JLOMB SOMERYILJLE ON SHEEP, PLOUGHS, OXEN, &c. &c. S.GosNELL, Printer, Little Queen Street, Holborn. FACTS OBSERVATIONS RELATIVE TO SHEEP, WOOL, PLOUGHS, AND OXEN : IN WHICH THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING THE SHOKT-WOOLL£0 BKEEDS BY A MIXTURE OF THE MERINO ELOOJD IS DEDUCED FROM ACTUAL PRACTICE, TOGETHER WITH SOME REMARKS ADVANTAGES, WHICH HAVE BEEN DERIVED FROM THE USE OF SALT. BY JOHN, LORD SOMERVILLE. LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM MILLER, OLD BOND STREET. 1803. INTRODUCTION. X-rflTTLE apology, it is presumed, will be required, for offering to public notice the few pages, which follow. Treatises upon professional subjects arc not expected to find an extensive circulation : there are persons, however, deeply interested in the matters the author has endeavoured to investigate, nor is the number small; and to such persons he particularly addresses himself. It is hoped that those, who are connected with the support and extension of our woollen ma- nufactures, now in a great degree fed by a fo- reign, and therefore more than ever, precarious supply ; and those, who are deeply impressed aho with the absolute necessity of a more economical V ( vi ) economical system of labour in the produc- • tion of human food, will not think their time absolutely thrown away. No speculative opinions whatever are brought forward; but the author has, without any embellishment of language, adduced such facts as for some years past have confirmed, and still continue to confirm that, which as a mat- ter of duty rather than inclination, he was led to treat of. He has now brought these sub- jects to a conclusion, and he trusts to a satis- factory one j and thus takes his leave of them. Should these statements, however, on the subject of our improved wool be insufHcient to satisfy the minds of those who were unfortu- nate enough to consider the thing impracti- cable, complete conviction may in all pro- bability result from the additional proofs which Dr. Parry will, in the course of eighteen months, be enabled to produce. Besides aa acknowledged accuracy in the statement of 4 facts, ( vii ) facts, his Essay will have the advantage of that fluency and elegance of language, which these pages cannot boast of. The observations in the first part appear in the form of a letter, which the author had the honour to address to the Bath and West of England Society. Fearful of saying, although perhaps in other words, what we have before urged on the subject of working oxen, and the sound policy of again bringing them into more general use, we have confined ourselves to a simple detail of the exhibition of oxen and sheep, instituted as far as relates to cattle, with the sole view of proving by evidence not to be doubted, the possibility of cultivating the greater part of our corn land by the very animals we must breed as an article of food, and which do not consume a grain of the corn they are the means of producing, to the exclusion of other animals, whose ( viii ) whose chief nourishment is corn, and whose flesh is perfectly useless. , It must be obvious to the most common understanding, that new land may be brought into cultivation to any extent, but that the pub- lic cannot thereby derive those advantages it has a right to expect, if the corn grown is again consumed by the animals producing it ; them- selves not hunnan food. Our object has ever been to simplify and consequently to economise labour, in the firm belief that it is ths straightest and safest road to plenty. SUBSTANCE SUBSTANCE OF A SHEEP, &c. W ITH a view to the improvement of our short-wool sheep, and those more particularly belonging to our mountainous districts, hither- to neglected, I thought it a duty incumbent on me, to call the attention of our countrymen to this point, and therefore ventured to publish a short essay or prospectus on a subject, which every man, even the most prone to doubt, must have admitted to be of the utmost im- portance both to our landed and commercial interests. Assertions were to the utmost avoided, and conclusions hinted at, which a close attention to the various breeds of our B sheep, ( 2 ) sheep, and the operation of our soil and cli- mate on them, might with safety warrant. How far these hopes have been realized, and to what extent, need not be contended by ar- gument, but by ocular demonstration shall be proved. The Bath and West of England Society, having, at its last annual meeting, been pleased to express its unanimous appro- bation of the measures I had taken to ame- liorate the fine wools of this