burning fome ftraw, and a faggot or two,
in it, previoufly to laying down the polls.

This done, laid three polls acrofs the
trench 3 placing the part to be burnt, namely,
the part purpofed to Aand between air and
moifture, immediately over the fire ; thruft-
ing the fuel (dr)' fmall oven faggots) in at the
windward end of the trench.

As one fide became charred, another was
turned downward ; and, to prevent the fire
from, fpreading too wide (reaching too high
up the poll) wetted the part, not intended to
be burnt, by means of a wet ftraw band, tied
round the poft, in the part where the fire

cugh^

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

ought to be checked ; pouring water, from
time to time, upon the twifled ftraw.

The ports having been repeatedly turned,
on all fides, until white afhes began to form,
on the furface of a black coat of coal, about
one tenth of an inch thick, they were re-
moved, and their place fupplied with others.

Chips are preferable to faggots, as fuel in
this operation ; as they can be dropt in be-
tween the polls, wherever an increafe of fire
is wanted.

6»

29.

CHARRING
POSTS,

^ T

February 5. The ideas of the farmers markets.
of this neighbourhood, in regard to carrying
out corn, or other marketable produce, ap-
pear to be erroneous.

In felling fome oats, to a corn buyer, he
made 18^/. or 2/., a quarter, difference, in
price, between delivering them atTamworth,

three miles from this place, or at ,

eleven miles !

Five horfes take fifteen quarters, with
cafe. If a man a boy and five horfes had
taken them the fhorter journey, it would
have broken into their dayswork, and have

nearly

€2

MINUTES

AgR!C^

3t . nearly expended one of the fhort days of this
MARKETS, feafon ; and going the longer was but a mo-
derate dayswork. Yet for this piece of a day,
not worth five flilllings (with the extra turn-
pikes i S.V. or 2 J more), there was, by taking
them the longer journey, an earning of twenty
to thirty (hillings.

Neverthelefs it is difficult, I under-
ftand, to perfuade the farmers, on this fide
of Tamworth, to carry their produce to
the other fide of it, for almoil: any advance
of price.

But this, perhaps, may be accounted for;
EiFe(5ls fometimes continue, after their caufes
ceafe. Formerly, the roads, in the neigh-
bourhood of Tamworth, were bad beyond a
parallel. That between Statfold and Tam-
worth was proverbial : and immediately on
the other iide of it, the paflage was equally
intolerabde, and more dangerous ; the road
paffing, for a con(iderable way, through
waters ; which, in times of floods, were ini-
paflable. No wonder, therefore, that, in
thofe days (not more than fifteen or twenty
years ago), the farmers (hould be afraid of
venturing their teams far from home ; or
that they lliould make 1 8^/. or is. a quarter

di fie re nee.

PROCRESS

01

AGRICUL-
*URX.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. ♦

difference, between a {hort and a long deli- 3^*
verv. This difference, and thefe ideas, hav- progress
ing been deeply emprinted, by the practice
of ages, ftiil remain, in a great meafure, im-
obliterated -, notvvithftanding the roads are,
/io\v, conliderably improved, and the worft of
them made travelable turnpike*.

of

AGRICUL-
TURE.

3^-

February ii. This farm, a few months ^^'^^,^S^

DRAINING.

ago, might be faid to be without either fhore,
ditchor furface drain. The waters of rain
flowed out of the bottoms of the hedges,
over the adjacent lands, on which it flood,
for want of proper drains, to convey it off;
and for want of common fhores to re-
ceive it.

Laft fpring, I had neither leifure nor op-
portunity to remove the evil; the frofts con-
tinuing

* This minute is publifhed, tn fliow the prevalence of impkov?*?-
cuftom; and as a ftrikin^ evidence, that manv of the pre- ,-r,i"*i'rT
fcnt errors of praftice, throughout the kingdom, may have
originated in right management ; and are now become er-
roneous, merely through an alteration of circumltances :
and a principal v.'orlc of improvement, in every diftrict, .
is to con eel thefe errors, by adapting the present prac-
tice to present circumstances.

64 M I N U T E S AcRrc

3-- tinning late: nor, indeed^ is spring a pro-
MiRFACE per 'fcafon for dfainins land : which, at that

DKAIN'INC. \ O ' '

time, is full of water, as a wet fpunge:
AUTUMN, when the foil and its fubftrata are
iirni and free from water, is the proper time.-
See Norfolk, min. 51.

In October, I began to open the main com-
mon iliore of the farm; with the feveral crofs
and lateral ditclies, which lead to it. Having
relieved one fide of the" eftate, I proceeded to
the other; opening, or rather cutting, a lefs
confidcrable fbore; purfuing its natural
branches, and their terminating dit-ches to
wherever the water hung.

Plaving thus prevented thfe uplands, from
overflowing thofe which lie below them, I
opened fuch outlets and frefli drains, in the
lower grounds, as will, in future, draw oft
the water which has, heretofore, lodged ori
their furfaces, to the great injury of the her-
bage.

I am of opinion, that the lafl: year's crop
was feveral tons deficient, through the ef-
fects of flagnant water. At a diltance, or
on a curforv view, the herbi^i^e looked full ;
but, when it v/as mown, the fwaths fell into=
a fmall compafsj confifling chiefly of feed

ilalks, without bottom graiTes.

Where

1785- MIDLAND COUNTIES.

65

Where the ditch, ferving as a common
fhore, required to be much enlarged, or the
hedge, through age or ill treatment, required
to be renewed, the latter was cut to the flub ;
the roots earthed up, and the bank levelled,
with the vegetable mold from the ditch ;
and a banklet formed, on the oppofite brink,
with the worll: of the bottom mold.

But, where the hedge was young in growth
and full at the bottom, and the ditch v/anted
merely to be fcoured out, to prevent its
overflowing, only the face of the hedge was
pruned: not clofe to the ftem; but merely
to ftrike off fo much of the fpray, as pre-
vented the workmen from fcouring the ditch :
afterwards levelling the face, fo that the bot-
tom flioots {hould not be over-hung, by the
upper fpray ; the point of eveiy twig having,
undet this treatment, air and headroom.

With the mold of thefe ditches, too, I
formed fliarp banklets, on the brinks i in part
to defend the young fhoots, and to help the
fence, and, at the fame time, to place the
mold in fuch a ftate, as would leaft incom-
mode the grafs ; and would be moil expofed
to the influence of the atmofphere; in order
that it may become mellow enough, to be

Vol. II. F fpread

32.

CUTTING
HEDGES.

SURFACE

DRAINING.

SURFACE
DR-\kNlNG.

M I N U T E S AcfLtc.

3-2- fpread over the adjoining ground, without
incurring the expence of team labor.

The mold raifed out of the common
fhores, I placed in a limilar way, in lliarp
ridges, near the brinks; and for a fimilar
purpofe; befide that of preventing ftock from
running acrofs the new made trenches, and
trending in their fides, before tliey become
firm, and be bound by the roots of the her-
bage.
MANURE. Thefe feveral banks and ridges of mold lie

in the heft ftate, polTible, for melioration :
the grafTv turves are buried, under the crude
fubftrata. which have alreadv received a fe-
vere winter's froft, and which will, in the
common courfe of fcafons, be parched
through, by the drought of the coming fum-
mer: while the fods, with their rough tuf-
fucks, will die, ferment, and not only be di-
gerted, thcmfelves, but afiift in the meliora-
tion of the cruft or covering, which promotes
their diiTolution.

Next autumn, or winter, the whole will be
turned over, and mixt togetlicr; and, having
received the froft of next winter, and the
drought of theenfuing fummer, the mold will,
of courfe, be ripe enough to fpread, by hand,

over

ii2$. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

67

over the adjoining grafs, immediately after
the hay be off.

The coft of this draining ftarids thus:
Opening 9 acres (of 32 yards each)

of main common (hore, at 5 /. 2 5 o
-^— — ■ — ■ 1 1 1 acres of fecond fhore,

^s. 6d, — — — 263

. • 5 acres of fliore ditch, at

2s. bd. — — — — 012 6

6 acres ditto, 154/. — o 7 6

Makinor li acre of branch fhore 026

o

Scouring 61 acres of drain ditch, I J". 069
ShovelHng out 61 acres ditto, 8 ^. o 4 4

■ 35 acres ditto, gd. i 6 3

Opening 8' acres of boundary ditch.

26 d. — — — —

o 14 7

32.

MANURE.

SURFACE
IlRAINiNG,

Cutting 29 acres of foot trench, 4^/. o 9 8

jC- 8 9 4

Thus, for eight pounds nine iliillings and
fourpenc'e, one hundred acres of valuable
lands are relieved from furface water ; and
the bufinefs, at the fame time, executed, in
the m.ofl ample manner. Thus laying dr\'',
at a trilling expencc, a hundred acres of land,
for ten years to come : namely, about two-
pence, an acre, a year : and the manure
F 2 raifed

68 M 1 \ U T E S Agric.

J

2, railed will, with a little additional labor,
SLRFACE be worth half, if not more than the whole,
of the expence.

How much p/ain ImJhanJry may be done
foF a fmall fum : and how foon a large one
may be diilipated, on ill judged projc^s^ and
vjjionary fc hemes **

MAN'AGEM. FEBRUARY 22. A caution to the occu-
isTATEs. pjgj-g q£ extraparochial farms ; and the owners
of extraparochial eflates,

SiERSCoT, though within the bounds of
the parifli of Tamworth (very extenfive),
had, as to poor's rates, been extraparochial i
having always maintained its own poor.

A few years ago, a pauper was brought,
under an order of removal, from fome other
parilh to Sierfcot. The occupier refufed to
receive the pauper, who was, in confequence,
taken to the proper officers of Tamworth >
who, after reprefenting, in a very liberal way,.

to

♦ I wifli to imprels die idea, which is here brought
forward, on the minds of novitiates, who arc too liable
to be led into futile projects, while they are ne<*le(5l-
iaig PLAIN substantial improvements.

■ty^S' MIDLAND COUNTIES.

to his tenant and his landlord, the confe-
quenc€ which mufl attend their refufal, re-
ceived the pauper.

This the corporation of Tarn worth con-
iidered, of courfe, as a fortunate circum-
ftance, and loft ^o time in aflefling Sierfcot
to the poor's rate of their parifli ; and, on
t>eing refufed paj^ment, took the firft oppor-
tunity q£ levying.. This brought on an ex-
penfive law fuit; backed bo;th by landlord
and tenant.: who were caft.

The confcquence is^ that Sierfcot, which
theretofore had not, perhaps, paid, on a par
of years, ninety pence, to its own paupers,
dow pays the enormous fum (for pne farm
to pay) of ninety pounds ayear, one year
-^ith another, to the poor of Tamworth !

69

33'

MANAGEM.

of

ESTATiS,

34-

March 13. Some years ago, when tur-
neps in general fufFered, more or lefs, by
the froft, Mr. James Spooner, of the Hill,
fold a piece of very good ones, at a high price.

The purchafers, however, did not receive

any benefit, from the major part of them j

F 3 which

TURNEF

MAMJRJ:.

7© M I N U T E S A.GRic.

34. which rotted on the ground, and were plowed
TURNIP under, for barley and clover.

The confequence has been, net only the
barley, the clover, and the Succeeding turf,
but the oats, lail year, Ihpwed, to a furrow,
how far the turneps were eaten off, and
where they were plowed under.

This is an interelHng incident (the truth
of which I have no reafon to doubt) ; re-
commending turneps, very ftropgly, as a
manure.

I have juH: fold twelve acres and a half,
for twentyfour pounds, to be eaten on the
farm (a good crop, and a fair price^ at pre-
fent, in this country). What drelling,
equally meliorating to that abovementioned,
could be purchafec^ for forty fliillings, ^n
acre ?

But, I iliculd imagine, many graziers would
have given 25/. or 301, an acre, to have let
their fat fheep go over them to take off the
prime part pf the feedage: and, I have my
doubts whether this would not have beep
better, than poaching the foil with followers;
or cutting it up, by carting the turneps off
the ground, to grafs inclofures.

An upland dry foil may be better for being
trampled 3 but fcch a foil as prevails here,

receives.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

71

receives, probably, confiderable injury, by
being poached with followers ; and the fol-
lowers, themlelves, can receive little benefit:
unlefs, perhaps, in the fpring, when the
ground begins to get firm; and then, no
doubt, it is better to eat the turneps, clean,
than to leave the bottoms in the ground: as
inftead of rotting and becoming an imme-
diate manure, they, in that cafe, iie in the way
of the -plow and harrow.

Perhaps y generally, o?i ajlrong retentive foil,
fov/ turneps early; run ilieep over them, as
early as the feafon and conveniency will ad-
mit; and let the refufe rot on the land, as a
manure.

34-

TURNEP

MANURt.

6,

March 27. In Yorkfhire, I paid confix
derable attention to the hangin.g of gates;
not with pivots only *, but with hinges ; and
gained an adequate idea of the leading prin-
ciple ; which, however, I did not commit
to writing.

Here, I have had occafion to apply the
principle to pradiice. But the true principle
F 4 had

* See Yorkshire, Se6^. Fences. /. /l. /JI ■

HANGING
.GATES.

72

MINUTES Agric.

36. had efcaped my memon'; a falfe one having
HANX.iNG lupphcd its pkcc : namely, that the only thing
needful was to throw the gate out of its up-
right, fo as to lean toward the pofl j no mat-
ter whether this inclination of the gate were
obtained, by the hooks, or the thimbles.

Led by this falfe idea, I had conceived
that the limpleft, and of courfe the beft, way
to hang a gate, would be to put the hooks in,
exaclly perpendicularly to each other, and to
give the iall by the thimbles alone.

In confequence, I prepared a bottom thim-
ble, with a clafp to take the hartree, and with
an eye at each corner; in order that the gate
might be occafionaliy hung, on one or the
other fide of the fence, as the occupation of
the inclofure might require, and with this
thimble hung a gate.

The centers of the pins of the hooks being
placed exadlly perpendicularly to each other,
by a plumb line, the gate was hung on. But
inilead of falling, this way or that, it flood
flationarily, wlierever it was fet !

It therefore became expedient, to recon-
fider the fubjedt, and to revert to principles.
And, on due inveftigation, it appears, de-
pionflrably, that the fall depends en-
tirely

1785. I^IIDLAND COUNTIES. 73

TIRELY UPON THE HOOKS: the AXIS OF 36.^

MOTION is c:iven, by the fituation of the hanging

, ^ GATES.

HOOKS, with refped: to each other; and,

whichever way the axis of motion iur

cUnes, that way the gate will fall *.

j\ gate iliould have what is called two

falls : one at the poft, to make it catch ;

and another at rightangle to the gateway, to

prevent its (landing open.

The QUANTITY OF FALL varies with

the fituation, and with the ufe, and the length

of the gate. If a gate has too much fall, at

the poft, it is liable to beat itfelf to pieces ;

if too little, it does not catch, with fufficient

certainty, and is liable to be blown open by

the wind, and thus to become a deception,

rather than a fafei^uard.

On fufficient trial, I have found, that, for

ordinary fieki gates, one inch and a half at

the poll, and an inch at rightangle, give a

fully fufficient fall -f-.

With

* The THEORY of this principle is eafily demonftrable;
but as it requires diagrams to explain it, and is merely ele^
mentary^ it may appear with greater propriety, in another
place: — I therefore give, in. this, the practical part of
the Minute, only.

f The way to afcertain the tiue pofition of the hooks
is that of taking a plumbing line (or any firing with a

ftonc

74- MINUTES A&Ric.

36. With refpeft to thimbles, the only ufc

HANGING of their beino; inade, in this or that form, is,

4JATE5, to '

to counteradl the obliquity or crolswinding
of the hooks ; fo that the gate, when fhut,
fhall hang plumb and level ; or every way
in a perfectly upright polition *.

The top thimble being ufually put into
the middle of the hartree, with the eye as
near to it as the fhoulder of the hook, will
admit, the countera6tion, of courfe, depends
on the bottom thimble,

if the bottom thimble be m.ade with two
flrong ilraps, to clafp the lower part of the
hartree (as it always ought), with an eye on
one fide, or with two eyes, one on each fide,
and their centers three inches apart, and with

necks

ftone hung to it), and, looking along the line of the fence
or gateway, drive the hooks, or move the poft, until the
center of the pin of the upper hook appears, by the line
hanging perpendicularly before_ the tye, zn inch ^ijd a half
nearer tiic middle of the fence, than that of the under one :
ajid then looking along the line of the road (or perpendi-
cularly to the gateway) fee that the center of the pin of the
upper hock ftands one inch nearer the middje of the road,
than that of the under hqok ; obferving, likewife, that the
pins of the hooks {land, not exaflly upright, but in a line
with each other, — forming onediredt axis of motion.

♦ Gates being liable ^ofag^ or droop, \iy hanging, they
ihould be hung rather above than below the level.

ijS^. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

necks projedling, when fixed, one inch far-
ihqr from the hartree, than that of the upper
thimble (or, more accurately fpeakmg, with
the center of the eye or eyes of the lower
thimble ftanding an inch farther behind the
hartree than the center of the eye of the upper
doc), the gate acquires, on a certainty,
the required fall, yet hangs level and up-
right when ihut. But fee min. 54.

7S

36-

IIANGIN©
GATES,

Marcjt 29. Attended Ashey staLt
LION SHOW, held for the fale and letting of
itallions ; the only fair of the kind, 1 believe,
in the kingdom. Some years ago, there
were a few ihown, at Nottingham ; but none,
I underftand, of late years.

The hprfes, which are brought to this
fhow, are all of the black carthorfe breed (I
faw but one colored horfe) : chiefly young
horfes — as "colts" (rifing tvi^o years old) —
threeyearolds, — and fouryearolds : fome to
be fold, others to be let for the coming

This

STALLION
SHOW.

76 MINUTES Agjlic.

57* This iliow begins on Ealirr eve, conti-

^\jio\v^ nues on Eafter Monday, and is iuccceded,
on Tuefday, by a fair for cattle and fheep.

The ilallion^ come in, on Thurfday and
Friday ; fland in dole fblls, at the inns ^
and are led out, pccafionally, into a back
fireet, to be ihown, to xhofc who deiire to
ice them out.

This year, there were about thirty on
fhow ; efteemed, from what I can learn, a
middling lliow : but fo Hat a market has
leldom been jcnown. There were only two
fold (and none let) the two firlt days: one
of them (the beft in the fliow) for a hundred
guineas.

The fiatnefs of this fair, at a time when
young horfes are dear beyond a parallel, and
difficult to be picked up at any price, is a
paradox ; and includes a myfterv, w^hich
nobody feems able to explain. Great prices,
it is true, were alked : nothing, that was
worth purchafmg, could be had under fifty
or fixty guineas : but, had the prices been
lower, there were no buyers : a circumllance
which, perhaps, can be accounted for no-
way better, than in the decline of the Lei-
cefterfhire breed ; or the improvement of

the

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. Tj

the breeds of the diilrids, to which the yj. *
Leicefterfliire horfes were formerly taken ; stallio>j

^ SHOW.

as Warwickiiiire, Shropfliire, Worceiler-
ihire, &c.

Some of the t\voyearolds were of extraor-

dinan^ fize, for their age. Mr. iiad

one not lefs than nfteen hands and a half or
fixteen hands high, and as well furniihed as
moll aged horfes !

Shortbacked, fquaremade, fullcarcafed
horfes, with four or five inches of fat on the
ribs, were the favorites. A good deal of bone
is ftill liked, and their manner of goine much
attended to : not fo much as to a(Ctivit)-, as
to their trotting true \

J"*

April 19. It is a pradice, in tliis country, burfhs-c
to fet fire to rough dead grafs, at this time SlSi.
of the year ; in order to clear the furface,
for the young fpring ihoots.

Mr. , of this neighbourhood, a few

days ago, in " burning his feg,'^fet fire to a
dead hedge, at the back of a ydung quick,
and burnt it down, fome confiderablc way ;

th«

MINUTES

AoiiiC,

:S.

J'

BURNING
DEAD

CXASS.

the fire fcorching the live hedge in its pro-
grefs. And a much nnore fatal accident hap-
pened, about a week ago, in Leicefterfhircy
by the fame means.

In the former cafe, the firq was flopped, by
making a gap in the hedge ; but, in the htter,'
the hedge conduced the fire to a hovel, and
the hov^el communicated it to an adjoining
village, in which feventeen houfes, with
barns, rickyards. Sec. are faid to be con-
fumed !

But though thefe circumiliances ought to
ferve as a caution, to thofe who purfue this
pradlice (which, by the way^ can feldom be
purfued with propriety) , fimilar effe<fls can
feldom take place : the ground and every
thing Handing upon it are feldom fo dry, at
this feafon of the year^ as they are at prefent .

39^

WATERING
GRASSLAND.

April 24.. In my ride this morning, I
looked into the meadows below Austrey,
which have, time out of mind, been watered
in the fpring of the year, by a rill which
rifes out of the liill above the village. See
MINUTE 27. This

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 7^

WATERPNC
GRASSLAND.

This year, I take for granted, the quan- 39
tity of water has been fmall. By the fides
of the floats, but there only, the grafs is as
green as a bed of leeks, and fhoetop deep.
At prefent, the water is fo low, it is barely
able to overflow the trenches.

In a hollow, by the flde of one of the floats, calcareous
in which the water has fl:ood, a white fcum is
left.

Seeing its appearance, and perceiving its
tafte, to refemble that of marl, I collected
fome of it, and find it to be moft fl:rongly
calcareous ^' !

This appears to me a mofl: interefling fadti
as tending to fhow, that calcareous matter
is not only fufpendiblc in water, but that,
in this fl;ate, it is highly beneficial to vege-
tation.

In fituations, where waters of this quality
cannot be rendered ufeful, in watering grafs^
lands, might they not be coUeded, and be

thereby

* By analyfis, ten grains of this fcum yield eight grains
of calcareous matter; leaving two grains of refiduum ; chiefly
the broken blades of grafs to which it adhered; but, in parr,
of a tough, indiflbluble fubftance, whofe properties I have
not, yetj liad an opportunity of inveftigating.

So

iM I N U T E S

Agric»

39. thereby induced to depofit their calcareous
CALCAREOUS particlcs, in refervoirs, for the ufe of arable
lands * ?

SOWING
WHEAT

on

CLOVER

L£Y.

May 7. An evidence that a clover ley
(or any whole ground) fown late in Autumn,
and in frosty weather, fliould be sown
on the FRESH furrow, occurs in Xo. 3.
The foil a good middle loam.

Three lands were caught in the froll, and
lay fome days, before they could be harrowed.
An adjoining land, plowed the next day, and
fown immediately, is, to prefent appearance,
twice the crop. The plants of the former
are flraggling, even to barenefs; while the
latter is a beautifully well ftockcd ridge of
wheat : it has, I fhould fuppofe, near twice
the number of plants upon it: though the
quantities of feed were exadlly the fame.

Ociober 9. At harvefl, this land was much

the befl: crop. May

* I afterward (in the wane of June) exarauied one of the
fources of this rill. The channel, towaid the mouth, was
fiUei Wiih the moft luxuriant flote fescue; the blades
two or three fee: kigk ! and might have been collccled, in
quantity, as foiling. By widening the rill, and fpreading the
writers, a fpring of Ais quJity might be turned to confide-
xable advantage, as a manure of this nuCricious ^rafs.

iySs- MIDLAND COUNTIES. Si

41.

Ma V 1 1 . A land of the fallow of No. 9. sowing
liaving been badly plowed (with a {harp
ridge in the middle and a hollow on either
fide of it) and fown with barley, in my ab-
fence, I fet out in the hollow, on each fide of
the ridge, and gave the outlides of the land an
additional plowing: thereby laying it with
a gentle even roundnefs, and burying the
barley, of couffe, under a principal part of
the foil.

The confequence is, this dry feafoiij the
jpart, thus replowed, is fully and regularly
flocked, with fine healthy plants; while the
remainder of the piece, only harrowed in,
has not half its feed come up ; the reft lying
in the ground, as dry as when fown. This
comes up in feams and clufters : — That>
beautifully regular.

This incident fhews that, in dry wea-
ther, BARLEY, if the land be in order,
fhould be plowed under : and, at the
fame time, leads to an improvement in the
method of sowing barley under fur-
Jiow : namely, that of fowing, previoutly to

Vol. II. G the

8?

MINUTES

Agric*

41

SOWING
hARLEY.

the laft harrowing ; or, in other words, of
harrowing after the feed is fown : for, by
this means, the feed, infl-ead of running
down into drills, at the bottoms of the fur-
rows, is diftributed regularly, near the mid-
dle of the foil.

v-J^ALlTlES

of
WATERS.

4a.

June 5. Tht^ waters of the Dove (of
Dcrbyfliire) are efleemed rich in a lingular
degree *.

This circumllance, rifing as the Dove
does among bleak barren hills, and v/ithout
pafling through a rich arable country, is in-
terefting. Thole of the Avon (of Worcef-
tcriliire) are efleemed of a fertilizing quality;
but this feems to be accounted for, in their
being colle(fted from the rich and highly cul-
tivated lands of the Vale of Evefham. Thofe
of the Wye (dividing Glocefterlhire and
Monmouthfliire) are efteemed pernicious to
the meadow^s on its banks ^ becaufe (as is be-
lieved)

* This Minute, with 148 and I49 on planting, are
part of the produce of an excurfion, acrcfs Needwood
Forest, to Uttoxeter, and thence to near Ashbourn
in Derbyshire.

1785- MIDLAND COUNTIES.

lieved) they are colle(fl:ed from the barren
hills of Wales.

The meliorating effeO: of the Dove is
thought, by fome, to be owing to the wafh-
ings of the flieepvvaiks of the Peak Hills.
But has not the Wye the fame advantage ?
I rather fufpedl that its fertilizing powers
arife, from fome inherent quality of the water
itfelf : probably acquired, from an intimate
communication with calcareous or other
FERTILIZING EARTHS. The fcum of the
Auftrey water is a fufficient ground, for this
hypothefis : and there are men who fpeak of
the limeflone of the Peak.

It is a fa(fl:, well afcertained, that the hills
of the Peak abound with calcareous, thoie of
Wales, with aftringent matter : circumflan-
ces which may well account for the refpe(itive
qualities of their waters.

42.

QUALltlES

of
WATERS.

43

G 2

It

TURNEPSwi

June 26. How dangerous to adopt ge- sowing
neral rules, and received maxims, in huf-
bandry.

S4

MINUTES

ACRIC.

43'

SOWING
TURN£PS.

It is generally eAeemed to be folly, to fow
turneps among dud; they being, in this cafe,
deemed liable to be cut off with the fly : yet
both Mr. and Mr. • have tur-
neps now up ; and fay, they never knew them
to do better, than they do this unufually dry
feafon !

1796. If there be moifture w//^/>? the foil,
its immediate Jitrface is the lefs to be re-
garded. See M^N. 84.

POTATOES.

44.

June 26. I have obferved, in my rides,
frequent inftances of the corners of ara-
ble IN CLOSURES (a part the plow cannot
reach), and other vacant plots of ground,
being planted with potatoes, and hoed in
a i^ardenly manner.

This is good husbandry : whether it be
done for the farmer's own ufe,- or w^hether he
allow a laborer to plant the ground for his
family.

The latter, I find, is more generally the
cafe : it being common, in this dillrid:, for
LABORERS to afk, and mafters to grant,

fuch

1785' MIDLAND COUNTIES.

luch indulgencies : a good cuftom. The
laborers plant and clean them, in the
mornings and evenings, at their own time ;
the produce muft be of elTential ufe to their
families ; and the lofs to the farmer is Httle,
if any thing. The balks and the headlands
of this country will generally, when frefh,
bring a tolerable crop of potatoes, without
manure : and the land, after the potatoes are
off, is ready for any other crop.

85
44.

POTATOES.

45-

June 30. The yard dung, for want of
moifture, this 'fpring, has not ripened. In-
ilead of digefting, in the heap, in which it
was piled, it has, in many parts, become
mouldy, and is in a ftate which unfits it t6
be fet on for turneps ; the crop for which it
is intended.

Had the piles been watered, as they were
formed, the benefit, I am pf opinion, woul4
}iave been great.

DIGESTINQ
DUNG.

CI 3

June

^^ M I N U T L S Agrjc.

46.

wATERiKG June 30. Some time a^o, Mr. Sheasby
01 lamwortn Ihowed me a meadow, on
the banks of the Tame, which he can water,
at plcafiire, by a fmall brook, or rivulet,which
runs by the fide of it.

One fmall floodgate turns the ftream; and
three or four fluices, or outlets from the
brook, feed the floats, difl:ributed over the
face of the meadow. It has been done two
or three years : the whole expence fome forty
or fifty fhillings ! The quantity of ground,
five or fix acres.

The refult, this year, is ftriking; for,
notwithfl:anding the uncommon drj'nefs of
the feafon, and the unufual lightjiefs of the
hay crop, in general, this meadow is full of
grafs.

What an advantage ! and this for a mere
thought . The whole of the original expense
is comparatively nothing: yet, by means of it,
he has fubjcifled a brook to his will : which
brook, for want of the thought, or the
fpirit to put it in prad;ice, has run wafle, by
the I'A^ of thefe meadows, for '\^^^ pafl !

What

i/Ss. MIDLAND COUNTIES. S;

What a lofs to the community! Yet how 46.
many fuch rivulets llill run walte, for want of ^^"^15,^^^!^
a fimilar expence ; while fums of money are
yearly laid out, in preparing grounds to re-
ceive landJio:.ds, which, of courfe, never
exiit, but when the meadows are foaked with
the rains that give birth to the overflowings.

Mr. S. for forty or fifty fhillings, will this

year get feveral tons of hay; Mr. , for

feventy pounds, not perhaps a fmgle blade
of grals.

47-

July 5. (See Mix. 45.) By way of ex-
periment, threw a load (a wine pipe full) of ^^-aterixg
water over thole piles of dung, three or four ^^ ^^'
days before carrying. The benefit, even in
fo fhort a time, is evident and great. It be-
gan to operate, the fecond or third day. The
mouldinefs has difappeared; it being now
{comparatively, at leaft, with what it was)
rich, black, rotten dung !

G 4 July

88

KI I N U T E S

Agric,

svnTH's

SHOP.

IMPLI.
MZNTS.

WHilL-

WRIGHTS
SHOP.

48.

Jul Y 7. It is not uniifual, in this country,
for the larger occupiers to have a black
smith's shop, in their refpedlive yards i a
jieighbouring blackfmith coming, once,
twice, or thrice, a week, to do the work of
the farm.

There is one, on this eftate, which ferves
three or four farms. A man has full employ-
ment, two days each week.

This is much preferable to going a mile
or two, with hcrles to be ihod, and plow
irons to be /harped.

It is obiervable, however, that, in my
feveral flations and excurlions, I have not
yet (to my recolledllon) feen a wheel-
wright's shop uponafarm: although, in
my opinion, no confiderable farm ought to
be without one. Wheelwrights, everywhere,
carry loads of tools about with them ; yet
frequently want, in a farm yard, many con-»
veniencies, a ihop would fupply.

July

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

ELEMENT*

of
PRACTiqE.

49-

July 7. This morning, made up a bank sqd fences
fence, on one lide of a drinking pool, draining.
with fods taken from a furface drain, which
w^as wanted to be made, in the adjoining
grafs inclofure ; wheeHng them, in barrows,
to the fide of the pool.

Thus two purpofes were effedled, at one
expence : and without leaving an eyefore.
Whereas, hcid the fods been hacked out,
anywhere, as is generally the cafe, an ugli-
nefs, and a lofs of grafs, would have been
the confequence. Or, had the drain been
made, without having a ufe for the fods,
they muil have lain an encumbrance, or
have been carried off, as many loads were
this fpring, into heaps, to get them pff the
grafs.

How often are fods wanted for fetting the
face of a ditch, &c. 6cc. and, certainly, it is,
always worth a thought, whether fome fur-
face drain, in a contiguous grafsground, may
not be at the fame time wanted.

July

9^ M I N U T E S Agric.

5°-

PicrsTivG TuLY 7. I have employed two or threa

MANURE. .

men, during the lall three weeks or a month,
in turning up yard dung, mixing heaps of
corapoll of various forts, and clearing drink-
ing pools — Izid dry by this droughty feafon ;
all by the grofs.

My general rule of calculation has been a
penny, each cubical yard, for turning over
and mixing. Where ivbcding was wanted,
the price varied, according to tlie diltancc
to be wheeled. See the list of "r at t.s.

It is obfervable, that, in turning up manure
of every kind, the price fhould be fo much
each cubical yard i meafuring the pile, net
before^ but after , it is turned; for the lighter
it is laid up, the fooner it will digeft, and
the more it will meafure: tlie interefts of
the employer and the laborer becoming, by
this means, united.

June

1785-

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

5^-

June 10. From the experience of lad
3' ear and this, I lind, that from threepence to
iixpence, an acre, may be faid to include all
the prices, by the acre, for mowing the fcat-
tered weeds of paflure grounds. They mufl
be very numerous if flxpence is not enough,
and it is not worth a man's while to walk
over the ground, for lefs than threepence.

Where there is much broken grafs, or
where the weeds are united in plots, higher
prices are requifite *,

MOWIKQ
PASTURE

5^-

July 10. I am now emptying a fmall
ncg]e<5led drinking pool, which does not
meafure more than eighty fquare yards of
furface; yet there will be fifty to fixty loads

of

GROWING
AQLATIC
MANUR£.

* It is with fome difficulty I prevail upon myfclf to pub-
hfli thefe and other Minutes on mikutial mattirs.
But in them the inexperiekced are moft liable to be
defrauded. And for their government^ only, I publilh
them.

9i

MINUTES

Agric,

5-

CROU-IX3

AQirt no

,VA\L Ri.

of manure, ariilng from it; principally the
roots and decayed lierbage of aquatic plants,

Qucr}^ — might not many low fwampy
places, too dimcult to be drained at a mo-
derate expence, or too bad to heftow much
money upon in draining, be planted, or
fown, with fome quickgrowing A(^atic
PLANT; and be overflowed, as a fource of
manure ?

The liril thing, to be afcertaijied, would be
a proper plant for the purpofe ; one adapted
to the given foil and iituation j which would
grow faft, and produce manure of the be ft
quality. The next, what depth this parti-
cular plant (or plants) might require to be
overflowed.

The thought, perhaps, is new j and may
be worth puriuing *.

C9AZISC

Cat ill.

53.

July 11. The price of cattle, at length,,
begins to fall (of lean cattle at leaft), and^^
as numbers muftbe killed, fat or underfat,the
price, unlefs for prime meat, will of courfe
drop. Fortunately

* for the yaluabienefs of a<^jatic manure, fee

^IlK. II I.

lySs- MIDLAND COUNTIES. 93

GRAZING
CATTLB;

Fortunately for the graziers, flock was fo S3
Icarce and dear, in the fpring (fee Min. i.)
that, in general, their grounds are under-*
flocked. Neverthelefs, the drought has been
fo intenfe, and the grafs, in consequence, ih
Ihort, that, although they may look well, the
general complaint is, they do not improve,
as fatting flock.

Mr. afTerts that he has fome cows,

which go upon good land, that is not more
than half flocked, yet they are now as lean,
as when they came out of the flraw yard*
A grazier of Northamptonfliire is faid tcr
have offered, to fale, a parcel of oxen, at
two guineas, a head, lefs than they cofl him,
in the fpring. He foddered them with hay,
fome time after he bought themj and has, of
courfe, given them the fummer's grafs ! and
this is probably the cafe of numbers. Mr.

's cows would not fell for nearly fo

much, now, as he gave for them, in thsJ
fpring.

Neverthelefs, fome Scotch bullocks, which natl'rai,

HERiiACE.

were kept at flrav/, until late in the fpring,
are already tolerably good beef. Indeed, not-
withftandinrrthe circumflances above related,
and the prevailing cry of the country, cattle

in

9^

NATl'RAL
HERBAGE.

SEASONS.

AoKt(;

in general, confiderinp; tlie llate of their
paftures, are in tolerable condition ; for al-
though their paftures are as brown as fallows,
and as bare as commons> cattle look fleek and
healthy; much better, it is allowed, than
they did, fome years ago, in a remarkably
wet fum.mer; when, though they rolled in
grafs, they were poor as carrion*

In a wet feafon, grafs is watery — weak ;
in a dry one, it is rich and fubftantial ; a great
deal of nutriment being comprelTed into a
fmall compafs; the fuperiority of quality
making up for the fmallnefs of quantity.

HAXC:XG

July 12. (See Min. 36.) But an incon-
veniency arifes from fetting a gate upright,-
bvmeansofthe bottom thimble, solely*
The bottom hooks are obliged to ftand too
far out of the poll:; thereby rendering them,
if not made unnecefiarily flout, liable to be
bent, crloofened, and the fall of the gate to
be dellrcyed. Yet I have never met with
an inflance of this evil being remedied, by
fetting the gate upright, with the top and

bottom

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 95

BOTTOM THiMELES, JOINTLY: raifing thd 54*
head, by lengthening the neck of the lower hanging
thimble ; and preventing its leaning, by turn-
ing the eye of the upper thimble, to'Wardthe
pojiy inftead of placing it, as is ufual, in the
middle of the hartree.

Being defirous, however, to give the re-
quired fliffnefs to the hinges, and, at the
fame time, to contrive a fet of thim.bles which
would fuit either lide of the fence, (for the
purpofes already mentioned) I gave the fub-
jed: extraordinary attention, and at length
reached, what appears to be a degree of per-
fection« ill the art of hanging farm gates:
namely, that of fetting the center of the
EYE of the BOTTOM THIMBLE, tivo inches
behind the middle of the hartree; and, in-
ftead of making one eve in the end of the
TOP THIMBLE, as is ufually done, to flit the
end of the rod or bur out of which it is
made, and, with the two flraps, to turn
TWO EYES, one on either {\diti with their
CENTERS three inches apart, and, when fixed.
One inch behind the co-rner of the hartree.

This plan, however, did not ftrike me,
until I had nearly hung the vv'hole of the
gates I had made; one only remaining un-
hung.

^6 Minutes AcRid.

54. hung. This, however, has given me a
MANGiNG fair, and fufficient, opportunity of provinp- the
pracfticability of the principle. The upper
hook is driven ahnofl clofe home to the
poft ; the center of the pin being only 07ii
inch from it; and the center of the pin of
the lower hook, only tiico and a half inches
from the poft; altogether the ftiffeft gate
hinge I have iecn.

On hanging this gate, an inconveniency
arofe, wh ch ! had not forefeen : it would not
open fufficiently wide ; being prevented,
equally, by the extra eye of the upper thimble,
and by the arrice of the hartree: but^ by
rounding off //6/>> and letting that into a
notch or recefs in the pof}, it mviy be made
to open to the required width, and to Hand
at the required point, without fulling one way
or the other !

And another advantaijc of a ^Titt hun^ on
this principle, it may (when hung at a dif*
tance from obilrudlions) be thrown wholly
Open^by placing the contrary eye on the uppef
hook ', ar.d, in this cafe, it cannot, through
\vantonnefs or miftake, be- Ihut ! an advan-
tage which never ftruck me, until I had hung

the gate under notice !

H

ow

!7Sj;. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

How dark and difficult is the path of in*
Vention ! Neverthelefs, by grovelling along
it, with attention and perfeverance, we fome-
times ilumble on that which we ate feekine ;
but, more frequently, on things we never
thought of !

57

54-

HANGING
GAT£j.

5S

July 20. Although I have purfued the
ftudy of BOTANY with greater eagernefs,
on account of its being clofely allied with
AGRICULTURE, I ncvcr applied it, until
this year.

In Norfolk, I minuted the corn weeds j
in Glocestbrshire, I attempted (in 1783)
to make a lift of graffes^ and, laft year, I
cultivated all the grasses and legumes
I could pick upi but I never, until within
thefe few days, went into a meadow or paf-
ture ground, and colledted a specimen of
every plant growing in it, with a view to
afcertain, in a fummary way, the natural
herbage of fuch meadow or pafturc
ground; and, now, I was led to it, by an
incident: fo blind and dull we are at difco-

VoL.II, H verin^

BOTANY.

9? MINUTES Agric.

55. vering new roads, which, when known, are
BOTANY, obvious, eafy and fhort !

Being informed that a certain piece of
ground, in this neighbourhood, is eftecmed
the beft piece in it, for the cheefe dair\', I
determined to examine the herbage. The
idea, and the method of putting it in prac-
tice, ftriking me in the hay field, I imme-
diately fet about colle<fting the graffes, and
weeds, of the unmown part of the meadow
I was in; and, finding it at once eafy and
amuling, I extended my obfervations to other
grounds.

At firfl, I gathered only one fruit ftalk, or
leaf, of each plant; but finding, when I came
to lift the colledtion, that I was fom.etimes
unable to recolledt the proportional quantity
of each fpecies, I afterwards endeavoured to
proportion the number of fpecimens of each
plant, to the proportion it bore to the other
plants of the piece.

In forting and lifting the fpecimens, I firft
feparated the herbage, or ufeful plants,
from the weeds, or noxious plants; in di-
gefting each of thefe clafles, I difpofed thofe
of which I found the greateft number of fpe-
cimens, firft, and the fingle fpecimens lafi: :

and^

tjfis^ MIDLAND COUNTIES. 99

and, in lifting them, I placed them down on ^^,
the paper, in the fame order iii which they bot/^y.
lay upon the table : fo that thofe which ftand
at the head of each lift, are the moft com-
mon gralTes, or weeds, growing in the
ground to which the lifts refpe(5lively belong.
Half an hour fpent in collecfting, and half
an hour more in digefting and lifting the
Ipecimens, is time enough for afcertaining,
fufficiently, for the agricultor's ufe, the
herbage of a piece of meadow, or pafture
land, of twenty acres*

HERBAGE OF MEADOWS *i

Graces and Legumes.

'Holcus lanatus — meadow foftgrafs.
Fejluca elatior — tall fefcue^
Phleum nodofufn — bulbous catftail.
LiOlium perenne — ^raygrafs.
' Anthoxanthum odor at um — vernal.

H 2 Alopecurus

* "Meadows:" dips, or (hallow vail ies, which have
never been plowed; lying between fwells of arable lands.
The foil, a blackifh loam, lying on a retentive clayey
fubfoil. The feafon dry. The feveral meadows from
which this confolidated lift is made, have formerly been
*' floated upward." See MIN. 27. Good hay ground:
affording, in a common year, about a ton and a half of
hay, an acre.-

100

MINUTES AORIC

^ ^ ^ Alopecurus pratenfis — meadow foxtail.

BOTANY. Trifolium pratenfe — meadow trefoil.

Plant ago lanceolatus — narrow plantain.
Ranunculus repens — creeping crowfoot.
Poa trhialis — common poe.
Cynojurus criflatus — common dogflail.
Trifolium rt"^t';zx— creeping trefoil.
Agro/iis alba — creeping bentgrafs.
Fe/iuca duriujcula — hard fefcue.
Sanguiforba officinalis — meadow burnet.
Lathyrus pratenfis — meadow vetchling.
Vicia fativa — meadow vetch.
Daclylisglomerata-'OTch^iTdgT^iiSfOV foggrafs .
Briza media — tremblingrafs.
Avena flavefcens — yellow oatgrafs .
Hordeum murinum — common barleygrafs.
L''jtus corniculatus — birdsfoot trefoil.
Iri folium procumbens — procumbent trefoil.
Heracleum fphondylium — cowparfnep.

Doubtful.
Achillea millefolium — common milfoil.

IFccds.

Ranunculus acr is — provincially"crowflower."
Centaureanigra — provincially " cockheads."
Rhinanthus crifla-galU — prov. "penny weed."

Leontodon

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. loi

Leontodon taraxacum — dandelion. S^»

Carduus pa/ujlns—m^LVih. thilHe . bot any.

Hypocbarus radicata — ^longrootcd hawk weed .

Car ex hirta — provincially ** fharegrafs."

Chryjanthejnum leucanth. — oxeye daifey.

Rumex acetofa — provincially *' green fauce."

Fucedanum filaus — meadow faiTafras .

Carduus lane eolatus — provin. ** boarthillle."

Rumex crifpus — curled dock.

Prunella vulgaris — felfheal.

Bellls perennis — common daifey.

Primula "jeris — cowflip.

Betonica officinalis — betony.

T^ragopogon pratcnfe — goatfbeard.

Air a ccefpitofa — tullock airgrais.

Car ices fedges.

Cineraria palujiris — marfli fleabane.

Potentilla anferina — provin. ** goofe tanfey."

Polygonum perjlcaria — pro v." willow weed."

Carda?nine pratenjis — common ladylmock.

Lychnis Jios'Cuculi — meadow cam pion.

Valeriana dioica-^mzrih valerian.

Achillea ptarmica — goo fetongue.

Juncus effufus — common ruih.

. injiexus — wire rufh,

Spircea ubnaria — meadovrfweet,

'Bquifeium paiujlrc — provin. "joint grafs."
JI 3 Angelica

102 MINUTES Agric,

55* Angelica fy he ftr is — wild angelica.

BOTANY. Myofotis fcorpioides — fcorpion mQufear,
Lyjimachid nummularia * — moneywort.

HERBAGE OF COOL MIDDLELAND -(-,

Graces and Legumes.

Cynofurus crijlatus — common dogftail,
Holcus lanatus — meadow foftgrafs,
Ant/joxanthuni (xloratum — vernal .
Plant ago lanceolatus — narrow plantain
LiOlium pcrenne — raygrafs.
Lotus corniculatus — birdsfoot trefoil.
^rifoUum repens— creeping trefoil.
Trifolium pratenfc — meadow trefoil.
Agrojlis alba — creeping bentgrafs.
Fejluca duriufcula — hard fefciie.
Poa trivialis — common poe.
Poa annua — dwarf poe.
Bromus mollis — foft bromegrafs.
Avena flavefcens — yellow oatgrafs .
Holcus jnollis — couchy foftgrafs.
Ranunculus repcns — creeping 'crowfoot.

Lathyrus

♦ The laft fifteen grow on the cooler moifter parts,
only.

t The foil a middle loam, on a moift retentive fubfoil.
Grafs and com alternately. The grafs dlcemed favorably
(0 checfu

17»5- MIDLAND COUNTIES. lo

Lathyrus pratenfis — meadow vetchling. ^S*

Vicia cracca — bluetufted vetch, botany.

Doubtful.
Achillea millefolium — common milfoil.

Weeds,

Car ex hirta — hairy fedge.
Cineraria palujiris — marlh fleabane,
Potentilla anferina — iilverweed.
Prunella vulgaris — felfheal.
Potentilla reptans — creeping cinquefoil.
Ranunculus acris — common crowfoot.
Carduus palujiris — meadow thiflle.
Serratula ari^enfs — common thiflle.
Aira c^fpitofa — tuflbck airgrafs.
Centaur ea nigra — meadow knob weed.

Car ices fedges.

Hypochceris radicata — longrooted hawk weed .

Carduus lanceolatus — fpear thiilie.

y uncus effifus — common rufh.

y uncus inflexus — wire rufh.

Gentiana centaurium^-cent2iury gentian.

Rumex crifpus — curled dock *.

H4 HERBAGE

* Dock. In this lift, the dock ftands laftj becaufe \?eeds
the pieces examined had been previoufly gone over with
the docking iron. But if much of the turf of the diflri£t

were

34 MINUTES Agric.

HERBAGE OF RICH MIDDLE GROUNDS *,
BOTANV.

Grajfes and Legumes.

Cynofurus crijiatus — common dogftail,

Lolium pcrenne-r-xz.ygi[2ik.

Holcus

WEEDS. were to be examined, in this way, the dock woujd be found
at the head of the lift. And no wonder, while an idea,
difgraccful to the diftric^, remains une.xplodtd ; and while
there urc men weak enough, or flovenly enough, to fuffer
it to influence their pradlice.

This ingenious idea, which I have actually heard de-
fended (and have too frequently feen it introduced into
practice), is, that the bcft way of getting ("id of docks on
grafs land is " to let them fpend themfelves by feeding !"
that is to fay, to let them feed themfelves to death ! ! !

The argument held out is, that there are no docks o^
<* old turf" — old grafs land. It is however admitted that,
;ilthough the " birds of the air" fly away with the princi-
pal part of the feed, the part beaten down, and trodden
into the foil by {lock, will grow, when the land is plowc4
up.

How truly abfurd, then, is fuch an idea, in this country,
where land is laid down to grafs, with no other view thiuj
that of plowing it up again, in a few years.

* Rich, found, dry land: " Ammington-hall park-
pieces:" in good prefervation: free from anthills and rub-
bifh : eftcemcd the beft grazing ground in this country.
Being all in pafture, and eaten very bare, at the time the.
Ipecimens were gathered (17th July}, the lift may not be
accurate: it is, however, fu&ciently fo to give a general
idea of the herbasc.

I755»

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

105

JIolcus lanatus — meadow foftgrafs.
Foatrivialis — common poe.
Agrojlis capillaris-^^nt bentgrafs.
Pejiuca durlufcula — hard fefcue.
PlantagQ lanceolatus — narrow plantain,
^rifolium repens — ^creeping trefoil.

pratenfe- — meadow trefoil.

Lotus corniculatus -f* — birdsfoot trefoil,
Lathyrus pratenjis — meadow vetchling.
ji'venajlavefcens — yellow patgrafs ,
Dacfylis glomerate — orchardgrafs, or foggrafs.
Ranunculus repens— cxtt^'mg crowfoot.

Doubtful.
Achillea millefolium-— coravnon milfoil,

meds.

f Lotus CORNICULATUS. This plant, notwithftand-
|ng the extreme drynefs of this feafon, flouriflies in a fin-
gular manner, in- the moft expofed fituations. On bowling
greens and mown lawns, it is almofl: the only green herb-
age left (the daifey excepted), variegating their ftone-
colored furfaces, in fome inftances, beautifully.

In meadows and pafturegrounds, it is, this year, parti-
cularly abundant, or perhaps more accurately fpeakin'",
particularly confpicuous.

A very ftrong deep tap root is evidently the caufe of its
thus refifting drought.

Might not a producSlive variety of this plant be culti-
vated with profit, in dry burning fituations ?

BpTANY.

VATtD
HERBAGE,

IM-

MINUTES Agf.ic,

Weeds.

Centuurca ?iigra — meadow knobweed.
Ranunculus acris — common crowfoot.
Carduus lanccolatus — fpear thHlle.
Scrratula arverifis— common thiille.
Vrtica dioica — common nettle.

HERBAGE OF NEGLECTED OLD GRASS-
LAND *.

Grajfesy ^c.

Similar to thofe of the foregoing lifts j va-
rying with the quality of the foil, and fubfoil.

Weeds.

Bcfide thofe lall enumerated, the following
are found in too great abundance.

Crata^usoxyacantba — hawthorn,

PrufiHs fpinofa — floe thorn .

Kofa an:enjis — white rofe.

Ru^us fruticofus— common bramble.

Ulex europaus — ** gorfe.'*

Anonis ar^cenjis — " hen gorfe," or " fin.**

Genijla tiniloria — " yellows."

Fejiuca

• ProvInciaKy, " cld turf ," of which there are
fcvcraJ pieces, ft ill left, in the diftri(S i and fome of them
in fuch a rough neglected flate, that half the furface lies in
little better than a ftate of wafte.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

Fefiucafyhatica — wood fefcue, or anthiU

grafs.
Galium verum — ^" joint grafs."
Senecio jacobcea — common ragwort.
Daucus carotd — wild carrot.
Riimex crifpus — curled dock.
jlira cafpitofa^-^tM^ock airgrafs.
Plantago major — broad plantain.
Potentilla anferina — lilverweed.
Potentilla reptans — creeping cinquefoil.
Polygonum avku/ar e^-hogwecd.

The unufual dryncfs of this fummer is
much againft afcertaining, with precifion, the
herbage of a diftridt ; efpecially in pasture-
grounds j which are, this year, eaten to
the quick : even the plants whofe feedftems
are ufually moft confpicuous 3 as the croW'
foots y yarrow y knobweed. Sec. are difcoverable,
by their root leaves, only !

This, by the way, is a flriking evidence,
that thofe plants, though they may not be
palatable t are not pernicious to cattle ; which
never looked more healthy y than they do this
year , and the fpecific qualities of plants, of
every kind, are, in their nature, this year
of peculiar ftrength.

To

107

BOTANT,

si M I N U T E S Acitic.

55. T# afcertaln the herbage cS grals lands,

jOTANv. with accuracy, tlic fame ground fhould be
gone over, twice : once, in the beginning of
June, and again, in the latter end of July,^ or
the beginning of A ugul't : if, however, cir-
cumflance swill admit of only oneobfervation,
the rniddle of July feems to be the propereft
time, for pafture grounds,, and the beginning
of hay time, let it happen when it may, for
mowing grounds.

For, at thefe times, the early grafles, tho'
they may have fhed their feeds, the ftems,
with their hufks or chaf, ftill remain : the
*i'ernal iSy now, as confpiQuous as it was, when
in blow ; the meadow foxtail the fame 3 and
tho the autumnal grafles may not be yet in
blow, their feedflems with their panicles are
protruded (fome few, perhaps, as the panic
grajfesy &c. excepted) ; and the more hurt-
ful "-jjeeds are, at thofe times, fufficiently
evident.

From the middle of June, to the middle
of July, the corn iveeds, alfo, are fufficiently
apparent ; fo that, of all others, this feems
to be the fitteft feafon for botanical ex-
cursions, /jy a farmer : for it is the prin^
d^ a' graj/es, 3.nd iht prrjailing iveedsiht wants

to

I7«5- MIDLAND COUNTIES.

to know ; not the fcarce plants, which, fel-
dom occurring in the fame piece, require
the eye of the botanifi to defcry them. Thefe
are not objeds of AGRICULTURAL botany.

109

BOTANY,

From the foregoing lifts it appears, that
CHEESE of the firft quality is made from
cold land, foul with the rankeft weeds.
Cheefe made from the fecond lift has been,
at fix months old, " as red at the edge as a
cherry."

The cold lands about Caldwell, Coton, &c.
are likewife noted for cheefe -, and, indeed,
the entire line cf country from hence to
Burton, moftly a ftrong retentive foil, is
efteemed " famous land for cheefe :" while,
on the light fandy foils, weft of the Tame,
little or no cheefe is made; except for
" family ufe." And Norfolk, a light land
country, is unfavorable to cheefe.

Hence, if any inference,. with refpedt to
SOIL, can be drawn, from the obfervations I
have hitherto been able to make, in this
diftridl, it is, that/ro^^, cool lands are good,
dry, light lands bad, for cheefe. But itz
vol. i. p. 318.

And,

DAIRY

SOIL,

nnd

HERBAGE*

110

M I K U T E S

AoRic*

55-

DAIRY
SOIL,

ar.d
HERBAGE.

And, with refped: to herbage, it is evi-»
dent, that dogjiailyfoftgrafsy vernal^ raygrafsf
and ribgrafsy afford good cheele ; for thefc
five fpecies conftitute nine tenths of the
graffes, both of " Seckington Breach" and
•' Statfold Ridding ;" in both of which
JharegrafsiLr\d Heabam^x^ predominant weeds :
indeed, at prefent, the former has nearly half
its furface occupied by weeds : the furrows^
particularly, are tilled with fieabancy Jihev'*
•weedy fiaregrajsj and cxh'iT /edges.

haV

MAKING.

56.

July 24. Finifhed hayharveft, yefterday*
This has been an unufual hay time. The
little grafs, which grew, this fummer, was
all fubj}aru\\ containing but little Jap ; con-
fequently, required a fmall portion of time
and cxpofure, to fit it for the rick.

The great art, this year, has been in not
making it too much ; yet making it of a
uniform drynefs. This was not to be done,
any other way, than by getting it together,
into a body ; that the feeditems and drier
parts might abforb the little fuperfluous

moillure.

HAY

MAKING,

1^85. MIDLAND COUNTIES. ni

moiflure, which the leaves afforded ; and to 56.
carry it, before it was crifp ; while it yet
remained flaccid.

Being aware of this, I raked it into rows,
immediately after the fithe ; broke it, after
the rakes, into t&Ick beds j tumed it ; and
formed it into /mail cocks, proportioned to
its ftate of drynefs : next day, broke it out
again, into thicker beds -, turned ; and carried,
— while nearly as green, as when it was cut.
Yet the rick has fcarcely heated enough, to
make it fettle, fufficientlv.

It is obfervable, tliat hay, this year, did
not *' weather :" even burnet kept its color,
and a degree of toughnefs ; and the graffes
in general, though quite dry, remained foft
and flaccid : owing, moft probably, to the
richnefs or fpiflitude of the fap ; not to any
extraordinary humidity in the air ; the hy-
grometers keeping between 4° and 8^ dry*.

The

* Thefe particulars are publifhed as a caution to the
makers of hay, in a dry season. I afterwards met with
an inftance, in which the hay of that year was found de-
fective, in fattening quality: a circumftance v/hich, I have
not a doubt, was owing to its having been improperly
manao-ed ; to its being futfered to ftand too long, befart: it
was cut, and in expofing it too much, afterwards.

tI2

MINUTES

Agric.

56^

PRODUCE
of

Hay.

The QUANTITY OF HAY, this ycaf, is
perhaps Icfs than ever was known. From
what I have feen, and from what information
I have had, one third to one half of a ton^ an
acre, has been, in this neighbourhood, the
average produce of lands, which, in a hay-
year, cut from two to three tons> an acre.
Taking the diftrid: throughout, both as to
MEADOW HAY and CLOVER, there is not,
I apprehend, more than owe ffth of a com-
mon crop *.

VATtftlNC
DUNG.

57*

JULY 26. (See MiN. 45. and 47.) On
examining another yard of manure, which
had been piled, fome time, and finding it, in
parts, mouldy, and unfit to be fet on the
land, I had it re-turned and watered^
burying the outfides and dry parts in the
middle of the piles ; drenching it well with
water, (the drainage of the yard) as it was

tamed

* Tlicfc circumftances arc mentioned, to (how the
UNCERTAINTY OF SEASONS, in this Country, and to pro-
long the remembrance of fuch a feafon, as may not happen

a-'ain.

1785- MIDLAND COUNTIES. iij

turned over ; carefully breaking every lump, ^y,
and mixinp- the dio-efted with the undigefted watering

Ob o DUNG.

parts ; finally, watering the furface, and
clapping it fmooth, and clofe, with the back
of the fhovel, to keep in the heat, and pre-
vent the outfides from remaining in a ftate of
ftrawinefs.

By the falling of the refervoir, I judge that
the piles, about three feet high, have had
about two inches deep of water ; calculating
on a fuperficies equal to the bafes of the
piles. '

The expenccj of turning and watering
fifty or fixty loads, has been fix fhillings : not
three halfpence a load*.

58.

July 27. It is well underftood, in this horses.
country, that horses will, in a common
YEAR, thrive, at grafs, with little or no

WATER.

Vol. II. i But

* I infert this, and the foregoing memoranda on the
fame fubje£t; becaufethe operation, I apprehend, is new;
and I am fully convinced that, on many occafions, the
WATERING OF DUNG may bs pra<^ifed, with great ad-
vantage.

!i4 MINUTES AcRic.

58. But this year has afforded an Inftance, that,

HORSES. in a VERY DRV SEASON at lead, horles re-
quire fome water.

Mr. Moor of Appleby had fome colts, in
a piece of grafs, without water in it. They
fell away, though their palture was good.
On being let out, they galloped to a drink-
ing pool, and drank immoderately : and,
having fince been allowed water, their
healthinefs has returned.

59-

fScleT J^'ly 28. Obferving, at a diftance, a

patch of a piece of oats, on a neighbouring
farm, going off, in a fmgular manner, I went
to examine it ; and found it to be a part,
tliinner than the rell, of which the rooks
have taken pofTeffion, and broken the entire
plot to the ground.

Examining farther, I found that this badly
cropped part is extremeJy foul, with what is
here called '* black twitch" [fejhca du-
riufciila)y while the refl of the piece is pretty
free from it.

There

tjSs, MIDLAND COUNTIES. liS

There is no perceptible peculiarity in the 59*
foil of this part ; and the mifchief is probably tp^^^u^^
owing, entirely, to this noxious plant : which,
notwithftanding the extreme drynefs of the
feafon, flouriflies, this fummer, with extra-
ordinary vigour.

A tuft, which I have in cultivation, among
other gralTes, and off which I cut the feed-
items, about a week ago, has already fhot up
a tuflbck, four or five inches high ! while
the other gralTes are moft of them at a ftand,
for want of moiilure.

This plant appears to fet drought at de-
fiance ; it will flourifh even on the tops of
walls J and might, in much probability, be
CULTIVATED, in the moft exposed situ-
ations, and on the driest soils.

Its herbage is not, I apprehend, of a good
quality. But although it be negleded,
among better gralTes, it might, perhaps, in
fituations where no other grafs will flourifli^
be cultivated with advantage.

I 2 July

liS

MINUTES

AcRTC.

60.

SHEEP.

July 29. A firiking fpecimen of what
naturalifis term accidental varieties
fell in my way, this morning.

Mr. William Moor of Thorp {l:iowed
me a fourftiear wedder, of the horned, black-
faced, fhortwooled breed j bred, as a " com-
mon" fheep, on Clifton heath ; yet of extra-
ordinary form and fatnefs !

Excepting three wedders of Mr. Bakewell,
this is, I think, the fattell: fheep I have
touched. His " foreflank" is fingularly
full: his "kernel," too, is good. He is
** cracked on the back;" and his rump is
fomewhat " cushioned ! !"

61.

TURNIPS.

July 31. It is obfervable, this year, that
turneps fown after a certain time — the middle
of June — have univerfally mifcarried ; either
through the droughtinefs of the feafon, the
" fly," or other caufe.

It

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. n;

It was obferved, by the moil incurious, 61.
that the early fown turneps, whether in the turxzp
garden or the field, efcaped unhurt by the
*' fly;" and this, notwithflanding the dry-
nefs of the feafon, which has generally been
confidered as its great encourager. See
MIN. 43.

In examining the young plants of No. 2,
I found two or three of thefe little vermin,
upon many individual plants ; and others
upon the ground. With fome difficulty I
caught two of them 3 one of which I faved,
fufficiently entire, to examine it under a
glafs.

This little mifchievous infed is not, I find, turnep

BEETLE,

2.fly\ but a BEETLE *; bearing the follow-
ing defcription :

The whole length of the body and head
is from one twelfth to one tenth of an inch.

Its width, or breadth, about half its leni^th.

The antenna are of ten joints, and about
two thirds of the length of the body.

The wing cafes are concave, and join by
two ftraight edges : their color a dark cho-
colate, with a ftripe of yellow white, along

I 3 the

f The Chr^omela mmarum. of Linneui.

iiB

MINUTES

Agric.

6i.

TURNIP
BKZTLE.

Tl'RNIP
APHIS.

the middle -, occupying about one third of
the furface ; which is dimpled, polifhed, and
fhell-like. Both fides the fame. The tex-
ture, brittle as eggfliell.

The wings are folded back, under the
cafes, being nearly twice their length ; —
membranaceous, with two or three flrong
nerves, running about half their length.
Their color is a light brown, or ftone color :
the nerves dark brown.

Legs — fix — black : the two hind ones
being clubbed upward.

Head and breaft — black and polifhed.
Abdomen — the fame, with four articu-
lations.

In catching thefe beetles, I found I had
bruifed, on the underfide of the leaves I
car.ght them upon, a number of foft infects.
This led me to take up a plant, carefully ;
and, on examining the underlides of the
leaves (the firft or feedling leaves) I found
them paved ovtT with minute animals, of the
genus APHIS, of different colors; as yellow,
green, black ; with two or three fmall long-
winged flies ; all of them perfectly tame ;
and, apparently, at feed.

Thi$

fjSs. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 119

This accounted for the myflerioully flow 61.
progrefs the feedling plants had made ^ fome "^"pH^J^
of them having been in feed leaf, a week or
ten days : yet had made no vifible effort to
get into rough leaf; and this, notwithfland-
ing they remained upon the ground, and
looked tolerably healthy; having no other
marks of difeafe (to the eye looking down
upon them), than fome pundures, or pits,
on their furfaces.

On more minute examination, under a
glafs, I find that the animalcules and the flies
are individuals of the fame infed, in different
ijlates.

Under one pair of feedling leaves, I counted
more than fifty of thefe vermin : not eating,
hut/uckmg their juices, or fap, through long
probofces ^ by which they hung to the leaf,
as leeches.
' The flies bear this defcription :

The body and head — -black, ihort, nearly
eggfhaped ; about one twentieth of an inch
long : fomewhat larger than a grain of
muflard feed.

Wings — four : two very long j standing
high above the tail ; more than twice the
length of the body : two very fliort ; not fo

I 4 long

AFH15.

iio MINUTES Agric

6 1 . long as the body : both pairs tranfparent,
TLRKEP aj^(j ftrengthened by a few opake llraight
nerves. The yZW(^, coppery — elegant!

Antennse — long, flender, tapering: the
joints indifl:in(!^ : the length three fourths
that of the body. Color black.

Legs — fix, of a lighter color than the
body.

Probofcis — large, long, cylindrical, jointed,
ending in a point, which the infeifl, in
either ilate, inferts in the leaf. This, when
the animal couches at feed, appears to iflue
from the abdomen -, but, on being raifed
upon the legs, it evidently palTes to the fnout.
In walking, it is carried under the belly;
lying clofe to the thorax ; reaching about
half the length of the body.

Abdomen — nearly globular : flatted at the
apex ; with a minute black club, {landing out
on either fide : which appendages and the
probofcis are the fame in the fly and the
loufe.

The propagation of this infect I have not
yet been able to difcover. From what I
have already obferved, it appears to be vivi-
parous. The pits on the leaves are evi-
dently eaten by the beetles ; there is not the

fmallefl

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. lU

fmallefl: remains of a nidus In any plant I 61.
have yet found them upon. They are plen- turnep

^V^ HIS*

tiful upon a neighbour's plants, which are
but juil opened into leaf; and which have
not yet a fpeck upon them.

The blades of felfsown oats, among the
turneps, are covered with them : not lefs
than a hundred on a blade ! they are alfo in
great abundance upon the chenopodium viride
(fat-hen*) and fome I have found upon the
bean. But upon thefe two plants, they ap-
pear to be larger and blacker : the very
** BLACK bug"** negro'- — here proviocially
^' SMOTHER fly" — with whjch beans are
frequently infefted,

Thefe four are the only plants, upon
which I have yet obferved them -f- ; but
upon none of which there appears the fmalleft
veftige of a nidus. Yet upon each of thefe
plants they may be k^n of every iize ; fomc
()f them apparently minute enough, to be

brought

* August 6. This plant flagged; and even bowed
down under their weight.

t I afterwards obferved them upon a fpecies of the
dandelion or the hawkweed tribe. Here, they were of a
light chocolate color ; fomewhat the color of the plant
they were upon.

122

MINUTES

ACRIC.

6i.

TURNEP
APHIS.

TURNEP

TEN-
THI^EDO.

Tl'RKEP
JiETLE

brout^ht forth alive. The fmallefi: are of a
cream color — the next green — the next
redilh green — the largeft black.

Examining a piece of early fown turnep?,
I found a number of the yellow tenthredo
FLIES * ; as well as beetles ; though the
leaves were large; the plants half grown.

The beetles were remarkably tame :
many of them in pairs ; copulating, as the
houfe flies ; leaping, from leaf to leaf, in
pairs.

Their tamenefs, efpecially a^ter I had re-
mained a few moments in a kneeling pofture
among the plants, gave me an opportunity
of obferving their manner of leaping -, which
is evidently effedted by a fpring with the
hind legs (as that of the flea) without
raifing their wings to aflill them,

62.

AFTIR-
CRASS.

August 2. Through the barenefs of the
pafture grounds, this fummer, it has been
the univerfal practice to put liock into
mowing grounds, as foon as the hay was
out.

In
• See Norfolk i mik. 122, &c.

;78s. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 123

In order to catch the little grafs, the 62.
mowers left, before it fliould be burnt up, I ^Z\ss[
followed the practice ; putting in the cows,
and fome Scotch bullocks.

Of the cows I heard no complaints ; but
the bullocks, very obvioufly, received a
check ; notwithftanding the lattermath was,
to appearance, an infinitely better pafture,
than that they were taken from.

Mr. — — , on my mentioning this circum-
jftance, faid that he had experienced a fimilar
effecft, on his cows, which evidently fell off
their milk, on being turned into his watered
meadows.

This he confiders the more extraordinary,
as his meadows, having been kept moiftened,
were of courfe " fofter," than thofe which
have not been watered. For it feems to be
a general idea, here, that the evil is effeifled
by the ** ftubs," of the grafles and weeds
mown off, ^* ftubbing" the nofes of the
pattle ; and thereby preventing their feed-
ing freely, on the fofter parts of the herbage.

Mr. -T was very anxious, the other

day, to make his men mow his meadows
level and clofe, in order to get as much hay,
and to leave as little bottom, as poflible : —

**for,"

14. MINUTES AoRic.

62. "for," fays he, "it does beace but little good;
CR™' there's fo many plaguy ftubs in it; they wont
eat it."

This idea has arifen, mofk probably, from
the graziers having obferved their feeders,
and the dairymen their cows, fhrink, on being
put upon fuch pafturage ; and there may be
foir.e truth in the ftubs being ofFenfive to
cattle. I am rather of opinion, however,
that the principal caufe of their not thriving
arifes from the inherent quality of the
GRASS, ^—rather than from the state in
which the fithe leaves it.

I recollect obferving, on the cattle being
turned in, how voracioufly they fell to ; en-
joying, for the firft time, this fummer, a
mouthful of grafs; unmindful of the " flubs."

If we examine the remaining herbage of
ground, recently mown, we find it confifl,
cither of the stubs and rootleaves of
plants that have run up to feed, — or of weak
UNDERLING PLANTS wliicli havc not been
able to cope with their more powerful neigh-
bours,—or of LATE-FLOWERING PLANTS.
i The quality of the ^rji is, of courfe, in-
jured by age, and by the flrength of the
root having been fpent on the upper leaves,

frudi-

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES* ns

frudificatlons, and feeds. Tho.to£theJecohJ 61,
cannot be good : they are in a fimilar pre - after^

° . GRASS.

dicament to grafs growing under a hedge,
or in a wood, checked in their growth, and
(haded from the fun. And the laji partakes,
in fome degree, of the fame difadvantages ;
though, of the three clafTes, they probably
contain the moft nourishment.

Some of the bullocks, I obferved, began
to fcour, and look thin : the grafs they had
been taken from, though fhort, had received
the full influence of the atmofphere, and the
whole firength of the roots ; and was, in
confequence, this dry year, full of nourish-
ment : while that which they were put into,
though it was fufficiently plentiful to fill their
ftomachs, was deficient in the effential quality.

Upon the whole, it appears to be ineligible
management, to put flock into recently mown
grounds -, unlefs on particular occafions ; as
iu a year, like this, when cattle are fcarving
in their fummer paflures : for, it is probable,
the browzing and the trampling check, con-
fiderably, the after (hoots ; the peculiarly
nutritive quality of which is well known, in
every country *. Aug us t

* 1796. See West OF England, Article After-
grass, f©ra pra(5lical Remark, on thib fubjecft.

i:6

MINUTES

AORIC.

FOTATOES.

AoGtJST 3. Mr. fhowed me a pretty

large piece of beautifully clean potatoes,
the TOiNT PROPERTY of HIMSELF and his
WORKMEN : le finding land, manure, and
" fetts " they labor, from firfl to laft \ dig-
ging, planting, cleaning, and taking up : the
produce to be equally divided.

His motive for adopting this mode of cul-
tivation was, that he, having a variety of
avocations, ufed to neglect his potatoes, and
let them get foul : now, his men, not only
take the labor oft his hands, but the care off
his head : hi5 interefl and their's are the
fime.

J..

SPPEADING
MOLD.

August 3. I am now fpreading tlie bank^
lets of mold, left by the fides of the trenches,
cut in meadow No. 6. See min. 32.

The lattermath having been previoufly
eaten off, the workmen throw the mold, tem-
pered by lall: winter's frofts, and this fummer's
fun, as far as they can, with freedom : namely,

about

GRASSLAND
AJAXAGE-

M£NT.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 127

about a rod wide, on each fide of the trench: - 64.
except where low hollow places occur, and spreading

^ . -^ MOLD.

there the mold is thrown into them ; to level
them up, and prevent, hereafter, water from
lodging. See as above.

On the bottoms of the banklets, I fow ray-
grafs and white clover ; raking in the feed,
with a garden rake ; firil: fmoothing the
ground ; giving it a gentle dip toward the
trench ; and paring off the angle or brink,
to prevent its being trodden into the trench.

What I gave tenpence, an acre, for making,
I give fourpence or fivepence, for fpreading,
fowing, and raking.

The wafte of mold is flrikins; : it would ^^^"'
not, now, more than half fill the trench.
We have had no heavy rains to wafh it away :
and the ^wafting cannot be accounted for,
perhaps, in any other way, than by the di-
gefting of the roots.

65.

August 7. This farm is remarked as blight

cl

being productive of mildewed or blight- wheat.
ED wheat : namely, wheat with fhrivelled

grains,

128

MINUTES

Agric.

65.

BLIGHT

of
WHEAT.

grains, and generally with black ftrav/: more
particularly No. 2 and 3 ; the befl land on
the eftate.

Old Barvvell, who has kn<5wn the farm
fifty or fixty years, fays he has obferved, that
the blight comes on, at once, about the latter
end of July ; and that wheat which is forward
enough to be filled, by that time, efcapeS
it: adding that the malady was not known,
at leaft not common, in this diftridl, until
about twenty years ago.

Has it not been caufed, or encouraged, by
a fuccelTion of wet feafons ? It is well
known, that the difeafe is moil injurious in
a wet feafon ; and hence, principally, the
icarcity and advanced price of wheat, after
fuch feafons. See m in. 74.

66.

DRlVKr\C

Ai/GUST 3. I have embraced the prefent
dry year, to fcour out the drinking pools of
this farm.

The OLD DRINKING PIT of this country
i«, like that of mod others, a deep hole, with
high banks on every fide ; faving a narrow

inlet

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 129

inlet or two, that the cattle may creep in 66.
and out. Thefe inlets are foon poached up, drinking

^ ^ POOLS.

the water muddied, and underling cattle
drink at them in fear ; left a mafter fhould
come unawaresj and force them into the pit.

The principle I have purfued has been
nearly uniform, throughout. I have had the
whole done, a v h an d> and moftly, /^y thegrofsi
and have endeavored to leave the pits (where
the original form would admit of it) in the
bell or jirefiovel form : namely, with a wide
open free mouth, for the cattle to drink at,
and with a long deep recefs, for the main re-
ferve of water to lodge in i the beft form, per-
haps, efpecially on a gentle defcent, which can
be givea to an oldfafliioned drinking pool.

Emptying mud holes, with horses and
CARTS, is one of the moft unpleafant bufi-
neffes belonging to a farm : horfes lamed,
carts broken, men out of humor, and the
bottom of the pit, of courfe, torn to pieces.
On the contrary, emptying them with bar-
rows, and by men who underftand the bu-
finefs, becomes an ordinary occurrence, and,
upon the whole, a great faving ; I mean, if
the full extent of team labor, wear and tear,
were to be calculated.

Vol. II. K The

130 M I N U T E S Agric.

66. The methods which I adopted, and which

PRINKING only, perhaps, can be purfued with propriety,
are thefe :

If the mouth be clear, and the pit fuffi-
ciently free from water, the workmen begin
upon the fofteft mud, in the loweft part of
the pit ; laying planks, in the form of the
letter Y, to wheel upon j with a crofs plank,
for the feet of the barrows to reft on.

But, where more water remains in the pit,
than is ufeful to wet the fpades, and make the
mud work well, they begin, in afnnilarway,
immediately above the water, and make a
hole large enough to receive it. This done,
they let in the water, — lay planks acrofs the
hole, — and proceed, as before, to empty the
fartheft fide of the pit ; taking care to leave
a wall of mud ilrong enough to fupport the
crofs plank, and to prevent the water from
efcaping, before the loweft part of the pit be
emptied to receive it.

Where the mouth lies too high and full,
fo as to contrad: the pit, and make the drink-
ing place too fteep, I lower it : not, how*
ever, by wheeling away the earth j but by
turning it up into a pile, in the manner of
ccmpofti beginning at the outer margin, and

w or kino:

>)85. .Midland counties.

Working the earth away from the pit, as
much as conveniency will allow. Alfo,
where the mouth is blocked up, with hil-
locks of earth (the former fcourings of the
pool), I proceed in the fame manner; giv-
ing, at once, the required form ; but leaving
a pile of mold ftanding upon the margin of
the pit ; either to be re-turned and mixed
w'ith the mud, when ftifFened ; or to be carted
away, for bottoming the farm yard, or dung
heaps.

The prices have varied with the circum-
ftances attending each piti The whole expence,
fome three or four guineas ; for which two
or three hundred loads of manure have been
raifed • befide the advantage of commodious
drinking pools, for many years to come, in
almoll: every field of the farm.

131

66.

DRINKING
POOLS.

67.

August 10. What a precarious employ- profession
ment, for a man to place his dependence on, agricul-

, TURF.

IS FARMING I

The merchant may guard againft winds

and weather, and even the failor may en/ure

K 2 every

132 MINUTES AcRtc.

67. ever)' thing, but his life ; while the farmer is

FARMING, left at the ^vjll of the elements, without iny

furet)^

Four months ago, grazing flock was inva-
luable i and graziers pockets full of money :
all eager after lean flock, left their grafs
fliould be left unlevcl.

But, Jhr 'want of a few Jh'owers in thefpring^
the reverfe is, at prefent, the cafe : even fat
ftock is low ; owing to a number of half fat
ones being obliged to be fent to market.

Mr. — , one of the largeft occupiers
in the diftridl, fays, he {hall this year fink his
rent (from five to fix hundred pounds !) : this,
jiowever, may be the language of defpair or
of policy : nevertlielefs, his lofs, as the greateft
grazier in the country, mull be very conli-
derable. It is probable that his feeders, if
they pay him any thing, will not pay parifli
rates and contingent cxpences : fo far as
grazing goes, he will probably fink his rent ;
and this muft be the cafe of graziers in ge-
neral. Dairy farmers, of the two, will be the
beft off: they have made fure of fomething \
and their cows are healthy, and going on in
their ufual track.

Farmers,

FARMING,

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIBS. I33

Farmers, in general, muft this year feel, 67.

feverely, the great fall in the price of
STOCK ; a fall which may continue, for fome
years ; and is an immediate lofs of capital
which every one muft experience.

The difappointment has been nearly as
great, with refpedt to crops *. What pains I
took, laft year, to clean, and bring into
proper tilth, the fallow of No. 9. and to
manure and nurfe the turneps of No. i . But
what a return ! The barley of the former
is materially injured, by coming up at twice,
and that of the latter flill worfe. A month
ago, I defpaired of its coming into ear 1 or
even of its reaching the fithe, to be mown as
a crop of hay ; -r- through the ivant of afcvt^
Jhowers in thefprmg.

• And the injury done to the qrpps, by the drought of
autumn, (pring, ^nd early fummer, was heightened by the
extreme wetnefs of harveft ! We],l might the ojdeft, and,
in his day, one of th.e largcft occupiers in the difl:ri£l ex-
claim, in the latter harvell, " the laft has been altogether
the moft aukward year for farmers I ever knew ; the wheats
came up badly; the barleys ftill worfe ; hay there is none ;
and the little corn there w?,s, has been fpoilt by the wea-
ther : and, as to grazing, I never in my life knew any
thing like this year !"

K 3 Thift,

1^4 MINUTES Agric.

67- This year, poor farmers, who had not

FARwiKG. [noney to buy llock, and flovens, who did
not ftir the moifture out of their lands, arc
in the beft fituation. This, however, is no
argument in favor of poverty or flovenlinefs.
For a floven, to once right, is ten times
wrong. A uniform peri'everance, in that
which he beheves to be right, is much furer
ground for a farmer to tread '.
i^

August

♦ Thefe fa<Ss nrd reflections zxz not publiflied with a
view to difcourage men from the occupation of lands, but
to place the bufinefs of hufbandry in its true light. Such
a year, as this under notice, leldom happens. A young
man might begin farming, and live to a good old age,
without experiencing fuch a year. Ncverthelefs, he ought,
bcrfore he begin, to know the truth, — that fuch a year may
happen.

The practice of throvx-ing out flattering ideas, to draw
men over to the profeflion of agriculture, is fraudulent ;
and, like other fraud, is founded in bad policy. Men
aJIured, by f^ilfe reprefentation?, become difgufted by dif-
appointment j and the profeflion, inflead of gaining, lofes
by the device.

An ART, which, in a ftate of focietv, is eflentially ne-
cefluiry to human exiftence, and on which, as a PROFES-
SION, the immediate happinefs of millions depends, can be
Jbunc^td, permanently, on truth alone.

i;8s. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 135

68.

August 14. The other day, I let off the
water of the farmyard refervoir (fee mi N.25 . ) ,
conveying it over a wide ridge of the grafs
ground which lies below it, by a channel, or
float, upon its top, agreeably to the pradice
of this country ; flopping at every five or fix
yards; tie defcent being fome'u:hat conf.der able .

This method of throwing water over land,
lying in ridge and furrow, pointing doivn a
dffcenty ?nfwers tolerably well ; but it is pah-
tial, and is otherwife imperfeO:. The parts
nearefl the flops get the mofl water ; and it
is impofiible to prevent fome fhare of the
water from running wafle into the furrows.

In attending the operation, I obferved,
that a foot path, which croll'es this ridge ob-
liquely, caught the water, and, conducting
it backy threw it regularly over the part
below.

The thought occurred, that, by reflexing

branch floats, upon a level, between the

ridges and the furrows, the fides of the lands

might be watered regularly i and this was

K 4 followed

WATERIKG
RIDGES.

136 MINUTES AcRic.

68. followed- bv another; that, by a trench in
WATERING pQch furrow, to colledl the wafte water, and

RlDGtS. *

condud: it into the branch floats below, no
water would be loil^.

This was fucceeded by a third, which is
evidently preferable to either, and faves the
unfightlinefs and encumbrance of floats and
ilops upon the ridges, as well as fome trouble
in getting the head float bigh enough, to
throw the water upon the tops of the lands :
namely, that of conducting it down the fur-
rows : making thefe at once the floats
and DRAINS; fpreading it over the lands,
by means of fmall channels, cut Uvel, and cf
courfe in the form of bows or fefloons, be-
tween furrow and furrow, at difl:ances pro-
portioned to the defcent, and with curvatures
adapted to the convexity, of the ridge to be
watered.

To ^Ive the tops or ridges of the lands
their due proportion of water, it becomes re-
quifite to conduct it, a little way, along the
ridge (or highefl: part, if the lands hangy^^d-
' wny on a flope) below each fefloon, by the

f>oifit of a trench ; the fame depth and width
as the feftoon channel, at the top; contracting

or

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

137

or tapering to a point, before it reach the
next channel *.

The flops in the furrows, at the end of
each feftoon, require, as thofe on the ridges
in the common practice, to be partial j allow-*
ing each feftoon a fufficiency of water, to
cover the fpace below it ; letting the re-
mainder pafs down to the lower feftoons ;
that the upper and the lower ends of the
lands may have an equal diftribution of
water.

68.

WATERING
P.IDGES.

69.

August 15. (SeeMiN.64.) To break the
clods, and let the grafs through the mold,
women were fet to work, with fpreading
rakes. But this, I find, is tedious, expenfive,
and ineffectual ; fome of the clods being too
hard for this tool.

In future, endeavour tp take the clods be-
tween wet and dry \ run them over with a
roller, and a pair of light harrows faftened

behind

spreadin;

MOLD.

* Thcfe channels, being numerous, are tedious to be
cut with a SPADE ; but, in watering ridges, on a large
fcale, a breast plow might eafily be adapted to tho
purpofe.

^

M I N U T E S

AORIC.

69.

SPRinDlNG
MOLD.

behind it : complete the pulverization,
and levfl the Tirface with a spreading
SLEDGE * J finally, rake oft the undigelled
roots, baz. and carry them to the farmyard,
to complete their digeftion.

Ail pofTible diipatch Ihould be ufed, at this
time of the year, to work mold, or other
manure, down to the roots of the grafs ; re-
lieving the blades from encumbrance ; and
leaving them free for pafturing llock. The
lattermath and winter fcedage are, by this
xnanagement, improved, rather than injured,
by a SUMMER dressing.

O.

STAGGERS

KORilS.

August 15. The staggers has of late
been a crevalent diforder, amon^ the farm
horfes of this dill:ri(5t. Few large farmers

have efcaped. Mr. , in his little way,

has loft four : wortli, probably, upwards of
a hundred pounds. What a drawback on the
profits of a fmall farm ! As much, perhaps,
as the rent he pays ; and more, probably,

than

* Sec YoKKSHiR^. Art. Moldisc Sledgi.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES,

than a year's profit. What folly in a farr
mer to lavifh his capital on fuch softly and
hazardous ftock.

»39

70.

BEASTS

of
LABOR.

August 17. Much conveniency may
fometimes be had at a fmall coft.

The fandy road through No. 7. having
been cut, by heavy timber carriages, into deep
ruts, I employed a man, vv^ith a garden rake
and a hoe, to fill them up ; by pulling the
narrow^ ridges, raifed on either fide, into
them, The feventy rods took him three or
four hours.

Having a roller and a pair of harrows at
work, in the next field, I had them drawn
along the road ; firfl hung together, twice
in a place ; and then, with the harrows upon
the roller, once in a place ; leaving the road
as fmooth and as round as a well kept gravel
walk.

The team labor took two horfes and a
boy, an hour and a half. The whole ex-
pence about a fhilling !

ROADS.

August

140 MINUTES Aqric

7

1.

cf.e«;e August 21. There Is an idea prevalent,

COW. here, that " geese are healthful things

CRObXDS, ^ , '^

among cows ;" and farmers in general, I be-
lieve, make a point of having a flock in their
cow paftures : not, however, by way of
fweeteningthe grafs; but of purify ing the

WATER.

The idea feems to be founded in nature ;
and the practice may have been raif^d oa
experience : the violent agitation which geefe,
and other water fowls, fometimes communi-
cate to water, may be faid to be nature'^
procefs, in purifying flagnant pools.

/ :>'

rnvr-.w AuGUST 24. HoLCUS violUs', OX couchv

GXAss. foftgrafs. The oat ftubble of No. 18. (fuc-
cceding a wheat Aubble, to bring it into
courfe) is overrun with this vile weed ; the
leaves (hooting up, as high as the wheat
{lubble, and the foil full of its couchv roots.

In

1785. MIDLAND COUNtlES.

141

In arable land, at leaft, this fpecies of
holciis is a great peft; and it is this fpecies,
probably* which has brought its fifler, lanatus,
into undeferved difrepute.

From what I have obferved, in this 60Un-
try, HOLCus lanatus-y the common soft-
grass ; the li'hite hayjeeds of Yorkfhire^
ranks high as a pajlure plant, — for cattle, at
leaft. No, 7. abounds with it: perhaps half
the blade grafs of that field is of this fpecies :
neverthelei's, it is efteemed excellent for
cbeefe; and, from my own experience, laft
year and this, I am convinced, that it is fa-
vorable to the growing of young heifers, and
the fatting of Scotch bullocks. Cattle of
every kind thrive well in it: but horfes, 1
have obferved, do not *.

72'

COUCH Y■
SOFT-
GRAS5.

KATURAi.
GRASSES.

74.

August 25. (See min. 65.) A ftrong

BLIGHT took place, the beginning of tliis

month.

The

* -Jt is not meant to recommend the cultivation of this
grafs, in fituations in general ; but to endeavour to give it
its proper rank, among pafiure grafles. Neverthclefs,
there may be fome fituations, in which it may be cultivated,
with propriety.

BLir.tit

OF
WHhAT.

CULTIV.
HLRBACE.

t4^

M 1 N U T E a

AcRiCj

74^

BLIGHT

OF
WHEAT.

The firaw of backward crops, whether of
wheat or oats, is much difcolored. Mr.

has a piece of backward wheat very

much ** cankered." The headland of No. 3*
backwarder than the reft of the piece, is

touched. Mr. fays, the north fide of

the lands in Newton Field are a good deal
mildewed, while the fouth fides are free from
the difeafe *.

It is evident from this, and every year's
obfcrvation, that the forwardest wheats
are leaft liable to be blighted : for, having
pafled fome certain ftage of maturation, they
become invulnerable to the attack of this mif-
qhievous enemy ; at ledft no obvious injury
is incurred.

It

* This is an intcreding circumftanfee; as iaffbrding a
ftrong evidence, that the effefl is governed by the ftate of
ripcnefs ; and that a few days of forwardnefs may be fuffi-
cient to prevent the effect. For the fouth fides of ridges,
though always forwarder, arc fcldom ripe more than a few
days before the north fide.

It may, however, be faid, th?t the circumftance is only
an cvider.cc of ihc caufc of the blight being brought from
the north ; or that an undue degree of dampnefs is more
liable to hang on the north, than on the foutl". fides of ridges.
And the only ind-.icemcnt I have for publifliing this Mi-
nute is that of bringing forward a fubjc(5t, which requires
to be difculTcd.

1785.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

U3

It Is alfo obfervable, that, this year, no
perceptible bHght took place, while the dry
WEATHER continued: but no fooner was
fhowery weather ufliered in, than a blight
became obvious.

The only guard the farmer has, agalnft the
attack of this fecret enemy, appears to be
that of SOWING EARLY. But query, may
not fomething lie within the power of ma-
nure, or of TILLAGE?

74-

BLIGHT

OF
WHEAT.

75-

x^Ugust 25. How convenient to reap
corn, by the threave. See vol. i. p. 166.

I had, this harveft, fifteen or (ixteen
reapers, in nine or ten fets, in a fmall field
of feven acres. When they came near the
finifli, they cut off each other's *' entails" —
or ends of the lands : the whole finifhini^
together; yet incurring no diificulty in fet-
tling their feveral earnings; though they
worked by the grofs : each fet taking care of
their own fheaves, and fetting them up in
their own row of fhucks.

HARVE^-.T-
INC.

Aug ITS T

Mf l^f I N U T £ S ACMC^

^6.

spEAJi August 2S. The late fhowery weather

THliTLfi. '

has matured the feeds of the large ipear
thiille, and vcilerday's dry air and warm fun
have buril the heads, which now appear as
large as the fill, — white and ragged — the feeds
beginning to take wing.

The by lanes are brfet with thele ftufdy
weeds, and the feeding pieces, or pafture
grounds, in general, abound with ihem:

but moil: efpecially thofe of , where

there are beds of " boar thiiUes," feveral
acres in extent, (Irong enough for fox covers !
^^'iiDS. Taking the pailure grounds, throughout

this noble farm, nearly half their fur^cesare
covered, and more than half the foil occu-
pied, by weed- !

What pity fome law cannot be inllituted
againll fo flagrant a nuifance. I have beei\
fcrupuloufly careful that not a thiftle (were
it practicable) Jhould feed upon this firmj
both lail fummer and tliis. But what avail
the folicitud?, and the expence, while fuch
a pert is in its neighbourhood? Calm as the
weather hi. hz^vi, I hive feen full-bodied

feeds

17S5. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

m

feeds carried a confiderable way over It.
Should a flrong — ■ — wind fet in, more than
half the farm muft of neceffity be feeded !
The other part of this eftate is In the fame
predicament. Were the whole in my occu-
pation, I would not, for twenty pounds, fo
great ati evil fhould befall it.

Surely, if an adlion of damages would not
lie, in a cafe of this nature, an indidlment
in the court leet might be preferred for a
nuifance.

As to the farm itfelf, it muft receive an
injury, this year, which will require a cen-
tury to do away. There are not only beds*
of thirties, but thickets of docks, three of
four feet high, for acres together ! This dry
fummer has cleft the furface of the earth, to
a great depth ; and each cleft, in fpots like
thefe, mull, in the nature of things, have-
fvvallowed down a potion, which will poifon
it for ages to come.

How much.it behoves the managers of
eftates to look to the condition of farms, at
this feafon of the year; to encourage clean-
linefs, and good hufbandry ; and to treat,
with due feverity, a flovenly tenant.

Vol. II. L Every

76.

WEEDS.

MANAGE-
MENT
of
ESTATE.^.

146

-6

MANACEM.

of

ZSTATES.

MINUTES

Agric.

Every leafe, or other written agreement,
for the occupation of lands, might well have
a claufe, laying penalties on slovenliness:
to be afcertained as dilapidations and

WASTE,

/ /

AVGVST 30. In the wheat llubble of
No. ;. fome docks, overlooked by theweed-
ers, were -left /landing by the reapers.

A bey, employed to frighten rooks from
the fhucks, took a pruning hook and a bar-
row into the field with him; and while he
Hrared tile birds^ cut off (carefully fo as not
to /7ied tile feed) and collected the docks.

Early in the morning, while the dew is
on, or lliowery damp weather, is the fittefl
oppcrtunity for this operation j and thefc
are leifure times, when hands are of the
lea iV value.

August

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

147

78.

/

August 3c. The weather being unfettled,
and unfit for mowing barley, I fet the work-
men, yefterday afternoon, to draw over fome
old thatch; the longeft for thatching ricks,
the next for flopping roofs, the refufe for
the dunghill.

This morning, they are pruning hedges,
mowing weeds, opening watercourfes, fetting
up pofts and rails in piles, to prevent their
rotting on the ground, and to free the grafs
among which they lie fcattered, &c. &c. &c.

The difference between a hufbandly neat-
ness, and a wafteful slovenliness, wide
as it is, lies chiefly in being attentive to
MiNUTi^j and in making the mofl of a
BROKEN DAY; which, efpccially at this
feafon of the year, is too frequently fpent in
idlenefs, when it might be employed in
ufeful purpofes *.

MINUTIAL
MANAGE-
MENT.

ELtMEMTS

of
PRACTICE.

L 2

August

* This, as well as the laft and the cnfuing minutes, may
fervQ^ as" hints to young farmers.

145

MINUTES

A«R1C.

HOING
TLRKEl'S.

79-

August 30. It is generally bad manage-
ment to HOE TURNEPS in MOIST WEATHER j

unlels when the plants are taking harm, by
crowding each other.

The plants of No. 5. ftand much in claf-
ters. rhave therefore given the hoers (who
have taken them by the acre) in choice,
whether they will delift, entir«ly, or
*' thin the cluflers ;" and go over the whole,
again, when the furface becomes dry. This,
though more trouble, than going over them
only once, they have chofen, in preference
to lying idlci and the plants, now ready to
run up, will receive confiderable benefit,
from this timely operation.

80.

September 5. Lafl: harvefl: and this, 1
have adhered to my accuilomed rule, of fuf-
fering no gleaning, until the /bucks be
carried : which is, I find, an eflabliflied prac-
tice, with many farmers of this diflricft.

This

lySs. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 149

This harvefl, however, has fhook the ^^'
principle on which I have grounded my CLEANiwa

CO:]dLl(ft.

Heretofore, I have conlidered theadmif-
fion of children among fheaves, and unbound
corn, as introducing them into the fchool of
theft. Their parents exped: fome certain
quantity of corn to be carried home. If this
quantity fall fhort, corre(fbion follows of
courfe. To obtain this quantity, fairly, re-
quires aa exertion, and a degree of labor,
which they find irkfome; but collecting it,
from the fheaves, or the unbound corn, is
an eafy taik : and having, thus early in life,
eitabliflied the fad: upon experience, that it
is eafier to ileal their bread, than to work
for it, it is to be feared, that fome of them,
at leaft^ retain the prin-ciple.

But my experience, this year, has taught
me, that forbidding gleaning, until the
fliucks be out of the field, is not only pro-
ductive of another fpecies of theft; (that of
breaking into the field by Health, when no
one is there, to give an eye to their adtions ;
and, of courfe, proving an encouragement,
rather than a check, to difhoncfly;) but in-
curs a wafte of corn : for that \yhich was
L 3 left.

150 MINUTES Agric.

<50. left, in this inftance^ after the corn was car-
, CLEANING. i.jg(j^ ^2^5 Tcarcely worth picking up. The
rooks, partridges, fmall birds, mice, and
other vermin had pillaged it of its better
part: and this muft always be the cafe;
though it never ftruck me, fo obvioufly, as
it has done this year.

. What' line can be dravv'n ? What rule of
condu6l be laid down ? The ears of wheat
which are fcattered, unavoidably, in greater
or lefs quantity, in reaping the crop, have
been confidered, time immemorial, as the
perquifite of the poor. To debar them from
collecting fuch fcattered corn, and to give it
to vermin, cannot be right. It is not only a
prefent relief to them ; but the adt of gather-
ing it is, or might I fliould think be ren-
dered, a fchool of induflry, and, perhaps,
of honefty.

Thus: oermit the eleaners to follow the
reapers ; but let a watchful eye be kept over
them; and treat, witiiout lenity, every at-
tempt at pilfering.

This, upon children, at leaf!:, m.ight have
a good efTedl; bv teaching them, at an age
when IcfTons make deep impreflions, that dif-
hgnedy and difgrace are infeparable.

One

l/Oj>.

xMIDLAND COUNTIES.

la

One rule, I am certain, ought to be rigidly
attended to. No perlbn fliould be permitted
to GLEAN, v/ho is able to reap. Gleaning
ought, molt undoubtedly, to be confidered
as an exclufive privilege of children,

CR I PPLES,and SUPERANNUATED REAPERS.

V/hat a lols the negleft of fuch a regula-
tion is to tills country! Some hundred pounds
are annually carried out of it, by itinerant
reapers : wh:^reas, if every woman, who is
indigent and able to work, were, in this coun-
try, as in Yorkfhire, to carry a fickle into
the field, every fixpence of it might be faved.

In Yorkfhire, ail the wheat, generally
fpeaking, is reaped by women. There, a
young woman would be afhamed to be iten
gleaning; and the a(ftual dlfgrace is equal,
in any other country. There are few places,
I apprehend, where there are not children
and old people, enow, to do the honeft part of
gleaning.

By thus fecuring the gleaning to the
CHILDREN, and immediate paupers, and
paving the wages of reaping to their own
parishioners, — their laborers wives and
daughters, — the occupiers, it is highly pro-
bable, would feel the benefit of fuch a re-
L 4 gulation.

80.

GLEANING.

FEMALE
REAPERS.

riMALE
REAPERS.

U 1 N U T E S Agric.

gulafion, in their poor§ rates; and the poou,
at the fame time, be rendered, by habits of
indu/lry, more valuable members of ibciety.

82.

September 9. This year, 1 grew ten or
twelve acres of oats, on a foul wheat flub-
ble, once plowed j by way of bringing it
into courfe, for fallow next year.

About two acres (a cool moid part of the
piece) were fown the 7th April; the whole
being plowed in March. But the remainder
of the piece I fuffered to lie unfown, for two,
reafons : the drynefs of the foil, and the back-
|v.irdnefs of the fcafon: the fallow did not
blow, before the 16th April; nor did the
grofbery foliate, before that time.

Neverthelefs, I f^niflied sowI^;G the 1 8th
April, to endeavour to hit the middle way
between the sp:ason and the sun; for, al-
though I am clearly of opinion, that the lat-
ter ought not to be wholly attended to; yet,
it ib more than probable, that it ihculd not be
wholly difregarded: becaufe, when the fea-
fon is backward, it is generally rapid; and

althoueh

2785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 153

gLlthoiigh oats, for mftance, may be foivn 82.
by Jthe - fallow ; yet, before they have had seasom
time to prepare for a ilate of I'cgetationt and sowing
to ftniggle through the foil, the hawthorn
may (as it did this year) have foHated : and
it is, probably, the emerjion of the plant,
not the dcpojit of the feid, which ought
to keep pace with i^atural vegeta-
tion.

All the oats iri the country (Mr.r— 's

perhaps only excepted) were fown before the
SALLOW slowed: in general, between the
I ft and the 15th April.

Thofe which were fown early, and imme-
diately after the plow, before the froft had
taken the furface, came away, at once, an<d
looked beautifully: while tliofe of No. 17,
fown by the sallow, came up in plots,
and had a mean. appearance.

The plants, however, which rofe, were
ftrong, and of a good color, with the ribbon
bread; and, yfXitn the panicles were pro-
truded, they proved large and fruitful : fo
that, before harveft, they put on the ap-
pearance,—^notwithftanding the feafonand tlie
ftate of the foil, — of a tolerably full crop:
while thofe, which had been fown, early,

^nd

t$4 M I K U T K S AoRic.

§2* and looked fo beautifully in the fpring,

iE.^so^^ dwindled away i becoming weak, and thin 3

jj^wiNO* and, when mown, aitorded no fwath. Nei-

.V

•>^<

er

Mr. — nor Mr. , I apprehend,

had a load an acre; notwithftanding the Ibil
was evenly occupied: while in No. 17,
where not half the feed vegetated, at tlie
time offawing, and where, in many places,
not half the foil was occupied, there was
from a load to a Icud and a half an acre.
Ifad the whole of the feed vegetated, at tbo
tin?ie cf fowing (and that it did not vegetate
then, was not owing to the hitcnefs but the
dryjtefs of the feafon), there would, in ail
pobabiHty, have been, notwithftanding the
drought! nefs cf the fummer, and the low
tCMxlilion of the foil, two o.r three loads, ar*
acre*

The part fown, tirfl, though peculiarly
raoift a,nd cool, arvd fullv furnifhed with
plants, bore no greater burden, arhd much left
luxuriant plants, than the> part fown laft ;
tAough of a drier nature, and not half covered.

Therefore, this y«ar*;i experience, v^-ith
OATS, has ll:reng-thGned my opinion, of the
propriety of fowing, bv th? ska^on, rathe-r
than hv the svm.

However,

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES, IS^'

However, for the reafon mentioned, it may 82.
be prudent, in an early feafon, to follow, in season
a late one, to precede y the progress of sowing.

SPRING. ,

It may, neverthelefs, be proper to remem^
ber, that this caution is drawn from reafoiiy
and not from the experience of this year : for
the oats, fown two days after the blowing of
the fallow, were evidently ftronger, more
healthy plants, than thofe fown three days,
before that circumftance took place.

It is obfervable, however, that the pcirt f

fown firll, was fir ft ripe; and that the time
OF RIPENING, throughout the country, cor-
refponded, in this inftance, with the time

OF SOWING.

Many oats, in different parts of the diftria:, "AR^'ESt-
have this year been " sheaved:" namely, oats.
mown outward y gathered from the iv/aths,
bound, and (hucked; in order to be cut, with
greater propriety, into chaf, or " cutmeat,"
for horfes, &c. &c. this year of fcarcity of hay.
Sheaf corn liesftraighter in the cutting box,
and is of courfe lefs liable to be cut at a dou-
ble, than loofe corn.

The common price has been five fhillings,
an acre, for mowing, binding, fliucking, and
raking. I had

Ii6 M I N U T £ S AcRic.

?2. I had a lew acres harvelled, in this way;

H-iRvpr. partly for the purpole of cutting; and, in
Q.\:b. pait, to iccnre tl»e fodder, and to put it, as
much as polliblc, out of liarm's way, tJiis ha-
zardous harvelt. TJie reli I harvciled in
Ivvath.

The whole received a conliderable quantity
of v/et; and thofe whicJi were cxpofed, in
fwath, were of courfs coniiderably hurt ;
the corn difcolored and t'ne draw weatliered ; — .
while thofe in the /liucks were little, or ifot
4t all, wQrfe for the weather. The fupe-
rior quality of the ftraw, of thofe which
were llieaved, is, this extremely fcarce year
for fodder, worth ten times the extra labor.
Indeedj if turning, cocking, extra trouble
in carrying and ricking, the extra iTiedding,
and the raking after the carriage, be taken
into tlie calculation, the faving, perhaps,
would be found on t))? fide of the n:icavcs.

Of this, at leall, there is no doubt, ' tlut,
in unfcttled weather, the sheaving of
PATS, if hands can be got, is incomparably
better management, tlian expofing them in
iwath. For, if mown oats be carefully ga-
thered, and fomewixat Ipofely tied, in fmali
i];icaves, carefully fct up, and fecurcly co-
vered, fcarcely any ^veathcr wiU hurt them.

In

17S5. MIDLAND CO UN t IE g.

151

In the harvefting of oats,, the primary g2.
objedls, to be attended to, are the color of haryist.
the grain, and the fiveetnefs of the fodder. ©at*.
Clean thraflnng^ is a fecondary conlideration 1
for, if a few Hght grains be left in the draw
of oats, the fodder is the better, and ths:
fample more fightly.

Hence, oats fliould be harvefted, as much
as may be, in xh^ fiade (fee min. lo), and,
of courfe, in covered shucks, rather than
in SWATHS, or in single sheaves. , See
Yoi?KSHiRE; fedlion harvesting.

But, in harvefting wheat, different con-
iiderations take the lead. The color is not an
obje(ft ; while thrajJnng clean is of the firft im-
portance: for the grains, which are left in,
the ftraw of wheats are not only loft, but the
thatch is injured by them.

Hence, wheat cannot be expo fed too
much to the weather, provided it is not in-
jured by fprouting: nor oats be dried too
much in the (liade ; provided they will thraflx,
without very extraordinary labor.

A penny or twopence, a quarter, in the
price of thrafhing oats, is inconsiderable,
compared with fweet fodder, and a bright
fample.

Oats

WHEAT.

HARVEST*
OATS.

155

82.

HARVEST.

INC

OATS.

M I N U T E

Aoz:c.