kingdom, and of the stock, as well of Spanish as English breeds of sheep, there exhibited — in conformity with the promise then made, 1 shall have the honour of submitting to the Society's inspec- 'tion, ak its annual meeting in December next, additional proofs of our success. The stock will consist of the Merino breed, and its orosses ; the sire vv^as Spanish, consequently •the produce is of the half blood. Two wether hogs, half South-down, and Spanish, Two ditto, half Ryeland and Spanish, Two ewe hogs, ditto, ditto: these are from the flock of which the wool, manufac- tured into broad-cloth and kersymere by Mr. Joyce, obtained, two days ago, the 5 recommend- ( 3 ) recommendation of the Committee for pre- miums adjudged this year by the Society. Two ewes, Spanish. Two Mendip ewe and wether hogs. One Spanish ram, just taken from the flock. There was at first a difficulty in knowing how to ascertain the value of these wools. A lair times price of one shilling and ten-pence per pound, was set on the native South-dov/n, and two shillings and two-pence on the Ryeland wool, untrinded. Strict comparison was then made between the quality of the mixed and native produce; the half South- down was valued at three shillings, and the half Ryeland at three shillings and two-pence per pound, of clean washed wool. They were purchased by an eminent wool-stapler in Southwark, and carefully examined at home before they were packed. The result was most satisfactory, and the report of your Com- mittee just now made, has stamped a decided value on them far beyond my hopes. Mr. Joyce, in his letter, this day come to hand, says, ** I inform you with great B 2 *' pleafurc. ( 4 ) '* pleasure, that the bhie cloth and white ^' kersymcre I have manufactured from your *' Lordship*s wool, were by the Com- ** mittee at the Bath meeting, yesterday, ** awarded for the premiums of class 5. pre- ** mium 4, page 50. and enclosed I send you '• a statement of your wool, when sorted and " manufactured, where it will appear that '* your wool has less F's and T*s in it than ** any wool that has yet been manufactured *' for the Society, being both only 7 lb. from ** 2^0 fleeces ofg6 lb. much less than what are ** usually thrown from Spanish wool. The ** cloth and kersymere I will exhibit again at *' the annual meeting. I have the honour to be ** Your Lordship's obedient servant, *' Thomas Joyce. ** September I oth. Account of wool re- ** ceived from Lord Somerville, from his half ** Ryeland and half Spanish breed of sheep, ** 30 fleeces, weighing 96 lb. which, when ** sorted, were as follows : 89 o R. 6 8 F. o 8 T. 96 olb. **47lb. ( 5 ) *" 47 1^* ^^ ^^^ ^» when woaded and mami- ** factured, produced 28 1 lb. of navy blue ** cloth; the remaining 16 lb. 6 oz. of the R, ** when manufactured, made 25 yards of uni.. *' form white kersymere.'* The sires of these sheep were good in their frame : one of them has been let out this year at one hundred guineas for the season only. His wool, apparently, is not of the finest quality; we had many better; but the goods manufactured are evidence sufficient of the value of this breed, as applied to our ma- nufactures, did not the small proportion of second and inferior wool put the matter be- yond all dispute. Eighty-six ewe hogs of this mixed breed carried two hundred and thirty-iive pounds three ounces of well-washed wool, which, at 3s. 2d. per pound, amounted within a very few shillings to thirty-seven pounds per pack. After the Committee's decision, its value may safely be rated at 3s. 6d. per pound, forty-two pounds sterling per pack. The cross with our South-down sheep, both with respect to the frame and wool, keeps pace with that of the Ry eland. c (> r Ryeland. Having a flock of each sort, I arrt tillable to give the preference to either. The Ryeland sheep arc one third less in size, on an average; and we can stock one third more in number, per acre. If \ve esteem the Ryeland as good nurses to their lambs, we must -value the South-dovv^.s as healthy and quiet stock. The crosses from each bear the same proportion in stocking per acre, to the parent stock, and lose nothing either in size or weight. The half Ryeland half Spanish hogs are larger in size than Spanish or Rye- land full-mouthed sheep. Why this is \vq know not. They partake of the docile tem- per of the Spaniard. Fifty Mendip ewes were bought in, not as a store flock, but with a view to ascertain the effect of this cross on a horned breed. Their size, the quickness of their proof, or aptitude to fatten, and the excel- lent quality of the meat, can bring no discredit on