Oats in ihucks, well covered, are nearly as
fate, in the held, as in the rick yard; and it
matters not, whether they remain there, a
week, a month, or a longer time; provided,
in the end, they be carried perfedly dry.

HARVrST-

ING

^ARLLY.

83.

September ii. The BARLLY,at lengtii,
is moftly harvefled: except feme latefown
pieces : and fome which, coming up at twice,
is fuffsred to ftand, to Ic: the fecond crop
mature.

Very little, however, ilands in the latter
predicament. 1 have (ten barley cut, even a
week or ten days ago, literally as green as
c^rafs ! and carried before it was half dry :
neither corn nor hay! and this, probably,
becaufe its ov, ner would net have it laid, tliat
he was behind his neighbours: the Aruggle
throughout harveft, whether of hay or corn,
being about v.'ho iLidl linilhy*>y/.- no matter
bow !

This has been a difficult barley harvcrt ;
and, it is highly probable, that, got in the
condition it mollly has been, not half the

barlev

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 1$^

barley grown In the diftn(fl will MA It. 83*
Whereas, under common srood manao-ement, iiarvesT.^
the weather has been lach, that rnoft, if not EARLEr.
all, of the early ripe barlies might, I ap-
prehend, have been rendered fit for the
maltlter's ufe.

But the injury done to the grain is, thi^
year, the fmalleit crime : fpoiling the ftmw,
when FODDER is ineflimable, is a crime, not
only in hulbandry, but againfc the ccm* '

m unity.

From the uate in which I have feen barley
carried, and from what I have gathered on
the fubje<5t, in ccnverfation,_ it is probable,
that the majority of the barley, of this year,
will come out of the mow or rick, mouldy,
or mow burnt,

Mr. of had a rick which fortu-
nately fell down ; otherwife, it feems, it muft
have taken fire. One of his tenants, taking
the alarm, pulled fonie out of a barn,
which was in a fimilar or a worfe ilate.

And Mr. — — of thought it prudent to

do a way the riik of fcttinjr Iiis barn on fire,

by a fimilar expedient *.

The"

* It came out afterward, that Mr. — — of (oae of*

the Lrgert, and called the beft, farmer in the country)

ipoilc

MINUTES

Aoilic,

8?.

WARVEST-
BARLEY.

The fad is, the barley of this year has
heated more than ufual; and for an obvious
reafon. Although the firfl crop might be
thoroughly ripe when cut, the fecond (which
almoll; all barlies had more or lefs), and per-
haps a third, were in a graiTy fucculent ftate ;
and not being allowed time enough to wea-
ther, nor a fufficiency of fun and air to ren-
der it crifp at the time of carrying, it was,
of courfe, carried heavy, foft, and full of fap ;
and if not cold enough, to run into cakes of
mould, generated, of courfe, an undue degree
of fermentation. A hint, this, to the har-
vcflers of barley, under limilar circumftances*

84.

*EtiLts. September 12. Auguftj, Caught fevcn

TURNEP BEETLES ; (fce MIN.61.) put them

into a phial ; and fed them with flips of leaves
of fullgrown turneps.

Auguft

fpoilt the greatcft part of his crop ! alfo Mr. and Mr,

, both makfters! ! alfo Mr. and Mr. ; and

at length, that there was fcarCely z farmer in the country,
who had not ** pulled to pieces!" What a Ic^bn, this, to
the harvefters of barley !

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. li

Jiuguji 9. Some eggs excluded, and fluck 84.

to the fide of the bottle : refemblin? the ejyo-s turner

^ ^° BEETLIS.

of common flies, — flyblows.

Augiiji 14. Five ftill living, and adlive :
(two efcaped.) They have grown very con-
liderably.

Aiignji 19. By way of experiment, fed
them with young turneps, in different flates.
They prefer young feed leaves to thofe which
are older 3 and to young rough leaves.

In feeding, they begin upon the Jides of
large leaves (even feed leaves), eating them
into pits, or fometimes through into holes ;
but of young tender feedling leaves, juft /

burft from the feed, they begin upon the
edge ; taking it between their forceps^ and
pinching it off, piece after piece, very dex-
troufly.

They are not, however, voracious : — a
very fmall quantity, even of this delicate
food, fatisfies them. I apprehend, that one
pair of very fmall feed leaves would lall one
cf them two days.

AugiiJi 2 1 . They have eaten a young
tender rough leaf almoft up ; Httle more
than the nerves remaining ; while the feed

V0L. II. M leaves

i6z MINUTES Agric.

84. leaves of the fame plant are untouched ;
TiRVEP havint^, it is probable, become ftale and un-

BEETiii , , ,

palatable.

Continued to feed them with flips of large
leaves ; fometimes neglecting them, perhaps,
for three or four days ; until the flips became
dry and flirivellcd : neverthelefs, in this flate,
they fed upon them.

September 8. One died : perhaps weak,
through want of food ; and, getting itfelf
attracted to the bottle, in a drop of dew,
exuded from the flips of leaves, could not
extricate itfelf.

September 1 1 . My curiofity being grati-
fied, by five weeks obfervation, and lell
fimilar accidents might happen, through
neglect, I fmothered the remaining four with
fulphur.

When we rcfled: on the fmall quantity of
food thefe little infects cat at a meal, it feems
almolt incredible, that a crop of turneps
fliould be deflroyed by them. If they ever
do cut oft a crop, of which I begin to have
my doubts, their number muft not only be
immenfe, but they mull: take the plants in
Ibme critical ftate ; either at the inflant the
feed leaves are unfolding, or in the moment

when

TITRNEP
BEETLES.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 163

when the rough leaves are burfting forth ; 84.
while each germ is but yet a meal.

But even admitting this lafl to be the cafe,
they can devour only a certain quantity ;
and the moft effecflual remedy, or prevention
of the evil, appears to be that of providing
enough for them to eat, and enough to leave :
that is, to fow a fufficient quantity of feed,
toraife plants enow for the beetles, and enow
more for a crop.

One pound of seed, fown broadcaft, let
it be fown ever fo fkilfuUy, is barely enough
for a crop ; and afferds not, of courfe, si
plant for the beetles ; or, if the beetles
choofe to partake, there remain too few for
a crop.

The beetles, however, feldom clear the
ground entirely. From which may be in-
ferred, that a pound of feed is fufficient for
them : and it appears to be no more than
common prudence, to fow, at leaf!:, two
POUNDS OF SEED, inftcad of one J the ufual
quantity of this diftrid:. In a difficult feafon,
THREE POUNDS, an acre, I am of opinion,
ought to be fown.

I am clearly of opinion, however, from

the foregoing experiments on the beetle, as

M 2 well

B££TL£S.

it4. MINUTES Agric.

84, well as from iny experience, this year, in
TLRNEP the field, — and from ample obfervations, on
the infant crop of clover, as well as of
TURNEPS, during the lafl fifteen years, — that
the blame is frequently thrown upon the
*' fiy," when the defl:ru(fLion of thefe crops it
owing to fome other caufe.

A concurrence of circumllances, this year,
tend to fhow, that the caufe originates in the

SEASON.

Tumeps, fown during the former part of
June, fucceeded, — efcaped in a manner un-
hurt, — becaufe, at the beginning of the
month, the foil had been moiftened, nearly
plow deep, by rains which then fell. The
feeds of courfe vegetated, and the young plants,
finding a fufficiency of 7?ioij}ure within the foil,
ilruck downward, pufhed out their rough
leaves, and throve, notwithftanding the dry-
nefs of the air, and furface.

I recolle(5t an obfervation made, at that
time, by an obfervant and fuperior manager,
that it is not dry nveather, alone, which ren-
ders the " fly" mifchievous ; but fiowers in
a dry fcafon ; and, dropping the idea of the
fiy, there may be much truth in the ob-
fervation.

Thus,

lySs- MIDLAND COUNTIES. 165

Thus, the moifture of the foil, given by 84.
the rain of May- Tune, being exhaufted, by turnep '

r . ^ , BEETLES.

a fortnight's dry weather, turneps, fown
after the middle of June, (fee min. 61.)
either came up partially, or did not vegetate,
until fome thunder fhowers fell, in July;
when loud complaints, from every quarter,
were heard againil the ''fly."

The caufe of deflirudtion, m this cafe,
appears evidently, Thefe fhowers, none of
which, perhaps, moiftened the foil more
than two inches deep, were fufficient to in-
duce the feed to vegetate ; but, by the time
the feed leaves were formed, the moifture
was wholly drawn ofi, by the intervening
days of drought ; and the plants, deprived
of nouridiment, palled away, as by a charm 5
parched up, as in an oven.

Again, thofe fown the firfl week in Augufl;
(fee MIN, 87.) after the keeping rain of the
third of that month, flouriflied, in defiance of
the united force of infe(Cts j becaufe the foil
was fully and permanently (not tranliently)
moift. The feed vegetated, the infant plants
puflied on, into rough leaf, and might be
faid to rile without a check 5 notwithftandino-

M 3 the '

i66 MINUTES Agric.

84. the beetle, the aphis, and the tenthredo, were
TURKEP in force *.

EEBTLES.

Alfo,

* Since thcfe Minutes were written, a difcovery has
been ir.adf, corroborating the above idea, that the " fly"
is not guilty of all the mifchief, which is commonly laid to
its charge; but attributing the latent caufc of injury, not
to the SEASON, but to a slug : rolling in the night being
recommended as a remedy.

That flugs are deftructive of crops, in their tender
ftatc, is well known to the gardener, and, in fome inftances,
to the farmer ; particularly to the growers of flax (fee

YORKSHIRF, Sccl. FlAX.)

In this cafe, however, the crop fucceeds Jward^ which
may be fuppofed to be full of flugs and other vermin. But
how zfalloWt which has been, or ought to have been, fome
days or weeks, expofed to the fun and winds, without any
thing vegetable upon it to fupport flugs, fliould neverthe-
kfs contain, enow, to eat up a turnep crop, in a day or a
night, is not quite fo evident. And how, in any cafe, they
ihould be led to cut ofi^ a crop, in twentyfour hours, which
for feveral days, perhaps, they had left untouched (for mi
fuch way an infant turnep crop too frequently makes its
exit), is flill more myfterious. Their motion is flow,
even to a proverb; — they have neither wings to fly, nor feet
to walk ; they are, of courfe, bred in or near the foil they
inhabit, and, as other animals, feed, no doubt, daily and pro-
grcflivcly.

I do not mean to fay that the flug is not an enemy to
the turnep crop, efpecially on frefh ground, which has not
been fodburnt, as well as on ill made fallows j on which, it
is highly probable, they are, as the beetle, every year, and

in

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 167

Alfo, on the 7th Angujly put four ten- 84.
THREDO FLIES into a phial, and fecured its turner

^ TEN-

mouth, with a piece of gauze, tied over it : threuo.
and, on the 9th Augufl, added three more.

The firft four died the nth and 12th
Auguft: and one of the lafl three, the 14th;
when the other two drooping, and lliowing
figns of hunger or thirft, I became anxious
to adminifter relief; and, after trying various
foods and liquors, without effed:, at length,
offered them fugar and water : — they ate it
voraciouily ! licked it from the end of a cork !
eat it off my hand ! revived.

Augujl 15. The end of a cork, which I
lafl night dipped in diffolved fugar, is nearly
M 4 cleaned, ,

in all feafons, more or Icfs hurtful ; and rolling may not
only be deftrmStive of them, in fome degree at lealt; but
may, by clofmg the pores of the furface, in a dry fcafon,
be ferviceable to the plants, in keeping in the requifite
moifture.

However, without intending to join in the ridicule that
has been excited, by the manner in which this fecret has
been divulged, I am of opinion, that the only prai'iicalhe'
nefit the Public are likely to receive from the difcovery, is,
that of its adding as a ftimulus, to induce the farmer to
FALLOW, long enough to deftroy the roots and feed of
weeds, ot vegetable vertnin^ and ftill longer, until he has
dcftroyed the flugs, and, perhaps, other animal vermin.^ with
\vhich his foil may be iHhabitcd.

its

MINUTES

Agric.

84. cleaned. Both of them lively, though the

TiRNEP morning is cold. Warm.ed the bottle, by

THREDO. holding it in the palm of the hand : they

prefently gave a proof of their health and

From the obfervations and refleftions, on
thefe mifdhievous infedts, this year, the moft
probable means of avoiding their mifchief
appear to be thofe of obferving the coming
of the flies, and, as foon as they difappear,
mow^ing oiF the leaves of the plants : thus
deflroying, with certainty, the caterpillars in
the nidus ft-ite.

A^HIS.

Alfc, on Augujl 7, placed, in a third phial,
^ feme feed leaves, befet with aphides, both
in the larva and the fly ftate.

The leaves in a few days withered, and
the larvas died.

Au^ull II. Two of the flies alive. Put
in a frefli piece of leaf. The fame day, per-
ceived a minute animal upon this piece of
frefh leaf; and prefently afterward (in the
courfe of a few minutes) another; both of
them perfeSl and a£fhe.

Augnjl 15. Found a fly, with a white
egglike cifl fixed under its abdomen. And

another

APHIS.

1785. MIDLA.ND COUNTIES. 169

another (dead and fixed to a blade of oats), S4.
which has all tJie appearance of pregnancy. turnzp

Augiijl 19. I find a frefli brood, among
the young plants of the fecond fowing ; but
they are not fo numerous as on the firfl.

After this time, fome heavy fhowers and
pold nights checked their mifchief, and moft
of the turneps, fown the beginning of AugufV,
received little injury from them.

This appears to be a ne'U) enemy of the
turnep crop. It has not at leaft, been ob^
fervedj I apprehend, in this or any other
diftrid:, before this year. Or, perhaps, they
have- been more numerous, this year, than
was ever known before. Lying clofe on the
underfide of the leaves, a few may pafs un-
noticed.

As to a PREVENTIVE, or a remedy of
the evil efFe<5ls of thefe infects, fhould they
eccur again in the abundance they did this
year, none perhaps, altogether effectual, can
be applied with certainty. Being, in the
larval ftate efpecially, extremely foft, tender,
and eafily crufhed, a light roller (efpecially
if muffled in fome foft elaftic covering fo as
to prefs in between the clods) might, per-
haps.

1 7© Jll I N U T E S Agric

liaps, be I'uliiciently effedive in dcftroying
the inieds, without being injurious to tli^
plants *,

85.

cREiriNG September i :. Oblervine the dairy

CROWFOOT. ^

cows negled: a tolerably gooil grals pallure,
for an oat ftubble, which appeared to have
nothing but ii'ccds to invite tliem, I went
among them, to difcover what plant was
their inducement.

The oats having fucceeded wheat (fee
MiN. 82.), the ridges, in plowing for the
oats, had been rebacked up ; and, to pre-
vent tlieir lying too iharp, the firil pair of
furrows had been dropt fomewhat fliort of
each other ; leaving in fome places a narrow
flripe or feam, upon each ridge, unmoved
and uncovered. Of thcle feams the creep-
ing CROWFOOT, with which the wheat
/liibble abounded, had taken full polTelTion ;
having formed a mat of herbage on each
ridge ; and the cows, each taking her ridge,

were

• See Norfolk, Min. 122. for an inftan<?e in which
a heavy rt^er, run two or three times over young turnep>,
did not appear to be injurious, to the gro\nh of the plants.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 171

were tracing thefe lines of herbage. A far- 85.
ther evidence, that the ranunculus re- creeping

CROWFOOT,

PENS is a valuable fpecies of herbage. See
Glocestershire i — List of Meadow
Plants.

86.

September 16. I am now manuring raisino

rr 1 ■ ^ ^ MANURE.

the young grafTes of No. 9. (off which the
barley is juft carried) with a pile of compoft,
created, in a manner, out of nothing : the
fweepings of the rickyard, hovels and other
holes and corners (which have not, probably,
been cleared for many years paft), thrown
into a mudpit to digell : alfo rubbifh from
buildings and repairs, &c. 6cc.

It has had fome labor and attention be-
ftowed upon it i but not equivalent to one
fourth of its prefent value. About fifty
cart loads of rich and ripe ccmpofl *.

Sep-

* This, not by way of blazoning my own induftry, but
of ftimulating that of others.

172 MINUTES Agric.

87.

cuLTiTiE September 25. Yefterday, finifhed the

TURNIPS. Iiolng of tumeps.

The probable fcarcity of winter food in-
duced me to convert the intended fummer
fallow of No. 5. — an un pardonably -foul new
ley — into a turnep fallow.

This foul piece of land was broken up,
the fecond week m June; crolfed, in the
fecond week of July ; manured, harrowed,
rolied-and-harrowed, plowedi and fawn, the
firfl week in Auguft.

Notwithftanding the rolling, harrowing,
and rain, the furface remained rough, after
fowLng ; fom.e of the clods being yet unfub-
clued ; and the roots and flems of the grafles
and weeds remained entire, though to ap-
pearance dead.

The feed, however, vegetated, and the
plants came away, with unufual vigour and
frimnefs : I never faw feedling leaves fo
large and luxuriant: while thofe from the
re-fowing of No. 2. a much richer and a
mjch^w^r fallow, were fniall and weak.

If

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 17^

If one may venture to reafon upon this 87.
capricious crop, the frimnefs (luxuriance, culture
fucculency) of the former was owing to the turneps.
POROUSNESS of the SOIL, given by the unre-
duced clods and vegetable fubftances, inter-
mixed with the mold ; and the weaknefs of
the latter, to too great a finenefs and cleannefs
of foil, which, falling under the harrow into
a compad: ftate, became too clofe and fufFo-
cating to an infant plant, which feems to de-
light in an open foil, and a free fupply of
air.

It was a general obfcrvatlon, at the time,
that young plants, growing on land which
had been fown only once, were much ilronger,
than thofe on land, which, having miffed the
firft fowing, had been refown ; and which
had, of courfe, been reduced to a fine pul-
verous tilth '*.

Obferving, lad year, in No. i . that a fpace
on each fide of the inter furrows, (>f i
width proportioned to the degree of tiatnefs
and wetnefs of the foil, was left deftitute of
turneps, ov/ing to the mbifiurc which fettled

down

* For another inftance of undigeftcd vegetables b^^ing
Serviceable to young turneps, fee Norfolk, min. 7 \.

TURJȣPS.

17+ MINUTES Actrc.

87. down the fides of the lands, as well as to a
<:uLTURE coldnefs and poverty of foil, which will al-
ways take place when land, anyway reten-
tive, is raifed into high wide ridges, agree-
ably to the practice of this diftrict, — aifo
cbferving, this year, in No. 5. that fome of
the couch, which had been drawn to the fur-
face, by the harrow, had, notwithllanding
its apparent deadnefs, begun to flioot, — I
plowed two bouts (two pairs of furrows) in
each interfurrow of this piece, and, picking
off the couch from the fides of the lands,
threw it upon the landlets thus formed in the
iiKerfurrows*.

There is a fourfold advantage ariling from
this point of management. The cleanfing of
the land (the interfurrows moll particularly),
encreafing the turnep-growing furface (lall
year there was, on a par, a yard's width on
each fide of every furrow without turneps
upon it, or bearing fuch as were not worth
carrying off), leficning the quantity of
noiNG (which I had done cheaper on this

account),

• This furnifhcs an evidence, were any evidence re-
quired, that, when land is vtry fsu/y even a TURKEP
FALLOW, in a dry feafon, is inadequate to the purpofe of
cleanfiOH it.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

>75

account), and laying the fides of the lands
dry, during winter.

The QUANTITY OF SEED, throughout,
has been one pound, an acre : excepting on
one land which was, by way of experiment,
fown at the rate of three pounds an acre.
(See MiN. 84.) The refult of which is,
that, while the reft of the piece is fcattered
with '* galls," or vacant places, this land has
not, generally fpeaking, a plant wanting.

Began hoing the 26th of Auguft, — at five
Hiillings, an acre, with ale and beer : to be
hoed with fix inch hoes ; all the ground to
be cut over ; and the plants to be fct out
clofe, as nine or ten inches ; the feafon being
too far fpent to expecfl a great lize of root.

Never, perhaps, did plants grow fo ra-
pidly, as the firft hoed ones of this piece:
and it is a ftriking circumftance, in favor of
HoiNG (turneps), that the growth and fize
of the plants did not keep pace, or fucceed
each other, according to the times oifi-ivingy
but followed the hoe^ with great exacflnefs.
The regular fucceflion was broken, by thin-
ning the clufters of part only (fee min. 79.)'
And, what is equally interefting, and in favor
of hoing, earfyy thofe hoed the firft day are,

in

87.

CULTURE

of
TURNERS.

HOTXG
TURXEPS.

i;6 MINUTES Agric.

Sj. in appearance, feveral weeks forwarder than
HoivG thofe hoed the lafl: : the tops and roots three

TURNEPS. . 1,1

times the iizc ; though there was but one
week's difference in the time of hoing !
The difference, indeed, is fo ffriking, and fo
regular^ that the day of hoing might almoil
be known, by the fize of the plants : a cir-
cumftance to be accounted for, only, in the
rapidity of their growth, in this inftance.
For the weather being, at once, ihowery,
warm, and wmJj, fuch a Itrength of vege-
tation took place as I have feldom feen. The
plants doubled their fize, in the courfe of a
few days ; fo that the clullers began to run
up ; and no hoers were to be had, to thin
them.

This was a predicament which required
an expedient. For all the latefowti turncps
in the countr)' being in a fimilar ftate, the
few hoers, the country affords, were em-
ployed.

Having no alternative-, I ordered the
fmith to cut up an old iitlie, into three tur-
nep hoes ; which he did, in the courfe of a
few hours; and, the 14th September, fet
tliree laborers to work — men who, generally
fpeaking, never had hoe in hand— to thin

the

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 177

HOING

TUi<.N-£PS,

the clafters : and, the weather continuing 87.
fine, and the plants continuing to thrive
luxuriantly, they afterwards aflifted in Sing-
ling them.

The errors of beginners, I find, are thefe :
they take too long hold of the hoe, and lift
it too high ; cutting off the tops of the plants,
which ftand before them, as they bring the
edge of the hoe to the ground. They flrike
^too quicki and without fufficient decilion.
They keep their eve upon the hoey not upon
the plant to be fet out : they pull the hoe
diredily forivard ; cutting, or pulling up,
every thing in its way ; and raife it out of
the ground, towards them ; thereby throw-
ing the mold, with which it is loaded, upon
the plants already fet out : in fliort, they
handle a hoe, as they do a mattock.

The rules laid down to them were thefe :

Strike (lowly ; and fuffer the hoe to remain
in the ground, until the eye has determined
on the next movement: reftingupon the arms,
in a llooping pofture; with the right hand
from fifteen to twenty inches, from the head
of the hoe, and the left hand, tv.elve or four-
teen inches, above the right.

Vol. II. N In

MINUTES Agric.

87. In fetching the next fboke, not to raifc

the hoe, perpendicularly ; nor to diiengage
it from the mold, by pulling it toward them ;
but to thruft it from them, nearly horizon-
tally ; never luffering its edge to rife higher,
than the ciods ; — keeping it among or under
the leaves, rather than above them: and,
in making the ftroke, not to bring the hoe
in a diredtion perpendicularly to its edge,
but fomewliat obliquely, or cornerwile ; by
which means it cuts eaiily, and keeps its edge
clean : a knife forced down a ilick, at right-
angle, would be much lefs eife<ftive, than one
drawn obliquely, in the ufual manner.

Let each ilroke have its fpeciai intention :
generally fpeaking, each movement ought
to fingle a plant : it ought at leafl to tE&(X
fomething ; and that particular thing ihould
be determined upon, and the eye finally iixt,
before the hoe be lifted ; leil, for want of a
determinate objeift:, it be drawn at random,
and do mifchief inftead of good.

Practice, alone, can give a quicknefs of
judgement, a quicknefs of eye, and a quick-
nefs of efFedive flrokes : confequently, a
learner in. tumcp hoing, like^ a learner in
mufic, in fencing, or in any other art, fhould

begin

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. i79

begin flowly, and let a quieknefs of motion 87.
encreafe with his pra(flice. hoing -

^ . tURNEPS.

Two young fellows, who were anxious to
learn, and who followed implicitly the rules
laid down to them, became, in a few days,
tolerable hoers.

This fummef has been fmgularly difficult,
with relpedl to the cultivation of the turnep
crop. Some of the turnep farmers, weft of
the Tame, are faid to have fown four times !
three fowings (on the fame ground) have
been common, throughout the countr)^ ; and,
at laft, there are very few crops which will
pay for the expence of hoing.

No man, I believe, on this fide of the
Tame, has eighteen acres of turneos, equal
to thofe of No. 2. and No. 5. And, having
neceflarily beftowed more attention, and'
thereby obtained more experience, in the
turnep hufbandry, this year, than on any
former occafion, I will endeavor to fet dowa
what appears to me, at prefent, the mcft
eligible method of cultivating the turnep

CROP, on RICH RETENTIVE SOILS.

I . If the foil be foul, or if early fowing

be propofed, break up, in autumn, by a.

ricebalk or half plowing, acrofs the lands ;

N 2 gathering

CULTURE

of
TURNEPS.

i8o MINUTES Agrio

gy, gathering a bout in each interfurrow, and
ciLTURE opening the crofs trenches ; in order to lay
TURNIPS, the foil as dry as poflible, during winter.
But, if the foil be tolerably clean, and early-
fowing be not wanted, break up, in the
fpring; in order that the roots and ftems of
grades, 6cc. may remain in an undigeiled
llate, and aflift in rendering a clofely tex-
tured foil loofe and open, and fit for the re-
ception of the weakly fibres of feedling tur-
neps ; whofe roots have a downward ten-
dency ; yet are, in their infant ftate, by no
means rubuft enough, to ftruggle with a
ftubborn foil ; — though it is highly probable,
from the incident, this year, in No. 2. that,
having once eftablifhed its taproot, the tur-
nep becomes a powerful plant, able to pene-
trate a compadt foil.

2. Cross, as well as give the first
STIRRING (the third plowing) without a
previous harrowing ; — and, if the root weeds
be not yet Aibdued, give a fourth plowing,
before the harrows be iuffered to come upon
the foil.

3. Spread dung on the rough pi it, and
in a middle llate as to digeftion : if too long
and ftra\v\', it is pulled up by the harrows,

and

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 181

and becomes a caufe of ** galls and clufters ;" 87.
if wholly dioefted, it Icfes the valuable culture

. o ^ of

quality of rendering the foil loofe and turneps.
open.

4.. As the dung is fpread, harrow, and
ROL L AN DH ARROW, Until the furfacc be
perfed:ly reduced j — and, in this ftate, let it
lie until the feed weeds have vegetated.

5. Turn under the weeds and manure, by
a mean-depth, or fomewhat fhallow plowing ;
and, if the foil be in a proper ilate, and the
feafon of fowing be arrived, fow on this
plowing ; if not, harrow, rollandharrow, and
fuffer another crop of feed weeds to rife :
remembering that the flronger the weeds
are, before they are plowed under, the fitter
the foil will be for the reception of the fecd-
ling turneps ; moft efpecially if it be of a
tenacious quality.

6. Harrow, immediately, the plit of the
feed plowing, with rough harrows ; in order
to give a uniform loofenefo to the furface, as
v/ell as that the feed may be buried at a
uniform depth. — Sow, — and immediately
COVER with one full tine of a pair of light
harrows y — and, if pojfibky with the horfes

trotting.

N 3 7. For

fSz MINUTES Agric.

^7* 7- f'or a crop, to be eaten off in autumn,

CULTURE few the ** /^;z>6^;-^turnep" *, in June : but,

TURNERS, for winter and Ipring feed, fow the common

white loaf i in July : and if thefe mifcarry,

or if flubble turneps be attempted, fow

*' Jio?ie' turneps -f* in August.

8. In a common feafon, fow two pounds
of SEED, an acre i-^all upon the fame furface.
For, perhaps, the more nearly the plants rife
together, the lefs danger there is of their
being wholly cut off, bv infedls ;- — the beetle
efpecially. But, if infedts are known to be
in force, or if any doubt arife, either as to
the quality of the feed, or the feafon, fow at
leafl THREE POUNDS of SEED, an acre.

9. If the foil lie in broad round lands,
agreeably to the pradice of this country, plow
one, two, or even three, bouts in each in-
TERFURRow,accordingtothe width,height,
and wetnefs of the lands, as foon as the feed
weeds have done vegetating ; — and, if any
root weeds appear to be alive on the furface,

or

* The *^ pudding" tyrncp of Norfolk j which has z,
rapid growth ; but, ftanding high above the growid, can-
pot bear the winter.

f A fmall hard fwcct turncp, which ftands the winter,
with fingukr hardiiicfs.

Ij95* MIDLAND COUNTIES. 183

or being dead, if any are likely to impede 87.
the hoe, pick them off, and caft them upon culture
the intervals. turners.

10. Begin hoing, whenever the plants of
the cluflers begin to interfere, and draw
each other upright ; for the leaves of a turnep
iliould fpread horizontally upon the ground,
and, in the firfl flages of their growth, tak§
the form of the rofe.

If the crop rife in clufters, with thin in-»
terfpaces, the CLUSTERs£hould be thinned,
with the HOE. But, if the crop be uniformly
too rank, and the plants too thick upon the
ground, the harrow, perhaps, is a more eli-
gible implement ; as giving a moil defirable
opennefs to the furface, and freedom to the
tender fibrils of the feedling plants.

As foon as the plants, in general, are free
from the danger of b§ing buried by the
hoe, — namely, as foon as the leaves are as
broad as the thumb, and the plants as large
as the palm of the hand, — begin to fet them
out; — the early fown ones, from ten to twelvq^
pr fourteen inches afunder, the latefown
ones, from feven to nine or ten ; — the former
with eight to nine inch hoes, the latter with
five to fix inch; being careful, this firfl hoing,
N 4 ;.q

84 MINUTES A&rIc.

87. to cut over the whole furface, and to leave
cvLTURE the plants thick enough ; being lefs anxious
TVRKZPs. about a double plant, than about cutting up
a fingle one where a plant is wanted.

Tht earl^fGivn p\2.nts ihould have a second
HOiNG, before their tops begin to interfere;
in order to difplace fupernumerary plants,
and to give thofe, fet out, the entire pof-
fefTion of the furface.

The hackivard plants, however, can fel-
dom require more than one full hoing ;
there is no danger from a fecond crop of
weeds, in autumn : neverthelefs, if the plants
be promifing, they fhould be looked over a
fecond tim.s, and the fupernumerary plants
be difplaced.

1 1 . If the iirfl: fovving mifcarry, and the
failure be fully and clearly afcertnined, before
the weeds have got too ftrong to be eradicated
with rough harrows, harrow, only, before re-
sowing ; but, if the weeds have got fail
hold of the foil, or if the feafon be too moift
to obtain a proper tilth, by harrowing alone,
plow, a mean depth* ^nd harrpw, fow, and
cover as before.

It is obfcrvable, hpwever, that many valu-
able crops of turnepshave been plowed und^r,

for

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

18s

for want of judgement, or of patience, to fee 87.

the event. The plants of the two iiril: fown culture
lands of No. 2. looked, once, as not being turneps.
entitled to the occupation of the fpil ; but,
now, they wear f:he appearance of a tolerably
full, fair crop, — of much greater value than
a frcfh flock of plants, obtained from a third
fowing, could have arrived at : befide the
faying of the feed, and labor. See Nor-
folk, MiN. 3. on this fubje^fl.

28.

September 27. There are confiderable
quantitiesofLATTERMATHHAYnow down,
and fpoiling with the wetnefs of the feafon.

This pionth, throughout, has been a fe-
cpnd hay harvefl : not of latpermath;, ority?
but of fuch mowing grounds, gs never rofe
to the lithe, until after the rains fet in, and
\vhich have, lince, been kept free from cattle j
for the purpofe of trying, at lead, to lay up
a little hay from them.

Bat the hope has been in a great meafure

fruftrated. Very little, if any, has been got

in a ftate fit for fodder ! What a temper-

ti.ying yecir for the farsner !

Sep-

KAY

HARVEST.

FARMING.

l^AKL

MINUTES Acaic,

89.

Septemeer 27. Some time ago, Mr. Hill
cf Hall End {ho\X'ed me a ftriking improve-
ment, which he i<i making, upon a coarle
meadow, by marling.

From an unproductive rough meadow,
covered with all kinds of weeds and rubbifh,
it is become a fine turf: full of white tre-
foil, the meadow vetch, and the finer gralfes:
and what enhances the value of the improve -
ment, the herbage is not only better, but
the produce (Mr. H. fays) is much greater,
than it was formerly.

The SPIRIT OF EXPERIMENTING led

Mr. H. to this marl. Wifhing to improve
this meadow, he fet on a variety of manures,
and among the refl fome white earth which
he found, by accident, in a large excavation
on his farms no doubt, in former tim.es, a
marl pit.

The fird year, the alteration was not great;
but the fecond (namely, laft year) the difcGi-ery
came out : fome experiments with fwine's
dung, nightfoil, &c. &c. fall fliort of the marl.
\\'aier let in from an adjoining road flanda

next

lySs- MIDLAND COUNTIES.

187

next it. This appears to be a valuable dif-
covery ; and is a lliriking evidence of the ufe

of EXPERIMENT.

Yeilerday, I took a look at the pit -, which
is now in work.

The jam or bed rifes to within eighteen
inches of the furface ; and Mr. H. is follow^
ing it ten or twelve feet deep.

A fpecimen that I took from the middle of
the jam, as well as that which I took off the
grafs, is ftrongly calcareous *.

It is extraordinary, that a bed of grey marl
fhould occur in a country, in which nothing,
but re^ earths, in any degree calcareous,
is prevalent. It is obfervable, however,
that North Warwickshire is divided from t.iis
diflrid:, by the valley through which the
Anker runs; and they mav, in the general
rupture, have been brouo;ht frcm diftant
fituations, cr have been torn from different
rtrata.

And it feems more extraordinary, that a
mine of calcareous earth, which has evi-
dently been known in ages paO, fliculd have
been fo entirely neglecfted, and fo effeiftually
fprgot, that J had it not been for the spirit

OF
* But fee vol. i. p. 156..

R9.

EXPERI.

MINTING.

MARL.

iSS M I N U T E S Agric.

89. OF EXPERIMENTING, it might havc lain
WARL. iiegle(ftecl, for ages to come.

There are evident veftlges of. a pit — an
immenfe excavation — (with bufhes and even
trees growing in its area) containing half
an acre or an acre of ground, which appears
to have been all worked over, ten or twelve
feet deep : and, on one fide, fifteen or
t^A'enty !

It is highly probable, that, if proper fearch
were made, other beds of a fimilar nature
mi^ht be found in North Warwickfhire.

90.

BARLEY. Se p T F M r. E P. 2 8 . This year, I hiive grown

thirty acrps of barley : namely, eighteen
2iQYCSy after fuvimcr fallowy fo\vn between
the 23d April and ^he 3d May: and twelve
acres, after tnnicps -, fown between the 5th
and the 8th May.

The circum Ranees which have attended
the VEGETATION OF CAREEY, this vcar,
are fuch as feldoni happen.

On the north fides of the lands of the for-
mer and upon the fpringy parts (fee mi n. 106.)

the

1785- MIDLAND COUNTIES. 189

the majority of the feed, fown in April, 90.

came up in due time after fowing. But on barley,

the fouth lides of the lands (lying nearly eaft

and well, but reduced to gentle waves) the

greater fhare lay in the ground, until the

ihowers of Mc:y-Jwu' brought up a fecond

crop 5 and the whole did not appear, until

the rains of the ??i:ddle of June: excepting a

land whofe feed was plowed under (fee

MiN. 41.) > ^"^ ^hi? came away, chiefly, at

the time of fowing.

The latter fowing of this piece came up, in
a limilar manner ; except, that a Icfs propor-
tion rofe, at the time of fowing.

The other piece, being, at the time of
fowing, not only dry, but cloddy, fcarcely any
part of the feed vegetated, until the beginjiing
of June y and much of it lay in the ground,
until the hitter end of June. Belide, that which
came up in the beginning of June, received
a check, by the fucceeding drought; fo that,
in the month of July, there was no appearance
of its ever riling to the fithc, even as herbage,
miich lefs of its reaching maturity, as a corn
crop.

However, the ample rain?, in the wane
of June, gave a loofe to it; and, during the

whole

tQO

Ni 1 N U T E S

AgriC.

90.

BARLEY.

TIME
K)WiNC.

whole of Augull, it made an extraordinary
progrefs. But the Icafon was far fpent : a.nd
the blight which took place the beginning
of Auguft, did not only blacken the ftraw,
but has flirivclled the grain (a circumflance
I never obferved before, in barley) : and,
added to this, the third crop is now coming
out into ear I fo that the crop, taken alto-
gether, is in the moil auk ward flate : the
little which came up firfl, is difcolored by
the blight, and by Aanding too long; the
fecond crop is not yet ripe enough to cut;
and the third is now in green ear.

Thefe circumrtances furnifh ample grounds
of difcuflion, with refpedt to the season of

SOWING.

The fa(fl which f.rft prefents itfelf is, that
the faccefs of the crop depends on the time
OF vfiGETATiNG, and not on the time of
sowing: a fact, which though it may be
laid to be felfevidcnt, was never, perhaps, fo
fully dcmonilrcLted, in praifuce, as it has been,
this year.

The times of fov/ing, and the times of ve-
getating, of the barley under con fide ration,
have been mentioned: namely, the major
part of A. came up, at the time of fowing

(the

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES; 19*

(the latter end of April), the remainder, the 9^-
beginning of June. The minor part of B. '^^^f^
vegetated, at the time of fowing (the begin- sowjjjg.
ningof May), the majority coming up, the
beginning of Jufie. Very little of C rofe at
the time of fowing: the principal part vege-
tated the beginning of June; and the re-
mainder the latter end of that month.

It is obfervable, however, that the foil of
this piece lying rough, and of courfe hollow,
the fhowers of May- June, though they caufed
much of the feed to vegetate, were not ade-
quate to the proper nourilhiment of the plants ;
fo that they remained, in a ftunted flate, un-
til the rains of the 1 8th and 1 9th of June re-
lieved them.

Therefore, the failure of this piece was
neither ov^ing to the time of fowing, nor to
the time of vegetating, but to the fiubborn-
nefsof the foil, rendered flill more unfriendly
to the infant plants, by the frowardnefs of
the feafon, after vegetation : otherwife, the
crop of this piece would, in the ordinary
courfe of things, have been fimilar to thofe of
A* and B. and would have been the beft
crop of the three ; becaufe the greatell pro-
portion of feed vegetated, the beginning of
June. For

jg2 MINUTES AoRio.

go. For It has been evident, to common obfer*

TIME vation, throughout the country, that barlies
SOWING, which were fown and came up early, though
they looked pronlifing, in the former part of
fummer, flirunk, and dwindled almoft to no-
thing, before harvefl: : — The grain weak, and
the rtraw lliort and feeble j barely able to
fupport the light burden it had to bear.
While the fecond crop of A. and B. more par-
ticularly the latter, was ftoiit well eared bar-
ley : from twentylive to thirtytwo fallfizcd
grains, in each head 3 and, notwithllanding
the feafon, and notwithilandiiig this part was
iheaved, near two loads of fi-eavesy an acre.

It has been already faid, that this growth
came up in confcqiicncc of lliowers, at the
clofe of May; and it is a remarkable fa<fV, tliat
the hawthorn blowcd, the ifl of June !

It is therefore evident, from this year's ex-
perience, that, with a view to a fullnefs of
crop, k:r/ty Jl:ould vegetate 'whik the

HAWTHORN // BLOWING.

It is aUo obfervablc, that the foliation
of the OAK was not, this year, a proper guide
to the SOWING OF BARLEY. For altliough,
in general, it foliates about the time tliat the
hawthorn blows, its foliation, this year, took

place

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

{)lace twenty days before the blowing of the
hawthorn ! The roots of the oak range deep,
and may be influenced by caufesj which do
not operate near the furface ; while the haw-
thorn feeds, principally, in the fame paflure
with the barley. It neverthelefs feems rea-
finable y when the hawthorn blows late, to be
before, rather than behind, the feafon of blow-
ing. For it is obfervable, throughout, that
the TIME OF RIPENING correfponds, in a
great degree, with the time of vegeta-
ting : unlefs when the maturation was dif-
turbed, as it was in C. by an adventitious
circumftance.

193

90.

TIME

of

SOWING.

9i

October i. In market converfation, the
changing of seed became the fubjecft.

Mr. j the largeft occupier in the

diftridt, thinks it of no ufe. He has not
changed his red wheat, for ten or twelve
years; and yet experiences no falling off.
Other farmers, who have done the fame, are
even celebrated for their feed wheat.

Vol. II. O I never.

CHANGE

of

SEED.

194

MINUTES

AoRiC.

91.

CHANGE

of

SEED.

I never, however, have perceived lo ge-
neral a fpirit, for the changing of feed, as

prevails in this diliricft. Mr. of

has fome wheat, juft arrived from Cambridgc-
fhire, which fiands him in nine fliillings a
bufhel, Wincheder meafurej and fetches it
ten or twelve miles. He, on the other hand,
fends fome, this year, into Shropfhire. Even
the little field farmers hive been accuilomed
to fow wheat of the fouthern counties ; but,
from what I can learn, the fpirit begins to
abate.

Indeed, the pra(flice, here, as everywhere
clfe, feems to be founded on general notions ;
and no one appears even to reafon upon its
propriety : much lefs brings any other proofs
of its utility, than " it muil be fo"*.

October

* I do not mean to fay that the changing of the ^^ fad^"
or rather the variety, of cukivatcJ crops is of no ufe: I
have Ion'' been of opinion that it is ufeful (fee MiN. in
Surrey). I can far, with truth however, that I do not
Know it to be of any fervice. It appears to be, at prefcnt,
one of thof^ mysteries of hufoandry, which nothing, per-
haps, but a PUBLIC ESTABLISH-Mt-NT will ever be
abL- to clear up.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 195

9I

October i. It is remarkable, that there
Is not, in this quarter of the diftrid:, a good
crop of barley, after turneps.

Mr. 's, though the firfi fown barley

in the country, and on one of the beft pieces
of land in it, is not equal to that of No. i .

And Mr. ■ , who got his turneps off

early, and his land plowed in time, and whofe
barley, in the fpring, looked promiling, had
a poor crop, at harvefl:.

Some years ago, the Shuttington farmers,
by general confent, turneped their fallow
field. The confequence was, they conftantly
loft their barley crop : and for this reafon, I
underftand from different men of that town-
fhip, the practice was difcontinued *.

It ftrikes me forcibly, that, if turneps
be cultivated on ihtjironger lands -^ of this,
or perhaps any other diftridt, they ought to
be fucceeded by wheat, or oats, rather

than BARLEY.

O 2 October

* See alfo NoRfOLK j fed. BARtfiY; art. Soilprocefs.

f On the lighter lands, on the Fofeft fide of the diftrict,
good barley is got after turneps.

BARLEY

after
TURNEPS.

196 MINUTES AcRic.

vEGETAi.LE OcTOBER ^., The barley of No. i. had
not ripened, perceptibly, for fome weeks,
before the late fharp frofts : lince which it has
ripened, daily. There are twice the number
of ripe ears, now, there were a week ago :
they are not or;ly changed as to color, but
the corn is obviouily plumper. Before the
frofts, the heads feemed flender and puny ; fo
much fo, that 1 had configned the whole to
the miller : now I begin to hope that fome
of it may, this year of fcarcity, be fit for the
maltjier.

It was a general obfervation, it feems, in
this country, in the year 1782, (a wet back-
ward fummer) that the late ripe crops did
not ripen until froft came: even wheat was
cut, in December.

How is this to be explained ? Frofl, we
ftarcely can doubt, comprefTes the fapvelTels
of vegetables, and, probably, forces the fap
out of them: back to the earth, it is generally
iuppofed; but, perhaps, the natural recep-
tacles of the plants are firft fupplied.

It is obfervable that fruits ripen, leaves fall,

lattermath flirinks — by froit.

October

K785- MIDLAND COUNTIES. »»7

94"

October 3. It having always appeared i-aborirs,
to me incomprehenfible, how a common
farm laborer, who perhaps does not earn more
than iix or feven fhillings a week, rears a
large family, as many a one does, without
affiftance, — I defired old George Barwell,
who has brought up five or iix fons and
daughters, to clear up the myftery.

He acknowledges that he has frequently
been " hard put to it." He has fonietimes
barely had bread for his children : not a morr
fel for himfelf ! having often made a dinner
off raw hog peas : faying, that he has taken
a handful of peas, and ate them with as mucl^
fatisfadion as, in general, he has eaten bet-
ter dinners; adding, that they agreed with
him very well, and that he was as able to
work upon them, as upon other food : plofing
his remarks with the trite maxim — breathed
out with an involuntary figh — ** Ay, no man
knows what he can do, till he's put to it."

Since his children have been grown up,
lipd able to fupport thcmfelves, the old man

O 3 ka^

19^

94-

LABORERS,

MINUTES

Agric.

has faved, by the fame induftry and frugality
which fupported his family in his younger
days, enough to fupport himfelf in his old
age ! What a credit to the fpecies !

95-

MANURr,- October 3. I have often wifhed for fomc

luxuriant quickgrowing plant, which does
not readily (hed its feed, to fow upon dung
heaps, piles of comport, mold, &c. ; in
order to fmother the feediing weeds, to fhade
and mellow the furface, and to be dug in, to
afTift fermentation.

Mr. , this fummer, turned up a pile

of compoft, on which there is, now, a thick-
fet crop of TURN EPS !

Whether the feed was fown, or for what
purpofe if fown, or whether it was turned
up with the mold, I know not, nor is it ma-
terial ; but that no plant is better calculated
for the purpofe, than the turnep, is fuffi-
ciently evident; nor any one, except rape,
whofe feed is more eafily procured !

October

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. ^^

97'

October 15. See min. 23. From that calendar^
time, I have been affiduous in regiflering husbandrt
the rural tranfadlions of this diftridl ; not
with refped: to the inclosures only, but
to the COMMON fields: catching, from time
to time, by incidental or intentional obfer-
vation,thecuRRENT businessof farmers;
thereby fixing not dates, only, but other
fad:s in practice; which, without a peri-
odical register, might have efcaped un-
noticed.

The feveral articles of this journal I
have, from time to tin\c, pojledy or transferred,
to their refpedlive heads, in the systema-
tic REGISTER; and, now, feledt fuch arti-
cles, as will ferve to give a general idea of
the bufinefsofeacIiMONTHjin the inclosed
townships.

October.

Continuing to break up, and manure, o^t

bubbles, for wheat.
Continuing to fell fat ftock.
Buying in (lore ewes,

0.4 Changing

200 MINUTES AoRic.

97. Changing fervants.

CALENDAR Paying Ladyday rents.

HUSBANDRY Thralhing feed wheat.

Sowing wheat ; moftly fown this month.

November.

Breaking up wheat ftubble, for barley.
Finifhing fat cows, with preferved paf-.

ture, hay, and, perhaps, turneps thrown

on grafs land.
Some hurdling off turneps, with fh^ep.
Beginning to cut hedges.
Openi^ig furface drains (a good time).
Some planting quick hedges.
Manuring young graifes, and grafs lands,
Collecfting fuel.

December.

Thrashing, and carrying out corn.
Attending yard ftock, and ftore (beep.
Fatting, and beginning to kill, pigs.
Drying off cows.

Continuing to break up pinfallows.
Manuring pinfallows, and grafs lands.
Plafhing hedges.

January.
Continuing the work? of laft month,

Som«

ijSS, MIDLAND COUNTIES. joi

Some ftalliatting cows, with hay and cut- 97.

meat. c.^ntjar

Some breaking up turnep fallows, in open kusbaxdrt

weather.
Some marling, in frofl".

February.
Beginning to break up turf, for oatr.
Attending to dairy cows, now calving.
Rearing the cow calves; fatting th?

bulls.
Attending ftore and fatting (lock.
Beginning to look out for " barren

beace."

March.

Continuing to plow for oats.
Some continuing to break up turnep fal-
low, for barley.
CroiTing pinfallows.
Plalhing and planting hedges.
Bufy after lean cattle.
Attending ewes and lambs.
Beginning to fow oats.

Aprjl,

Sowincy oats.

Pavinsj Michaelmas rents.

CrofTing

201L MINUTES A5RIC

CALENDAR
cf

97* Crofiing and harrowing pmfallows.

Seme fowing turnep ground, with barley.
jiUSMNDRv Continuing to buy barren cows.

Buying and felling incalvers.
Sowing barley, on pinfallow.
Planting potatoes.
Stonepicking, and fpreading dung.

May.

Sowing barky.

Some crofTing turnep fallows.

Fetching lime

Some underdraining (a bad time).

Continuing to attend fpring fairs.

Beginning to make faftor's cheefe.

Weeding wheat.

Shearing flieep.

Selling fat lambs.

June.

Some flirring and liming turnep fallow.

Weeding corn.

Some beginning to fow turneps.

Mowing clover.

Carrying out manure.

Beginning to mow grafs^ .

July

1785

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

20|

July.

97-

CALENDAR.

Haymaking.
Some fowing turneps.
Selling forward cows.
Some manuring grafs land

(a good

of
HUSBANPUT

time) .

August.

Corn harveft.
Putting bulls to heifers.
Selling fat flock.

Some breaking up ftubble for turneps.
AH beginning to break up oat flubble,
for wheat.

September.

Plowing and manuring oat ilubble, for

wheat.
Some mowing wheat ftubble.
Selling fat flock.
Beginning to buy lean ewes.
Beginning to fow wheat.

October

2C4 M I K U T i: S AsRia

98.

coMMov October ic. Thofe obfen-ations like-

^'^■5>BA^■DRy wife enable me to make cut a ike ten ot

the COM.MON FIELD HUSBANDRY of this

diflria:.

Half a century ago, the diftrufl: was prin-
cipally open. Now it is moftly inclofed. In
t/:is quarter of it, there are only four town-
(hips that remain in any degree open : New^
ton^ Aujlreyy Shutttngtoriy Edinghall : and, in
the Bofworth quarter, there are fomc three;
gr four more.

Each TOWNSH I p appears to have been laid
out, originally, into three arable fields , with
grafly balks, and *' ley lands ;" a common
7nead<nD -i and 2i common co^d> pafiure*. The
fallow field is a flinted Jheep ivalk -(-. And
horjes, in fummer, are teddered on the balks,
and ley lands, of the corn fields.

The

* Red MORE, in one of whofe hogs^ tradition ^ys,
K:no Richard loft his life, is ftill a common cow

PASTURE.

t Thofe who do not keep flieep let their " comins :"
one perfon, perhaps, renting the {heep it%^ of the entire
townfliip.

tySs, MIDLAND COUNriEl'

«o$

The COURSE OF husbandry.

Fallow,

Wheat or barley,

Pulfe or oats *.

Of late years, clover has beea fubftituted,
in fume inftances, in the place of beans -f ;
5ind, in others, TURNEPshave been fovvn, on
the fallow, for barley : the laft, however, i§ a
practice which has not gained an eftabliflied
footing ; being now nearly, or wholly, laid
afide ; except in a very fcarce year for fodder,
as the prefent, when part of Newton field was
Town with turneps.

FALLOW.

Break up (after barley fowing) late in the
fpring : of courfe the operation is difficult,

though

98,

COMMON

FIELD

HUSBANDS Y

* In 1785, Sutton Ambion, and the adjoining
field, — the fite of the *' battle of Bofworth field,"— were
in WHEAT. Hence, if the prefent courfe of crops is of
three hundred years Handing, they were lilcewife in wheat,
or in a ftate of wheat harveft, at the time of the battle.

t The clover is mown twice, the firft year j and plowed
up for fallow, the fecond.

a*6 MINUTES Agric

9^' though the furrows, in this plowing, bd
*'o»«*OK thrown do^vTTward * .
KL-sBAKDRY Jhc fifft ftirfing, in June, upward.

The fecond {lining (which flovens not un-
frequently omit) in Auguft ; fometimes «/>-
toardy fometimes d<ywn.

Set the MANURE, generally, on the firft or
fecond plowing ; and in a lon^ ftrawy flate ;
raw as it rifes out of the dung yard : to ap-
pearance, a flovenly pra<ftice. Neverthelefs
it mav have been, originally, founded in ex-
perience. The flrawinefs may ferve to keep
the falla-.vy foil, in an open, porous ilate ;
preventing its being run together, by heavy
rains ; a principal danger, perhaps, incident
to fidlowfield lands. See min. 21.

Wheat.

The it^^ is invariably plowed under : the
ridges being gathered upward, with the feed
plowing.

The

♦ The ridges are high; but not equal in height to
thofc of the vales of Glocefter acd Eveflura. S^e Gto-

C£SrtRSHI?.i.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 20^1

The management, in other refpedts, is 98.
fimilar to that of wheat, in inclosures *. common

FIELD
HUSBANDRY

Beans.

Slit open the ridges of the wheat flubble,-
in winter, by two furrows, thrown outward.

Begin plowing, upward, in February, or
as foon as the w^eather will permit : and fow
when the feafon is fuitable.