this breed, w hich is already high in estima- tion. The same may be observed of the South-down and Ryeland crosses, with respect to value of mutton. We may, without much indiscretion, anticipate the Society's judgment of these admixtures, and declare them to be fortunate. ( 7 ) fortunate, and in every point of view most be- neficial to the public. The wether hogs are not more than nineteen months old ; and the ewes having dropt their lambs late in the sea- son, owing to the late arrival of the rams ii^ England, the lambs were weaned on the hills bordering on Exmoor, where our sheep are ■summered. The climate was too severe, and the lambs were stunted or stopt in their growth ; nor could they be m.ade to move again before the month of October, so that the sheep can only be said to have a twelvemonth's growth. Under these circumstances, we trust, it will appear that they have the means of coming to market, as good meat, and at an age as early as the public interest could demand, namely, from twenty to twenty-four months old. It has been deemed the criterion of a good and profitable breed of sheep to ripen early, because there is room to multiply such breeds; far beyond thoseof slower proof. If a «:heep can come to majket at two years old, his fleece will be long enough for our manufac- tures, and not sold at an inferior price as skin wool J much before this period it would be unfit. The growth of any high proof breed of sheep, is far greater the first and second than the ( 8 ) . the third year j therefore it may be urged, that more profit can be had from the animal at this time, than at any later period, its growth and fleece considered. If attempts had been made to bring into general use a breed of sheep, whose fleeces were of value, but incapable of getting fat, we should be receiving with one hand, what we were throwing away with the other; no general benefit could result; but when we bring sheep bearing such heavy fleeces, and that wool capable of making broad-cloths and kersymeres, of quality suffi- cient to obtain the Society's premiums, and of a proof or aptitude to fatten, equal to, if not ex- ceeding, any short- woolled sheep we have, the principle is no longer to be controverted ; it becomics a breed of extreme value. Proof, that both these objects can be obtained, will be set before vou. No desire of change, or love of innovation, led me to abandon the long- woolled sheep of my own neighbourhood, the Bamp- ton breed, dashed with the new Leicester; an undoubted improvement was visible from an introduction of the new Leicester; but there was a prejudice so strong among our butchers against the latter breed, that we were com- pelled to look to Bristol market for purchasers at ( 9 ) at the distance of fifty miles from home. This stock continued to decrease in size con- siderably, in spite of all attempts, consistent with profit, to maintain it, notwithstanding fresh rams were three times brought from Leicestershire, in the twelve years these sheep were in my possession ; the loss of size in each four years amounted nearly to five pounds per quarter. It will naturally be asked, what sort of poor hungry soil this must have been, which could not maintain such sheep. It was the vale of Taunton, proverbially known to be one of the most fertile spots in this king- dom ; and much of the grass land, in which these sheep were depastured, was equal in strength to any in the vale : it stands valued at 2I. 15s. per acre. A man must be blind, who could withstand such evidence as this. Nature pointed out, that the stock was too coarse in quality, or our climate unfit, it matters not which : the fact was plainly marked, and it was merely an act of common prudence to follow her dictates. How many thousands, how many tens of thousands of acres are there in Great Britain, which stand exactly in the same predicament ! These sheep weie soldj and the same land, which c carried ( 10 ) carried forty- five breeding ewes, was imme- diately stocked with 150 Ryelands in their stead. The neighbours said they would all be starved ; the winter was severe, but the ewes maintained themselves moderately well, and their lambs, at weaning-time, were in the Tery best order. The ewes were stocked, during the succeeding summer, at the rate of ten per acre, and came back into the vale in good store state*. One lot of these two tooth sheep * Their lambs were summered on the fame up- land sheep farm, at more than the rate of twelve per acre; and although this appeared to be a stock too thick, the quality of the land and climate considered, yet they returned into