If a favorable feed time offer, in February,
it is now become pretty generally the prac-
tice, to fow on the flubble, and plow the
feed under -\'. But, if the early part of the
feafon be unkind, the land is plowed, as the
weather will permit, and the feed fown, as
foon as the land will work, and harrowed if!.
All fown broadcaft.

It is obfervable, that, in the produce of
the common fields, wheat far exceeds every
other crop. It is true, the foil is fallowed and
manured for wheat ; but the beans and the
oats follow immediately j and, of courfe, have
a confiderable fhare of the improvement.
And all, perhaps, that can be drawn from

this

* See vol. i. Art. Wheat. ^

t See vol. i. Art. Beans.

zct

M t 14 U f E S

AgRiG.

9^* this ftriking circumftance is, that wheat is,
^^fJeld^ in this country, the moft permanent of
HusBANO.iY cultivated crops.

Upon the whole, it is evident to ordinary
obfervation, that the common field hus-
bandry, of this, as well as of other diftri<fts,
is inconvenient and unproductive : and
it is a matter of fome aflonifhment, that the
bed lands of the ifland fhould have been fuf-
fered to lie, fo long as they have done, in
fuch an unprofitable state.

99,

ATARKITS.

TRAZIVG
CATILS.

OcTOBESI7.FAZELEYFAIR(feeMIN.I3.)

a full fair of cattle : from eight hundred to a
thoufand head : niofl: of them half fat : fome
few tolerable beef.

The fale extremely flat. The underfat
cattle were obliged to be fold ; many of
them, at any price. Seven or eight pounds
were afked for cows, which, if they had
been fat, — as in a common year they pro-
bably might, with the fame time they have
had this — would have fetched twelve or
fourteen pounds * Much beef was fold, at
. twopeneci

1785.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

209

twopence 1 pound : perhaps, for the half 99.
fat fort, twopence halfpenny was a medial ^^^^l''^^
price ; and much went out, unfold* See
MIN. 67*

100,

October 17. In July 1784, 1 made, on
a turnep fallow, an experiment, with Br ee-
DON LIME. (See vol. i. p. 149. and mi n. 2.

The field, in general, was limed with
about fire quarters, an acre. Part of one land
had doi^ble that quantity : part of another,
none.

The TURNEP crop received no obvious
advantage from the lime. •

But its effedis on the barle V are evident.
The part not limed is evidently the worji
crop. Nearly in the proportion, I appre-
hend, of four to three. In this cafe, there-
fore, the barley, alone, will nearly pay for
the lime.

But, what is ftill more interefting, the

part limed, with ten quarters, an acre, is the

befl crop in the piece. Therefore, the

notion, that a quantity of Breedon lime.

Vol. II. P greater

LIME.

zio

MINUTES

Agric

TOO.
iJME

greater than five quarters an acre, is ruinous
to crops, appears, by this experiment, to be
entirely without foundation.

Upon foul pinfallow, it may be injurious;
by encouraging (not ** breeding") couch:
but, on a clean turnep fallow, it has, in this
inftance, fpent its flrength on the crop.

lOI.

LABORERS. October 19. Of fix laborers, which I
have had in employ, today, two have a mile,
one has two mil^s, and three have three
miles, to walk home !

How inconvenient to live for from a vil-
lage. Either fccond rate workmen muft be
put up with, or extraordinary wages given.
For what man, who can get work and wages,
at home, would voluntarily undertake the
talk of walking three miles, to and from his
work.

October

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. M

102,

October 23. The evening before laft> harvest.
got harveft home ! barley.

This being the mofl remarkable cafe, iii
HARVESTING, which has occurred to me, I
have regularly fet down the incidents, as
they pafled, and now reduce them to a
minute, that I may not lofe the remembrance
of any part of a tranfadlion, which is, taken
all in all, the moft interefting one I have met
Avith, in my practice.

The harveding of produce is the moll fe-
rious employment of hulbandry : for, if a
cvo^ fail, through improper management or
untoward feafons, the foil is not exhaufted,
but remains in flrength for a future feafon :
but when once a crop- is obtained, the foil
has, of coi\rfe, undergone a proportional de-
gree of exhauftion, and any injury received
by a RIPENED CROP, whether of grain or
herbage, becomes a dead lofs, which cannot
be retrieved.

Therefore, every thing which tends to re-
duce the HARVESTING of CROPS, to a degree
P 2 of

i(2

M I N U

E S

Agric

102.
HARVEST.

KARLEV.

of CERTAINTY, is of thchighefl importance

to the ARABLE FARMER *.

From fo much experience, accompanied
by unufual attention, fomething, furely, may
be drawn, bordering, at leaft, upon gene-
ral RULES. The following are what occur
to me.

If the days be long, and the w^eather fet-
tled, mow barley into swath, and harvefl
it agreeably to the pra^ice of the country it
grows in.

If either the days be flicrt, or the wea-
ther be unfettled, fet it up in single

SHEAVES -f.

But (in either of thefe cafes) if the hedge:
be high, and the fituation flat, firft cut down
the hedges, and then cut the barley. Sec
MIN. 1 60.

If through late fowing, or an untowardnefs
of feafon/ barley do not ripen, before the
wane of September, let it ftand, u:;til fome

fmart

* 171^6. In the firfT edition of theie M mutes, a detail
of this incident of practice was given. Being aware,
however, of a vvant of intereft, in recitals of agricultural
operations, I now omit the detail : but infcrt the praclicil
inferences it afibrds.

+ Gaits. Sec Yorkshire ; fc(f\. Ha? vesting.

1 75s.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

213

invirt FROSTS have performed that, v.'hich
the fun, in autumn, is unable to accompliOi.
Belide, the feafon is frequently more fettled,
ill the be^innins: of Odober, than about the

equinox.

If f.vaths, mown during an appearance of
fine weather, be neverthelefs caught in rain,
fet them up in sheaf pieces ", the firft:
fair opportunity ; and, as foon as the tops
and binding places are a little dried, and
leiilire will permit, put bands round them ;
or, if fettled fair v/eather return, return them
again into fwaths, as focn as the ground is
perfeclly dry.

With refpecl to the treatment of single
SHE AVES,— if the barley be green, gra(i]v, or
weedy, they ihould have, at leafl, a fortnight
of F I ELDROOM ; — obferving, that, when one
lide is fufficiently weathered, to turn the op-
pofite towards the fun : an operation that is
readily performed.

If, when they are fufficiently weathered,
the bandplaces be thoroughly cured, and fuf-
ficiently dry,^-thro\v them dowTi, to air the
buts i and carry VN'ithout further trouble.

P 3 If

« Untied gaits ; which, while corn remains damp, will
ft and tolerably weU.

I02.

HARVEST-
ING

BARLEY.

BARLE'

214 MINUTES AcRic.

10-. If the buts be clean, and forwarder than

"'^^v'^^^' *^^ band places, bind in the common bind-
ing place, and either open the heads, as they
lie upon the ground, or fet them up in
ihucks, until thoroughly cured.

If the {heaves be futhciently weathered,
but damp, both in the buts and binding
places, and a fair opportunity is wanted to be
embraced, open them, in the morning, and
carry, in the afternoon : but, if one day be
not fufficient to get them into order, difband
them, the firfb day, and fpread them open, the
next ; or, if the weather be fufpicious, pull
up the bands, rend open the bandplaces, and
let them remain, until one fine day will fit
them for the rick.

If the foil get rotten, the days be fliort,
and hands fcarce, or the weather be fuch
that the barley cannot be got into futiicient
order, — make small ricks in the field,
by means of sledges ; and embrace a clear
froity day, in winter, for carrying them to

the BARN.

October

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. ZJS

103.

October 31. A neighbouring farmer ume.
relates feveral inftances, ftrongly corroborat-
ing the idea, that Breedon lime epicou*
rages twitch (he is clearly of opinion that it
breeds it).

A relation of his, on the banks of the
Trent, bought a boat load of this lime, and
fet it on, for wheat, the lame thicknefs he
had ufually fet on Tickenall lime : namely,
two loads, an acre. The confequence was, his
wheat crop was fpoiled ! the land a bed of
twitch ! and a perfon in this neighborhood,
he fays, fpoiled his wheat crop, by the fame
means. He himfelf, too, can fee, in a cold
fpringy grafs ground, every place where the
cart ftopt, in fpreading Breedon lime upon
this piece, fome years ago ! adding, that he
wdll never fet another heap of this lime, in
the area of a clofe : for, wherever he has
made his heaps, the foil produces, thence-
forward, a bed of twitch *.

P 4 On

* But ?ven this is not the cafe in No, i. See min. ioc.

> MINUTES Agric

103' On the contrar)', he has repeatedly ob-

'•^^ ferved, that, wherever a heap of Ticken-
ALL or Walsal lime has flood, there the
place, on being laid down to grafs, be-
comes covered with a mat of *' honeyfuckle
clover."

Thefe are curious fadts : for fuch I appre-
hend them tp be ; not only from the manner
in which they were related ; but from corro-
borating evidences : indeed, to part of the
aflertion, I can myfelf give teftimony. I have
feen a hilllliead uf Breedcn lime, as thickly
{tt with couchgrafs, as a brufh is with hair :
much thicker than I have ever feen it, in any
other fituation.

Interefting, however, as thefe circum-
ftances appear to be, in the nature of ma-
nures, and the vegetable economy, I fee no
ufeful inference that can be drawn from
them ; except that Breedon lime is unfit to
be fet on land which is foul with couch-
grafs 3 but that, for the lands of this coun-
try, propirly cleaned^ it appears to be a pro-
per, and a powerful manure.

£"3 November

jjSS- . M IP LAND COUNTIES. aiy

104.

November I. (See min. 70.) It fcems stagg£rs

^ ' ' in

to be univerfally agreed, that fo general a hordes.
lols of horfes, by the staggers, was never
before fuftalned. In this countn\

The ** Walfal medicine," by which many
have been thought to be cured, has at length
mifcarried. But that of a farmer, near Staf-
ford, has not yet failed : it is even faid to
have fucceeded, after the paroxifm has com-
menced. Mr. Lee of Coton Park, who
has ufed it, and, he believes, with fuccefs,
fays it contains assafcetida. A carrier,
after haying loft twenty or thirty horfes, has
favcd (or believes that he has faved) forty
or fifty, by the " Stattord medicine." But
fee MI N. 116.

105.

November 2. Converfing with Mr. — — shzep.
about his fiiarhogs (fee min. 15.) I afked
him by what means he brought fuch young

iheep.

ii8 M I N U T E S Acr.ic

105. fheep to fo high a flate of fatnefs (about
SHXLP. eighteen or nineteen months old — thick fait
fat !). He anfwered, ** I don't know ;
they were l^unbed fat, and have been fat ever
Cnce :" adding, that they have been kept as
well as he could keep them. And it feems to
be generally underfiood, here, that it is net
a difficult tiling to keep young flieep in high
condition ; but very difficult, if once let
down, to get them fat again, until they have
acquired fome age.

It is alfo underftood, that young ihcep
weigh well, for their Cze ; and that fuch as
have never had a check, prove well on the
inlide !

Nothing weighs fo hea\'y, for its fize, as
a running calf (fee Norfolk) : and it is
cbfer\'ed, that iharhogs weigh in a fimilar
manner. They muil be, to thofe who are
in a good breed, have plenty of grafs, and a
fufficiency of winter keep, a mcft profitable
fpecies of flock.

NcVEMDZR

178;. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 219

106.

November 6. Yefterdav, finished my indir.

. - -' DRAiNJNG.

nrit eflay in underdraining ; here, pro-
vincially, " soughing 3" pron. Siijiiig.

Laft y^ar, I had too much to engage my
attention, above^round, to think of feekinp-
employment under it. But having, now,
pretty well fubdued the weeds, and brought
the furface v/aters under fubjedtion, I liave
thought this autumn the proper time, to at-
tack the waters beneath the lurface.

The worft piece on the farm, with re-

fpe<ft to the DEFECTIVENESS of SUBSOIL, is

No. ().

The parts affected in this field have been
very obvious. The wheat ftubbie, upon
tliem, was a mat of couch . evidently worfe
than the founder parts (fee min. 18.). At
tlie fetting in of the dry weather, the fallow
being then got to pieces, the fpringy parts
were not lefs obvious : remaining black and
moill, after the rell: of the piece had become
dry and dufty ; the moifl: parts having the
appearance of the fhadows of clouds on the

furface.

233 .M I N U T E S Agric.

1 06. furface *. They were likewife evident in
D^^^N^NG ^^^ barley crop ; both at the time of coming
up, and on the ripening of the crop.

Thus I gained a ftrong general idea of
their fituation ; but, being othervvays bufily
engaged, I did not identify them particularly,
as I might and ought to have done, by flakes
or any other permanent marks.

October 20. — Old Samuel of FAZELfeY
(fee vol. i. p. 140.) began the operation.

Having fliown him, in a general way, the

• -^arts aftedted, and given him the ditch of

planto-tion A. (funk with a view to this

j)in'pofc) for his main drain, I left him to

trace his own lines.

His only guide wa? the " willoweed" —
i^polygoi.um f>ennjyhi.p.'wu7n — the pale perfir.
caria) and his only level, the eye : he never
made ufe of any other !

Beginning on the uppcrfide cf the piece,
he fet out his hrll trench, fiftyfive yards long,
and fifteen inches wide : giving it fuch a
defccnt, as the eye could net well be de-
ceived in.

This

* And, v.hat Is very noticeable, thtfc watery parts
firellcd like a pool recently dried up ; having the true- mud
fl;:vor.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. mi

This trench he funk " fix di^gino-s" — of 106.
about five inches each : makino- it thirty ^n^'f!^.«"^
inches deep ; and contra<£ting it to four inches
and a half, at the bottom : in this inllance,
** hitting the fprings," with great judge-
ment.

In fining in this trench, with fl:ones (peb-
bles picked off plowed grounds) he began,
at the upper end, with'a courfe, about five
or fix inches thick ; in order that the water,
which kept trickling along the bottom,
might not be flopped and fouled, (" be-
ginning at the top brings down clean
water ;") and, having reached the lower
end, returned with another courfe j making
the two about eiehteen inches deeo ; each
foot in leneth takincr nearly a cubical foot of
ilones.

The mouth he formed with four bricks,
laid in clay, and backed by the largefi: of the
pebbles ; leaving a pipe, at the mouth, four
and a half inches fquare.

The furface of the flones bein? levelled,
they were covered with whole fpits, or clods,
of the fliificfl of the clay, or fbong clayey
loam, which rofe out of the trench; chop-
ping and treading them down, clofe and

tight.

112 M I N U T E S Agric.

1 06. tight, upon the ftones ; next, filHng up the

drajnSg trench, level, with loofe mold ; and, ort

thi?, placing the firft fpits, or turf of young

graffes ; finally fpreading the remaining

mold, thin, over the adjoining furface.

Thecoftof thefe fiftyfive yards ftands thus :

Opening the trench — three days at

18./. — — 4 6

Filling in about — - 3

Four loads of pebbles — 4 °

Carria:re of thefe — 60

Together — — 16 9

near fourpence, a yard.

Odlohcr 25. Began a fecond trench, thirty
. vards below the firft.

Qbfer-cations. The proper diftance between
the cuts depends upon the nature of the
fubfoil. In this country, it is found that
drains will draw off the fuperfluous water of
Ibme ground, at twenty yards afander, of
others, at not more than ten yards ; filtecfl
yards being efteemed a mean diftance.
Therefore, this drain was fet out at thirty
yards from the former, not more to reach a
well known part affedted, than in order that,
if the-e two Hiould not be found fufficiently

eiiedive.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. Hi

effedive, another may, hereafter, be run up io^»
between them. dra?ning.-

In fetting out this trench, the workman
extended it one landfwidth, farther than the
other ; and, from a knowledge of the ground,
as well as from the fuperficial appearance
of the next land — the foil and the herbage
appearing comparatively weak and fpiritlefs
— I extended it another landfwidth, frill far-
ther : in all feventyfeven yards.

This trench required to be funk deeper
than the firft (the veins lying deeper) ;
namely, " feven diggings ;" making it three
feet deep, and eighteen inches wide at the
ton.

The fubfoil, at the lower end of this cut,
proved to be a middle loam, without much
intermixture of fand (among which chiefly
the water lodges) ; neverthelefs, even there,
fome water appeared. That of the lad land,
but one, a AifF retentive clay, without any
water. But that of the laft land proved a
mere grout. A very quickfand. With an
abundance of water.

Obfervations. How much circumfpecflion
is requifite in this operation ! And how re-
quifue it is, when an opportunity offers, to

identify

»24 MINUTES Acirrc.

106. identify the difeafed parts, by flakes, pits,
DRAiN^c ^^ other permanent marks.

In filling this trench, the rotten fandy
part was bottomed with wood (oak faggots)
to prevent the grout from boiling up among
the ftones, and thereby choaking the fough.
Upon this brufli wood, flones were laid, as
before, eighteen inches deep, and, upon
thcfe, wheat ftraw, about an inch thick :
there not arifing, from this trench, fliiF clay
enough to cover with : and to cover with
loofer loam is dangerous ; as it is liable
to be wafhcd down among the ftoncs, by
heavy rains -, and by this means to choak the
fough.

This drain cofl:, rn the foregoing calcula-
tion, near iixpence a yard.

Objervatic^hj . In tjie cafe under notice,
the ilcnes v.erii upon the premifes (having
been formerly picked off the land), and the
carriage was done at a leif.ire time.

It is likewife cbfcrvable, that, where

it fo happens (as it may frequently) that

ftones are picked off the land to be drained,

-the coll of diCm may be faid to be nothino :

as the carriage, which otherwifc would have

g^ been requifite, is lelTcned by their being

ufed

DRAINING.

17S5. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 225

ufed on the land. In this cafe, therefore, 106.
the hand labor is the whole expence : which, 'tjnder.
m the iirfl: inflance, was threehalfpence, in
the latter twopence halfpenny, a yard.

Hence, in a country, where it is expedient
to pick ftones off the land, it becomes ne-
ceilary to common prudence, to drain (if
draining be required) where ftones are al-
ready picked, or to pick them (if expedient)
where draining is requifite.

November i. Began to fough fome
" gouty places^' in the meadows, marked
by a rough tumid furface, covered with
ruflies, other aquatics, and coarfe " four"
gralTes.

In this cafe, the part^ affeded being ob-
vious, the workman was left to perform his
operation in his own way ; which was that
of direding his trench to the upper fide of
the difeafed part ; keeping, however, fome-
w^hat below the margin.

Obfervations. I am of opinion, however,
that, if the trenches had been kept flill
lower, the drains would have been more
efFedual 5 at leaft, more certainly fo. The
matter of a tumor, on the furface of the
earth, is, like that of a tumor in the animal

Vol. II, CL body,*

DilAINlNG,

MINUTES AcRiC.

1 06. body, lodged near the center. The mjrg'ms
UNDER- are mere eilects, and may fpread much wider
than the caufe, which may lie in a fmall
compais ', and, after having attended clolely
to this inftance of practice, it ftrikes me,
forcibly, that all underdrains (hould be run
up diredlly into the center of the part
affefled ^.

This experienced and intelligent work-
man relates fome remarkable cafes, in under-
draining : two or three of them may be

worth preferving.

He

* 1789. A per'on of Warmcklhire has lately made
%»-hat is ipolien of as a dikovery, in the art of under-
dnuningi by bringing the v.-a»r to che ^rface, or to the
bottom of a Tough, when this does not happen to be deep
enough to reach it, bymcans of a korln^ tcel.

On the fides, or ct the feet of hills, this expedient may
frequently be ulefui, in relieving the hnd which Ijes abeve.
But, in ordinary fituation^^ iU. effea>, I conceive, can-
not be great ; a?, in the nature of fluids, it cannot raife the
water one hairsbreaddi higher, than the bottom of the
drain ; and, of courfe, the land iinrn^diaUly en iither fide
cfk, would lie as dry uithout, as wiich, a h^ in the bottom
of the fough;

1796. Neverthelefs, ...^i..,. -.,...... -, the boring

tool may be applied with advantage; and Mr.ELKiKGTOK,
the pcrfon here alluded to, is poffelled of fupcrior (kill in
applying it, with efFe(5L

1785- MIDLAND COUNTIES* 2^7

He cautioufly avoids, if poffible, coming 106.
within reach of the roots of a tree ; efpecially tj^^ining
the willow and the poplar ; whofe roots he
has known to choak up a fough, on the ilde
of a hill, fo effe(5tually, in a few years, that
the water has broke out at the furface, in
thie manner of a fpring.

In Worcefterfhire, in cutting through a
hanging bog, he broke in upon a deep
quagmire, which he could not fathom witli
a pole, eight or ten feet long ; the matter
boiling up fo fall upon him, that he was
obliged to let the trench lie open,fome time,
to fpend itfelf. The flow of matter having
entirely fubfided, he bedded the bottom with
heath, trodden firmly down; forming the
drain, in this cafe, with iron-forge cinders ;
which he confiders as the befl: material of
foughing.

He mentions a cafe, in which he " quar-
tered" a large piece of ground, at every
fourteen feet : namely, cut it into panes or
chequers, by parallel lines fourteerl feet
apart! But having funk "wells" in the
centers of fome of the 'panes, and finding
that even this was not effedtual, he ran frefli
drains, diagonally, acrofs fuch of them as he

0^2 thought

»i8 MINUTES Agric.

1 06. thought required it, and by this means
VNDER- drained all his wells : an eftecftual, but coftly

DRAINING. , •'

operation.

Ohfcrvation. The idea of the ivells is a
good one : it is highly probable, however,
that, notwithftanding drains, recently made,
may not lay every part dry, immediately ; yet,
in procefs of time, their draught may be ex-
tended. And this principle holds good,
generally. For, although recent drains may
not take immediate efFedl ; yet, by a conti-
nuance of draught, the veins, or natural
channels, which condud: the water to the
drains, may, in the nature of fluids adling on
loofe matter, not only be enlargedy but f.v-
tended.

General Observations. Underdrain-
ing is not that formidable bufinefs I have
hitherto confidered it. One old man has,
in fourteen days, for which I have paid him
a guinea, done away (I hope) the principal
defe(Cts of the fubfoil of this farm. Even
fuppofmg the flones to have been purchafed,
and the carriage of them hired, the whole
expence would not have amounted to more
than five pounds.

h.

1785- MIDLAND COUNTIES. 219

In this way, I am clearly of opinion, every 106.
cflate (hould be drained : beginning with r)^^^;'^^
the parts moft aifed;ed , no matter how they
are fcattered.

Two great advantages are had through
this mode of procedure. The greateft
nuifances are done away, the moft im-
mediately ; and no labor is loft.

Whereas, by the ufual method of cutting
one field to piecemeal, while others, equally
affedted, remain without any relief, many
difadvantages arife. The expence generally
becomes enormous ; many unneceiTary cuts
being made. Stones are to be drawn, from
every diftant part, to this one fpot ; which
is, in confequence, cut up and injured, by
that labor, which another is injured for want
of. Oi

When the g?'eaf and evident infirmities are
removed, thofe which are fmaller become
more perceptible ; while, probably, many
parts which, at firft fight, required, even in
the eye of a mafter in the art, to have labor
and materials beftowed upon them, will, by
the RADICAL iCAUSE of diforder being re-
moved, be found, in a fhort time, to be cured
without farther expence.

0.3 Th«

1^0

M I N U T E S

Agkk.

io6.

UNDIR.
DIIAINING.

The one is proceeding with certainty,
the other \vith a degree of risk, and, of
courfe, with a degree of indeciiion and em-
barraflinent, in the execution : beiide the
lois of money, by doing that which was not
neceilary ; and the lofs of time, by delaying
the mofl eiTential part of the improvement-

Upon the whole, we may venture to fay,
that UNDERDRAiN'iKG, properly cond'jc^ed,
and in fituations where die lubfoil is partially
too retentive, ranks among the iiril of rural
improvements : it being a fact incontro-
vertible, that, in the productivenefs of landii,
more depends on the nature of the subsoil,
tlian on the intrirxiic quality of the surface
mold.

MAJUCZTS.

107.

KovEMBER 8. Sutton fair. About
fix hundred and fifty cattle, and three thou-
fand fheep. The cattle chiefly half fat :
five hundred of them, at leaft, barely fit for
turneps : yet moil of them were fold, as
«* fat. •

This is the laft autumn fair, of any mag-
nitude, in the countr)'.

In

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 231

In attending the fairs of this diftrid, during 1 07.
the two laft years, I have obferved a fpirit of jobbing.
JOBBING, or buying and felling unnecelTarily,
among the farmers of this country, which I
have not feen, in any other, and which has,
more than once, become a fubjedt of rc-
fledlion. *^

If a Midland farmer go to a fair, he is
afliamed to return without having done fome
** bufinefs :" he mufl either buy or fell, or
he lofes his credit as a marketman. Hence,
probably, the quantity of bufinefs done, at
the Midland fairs, compared with thofe of
other dirtrids ; where one third, or perhaps
half, the ftock is frequently driven out, un-
fold : while, here, the whole fair may be
faid to be generally transferred.

There are cafes, in which a transfer of
STOCK ixoxn farmer to farmer is eligible : as
from breeder i to graziery or dairy ??ia?2. But
the fpirit of dealing, by way of doing bufi-
nefs, and a fpirit of speculation, or
gambling, are the fame. A good judge,
like a good player, will profit by it : but
thofe who have lefs judgement muft, on i,
certainty, be lofers.

0^4 This

232 MINUTES Agrig.

^^7' This evil fpirit, however, though preva-

joBBiNG. jgj^f among Midland farmers, does not pciTefs
the whole. The man who has, perhaps,
made more money, by farming, than any
other man in t/jis neighbourhood, purfued
a very different plan of management. He
reared his own cows, dairied them, and,
perhaps, fatted them, himfelf. His fheep
the fame : his chief dealings, in liveftock,
being with the butcher.

A ipere grazier muft frequent fairs.
But a GENERAL FARMER, who has crops
and rearing flock to look after, can fcldom
leave home, without lofs.

Befide this general paflion for jobbing,
among Midland farmers, there are many of
them who make it a diflincft branch of bu-
fniefs. Not as drovers, who drive froin
diflrid: to diftri»5t, but merely as dealers,
within the diftridl; purchafing of one farmer,
and felling to another.

Thi? is not only a ufelefs, but a pernicious
clafs of nrien : encreafing the price of flock,
at all times -, and, in times of fcarcity, mo-
nopolizing that, which ought to circulate,
among farmers in general; thereby encreafing
the apparent fcarcity, and of courfe the price.

Durinff

^785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 233

During the late rifing markets (in 1785 107,
and 1786) iheep, which were on fale, were jobbing.
almoft wholly in the hands of jobbers : many
of whorn got much money by their dealings.
3ut whatever they got, was of ccurfe loll,
either by the breeder ^ or the grazier^ or ope-
rated as a tax on the confumer.

The breeder ftands the bed chance of pro-
fiting, by this clafs of men; inafmuch as
they encreafe the number of buyers : fo that
the graziers, or the confumers, lofe, in a
twofold way, by their interference.

The moft natural mode, the iimplefl:
iliortefl: way (pracfticable) of fupplying the
community, with what is termed animal
food, is that of one rnan rearing and fatting
his own ftock, for the butcher. The next,
that of one man rearing, another fatting, and
a third ilaughtering. In fome few cafes, an
intermediate grower of flock may be ufeful ;
but this fourth man is generally unneceiTary ;
?nd a farther intrufjon (unlefs when a trans-
fer from diftrid: to di{lri(^ is requlfite) might
be conlidefed as a fort of forerralUng, and
thofe who praOife it, as a fpecies of vermin*
preying on the profit of the grazier, or qn
^he income of the confumer.

November

»34 MINUTES AoRic,

I08.

pMiN'G. November 14. This autumn, I have

obferved two inftances of fpreading lime,
upon tlie WHOLE furrows of levs, or
ftubbles, once plowed for wheat ; harrowing
in the lime and the wheat, together.

This practice, it feems, is not uncommon,
but is not generally approved.

If, however, the foil be mellow, and dry
enough to mix intimately with the lime, I
do not fee why it fliould not be fuperior ma-
nagement. The lime, in this cafe, becomes
moft e£Fe(ftualIy expofed to the air and moif-
ture, and is lodged near the furface, to be
wailied down into the foil, by rains : hence,
its ettedt becomes moft immediate, tliis way.

However, in the inllances here noticed,
tlie foil lay in moifl:, glolly, whole plits : a
ftate by no means adapted to the reception
of lime; which, in this cafe, ftuck to the
furface .

Neverthelefs, it is probable, that, duly
timed, LiME,asaTOPDRESSiNG for wheat,
may, in fome cafes, be highly eligible.

November

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 435

IIO.

November 2:. An intelligent man, and scarcity

•^ o of

one of the largefl: o-raziers in the Midland cattle.
Counties, thinks the prefent scarcity of
STOCK is principally owing to dairymen
turning graziers *.

Cows, he fays, might, feme years ago,
have been picked up, plentifully, in the
neighbourhood ; now, there is not one to be
bought.

Inclosing common pastures, he
thinks, has been another caufe of the prefent
fcarcity of young and lean cattle. While
there were common paltures to rear young
flock in, the farmers found it profitable to
dairy : not fo much for the cheefe, as for the
voun^ ftock which rofe from it : but, fmce
the common paftures have been converted
into feeding pieces, they have found grazing

anfwer

♦ Another man, converfant in the fubjeft, and one of
the largeft dairymen in the diftridl, is of the fame opinion :
giving for reafon, that grazlBg is the eafier idler employ-
ment: and adding, that the northcountry breeders, who
formerly fent numbers of barren cows into this diftri<9:,
now graze Scotch cattle, for the ^Ianchefter and Liverpool
piarkets.

236 MINUTES Acne.

anfwer better than cheefemaking ; more el-
pecially if they happen not to have a"dairily'*
wife or houfekeeper.

iir,

t^^sJll ^786. January 29. f^aft fpring, by way
of experiment, on the tumep fallow of No. 5.
(fee MiN. 87.) I dreficd two lands witli
AQUATIC MANURE (raifed fome two or three
years ago out ©/a hfli pool, and turned up,
about twelve months ago, into a heap to di-
geft), the reft of the piece being manured
with vard dung; the quantity of each about
eight loads, an acre.

The two lands, drefled with the aquatic
manure, obvioully bear the better crop of tur-
neps. The plants are not more numerous ;
but they are larger and cleaner-lkinned ; and,
what is very ftriking, while the crop of the
piece, in general, is full of charlock and
duckweed (whfchhave rifen fmcetliehoing),
the two lands are, in a manner, entirely free
from thcfe weeds !

What TTjincs of fimilar manure lie, un-
noticed, within half the eftates in the king-
dom.

February

1786. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

III.

February 13. Even^ farmery fliould
have a lobby, between the yards and the
fields ; to ferv'e as a double fence ; and thereby
to prevent ftock from ftraying over, poach-
ing, and injuring the farm,

I found the conveniency of a lobby in
Surrey 3 and the want of one in Norfolk,
and in this place ; where I can forefee the
ufe of that which I am now forming, with a
SKREEN OF PLANTING ; — embofoming the
entire farmery, in fuch a manner, as to flielter
it, effectually, from the north and eaft winds,
to which it is, at prefent, bleakly expofed.
See MiN. 25.

FARM-
YARDS.

113-

February 25. It was the general opi-
nion, in market converfation, that the prefent
paroxv'fm of froft will be ferviceable to the
wheat crops ; in checking thofe which were

getting too forward.

This

CHICK-ING
WHEAT.

438 MINUTES Agric.

1 13. This fubje(ft naturally led to the means of

^"^^^l^'^ CHECKING FORWARD WHEAT, artificially,
at this feafon of the year.

Eating wheat with Jheep was unanimouily

condemned. Mr. /wears he will never

eat another piece of wheat with fheep ;
having experienced its evil effect, more than
once. But once, mod particularly, he eat
down a *' ftrange rank piece of wheat :" the
confequence was, the ftraw was weak, and
the ears fofmallj — fuch" humble-bee ears" —
it did not yield above " a peck a threave" !

It was likewife unanimoufly agreed, that
wheat is very dangerous food iox jl^eep ; they
being more liable to die, fuddenly, on that,
than on any other keep. Mr. More fays
bleeding them is a pretty certain preventive.
Harrowing vvheat in the spring
was alfo difcufTcd. Several inftances, highly
advantageous, were mentioned. It was
agreed, however, that it fhould be done when
the foil is dry enough, to part freely from the
tines of the harrows.

March

t786. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

^391

114.

March 3. How uncertain, and how
difficult to fore fee, are the prices of far-
mers' PRODUCE.

At harveft, it was thought that barley-
would be at an " unknown price." Indeed,
forty {hillings to two guineas, a quarter, was
then given, and fifty fliillings talked of.
Whereas, now, it is below thirty, for malt-
fter's barley ! and even a guinea is now
mentioned !

Fat cattle, too, it was expe(5led, and with
good reafon, would at Chriftmas, or foon
after, have been fold for any money. But
the fadl tupns out, that, notwithilanding the
fcarcity of keep, they are ftill as cheap, as
they were feveral months ago.

PRICES

of

FARM

PRODUCE.

115.

March 3. Four or five days ago, a fall
of fnow took place, with a fmart frofly wind,
which flill continues, and to which the tur-
NEPs, on the ridges of the lands, lleexpofed;

fome

TURNEPS.

115.

TURNEPS.

MINUTES

AORIC-

•WINTER

fome of them evidently taking hurt ; the
rind of the roots changing to a livid color.

On examination, I find, thofe which are
injured by the weather, are defedlive in their
TAP ROOTS ; fdmc of which have evidently
teen decayed, previoufTy to the froft, aiid
others are • now frozen j the fap in them
being congealed into granules of ice ; and
the tap thereby rendered brittle, and eafily
broken off: while thofe which arc yet
healthy, rife with their taps -, the fap of
which remains in a liquid ftate ; though the
moiriure in the foil, which furrounds them,
is in a {late of ice !

I am, therefore, going over the piece,
with fledges ; coUeding the difcolored roots
only i which the cattle feem to eat, now, as
freely as they do thofe which are yet perfedt :
but, whenever the frofl may break, it is more
than probable, that thofe which now wear
fymptoms of difcafe, will be the fir ft to go to

decay.

Collecting TuRNEPs, in frofiy weather,
if proper tools be ufed, is by no means fo
fcvere an employment as theory may fuggeft.
If men can (land out of doors, pulling them

up

1786.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

241

up with a two-tined hook * is as comforta-
ble work, as they can well be employed on ;
and if they be thrown into the cart with
prongs, this part of the work too, becomes
agreeable exercife, without expofing the hands
(as in the Norfolk pifacflice) to any extra-
ordinary degree of cold.

Finding that fmall turneps are liable to
drop through, between the tines of a common
dung fork, I have had one made with five
tines, in the fime form ; but fomewhat larger,
than the ordinary three-tined fork ; and it
anfwers the purpofe perfedlly.

115.

WINTER
FATTING.

116.

March 4. Horfes flill continue to die of
the STAGGERS. Even the " Stafford medi-
cine" (fee MiN. 104.) now fails. Mr.

of has loft feven or eight; and Mr. -^

of nine of his ^efl " waggon horfes,'*

and a *' nag" for which he had refufed forty
guineas. What a lufs to a farmer !

This diforder (differenced, from another
fpecies, by the name of madjlaggers) feems

Vol. II. R to

* I have feen, ia Yorkfhire, a fmall peck ufed, in this

intention.

STAGGERS

In

HORSES.

1^ M I X U T E S Ag»ic.

ii6. to be a violent fever, attended with a deli-

sTAGCERs rium; and Dr. James's powder is, at leaft,

HORSES. a probable means of relief*.

SALE March 7. The circumftances attending

baru:y. the sale of barley, this year, are fuch,
perhaps, as no man can remember to have
happened. Ses mi n. i 14.

At prefent, the maltfter?, notwithflanding
their flocks are underflood to be low, buy
little cr none.

They may have two reafons for their con-
djcft. Finding the farmers, whole pockets
have been lowered by a lofing year, eager to
fell, they may be waiting for a fall in price.
And the quality, even of the mofl iightly
fcmples, cannot, it feems, be relied on.

It is found, that even the little which was
harveiled, before the rains fet in, does not
*' w^ork kindly/' owing, as the opinion is,
to its being " caught in the drought :" — to
its maturation being checked, cr left incom-
plete,

• For a probable mears of prevention, fee Glcces-

TERSKIRE, Dift. COTSWOLD HiLLS, ZTl. EEASTS OF
i.AftCR.

MALTIN'C.

i986> MIDLAND COUNTIES.

24-3

plete, through a want of fufficient moiftiire. ^^7-

^, , . , . «c o,-,r1 MALTING.

Tliat which came away, in one ciop, ana
had fome wet upon It," is faid, by thofe who
fpeak from experience, to work the befl.

That which came up at different times,
and was of courfe cut in different ftates of
maturity, is found to work very badly : the
different ripenings " coming," at different
tinies. And as to the maw-burnt and the
fprouted, they are of courfe unmaltable.

How much circumfpedlion is required in culture
the management of this crop ! Something barley.
depends on the nature of the foil, much en
its preparation, much on the feafon of fow-
ino-, and much,. indeed, on the method of
harvefting. Upon the whole, it may be
deemed, of corn crops, the mofl difficult to be
cultivated with certainty.

118.

March 9. The froft and fnow ffill con-
tinue. Neverthelefs, the STALL bullocks
are doing well upon turneps.

The weather being clear, they are got in,

during the funfliine of the forenoon, and ex-

R 2 pcfed.

FATT.ING
CATTLE

with
TURNEPS,

24+

MINUTES

Agric.

ii8.

TATTING

CATTLE

w.th

TURNEPS.

pofed, in the midday and afternoon fur,
under the fhed, which faces the fouth ; and,
when the day fhuts in, are covered up with
ftraw. The oxen thrive, and the turneps
are eaten up clean.

But fome Scotch bullocks, abroad in the
FIELD, make great wafle; and, though they
look healthy, they do not improve.

From, the pradiice of this feafon, I am flill
more fully convinced, that cattle at tur-
neps cannot remain, with propriety, in the
OPEN FIELD, in very ivefy or very fe^^'crc
weather. (See Norfolk.) In thefe fea-
fons, a SHED, or a sheltered fold, ap-
pears to be requifitc to common good ma-

nagement.

119.

CROXAI-L
FAT COW,

March 14. Yefterday, rode to Croxail,
to fee a celebrated cow, fatted to an extra-
ordinary weight, by Mr. PRixCEPi

This cow is of Mr. P.'s own flock; a fupe-
rior variety of the longhorned breed; and is,
perhaps, the fattell, and the heavieil: long-
horned cow that has yet been fatted.

She

%j26, MIDLAND COUNTIES. 245

She is now coming fix years old ; and was 1X9.

milked until Tunelaft: until which time flae croxall
, , FAT cow.

had purpolely been kept low, to induce her

to breed; but without etted:. She was a

" roarer" and a breaker of hedges. But,

fmce Ihe has been ihut up to fat, fhe has

been remarkably cadilh and quiet.

With refpecl to food, fhe has, no doubt,
been indulged with every fpecies, which a
fuperior fkill in grazing could fuggeft.

She has nowbeen eight months at prime
keep ; and is to be killed tomorrow.

She is, in truth, a prodigy : fat, i^pCTij be-
yond any thing I have feen. She was
*' cracked on the back" — cloven along the
chine ; but the ikin has Red from the verte-
brJE ; which are entirely grown over, and
buried a confiderable depth in fat! except
in one place; where there is now a difli, large
enough to hold a quart of liquor.

Her twi/'i bulges out, as if it had received
ji bruife, and the part were ready to break !

Her J^a?2k 'ujas very good, to the touch;
but will, now, fcarcely fill the hand : the
fat is " gone/' — is become fo large, and
flretched fo tight, that the fingers can no
longer grafp it.

R 3 ?Icr ^

:/6 MINUTES Agric

I '^- Her fnouldcr and her kernel are good; tho

r^r^o''^ not remarkably fo. But her nachey her /•/)*,

her r/'i^, and her chine are mofl extraordinary.

Wtxforend long, but not remarkably fine.

Her bofom broad : naturally , I apprehend,
a wide thick well carcalled cow ; for one of
this breed.

Her fltjh mellow, and her bene extremely
fine. Her fore leg is exadily the fize of
that of a Scotch bullock, which does not
weigh half her weight.

Her dimenfions I did not get, with any
degree of accuracy.

She is laid at feventcen fcore, a quarter ; or
near a hundred ftones, of fourteen pounds
each.

March 18. I did not fee this cow, after fhe
was butchered; but am told, by an authority
which cannot eafily be erroneous, that fhe
cut fix inches of fat, on the chine; and weigh-
ed as follows. One of her hind quarters,
eighteen fcore and fourteen pounds: th«
other, eighteen fcqre twelve; and her fere
Guarters, eighteeji fcore and one pound,
each; that is, eighteen fcore it\^v\ pounds,
round (befide nine lione of tallow): the four
quarters weighing nearly one hundred and
^v'c Aones, of fcurfctji pounds each.

Marci|

ly86. MIDLAND COUNTIES. ^47

March 19. Laft week, died George laborers.
Barwell; whofe honesty, industry,
and GooDSENSE, were fuch as rarely center,
in a farm laborer.

By dint of manual labor, he reared, to men
and women, five children, and died worth a
hundred pounds ! a fortiiney which he of
courfe accurnulated, in the wane of life,
dying at the age of fevei^ty three.

In evidence of his flri(Cl honefty, — he owed
only fixpence, and he thought of it, in his
moments of recollecflion, until the hour he
died; entreating his children to rempmber to
pay it. And, as an evidence of his care and
induflry (were any wanted), even in delirium,
he talked about his work.

Proofs of his flron^ natural abilities occur
in thefe Minutes. He thought more juftly,
and more clearly, than any unlettered man I
have converfed with.

R A. NUrch

24^ MINUTES Agric.

121.

CRAZING March 10. Yeflerday, clofed my prac-.

TiCE in the Midland Counties, with the
fale of fome Scotch bullocks, purchafed in
November 1784, and kept at ftraw, during
the enfuing winter, at ordinary grafs through
the fummer, and at turneps, lad winter.

Scotch cattle are not an article of grazing
fl:cck, in this diflridt; nor is the prad:ice of
foiijhing gvd^zing cattle prevalent here.

The ufeful information, that mofi: aptly re-
fults from this incident of praftice, is of a
twofold nature: firil:, that Highland bullocks
(when they can be procured at a moderate
rate) are a profitable fpecies of grazing flock,
in this country; and, fecondly, that, in a
manufacturing diftridl, where underfat meat
is the readieH: fale, and where that and well
fed beef bear nearly the fame price, it may
frequently be good management to fell cattle,
while they are yet flelhy, rather than keep
them on, until they are fat.

Upon the whole, and under ordinary cir-
cumftanccs, the line of management of this

fpecie?

ijse, MIDLAND COUNTIES. 249

fpecies of grazing ftock, here, appears to be J 21.
tliis: purchale in autumn; give them rough ^^-^^^p
grafs and ftraw, with ibme turneps m the
fpring ; and freil:jen them up for market,
with raygrafs or prefen'ed pafture ; felling
them oft, as faft as they become faleable:
thus partaking of the beft prices before the
ordinary grafs beef of the country be readv.

122,

Harborough, April 27. To jraln a district,
niore accurate idea of the outline of the dif-
tricl, whofe area I have traverfed, during the
liil two years, in almoll: every direction, I
have, in leaving it, traced the banks of its
furrounding rivers, — the Akker, the Tame,
the Trent, and the Soar ; — by Tarn worth,
Elrcrd, Walton, Burton, Repton, Milton,
Stanton (lovely palfage of country!), King's
Newton, Donnington, Cavendifli Bridge,
Diihley, Loughborough, Leiceller ; and
from thence acrofs Leicestershire -, by
Bilfdon, Hallaton, &c. to this place: a ride
pf eighty miles j and, confidering its length,
cnc of the richeil: in the iQand,

The

7S0

MINUTES

AcRiC,

122.

SC-^ICITY

CATTLE.

WARKETS.

IRISH

RATTLE.

The prefent scarcity of cattle for
grazing (in this dillria at leail) appears to
me no longer a myiiery. L-icefleriliire, not
long ago, was an open arable country ^ in-
cluding a proportion of cows and rearin»
cattle: now, it is a continued flieet of green-
fward. A diilrid of grazing grounds *.

The FAIR OF Markkt Harborough.
A horfe fliovv, cloiing with a confiderable
cattle fair. The general and loud complaint
is a want of farm flock.

Lean cattle have got up twenty (hillings,
a head, within thefe few days.

The fupply of Irish cattle has been
kept bacjs, by eaflerly winds : excepting fome
few that have been got over with dimculty;
and thefe in a flaryed ll:atc : "but juil able to
walk'*' ! Many of them, it feem.s, are driven a
hundred miles or more to the coaft, where,
if tiie wind be contrary, they are detained,
perhaps feveral d^ys, with a very fcanty al-
lowance of food; ** none on the voyage;'*
and but little, this feafon of icarcity (hay
four or five pounds a ton), when they reach

the Engliili fliore.

What

♦ The graziers being fupplied with bread from diAant
<ii:lr:6ts !

lySG.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

Wl

What a difgrace to this country ! Lafh
year, it was ertimated, I remember, that the
number of cattle imported was thirtyfix thou-
fand ! without which the grazing grounds of
this country could not have been nearly-
flocked. And, this year, the graziers, under
an apprehenfion that the Iriih are about to lay
reftridlions on the exportation of their cattle,
defpair of flQcking their grounds !

How difgraceful to this country, to be de-
pendait on another, for a fupply of one of its
principal necelTaries of life ; and to purch.afe
it at the annual expence of fome hundred
thouland pounds, ready money ! and this, too,
while a very conliderable fliare of its lands
lie in a flate of wafle ; and while a conlider-
able fiiare of the food of men and cattle,
which its cultivated foils at prefent produce^
is wafted on unprohtable animals.

122.

IRISH
CATTLE.

ENGLISH

AC.R1CLL»
TLR£.

IINUTES

MINUTES

O N

V/OODLANDS, LIVE HEDGES,

AND

PLANTING

IK THE

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

J /^ ^

F.^siNG 1784.. May I. Finifhed a new fence,

KEDGLs. on a plan which I have practifed, in dilFerent
departments of the ifland, and which, in
fi tuations where the fubilrata will admit of a
ditch, zx\A where ftakes and edders ahoundj,
is preferable to any other, I have hitherto
obferved.

The DITCH is a perfedly equilateral tri-
angle ; each fide or llope, as well as the
width, at the top, being a quarter of a rod;
i^amcly, four feet one inch and half.

The

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES. ' 253

The BANK, on the fence fide, is formed 123.
with the hrfi three fpits of mold; a bank- ^-?i^!?®
LET, as a guard to the outer brink of the hedges.
ditch, with the fourth fpit, and the point-
ing ; the laft being raifed with a narrow-
pointed draining tool.

The HEDGEWooDs are tranfplanted /jaw-
thorn, with an oakling at every rod, laid in
with the hawthorn plants.

The ME^THOD OF "PLANTING. The firft
fpit — the cultivated corn mold — a good loam,
forms the bottom or foundation of the bank j
over which the fecond fpit, a brick earth,
being fpread evenly, the face was adjufted,
and the top levelled ; and a line being Wretch-
ed, a foot from the angle of the mound *, a
narrow trench was opened behind it ; by chop-
ping the fpade down to the firft fpit, and
drawing back the loofe mold. In this trencli,
the plants were fet, from four to fix inches
apart, nearly upright, and their roots bedded
in the finefl: of the mold, in the nurfery man-
ner;
* It is obfervable, however, that this width, though f.i-
vorable to the infant plants, is too great, where fheep arc
paftured, on the ditch fide, the firft or fecond year after
planting. Even longwoolcd fhcep, after they were ihorn,
leaped acrofs the ditch i and, getting foothold on the plat-
form, injured fome of the plants.

L!V£
U£DCL3.

25* Kr I y U T £ 5 Plant.

123. ner ; planting them in the beft of the fub-
RAisiNG |-^jj^ ^^^,^ j^j^g cultivated corn mold; and

carting die third fpit behind the line of plant?.

The GUARD, in front, is the Aiarp ridge
or banklet, abovementioned : formed on the
oppolite brink of the ditch, with the fourth
fpit and the pointing: behind, is a low,
friif, fbke-and-edder hedge ; let on a bank
formed with the third fpit.

The edders being beaten doxMi with a
beetle, and the liakes re-driven, to within
a hand's breadth of the edders, the face of
die hedge was trimmed, fo as to prevent the
fpray from dripping upon the plants. The
hed^e is ftrone enoucjh to bear 2 man's
weight: a fide from end to end.

Laflly, die back of the bank was adjufted,
with a futhcient ilope, to ftand firmly, and
was fown with ravgrafs and white clover.

The whole expence of the lixtyfevcn
flatute rods, including labor, plants, and ma-
terials, has been 7/. 9/. 8</. Not two fiiil-
lings and threepence, a rod: not fivepence,
a yard.

May

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

2^

:?3

CULTURE
of

\VOODLANf>.

124.

May 20. This morning, ftrolled into
Warwickfliirc.

Mr. Laking, of Hall End, whofe
landlord (living at a dillance) has judi'cioufly
entrufted him with the care of his woodlands,
obligingly fliowed me a young oak wood,
of about feven acres, which he recolleds to
have {een planted with acorns.

He was, at the time of planting, a child.
He is now near feventy. He thinks it is about
fixtythree or four years ago.

The inclofure was in grafs. A hole was
opened, by a kind of fccop or gouge, run
obliquely into the furface, fo as to raife up
a tongue of turf ^ under which the acorn was
placed. The fward was not broken, neither
by the fpade, the plow, nor the hoe ; nor does
he believe that any kind of nurfing, except
keeping up the fences, was ufed.

In about thirty years, it was *' coppied," trainino
that is, partially cut down, as underv.'ood -,
leaving timber flands.

It has fince been coppiced twice 3 the laft
time about twelve years ago; when the tim-
bers

PLANTIKG

ACORKS.

WOODS,

«5^ M I N U T E S Plant.

124. bers were thinned, in a manner that does
TRAINING :vfr. L. ^reat credit.

The weedhngs were fold, chiefly, for rails,
at a good price.

Mr. Hill, in whofe farm this wood
llands, does not recolle(ft the exad: produce
of thefe Icven acres: but another piece of
fomewhat more than four acres, planted
about the fame time, has, he fays, already
paid its owner upwards of 400/. or 100/. an
acre : while the timberlings,which are ftill too
thick, are fome of them worth 20 s. to 25/.
a tree : from forty to fifty feet high, and from
fix to ten inches timber girt.

There is a ll:rikingly exa(fl proportion, be-
tween the fize of the tops, and the thickneis
of the ftem?. How injudicious to futfer trees
to croud each other ! ^Ir. L. feems fully con-
vinced of this; and is meditating another
thinning. His ideas are ver\^ jull in this
refpe<ft. He is equally aware of the mif-
chiefs enfuing from the lafhing of the tops,
and of the utility arifing from young plants
ilanding fufiiciently clofe, to draw each other
up ftraight ; as well as to rot off the lateral
ihoots of the items.

Tha

I7S4-

[MIDLAND COUNTIES.

257

The SOIL is a cold weak clay, worth about 1 24.

yi. or 8j-. an acre; the clay continuing aeon- sites

liderable depth. How judicious to plant woodland.
fuch land with oaks. The trees are clean
and full of growth.

Mr. Lakin^ alfo fhowed me a fmall plan- culture

O -I of

tation of his own -, about twelve or fourteen woodland.
years old. The ground was fallowed; fown
with wheat; harrowed; and the acorns dib-
bled in, by women, foon after the wheat was
fown. The plants have never been touched.
They are, however, getting very unfizeable ;
beginning to be drawn up too {lender; and,
now, want weeding. They were never hoed,
except partially, and Mr. L. feems to think
that cleaning the land is not of great ufe.
The fubfoil is a bed of fine clay ; the plants
are clean and thriving.

Lady Robert Bertie has a JleU of
Oaks getting up, by the fide of Shortwood.
Mr. Hill fay?, he fowed the acorns, about lix-
teen or feventeen years ago : he alfo fowed
fome afh keys, at the fame time ; but few of
the afhes have got up, and the oaks are too
thm. The acorns and keys v/ere fown broad -
caft, and harrowed in with wheat.

Vol. II. S Mr.

SOWIN'ii
AC0RN5b

138

MINUTES

Plant.

124. Mr. L. lays this held was Ibwn with tree

cuLTyRE feeds, about tburteen years prior to the lail:
WOODLAND, lowing ; but a rabbit warren then lying conti-
guous, the plants were all cut off.

It is in vain to attempt to propagate wood,
in the neighbourhood of warrens 3 whether
er" rabbits, or hares.

126.

CHAFiRs. AT AY 23. The myriads of chafers
{Scat-abai melohntba-^hiowu. beetles) are this
year alarming.

For three or four evenings part, the air has
been full of them: one continued buzzing;
attended with a ringing noife, like that of a
comine hail-ftorm. During the dav, the
trees, the oaks efpecially, are covered with
thefe infcdls. Of Amington wood, the top
aijd the outfide trees are covered with them.
They feem ahnoft as numerous as the leaves.
In the wood, there is a g^ontinual fall of their
fcEces, equal to, and much refenibling, a mo-
derate fall of rain. A gufl of wind fliakes
down the animals themfclves ; which fall to
tjie ground, in fliowers, like acorns in au-
tumn.

l;84.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

259

tumn. The furface of the wood (about fifty
acres) is alinofl ftript of its leaves.

From converfation, I find this country, in
which grafs lands prevail, generally abounds
with thefe infed^ ; but never, perhaps, fo
much as this year. The whole came forth,
to common obfervations, the fame evening.
The fpring had been unufually cold;— ^warm
weather fet in fuddenly ; and, in a few days,
the chafers made their appearanct.

126.

CHAFERS.

127.

MaV 27. Great quantities of charcoal
are flill ufed, in the iron forges of this coun-
try. For although it has been difcovered,
that iron, for common ufes, may be made
with pit coal ; yet, for particular purpofes,
where a toughnefs of texture is wanted, as
for wire- drawing, 5cc. charcoal is found to
be requifite.

In this country, there are fets of men,
whofe trade is the burning of charcoal, Thev
cut and cord, in the winter, and burn, dur-
ing the fummer feafon.

S 2

There

2&0 MINUTES Plakt.

127. There is a let, of three, now at Statfold ;

MAKING to whom I have clofelv attended. The

CHARCOAL. ^ _ -

minutia? of the procefs is this :

The lite or "^hearth" being determined
upon, the turf is pared off, and the fods
laid on one lide. The wood, about ten cord,
is then laid in a ring, fomcwhat wider than
the intended hearth ; beginning, on the
eutcr circumference of the ring, with the
fmalleil of the round wood : laying the
larger pieces of top wood, and the cloven
roots or but ends, towards the hearth.

With thefe laft, fome of them nearly as
large as bulhel blocks, they begin to make
their pile ; leaving a fort of chimney, in the
middle (a vertical aperture from a foot to
eighteen inches wide) ; and, round this core
of blocks, fet up the top wood (which has,
previoufly, been cut, at the time of cording,
in fuch a manner, that no forkednefs, nor
other auk ward, crook edne Is is left; or, if
not cut in this manner, or cut improperly,
it is prepared by the colliers, themfelves,
previoufly to their laying it ready for fct-
ting) ; joining the pieces, or rather fitting
them in, as clofe to each other as poflible :
placing the convex fide of the logs outward j

formino:

I784* MIDLAND COUNTIES. 261

MAKING

charcoal;

forming the pile in the fliape of an inverted 1 27
bowl, nearly femi-globular.

The pile being formed, it is tiled with
fods y which are pointed, to keep in the heat
the better, by filling up the feams, with fine
pulverized mold.

The chimney is now filled, with fhort
pieces of dry wood : near the top a live coal
is put ; over this one layer more of dry
pieces ; and, upon thefe, a clofe cap of fod
is placed -, neverthelefs, this one coal, not
larger than the fift, and excluded from
the open air, is fufficient to fet the pile
on fire.

As the pieces in the chimney burn away,
they are replaced with frefh ones : thus feed-
ing the fire with frefh fuel.

Clofe-paled hurdles are placed, on the
windward fide of the heap, to prevent the
fire from acting partially.

\Vhen the fire begins to fhow itfelf,
at the outward fkirts of the bottom of the
pile, it is known that the coal is fully
burnt (or rather that the wood fufiiciently
charred), which it will be, in a pile often
cord, and in dry weather;, in feven or eight
days.

S 3 Th?

262 MINUTES Plant.

1-7. The fire, durmg the whole time, is care-

^i'^Ki'SG f^Wy j^ept from breaking out, by tlirowing
mold or allies upon the weak parts ; (o that,
though the fire pafles through every part of
the wood, little or none of the rnatter of
fire efcapes.

It is obfer\'^ble, that, notwithftanding the
intenfe heat, no part feems to be confumed \
not the bark only, but even the mofs upon
it, comes out as entire as when it went in \
the only apparent change is in its being ren-
dered friable, and of a black color. Wood,
that is charred, firinks confiderably, during
the procefs of charring j but there is no
vifible derange?nents of parts. One of the
fmaller pieces, which is not broken in the
drawing, appears as entire^ when it comes
out, as when it went into the pile. The brit-
tlenefs after charring, however, (liows that
the texture of the wood is altered, by the
adion of the fire.

As foon as the fire difappears, on the outr
fide of the heap, the workmen begin to
** draw the coal" : an operation which is
done, by running a peel, between the coal
and the hearth ; raifing up the coal, in fuch
a manner, as to let the mold and allies of the

fods

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 263

fods fall through, between the pieces, upon 127.
the more inward parts ftill full of fire. If making

^ ^ CHARCOAL.

this makes its appearance, in any particular
fpot, a peel full of aflies is immediately
thrown againfl it.

Having got fufHciently near to the fire,
the coals, raifed by the peel, are raked off,
with long-toothed iron rakes : the teeth about
a foot long ; and flanding about fix inches
apart : the handle and head of wood ; ex-
cept a plate of iron on the back ; with
which the fmall coal is gathered together.
No fieve, nor any rake, with finer teeth than
the above, is ufed. The coal, being light, is
readily brought to the furface of the allies
and dirt ; and, when there, is eafiiy colled:ed
(though with a kind of flight) with the back
of tlie rake.

The fide, thus drawn, being rounded up,
and fecured with afhes, another, the cooleil
part, is drawn, in the fame manner.

The drawing is an infernal bufinefs : the
men work among fire and phlogifton enough
to fufix)cate Satan himfelf.

Such pieces as ftill retain fire, after they

are drawn, are quenched with water ; which

the workmen have in plenty landing by

S 4 ^hem.

264

I^I I N U T E S

Plant.

127.

MAKING

CHARtO.^L.

them, in pails. If a large piece contain much
fire (which is hid, chiefly, in the chinks of
the large pieces), it is plunged, bodily, into
the water. If the heap, iifelf, prove too
refraclor}', to be kept under, by the aflies
alone, a fufficient quantity of w^ter is thrown
upon it to keep the fire under. Su^ h large
pieces, as are fulpicious, are laid on one fide -^
in order that thole which take fire may be
the more readily difcovered,

^ '^■^ggon attends, to take away the coal,
as faft as it is drawn, For, if it take fire,
or get wet, in the hands of the " burners,"
it is at their rifque : and, while in the wag-
gon, it is at the rifque of the waggoner,
Every particle lurfjt, is fo much waiied.

For farther remarks on this procefs, fee
MiN. 151.

KATVRAL
V.OODLAND.

128,

June 10. It is ilriking to fee the number
of YOUNG pAK PLANTS, now fpringing up,
in the grafs grounds of this neighbourhood.
Some grounds are fcattcred thick enough for
a crop of timber : frequently two, three, or
four in a fquare yard !

Pn

1784. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 265

On examination, the acorns, invariably, 128.
are found to be partially buried in the foil ; voJm and
and their upper furfaces overgrown with mofs
and roots of grafs ; fo that no part of them
is feen ; but, on preffing the finger againft
the root of the feedling plant, tl;^ acorn is
readily found, in that fituation.

The acorns ftill appear ,, as perfect, as they
could be, the day they were dropt : notwith-f
{landing fome of the feedling plants are al-
ready fix inches high, and their roots not lefs
than a foot long !

From the manner in which the acorns now
hang to the plants (by two tough ligaments
growing out of the two lobes of the acorn),
the roots appear to have ftruck firft, and the
flem to have, afterward, fhot up from it.
The roots are now (the former part of June)
the fize of wheat ftraws. The ftems fome-?
what thicker than the ftalks of raygrafs 5
with a tuft of leaves on the top of each.

How thefe acorns became, fo univerfally,
and fo regularly, fcattered over the furface,
and by what means they were thus par-
tially buried in the foil, feems unaccountr
able,

Query,

266

MINUTES

Plant.

12S.

KATIRAL

WOODLAND.

CtXTURE

of

V0Oi>LAND.

Qnerv, have they been dropt, by rooks or
woodpigeons, ajad trodden into the ground
by cattle ? Or do the rooks intentionally hide
them, in this manner, and afterward forget
them r or depolit them, inftindlively, to pro-
pagate tliis their favorite food !

Let this be as it may, the circumfcance
under notice proves, that oaks may be pro-
pagated on fward, at a fmall expence.

Perhaps, eat the ground bare ; fow the
acorns, broadcaft, when the furface is moift ;
and roll them in, with a light roller. Or
place them, by hand, at regular diftances,
and tread them in.

The feedling plants, under notice, arc
healthy, and vigorous, in a fuperior degree.

129.

CHAFiRs. Ji^NE 1 3* (Scc MiN. 1 26.) About ten
days ago, the chafers \vci& finijhing the foli-
age of Statfold wood ! The under boughs
(which they had left 'till the lail) were then
covered with them. I counted near fifty on
one fmall branchy twig, no thicker than the
finder !

Vcflerday,

1784- MIDLAND COUNTIES. 267

Yellerdav, I oblerved near Breedon, In 129.
this diftridt, a wood partially eaten to the chafers.
bare twigs : moft of the trees wearing their
winter appearance ! while lome few are
fcarcely touched ! And the fame partiality
is, I find, more or lefs obfervable everyr-
\vhere.

This is an intereftlng fa(fl. The age of
the tree does not, evidentlv, influence their
choice. Statfold wood (one hundred and hfty
years old) and Shuttington coppice (a young
wood) are equally injured.

This infedl appears to be one of the greatefl: enemies
"enemies the oak has in this country. Query, the oak.
are not hard winters, are not long and late
frofts, friendly to this infecfl ; by keeping
the chr}'lales locked up from devourers,
until late in the fpring j when w^arm wea-
ther, fetting in fuddenly, as it did this year
(fee vol. i. p. 1 14.)* the entire brood efcape.

If hard winters be favorable to the chafer, growth
it is highly probable that the narrow rings the°oak
of the oak, obferved by Linneus to cor-
refpond with the hard winters of 157S,
J 687, and 1709*, were not occafioned by

the

♦ See Dr.PuLTNEY's General View of the Writings
©f Linneus, page 35.

263

M I N U T E S

Plaht.

129.

CS.OWTH

of
THE OAK.

the SEVERITY of tliofe winters ; but by the
abundance of INSECTS, to which it may be
faid they gave birth.

Indeed, it is not eafy to conceive, how the
feverity of winter, finiply confidered, could
have any influence or effect of that nature.
Few men can remember fo fevere a winter,
in this country, as the lad ; yet no man per-
haps ever knew vegetation fo rapid, or fo
vigorous, as it has been, and rtill continues,
this fpring. The abundant flow of fap in
the oak, more particularly, was obvious to
common obfervation : the oldefl: bark Deelers
remember not a limilar inftance. To ufe the
firong expreflion of an experienced wood-
ward, or. this circumftance, ** one mio-ht have
walli^d pne'5 hands in it,"

130.

g:^owth

of
TKL OAK.

July 25. This fummer, the oak puts
on an unufual appearance. The fj^ring fhoot
having been taken off (entirely from moft
individuals — fee the laft: Minute) by the cha-
fer, the Midfummer fhoot (or more accu-
rately fpcaking,a frefli £hoot)has fupplied its

place i

1784-. MIDLA>*D COUNTIES. 169

place ; the trees, now, appearing in the 130.
color and foftnels of IVIay. growth

The leaves, however, as yet, arc imall, the oak.
thin, and faint ; unable, probably, to draw
up any conliderable liipply of lap : and
even fuppoUng them to acquire, before
autumn, their natural lize and texture, the
lofs of time, and the extraordinary check
the fap may have received, during the dif-
foliated ftiite of the trees, v.-iil probahlj
prevent them, this year, from forming their
ordinary increafe of wood : a circamilancc
which may, hereafter, be eafily proved by
examination.

July 2 c. A flrikin? milance, of the training
Utility of trimming off the fide moots of
hedges, occurs on this farm.

One of the hedges of Nt>. 4. (a young-
grown hedge, having been plalhed fome four
or five years ago) I have lately pruned, on
both fides, fo as to reduce it to about four
feet thick : the greatell thicknefs to which
hedges, in general, can with propriety be
fuifered to fpread.

Another

27» MINUTES PLANn

TRAINING
HEDGES.

^3^' Another hedge of the fame inclofure (an

oldgrown hedge, of perhaps twenty years'
growth from the laft plafhing) occupies, on
a medium, a flip of ground, of twelve feet in
width : one bundle of boughs ftrctches out
more than ten feet from the ftem ; and hangs
fo low that neither plow can work, nor even
a flieep graze, beneath it.

The difference between twelve and four
is eight : fo' that there is a flip of entirely
ivajle ground^ eight feet wide, and nearly
fifty rods in length : of courfe, by the im-
proper management of this hedge, there are
more than twenty fquare perches of land
laid wafl:e : which half rood of land might,
by a few hours well timed labor, have re-
mained productive.

If a neat farmer, in this or almoft any
other diflriel, had a pitplace or hollow way
upon his farm, containing half this quantity
of land, he would work at it, for weeks, to
make it culturable.

The firflmentioned hed^e took a man two
days, to reduce it ; but, in that cafe, there
was a border of briars and brambles, feveral
feet wide, which was to be cleared away>
before he could work at the hedge : a bor-
der

17S4, MIDLAND COUNTIES. , 27«

TRAINING

HEDGES.

der which not only occafioned a wafte of ^3^
land, without any counter benefit 3 but was
of courfe unfriendly, and in a degree dan-
gerous, to fheep : whereas, now, ftock may
graze, with fafety, up to the ftems of the
hedge : and the plow and the fithe have equal
freedom.

The objediionheld outagainft the pradice
of pruning hedges, is a lofs of v/ood.

if hedges be pruned, not on the fides^
only, but, on the topy keeping them fence-
height, this objedlion certainly has its
weight, and, where wood for dead hedges is
wanted, is an adtual lofs. But, when it is fet
up againft the pra(!^ice of ftriking off licen-
tious fide (hoots, only, leaving the top, or
more properly the hedge, to run up, it has
little or no foundation. For the main fhoots
— the valuable part of the hedge— or, as has
been faid, the hedge itfelf — rifes in the mid-
dle ; and is rather invigorated, than injured,
by checking the growth of the fides ; giving
the hedge plants an upward tendency ; and
turning the current of lap, which would have
been fpent on the fide branches, into a more
ufeful channel ; thereby converting it to the
mod valuable parts of hedging materials-
flakes and Ihooting wgod. In

2JZ MINUTES Plant.

131. In fix or feven years, the main flioots of

^rociS^ the hedge under notice, will be fit for thefc
purpoles ; and may, then, be taken off,
fence-height; leaving, free of coft, a live
fence, which, in the courfe of ten years more,
will, under limilar management, be again in
a limilar ftate.

This mode of treatment, however, mufl
not be too often repeated. In a courfe of
years, the entire hedge will require to be cut
down to the ftubs : and a frelh range of
flems to be raifed. But, by the mode of
treatment, here recommended, the ftems rcr
quire to be renewed Iffs ofterty than they do
under ordinary m.anagement. For, by giv-
ing the weaker items perpetual air and day-
light, on the lides, and by giving them per-
fect freedom, above, ojKe in nine or ten
years, they are enabled to itruggle, the longer y
with their more powerful neighbours.

Hence, upon the whole, it appears, evi-
dently, that taking off the fide (hoots of
hedges is highly beneficial 16 the tenant ; as
giving him, at leart without lofs, the ufe of
his land j and ilill more highly to the eflate ;
by prolonging the duration of the fence.
See MiN. 161.

January

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 273

132.

iySc. January 24. The evil effeds training

/ J J ^ HEDGES,

of WATER, STANDING AGAINST LIVE

HEDGES) are obvious, in No. 18. j as well
as in other inftances, which 1 have lately
obferved.

In the inftance, more particularly under
notice, it is evident, that wherever the water
Jlood in the ditch (v/hich is now fcoured),
there the quick is (lunted and mofTy (and the
fame efte<fl is obfervable in the other in-
ftances)"; while, in the intermediate parts,
where there has been a currejit of water,
(this ditch ading, in wet feafons, as a fhore
to fome lands which lie above it), the hedge
is remarkably full of growth.

May we from hence conclude, that
hedges, like grafs lands, are benefited by
RUNNING WATER, and injured by stand-
ing WATER ?

This being as it may, it is evident, enough,

that ftanding water, whether it lodge, high

in the ditch ^ fo as to reach the region of the

Vol. II. T feeding

»74

M I N U T E S

Plakt.

132.

PLANTING
HEDGED.

feeding fibres, or, on the back of the hedge ^
is prejudicial *.

Hence the impropriety oi planting the hedge
on the upper fide of the ditch ; cfpecially acrofs
ridges and furrows -, as, in this cafe, the
water, dammed in the furrows by the bank
made acrofs them, has no other means of
efcape, than that of oozing through the
bank : thus becoming produ(5tive of double
mifchief. See Norfolk, min. 45.

UROWTH
of

February 26. Counted the rings of a
THBASir. found, full-grown asti, meafuring twenty-
one inches in diameter.

The

* I have obferved, in more than one inftance, a ftrik-
ing good effe£t, on newly planted hedges, from
water lodging at the bottom sf the ditch -y by aftbrding, efpc-
tially in a dry fummer, a feafonable fiipp'y of moifture
ro the young plants, without incommoding their roots.
This, however, is no ar^rument in favor of fufTerir.g the
ditches ot older hedges to be warped up, and filled with
tVater to the brhn j as is too trcquemly the cafe, in every
uirtria.

1785.

xMIDLAND COUNTIES.

27J

Tlie number of rin^s — ninety. Of the
firft ten years, as well as of the laft ten, the
growth has been flow. In the intermediate
years, the different thicknelTes of the rings,
in different years, are ftriking.

What is the caufe of this difparity? Which^
defcription of years are 'rc'i::?^' years, and which
not ? An interefting refearch.

133-

GROWTH
of

TK£ ASH.

134-

March i. Yellerdav, took down three
thriving elms.

The number of rings — twentvnine, befide
the inner bark : thirty years old : an age
which is corroborated by living evidence *.

Two of them meafure, at the butt, more
than two feet diameter ; and, at four feet
high, more than eighteen inches.

What a produce ! Thefe two trees, — as

large, but not larger, on a par, than eight

more left ftanding, — meafure fortyfour feet,

timber meafure ; including the burk : about

T 2 forty

♦ In another inftance, in which the time of planting is
afcertainable by written evidence, the number of riags cor-
refponds exactly with the number of years growths.

GROWTH

'01
THE ELM.

pRonrct

of
£LMS.

of
ELMS.

/^

o

o

0

5

4

o

1 1

3

o

^

4

276 M I N U T E S Plant.

^ 34-' forty feet of faleable timber ; worth a (hilling
^^°.^^" a foot - -

1 6 fencing pofls and rails, at 4//.
9 feet of cord wood, at los.
40 fpray faggots —

£' 3 ^ ^

Thefe trees ftand not quite eiglit yards

from each other : confequently, each may

■ be faid to occupy two rods or Iquare perches

of land ; and their produce, an acre, a year,

may be cafilv calculated.

From the almoil uniform iize of the rings,
thefe elms appear to have been fliU in tull
growth > and might, perhaps, have continue/!
fo, ten or twenty years longer ; provided the
diftance between them would have admitted
'air and headroom. But tlieir tops already in-
terfered, and their root*, in all probability,
had reached each other : it is therefore un-
likely that they Ihould long have continued
to make a fimilar progrefjj ; and a doubt, per-
haps, whetlier tliey would have long paid for
LANIER 00 .V. The foil is a rich loam, on
brick earth. The lituaticir. lew, and Ikreencd
on the north.

March

I7S5.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

277

135-

March 5. Counted the rings of a.coin-
mon POPLAR. The number is fifty. The
diameter, at the butt, two feet three inches ;
nt ten feet high, tvventyfour inches. -

The laft ten years, it has grown ven,^ flow- ^
]y : its increafe, in that time, being not
more than three inches diameter ; or one and
a half inch in tne width of the rings. It had
therefore grown ten inches and a hahf, in
the firil forty years : or a quarter of an inch,
each year.

This tree is beginning to rot, at the heart.
In the lower part of the flem, about an inch
and a half in diametef is entirely decayed. It
has therefore ftood too long : though, to ap-
peararrce, it was a healthy thriving tree.
Even fuppofmg it to have fallen perfectly
found, the increafe for the lafl ten years has
been inadequate to its encumbrance, and
the interell: of its value at forty years old j
at which age it would have paid well for
planting and landroom. The foil is a rich
loam ; the lituation m.oifi:.

CHOWTH

of tlie
POPLAR.

T 3

March

»78 M I N U T L S Plast.

136.

^"'"^ March 18. Rode to Atherfton, to an

TiMB£&. aucftion of one hundred and lixtythree oa?:.

TREES, now {landing in Merevale wood.

They were put up to fale, under thefe
conditions. The whole to be taken down,
this leafon : ten percent of the purchale
money to be paid, within three days after
fale, and fecurity given, for the remainder ;
the £rfl moiety to be paid, in full, at Lady-
day 1786, and the remaining moiety, at
Michaelmas following : the ground to be
finally cleared, before Michaelmas 1787 : the
road tu be repaired, by the feller : not to
advaiice lefs than ten pounds, each bidding ;
and, if no one offer an advance, within free
minutes after the lafl bidding, the laft bidder
to be the purchafer.

They were put up at three q'clock, at 500/.
and fold, a little before four, at the extraor-
dinary fum of 1 20c/. !

This lot of trees makes part oi a wood,
which caps a bold ftrongly featured promon-
tory', and contains ten times that number of
trees : fome of them as valuable, and others

llill

GROWTH
of

J785. AIID LAND COUNTIES. 779

flill more valuable, than thofe which were 136.
fold, today.

They are, beyond compariron, the talleft
oaks I have feen. Some of them are faid to '^^^^ ^^^*
meafure feventy feet, in the ftem ! I efti-
mated feveral at fixty.

One of the largefl trees, in the lot fold
today, girts, at five feet high, ten feet ; and
its fhem I eftimated at forty feet. If it girts
only eight feet, at twenty feet high, it con-
tains four tons of timber ; which, at three
pounds a ton, the current price for ordinary
timber, is twelve pounds. But to ftand
againft thefe large trees, there are others
which have not twenty feet of timber each,
and ^ few that are as ** hollow as churns."

The very large trees now ftand from two
to three rods afunder ; but muft, in their
youthful ilat^, h^ve flood in the grove man-
ner ; their ftems being llraight and clean as
Weymouth pines.

The SOIL a fhallowlQam : the substr,a-
TUM, rock.

T 4 fi^?vnt

25o MINUTES Plakt.

RyE April i6. Converiing with two expr-

s A p rienced woodii^en, on the rise of the
SAP OF OAK, thev were clearly of opinion^
founded on macv years experience in felling
timber, that the iap of o/d trees rifes, much
earlier, than that of yvung ones.

In pruning and fetting up an old oak, with
a view to ornament, two days ago, the fap
had evidently reached the uppermoft twigs :
though the grofsberrv is now only foliating,
and the fallow has nor yet blowed.

Mr. , a coniiderable timber dealer,

fays -the bark of the trees, in Merevale Wood,
would now run ; and the woodmen corro-
borate this, in laying, that they generally
begin a fortnight fooner in that Wood (the
oldeil in the neighbourhood) than in any
ether.

This early rife of fap, in old trees, may

be owing to the veffcls being comparatively

large and ric,id j the bark being lefs elallic,

r * ' ^-acing the wood fo clofely, as that

-rov.'ing trees, which will even

burfl

1785- MIDLAND COUNTIES. 281

RISE

of
SAP.

buril th^ bark, to gain that freedom of cir- i Z7
dilation, which, perhaps, in the end, is in-
jurious to old trees.

138.

April 16. On Monday laft, was fold, saix
by auction, feven hundred and fifty oak timber.
TREES, ftanding on the ftem, in Weeford

PARK.

The conditions of fale y/ere — rto advance
five pounds at each bidding, two bidders to
make a fale. The buyer to pay down im-
mediately five percent, and give fecurity for
the remainder : one half of which is to be
paid, at Michaelmas next, the other half, at
Midfummer 1786. The ground to be cleared
ty Chriflmas next ; with, however, liberty
to let the timber remain on an adjoining
common, for any further time. To have the
iifual privilege of making fawpits, cutting
turf for charcoal, and, in this caie, of cutting
"kidbands:" a dangerous privilege; ex-
cept, as in this inflance, where there is much
coppice wood to go over.

Thefe trees having been previoufly valued,
for the feller, at 610I, were put up at 600I.

confe-

ii MINUTES Plakt.

J 3?. confequently could not be fold under the
S.4U ellimate. They fetched 65 5 1.
fiMSfS- It is obfervable, that thefe tfccs being

** fmall butted" and large topped, that is, the
tops being large in p|-opQrtion to the ftems,
and the bark being youngy and of a good
quality, jt fold for near one third of the whole
purchafe : whereas the bark of the ** long
butted," fmall topped trees of Merevale, did
rot fell for more than 07ic tenth of the timber,
Hut» ia this cafe, the trees were old,, and the
t>arkj of courfc^j foul, ^nd of a.n inferior
qui\Uty.

h^^ii. 21, Yeflcrday came; on the file,
by auction, of the oak timber of Stat-?

FOLD.

Stat^Pld. wQop, though not extenfive,
has lor,g been an ornament to this country j;
and i^s timber has always been confidcred a^
beijig of a valuable quality.

^t.s extf;nt is under twenty acres ; its tim-
ber confiding chiefly of oak and alh : — the;
^aks many of them good trees i-— worth five
♦ix o^ feven pounds, a tr*^':-.

It

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

It is obfervable, that the beft oaks ftand
jon the Ibuth and fouthweft quarters ; the sale
north fide beins^ principally afli. See vol. i. timbei^.
p. 67. and MiN. 166.

How deceitful are the appearances of .
woods I This Wood appears to the eye, at a
diflance, as well as on a nearer view, to be a
large oak ivood. Yet, at prefent, the eighteen
or twenty acres contain oply four hundred
and fiftytwo trees, large and fmall : not more
than twenty to twentyfive trees, an acre ;
the whole being not more than adequate to
the building of one fourth of a feventyfour
gun fhip ! *

This Wood, fo far as can be judged from
the number of its years growths, is about one
hundred and fAzy years old : the trees, in
general, wear the appearance of being full
grown, — fome few of them verging towards
decay : the whole, as a crop, being fully ripe»
and fit to be harvefled.

The conditions of fale were thefe ;

J . Two bidders to make a fale.

2. No advance lefs than five pounds, to
be cdnfidered as a bidding.

3. No

* Sec Planting and Ruraj. Ornament: Divifion
Woodlands j IntroduvSlory Remarks,

04 M I N U T E S Plant.

^3^* 3* ^^' P^f^'<^rj advancing five pounds,

SALE within free minutes, after the laft bidding,
TiMEER. the laft bidder to be the buyer.

4. The purchafer to pay down ten percent
of the purchafe money, and give immediate
fecurity, if required, for tlie remainder; or
the lot, for- want of fuch depofit or fecurity,
to be put up, again, to fale : one half of the
remaining purchafe money to be paid on or
before the 25th December next, and the
other moiety on or before 29th September,
1786.

5. The coal v/ood to be burnt in the
wood, £ic. f the purchafer having liberty of
<:utting turf, a!fo of making fawpits, in thefe
pUces. The ground to be entirely cleared,
before Chriftmas 1786.

There having been, a few years ago, a
^ dcHberate valuatioii made of thefe trees, the

feveral lots wcr^, in conimon prudence, put
np at near their eflimated value ; it having
been previouily declared, that no bidder
Oiould be employed on tlie part cf the felicr ;
hut that the iale Ihould be real, free, and
determinate j a declaration, which, when
^ bidders are fufhcientlv numerous, and uncon-

necTtcd

SALE

ot

TIMBER.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. aSs

necHied with each other, is, perhaps gene^ 139*
rally, found policy, in the filler.

In this inftance,^ the biddings were rapid
and fpirited, almoit beyond example.

The four hundred and forty trees fetched
upwards of three hundred pounds more than
their efuimated value. So that grounding
the calculation on the late efcimate, and al-
lowing for an increail:d growth of timber,
they fold at the rate of three guineas to three
pounds ten lliillings a ton, of forty feet of
timber.

The BARK of this timber was eflimated at qlaltty
about one Jrccnth of what the timber fold b.^k,.
for. See m in. 138.

The timbcrmen of this country, as well as
the tanners, feem well acquainted with the
QUALITIES of BARK; which Varies much
in value. The *^ rough" " heavy'* (that is,
thick) bark of the //r/7/j of cdd timber is
efteemed of a bad quality. On the contrary,
the " fiefhy," '' light" (that is, thin) bark
o^ youthful gTi^vAng flcms, and of well grov/a.
topSy is deemed of a good quality. Bark,,
however, may be too light, too thin, too
young, fc as to llirink loo much in drying.

. But

MINUTES

Plant.

139,

PRICE

oi
BARK.

But the PRICE OF BARK varies more^ in
refped: to Jltuation, than intrinfic quality*
At Tamworth, it is, now, worth forty
fliillings, a ton. At Atherston, only nine
miles diftant, it will not fetch more than
thirty (hillings, or a guinea and a half, a ton*
A large parcel was fold lately, in War-
wickshire, at twentyfive ; and in Shrop-
shire it may, now, be bought for twenty
(hillings, a ton : dilfcrences which doubt-
lefs arife, in the different proportions, be-
tween the quantity of leather tanned, and
the quantity of timber fallen, in the feveral
fituations : the c a r r i a g e of bark bearing
a confiderable proportion to its original value.

140

TIME

cf

FELLING

TIMBER.

April 21. Tlte purchaicr^ of the Mhrt:-
vale TiMhi r btgan to fell, ycfterday ■
although :he gror>berry has bare- Iv foliated,
and the hawthorn but juil beginning to open.
And it i: the opinion of experienced timber-
men,, thi^t feme of the trees in Statfold Wood
(about fifty year? younger) would likewife
run.

Quer)-,

1785- MIDLAND COUXTIES. i|f

Quen% i> this early rife of Tap owing to 140.
the fpeciiic nature of the trees of this diilridt ? R i s 5
Or to the nature of the foil or climature ? or % a r.
are woodmen, in other diil:ri(^s, ignorant a?
to the circumftance of the bark of c/ri trees
running, y? w»r/^ earlier, than that of jc:wger
Wood f

It is oblervable, that yonng trees^ and
even the young wood of old trees, retain
the leaves, longer, than the older branches
of aged trees : the fap, having, prrk:ps, a hC>
free circulation, neither rifes nor falls, fo
rapidly, as it does in old wood ; in which
the ducts are become large, and in whicii
the •* flefli" of the bark mav have lof>, in
great parc^ its elaliicity.

141.

April 21. The *' lag" is a common Tiiz lag
blemifli of timber trees, in this country : a t[mb£S.
defed which I do not remember to have
met with in any other; unleis it be incl,ided,
ehewherc, in that of shake v. It is a cleft,
or rift, reaching fometimcs from the top to
the bottom of the ftsin, and, perhaps, to
near its center.

Thii

283 MINUTES Pla^tt.

141. This defed is believed to be caufed, by

THE LAO froft. No other ground, however, is pro-
TiMBER. duced for this opinion, tlian the evidence of
an old man, who lives (or lived) in the
neighbourhood of Sutton park (in which
the " lag" is very prevalent *), and who fays
that, " in the hard froft," he has, in the
night, heard the trees burft, with reports as
ioud as thofc of guns ! and that, onx exami-
nation, he has found cracks in them, large
cnoueh to thruft in his hand.

If this be a fadl, it is an interefling one*
It is, at lead, probable , and is, indeed, the
only rational account that, perhaps, can be
given of this too well afcertained eftV^ -f*

142.

April 28. Two of the purchakrs of the
SAP. Statfold OAKS bcgan felling, today.

The tops run perfedly well i but tlie
lower parte, of the ilems move with diHiculty.

Thi

RISE
of

IS

* Diftcrcnt woods varying much as to this dilcafe.

t I puuliih il.is Minute to bring forward a lacl in Na-
tural Hiltory, which othirwifc, pcihaps, mightnot have
come before the public. The circumftArtcc accounting fof
it waa related to nic, by Mr. Skeasby of Tamworth.

1^85.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

289

This may feerrl a paradox. Yet the facfl is
fo notorious that an old barkpeeler will have
it, the fap enters at the top.

The buds are juft beginning to fwell: the
fmall twigs are full of fap : and no wonder
they are fo ; for the buds not being yet
opened, the fap has yet no venty and there is,
ofcourfe, 2l fur charge. This surcharge
necelTarily takes place at the extremities
of the BOUGHS; which might be termed
the bottom of the containing vessel;
while the roots and the ftem might be faid
to a<ft the part of a tunnel, down which the
fap, collected by the fibrils, is poured *.

142.

RISE

of
S /V P.

H3'

May I. This morning, fpeiat feme time,
in Statfold wood.

In one fet of workmen, there are nine
FELLERS to fevcu PEELERS ! and, in an-
other, three fellers to four or five peelers.
But " flocking" — fee vol. i. p. 69. — requires
a greater proportion of fellers than axefalling,
in the more ufual way.

Vol. II. U The

* The circumftance of the fide (hoots of the ilem fo-
Kating before the top of the tree, accords with this theory.

METHOD

of
FELLING'

TIMBER^.

290

U I N U T E S

Plant.

H3-

METHOD

of
FELLING
TIMBER.

The minutio:! of stocking are thefe: the
horizontal roots having been bared with a
mattock, are cut through with falHng axes
(lee as above) ; — and one end of a rope
having been previoufly, or while the furface
roots were cutting, fixed judiciouily to a
bough in the head of the tree, and the other
end to the bottom of a neighbouring tree, in
a proper diret^tion, the tap and other down-
ward roots (if not very large) are broken of]-,
by means of this purchafe ; tearing out the
crown of the root entire.

Much judgment and circumfpecflion are
requifite in letting down large fpreading trees.
Two of thofe already fallen are much injured,
by rents below the crowns, and a third is
cleft halfway down the flem, by injudicious
management.

The mifchief is fometimes done, by a
fpreading bough, catching a Handing tree ;
but, more frequently, by a heavy arm filling,
r/ppermojly and dafhing to one fide, vvhen the
tree takes the ground. The woril: rent (of
a valuable tree) was caufed by two .boughs,
ftanding forkwife ; one of them dafhing to
one fide, the other to the oppofite fide of the
Aem, while a third took the ground.

The

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

291

The preventive is to cut off the dangerous
boughs, while the tree is flanding : an ex-
pedient which has a doubly good efFed: ; as
it not only guards againft the fplitting, but
inclines the tree to fall, with greater cer-
tainty, toward the defired point.

A log of wood, judicioully placed at the
foot of the falling tree, affills in giving it a
proper bias. And wedges, driven in behind,
have a iimilar effcdt.

It is very obfervable, that the largeft trees,
of this wood, have the fmalleft tap roots:
their horizontal roots being numerous, and
lying up to the furface ; while the flunted
inferior trees have tap or downward roots,
lying deep in the ground ; with few hori-
zontal ones.

In this inftance, the topsoil is good,
with a meagre, gravelly, yellow loam, for
the SUBSOIL.

Thefe flunted trees are an evidence that,
in fituations where the fubfoil is of an inferior
quality, oaks, though raifed from the acorn
in the place where they are intended to grow
up, ihould be tapped. See Norfolk,
MIN. 36,

U 2 One

143-

METHOD

cf
FELLING
TIMBER.

PLANTING.

292 MINUTES Plakt.

143. One of the largeft trees, in this wood, is

TRAixiKG much depreciated, bv having; its liately ftem

TIMBER. ^ ' .° ^

fouled and rendered coarfe, by rotten and
fmall boughs, flicking out of it, from top to
bottom. Its purchafer allows it would have
been worth more, by two guineas, had the
flem been clean. One hour's work, or half
that labor, beftowed upon it, a hundred and
twenty years ago, would have given this de-
firable quality.

What a miftaken idea, that timber trees
fhould not be touched with a pruning in-
strument ! It is injurious, no doubt, to
take off principal boughs, after the tree is
full grown, or even in the latter ftages of its
growth ; but to fuffer the ftem, v/hile young,
to remain foul with dead ftumps, and fmall
branches, is unpardonable.

144.

*^^ May 14. The filling of the Me r e v a l e

TIMBER (feeMiN. I 36.) was finifhed, ycller-
day. Scarcely one tree, in ten, fell with a
perfecCtly found butt ! Many of them are
hollow at the center, a conliderable way up;

and

FELLING
TIMBER.

I785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 293

and the entire ftems are, of courfe, tainted ! 144,
How injudicious, to fufter timber to Hand
thus to wafte !

The length of this timber is extraordinary, growth
A large-girting tree meafures fixty feet to the oak.
tb.e iiril: bough j with a continuation of up-
right ilem, near ten feet more !

Though thefe trees feemed to ftand well
aboveground, they have, or have had, very
ftrong downward roots ; though the fuh-
feitum be rock. But the fiiTures of this
were probably their beft fupport.

Counted the rings of one of thefe trees, age
about three feet diameter, at the butt, and the oak.
two, at the girting place ; and ran over thofe
of another tree. As nearly as could be dif-
tinguifhed, tv^o hundred rings.

It is obfervable, that, in feveral of thefe
trees, a core, of about ten years growth, 'has
flirunk, and feparated from the more outward
rings. Have they been tranfplanted from a.
richer foil, or a more genial fituation, whea
of that p-rowth ?

V 3 May

PRACTICE

in
PLANTIKG.

294 MINUTES Plan-t.

146.

May 25. Began taking vp arid
PLANTING (in a fmall Ikreen plantation)
the 8th o^ April : having been kept back,
until that time, by the untowardnefs of the
weather.

Removed the plants, from the nur-
fery ground to the plantation, about a quar-
ter of a mile diil:ant, upon a sledge, boarded
at the bottom, and furnifhed with fide-
boards : an implement mod ufeful in this
intention.

In planting, filled in fach p^rt of the
mold, as was requifitc to raife the given plant
to a proper height ; and, to endeavour to
counteract the drynefs of the feafon, threw
a pail of water, upon the mold thus returned,
into each hole ; flirring- up the earth and
water j and fetting the plant upon this pre-
pared bed : then filled in dry mold ; work-
ing it among the roots, with the hand *;
at the fame time, moving the plant gently,

by

* The SPADE is a dangerous tool to be ufed, as it too
frequently is, within the pit, after the plant is fet in.

lySs. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 295

by giving its top a circuitous motion, to let 14"*
in the mold, more compleatly, among the practice

ri „ PLANTING.

nbers.

The roots being thus bedded, and wholly
covered with mold, it was prefTed down
pretty hard, with the foot, and another pail
of water poured round the otitfide of the pit ;
covering up the wetted furface, with the re-
mainder of the mold ; rounding it gently to
Xti^ ftem y and leaving a ring, correfponding
with the outer margin of the pit, to catch
the rain, or to receive, if requiiite, the future

waterings.

April II. The fun continuing clear,
and the wind parching, I did not venture to
expofe the roots of the plants to the air; but
employed the workmen in preparing the
PITS ; by returning part of the mold, fo as
to raife the bottoms high enough, on a par,
to fet the plants upon ; and throwing a pail
OF WATER, into each.

April 12. The day being cloudy, I went
on with planting, in the prepared holes.

On breaking the glalTy furface, left by the
water upon the top of the mold, I found it
in a defirable ll:ate : mellow and moift, with-
out being glutinous (as I had feared from

U 4 the

PRACTICE

in
PLANTING.

^96 MINUTES Plant.

14^' the appearance of the furflice it would have
been), or at all adhefive ; it having acquired,
by the water pafling through it, no degree of
tenacity.

Rounded the furface of the mold— the
bottom of the pit ;— and, on this little fwell
or hillock, fet the plant (the roots naked) :
covered the roots, with prepared mold, from
the next hole ^ and this-, with dry mold ;
pouring water round the outfide ; filling up
the pit with dry mold ; and leaving a ring
as before.

u^f>n7 1 3. By way of improving upon thi§
management, I filled the unphntcd holes,
almofl full to the top, and gave each an-
other pail of watery in order to get a fuffi-
ciency of prepared mold, to bed the roots in j
as well as to moiften, more eifedually, the
fides of the pits, and thereby give a general
coolnefs and moi/lure to the entire reeion
of the roots.

^/W/23. Finished planting, — du-
ring a continuance of dry air and funlliine,
accompanied with a cold, piercing, brilk,
north wind. Nevertiielcfs, fome pines,
moved in this air, are now as healthy and
vigorous, as the reft of the plantation.

The

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 297

The PROCESS of the latter planting i4^'
was nearly the fame, as the iirll : the holes p^--^'-;tici
were previouily filled, threefourths full, and Pi^ANiiNC.
watered, fufficiently, to give moiit mold
enough to fet the plants on, and enough to
bed their roots in — tire over tire j
fpreading the roots and fibers, nearly hori-
zontally 3 fomewhat dipping.

This, for naked roots, appears to be as
much as can be accomplifhed. When balls
of earth can be transferred from the nur.-
fery to the plantation (as was the cafe with
many of thofe tranfplanted), moiftened mold
to fet them on is only wanted : tlien filling in
dry earth, and finally treadujg and watering.

A ftrong evidence, in favor of watering gen.obs.

THE PITS, BEFORE PLANTING, appeared TREPARIXG

^^ THE PITS.

in digging freih holes, two or tliree feet from
the outfide of thofe which had previojfly
been planted in ; the foil being moiil, and
in good order for working", even at this dif-
tance, quite up to the furhice ! And reiled:-
ing on this incident, it flrik-S me, that, pro-
viied the holes be filled in, high enough, to
receive the plants, and fufficiently \\ atered,
it may not be necefiary to bed the roots in
wet mold. Dry mold works better in among

the

TKZ nis.

i^ M I N U T E S Plant.

I.!*). the fibers ; and if the plant be let imme-
Giv OKS diately upon wet foil, it is \trj evident, from
rRFPAriNG this and other inftanccs of a fimilar kind,
that the irjoifture vrill quickly rife above the
region of the roots j even to the very furface;
as, on examination, it has evidently done, in
every planted hole.

In defperatc cafes, it may be neceflary to
apply parte, immediately to the fibers ; but,
perhaps, well rooted plants, which have not
been too long out of the ground, may not,
though naked of mold, require it.

The pra(5lice of watering the mold
BEFORE PLANTING, in the manner I have
done this feafon, is perhaps new. I have
never met with the idea, cither in theory or
pra(ftice : a circumftar»ce the mere remark-
able, as it feems to fet the drynefs of the fea-
fon, the dread of planters, at defiance.

The principal dijlercnce, to the planter,
between a dry and a m.oift fealor>, is eviaently
this. In the latter, the foil of the plantation
i<; fulHciently cool, and moill, for the purpofcs
of vegetation : not partially moill:, above ; nor
in a ftpte of mud, alicut the roots (iis it is*
in the ordinary method of watering holes) ;
but uniformly m.oift : not only in the ref'ion

on

PREPnRlNG

THE PiTS.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 299

of the roots, but below them : the humidity, 14^*
there lodged, being drawn up, leifurely, ge^-obs.
through the foil, by the adion of the atmo-
fphere upon the furface ; furnifhing the
roots, in its afcent, with a uniform and natu-
ral Cupply of COOLNESS and moisture j both
of which, perhaps, are requifite to a full
fupply of fap.

On the contrary, in af dry feafon, this re-
quiiite degree of coolnefs and moiilure of foil
is wanted ; and it appears to be an evident
duty of the planter, to lupply the deficiency ;
which, in moft cafes, he may, at an incon-
fiderable expence,- — comparatively with the
advantage of planting, with a moral cer-
tainty of fuccefs.

In theor)% at leaft, it is good ; and the
refult, at prefent, of this year's praftice, is a
ftrong evidence of the theory being well
founded. Such fbrength of vegetation, from
frefh planted trees, I do not remember to
have obferved. The llioots of the wey-
MOUTH PINES and the balm of gilead
FIRS arc extraordinary ; and the oaks, al-
though they are badly rooted, having ftood
fome years too long in the nurferj^ fince their
being tranfplanted, and although they were

expofed

5TO MINUTES PtANT.

146. expofed to the air and brojght eight or nine
CEN oBs. iniies with naked roots, are now makin?

en ^

fFiPARiNG ftron? Aoots. The larches thrive the

Tiii: PITS. T , , , . . ,

worit ; but they were moved at a critical

time ; juft as they had begun to break out

into leaf'^ and were, in that iiate, brought

three miles, with roots naked of mold.

Training. Some confiderable fhare of

^fuccefs, in tranfplanting, evidently depends

on judicious pruning : not only before, but

AFTER PLANTING.

CviN\ CDS. In Jvorfolk, I obferved, that hedsrss cut

f^iviNG when they were in fuU fap — the bud^ fwel-
KnN'UNG. ling and nearly ready to burfl: out into leaf-^
made ilrongsr fhocts from the flools, than
thofe cut while the lap was .down ffee Nor-»
FOLK, MiN. 34.)' Voung hedge plants, too,
I have obferved, never fucceed better, than
when they are planted in a fimilar ftate.

I account for this inteieiiing fa(ft (for fuch
I believe it is) in this way. If the body of a
plant be removed, before the approach of
fyi'mz,, the atmofphere, whofe ad:ion, indu-
bitably* gives motion to the fap of trees *,

has

♦ The prac^ce of introducing part of a vine into a
bothoufe, leaving the reft in the coxmon air, Ls itfelf a
{uoof.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 3q#

has only the flumps of the floois to 2^0: upoii. 146.
But, if the entire plant be permitted to remain cen. obs.
upon the roots, the influence of the atmo- prinikg

^ after

fphere, which, according to Dr. Hales, and PL\NTIJ<G^

mod probably, is in proportion to the furface

expofed to it, is infinitely greater, than in

the former cafe. The entire root is fet to

work; every fibril ib brought into acftion;

and the fapveflels are, of coui"fe, diftended.

But before any part of the fap is exhaufted,

the top is fevered, and the whole force of the

roots, already full of the nurturing fluid, is

fpent on the protrufion of young fhoots frora

the ftools.

By a parity ofreafoning, if, on trans-
plant! kg z deciduous free , the whole of the
branches and twigs be left untouched, until
the roots are brought into action, and the
veflels of the body of the plant be diftended,
and filled with fap; and if, in this critical
ftate of the plant, two thirds, for inflance,
of the leaf bearing wood be rv^moved, the en-
tire force of the roots, with the fap already
raifed for the w^':: of the whole plant, will,
in this cafe, be expended on one third of it.
Anotlier idea (likewife new I believe) has
occurred to me. In pruning plants for tranf-

pl anting.

33i M I N U T E S Plakt.

146. planting, it is Cuftomary to take oft the
GEN oBs. branches, clofe to the ftem; a practice,
piiuNiKG which, in letting up Rationed trees, isalwavs
FLjuiTiyiG. proper; but which, applied to removed
plants, either at the time or foon after plant-
ing, appears to be erroneous. For, let the
fuccefs of a removed plant be what it may,
its vigor being greatly checked, through
the lofs of its feeding fibers, its exertions,
immediately after removal, are of cocrfc
Icfs forcible, than they are a few years af-
terward; when a freih fet of feeding fibers
being formed, the plant thereby gains pofl'ef-
fion of the foil, and a degree of eftabliihment
in its new fituation.

The firlt year after removal, plants, in ge-
neral and in a common feafon, have barely
nouriihment enough to preferve life, and
none for the cicatrization of wounds; which,
if made at the time of removal, have one year,
at leail, to lie open. On the contrary', if at
the time of reriioval, the fide branches be
only fliortened, to check their growth, and
relieve the plant, not taken off, clofe, fo as to
wound the llem, they become inilrumental
in fb-engthening the lower part of the Oem ;
which, in a few years, from its encreafed vi-
gor.

1785* iMIDLAND COUNTIES. 303

gor, and en<:re:ired proportion of iize, is 146-
enabled to heal the wound left by the re- ge-v obs.
moval of the ftump, perhaps, the firll year, prlntng
Under this idea, a principal part of the PLA^-TI^-G.
OAKS were pruned, by taking off the fmalleil:
twigs and decayed (tumps, only, clofe to the
ftem; leaving the larger branches, with
which thefe auk\vard plants abound, fome
inches long, according to tiieir refpeciive
fituations on the flem; leaving the lower -
moll:, though clofe to the ground, longell,
and ihortening them, conically, up to the
leader; carefully removing every leading
ihoot and end bud ; except the apex of the
main leader.

The PINE TRIBE I invariably lightened pruxixg
of the extremities of their lower boughs ; pin£ TiuBi-
which, on mioft of the plants, were lingularly
• abundant; efpecially on the spruce firs;
fome of which were nearly in a globular form :
it was dithcult, or impoirible, to come near
enough the foots, to take them up properly,
without ihortening the lower boughs ; upon
v/hich the nouriiliinent of the plants having
been expended, their upv/ard progrefs had
been flow.

I was

304 Minutes plant.

14^- I was cautious, however, not to take them

'*^^th^e^° off, too near the ll:em; lell they might, by
PINE TRIBE, bleeding too much, weaken the plants. But
the experience of this year has (hewn me,
that I might have been lets cautious, with
greater propriety. The weymouth pines,
which bled the moft, make remarkably fine
flioots, and this, though they were moved
without earth to their roots, and not with -
{landing fome of them were badly rooted.

The branches of the larches I have kept
lliortening, from time to time, as necelnty
feemed to require, until fome of them have
not a twig left on their fcems, fix inches 'in
length: yet every pruning had obvioufly its
good efFeft.

To the credit of watering the HOLt?,

BEFORE, and PRUNING THE PLANTS, AF-
TER PLANTING, there is rot, -yet, a dead
plant.

June

1755. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 305

148.

RIAGES

in

PLANTING.

June 6. Vv'hat a difficult feafon the lafl miscar

has been, for planting. At , , &c.

&c. * huw iickly the appearance of freHi
plantations. The pine tribe, efpecially
the Weymouths, are " as red as foxes."
Howmuch is due to the watering of the mold.
In plantation A, there is not yet a colored
plant, -f

149.

June 6. There are not, I apprehend, lefs quantitv
than a thoufand acres of oak timber, now oaktimb,
(landing, in Needwood forest. A quan-
tity of which few other foreflo of the kingdom
can at prefent boafl:.

SwiLCAR OAK, the father of this fcreil, g,-,^^
girts, at five feet high, twentyone feet. The ^^^^^

Vol. II. X lower

* See note page ?2.

t j^pril ijSb. The plantations of , confiderably

cxtenfive, were cut off, almofl: entirely. The ground was
replanted, laft autumn ; and, through the fcvcrity of the
winter, many of the plants are now cu< off, a fecond
time !

3^6 MINUTES Plant.

1 49* lower flem, ten feet clear. The whole height,
SIZES about fixtvfive : the extent of arm, fortvlive

of '

OAKS. feet.

In "Bagot park" are fome noble oaks:
many of them hallening down the llage of
decay ! There are feveral trees which are, or
have been, worth twenty pounds a tree.

I meafured one, which, / underjiand, goes
by the name of Sir Walter's walking
STAFF, and which girts, at fix feet high,
lixteen feet. The lower fiem, nearly clear
of boughs, I eflLmaied at thn-tyfive feet; an
upper one, at fifteen -, and the entire height,
at feventyfive feet.

Suppcilng this tree girts twelve feet, in the
girting place of the entire ftcm, it contains
four hundred and fift)^ feet of timber ; which
at four pounds a load, is fortyfive pounds :
the outfidc value of this tree, for ordinary
ufes. For particular purpofes, it may be
worth FIFTY POUNDS. It is faid to have
been eftimated at sixty pounds.

There has been, lately, a fall of timber in
thefe woods; including fome large trees.
Counted the rings of one w^hich is found at
the butt. The number, as nearly as I could
afcertain it, two hundred. But the lad

forty

1785-

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

307

forty or fifty years growths are fo thm, I
could not count them with certainty ; though
with fufficient accuracy to ground the fol-

149.

lowing calculations.

AGE

of

THE OAK.

GROWTH

of
THE OAK..

The girt of this tree, in the girting place,
is nine feet, the diameter of which is fome-
what more than thirtyfour inches.

The eftimated growth, in this partj is

thirty inches diameter, during the first

HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS, and /^<:<:r in-

. ches (two inches thick) in the last fifty

YEARS.

The length of the ftem is twentytwo feet.
The contents, of the whole, 110 feet of
timber. The contents, of the firft 1 50 years
growths, 85 feet J leaving 25 feet for the
growth of the laft 50 years.

Therefore, although the encreafe of dia-
meter has been comparatively fmall, during
the lafl fifty years, the encreafe of timber has
been nearly as great, as in the firlt itages.

But fuppofing this tree had been t?ken produce

cf

down, at one hundred and fitty years old, it the oak.
would, at tv/o fliillings a foot, have produced
eight pounds ten fliillings : the interefl: of
which would have amounted, in the courfe
of fifty years, to more than twenty pounds ;
X 2 befide

3o3

M 1 N U T E S

Plant,

149.

PRODUCE

of
THE OAK.

AGE

0/

FELLIKO

TIMBER,

bcfide the ufe of the land, during that time.
Whereas the tree, at that rate, is now worth
only eleven pounds.

December 1789. Thefe calculation?, and
inferences, are not intended to excite a fpirit
of felling timber, preniaturely; a fpirit which
is already too prevalent; but to endeavour to
afcertaih the proper age of felling ; it
being an iiicontrovertihle fact, that, in point
of utility, public and private, the crime of
fufFeping' timber to fland, too long, is infi-
nitely greater, than that of cutting it down,
before it has attained itS full growth.

In. the latter cafe, there is no ivajic; the
interell of money, and the fucceeding flioots,
or the ufe of the land, fland againft the lofs
of growth of timber. But, in the former, the
principal, intered, afterilioot, and ufe of the
land are all thrown away : fo that the com-
munity, as well as the proprietor, arc lofcrs
by the management. In the one cafe, cutting
part before it be fit, may fave other trees
whioh are more fully grown; but, in the
other, the whole is lof]-.

There are men who fay that " truth ought
not to be fpoken at all times:'' while others
alVert, and I apprehend vrith more truth on

their

17S5. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

3-9

their tide, that " fa^fls are always valuable."
For although a few men may make a bad ule
of them; men, in general, will apply thern
to a better purpofe.

With refpe(fl: to ship timber, the only
article by which the community can probably
futter in a premature fall of timber, it is of
much too great importance, in this illand, to
be left to the caprice of fentiment, and the
fecretion of fadls !

It avails not to nurfe up seamen, unlefs
there fliali be hereafter, on a certainty, ships
to employ them. If the state of the
NAVY be a fit fubjedl of enquiry, furely the
STATE OF SHIP TIMBER is of flill more ra-
dical importance.

But leaving the preservation of ship
TIMBER to thofe whom it mofl immediately
concerns, we will proceed to confider
TIMBER trees, as a fpecies of private
property.

It dees not follow, that, becaufe it is wrone
to fuffer timber to fland to wafle, it is ri^rht
to take it down, before it be futticiently
grown, for the purpofe of ship building.
It is not cccTzrcjan. but ilcut Q-rowinz tim-
ber, which is fit for that purpofe.

X 3 Timber

149.

AGE

of

FELLING

TIMBER.

BOARD

of

RURAL

AFFAIRS.

AGE

of

FELLIN'G

TLMBER.

a^ ■ M I N U T L S Plant.

149. Timber is feldom cut down, prematurely,

ACE but by the necefTitous; or by thole who have

vEj.LjivG only temporary poiTefiion of their refpe<5tivc

ellates. And what argument can prevail,

with this clafs of proprietors ?

Another clafs (and I truft by much the
largeft) is compofed of thofe, who, conii-
dering their timber, merely, as a profitable
part of their feveral ellates, take it down,
whenever it becomes full GRO^yN, and 4

FAIR OPPORTUNITY ofterS.

A third clafs of proprietors of timber con-
filis of thofe, who, tlirougli falfe pride, falfe
fear, or falfe economy, fuller their timber to
fland, till it be overgrown * : and if I have
any ether motive for publilhing the foregoing
Minutes, on the ages of timber trees, than
x\\:i\. of recording facts, it is the defire of
placing, in its proper light, the imprvcident
management of this clafs of proprietors ;
and, at the fame time, to endeavour to form
jolt ideas of a fubjecl, which has not, here-
tofore, been brought before the public; but
which is preeminently entitled to a public

difcuiTion.

This

• I fpcAfoIely of ti7vXBEr, in RiCLVSE situations:
r.vii of OKN AMEN TAL TREES, v\ox cven of fmall PLOTS o»"

HCCDLAKD, in PICrrHAPLE 5ITUATICNS.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

This lubjed having been rendered, in a
conliderable degree, famiUar to me, by many ^ge
years obfervation and pracftice, I will here ^^J;^^b£^
let down what appears to me the proper
AGES OF FELLING the four following fpe-
cies of timber :

Poplar, from thirty to fifty years old.

Elm, from fifty to a hundred.

Ash, from fifty to a hundred.

Oak, from one hundred to two hundred.

Very much depends on situation; — on
the SOIL and subsoil, — in which trees are
rooted. On dry abforbent foils, the oak and
the elm, at leafl, are obferved to go ofi',
much fooner, than in cooler more retentive
Situations*.

In Mere VALE wood, — a dry loam with
a rocky fubfoil,— we find the oak going fait
to decay, at two hundred years old. In
BAGOT'sPARK,a cooler fituation, it is found,
but unprofitable, at that age. In St at fold
WOOD, perhaps a Itill cooler fpot, it is found,
profitable, and wearing every appearance of
being in a fit ll^te to be taken down, at the
X 4 aga

* For obfervatlons on the elm, fee GlocESTERSHIRE,

feci. HEDGER'OW TIMBER,,

INilC

" M I N U T E S Plast.

149- ag^ of a hundred and dhy years. See further

^^,^ remarks on this fubjea:, in min. i66. See

'-i^l ^^^"^ •''''' ^33> i34> i35» -ind 144.

150.

OAK June. The oak (as well as the anplctrcc^

has, this year, fufFered, in feme fituations.
Dearly as much from an infed, which is bred
in the lea\es, as it did lail year, by the
chafer.

T:^u*tg woods, in every part of the diflrid:,
are, nov.-, as brown as they were, in winter.
But o/J woods have moilly efcaped -, and even
in young woods, a tree is, here and there,
partitiDy left.

The trees now fwarm with the fijes, (of
the order hemiptera) juft relealed from
the chr>ikUs ftate. The Cze nearly that of
the ccmmon hcrfe fry, but fomcwhat longer:
two orange-colored, femicruilaceous wings,
above, with a pair of trarfparent ones, re-
femblLig thofe of the houfe f\y, beneath
tfteni: a common infc<fl *.

June

* Bat, ne-Ieaing to prefervc a fpccimcn of I^ I have
no: bctn able to idainfy- its fpecics.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTILS. 3»3

151.

JcNE 26. I lately fold a parcel cf cord- human
wood, to a woolcomber, '>vho employed a
poor old man, to burn it for him, on the fpot,
at eightpence a quarter, and board ! v/hich,
however, did not coft him much. The poor
deyil had fometimes bread, and fometimes
cheefe, and fometimes neither, with feldom
any thing but water to drink.

His lodgizig cofl him nothing. He built
hlmfelf a hut, with flabs and fods : a cone,
feven feet vride, at the bafe, on the infide ;
and four feet high, in the center : placed on
the northiide cf the hearth, v.'ith an opening
toward it and the fouth. The floor divided
by a long log; one fide littered with flraw,
for a lodging room j the other furnillied with .
a loofe log, as a fitting room, A fiithful
bitch was his guard-: locks and bolts of
courfe unnecefTar}''.

How few are the ** necelTarics of life !"
the real wants of mankind ! Wlien did they,
or where do they now, live, in a lower ftate
pf " fimplicity" than this ?

The

314 M I N U T E S Plant.

CHARRING

^51- I'Jic METHOD cF *' burning" \vas finii-

kr to that dcrfcribed in min. 127.

TJie roots and blocks are placed, in the
center; the large round wood, next 3 cover-
ing v.ith the fmallcil and cieaneft of the
Uicks; filling every chink, as dole a.s pofTw
ble ; placing tlie convex Hdc upward; form-
ing the heap into an exadt femi -globe, with
a chimney at the pole ; at which the pile is
£red with the drielt Imallelt pieces ; being
prcvioully tiled, or fcaled, with fods in-
verted; with which even the top of the
chimney, and every other part, is folicitoufly
covered ; and the covering as alnduoufly re-
paired, as occalion renders neceflary ; that as
little as pqfTible of the intiammahle matter
may efcape.

The center undergoes the action of the
fire, firit ; the outiides or Ikirts of the hafe,
the laft; the fire expanding itfelf, leifurely,
to its circumference : a declaration, th'is^
that the whqle is " burnt".

If it do not burn freely, holes are made,
round the bafe, and in the lower part of the
pile with a ftakelike pole, to let in air. If
the wind blow ftrong, the fire is carefully
defended from it, by moveable fcreens, placed
pn tlie \vindward fide of the pile,

The

1.785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 3^5

The quantity of ashes, arifing from a IS^'
charcoal hearth, is confiderable. There has ^^anure.
been already four cart loads taken up, from
two fmall hearths, and a load or two more
remain.

*' Charcoal ashes" are in goodefleem,
here, as a manure ; particularly for turneps,
and for fining grafs land. They arife, prin-
cipally, from the fodsufed in covering; but,
in part, from the bits of coal v/hich break
off, in raking it out of the afhes.

Query, are the aflies of the fods improved,
as a manure, by having been in immediate
contad: with the inflammable principle, in a
flate of agitatioq?

July i . Weeding the young flioots f^-om weeding
the (tools of one of the hedges, cut down laft

fpring.

In a part where tbijlles,nettles,7]Jcadowfweet,
bairough, charlock, &c. were numerous and
ftroncr, fo as to have outgrown the (hoots,
they are drawn up weak, and have received
much injury. But, where the flioots are vi-
gorous.

3i6 M I N U T E S Plaxt.

152. grrcu«, and the weeds fev.', the injury yet
^.^?r'^ received is lictle.

Hence, voung hedge 5, if very weedy,
fliould be weeded twice : ii not, this perhaps,
is the beft tin^e.

Great care, I fjnd, is rcquilite, in weeding
young hedge fiioots. They iire exceedingly
brittle ; and a little roiighnefs of handling is
liable to break them olF at the ftub. They
ought net to be pulled afide; norto be weeded,
over-hand. The weeds Ihould be drawa
out at the bottom, by putting the hand, or
the fingers, in neatly between the ftubs.

Moved the thorns (placed as a guard) out
of the ditch, with a fork ; trimmed the iiicc
of the hedgiing, with a pruning hook ; alfo
cutting, v.'ith the fame ufeful inflrument,
fome of the llrongeil weeds, in the vacant
places: drew out the rell, by hand; went
over the face again, with the hcok ; and re-
turned the thorns into the ditch.

Four acres (one hundred and twcntvei^ht
yards) took an old man and a boy, with fome
-kittle ^ftii^ance, half a dav. Moving the
thorns was nearly half the labcr, Oni: man,
expert with the heck, would have done the
whole, in a dny. The coft about fourpence

aa

1785.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

317

an acre, oc eight yards for a penny. Tne
appearance is worth the money, and the uie,
ten times the cofl. Yet, perhaps, not one
fallen hedge in a thoufand, throughout the
Illand, is weeded.

By way of experiment, — lacerated the
vacant places cf tlie eant, at the time of
cutting this hedge j which, through age or
im.proper treatmeiit, has become tliin ot
flools ; they being, in fome places, three or
four feet from each other. This was dcr^ie,
by running the point of a peck, repeatedly,
alone the face cf the bank, in the line of the
ftubs; leaving an open gafn, or drill, three
or four inches deep, between ilub and flub,
in two or three different places; iinaily'
drawing- the point of the tool, leifurely, along
the bottom of the channel: pullingout the ends
of the hbers, broken in making it, to the
furface; in order to receive the benefit of the
air, funy and moiilure the drill may catch;
and, by that means, encourage the roots,
with vvhich ahnolt all old banks are fur-
nifhed, to throw out fuckers into the vacant
places.

The feafpn has been very much againft the
fuccefs of the experiment ; and, on exAmin-

in^

152^

WEEDING
HEDGES.

Rrxiwixc

OLD
HEDGES.

3i»

MINUTES

Plaxt.

152,

RENEWING

OLD

HZDGES.

ing the drills, today, I can find only one
fucker. This one, however, is agreeably to
the true intention; fpringing from an ex-
pofed fiber. The fucker a blackthorn, fix or
eight inches high. See min. 159.*

PRACTICE

in
PL.^NTING,

155.

July 4. (See min. 146.) Notwlthibn:!-
ir.g the feafon, for young plantations, has been
fuch as has rarely perhaps occurred, I have
not, literally fpeaking, yet a dead plant !

One of the oaks, I find, has made a fhoot
of fifteen inches ! and feveral of them have
fliot eight or ten inches ; with leaves as nume-
rous, and as large, as thofe of llationary
trees.

The progrefs of the pine tribe is not lefs
remarkable. The weymouth pines, in
general, have fhot from fix to twelve or four-
teen inches j and the balm of gilead firs,

fill!

* To fJl up thcfc vacancies, with ftil! greater certainty,
I fowed, the cnfuing autumn, haws and hollyberi.i£s
in ihcfe drills, >-hich were then extended from ez;d to cad

of die hedr?.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

S19

full as much. Some of them have made
longer fhoots, this year of removal, than they
did lafl year, undiilurbed, in a rich garden
mold.

^53-

PRACTICK

in
PLANTING.

154-

July 16. The decrease of timber,
in this country, has been great, within m^e-
mory. Old Barweil remembers " a great
deal of rare timber taken dov.'n, and a many
woods flocked up."

Some years paft, he fays, people were aware
of a growing want ; and fome m.onied men
bought up timber, on fpeculation. But they
all funk money, by the adventure. For the
fame apprehenfion induced others to bring
a fupply of FOREIGN TIMBER into the coun-
try— " and this foreign deal knocked down
the price lower than it was before."

Indeed, it is demon ftrable, that Vvhile an
unlimited fupply of foreign timber can be
had, as it may at prefent, the price of build- ^
ING TIMBER can never get above a certain
height ; and a real want cannot, of courfe,
be experienced. For, while that circum-

ftance

Ql'ANTTTY

TIMELR.

3^0

M r N U T E S

PLASr.

TIMBER.

1 54* (lance lafts, if there were not a tree left ftand ^
f&'^^^T^^ ing upon the iHand, the price and pientiful-
nefs of BUILDING TIMBER would be nearly
the fame, as it is at prefent.

But,\vithrefpe(ftto ship timber, the cafe
is very different. Timber of equal value
with our own cannot, perhaps, be pul^chafed,
at any price. Beiide, the moment we become
dependent on a foreign supply of ship
TIMBER, that moment the liland becomes
dependent, on any power, who may obtain the
dominion of the fea. For, this obtained,
tliat power may diiftate to the Britifh nation
tlie quantity of ihipping tliey iliall thencefor-
ward maintain; — or any thing elfe, that fu-*
periof power may be pleafed to did:atc.

An ISLAND without ihipping is a caftle
without walls; and a certain supply of
SHIPS can be had, in perpetuity, through

an INTERNAL SUPPLY OF SHIP TIMBER,

alone.

How much, then, it behoves this nation
to render, by every human precaution, an in-
ternal fupply CERTAIN, and perpetual.

rCLlTICAL
iCONOMY.

August

TRAINING

HEDGEROW

TIMBER.

i?86. MIDLAND COUNTIES. fit

^55-

August" 3. SeeMiN. 123. The hedge -
wood having overcome the young oak
PLANTS, I have given them headroom,— ^by
putting in a pruning hook, edge-uppermoft,
between each oakling and the adjoining
plant of hawthorn, and flriking it perpen-
dicularly upward, on either fide, clofe to the
flem of the quick; taking off all the lateral
branches that encroach upon the oak : confe-
quently, leaving this a clear niche, fix or
eight inches wide, to rife in.

Thus guarded on the right and left, and
hemmed in, behind, by the bank and hedge,
the plants have no opportunity of thro wing out
lateral branches, except in front; and they
being, there, ftruck off, whenever the face
of the hedge is trimmed, the oaklings thus
fituated, muft, of neceffity, acquire an up-
right tendency.

Putting the fifty or fixty plants, into this
defirable fituation, barely afforded half an
hour's rational amulement.

How little is the labor of training hedge-
row timber. It is the fetting about it, in
which the principal difficulty lies.
Vol. II. Y Avgust

3^t MINUTES Plant.

156.

CULTURE August 28. (See min. 124). Made a
WOODLAND, wider circuit in North AVarwickiliire. Still
the woods appear to be Jimde-, and, probably,
in a fimilar way to thofe of Hall End. Some
of them are not more than fort}^ or fifty years
oW.
ESTABLISH D Soils will cvcr find, in procefs of tinie,

PRACTICES.

their proper produce. And it is no wonder
that the North of Warwickfhire fliould
abound with wood, or that the Diflrict of the
Station fhould be, in a manner, dellitute of
this fpecies of produce. That is a cold foil,
ungenial to agriculture, but productive
of wood ; efpecially the oak; and has pro-
bably been found, for ages pail, to pay beft
in v.'OODLAND : 7 his J on the contrary*, a
warmer better foil, which, in the experience
of ages, has been found to pay belt in corn
and GRASS.

Making, or unmaking, a piece of wood-
land is no light matter; and, probably, is
feldom fet about witiiout due coniidera;ion of
the efFe<^.

Farther,

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 323

Farther, it is probable, that the prefent 156.
woods of Kent, and other counties, are not culture

of

the remains of ancient forefts, or other ex- woodlan-d.
tenfive woodlands ; but have, heretofore, been
cultivated.

It has been fhown, above, that it is now,
or has lately been, the practice of North
Warwickfhire to raife woods, by fowing and
planting acorns j and it is highly probable,
that a fimilar practice has formerly prevailed,
in other parts of the liland. How common,
in Yorkiliire, and in other places, to fee
middleaged growing woods, without a break,
or an old decayed tree in them : the whole
wood appearing nearly of the fame growth ;
yet no trace of a ftub, or ftool of fallen tim-
ber. Thefe woods are not, probably, the
produiftions of chance j but have been affiled
by the hand of cultivation : either by fov/ing
or planting acorns ; or by training the for-
tuitous feedlings of roughets, or worn out
woods.

The foil of Statfold Wood, one hundred
and fifty years old, lies in high, wide, arable
RIDGES; and I have obferved other woods,
in which cultivation is equally demour
(Irable.

Y 2 September

MINUTES

Plant,

RI^fARKS

on

Hicrr

KIDGIS.

157-

September 3. A difpute arofe, today,
in the converfation of profcfilonal men, on
whether laying up foil, in high ridges,
does, or does not, produce an encreafe of /a;iJ,

Mr. was clearly of opinion that it

does. His argument, however, was chiefly
founded on an encreafe of fur face.

Others were of a different opinion ; argu-
ing, that the plants of corn (the produce in
quellion) have no more headrooyUy growing on
the hypotenufe, than they would have, if
growing on the bafe of the ridge.

Mr. , however, to maintain his argu-
ment, advanced, — that, admitting the plants,
themfelves, had no more headroom, their
roots had, feverally, movt/oil to feed in : a
new, though when known, an evident idea.
There is not only an encreafe of furface, but,
indubitably, an encreafe of cultivated

MOLD.

It has ever ilruck me, that the produce of
GRASS LAND, efpecially in a l^ate of pas-
turage, is cncrcafed, by high ridges :
but it never occurred to me, before, that

CORN'

i;85. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

325

RENfARKS

on

HIGH

RJDC£S.

CORN CROPS were, in anyway, benefited by ifj-
them.

Reflecling, however, on this interefting
topic, I am led to believe, that, fuppofing
the foil to be ivholly occupied, they are bene-
fited in a twofold way: the roots have an
encreafe of pasturage, and the ears an
encreale of air. The surface of the
EARS is encreafed, exactly, in proportion to
the SURFACE OF THE SOIL*. And the sides
OF HILLS are circumftanced, in this refpetfl,
fimilarly, to thofe of artificial ridges.

Thefe reflections lead to a pracltical idea,

in PLANTING; nOt Only STEEP HAN GS ; PLANTING.

but .more gentle slopes, that are either
unculturable, or are cultivated with diffi-
culty.

The quantity of soil, and the quantity

of CANOPY -j-, correfpond with the hypote-

y 3 nufe.

of

* I do not mean to recommend tbe pra5:ice of laying
tmd up into high ridges j but to bring forward facls which
may not be generally feen. And it is a fa*^, as evident as
thofe ftated, that the foils of hign ridges are feldom, if ever,
ivbslly occupied. See Glocestershire. Art. Laying

UP RIDGES,

t See Plant, and Rural, Orn. Art Method or
TRAINING Groves.

326 MINUTES Plant.

157. nufe, or Hope,* not with the level or bafe of
siTts the hill.
PLANTINC. The STEMS of trccs, as of corn, maybe
fald to become crouded, in fuch a fituation,
com.pared with thofe of trees, planted at the
fame fuperficial diflance, on level ground ;
but, while t'le roots have equal soil-
room, and the tops equal room to throw
out BRANCHES and form a foliage, it mat-
ters not, I apprehend, whether the ftems
happen to rife, at ten, twenty, or thirty feet,
from each other. The stems, it is true,
have a natural propenfity to rife perpen-
dicularly to the horizon ; but the roots
and branches have no fuch tendency. The
head of a tree inclines to the air and light ;
and its roots flrike in every diredlion, in
fcarch of food.

Thus, fuppofe a dope to be of fjch a
degree of fteepnefs, that the hypotenufe is
twice the length of the bafe, it is evident,
that the plants, growing on this dope, would
have exaftly double the quantity of foil and
headroom, the fame plants would have (fup-
pofms: the flope cleared away and the hill
to be made perpendicular) growing on the
bafe 3 and cxatftiy the fame quantity of foil

and

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

327

and headroom, the fame plants would have,
growing on a plain of equal extent to the
ilope, or twice the extent of the bafe.

Hence, for the purpofe of growing tim-
ber,the SIDES OF HILLS appear to be equally
valuable as plain surfaces ; provided the
SOILS and subsoils be equal.

^571

SITES

of

PLANriNC,

158.

/ September 4. The purchafer of the
Me RE VALE trees Is faid to have fold one
of them — a rough coarfe flick — for twenty-
five pounds : for the fhaft of a windmill :
whereas, for ordinary ufes, this tree was not,
perliaps, worth half the money.

How much depends on a mature judge-
ment, in the conversion of timber ! A
novice, finding this flick fit, neither for c/tfi
'u^arCy nor for boards^ might have fawn it
up into building f cant ling, and have fold it for
one third of its value as a millfiaft.

CONVERT.

ING

TIMBER.

SIT IS
of

The length, fize, and value of this timber
fliow how eligible and profitable it is, to plantlvc.
propagate ^yooD, upon rocky jieights j
Y 4 more

328

MINUTES

Plakt.

158.

SITES

cf

PLANTING.

more efpecially, perhaps, upon broken, open
rock, as the Merevale Hill appears to be :
for the air having a free circulation, through
the fillures of the rock, the roots are encou-
raged to ftrike deep ; and, at the greateft
depth, may find, efpecially, perhaps, on
THE SIDE OF A HILL, the requilitc fupply
of air. See the lafl minute.

159

yROOT
ot the

Septembei 15. In this neighbourhood,
HAWTHORN in thc facc of a gravel pitj which has been
worked too near a young hedge (ten or
twelve years old) there is a flriking inilance
of the roots of the hawthorn, when ex-
pofed tr the air, taking upon them the office
of branches ; putting forth fhoots and leaves ;
inflead of libers and fibrils.

I took a fpecimen of a downward root,
which, though I broke it off a foot below the
crown, and again at the bottom of the pit,
where it was ftill as thick as a llraw, mea-
fures five feet in length (the lubfoil in this
cafe bein^ not a clean gravel, but a loofe
gravelly rubble) and is furni^cd alternately,

as

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 329

as it happened to be expofed, with tiijigs and 159,
Jibers,

Hence lacerating the banks of renewing

HEDGES.

OLD HEDGES promjies much advantage. See
MiN. 152,

160.

October 3. The hedges on the South
and Eaft fides of No. i . are fourteen feet
high, and fifteen to twenty feet wide.

On half the headland, and half the fide-
land, lying under thefe hedges, the barley
is yet as green as grafs, without any profpect,
now, of its ripening : and, on the other
halves of thefe lands, as well as fome con-
liderable way into the area of the field, the
barley, v/hich has been cut, as corn, is in a
manner fpoiled, for want of fun and air.

Had thefe hedges been only four or five,
jnflead of twelve or fourteen, feet high, the
whole would have been nearly in the fame
ftate as the area of the field. The lofs, on
this crop only, through the folly of high
fences to "arable fields, amounts to
feveral pounds.

October

HIGH
HEDGES.

3P MINUTES Plakt.

i6i.

«iN.MAN. October 22. The barley being ilill in

HiDGts. the field (lee laft Minute) and the leaves of

the hawthorn beginning to fall, cut down

the hedge to the fouth j the greater nui-

fance.

From written as v/ell as parole evidence,
thefe hedges are fifty two or three ye^^rs old.

It is equally certain, that they were
plalhed about thirty years ago (the firft time
of cutting) and that they have not fince been
touched I Cut only once, and then partially,
in fifty years !

The confequence is, the live stools,
now, are many of them three feet afunder ^
and-, in fome places, a cart might pafs freely
between them : one of the vacancies is nine
feet wide ! and tliis notwithll:anding a better
SOIL, for the maintenance of the haw^
THORN, does not exill : a rich hazel loam.
The treelike flems are as ilraight as pines,
and, notwithflanding their age, are lliU per-
fcCth clean ; though fome of them are
twelve or fourteen inches in diameter j yet
they ft ill wear the appeaj^ance of luxuriance.

Eveq

GEN. MAN.
HLVGLS,

X785. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 33^

Even fome of the plafhers had fwelled to a i"'*
lizc equal to that of the leg, hcfore they died ;
and there are numbers o^ /mothered Jiems, as
thick as the arm ; moft of thefey it is obferv-
able, having plafhers upon them.

Had this hed?e been cut three times,
infteadof ONCE, in the lall thirty years,
moft of thefe fmothered plants would have
been alive, and the number of live lloch
trebly what they are now.

Had this hedge been kept fekceheight,
during the laft forty years, a ftill greater
number of ftems would, now, have been
living ; the ftate of the fence infinitely pre-
ferable, to what it is at prefent : and the pro-
duce of marketable grain, on each fide of it,
twice perhaps what it has been, during the
laft fifteen or twenty years,

I am equally clear in my opinion, that,
had this hedge been kept, and were it to have
been continued, one hundred and fifty years
longer, in that ftate (refreihed from time to
time, perhaps, by felling to the flub) it would,
at two hundred years old^ have been a
younger hedge, than it is, now, under the
treatment it has received, -at fifty : when,
in fadl, it is no longer a live fence ; nor ever

can

33i

MINUTES

Plavt.

l6i.

CEN'. MAN.

of
HIDGiS.

can be made fuch, without raifing frefli flems
in the vacancies.

There appears to be a general rule, in the
pinfallow praOice, and on the productive
lands of this diftriifl:, with refpecfT: to live
hedges ;— cut the hedge whenever the turf
is broken up.

162.

ORIOIN

ct

CROOKED

HtDGLi.

October 22. The foregoing enquiries
led on to a fubjecft, which, like that of high
ridges (fee min. 21.), has been held out, as
a proof of the folly of paft generations.

It lias long appeared to me evident, that
the lands, which we find divided by crooked
HEDGES, have been inclofed from the forest
STATE, without having been previoufly in
a ftate of common field. But why the
fences fhould wind in the ferpentine man-
ner, in which we frequently fee them, never
appeared to me obvious : indeed, I have
hitherto confidered this circumflance, as
others have done, to proceed from a want of
inethod, or a want of attention, in our fore-
fathers.

My

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

My raftic oracle, however, explained, in
this, as in the other cafe, (fee as above) the
motive of their condu(5t : ** they followed the
live ftufF!" a moii p7'obab!e idea.

The firft inclofers cleared up to the thickets ;
traced the line of impenetrable underwood %
whether it happened to run in ^Jiraight or a
crooked dire(ftion : by this means gaining,
without coft, or at a fmall expence of mak-
ing good the interfpaces, a fence, to prevent
their flock from ftraying.

Thofe who followed (or they themfelves
in making other inclofures) cleared up to
this firft line of i^nc^ ; for the double pur-
pofe of getting all the land they could, and
a fence free of coft. The firfl fences were
of courfe kept up (for their own conve-
niency), and have, in much probability,
been ever fmce kept up, by the firil inclo-
fers. And hence, probably, the origin
of PROPERTY in FENCES, and the land they
occupy.

Thus, without the trouble or expence of
ARTIFICIAL FENCES, living or dead, the
lands became divided, in the iwoii ftwple and
natural wzy^

333
162.

ORIGIN

of

CROOKED

HEDGES,

Shame

334 MINUTES Piast.

162. Shame en learning and science, to let

THE RISE an ILLITERATE RUSTIC outdo thcHJ, in
pRo\'i?«ciAL penetration and coauDoa fenle .

Kcw many mtereiring, and no Qcuot
valuable ideas, die, not with fanners only,
but with their workmen ! and how evidently
eligible to arrsft them, and, at leall, prolong
their exiilence.

165.

SALE December 15* (See min. i ;9.) Vef-

Ti-viiR. terday, came on the faie of the ash and elm,
with feme poplars, fcattered over different
parts of this cftate.
poPLAJi. xhe circumliance moll noticeable, refpc dt-

ing this lale, is the extraordinary price at
v/hichthe poplar fold: fctchmg twelve to
fifteen pence a foot.

The ordiiiaiT ufe to which poplar is
here put, is that of flooring boards.
But the trees fold, yeilerday, wcr^ purchafed
fur " PACKING STUFF," fof the hardware
manufactories i poplar bcmg in the firft
eilimauon, for packing cales : a ftrong m-
ducement for planting it, in this iiibnd ma--

nufdcluring countn\

1786.

1786. M I D L A N D C O U N T I E S. 33^

164.

SITE
of

17S6. Feb. 15, Vegetables, in their
nature, are liable to inconveniencies, with ^^Ions^"
refpect to moiitare. They cannot, like the
animal creation, repair to the brook, and
moiflen their aliment, at will. Their vifcera?
are wet or dry, according to the feafon, and
the lituaticns in which they are placed.

Hence, it becomes the efpecial care of the
rural economift, to place them in fituations,
fuitable to their refpecftive natures.

Some SPRUCE firs, which are naturally ^egitarle

J ECONOAIY.

the inhabitants of .fountains, but v^hich
have been injudiciouily planted in a. cold
WET SOIL, in a lo\vfwampyfituation,furnilli
an inftance in point.

La ft year, which was ^jcry dry^ they made
long vigorous fhoots, and v/ere of a dark
green healthy color. This, a rj^et feafon, they
are become yellow and fickly ; feme of their
heads are beginning to fliig : not mure,
perhaps, through the wetness of the
SEASON, than thro an unnatural luxuri-
ance OF habit, which requires an extraor-
dinary

4-

33^ MINUTES PLAHt.

164. dinary fupply of nutritive aliment. On re-
VEGETABLE movinff thefc plants, for tranfplantine, the
holes nil with water.

Had they been placed in a fituation, of a
temperature fuited to their natural conftitu-
tion, no feafon, either «xcefrively wet or
exceflively dry* would have deranged their
habit ; fo as to render them liable to the
attack of a contrary feafon *.

165.

CONVERT* March Q. The oak timber of Stat-

ING ^

TIMBER fold (fee MiN. 139.) has been converted,
chiefly, into the following articles.

"Building stuff :" fome of it carried
away in the piece : fome cut up, on the
ground.

"Navigation stuff:'* all converted
on the eround : and carried as far, and fome
of it farther, than Birmingham ; eighteen or
twenty miles.

"Millwright stuff:" the crooked

trees, moft efpecially.

" Cooper's

* The natural fiiculty, which plants have, of imbibing
moifture from the atmofphere, docs not fet aftde this coa-
dufion.

t»-ffeeiC

17^6. MIDLAND GTOU^tlES. S37

*' Cooper'-s stuff j" a^Jiaves and heads, 1655.
ofdifFerent fizes. ..; . 1. ^orfr^rtr ' ^^^,^^^

Spokes. The ** ftrongeft," <:leaneft, feeft
of the timber, particularly the flraight clean
butts of the hedgerow treevS, were cleft into
this fpecies of ware. For hind wheels^ t\vo
feet ten inches, for fore wheels^ t\vo feet
four, long ; about four inches wide j and
two and a half inches thick : all clear heart 5
without the leaft fap adhering to it. ' If
through neceflity, or accident, a cleft prove
too thin for a fpoke, it is fliaped into fiich
cooper's ware as it will make j or into ** heart
laths."

Laths : both heart, ^.ndifap: the fap of
cleft wood being molfly, I believe, converted
into this ware.

LocKSTocKS. They^«^n)?^jof the butts,
and the lengths too fbcrt for cooper's ware;
are cleft and moulded into lockftocks : thus
turning to a valuable account, that which,
in molt places, becomes, for want of the
thought or for want of a market, an article
of fuel* The prices, from a penny to four-
pence of fivepence each ; according to the
fize. The purchafers, the lockfmiths of
Wolverhampton, Birmingham, &c.

Vol. II. Z Barnfloor

%li MINUTES Plakt.

J^S* Barnf LOOK plAnk : two, to two and a

^^™^- half inches thick.
7iAiB£a. Flooring BOARDS : lined out, inch and

quarter. '

o?.-^ C^FFiKSiDES :" half inch.

c . " Stumps and rails :" pofts, five and a

half to fix and a half feet long : rails, eight

to ten feet. The price, high : fourpence to

ihxpertce CiJc'6.

•'Coal WOOD-;" all fold to the " iroH

mailers. V

** KiDDS :" fixteen to eighteen pence, a
fcorc. Sold chiefly to the farmers and cotta*
gers of the neighbourhood. The price low ;
coals being cheap.

The only circumflarice which has ftriick
xne, as being noticeable, in the manual labor
of converting, is that of moil of the crob
cuts being made by fingle men ; with what
are here termed ** frigbob faws ;'* even cuts
of two feet diameter were made, with theic
faws i which, I underlland, have been in uic,
in this dill:ri<ft, about tliirty years *,

March

« Two-handed saws. Thefc Inftrumcnts arc gcne-
rilly made, by cutting an old pit faw ia«o two, or by

cutting

1786. MIDLAND COUN TIES. 339

166,

March 9. (See min'. 163.) The elm thiagi
fell better than was expe(fl:ed. The hedge- tmi elm.
row elms — fome of them very large — two
and a half to three feet diameter — fold at an
inferior price ; under an idea that they were
tainted.

By the number of rings, thefe large elms
appear to be about one hundred and ten
years old.

Therefore, in a well foiled cool fituation,
elms may ftand, fafely, until they be a hun-
dred years old (fee MIN. 149.)- ^^^ fome
of thefe being, evidently, overgrown, I am
Z 2 clearly

cutting oft one end of an old crofTcut faw : but they are
alfo made, new, at or about Birmingham. The dimen-
lions of one of thefe are as follow : four feet three inches
long : eight inches wide, at the handle end : five inches, ac
the point. The handle is a pin, about a foot long ; fixed
in the eyes of two rods, riveted to the fide of the faw, and
equally projecting from its end, four or five inches ; the '
upper end of the handle ftanding up, a few inches, above
the back of the faw.

One man, Jlanding above his wsrk, will do nearly as
much, with one of thefe tools, as two men ufually do, with
2 common croflcut faw.

;4» MINUTES Plart*

1 66. clearly of opinion, that they can feldom re-
main on their roots, with profit, after they
are that age.
tJte^aoe 'j'Jj^ ash, too, hais proved beyond expe<Cla-

TFt A?H. Yion ; efpecially the lower parts of the ftems.
Several trees whofe tops were pierced by
'Woodpeckers, and are, there, really tainted,
^re nevertheltfs found at the root !

The timber, however, of moft of them,
is ccmpfeined ef as being ** fliort :" and tak-
ing them, altogether, they are much over-
gro\^'n.

The number of ring?, of one of the wood
afhes, eighteen inches in diameter, is, very
diltindly, one hundred and twelve.

Therefore, thefe afhes, 'fituated, as they
were, on a cool retentive fubfoil, were Ju/I
grown ; and many of them no doubt over-
grown, at one hundred years old. It is not
folidity, but toughnefs, which is wanted in
ASH TIMBER ; and toughnefs belongs folely
to youthful growing tree*;. Hence, from
this inflance of experience, it is probable,
that afh, for the ufes of husbandry, can
feldom iland, with propriety, a hundred

YEARS.

Another*

1786. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 34^

Another obfervable eircumftance, incident 166,
to this wood, is the difparity in the ages culture
of the OAK and the ash. The oak (fee woodlands
MIN. 139.) one hundred and fifty; the afli
one hundred and twelve.

Hence, it is more than probable, that the ,
jdea of the afh being raifed with the oak, as
a fhelter, or nurfery, on the north fides of
woods (fee vol. i. p. 67.) is ill founded.

In the wood under notice, which has evi-
dently been culthated — the land lying in
wide, high, arable ridges — the afh has,
in mucii probabiUty, been planted in the ^va-
cancies of the young oak wood: and thefe va-
cancies, it is reafonable to fuppofe, were
largefl, and mofl numerous, on the fide mofi:
expofed to the feverity of winter. And the
fame circumflances may have taken place, in
other woods.

Be this as it may, the idea of filling up

THE vacancies OF AN OAK WOOD, WITH

ASHES, is felf- evidently good. Their up-
ward growth is more rapid, than that of the
oak -y and their fuperiority of value confifts
in a flraightnefs and length of flem. The
aflies of Statfold Wood are, in general, fron;
forty to fifty feet in the ilem,

23, Thefd

3^-

U T i: S Plant.

TIMBER.

i66. Thcfc tree?, therefore, ffli, of courle.

TiLur.r, xvlthout much injury ; there being fev' brce
fpreading heav}' arms, to rend them m the
fall (fee page 290.) : neverthelef?, a forked
tree, thirty fc?t llem, and tvvo and twenty
inches diameter, vrzs fplit, from the fork to
the root, in falling \ the largefl heavieft ann
falling uppermoft! A further evidence of
the caution requifite in taking down timber
trees.

TRAiviKG It is likewife worthy of notice, that the
rent of this tree difclofes a stump,— four or
five inches diameter, and about the fame
length, — which appear^, to have been cut off,
when the tree was about ten inches dia-
meter ; and had been, of courfe, buried by
the fucceedins: cjrowths ; the ftem now ap-
pearing, on the outfide, to be clean ; tht
llump being drawn out, from under the
outer growths.

This, among a thoufand other inflances;
fliows the propriety of pruning timber
TiiEES, and of cutting the boughs ch/e to the

Jlcm*,

This flump is fituatcd about haltway up
the prefent ftem. Had not the bough, whicFi

gave

* 5e« Nop.yoLK. Ahb Plantisc, kc.

17S6. MIDLAND Counties.

34S

gave birth to it, been taken off, the clear
Item would have been only half the length
it now is. Had it been taken off -whe-n it
was the lize of a walking cane, aiui, then,
clofe to the ll:em, its power of injury would
have been entirely removed.

How abfurd the idea, that timber trees
(liould not be touched with the pruning
tool ! and doubly abfurd when extended to
;he aih.

!66.

TRAINING
TIMBER.

167.

April 17. This morning, went to fee
the Middle TON Oak, on the eftate of
Lady MiDDLETON, in Warwickshire.

It meafures, at three feet high, twenty
feet in circumference ; at five feet, feventeen
feet ; the height of the lower item, twentv-
five feet \ with an upper one about fifteen
feet ; the whole height about fixtyfive feet.
The extent of arm (nearly ec^ual on every
iide) forty to fortyfiye feet.

Its top is going to decay ; but its ftem

wears every appearance of being found; and

is deejned to be fo, by the timber merchant?

24 ^i

SIZE

of

THE OAK,

344 :M J N jr T E S Plant,

j67i of the diftri<5t : or\e qf whom bade, a few
^JJ^ years ago, fifty pounds for this tree.
THE OAK. ^ Adnntting the ine.an circumference of the
lower flem (from the ground up to the firfl
boughs) to be fifteen feet, this alone con-
tains ten ton of timber j which, at four
pounds (a low valuation for timber of this
fize) amounts to forty pounds : and the
upper ftem and the topwood cannot be
worth lefs than ten, pei-haps twenty^ pounds
more.

The Middleton pak, viewing it in the
joint lights of ornament and use, exceeds
^very other oak I have yet obferved *.

i68.

PRACTICE London 1790, March 23. My owu
RANTING, practice in planting and rural orna-
ment, during the autumn of 1785, and the
fpring of 1786, I fct down in a diilindt feries
of memoranda ; from which I now felecl,
for publication, the more useful part of

the

* The foil ir^ which it (lands is a rich deep loam; the
SUBSOIL ii fertile red clay, provincially " marl ;" a large
I* piarl pit" being near it.

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

the infonrjation they contain ; referving what
relates more efpecially to ornament (to-
gether with other minutes on the fame
lubjedl), until a more fuitable opportunity
may offer *.

1785. No'vember ^, Acorns are not to
be had this autumn. I have fent out diffe-
rent parties, and have offered even five (hil-
lings a buihel for colledting them ; but have
not been able to colledl the delired quantity.

Acorns, as other fruits, appear to be
liable to blights. The north lides of trees,
in general, have this year milled ; w^hile,
on the fouth fides, fome trees are full of
fruit.

There were feveral tfees, on this eftate,
loaded on their fouth fide ; and from thefe,
alone, I made certain of a fupply. But be-
fore they were ripe enough to part from their
hullcs, either by agitating, or even beating
the trees, they were picked off by rooks ;
which, through the general fcarcity, were
coiledted upon them, in numbers; and, fo
voracious are they of this fruit,- 1 found that
pothing, but a conflant guard, under each

tree,

* Thefe min'utes were publlfhed, in 1796, in the
fccond edition of Planting, kc

345

168.

PRACTICE

in
PLANTING.

REMARK*

on

ACO^NS^

"iiONS.

543 M 1 . N U T £ 5 Tlaxt.

j6S. tree, cou\d hive faved the crop troni tlieir
pillage.
AV 'cembcr i j . Began a r t u m x a l p l a n t -

JNG.

DOUBLE The SOIL, in this cafe, a lomewhat light

ri-^NTA- findy loaiTi, in tward, ^V2S double dug,
eighteen inches deep ; burying the Tward
under the bcttom fpit. The price of dig-
ging >vas fifteen pence a rood, of fixt}'-
four fquare y^irds ; about feven pence a fta-
tute perch j or four guinea? and a half an
acre.

Part of the fuhfoil, in this cafe, being of a
srravcllv nature, it was obliged to be laofened
with a mattock. But in general, the top and
bottopi foils worked equally well ; and, for
iL'boIe gr<iUndy four guineas and a halt, an
acre, may be confiderpd, on a par ot foils, as
a rnodera^e price, for double digqing,
eighteen inches deep.

- Suppoling plants to b:; put in, u quarter
^)f a rod apart, the coll oi double dig-
ging, even at five po.unds an acre, dees
not amount to a hi\lfpenny a plant. And
pigging ko;.es, only, is worth, in whole
grciund, even for low plants, a principal
part of the coll. IIpvv abfurd, U^en, to

ril'juc

:i785- MIDLA^^D COUNTIES.

347

rifque the life and profperity of plants, to
fave fo inconfiderable an expance ! A hole,
in retentive foils, becomes, in a wet feafon,
a mere water pit: whereas doubleduq.
GROUND, befide being equal to a bed of
MADE EARTH, in abforbing and retaining
a due degree of moifture, is a univerfal drain
to carry off, from the imm.ediate region of
the roots, that which is fuperfluous. Thi
plants (in ordinary cafes), planting, fencing,
and nurling, may be laid at ten times the
extra cofl of double digging ; yet upoi>
this the fuccefs or mifcarriage of the planta-
tion may be faid to depend : and to omit
it appears, to me, unpardonable managc-r
ment.

]N'ove??2ber 21. Eren tall plants may be
fet out, with a degree of fafety, without
STAKING ; provided they be judiciouily
pruned, and be firmly, and not too fuper-
ficially, planted.

Some ELM SUCKERS, twelve or fburteea

feet high, and in a manner rootlefs, which I

faved out of a hedge, lately removed, and

planted in a nurfery ground, to give them

an opportunity of furnilliing themfelves with

roots, retain their upright pofture ; not-

withflandin^
1 . ... •»'.

i68.

DOUBLE ■

IPJGGINQ
PLANTA-

TJONS.

STAKING
PLANTS.

34»

M I N U T E S

Plant,

l68.

STAKING

PLANTS.

»EPTH

cf

^LANTIVG.

•LAXTIXG

in

FROST.

withllanding a heavy gale of wind, with
rain> took place, prefently after they were
planted.

, In whole ground, as that of orchards,
it is neceffary that the plants (houid ftand
level with the cultivated foil, or fomewhat
above it i and staking, in that cafe, be-
comes requilite.

Dilterent fpecies of plants may require to
be fet in, at different depths : as the ash
and ELM, for inftance, ought perhaps to be
planted lliallovver than the oak : but, from
the experience I have hitherto had, I am of
opinion, that any fpecies of tree plants,
from four to eight feet high, may be fet,
withfafety, upon the fubverted topjoil oi d^oM^
bledug ground.

Novemler 22. Yellerday, a fharp frost,
and a bleak wind, gave a check to planting.
Laft night, another fmart froft j — but the
day clear, and the fan warm : though the
air is evidently frofly. Neverthelefs, I have
ventured to continue planting, in fresii-
DUG HOLES ; and, from today's experience,
i am of opinion, that plants may be fafeiy
REMOVED, in weather moderately
FROSTY ; provided the fun break out to

meljow

17S5. MIDLAND CaUNTISS.

mellow the air ; and provided the crud of
frozen mold be laid on one fide of the hole,
and thus kept away from the roots. I can-
not, at leaft, perceive any rcafon why plant-
ing, under thefe circumftances, fhould bfe
ineligible.

November i\. In moving spruce fir?,
about a quarter of a mile, they were carried,
by tens, upon a large sledge, drawn by
two horfes. The plants were fix or feveli
feet high, with balls of earth to them, each
as much as two men could well lift.

To have carried thefe plants, fingly, be-
tween two vieTit would have been an endlefs
labor : and to have put them into carts^
would have burfl the balls of mold : befide,
an ordinary cart would not have contained
more than five or fix, at once -, and the
labor of loading and unloading would have
been tenfold that of lifting them, in and
out of this mofl ufeful, though unfafhionable,
implement.

November 28. T u R N i n G - 1 N plan tation A .
to prepare it for acorns ; and forming a
winding path through it, a yard- in width , by
merely paring off the outSdes ; and throwing
the parings into the hollows, before turning

in %

3+^

168.

PLANTING

in
FROST.

CARRIAGE

of
PLANTS,

PLAN'T/I«

TION"

PATH3.

•35^

MINUTES

Plant*

i68.

PI.ANTA-

TIOM

PATHS.

PLANTING
ACORNS.

in : leaving the pathway round in the mid-
dle, to keep it dry enough for ule, in wet
weather.

A man would form a furlong a day, in
this manner ; and a path of this kind is
all that is wanted, in a uftful plantation, at
leaft.

November 29. Planting acorns, irt
the interfpaces of plantation A. : at prefent
a mixture of forest trees and orna-
mental SHRUBS. Dibbled in three, trian-
gularwife, and fix inches afunder> in the
center of each interfpace -, alfo two at the
foot of each oakling : in order that the en-
tire ground may, hereafter, be wholly occu-
pied by TIMBER TREES ', tO whicll the OR-
NAMENTALS, befide gratifying the eye in
the iirll: inflance, are confidered us NURSESi

November 30. Planting acorns (on
ground prepared by a crop of potatoes) ifi
rows, a quarter of a rod afunder, and fix
inches apart in the rows ; dibbling them in,
alternately, on cither fide a line, ibetched
tightly on the furface, — hi this cafe nearly
flat, — with blunt-pointed dibbles ; fuffering
fome mold to fall down, to the bottoms
cf the holes, to prevent water from lodging

about

1785. MIDLAND COUNTIES.

3S»

about the acorns ; burying them two inches
beneath the furface ; and covering them with
the feet, in the gardener's manner.

Each fquare rod, planted in this way*
takes one hundred and thirtytwo acorns j
and a corn pint, of middlefized acorns, con-
tains, I find, about that number. A pint, a
rod, is equal to two ll:atute bulliels and a
half, an acre.

The expence of planting acorns, in this
way, is about five fliillings an acre.

No've7nbcr 30. Finillied autumnal

PLANTING.

The GENKRAL MANAGEMENT, this au-

tumn, has been fimilar to that of laft fpring
(fee MiN. 146.), except that the water-
ing of the holes has been omitted ; as be-
ing, at this feafon, unneceflary ; and ex-
cept, that the plants, to elude the power
of the winter's winds, were pruned before
planting.

The plants, in this cafe, being fmall,
(modly under four feet) the holes have
been made, by merely chopping a ring:
round the ftake, and fliovelling out the loofc
mold of the upper fpit ; then rounding up a
hillock of mold, upon the buried turf, to itt
the plant on» In

1 68*

PLANTIV*

ACORN'S,

rRACTICE

in
FLAN UNO.

^5»

M I N U t E ^

Plant.

l6g.

rHACTlCE

in
PLANTIKG.

TREPARING
rOSTS

and
RAILS.

In PLANTING, the roots, as before, have
been bedded, tire over tire, with the
HAND ; end, the uppermoft: tire being co-
vered with mold, the whole were pre (Ted
down, gently, tvith the hand ; and, fome
more mold being added, trodden hard, with
tlie FOOT ; observing, in this inilance,
throughout the operation of planting, to in-
cline the HEADS of the plants toward the
sotJTHWEST ; the fite of this plantation
being fully expofed to that afpedt.

jyecembcr i . Preparing posts and rails
for plantation fence?.

The praftice of this country is well en-
titled to notice.

The ports are morticed with an inch
and half auger, and a fmall hatchet ; with
which the wood between the holes is cbopt
out !

In pointing the rails, they are fet upon
a block, and held, in a leaning pofture, by
what is called a ** horfe," letting the upper
part fall into the forked end of a ftrong pole,
icvt'^ or eight feet long, — raifed, at that end,
by two legs, about lix feet long j the piece
projedling fourteen or fifteen inches above
the part, when the legs are entered: — the

other

1786. TvlIDLAND COUNTIES. 353

other end refbing on the ground. The legs 168.
are put in fpreading, and nearly at right angle preparing
to the principal piece 3 which may be of ^'^^
any fize or form, fo that it be of due length,
and have a fork, natural or artificial, at the
lighter end.

Fehriiary 17. Today, I examined the pruning

-^ ^ ^ the

PINES and FIRS, v/hich were pruned, laft pine tribe.
fpring, by taking oiFthe^Wi of their lower
boughs. See min. 146.

Of the WEYMOUTH PINES, I fee, the
Humps, left fome two or three inches long,
above the uppermoft pair of wings, are dead :
the tvc'igs, of this fpecies, having no leaves.

Of the SPRUCE FIRS, thofe terminating
twigs are alive -, the leaves, with which this
fpecies is furnifhed, are, however, fickly
and thin, toward the ends of the twigs.

But thofe of the balmofgilead firs
are fully furniflied with leaves, to the very
rolin, which flill varniflies the ends of fome
of the ftumps.

. With refpe*6t to the wingSy or fide branch-
lets, of the boughs, immediately below thefe
proje^Sting fi:umps, I can perceive no injury,
whatever, done to any of them.

Vol. II. A a How

354 MINUTES Piakt,

1 68. How unlikely, then, that the plants, at

PRLMNG large, fhould have iuffered, from a few drops
riNE TRIBE, of fap, oozing out of the ends of boughs,
which, themfelves, have received no injury.
Had thefe boughs been left unlopped, the
extra quantity of fap expended by them
would, probably, have been tenfold what
has been exhaufted, by bleeding : a frightful
ivorJ.

Something, however, may depend on the
SEASON, in which the operation is performed.
Deciduous plants have their bleeding
SEASON; and EVERGREENS may have their's,
Ir appears evidently, however, in this inftance
of practice, that the pine tribe may, ///
li'inter^ be pruned with fafety.
i£AsoN February 23. How uncertain is the bu-

PtANTiNG. fmefs of planting, in early spring : and
how hazardous to fetch plants from a dif-
tance -, even of a few miles ; and even in
the fined Febru ar Y j which, let it be ever
fo flattering, is too early, to expofe a quantity
of naked roots to a journey ; even of fix or
\i:wt\\ miles.

Plants, which are upon the fpot, may be
removed, any open day in winter, with a de-
gree of certainty ; and, perhaps, under ordi-
nary

I;g6. MIDLAND COUNTIES; 35S

nary circumftances, in no months with greater s^^son
propriety, than in February : provided ^f^^j^.g
the foil be found, and dry enough to work.

If, however^ the lituation be wet, and the
fubfoil cold, March, in my opinion, is a
more eligible month, for planting.

What is mod to be feared, in planting late
in the fpring, is a want of moifture, to fet
tlie roots to work, in the firft inftance. But
this, by a previous watering, may be had on
a certainty.

It is highly probable, that plants never
fucceed better, than when they begin to
draWf as foon as they are planted. Roots
remaining in a mangled ftate, lopped, gafhed^
and bruifed, as they generally are, and always
tnuft be more or lefs, a month, or, after
autumnal planting, five or fix months, ex-
fofed to wet and froft, in a ftate of lifelefs
inadlivityi are, probably, liable to more in-
jury than thofe which remain, in their natural
ftatei until the harfhnefs of winter is paft, and
until they can, immediately on being tranf-
planted, fet themfelves to work, heal up
their wounds, and form frefh fibrils.

The bad fuccefs which has hitherto at-
tended AlJTUMNAL PLANTING, UpOU this

A a 2 eAate

.35^ MINUTES Plant,

1 68. eflate (chiefly a moiil: retentive foil), and
SEASON the great fuccels ^vhich laft year reUilted
PLANTING, from planting in April, ilrongly corrobo-
rate this fu^geftion.

In a light foil, and over an abforbent fub-
foil, early, or even autumnal, planting maj
be eligible.
^N-ATi-RAL February 28. Tuefday. The fc verity of

liABITS

cf the weather continues. From Sunday even-

PLANTS. ^ . ''

ing, urttil today, at noon, there has been an
inceilant fall of snow, with a northeaft
wind. The fnow is drifted, in many places,
breafthigh : a part of the fwamp plantation,
(fee MiN. 164.) — lying under the wind, is
nearly buried ; and, where the fnow is lefs
drifted, the branches of the £rs are loaded
with it.

The FIRS, v;\\^\htT fpr'jce or Jiher, fpread
. out their branches, flat, as it* for the purpofe
of forming a lodgement for snow : and even
the twigs are leafy : not a flake can efcape ;
a board held out, could not catch the flakes
more effecftually. Some of the branches arc
' loaded four inches thick with fnow ; yet not
one, which I have examined, is broken :
though fome of the lower ones arc best to
the ground.

7 he

1785. MIDLAND COUN TIES. 337

The PINES, whether «S'<r(?/r/6 or Weymouth^ 168.
have fared better. Indeed the weymouths, natural

KABITS .

whole talTeJs are naturally pendant, and o^

■ , •' ^ ^ PLANTS.

V/hofe twigs are leaflefs, have not, being
11:iook by the wind, a particle of fnow upon
them, in any fituation. But the taffels of the
Scotch, being larger, more open, and lefs
pendant, haVe many of them retained the
fnow; fome of the {lender twigs, thus loaded,
being bent down, and appear twifted by the
wind ; but the branches, at large, preferve
their natural afcenfion.

The LARCHES, being, at thii feafon, naked
of leaves, are perfectly free from fnow.

March 12. Two days ago, the wind got
round to the fouthv/eft ; and, yeflerday, the
THAW was confirmed; the fnow, today,
wafling faft.

The FIRS, which were buried under the
drifted fnow, have now a lingular appear-
ance. As the fnow finks, it bears down the
branches buried anions: it. Several of the
upper tires of the spruces are bent down,
almoll clofe to the Hem, nearly reaching the
ground : yet not one of them is broken !
They are fo perfccftly tough and eladic, that,
when they are releafed from the fnow,
A i^ 3 they

353
i68.

MINUTES

Plakt.

NATURAL

HABITS

of

, PLANTS.

TAKIKC UP
PLANTS.

they fpring up, immediately, to nearly their
natural height. How wonderful are the

COUNTFRACTIONS OF NATURE !

In farther illuflration of this natural prin-
ciple, it is obfervahle, that feme Scotch
FIRS, whofe branches a^e lefs liable, in their
nature, to be borne down by fnow, but
which, in this inftance, being forced down
by the fettling of the drift, — are many of
them broken, and thofe which are not, droop,
unable to regain their wonted elevation.

March 2 1 . How much depends on the
operation of taking up ! yet how few
NURSERYMEN Can be relied on, in the per-
formance of it !

Some LARCHES, which, having flood too
long in the nurfery, had get full of wood, \
deli red might be taken up, with all the root
that could ppllibly be preferved. But,
through ignorance, idlen^fs, or inattention,
the roots, in taking up, have been chopped
off, a fe\v inches from the ftems, w^ith
fcarcely a fiber l»k upon them. The ftems
fix or eight feet high, and loaded with
branches, but with roots not more than fix

or risiht inches lon^ !

The

31786. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 359

GIP
PLANTS.

The value of plants may be faid to depend 168.
on the TAKING up: thefe fixty plants, for '^^Jf^^^
inrtance, were, as they Jtood, worth twenty
iliillings ; but, after they were taken npy they
were not worth the carriage.

When a quantity of plants are wanted, it
is but common prudence, to fend an expe-
rienced perfon, to attend to the taking
UP J or to make it part of the agreement, to
pay for none, but what fliall be taken up in a
workmanlike manner. A mere nurferyman
has an intcrell in fpoiling them.

Not the fupply of fap only, but the {labi-
lity of the plant in the foil, depends on the
ROOTS ; whofe length fhould be proportioned,
as it generally may be, to the height of the
plant : and, for plants of four to eight feet
high, the LENGTH OF ROOT ought not to be
lefs, than ONE fourth of the height.

Distance OF Plants. In cafes where propeh

DISTANCE

plants are requifite to he purcbafedi the ex- °^^,,

pence of planting relrs, principally, on the
NUMBER OF PLANTS; and this OH the
DISTANCE at which they are planted.

Thus, an acre of ground, planted at every

rod, requires one hundred and fixty plants :

iit every half rod, fix hundred and forty ; at

A a 4 every

of
PLANTS.

360 M I N U T E S Plakt.

every quarter of a red, two thoufand five
Di^rScE i^""c!red and fixty.

In a timbertree plantation, the advantages
of fetting tJie plants, in clofe order, are
thofe of withftanding, with greater forti-
tude, the feverity of feafons, and of ailifting
to give each other an upward tendency, in
the iirll ftage of their growth : the difad-
yantages, thofe of encreaiing the number
of plants ; — of crouding the plantation, fo
as to prevent the ufe of the plow, in the
firft iniliance; — and, if not timely reduced
in number, of robbing each other, afterward,
of their requillte nouriihment ; as well as of
drawing each other up, tall and weak : a
circumliante, this, infioitely more prejudicial
to their future profpcrity, than that of
fpreading too much, in the livll: llage of their
growth.

Neverthelefs, I am of opinion, thlt low
flender plants, — plants under a quarter cf
a rod high, — cannot be fet out, wiih pro-
priety, at more than a quarter of a rod
afunder : unlefs f<5ms other expedient, tlian
a clofe arrangement of living plants,
could be hit upon, to give them. (belter, an^i

1786.

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

361

PROPER

DISTANCE

of

FLAKTS,

an upward tendency, in the firfl ftages of 168.
growth.

In a LARGE UNDERTAKING, whcre

planting goes on, in continuance, from year
to year, nothing is loft by planting clofely.^
each YOUNG PLANTATION bcin^ a NUR-
SERY GROUND, out of which the fupernu-
merary plants may be removed, as occ^ion
may require.

But, in the more ordinary business of
PLANTING, where a particular plantation,
or fuite of plantations, being made, the
bufinefs of planting is finifhed, thefe fuper-
numerary plants are too frequently fuffered
to do irreparable injury to the plantation ;
bv crowding, after the firft ftage of growth,
and forcing up, too rapidly, thofe wliich
ought to form the grove, in its more ad-
vanced ftate.

Thefe reflexions aptly lead to the ex- training

1 •' with

pedient, of giving the required fhelter and
upright tendency, in the hrft ftages, by dead
plants: as the fprayey tops of coppice
wood, or the top wood of fuch trees as form
thickly furniflied branches.

By this expedient, three fourths of the
"xpence of plants (fuppoilng the coft and

putting

DEAD
PLANTS.

362 MINUTES Plant,

168. putting in of the dead plants |o be no more
TRAINING than the carriage and expence of planting
DEAD live ones) would be faved. Thus, if inl1:eaii
of planting living plants, at every quarter of
a rod, they were put in at every half rod
only, and eflimating the coft of fourfoot
plants at fifteen lliillings a hundred, the
faving, through this expedient, would be
upwards of fourteen pounds an acre ; namely,
four pounds fixteen fhillings, inftead of nine-
teen pounds four ihillings.

And, beiide this great fning, in the ori-
ginal expence, two other advantages wtiuld
arife, from fuch a pratftice : the dead
PLANTS might be readily removed, (and
again replaced) to admit the plow (or the
fpade with greater freedom) into the in-
tervals J and the regularly progreffive decay,
of fuch plants, would be a more natural^
and lefs dangerous way, of relieving the fland-
ards, than the abrupt removal of live ones *.
Taactice General management. This fpring,

rLANTiKG. the ground being fufficiently moift, the holes
' have not been watered.

The METHOD of PLANTING has bccn
f.milar to that of kit fpring. The naked-

ROOTED
* This, however, by way of intimation.

1766. MIDLAND COUNTIES. 363

ROOTED PLANTS have been fet upon hil- 168.
LOCKS of mold, formed in the bottoms of practice

■ in

the pits to receive them; fpreading the planting*.
roots and fibers wide on ever}^ fide, in the
BiRDSFooT manner, and difpofing them
TIRE OVER TIRE, as nature had difpofed
them in the nurfery, and as their {lability,
now, and their profperity, hereafter, re-
quire.

Workmen, This fpring, the plants
have been put in, chiefly, by a fet of four :
a tutored planter and his helper, going be-
fore, to bed the roots, with two followers,
to fill in, and tread firmly, the remainder
of the mold ; loading the roots, and leav-
ing the furface globular, and as firm as a
floor i the foil, in this cafe, being fomewhat
light.

This fet, when fully in their work, put
in about twent}^ tall plants, an hour : or one
plant in three minutes : the expence of
PL. -ANTING fuch fullfized plants (fix to ten
feet high) deliberately, and firmly, being little
more than half a crown, a hundred : and
burymg them, in the ufual manner, would
have coll eighteenpence or two ll^illings.

Whether

3^4

MINUTES

Plant.

i68. Whether in planting or in taking

pRACTici UP, the workmen's directions have been, to

in 1-1

PLANTING, proceed with deliberation : a minute
more or lefs, in either of thefe operations,
being incomparable with the difference be-
t^veen miscarriage and success.

]P I S T

LIST

or

R A T E S

I K T H E

DISTRICT

or THE

MIDLAND STATIC N.

ESTATES.

PURCHASE value of land. See v.f. p.i6.
Rental value of land. — i. 17.
Rental value of tithes. — i. 18.

BUILDINGS *.

Bricks at the kiln, 16/. a thoufand.
Laying bricks, ^s. a thoufand; digging
the foundation included.

Bricklayers

* For the price of timber, fee woodlands, in this lift.

3% LIST OF ItX'TES.

Bricklayers day wages, lid.
Carpenters day wages, 22 d.
Thatchers day wages — the ordinary wages
of the feafon.

HEDGES.

Tranfplanted hawthorn, js. a thoufand.

Stakes, in the \rood, 6d. to jd. a fcere.

Edders, , ')d. a bundle of fixty, or

threepence a fcore.

Plantins; a new hed^e,— fee min. 123.

Stocking a live hedge, y. an acre, and the
roots.

Felling a fuUgrown hedge to the flub, 9^.

an acre *".

Cutting hedges, fenceheight, lod. to 14^.

an acre.

Laying or plafhing a hedge, and fcouring
the ditch, U. ** a fide"— or i^. a yard.

Making a iltike and cdder hedge— ^very
{lout — iS^. an acre.

Rough flake hedge, without edders, is. an

acre.

Morticing pofls (two holes) is. a fcore.
Pointing rails, 5//. a fcore^ See ii. p. 352.

Putting

♦ An ACRE, iXith'n acighbouih^, is 32 prds.

MIDLAND COUNTIES. 367

Putting down pofts and rails, iid. an
acre.

Hedge carpenters dayswork, 2 1 d»

WOODLANDS.

Stocking and butting middlefized timber
*rees, 18^. a tree.

Butting fuch trees, 4^. a tree.

Peeling bark, lor, to loj*. 6d. a ton.

Binding faggots, laborers finding band^>^
5^. a fcore.

• , employer finding bands,

4^. a fere.

Cutting pofts and rails out of top wood, is.
a fcore.

Cutting flakes out of ditto, id. a fcore.

Sawing oak, 3/. 3^. a hundred feet.

afh, 3/. — - — ■ —

— elm, 3J-. —

poplar, 2J-. 6d,

** Cleaving" laths, 4^. a bundle of five
fcore.

Cutting and fetting up cordwood, 2x. a
cord.

Oak in the rough, 18^. to 2s. a foot *.

Elm

* Price of BARK. See min. 13.^

36S L I S T O F R A T E S.

Elm in the rcugh, ()d, to I-t. a foot.
Aili — 9(i- to IS.

Poplar ^ 8^/. to 1 4^/.

Oak inch board, 3.^. a fquare foot.

i^

Elm

A{h — li".

Poplar

Alh axletrees, 5^-. to 31. 6^/. each.

— — fellies, fix inches, \zs. a trine or

thirteen.

narrow, Sj. a tnnc

Elm naves, 40. a pair.
Oak fpokes, 13^. a trine of twentyfive.
Pofl or rails, in the wood, 4/ to 6cf. each.
Al"h laths, IS. a bundle of iive'fcorc.
Spray faggots, 8j. to i Oj. a hundred of fjx

fcore.

Rou^h roots, 2/. or ■;/. a load -j- \

Dimenfions of cordwood, fee v. i. p. 71-

Price of coalwood, i o/. to 121. a cord.

Re-cording wood, 6</. a cord.

B amine: charcoal, i'/. a bufhel.

A load of charcoal, i z bags of i 2 indete -

ininatc bufr.els eacli.

PLANTING

• Sec y.is. If.' 3.
-j- Coals cheap.

KilDLAND eOUNTlEi 5*|i

PLANTING.

Double! digging fward, i8 inches deep,
i^J. a rood of 64 fquare yards, fee ii. ^46.

Digging Holes, two feet dianleter, and two
feet deep, in doubledug ground, id, each.

Coft of planting, fee ii. 363.

Acorns in a tommon year, i j. a bufliel.

Planting acorns, 5X. an acre, ii. 351.

WORKMEN.

YEARLY WAGES.

Waggoner, 8 to 10 guineas *•
Maid, 3 to 5 guineas.
Youth, 4 to 5 guineas.
Lad, 2 to 3 guineas,

DAY WAGESo

Winter (i Nov. to i Mar.) is. a day-f-J

Spring ( I ft March to hay time), 14^. ^day»

Hay time, — 18^. a day.

Harveft, — 21. a day J.

Autumn (harveft to i ft Nov.), 14^. a day,

VoL.IL Bb Women,

♦ Gave a waggoner, the fummer half ytar^ 6 guineas j
the vointer half^ 4 guineas.

t With fmall BEER, in this and every Qther cafe.

• t> Gave in a lace harveft, 18^, a da/.

S7* - LIST OF RATES.

Women, In autumn and Ipring, 6d. and beef*

, in haytime, gd. and beer.

Boy, 4^. to 6d. in autumn and winter.

HOUSE EXPENCES.

Beer — for the quantity drank, fee ii. 44.
Malting barley, ^d. a bufliel.
Grinding wheat, 5^. a bufhel.
Coals, at the pit, about 5/. a ton.

IMPLEMENTS.

Waggon, about 20 guineas.

Double plow — woodwork, 25/. Ironwork,
40/.

Single plow — 10/. 6d. •

18/. to 20J-.

Wheelwrights' wages, 2id. to is. a day.

Leatherwork of the harnefs of one hor fe,
35/. to 40/. ! See I. 100.

Waggon ropes, 5^. to 6d, a pound.

Cartgreafc, ready mixed, 3^/. a lb.

Spade, 3/. 6d.

BLACKSMITHS WORK.

Conimon ironwork, 4^. a lb.
W^orking over old iron, 2d. a lb*
Wheel tire, ijs. a cwt.

Tire

MIDLAND COUNTIES. 371

Tire nails, 4*/. a lb.

Shares and draft irons, 5^. a lb.

Strong chains, 5^. a lb.

Traces and backhands, td. a lb*

Laying ^ fhare, is.

Laying a coulter, jd.

Sharping a fhare or coulter, id.

Shoe, 5^.

Kemove, ild.

SOIL PROCESS.

Underdraining. See min. ig6.

Plowing with a double plow, five horfes,
man and boy, 1 3 J", a day.

with a Tingle plow, three horfes,

man and boy, 7/. hd. a day.

MANURE.

Dung, at Tamworth, los. 6d. a waggon
load.

Lime, at the kiln, St. to 10s. a chaldronr

Piling and mixing compoft, id. a cubical
yard.

Turning and watering lime, 4^. a load of
fix quarters.

Turning and watering dung, ild. a cart
load.

B b 2 Spreading

37t LIST OF RATES.

Spreading dung out of hillock, \d. a load/

out of carriages, fee ii. 34.

Wheeling mud or mold, with one wheeler

to two fillers, i W. a cubical yard.

with one wheeler

to one filler, id. 2, yard.

with two wheeler?

to one filler, 3^. a yard.

SEED PROCESS.

" Turfing" oats, about 6d. an acre,?. 159.

Crofs-furrowing^ deep and wide, and chop-
ping and raking the mold fmooth, on either
fide of the trench, ^d. an acre*

VEGETATING PROCESS,

Hoing turneps, twice, 8/. with ale.

, onc6, 5/.

, by the day, 2s. 6 J.

Handweeding turneps coll about 2 j'. an acre.

HARVESTING^

Reaping wheat, by the threave, ^d. to 6d,

oats, — ■ , 3J.

V heat, by the acre, 6j. to Ss.

Mowing and iheaving oats, 5/. an acre.

Mowing

MIDLAND COUNTIES. 373

Mowing barley into fwath, i8^. an acre.

•■ oats — '- , i6d. an acre.

Taking up potatoes, id. to id. a bufhel.
Gave in lieu of harveil fupper, u. a man,
ftnd td, a boy,

FARM YARD.

Thrashing wheat, and binding the ilraw,
^d. to 5^. a bufhel (of 9 gallons).

barley, i6d. to i^d. a quarter.

■ — oats, 8^. to 10^,

Winnowing days paid for extra.

Cutting oats in ftraw, &c. 18^. a day and
board (for. 40 bufhels), or Id. a bufhel
(rounded up). N. B. Cut very fine.

Strawyard keep of cows, is. a. week.

■- —young cattle, gd. .

Thraflier, extra, for foddering in the yard,
I J. a week (Sunday included).

GRASS LAND.

Cutting furface drains. See min. 32.
Expence of underdraining. See min. 106.

fpreadingdrain mold . See m i n .64,

Mowing meadow grafs, 2id. an acre.

' ** feeds," 1 8^. an acre,

B b 3 Sweeping

374 LIST OF RATES.

Sweeping off the weeds of paftureg rounds
with the fithe,— by the acre, 3d. to 6i/.-^by
the dav, before haytime, 18^,

AGISTMENT.

Mayday to Michaelmas.,

Grown horfes, bos. to 70/.

Twoyearolds, 45/. to 5c/.

Yearlings, 35J. to 40^.

Fatting cows, 35J.

TwOyearold heifers, 25/.

Yearlings, 15/.

Mare and foal, in fjrnnier, 3/. a week.

Young horfes, after Michaelmas, i Gd. to
iS^. a week.

Cows, at prime lattermath, 2s. a week.
Field fheep, from Michaelmas to Lady*-
?iay, at ordinary keep, 2s. better keep, 2s. td,
to 3^.

Paflurc fheep, in fummer, at prime keep,
'id. a head, a week.

MARKETS,

MIDLAND COUNTIES. pf

MARKETS.

Road team, (waggon 5 horfes man an4
boy), I4J-, a day!

Waggoner's *^fpendlng money," 6(i, to ix,
a journey !

Turnpikes, 4^, each horfe, in narrow*
\vheeled carriages,

*• Chapmanry" on a load of corn, is.

Standard bufl:iel (of Tamworth) " thirtyftjj
quarts:"— nine gallons.

Bag of wheat, 3 budiels,

barley, 4

r , oats, 4I r

Weight of a bag of wheat, 10 fcore to ^q
fcore and 16 lb,

Quarter of oats, at Tamworth, 9 bufhels.

, at Afhby, 8 -— — ■ — .

-? — r — r— -T — : — , at Burton, 9 . ,

Score of oats, at Lichfield, 22 ,

Load of oats, at Lichfield, 4 fcore, or 88
bufhels,
* ^^ ^-'.t- ... ^ at Tamworth, i o quarter,
or 90 bufhels.

Loadof barley, at Taniwortk, 10 quarter,
or 80 bufhels.

B b 4 toacj

176 LISTOFRATE5.

Load of wheat, at Tamworth, 20 bags, 0^
60 bu/hels.

PRODUCE.

Sec the clofe of each Article,

AQKh

IMtlDLAND COUNTIES. pj

AGRICULTURAL
fROVINCIALJSI^S

Of TIf E

DISTRICT

OF THE

MIDLAND STATION,

A.

A CRE ; a fpccies of long meafure, conliiling of

32 yards ; four roods. '
AIGLES ; icicles.

• ' ■ ! .\' . .. »

BATCH ; a grift ; a quantity of corn fent to mill :

lience batch ?iag.
3ATTIN ; atrufs of ftraw.
jpEACE ;-— the plural of bcajl-y cattle : not peculiar to

this diftrift : having a plural termination, which

might well be received into the eftabliflied language,

for words ending iny?.
beggar's NEEDLE; /candix pe^m-vtneris'-^fhcp^

licrd's needle.

To

ir? PROVINCIALISMS.

To BELT ; to fhear the buttocks and tails of fheqv

BENTS; fccdrteius of the blade grafTes.

BOAR '1'HISTLE; carduus lamec'.atui ; fpeaf ihiftlc.

BOOSINGS ; thcftalls of cattle.

EOOSIXG STAKE i the poft tQ which ftall cattle aje

fafiencd.
BOWLDERS ; a fpccir? of round pebble, common tq

the foil? of this diiUicl.
BRAB ; a fpike nail.
BREEDING INANQIN ; fee i. 250.
BRUSH ; ftubhJe i as a wheat brufh, &c.

UCFCET" ; a common bow-handled pail.
BULE ; the bow handle of a pail.
BUSHEL ; two sTUlKES, orbufliels.
JUTT i the lower llerp of a timber tree; as well as the

root end. . — _

BUTTY; partner; as fellow fcrvant, or laborer.
BYSLINS ; (tlie y Iqng) the ^rft milk of a cow, newly

calven.

C.

CADLQCK, ROUGH ; f:ruipis ar'vstyQs ; wild mi^

tard.
CADLOCK, SMOOTH ; h>n/ica napus- wild rape.
CAMP; a hoard of po;atoes, tarneps, Sec.
CANKERFD ; mildewed, blighted, as wheat, or other

grain. See min. 74.
CANSH; a fmall pile of faggots, ice. To " can fit

them up'* is to form fuch a pile.
CAPS; hoodfheaves of Corn shv*cks.
CHAPMANRY ; that which is abated, or ghcn

a^ai/ty by th* felier, on receiving money of the

buyer,

Ta

MIDLANE! COUNTI'ES.'

To GL AM ; tc hunger or flsrve, ^s cattle.
CLAMMED, or welly clammed ; half ll^rved, for

want of fufficient pafture, or fodder.
CLEAS ; the claws of cattle and fheep.
CLEFT ; timber fit to be cloven, into coopers' ware^

fpokcs, laths, ^'c.
CLEVVY ; a fpecies of draft iron of a plow.
CLUSTERS ; crouds or clumps of turneps, &c.
COAL SMUT ; a folfil, or an effloreicence, found ou

the furface, over feams of eoal 1
COCK; a fpecies of draft iron of a plow.
CQCKHEADS; cerJaureanigra \ coniraqn knobwee^.
COLTS -, yearling horfes.
COMINS; commonage.
COPPY ; coppice.

To COPPY ; to cut down, for underwood.
CORD ; a certain quantity of wood. See i. p. 71.
CORDWQOD ; tQpwood, roots, 5:c. cut aud fet up,

in CORDS.
CORNED ; furnifhed with grain.
COTTER ; an iron key to a bolt.
CRACKED ; cloven, as a fheep, on the b^ck, or

rump.
CRATCFJ ; ^ hay racl;.

CROWFLOWER ; the rawmculus tribe ; CFowfoot.
CULLINGS ; refufe ; outcails.
CUSHION-RUMPED i having two extraordinary

bundles of fat upon the rump.
^UTMEAT ; fodder — generally oats in llraw — cut

ijito fliort lengths, as cbuf.

JDAGLOCKSi

F R O V I K C I A L I S M S.

D.

PAGLOCKS J lock? of wcol. czz of the buttoete

and tails of (hrep. Set i. 403.
DAIRIER ; dairyman.

PEA NE rXLE ; ^J>:^,f/ ic^yrit ; ^l]d hcaip.
PIGGIN'Gi a fpit in ckpth. Set mi k. id6.
I^o DITCH i to llick to ; as the claraauTielj of moiif^

burnt hay fticks to the cutti.ig kiiife.
DOGFEXNEL; arjbcrtds aUiU, l£z. mi/Jic weed,

corn caicomile, ice
PONKEY ; dampifh; dank-
DRINK; aJc.
DYCHE ; ditch.

EASIXS i caves.
ELDER i the udder of a cow.
ENTAILS; ends of lanoi. mim. 75.
£YEABLE \ fightly i plcallag to the eye : fpoke.-i {ji
ftock, dec.

FaT i hx cattle and fheep.

To FEED , to grow fat ; alio to fit i is grazing

ilock.
FEEDERS; fitting cattle.
FEEDING PIECE ; grazing ground.
\ EG ; rough dead grafs.
To FETTLE ; to adjuft j to put in order.

rrxi

MlOLAND COUNTIES; 381

FIN ; ancnis arver/is j reftharrow.

FINCH BACKED ; white on the back ; as cattle.

FITCHET ; or FIDGET ; a polecat.

FLEWS ; phlctnes, for bleeding cattle. Sec.

To FLOAT ; to overflow, or water, as grafslar^d : alio

to pare off the furface of fward.
To FLOAT UPWARD. Sec min. 27.
FOOT TRENCHES ; fupcrficial drains, about a foot

wide.
FOREHAND RENT. See i. p. 20.
FOREIGNERS ; ftrangers.
FORE FLANK ; a point of Iheep. See v. i. p. 355.

G.

GALLS ; vacant or bald places in a crop.
GALLY ; fcattcied with calls.
GARNER; a bin ; in a mill, or a granary.
GAUN j a gallon raeafure ; alfo a fmall tub.
GEERING ; the ladders and fide rails of a waggon.
A GIFTY DAY } a boon day ; as a dayswork given,

by neighbour to neighbour.
GLUT ; a large wooden wedge.
GOLDS; chryfantkimum fegttum ;— corn marigolds-
GOOSE TANSEY ; potentUla anfcrina ; filverweed.
GORSE or GOSS; furze, whin.
GOUTY; difeafed, and fwelled, bv fubterraneous

water j as boggy tumours, at the bottom, or en ths

fide of a hill.
GREEN SAUCE ; rumex acetofa ; forrcL
GRUDGINGS ; pollard; fine'bran.
GUTTER; treiich, or grip.

T«

PROVINCIALISMS.

H.

To HACKLE ; <iiminutiv» of to hack ; as to ** hackle

turncps :'* to pull them up with a littJe twoprongca

h<::k. (ScepROV. of York.)
HAl ROUGH i gaHum a^arinc ; cVavcis.
HARD IRON ; ranunculus ai-vfft/is ; corn crowfooL
Hat ; heated ; as hay or corn-
HEARTH ; the fioor on which wood is charred*
HEARTSPURX ; tap root. See toes.
HEN GORSE ; attofi-s arvaifis. Sec FIK.
HEX-SCRATLINGS ; ftreaming clouds , mares laJli

Surrey ; fillj-tails Yorklhire.
To HIKE ; to flrike with the horn ; to dbfs ; to h'pe,
HILLOCKY ; full of anthills.
HOG. See La\:bhog.

MOODS ; t!)c covering fhtates of fhucks : kcodjhcava.
HOOP : a fpecics of checfe-vat. Sec i. 319.
HONEYSUCKLE CLOVER ; trifeliian repem ; white

trefoil.
HOSE; the vagina, or pre ate, of corn.
HUBSi naves of wheels.

L

ifjAKDlNi ficnj tlic lame line of parentage. Set

V. i. p. 250.
Joint grass \ raHum ^crumi ycllotv bedilravr.

KERNEL, a bundle of fat, before the fhoaldcr, of
catilc : the /bi/t.

To

MIDLAND COUNTIES. 3?i

^o KIBBLE ; to crufli j to grind iraperftclly.
KIDS; faggots.

t.

LAG ; a defecl: of timber. See Miv. T41.
LAKES; pools or puddles of water, itaiiding in road9,

or on land, after rain.
LAMBHOGS ; yearling fheep, before sheardav.
LAP-LOVE ; convolvulus arvenjis ; corn convolvulus;

alfo pelygoKum convoiv. climbing biicku'ccd.
LAY ; part u rage for the fummer ; joift ; agii^ment.
To LAY ; to plajh^.z% an hedge.
LAYLANDS -, graft ridges, in common fields: arable

lands, which have been fuffered to lay down to grafs \

— h^nce, LAY, as above ; and hence, probably, ky

and le'igh.
LIVING j a tenement, or farm. The common £eM

townfhips were divided into a certain number of

*♦ livings."
LOCUSTS; fcharabal meblontb^i chafers; brolVtt

beetl(js.
X.OW ; a hill ! hence the names of various hilJs; 9nd

hence the
LOW COUNTRY; the hiiis of StafTordfhire, &«.

the Aforelands.

■ M.

MAUPLE ; raaplc.

MAW-SKIN ; the (lomach of a calf; ufcd in checf(S

making ; w//, &:c. &c.
MEADOWS ; the dips or bottoms oi vallies, ia a
' fbite of perei>nial herbage.

MEATY ;

3?4 P R O V I K C I A L I S M 5.

MEATY; flefhy, but not fat; fpokcn of grazing

ftock,
MUCK; dung, compoft.

N.

KAG ; a {addle horfc ; oppoftd to cart horic.
NATHE ; nave of a v,lieel.

PAD ; path.

FASH of rain ; a hra-^-y faD of rain.
PASSER, or nailpaficr ; agimblct; or piercer.
PEAKRELS ; men of the Peak of Dcrbyfliirc.
PENNY WE ED; rkirarr.hu: crlfia gaUi -, rattle.
PINFALLOW ; winter fallow. Sec i. 191.
PINGLE ; a fmall croft ; (pightle. Norf.)
To PIKE ; to glean.

To PILE ; to break off the awns of thrafhed barlcv*.
PILING IRON ; a tool ufed in '* pilisc bab.let,'*

and, fometimes, in breaking off the tails cf oatT.
POOTHERY (the 00 fhort) , ck)fc, mug^, fultrv ;

fpokcn of the weather.

QUART of butter ; xhxcz pounds.

QUEECE ; C^iMmba paUmbui ; the wood pigeon!

RAMGETTER ;'

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

R.

KAMGETTER; fee 1.385.

RAUNPIKED; — provincial of raven-picked; Hag-
headed, as an old overgrown oak ; having the Humps

of boughs {landing out of its top.
"RAW; wet and cold, as the foil in fome feafons j iinfit

to receive the feed.
To REAR ; to i-ife up before the plow, as the furrows

fometimes do in plowing ; generally owing to a

bad plow, or a bad plowman.
ROARER; a rcftlefscow% &c. SeeM. iig.
ROOD ; a meafure of eight yards in length ; or fixty-

four f(^uare yards j fomewhat more than two fquavc
rods or perches.
ROPE ; the preterite of to reap ; fpoken of corn.
RUCK ; a rough bundle, or heap, of any thing.
RUNNING BULL of a harrow ; fee i. 109.
To RUN OUT ; to grow or fprouty as corn in harvellj

alfo lofcourj as cattle.

S.

SARVER ; a corh fcuttle.

SCORE ; twenty pounds : "ufcd in fpeaking of th«

weight of cattle or fwine.
SCRAWLY ; thin and ravelled, as corn.
SEEDS i young grafles; — land newly laid to grafs.
SEEDNESS i feed time.
SETS; plants of potatoes, &c.
SHADE; a fhed; as "a cow Ihade."
Vol. II. C c T«

P R O \' I N C I A L I S M S.

To SHADE ; to (hcd, as corn.
SHAREGRASS; carix hirta\ a fpccics of fedge.
SHARHOG y (that is, z.Jhare oxjhcrn hog) a yeailing

fhccp, after sheardav : fee lambhoc.
To SHEAVE ; toZ;Wcom.

SHEARDAY i the Ihearing d^iy o( ihctTp,y^fep-J^earing.
SHUCK ; twelve iLcaves of corn, fet up in the field :

J^ock : jlcck.
SLASHER ; a pin/her or pleach of a " laid" hedge
SLUDGE ; mire.
SLIDE i a Hedge.

SLIT ; a ciack or cleft in the breaft of fet cattle.
SMOTHER FLY ; the bean aphis . fee ^L 6 1.
SOCK ; the drainage of a farna yard: hence sockpit,

the receptacle of fach tlrainiigc.
SOUGH ; (pron. si ff;) a covered drain of any (ize.
SPADE-BIT i the quantity of foil raifcd, by one

effort of the fpade : perhaps the etymon of ft.t.
SPADE-EOXE ; the fhoulder bone; tht- blade bone ;

perhaps the Ihoulder bone of a horfe, or an ox, was

the fpadi of our anceftors.
SPINNEY ; a cluinp, or fmall plantation, or grove.
SPANNER ; a wrench ; a nut fcrew driver.
SPIN AGE, WILD; chenopodium \ goofefoot.
SPRIT ; fprouted, as corn in the field.
SPOKEN CHAIN . an appendage of a waggon, pe«

culiir to this diftrict : a long ftrong chain, to be

fixed to the fpoke of the wheel, when the team is

" flailed" or fet faft in a flough.
SPURN ; a main root of a tree ; as iiiARTiprRK.
To SQUE AN ; to fret, as the hog.
STALE , handle cf every kind; as fork -fl ale, plow-

ftale: hence probably the corruption fU'x's taiU

To

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

To be STALLED ; to be fet faft in a Hough, or bad

road.
STATUTE ; a hiring day of farm fervants*
To STOCK ; to grub: fee i.69.
STODGED ; filled to the ftrctch ; as a cow's uddei-

with milk.
To STOMBLE ; to trample, or poach, as wet foil.
To STOOL ; to ramify as corn ; to Jlock^ to tiller.
STRAW-CUTTER; a cutter of ilraw, &c. Into

chaf*
STRIKE ; bufhel ; the common term. See bushil.
STRICKLESS; that with which a bu(hel,&c- is ftricken.
STUMP; poll; as "gate {tump"— " ilumps and

rails."
SWAUF i cart coora.

T.

TANKARD turnep ; the pudding, or longrooud tur-
nep.

THACK, &c. ; thatch, &c.

THAVE ; a young ewe.

THONE ; fomewhat damp and cold; not thoroughly-
dry.

THOROUGH ; an interfurrow, between two ridges.

THREAVE ; twentyfour fheaves.

THROO ; a flip or width of corn, which a fet of
reapers, &c. drive before them, at once ; whether it
confift of one or more lands, or ridges.

TOES ; 06' fidefpurns ; the fpreading roots of trees.
Sec Heartspuric,

C c 2 TONKEY;

PROVINCIALISMS.-

TONKEY ; a modern provincialifm : a word lately
introduced, I believe; and appears to be at prefent
of uncertain meaning ; — fliortlcgged and deep car-
cafed; rcfembling the Chincfe breed of fwinc.
*rRINE ; of fellies thirteen ; o( /pokes twxntyfive.
TRY ; a corn fkrcen.
To TRY ; to fkreen.
TUNNING DISH ; the common name of a tunnel \

which is perhaps the diminutive of tunning dijh*
TUPMAN ; a breeder of, or dealer in
TUPS, or rams.

TURF ; fwkrd — grafsland. See ii. 214. &c.
To TURF ; to adjuft the furface of fown fward.

See i. 159.
TURN ; year, or time.
TURNEPING; colkaing turneps.
TWITCH, common -, triticum repens ; couchgrafs^

■' ■■■■ black ; fejiuca duriujcu.uy hard fefcue.

' running ; agrofils alba ; creeping bent.

W.

Waggoner ; an upper nian Icrvant ; carter.
WALL ; the flem of a rick is called the walls.
WALLSPRING i a cold, wet, fpringy, or fpe\ty part

of land.
WASTRELS J outcafts ; as waftrel bricks, &c.
WAYGOING Crop ; fee i.N. 19.
WEDDERGETTER , fee i. 385.
WfUT-TAWER , a collarmakcr ; the common name.

WILLOWtEDj

MIDLAND COUNTIES.

VVILLOWEED; polygonum pen/ylvanicumy &c. j perfi-

caria ; fmartwced.
WIND i (the i long) a winch, or wince.

Y.

YARD WOOD; feci. 71.

YELLOWS i gemjh tinfferiai dycrt' broom.

END OF THE SECOND TQi,VUZ^

Cc 9 INDil

INDEX

TO THE

TWO VOLUMES.

ACCIDENTAL Varieties,
an Ij^lance of, in Caule,
i. 273.

Acids, their Fallacy, as Telis,
i. 156.

Acorns, Methods of Planting,
li. 355.

■— , Inilances of Sowing,
ii. 257.

, Remarks on, ii. 345.

- -— , Practice in Planting,
ii. 350.

•— —— , the Number and Quan-
tity req. for an Acre, ii. 351.

Aftergrafs, Article of, i. 241.

— — — - of Clover, its Alois
of Expenditure, i. 2 1 6.

• , General Remarks

on, 11. 121.
Age of a fullgrown Afh,Ii.274.
— ..» of the A(h, further in-

llancei, ii. 340.
•" — of a growing Elm,ii.275.
of the Elm, further in-

lianced, ii. 339.
of Felling four Species of

Timber fet down, ii. 310.

of MerevaleWood,ii.292.

— - of Felling Oak Timber

calculattd, ii. J07. .
— — of Felling Oak Timber,

General Remarkson, ii. 308.
— r of the Oaks of Dagot Park,

ii. 306.

Age of an overgrown Poplar,

u. 277.

of Statfold Wood, li. 2S3.

Agriculture, Divifion of, i. 80.
; its Progrefs iu-

ftanced, ii. 62.
Alum, as a Correvtor of Milk,

for Cheefe, i. 323.
Analyfis of BreedonLimedone,

i. ijO.

of Marls, i. 152.

Aphis of the Turnep, de-

fcribed, ii. 118.
■ ■ — , Fur.i

ther Remarks on, ii. 168.
Appearanceofthe Countp.-, i.9.
Aquatic Manure, on Growing,

ii. 91.

'-, Experiment

with, ii. 23^.
Arguments, their bad EfFeft,

I. 560.
Artiticial Grafles, i. 213.
AQi, on tlje Growthof, ii. 274.
, the proper Age of Felling

fet down, ii. 3LP.
— , Age of, further inllanced,

ii. 340. ^

— , on Planting, in the Inter-

fpaces of Oaks, ii. 340.
Alhby Stallion S.iow, ii. 75.
Afiies of Charcoal Hearths, va-
lue of, as Manure, ii. 515.

C 4

BAG0T

I N D E X.

B.

BAGOT Park, Timber of,

ii. 506.
Bake well, Mr. his Succefs in

Irrigation, i. 234.
. -, his Rank as a

Breeder, i. 244..

— , his Breed of Cat-

tle, i. 269.

,hi5 fuperiorBreed

of Swine, i. 32S.
— ^ , his Claim as a

Breeder of Sheep, i. 338.
— , his Diicioles e-

r.an^erated, i. 342.
B:'ladrjngers, Rem. on.ii. 19.
Bjrdon Hill, Views froin,i.l J.
Bark, Tools ufed in peeling,

i. 70.

, Article of, i. 72.
; on its Proportion to

Tiniber, ii. 282.

,ontheQualitiesof,ii.285.

, on the P. ices of, ii. 2S6.

Barley, Section of, i. 189.

■ , Experiment with, on

Clover Ley, ii. 13.
— — , on ploAing in, ii. 81.
— -, Initance of Shamefal

Man. in Harvefting, ii. 159.
— — Culture, Prac. in.ii. 188
mifcarriesafierTurnepf,

"• 195-
_— - ripened, by Frcft, ii.196.

•.^^ , Pradical Remarks on

HarvelHnr, ii. a: i.
— — ; extraordinary Circum-

ftances attending its Sale,

ii. 242.
- moftdi£cu]t to cultivate,

ii. 24J.
Barn of the Diftiicl, 1. 28.

■ Floor-s i- 2^.

■ — , Method oflayL-ig,
Hiih Bricks, ii. 23.

Bam Management, i. 17'-
Barometer in cficem, i. iic.

. , Inilance of its great

Utilit)-, i. 128.

■, General Remarks

on its Utility, i. 130.
Barrow Lime, i. N. 27.
Harwell, George, his Rationale

of High Ridgej, ii. 42.
. , his Rationale

of Crooked Hedges, ii. 35:.
-, iiisiiajdParc,

11. 197

--jhiiDcadiand
Charade r, ii. 247.

Ba:t!e of Bofworth Field, a Re-
mark on, ii. N. 20;.

Ee.ins, Culture of, i. 195.

— , in the Comiftcn Field
Hu.n>andry, ii. 206.

Beiih of Labor, Seft. of, 1.99.
- of Draft, long homed

Oxen confidered as, i. 282.
Bea Jiv of Fo.'-m corJldiTed.i 247
, of the New

Leicefterfhire Sheep, i. 546.
Beer, Re.Ti. on the extrairagant

Practice, refpcding, ii. 4;.
Beetle of thcTuraep defcribcd,

ii. 117.

- , E.\pe:i-

mcnts with, ii. it>o.

Behon Fair, ii. 1.

Berbery, its tffecis on Wheat,
ii. 1 1.

Beverr^ge of Workmen, Re-
marks on, ii. 44."

Black ("ouch, irs Mifchiefs, as
a Corn Weed, ii 1I4.

Blight of Wheat, Remark? on,
ii. 127.

' . -, Fanher Re-
marks on, ii 14.1.

Board of Agric-ftare recox-
mendcJ, i. 89.

Botanical L.xcurficns, the pro-
per Seafon of, ii. iC*<.

INDEX.

Botany of .Agriculture, Praftlce
in, ii. 97.

Bofworth ^ ield, a Remark on
the Battle of, ii. N. 205.

Preed ; how much depends up-
on it, ii. 25.

iJreeding iiundin defined,!. 2 50.

r Cattle, An. pf,i.2S3.

— — — -T Sheep, Art. of, i.37 i.

Breeds of Sheep requifite, in
this Ifland, i. 369.

^reedon Lime, Art.qf, i. 149.

■ , Further Ac-

count of, ii. 2.

with, ii. 209.

Experiment

Farther Re-
marks on, ii. 215.

Buildings, Seiflion of, i. 35.

— Timber, not depend-
ent on an internal Supply,
ii. 3 9.

BullShakefpeardefcribed,i.2 73,

Bulls, Article of, i. 283.

m , Age of Leaping, i. 299.

Burning Dead Grafs, ii. 77.

Butler, article of, i. 3^6.

.1 •. "^ ■

P-

CABBAGES, Se^. of, i. 209.
Calcareous Watfr, its Effect,

ii. 78.
Calendar of Hufbandry, the firft

Idea of, ii. 46.
»-- — , from

Oa.i78AtoOa.i78.-,ii.i99.
Crdf Balls, Method of Ivlaking,

Calves, Rearing, 1. 297.

, Fatti^ig, i. 3r4.

Camping Putatoes, Method of,
' j. 201.

Catalogue oflTedgeweedsji. 5 5.
■'■ of Cornwecds,i.i6i.

■ of Grafsland PU.its,

ii, 99.

Cattle, Seflion of, i. 265,

— — -, Breeding, '.. 283.

, Rearing, i. 297.

— — , Fatting, i. 299.

— — , Bclron Fair, ii. i.

, at Fazely Fair, ii. 22.

— — , Grazing, Lofg by.ii.^j.

— — -, Remarks on the prefenc
Scarcity of, ii. 235.

— — , at Turneps, Remarks
on, ii. 243.

— — - ; Further Remarks on
their Scarcity, ii. 250.

— — — , Irifh, Rem. on, ii. 250.

— — - Pens, i. 306.

— - Shed of the Diftriif>,i.3o.

Sheds, on Guarding,

^ii. 58. ^

Caufeways, Rera. on, i. N. 45.

Cements of the Djitrifl, i. 26.

Chaf box defcribid, i. ijS.

Chafcutting, Article of, i. 177.

Chafers, in Myriads, ii. 25b'.

— _-; , Further Remarks on,

iL 266.

Change of Seed, Opinions re-
fpeding, ii. 193.

Charcoal, Method of Making,
ii. 259. and 314.

— — Allies, their Value as

Manure, ;i. 315.'

Charring Polls, the Method of,
ii. 60.

— Wood, Remarks on,

ii. 259. and ii. 314.

Charnv.ood Forert, as a Fea-
ture of the DilHcl, i. II.

Cheefe, Article of, i. 317.

> ^he proper Qoil and
Herbage for, ii. 109.

Chronological Kegifter of Huf-
bandry, ii. 1 07.

Cillern for Cattle, i. 32.

Clay, Remarks on, as a Ma-
nure, i, 154.

Climature of the Dillridcfthc
Station, i. 6.

Clover,

INDEX.

Clover, Article of, i. 213.

--, on eadrg in the Spring,
btforc njowing, i. N. zi6.

■ aficciecbyHorres,i).27,

■ ■ Latiermath, i. 216.

. ■ — Ley ; its Eligibility as
2 Matrix for Barley, ii. i*.

— . ■■--, on fowing uith
Wiieat, ii. 80.

Collegiate Seminaries of Agri-
culture propofed, i. 93.

Color of Cattle, Remarks on,
i. N.3S1.

Coloring Cheefe, i. 523.

Common Cow Failure, an In-
llance of, ii. N. 204.

. l-ielJs, Remarks on

inclcfmg, ii. 57.^

■ ■ liulbandry, a

Sketch of, ii. 204.
^- I ineligible, at

this Time, ii. 2o3.
Compofl Heap cropped with

I urneps, ii, 198.
Conditions of Letting Rajms,

i. 3S1.
•— — — - of Sales of Timber,

ii. 278, 2?i, and 283.
Ccnvcrnition of profcffional

Mea, Remarks on, ii. 36.
Converting i opwood, i. 70.

■ Timber ; much
Judgxen: required, ii. 327.

- ■ an In-

Couchy Fefcue, its Hartlincf^,
ii. 115-

■i Soft Grafs, a Weed in

arable Land, ii. 140.

Cgurie of HuibanJry, Article
of, i. i;,.

cf Praftice of the M id-
land DiAria, ii. 3S.

■■ .. — in the Field

2H-

Hulbandry, ii. 205.

Covenants in Ufe, i. 19.

Cow?, Breeding, i. 2S6.

, Dairy, i. :8«.

Cow, Fat, of Cro.xall, ii.

Shed of the Dillrid, i. 30.

Creeping Crowfoot, afFeded
by CoAS, ii. 170'.

Crooked Hedges, on the Ori-
gin of, ii. 332.

Croxall fat Cow, ii.244.

Culling Ewes, their Age, and
Treatment, i. 395.

C^rd, Management of, i. 324.

Cultivated Herbage, Section of,
i. 213.

Culture of Fameps, Direflions
on, ii, 179.

. — ,Pra6lice in.

Ihr.ce of detailed, ii. 336.
Coppice Wood, Alt. of, i. 73.
Cord, Statute, its Dimenljon;,

i. N. 71.
Cores of Horns an Article of

.Manure, i. N. 147.
Com Weeds. Cat. of, i. 161.
Correcting Milk, for Cheefe,

i. 323.
Coucn ; its Nature, 11. 29.
^, the Method of Dedroy-

ir.g, ii. 32.
Couctiy Fefcue, its Mifchief, as

a Cera V.'ccd, ii. 1 14.

- Barlfv, ii. 1 83.
. WoodLnd,ln:lances

of, ii. 25;
— > ■ , Further

Remark* on, ii. 322.
Curled Top-v Rem.irks on the

Difeafe of, i. 19S.
Cullom, its Power inilanced,

ii. N. 63.
Cutmeat, Materials of. i. 1C2.
, Article of, i. 177.

D.

DAGGING and Daglocks,

i. 402.
Dairy Cows i. 288.
— — Management, S eft ion of,

i. 314-

Dead

INDEX.

Dead Pkints, their probable

LTe, ii. 361.
Defcription of the Bull Shake-

fpear, i. 272.

■ ■ of the long- horned
Breed of Catde, i. 277.

■ ".- of a Trentwater

Cow, i. 291.

of the Difhiey

Sheep, i. 344.

of ftlr. Princep's

fat Cow, ii. 244.

Dilhlcy Sheep, their compara-
tive Merit, i. 346.

Diitance of Plants confidcred,

ii- 359-
Dillrict, Midland, a Sketch of,

i- 3-
•■ ofthe Station defcribed,

i. 6.
Docks, on colleding, after the

Plow, i. N. i6i.
— — -, ©n feeding them to

Drath ' ii. N, IC3.
Double Digging Plantations,

the Ex pence of, calculated,

ii. 346.
». Plow, its Origin, Sec.

i. 104..
Draining, Article cf, i. 139.

• Grais Ground 3,1.223.

« , Surface, Jnllance of

Prafiice in, ii. 63.
■ — , Under, Practice in.

li. 219.

Drinking Ci:'lern,J. 32.

~ Pools, on Scouring,
ii. 123.

Drought cf 17S5, i. 120.

Drying off Cows, a remarkable
Inflance of, i. 294.

Dry Summer of 1785, i. 120.

Dung, Article of, i. 147.

— — , Application of, i. 186.

«■■ ■ ", on fpreading out of
Carts, ii. 20.

, Spreading, Further Re-
marks on, ii. 34.

Dung injured by Drought, li.S;:

— -, Pradice in Watering,
Ji. 87.

— — -, Further Praftice in Wa-
tering, ii. 1 12.

•*— - Pits, their Utility, ii. 5 i .

E.

ECON^MYofLivellock, Re-
marks on, ii. 233.

Element of Pradice; — plain
and obvious Improvements
are the firll Objeds of At-
tention, ii, 68.

■ ; endeavor

to gain two Ei.ds at one
Expence, ii. 89.

— — ; unite the

Intereils ofthe Laborer with
that of his Employer, ii. 90.
•, in the Ma-

nagement of \\'orkpeople,
ii. 147.

— , in Lnier-

draining, ii. 229.

Elm, on the Growth of, ii.275.

, on the great Produce of,

ii. 275.

— , the proper Age of Felling
fee dew n, ii. 3 10.

, Further on the' Age of,

ii. 3^9.

Efiabliflied Practices, the Im-
provement of, ii. N. 63.

Eftablifhments of Agriculture,
propofcd, i. 89.

Eftates, Section of, i. 13.

— — — , Management of, i.15.

Ewes, Article of, i. 390.

— — and Lambs, Management
of, i. 401.

Experiment with Dung, on Fal-
low, ii. ^:^.^

— with the Turnep

Beetle, ii. 160.

Expt-

1 N D E X.

Experimeni with the Tttrne|>

lenlhredo, ii. 107-
. . with Brecdou Lime,

II. 209

-- with Aiijuaijc Ma-

nure, ii. 236.

i;i lacerating Hedge

Banks, ii. 347.

- on pruning the Pine

Tjibe, Refuk of, n. 353.

J;xperimenting ; in lnib.nce of
its Ufc, ii. lib.

Extent of the DiSlriil, i. 6.

Extraparochiai Places, a Cau-
tion refpefting, ii- Oe.

F.

FACE of the Country, i. 9.
i'air ot Behon, ii. 1.

of Fazeley, ii. 21.

of 'I am\Vk»rth, ii. 24.

of Fa^rley, tjSi.ii. ^0%

of Suttoi', ii. 230.

of f Iirborough. ii. C50.

Fallowing;, Article of, i. 145.

. , Praftice in, ii. 28.

• — renders a foul Soil

fertile, ii. N. 34.
I allows meliorated by a dry

Summer, i. 125.
i of the Common Fields,

ii. 205.
Farm Buildings, Sc^.of, i. 25.
Farjncrs, Seition of, i. 82-
Farmeries, Article of, i. 2?.
farmery, an Improvement of,

ii. 49.
F.uming, Inflancc of Hazard

in, ii. 92.

— precarious, ii. 1 31.
. ; a further Remark on

i;s L'r.certainty, ii. 1S5.
Farm Laborers, on the hard

Fare of, ii. 197.
Farms, Seftion of, i. 80.
, Management of, i. 133.

Farms, Public, propofed, i. 89.
■ fhould not be /sr from

the Refidence of Laborers,

ii. 210.
F:irmya:d, Old, of thisDiftria,

i. 32.
» Management, Sec-

tiv.n of, i. 177.

■ of Statfold, ii. 49.

■ fnould have a Lobbv,

ii.237.
Farriers, a good Cuflom of,

i. N. 101.
Fat, or Fatting Quality, i.249.
Fatting Cattle, Art. of, i. 299.

Calves, Art. of, i- 3I4»

- '- -■ Swine, i. 3*9.
Quality of Sheep exa-

minid, i. 35J.
——Sheep, Art. of, i. 396.
• Lambs, on Herbage,

4CI

Cattle, with Turneps,
Remarks on, ii. 243.

Fa^eleyFuir 178^., ii. 21.

'■ 1785, ii- 2cS.

Felling Timber, on the Seafua
of, li. zS6.

^— —- ? Method of,

ii. ^Sg.

— -, Funhef Cau-

tion in, ii. 342.

Fences, S.clion of, i. 50.

Field Huih^ndry, a Sketch of,
:i. 204.

Firs, Experiment on prvmipg,
ii.

, the Rcfuh of pruning,

-, th-.irlSa:. Habit?, U.356.

F!e(h, the Ter.-n defined, 1.24^.
— — of Cattle and Sheep exa-
mine."!, i. 349.
floating upwards, ii. 53.

— downward, ii. 57-

Flv of Shjrp, a Prevention of.

Folding

1 N D £ a\

folding requires Shortwooled
ihcep, i. 367.

«■ not in Ufe here, i. 4C0.

Foreiiand Rents, i. ::o.

Form of a Leale, i. 2c.

Fowler, Mr, has Breed of Cat-
tle, i. 270.

Frgbob Saw defc ii. N. 538.

Froil. Its Effect in ripening
Corn, li. iq6.

— — , its Elfcd on Turneps,
ii. 239.

G.

GATES, General Remarks op
Hanging, ii. 71.

— — , farther Remarks on
Hanging, ii. r.4.

Gecfe clarify Drinking Pools,
ii. 140.

Generalizing Ideas, the Dan-
ger of, i. 46.

General Rulei, their Danger,
in Pradice, ii. 83.

Gleaning, Geaeral Remarks
on, ii- 148.

Gr.^ins, as an Article of Fat-
ting, i. N. 3c:?.

Grafi.Dead, on barnin^, ii. 77.

Land. Section of, i. zii.

'• ■-■ ' , on dreifing, with
Drain Mold, ii. 127. a: 137.

Grazing Catcle, Art. of, i. Zytg.

■ ■ - -, in a Wet Seafon, In-
llar.ccs of, i. N. 30-.

-• Sheep, Arc. of, i. 396.

, Remarks on, wiicn

Stock are dear, ii. i.

•- , on the unccriaintv

of, 11. 92.

— ■ , great Lofs by, fur-
ther proved, iL 2cS.

, Scotch Bullocks,

Practice in, li. 248.

Grelley, Sir T. his Breed of
CaitJe, i. N. zbS.

u.

H.^NDWEEDIXG Turneps,

the Ccfi of, ii. 26.
Kar.giig Gares, General Re-

marki ou, ii. 71.

-, Fcrther Re-

rriarks on, ii. 94.
Harrows, Article if, i. loS.
Harvefting, Stiflicn cf, i. 165.
-■ - ■ ■ — Wheat, Genera^

Remarks on, ii. i ^,
— Oats, Rt marks en,

i-.. 155.
• ■■ Barley, Inft.ances of

Shameful Managcm. ii. 159.
•■ ' , General Di-

rections on, ii. 211.

Hawthorn, on the Nature of
the Roots of, ii. 32S.

Haying, Arii:le of, i. 238.

Hay Hurvel^; a remaxkable
one, ii. 185.

Hayn:a!<ing, in a dry Seafon,
Pradical Remarks on, ii. I ic.

FlazarJ of farming, Indaccc
of, ii. 131.

Heathy Mountaini require ac-
tive Sheep, i. 367.

Hedge Banks, Experiment on
hiCerating, ii.^ 317.

— — — , further on la-
cerating, ii. 329.

Hedge Oaklirgs un Training,
ii. 32r.

HedirercvV Ti.Tiber, Seaionof,
i.6>

Hedges, Se£l,on of, i. 50.

, Practical Remarks op

Cutting, ii. 65. _ ^

• ,i-r.TC.inKailing,i!.2j?-.

,f rac. in Tiuin. ii. 269.

, Uenerai Remarks en

Tra-iiiiiig, ii. 272-

- . ttic hffcdi of Water

on, i . 273.

Hedges,

INDEX.

Iledgrs, a Prifiica! Remark
on Planting, ii. 274.

-, Practice in Weeding,

fallen Ones, ii. 3 1 5.

to renew, bv lacerat-

ing the Banks, ii, 317.

•, General Remarks on

their Management, ii. 330.
; on the Origin of

err oked Ones, ii. 33:.

-, the Folly of highGnes

inftanced, ii. 329.
Htdgeweeds, Lill of, i. 56.
Heifers, Age of bringing in,

1.299.
Herbage, Cultivated,!. 213.

' , Natural, i.218.

• -, proper for Chccfe,

i. 31?.
— — — , farther Rem. en, f-r

Cheefe, ii. iio.
High Ridge-s the Rife of, ii. 4.a.

, Rem. cv, ii. 324*

Hip Bones, Rem. on, i. N. 279.
Hi-ing Places of Servants, Re-
marks on, iJ. N. 18.

Hogfty, a good Plan of, 1-330.

- requires RubbingPolts,
iL 6.

Hoicg Turncps, Rem. on, ii. ?.
. ihe Clufleri of Turneps,

ii. 148.
— _- Turneps, its evident

Ufe, ii. 175.
__ . ,Dircct:ons on,

ii. J 76.
Holly as a Hedgewood, Re-
marks on, i. N. 52.
Horns, Cores of, an Article of

Manure, i. N. 147.

^ the Inconveniency cf

long Ones, J. N. 278.
Horl'e Paths, Rem. on, i. 45.
Hcrfes, working, i. 99.
-, Seftion of, i. 256.

, Breeding, i. 260.

. p.irtial to Clover, ii. 27.

-— .- require Water, in a vtry

dry Se^J'on, il 113.

Horfesha2irdoD?S!ock,il. 138.
— - lofl, by tile bugger;,

ii. 138.

-, further Obfervations on

the Staggers, ii. 217.
i— -; further Lofi bjr the

Staggers, ii. 241.
Hours of Work, at Harveft,

i. i65.
Huckllers, a Regulation rc-

fpecting, i. 180.
Human Neceffitics, how few!

ii. 3n.
HuJbandry an endlefs Laby-
rinth, ii. 39.
. uncertaia, as a Bu-

fjnefs, ii. 131.

; further Remarks on

its Uncertainty as an Em-
ployraenl, ii. 239.
Hygrometers,. Rem. on, i. 114.

I.

IMPLEMENTS, Seftlon of,

i. IC2.

■ ■■ , Repofitory

of propofed, i. 92.

,Manofe£bory

of propofed, i. 92.
Imp.'ovement, its Means, with

Refpeci to Liveftock, i. 249.
■ , of Sheep, Suggcf-

tions on, i. 359.

-.i.si'rlnciplewith

Refpeft :o Livel'.ock, i. 346.
, of the Midland

Practice p.'opclcd, ii, 41.
. of a Farm Yard,

11. 49.

-, a principal Ob-
jecl of, ii N. 63.

— , the plain Road

of, pointed out, ii. 68.

., in Sowing Bar-

ley ihown, ii- 81.

lmprovemciS«,

I N' D E X.

Improvements, Remark on In-
troducing, i. 86.

rnclofing Common Fields, Re-
marks on, ii. 3-.

Intercourfe of Dillridls, In-
ftance of, i. 333.

Invention; how dark is its
Path I ii. 97.

jobbing. General Remarks on,
ii.23t.

Irilh Cattle, Rem, on, ii, 250.

K.

KIBBLING Beans, i i«i.

L.

LABORERS, Seftionof.i. 97.

—— ,atHarvert,i. 165.

•- Cultivating Po-
tatoes in Partnerlhip with
their Mailers, il, i 26.

Planting Potatoes,

in waile Corners, ii. 84.

-, on the h.trd Pare

of, ii. 197,

-; a Remark on their

relative Ref.dence, ji. 210.
Lacerating Hedge Banks, Ex-
periment in, ii. 317.
, Re-

mark on, ii. 329.
LaginTimber, Rem. on,ii.237.
Lambs, their Treatm. i. 393.
-— Fatting on Herbage,

i. 401.
* ■ --. on dr.awlng from the

E'.ves, as their Milk fals,

i. N. 402.
Landed tllates, Dlv. of, i. 13.
Landlords ; the good Effect of

their Liberality, i. 141.
Larch; its Safety in Snow,

«. 357-

Leafe, Form of, i. 20.

■-, an admirable Claufe of,

. i. N. 21.

Leaids, Remark on, ii. 47.

Leftures in Agriculture pro-
pofed, i. 9^.

Letting ]\L?le Stock ; its Ori-
gin, i. 253.

— — ; its Eifed,

i. 255.

Rams, by the Seafon^,

^ 1- 373-

Ley ot 6ix Years, i, 214.

Lightning, a Prognoilic of
wanted, i. 131.

Lime of Barro'.v, i. N 27.

— — , .Article of, i. 148.

■ of Breedon, ii. 2.

■ , Inllance and Expence of
^^'ate^n:2;, ii. 5.

— — •; E:cperiment with that of
Breedon, ii. 209.

— • of Breedon, farther Re-
marks on, ii. 215.

Kilns of Breedon, ii. 2,

Lift of Rates, ii. 365.

Liveftock, Sci^ion of, 3. zj^i.
, Remarks on the Ge-
neral Economy of, il. 2'^3.

Lobby of a Farmyard, ii. 237.

Longhorned Breed of Cattle,
Hillory of, i. 266.

Loofe Corn, Method of Har-
vefting, i. 168.

Lotus CornicitJatus ; its Value
confidered, ii. N. loj.

M.

MAGGOTS of Sheep, to di.
ftroy, i, 403.

Male Stock, on Letting, i.253.

Malting of Barley, Remarks on,
ii. 242.

Management of Eftates, Sec-
lion of, i. 15.

Managemcn*

I N D E X.

Manageacr.t of Finn;, Secdon Markets, a good Regulation erf,
of, L 133. i. 181.

of Soils, i. 138. ■■ Convcrfation, Rc-

o;' Manures, bee- marks cm, ii. 36.

tion of, L 147. Marl, Article of. i. 152.

• ofGrowingCropi, — — , Grey, of Vt'arwickibire,

Sefiion o:, i. 160. ii. 186.

■ ot Karvcfl, Sec- Materials of Bc?c:ng, i. 25.

tion of. i. 165. Meadows, Anicic of, 1. 222.

of Turf. i. 21^. , De^cition of, ii.

- ' ot PauureGrooi^ N. 99.

Merevsle Vi'^ocd, Sale of,

ii. 278.
Method of taking Tithe in
KJrd, i. 16.

• • Fomairg Sand

Roads, i. ;S.

■ ■ t Grmirg Wag-

gon Paths i 44..

Plifiiirg Kedges/

1. 293.

ci D-L-y Cows,
cf the Dair»',

1. 314.

— of Swire, L 329.

— of RaffiS. i. 374.

— of E-*e Flocks,

5yC.

of Fattirig Sheep, i. 58.

1. 400.

— — ; for General Prin-

opks of, its Eiesients c:
FriCtict.

Marjigcrsot Checfc, i- 319-

Mangers of Bi ick, i. 3c.

Waa or Courts, L ij.

Manure and Mlnagcsjciit, Sec-
tion of , i. 147.

■■ ' ■, ExperiiDent wirh, on
Falk)'» . n. j;^.

of Dr<aus, to meliorate.

Stocking Trees,
i. 69.

Har.g-r.g Har-

TCMis with a Running fiull,
i. 109.

• • ' Forming Sod-*
crsirs, i. :a^-
Spr.*3ding Dung,

1. I4S.

iL66.

, oa Co3!eciirg, and

Dijcitir.g, ii. 90.

', Aquatic^ on Growing,

Turf.ng, i. 159.

Hardening b.%ca£

Corn, 1. 166.

Han'eflicg Loofe

Ccm, i. 168.

Ricking Com,

11. 9T.

', a Hint or. CoUefting,
u. 171.

■■, Aquitic, Expcriiscnt
with, ii. 236.
Manuring u-it:: lorg Dang,

Remarks on, i. igb.
■ Grats Land* ,in Sum-

mer, Gbferv. 00, ii. 137.
Markrti, SccLion of, i. 179.
— — - for rat Sheep, i. 405.
-- fox V.'ool, 1. .^c^.

— — -— Stopping a Slip-
ping Corn Kick, i. 173.

Covering up Com

R:ck5, :. 174-
« ■ ■ Camping Potatoes,

I. 2CI<

Rai£ng Cabbage
Seed, i. 211.

Fattrrg Cattle on

Grains, i. 300,

Method

INDEX.

Method of Making Calf Balls, Middleton Oak defer, ii. 3^3.

i. 315. Mildew, Remarks on, i. 27.

' — — MakingSweetBut- ■ , farther Remarks on,

tcr, i. 316. ii. 141.

Showing Rams, Milk, Methods of Freferving

i. 377. fweet, i. 316.

Sending out Let- , its Quality for Clieefe,

ten Rams, i. 38S. i. 32*:.

Ufing Rams, i. ",88. Minutial Managem. of Work-
Preventing Mag- people, ii. 147.

gots on Sheep, i. 403. Moles ; their fingular Scarcity,

Dellroying Sheep and why, i. N.azi.

Maggots, i. 403. Morticing Polls, with a Kat-

Making Artificial chet, ii. 352.

Wafh F00I3, i. 404. MowingGrounds,Art.of,i.223.

Laying Barn Pattures, the Price tor.

Floors, with Bricks, ii. 23. ii. 91.

Charring Po.ts,

Hanging Gates, IN*

Haying, inaDry NARCOTICBaIIs,forCalves,

Seafon, ii. no. i- S'S-

VVatering Ridges, Natural Herbage, i. 218.

ii. 735. Neatnefs, how eafily obtained,

■ Hoing Turneps, ii. 147.

ii. 176. Keceilaries of Life, how Few !
•— — HarvellingBarley, ii. 313.

inferred, ii. 211. Nccdwood Foreft well ftocked

Underdroiining, with Timber, ii. 305.

pradifed, ii. 2 1 9. New Leicefterlhire Breed of

CollcwHng Tur- Sheep, i. 337,

reps in Froll, ii. 240

Planting ;i Hedcr

defcribed, li. 253. \J»
. — — Planting Acorns,

i I . : 5 V OAK, the EfFeft of h«d \Vln-
— -— . Making Cliarcoal, ters on, ii. 267. *:;

ii. 259. ; the Chafer 6^ of its

Felling Timber, greateft Enemies, ii. 267.

li. 2S9. » , the Effect of the Chi

Charring Wood, fer on, ii. 26S.

farther defcribed, ii. 314. - ■■ , on the Growth of, in
Weeding Fallen Merevale Wood, ii. 279.

FL'dges, ii. 315. , Pradical Remarks on

- Preparing Polls Planting, ii. 291.

and Rails, ii. 352. — — , Remarkable Length of.

Mice; their Mifchicfs, ii. 52. ii. 293.

VoL.U. D d Oak,

I N D E :^.

Oak, Age of, in Mcrevale
Wood, ii. 293.

■ ; Remarks on its Age and
Incrcifc, ii. 307.

, th; proper Age of Fel-
ling fct down, ii. 310.

— — , of MiddleiOD, deicribed,
ii. 343.^

1 meet ; its VJiichief5,ii. 3 1 2

Oaklings, Natural, abundant
in Grafs Land, ii. 264.

Oak Timber, in Needwood
Fcrcl^ ii. 305.

■■ , Bagot Park,

ii. 306.

" ; on its Decrcafe,

i.n thi; Diflrifl, ii. 319.

» , the Ditfcrent

Wares of, ii. 336.

Oats, Section of, i. 193.

■ . , Inftance of Sowing them

OT'er Thin Wheat, li. 7.
, Remarks on Harvcft-

irg, ii. 155.
Objeas of the Midland Haf-

bandrv, i. 133.
Origin of high Ridges, i 42.
— — -- of Crooked Hedges,

ii. 352.
Ornamental Appearance of the

Diftria, i. 9.
Oxen, longhorned, their Pre*.

p.-rii-s as Bealls of Draft,

I. 2S2.

Paftnre Grourrds; their Quali-
ties in dis. Seafons, ii. 93.

Paths, Waggon, rcn. on, i 44.

«■ of FlanutioDs, on foim*

ing, ii- 349.

Peelin? Bark, i. 70.

Pens for Cattle, L 3C6.

Periodical Regiiler of the
Works of Hulbardry. ii. 1 99.

PincTribe, on pruning, ii. 303.

Refult of Experi-
ment, in Pruning, ii. 353.

Pines, thci/ Natural Habit;,
ii. 3,7-

Pipe Drains, Article of, i. 141.

Pitching Holes, not in Ufe,
i. 174.

Pl?.ces,in the Diftrift, i.N. 14.

Plan of Man. of Farms,, i. 133.

. Remi.rkson.ii.38.

Plar.tation Patlis, on forming,
ii. 349.

Plani-tions, on choof:ng pro-
per Sites of, ii. 335.

. Double i->igging,

Expence of.calculav. ii.346.

Planting, Section of, i. -jO.

—i • Minutes on, ii. 2'».

. tlie Oak, a Pradical

Remark on, ii. 291.

Pradice in. Spring

17S5, u. 24.

— Mjfcar. in, li. 504..

Succefs in, ii. 318.

Steep Surfaces, Re-

P.

PASTE Ba!ls, for Calves,

Failure Gronnds their Ma-
nagement, i. 219.

■ , Jnftance of

Shutting up, for Spring Food,

i 222.

-, on Mowing

rr.arks on, ii. 325.
. ■ Rocky Sites, Re-

marks on, u. 327.

, in Autumn 1 7?5 and

Spring 1786, ii. 344.

• , on the proper deptli

of, ii. 348.

, in Frofl, Remarki

on, ii. 3^8.
Acorns, Inftance of.

the Bfokrn Giafs of, ii. 91. —

u. 3^0.

, proper Seafon of.

ckamineU, u. 354

flantinj.

INDEX.

Planting, on the proper Dif- Pradice in Watering Dung,
tance of, ii. 359. ii. 112.

, hxpercs of, calcu- — in the Tcmep Culture,

lateJ, ii. 363. ii. 172.

., Caution requifitc ————- in the Barley Culture,
ii. 188.

- in Harvelling Barley,

in, ii. 364.

Plants, on their Natural Habits,

ii. 356.
— , General Remarks on

takine up, 11. 358.
P:aQiing Hecges, Meth.of.i.jS.
Flow, Article of, i. 104..

- , Double ; its Origin, Sec.

i. 104.
Poinri.ag Rails, with a Horft,

ii. 352..
Polelworth Statute, ii. 17.
Political Economy, refpecting

Cattle, ii. 25!.
• , refpeding

Ship Timber, ii. 309.4:320.
Ponds, on Reclaiming, ii. 128.
Pools, on Clearing, ii. i;3.
Poors Kate of Extraparochial

Places, ii. 6S.

with Gen. Rem. on,ii.2ii.
■ ■ -- in Underdraining,

ii. 2 19.
in Watering Ridges,

ii. 135.
in Hedge Planung,

ii. 2^2.

in Traiiung Hedges,

in Planting, in the
Spring of 1785, ii. 294.

in Weeding Fallen

ii. 269.

Hedges, ii. 31 -.

— ia Training Hedge

Oaklings, ii. 321,

in Planting, in Au-

tumn 1 785, and Spring 1 786,
ii. 344.

Poplar, on the Growth of, Pradices, varying. Remarks
ii. 277. on, ii. 35.

, the proper Age of require to be adapted

felling let down, ii. 310. to prefect Circumilanccsi

■ , Sale of, ii. J34. iL N. 63.

• Timber, its Ufes, Prefect Produftions, i. 9.

ii.334. Prices of Farm Produce, how

Polls, to Char, ii. 60. uncertain, ii. 239.

*- , Method of Morticing Princep, S'r. his fuperior Cha-

with a Ha:cher, ii. 352. xaftcr, i. 14.

Potatoes, Sedioa of, i. 197. — — his Breed of Cat-

——— planted :n Waiie Cor- tie, i. 270.

ners, ii. 84. — — — — , i:isfatCow,ii. 24^.

railed by Matter and Produce of Wheat, i. i88.
^— - of Barley, i. 192.
■ of Oats, i. 194.

" of Potatoes, i. 202.
of Fatting Cattle,

Men, jointly, ii. 126.

Priftice, Elements of; icz Ele-
ments of PraAice.

- in Fallowing, ii. 48.

in Surface Draining,

ii. 63.

-- in Botany, ii. 97.
in Haymaking, in a

^s Seafcn, il. 1 10.

of Cheefe, i. 326.

of Fatting Shetp,

i. 4c6.

■ of Wool, i. 406.

Ddi Produaion;

INDEX.

Produclionsofthc Station, i. 9.

PrognolUcation of the Weather;
i:s great Importance, i. 131.

Progrtucfipring 17 -'4,!. 1 12.

1785,1. 117.

Propagstiiig "VS ooJland$, i. 6;'.

Prot'eifional Men, Definition of,

. i. N. 85.

Profeffors of Agriculture pro-
pofsd, i. 93.

Provender or Hories, or. Pre-
paring, i. 101.

Piovincia] Kegiflers ; one of
their Uies, ii. 3;? 4,.

?rurdngTimbcr;iisUfe,ii.2q2.

» ■ after PLnt:ng, Re-

mark.: on, iL 3C0.

. the hine Tribe, Ex-

perunent ir., ii. 303.

Timber, an Inltance

of its Ufe, ii. 342.

the Pine Tribe, Re-
frit of Experiment in, ii. 353.

Public i- CI ins prcpofeU, i. 89.

« Hiringi, j^eniar;;s on,

ii. N. lis.

Puife, Section of, i. 195.

Purciiafe of Lands, Kcaarks
00, i. :6.

R.

R;ii!», Method of Pointing with

a,Horje, ii. 152
Raif:ng Wood-., i. 67.
Rams, /irticieof, i. 371.
Ranunculus Repens a valuable

Herbage, ii. 170.
Rates, Lilt of, ii. 365.
Raygral'sji'.s Liiunation,!. 2i ;.
Reapers, Female ; tbcir Ad-

%anu:getoa Country, li. i ;i.
Reaping by the Thr«avc cc-

fcribed, i. 166.

Conveniency, ii. 143.
Rearing Cattle, Art. ot, i. 297.
Receiving Rents, i. 20.

Regiitersofthe Weather,!. 1 1 r.

■ I ■ — of Rural Knowledjre
enumerated, u. 46.

of Rural Aftairs ; one

ot their Uk9, ii. 334.

Reinarks on the Purchafe of
Lands, i. 16.

■ on Sand Roads, 1.36.

, Gen. on Roads, 1.38.

on KrrrePatJi5,i.45.

* on the Danger of
generalizing Ideas, i. 46.

on the Practice of

Hedgeplanting, i. 50.

— on the Holly, as x

Hedgewood, i. N. 52.

on Enfuring Plant*,

by Nurleryraen, i. 79.

on farmers, i. 82.

on introducing im-

provements, i. 86.

• on Societiesof Agri-
culture, i. 86.
on Semiiuries or

Agriculture, i. 94.
■ on t.he iicverage of

Farm Workpeople, i. yjj.
' on tlie tiorfe Team

of t.iis Country, i. loo.

on breaking Horfe

Cor.n, i. loi.
-— — — on rar.m Wag.'0ns,

on the Double Plow,

on Hygrometers,

on the Progrefi of
Spring, i. 119.

on tne dry Summer

i. lot.

1. 114.

of 1785, i. 120.
— ■■ oa tne Ul'c of the

Barometer, i. 128.

-, General, on the

^^'eath"r, i. 130.

on the Progrefj of

Lni.rirainin^, i. 1 39.

Remarks

I N D E X.

Remarks on th? ^'^ppv EfFedls
of Libeiaiity inLandl.i.141.

— — — — , General, on Fal-
lowing, i. 14.5.

on thr Solution of

Calcareous Sublh i.N. 152.
on Clays, as Manure,

i. 154.

on Acids, ns Teits

of Calcareous Subli, i. 156.

on Reaping by tiie

Threave, i. 166.

en Harvelling I.oofe

Ccrn, in Cocks, i. 170.

on Kuckiters, and

weekly Markets, i. 180.

on Manuring with

Long Dung, i. 1S6,

on Pio'.vinjT Beans

under whole Furrows, i. i'v6.
on the Difeale of

Curled Tops, i. 198.
—- — — on Turneos as a

Crop, on retentive boiiS,

■ — en Sowing Turnep
Seed, on Stubbles, i. 207.

on eating Clover in

the Spring, i. N. 216.

on the Origin of

Watering Gr, Lands, 1. 224,

on tfie Principles of

Irrigation, i. 22S.

-, Gtneral, on Breed-

ing Cart Korlss, for Sale,
i. 262.

on Long Korns,

N. 278.

. on Hip Bones,

i. N. 279.

on the Size of the

Vifceraof/^nimals, i.N. 280.

— — en the Color of Cat-
tle, i. N. 2S1.

— — — - on the General Eco-
nomy of Cows, i. 296.

• on the Art of Glaz-

ing. X. :^o^.

Remarks on Grazing in a wet

Seafon, i. N. 307.
on the proper State

of Fatnc's of Cattle, i. 308.
• on the Cattle Market

of 'Birmingham, i. N. 309.
-, farther, on the ^-^rt

of Gracing, i. 5:1.

on the C'lange of

Produce of Diuri«5^s, i. 321.
on the Intercourfe

ofDillricls, i. 333.
—— on the ^ge of Fe-
cundity of Sheep, i, N. 377.
on the Countenance

of Sheep, i. 394.

on the iuiprovement

ofSlieep, 1. 339

- on the jBiindnefs of
Prejudice, refpefling the
new Leice(lcrfhJre Breed of
Sheep, i. 343.

on the Fledi of Cat-

tle and Sherp, i. 345.

on the Fatting Qua-

lity of Sheep, i. 353.

-, General, on Sheep,

as a Species of DoineiUc
Animals, i. 361.

on the different

Breeds of Sheep, requilite
in this Jfland, i. 369.

on the Letting of

Rams, to the A/ Bidder,

«• 379-

on iJic High Prices

of Rams, i. 384.

on the Laft^fcent

Properry of Ewes, i. 393.

on Mixing Sheep of

diherent Ages, i. 399

on Fattir.g Lambs

on Herbage, i. ^01. and
N. i. 40^,

on the Sale, Price,

and Sorting of Wool, i 405

•■■ on Grazing when

Stock are dear, ii. i.

D d 3 RjemarlsS

I N D_E X.

Remarki on Sow ing Oats over

a thin Crop of Wheat, ii. 7.

- on Kcing I umeps,
ii. 8.

- en the Caufes of

Smut, ii. II.

■, General, on Har-

vefting '«Vheat, ii. 13.

on Public Hirings of

Remarks on the FertiJizing
Qudiiies of Waters, ii. 82.

— — on General Kulcs of

of Pradtice, ii. 83.

■ on Catering Grafs

Lands, ii. 86.

on Smiths' Shops,

Sen-ants, ii. N. iS.
on Balladfingcrs,

u. 19.

on Fallowing, ii. 2S.

, far her, on :jprcad-

ifig i:)ung, ii. 54-

on Varj'icg Prac-

t ces, lu 3:

on the Convcrfation

of PiofeiSonal Men, ii. 36.
on Ir.dcfmg Com-

Eon fields, ii. 57.

-, General, on the

Midland Hufbandry, ii. 38.
on the Origin of

High Ridges, ii. 43.
— ■ o;: Keverage, ii. 44.

-, General, on /^cri-

cuitural Regblcrs, ii. 46.

on the Letting of a

Farm, ii. 47.

-^ on the Mifchievouf-

nefs of Mic*. ii. 5;

• - ■ on i-Joating Upward,
ii. 5;.

— -- on CariA'ing out

Com, &c. iL 61.

— ■. on Adapting Prac-
tice* to cxiflir.g c ircuoiilan-
ces, li. N. 65.

on Extraoarochial

Phces, ii. t8.

" on Flowing in Tur-

Ecps, as \'ur.urc, n. 6g.
— — — — oz il^nging Gater,

ii. 71.
•>«- on Scvring whole

Phts, ii. &o.

ii. 8S.

on a Pjinciple of
Pradicc, ii. 89.

on the Quality of

HcibageindilF. Seal. ii. 93.
, further, on Hang-

ing G2tes, ii. 94.
on the Path of In-

vention, 11. 97.

on Pailurc Grounds,

in a dry bealon, ii. ic-
on the Soil and Her-

bige, for Checfe, ii 109.

-, Praftic.^l, on iiav-

n-iakingjinadrySeaf. ii. 1 10.
on trie Couchy f cf-

cue, as a Weed, and as a
t^pecics of Herbage, ii. 1 1^.
-, General, on Aficr^

grafe, ii. 121.

on Mildew, il. 127.

on reclaimirgDrinJi-

ing Pools, ii. 12S.

on toe ProfefTion of

Agriculiurc, ii. K. 134.

— on Geeic in Paf-

ture Grounds, ii, 140.

-, farther, on the Mil-

dew of Wheat, ii. 141,
■ ' ' - on I4.C Soft Grafs,

iJ. '41.

— — onSloYen]inefs,ii. 143.
, General, on Gican-

inj, ii. 14R.

— on Female Reapers,

11. Isl.

on the Scafon of
Sowing, ii. 152.

— on Harvefting Oats

and Wheat, ii. 155

RemarLs

INDEX.

Reii'arks, Praclical, on the
Turnep " f.y," ii. 162.

- •■ on the Slug as an
Enemv of the Turnep Crop,
ii. N.'i66.

on theTurncp Aphis,

ii. 169.
>■■■ ■ — on the Ufe of Hoing

Turneps, ii. 176.
•-— , General, on the

Culture of Turnepj, ii. 179.
-, farther, on Sowing

by the Seafon, ii. 190.

on Changing Seed

Corn, ii. 193.

on the HfFefls of

Frofton Vegetables, ii. 196.
on the Rehdence of

Laborers, ii. 2 10.

', Pradical, on Har-

vefting Barley, ii. 21 1.

•, further, on Breedo.n

Lime, ii. 215.

on Fatting Young

Sheep, ii. 217.

-, General and Prac-

tical, on Underdrain. ii.228.

on Jobbing, ii. 237.

on the preient Scar-

city of Cattle, ii. 235.
— on Checking Wheat,

11. 237.

on Farmyard Lob-
bies, ii. 237,

on the Uncertainty

Remarks, Further, on tl'.a
i>carcity of Cattle, ii, 250.

-■ on Irifh Cattle, and

the prefent State of Englilh
Agriculture, ii. 251.

, F radical, on Thin-

of the Prices of Farm Pro-
duce, ii. 239.

on the EfTefls of

Froft on Turneps, ii. 239.
on 1 urneping in

Froft, ii. 240.

on the Price and

Malting of Barley, ii. 24.2.
on Cattle, at l"ur-

neps, u. 24.3.

en Grazing Scoiqh

Bullocks, ii. 248.

ning Young Woods, ii. 256.

on theCJiafer,ii 258.

on the Efredls of

Charring Wood, ii. 262.

, Practical, on Young

Oak Plants, in Grals Land,
ii. 264.

on the EfFeft of hard

Winters, on the Oak,
ii. 267.

•, Further, on the

Chafer, ii. 267.

-, Farther, en the

Annual Ircreafe of Trees,
ii. 269. and 274.

■, General, on Train-

ing Hedges, ii. 27 i .

on the Fell in o- of

Standard Trees, ii. 276.

on tiie Rife of Sap,

ii. 289.

on the Proportions

of Bark to Timber, ii. 282.
on the deceitful Ap-

pearance of Wocda, li. 283.
on the Quality and

Price of Bark, ii. 280

on tlie Time of Fel

ling the Oak, ii. 286.

on the Lag in Tim-

ber, ii. 287.

Farther, on the Rife

of Sap, ii. 287. and ii. 288.
, Cautionary, on Fel-

ling Timber, ii. 290.

— Praftical, on Plant-

ing the Oak, ii. 291.

on Pruning Timber

Trees, ii. 292.
' ' on Watering Pits,

bcfsrc Planting, ii. zqj.
D d 4 Remarkfi

INDEX.

Remarks on Priming, after
Fianting, ii. 300.

■>— on Pruning the Pine
Tribe, ii. 503.

on the Age and In-

crealeof the Oak, ii. 307.
General.on the pro-

per Age of Felling Oak Tim-
ber, li. 308.

on the Supply of

Building and Ship- limber,
ii. 319.

■ , Further.on the Cul-

ture of Woods, ii. 322.
^— — on high Kidges,

11. 3:4.

on planting fteep
Surfaces, ii. 325.

., General, on the Ma-

nagement ofHedges,ii.330.
on the Origin of

Crcokcd Hedges, ii. 332.
— on the Natcral hco-

r.omy of Plants, ii. 33^.

on filling up the Va-

cancies of an Oak Wood,
v,i:\\ .-i^fr.es, ii. 341.

on the hie of Train-

ing Young Timber Trees,
ii. 342.
— — — — on the Nature of

Acorps, ii. 315.

■ on Pianting in Fred,

ii. 348.

— on Double-Digging

Plantations, ii. 348.

on the B.et-ding of

Pin?s and Firs, ii. 354.
■ on the Seafon of Re-

ircvi. g Plants, ii. 354.

on Takir.g - Up

Plants, ii. 358.

en the proper Dif-

tance of Plants, ii. ^59.

— on Pilling-Up Plan-

tations, wiih drad Plants,
ii. 361.
j^cmova^of Tenants, i. 19.

Renewing old Hedges, by la-
cerating the Banks, ii. 317.

Rent of Lands, i. 17.

of Tithes, i, 18.

Rents, Forehand, i. 20.

■ — , Time of Receiving,
i. 20. ■

Ricking Corn, Article of,l. 172.

Ridges ; their proper Dircftion,

• , High, the Rife of.ii. 42

• ,on Watering, ii. 135'.
High, Rem. on.ii.324.

Rife of Sap, Rem. on, ii. 286.
, Farther Remarks

on, ii. 2S7.

■ , Further on, ii. 288.
Roads, vseftion of, i. 35.

, on repairing a Sand one,

at a fmall Expencc, ii. 139.
Rooks partial to Acorns, ii. 345.
Rubbing Polls for Cattle,!. 306;

■ - for Swir.e, ii. 6*

Running Bull of Harrows de-

fcribed, i. 109.
— — — Miik for Cheefe,i.32 3.
Rural Seminaries fuggeilcd,

i. 88.

SAI E of Merc vale Wood,
ii. 278. ^ ■•

— Weeford ParkTim-

bcr, ii. iSi.

■ St.itfoldWood,ii.282

Statfold Poplart,

ii- 334- , . /

Sard Roads, Remarks 00,1.36.
Sap, on the Rife of, ii. 280.
— - , Rifeof, Farther Remarks

on, ii. 287.

■ ,^urthcron,ii.28S.

Saw, two-handed, dcicribed,'

.i.N. 338.
Sculding Lhecles, I. 334.

bcarcitv

INDEX.

Scarcity of Cattle, Remarks

on, ii. 2^5.
^ ■■, Further

Remarks on, ii. 250.
Scotch iiullocks, on Grazing,

ii. 248.
Scifon of Sowir-, Remarks on,

11. 152.

' of Planting, Remarks

on, ii. 354.
Seed Prcce.*;, Seft. of, i. 158.
Selling Tirnber, i. 68.
Seminaries of Rural Knowledge

fugge:ted, i. 88.
Semination, Sect, of, i. 158.
Servants, Section cf, i. 97.'
, atPoIeworth Statute,

ii. 17.
Setting Sun ; its Ufe in Fore-

Ihowing the Weather, i. 1 30.
ShakfpearBull,dercribed,i.2 72.
Sheaf Corn, Method of Har-

veitiiig, i. 166.
Sheds of the Dillrift, i. 30.

, on the hence cf, ii. 58.

Sheep, Sedion of, i. 331.
•— — viewed in a National

Light, i. 362.
— — , different Breeds reqai-

fite, i. 369.
■ , Breeding, An. of, i.371.
— — , Fatur.g, i. 396.

, at Tamuorth hair,ii.24.

■ , at Fazeley Fai.--, ii. 22.

, Inltance of the Value Of

Blood in, ii. 25.
— — , a remsrkable accidental

Variety of, ii. 116.
— — ; Remarks on Fatting

them at an early .Age,ii.2 ; 7.
Shepherding, Art. of, i. 402.
Ship Timber; it? Importance

in this Ifland, ii. 309.
>—~- , Farther Re-
marks on, ii. 320.
Showing Rams, i. 377.
Sir Walter's Walking Staff de-

fcribed, ii. *c6.

Six Years Ley, i. 21 4.

Slate of Charnwood, i. N. 2r,

Sledge ; its Uie in moving

Plants, ii. 294.. and 349.
Slovenlinefs ; a c!aufe for pre-
venting it, prop- fed, ii. 145.
Slugs, as an Enemy of the Tur-

nep Crop, ii. N. 166.
Smit.'; Shops, Re.Ti. on. ii. 8?.
Smi-.hf.eld Market ; its Influ-
ence on Country Fairs, ii. 2^.
Smut is incident to the Seed,

ii. I :.
Societies of Agriculture, Re-

rr^rks on, i. }>6.
Sod Drains ; their Introduftion

here, i. 141.
Sod Fences, on Raifmg, with

Drain 'i urf, ii. 89.
Soft Grafs, Meacou; its Merits

ccnfidered, ii. lai.
Soils of Leiceiterfhirc, i, K. ?.
■ of the Station, i. 7.

and .Van. Seft.otVi. 138.

' proper for Cheefe, i. 318.

and ii. 109.
Soughing, Article of, i. 139.

— , Praflice in, ii. 219.

Sowing Wheat on Clover Ley,

ii. 80.
— Farley under Furrow,

ii. 81.
• .Remarks on the Seafon

of, ii. 152.

• , by the Seafon, farther

Remarks on, ii. 190.

Sprea.ding Dung out of Car-
riages, i. 14S.

• out of Carts,

Jnliance of, ii. 20.

^ , General Re-

marks on, ii. 34.
— ■ Drain Alold, ii. 126-
— — , Farther

Obf. ii. 137.
Sprir.g of 171^4, Progrefs of,

i. nz.
— — ,rrogrefsof,i785,i.ii7
Spring

I N D E X.

Spring Wheat, proper Time of

Sowing, i. 183.
Stable i\iangers of Brick i.30.
S;ackguard; a nmple one, i. 3 -.
Supgcra in Horfes, Inflances

o:, ii. 13S.
— in HoHes. Further

Chkrvations on, ii, 217.
in Hcrfcs, Further

Inftanccs, ii. 241.
Staking Piai,U5tldoin necciTary,

Stallions, Aficlc of, 1. :Co.
Stailicn Show of All.by.ii. 75.
Srate of inclofure. i. 9.
Statfo'.d Wood, the bale of,

ii. 2S2.
Statute of Polef'.vorth, ii. 17.
Stilton Cheefe noticed, i. 320.
Stocking Trees, Method of,

i. 69.
Straw -Yard Man. A rt.of, i. 1 7 8.
Sty, a good Plan of, i. 33^-...
— '.-requires RubbirgPolh,ii.6
Subloilsofthe Station, i. 8.
. , Further Remarks on,

i. 158.
Summer Fallowing, Inftance

of, ii. 28.
Surf::ce of the Station, i. 7.
. Draining, Inllance of

Prafticein, ii. 63.
Sotton fair, ii. 230.
SwidlanJ ^l.^te5, i. N. 25.
Swiicar Cak defcribed.ii. 305.
Swine, Section of, i. 327.
_. require KubDuig Polls,

ii. 6.

T.

Taking-up Plants, Direftions

rcfpccting, ii. 358.
7 allow of ."heep, Kemarkson,

i. N. 3,S^
Tamworih fair, ii. 24.

Team of Hcrfes raoft cxtraT»-

gant, i. 100.
Temporary Leyj. i. 214.
Tenircy of the Diflri(fl, i. 16.
Tenihrcdo of the Turrep, Ex-

perlmenis with, ii. 167.
T'-rures of the Dillrift, i. 15.
Thatching Ricks, i. 175.
1 billies, Inllance otDrawirg,

i. N. 164.
— ( spear) ^theirNuIfancc

ir:«. Country, ii. 14^.
Timber, Article of, i. 71.
. , Selling, i. 68.

, helling, i. 69.

— — — . on the Sale of, i^

hierevale V.'cod, ii. zrS.
of Wecfcrd Park,' Sa!c

of, ii. 281.
of Statfold, Sale of.

11. 2B2.

. , Method of Felling,

ii 2891.
• , judgment requifue»

ir. convertixig, ii. 3:7.

1 rees, on the LTc of

Pruning, ii. 292.

, much, in Needwood

Foreft, ii. 535.

of Bagoi Park, ii. 306.

-, the proper Age of

Felling, calculated, ii. 307.
-, its IXcreafc, in ih:s

Dllirift, ii. 319.

., Wares of, ii. 336.

1 ime of Sowing, h urtHer Re-
marks on, ii. 193.

Ti-hcs, Mode of Coilcdirg,
i. 18.

Training Wood% Praftical
Remarks on, ii. 255.

■ Hedge Oaklings,

Praftice in, ii. 32 1.

Timber, an Inflancc

cf its L fc, ii. 342.

with dead Plants,

fuggeued, li- 361.

Trenching

INDEX.

Trenching Plantatioas, the Varieties of Shtep reqalat*

Expence of. ii. 34.6.

Tuptr.an, the Import of, i. 353.

Turf, Arcic'e of, i. 214.

, Old, i. 21?.

— — Drains, .Article of, i. 141.

Turfing, Me:hod of, i-i59-

Turnep, Aphis defer, ii. iiS.

■ , Further Re-

marks on, ii. 16 ■.

• Beetle defer, ii. 1 17.

Expcri-

in chi»Iilani. i- 3J9.

of Cabbagca,

Ke.ii. on Prefervipg, i. zu.
Variety, .^ccident^l, of Sheep,

ii. I i6.
Vegetable Economy.the EfftSt

of Fro.l in, ii. 196.
,withRe-

fpe£t to Drought and Moil-

ture, ii. 335.

-.with Rc-

mcats with, ii. 160. ' fpect to Co_:i:er.iCtioa,ii.35Ci

■ — Culture, Practice Vegetatin.: Procefs, i 160.

in. ii. 172. Views of the Station, i, 10.

— — .Dlredior.s from Barcon Hill, i. ji.

on, u. 179.

" Flv," Praaical

Remarks concerning. ii.iOi.
Tenthredo, E.xperi-

ments with, ii. iSt.

s, Sedion of, i. 203.

on Conveying, by

Wa-.er, L N. 236.

, Hoing.Rem.on.i;.^..

-, the Coll of Hand-

Weeding, ii. 26.

-, Infiance of Plowing

in as Manure, ii. 69.

-, on Sowing, in dry

Weatner, ii. 83.

-, a Hint on thinning

the Llufiers of, ii. 148.
• not favourable to

Barley, ii. 195.

— on a V. ompoll Heap,

ii. 198.

^ , the Etfect of Froit

on, ii. 239.
— — , on Collecting, in

Froft, ii. 240.

V.

VARIETIES, Accidental, an
Inftance of, in Cattle, i. z"- 2.

u.

UNDERDRAiXIXG, Arti-
cle of, i. 139.

; -^ -, Prac-
tice in, ii. 219.

Utility of Form conlidcrcd,
i. 247.

■ ' of the New

Lcicei'crfliire Sheep, i.347.

W.AGGON Paths, Method of

Forn-ing, i. 44.
^^^ggc-^s. Article of, i. 1^3.
V» ares oJ Coppice \\'ood, i 73.

of limbfr, ii. ■^36.

Wa'.b Pools, .Artificial 5jethod,

of Forn-ing, i. 404.
Wafhway Roads, where ufefiil,

i 42.

— — — __ Exam. i. 4-.

Wa:erin:j Lung, the Idea of,

ii S5.

— — pratftifed,
Wareri-'

ii. Br.

S

INDEX.

Watering Dung, Further
P-raftke in, ii. 1 1*.

» Grafs Land, its Ori-
gin and Principles, i. 224.

— — , up-
wards, ii. 55.

• , bv Trenches, ii-57.

: ; In.

Hance of its great Utility,
ii. 86.

' Lime, Inil. of, ii. 5.

• — Ridgci, P.'Stftice in,

ii. 135.

^Vater Meadovrs, .Art.of, i.223.

Waters ; their Fertilizing Qua-
lities, i 232.

■r of Auilrey ; their Pro-
perties, ii. 78.

; Remarks on their fer-
tiiizing Qualities, ii. "^2.
-; their EffeftsonHedges,

ii. 27:.
\^ atcrtight W.ills, Methoti of

Forming, i. 26.
• , In(!::nce of,

1. j-r.
Weaning Lainbs, a praflical

Remark on, i. N. 402.
Weathcf, Seftion of, i. 1 10.
Vebiler, iV-'r. his Breed of

Cattle, i. N'. 263.
Weeding Stub!:les, an Inibince

of, ii. 145.
* Failing IleJ^cs, Pr::c-

tice in, ii. 3 ? 5.
W'eeds, L'lil of, i. 16 1.
— of Failures not noxious

to Cattle, ii. 107.
• , a (hameful i nftancc of.

»j. 144.
Wee ford Park Timber.Sale of,

ii. zSi.
Welby, , his Breed of

Cattle, 5. N. 268.
Wheat, fcU-bodicd, in a dry

Summer, i. N. 127.
— ■ I Seftion of, i. 182.
• ; I nuance of fowing

Oatj over a thin Crop. ii. 7.
f I N

\Micat, on the Smut of, ii. i r.
— - afFefted by the Berbe-

ry, ii, II.
■ ■ , General Remarks on

Harveilir.g, ii. i 3,

, on Sowing on
uhole Furrow, ii. So.

in the Common Field

the

Hjfbandry, ii. 206.

■ •, a permanent Crop,
ii. 20S.

— ,cr.Checking,&c.ii.2 3y

\^'heeiwright5 Shops propofed^
ii. 88.

Wney Butter, Method of im-
proving, i. 3 :6.

'Wilks,.Vr.his Exertions, i.238

Wood!: r. is. Sea. cf, i. 66.

■ — , Inltances of the

Cuhure of, ii. 255.

— , Refieflion on Na-
tural, ii. 264.

■' ; a Saggeftion ob

their Culture, ii. 266.

, Further on the Cul-

ture of, ii. 322.
V.'oods, Practical Remarks on

Training, ii. 255.
i Remarks on their

rlcc?i-ful Appearance, ii. 283.
Vv'ool, Article of, i. 359.
— — ;its Ufcs examined,'. 362.

, Marriets for, i. 405.

, a Remark on borting,

i.4-6.
Work People, Se^. of, i. 97.
Workmen'iBeverage.Remarks

on, ii. 44.

Y.

YARD- WOOD, Exp'anation

of, i. 71.
Yeomanry ofthe Dilhiifi, i. 14.
Young Catile, .^rt. of, i. 25I.

I S.

PUBLISPIED BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

(In Tiio Volumes CdavQ.)
THE

RURAL ECONOiMY

OF

NORFOLK.

Thefc volumes are publifhed in purfuance of a flaw
FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE, by colledliiig the

BSTABLISHED PRACTICE of SUPERIOR MANAGERS, in

different departments of the ifiand ; a plan which is
defcribed in a preface to thofe volumes.

The MANAGEMENT OF ESTATES, including rent and
covenants, leafes, buildings, fences, &c. : the arable
management; particularly with refpedl to marl,
tillage, wheat, barley, turneps, and buckwheat : the
2^ianagement of stock. ; more efpecially the method
of fatting bullocks with turneps, abroad in the field, as
praflifcd in Eaft Norfolk — are feverally treated of.

To this detail of the pra£licc of the beft cultivated dif-
trid of the county is added, a feries of mikutes, on
the various branches of rural knowledge.

ALSO, (In T'-jco Volumes Oflavo.)
the

RURAL ECONOMY

OF

YORKSHIRE.

Thefe volumes are in continuation of the fame plan ;
including the three branches of rural economy : namely

the MANAGEMEMT OF ESTATES, PLANTING, and HUS-
BANDRY i as pra<£lifed in the more agricultural diftridls

of

cf that county. With a geographical defer iptlon of the
county at large, and with a Ihaded map, Ihowing at
light its natural furface, as divided into mountain, up-
land, aiid vale.

The fubjeils which more particularly mark thefc
volumes, are — the inclosing of commonable pro-
perty (an interefting and iniportailt fubjc£i, whofe
principles are here feduloufly invcHigated) : drinking
pools; roads ; hedges; woodlands j clearing rough
grounds, from the roots of trees and llirubs, and fod-
burning or breaft plowing, explained, and rendered
applicable to the impslovement of the royal
WASTES : thedrainingand improvement of low grounds :
lime, as a manure, minutially treated of: vermin, and
their deftrufVion. The dog confidered as a. fpecies of
vermin, and an objeft of taxation : the probable evils
of PAPER. MONEY, and tlie impropriety of Jts being
fufFered to be ilTued bv country bankers. Raifing frelh
varieties or forts of wheat. The cultivation of rape or
cole feed. Raifing frcih varieties or forts of potatoes,
and their cultivation with the plow. The cultivation
of ravgrafs and fainfoin ; and the ancient and modern
methods of laying land dCwn to grafs. The manage-
ment of grafs lands ; particularly the management of
paftuic grounds and aftergrafs. The breeding, &c. of
liorKs. Tlic breeds of different defcriptions of cattle
and (beep. The rabbit warrens of the Wolds; and tlic
ifii'RovjtMENT of the Morel AXES.

ALSO,

ALSO, (In Two Folumes Oclavo.)

THE

RURAL ECONOMY

OF

GLOCESTERSHIRE.

Thefe volumes are characterized by a minute de-
tail of the management of the dairy, in Glocefter-
fhire and North Wiltlhire; and by fimilar details
of the culture of orchards, and the manp.gement
of FRUIT LIQUOR, in Glocefterfhirc and Hereford-
fliire. The flail fatting of oxen, the culture of the bean
crop, and the management of fainfoin, are other fub-
je£ls that give diftinftion to the rural management of
this department of the kingdom.

ALSO, (in Two Folumes Oaavo.)

THE

RURAL ECONOiMY

OF

THE WEST OF ENGLAND.

Befide a general regifter of the mofl fmgular prac-
tice of this illand, thcfe volumes contain particular re-
marks on the life leafehold tenure, on f-ilmon and fea
fiflieries, on mound coppice-fenccj, on the management
of coppice woods, on the fizes of farms, on lettinr
farms by auftion, on the prices of farm labor, on pro-
vident focieties, on farm apprentices, on the progrcls of
praflices in hufbandry, on fed burning and the econo-
my of lime, on watering grafTy Hopes, on the brleds
of CATTIE in this ifland, on the Iheep of the weflern

xr.ountains,

mountains, 6n taxing horfes, on the finptular praaicff
of cultivating commonable lands and the inclofures of
DevonOiire, on the method of clouting cream, on the
fecundity of fowls, on wholly reclaiming farm lands,
on the alliance between, agriculture and manufaftures,
alfo between mining and agriculture, on the mode of
introducing improvements, on cider and the Devonfliire
colic, on laying out and erefting farm yards and build-
ings, on coating buildings, on laying out and forming
roads, On the management of hedgerow oaks, on mak-
ing brooks and rills, on reclaiming coppice grounds,
and on focietics for promoting agriculture, and the
management of landed cilafes.

ALSO, NOW PREPARING FOR THE PRESS,
THE

RURAL ECONOMY •

OF

THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES.

In which the culture and management of hops will
be regiftercd in detail.

Thcfe fiX Works will comprize the present prac

TXCE of the fix AGRlCULtURAI. DEPARTMENTS cf

ENGLAND.