the vale, in October, in a growing » state, were stocked almost as hard during the winter and spring (^for our turnips were bad); and so far from having suffered in size, the ewes were as good in their points as the parent stock, and the wethers have since reached a size, when fat, that sheep of this breed have not been thought capable of. One lot, killed in 1B02, at Taunton, is said to have died above 16 lb. per quarter. It is an acknowledged thing, that butchers were in judgment of them below their weight, almost 4 lb. per quarter, and that the fifth quarter was excellent, beyond what we are at liberty to talk of. A small one was rejected from the lot ; and besides, as well shaped and fat a carcass as need well be seen; was broad over the loins, thick through the chine inmeat of the best quality, was unusually well turned in { " ) sheep was bbught by a farmer in the neigh- bourhood, and put in turnips; between Can- dlemas and Lady-day they were all killed, and on an average they turned out more pounds of rough fat than they were pounds per quarter. Land of the vale of Taun- ton might have supported coarse- woolled sheep irv size^ had they been pushed in first year*s grass, or buried in red clover up to their eyes, and the refuse mown afterwards for hay; but this was buying a good thing too dear; it is not the size of individual sheep, but the quantity of good meat and wool, per acre, which must enrich the farmer, and feed the public. It is to be lamented that we are such slaves to size, and that the eye can hardly resist it. A medium is most desirable ; but if in the leg of mutton, and fine of bone; the sheep carried 12 lb. of rough fat, or tallow, besides kidney fat. Their fleeces were heavy, and of the best quality ; the wool sold, in 1 80 1, for 2S. 4d. per pound, trinded, a first-rate price. In 1802, for 2S. 2d. untrinded. A pen of these wether,? were kept on to this time, and will be killed at the Barbi- can show. Their weights will hereafter be given. We have been particular in tracing the progress of these sheep, tediously so, perhaps ; but the jmportai^c<^ of the subject must be gur excuse. • c 2 extremes ( '2 ) extremes are to be admitted, without a doubt the small sheep, fine in its grain, is a more marketable commodity. The rich will have it, because its quality is superior; in short, be- cause it eats better; the poor man will find its joints more adapted to the strength of his purse; and the dearer meat is to be, the more this ar- gument applies; for legs and shoulders of mut- ton cannot conveniently be cut, and retailed in pieces. There remained, then, but the ma- nufacturer, the mechanic, and the middle class of housekeeper, to prefer coarse-grained meat ; so we reasoned when we first sent this Ry eland mutton to market; but these were the very people who greedily bought it at a penny per pound advance in price, and that, too, in a manufacturing district. But we are told that sailors, colliers, and keelmen, are sure customers for these over-fat joints ; so they are, and long may they enjoy them ! Fresh meat is fresh meat, to a man coming from sea, but if he stays long in harbour, and were once to break pale, and get a taste of better mutton, perhaps it would be no easy matter to bring him back again. We are told, too, that coarse fat mutton is best for salting ; mutton is not at all ( 13 ) all well suited to this purpose ; beef and pork take salt better. If men are to be kept on salt meat, be it so ; if they are to live on mut- ton, let that be good in quality. One of the first cuttincr butchers in London has often been heard to say, that he could not afford to buy fat coarse-grained sheep ; for that, besides the loss in spine fat, which he was obliged to cut from roasting joints, there was not lean enough to support the fat, which therefore roasted away ; and that so long as meat bears a better price than tallow, so long he must deal in South-downs, and sheep of that description. We have said thus much, because false argu- ments are too often used to enforce adoption of heavy sheep, in districts ill suited to them. Where land is deep and strong enough to bear long-woolled sheep, there let them be bred; but let them not be foisted, by false argu- ments, on land unable to maintain them ; by so doing, the public is most essentially injured. Our combing and coarse wool manufacturers must be supplied, and therefore our strong land should be allotted to carry coarse, heavy sheep; but if, on the same false principle, one is to be pushed every where to the exclusion i ot" ( '4 ) of the other, I, for one, am old-fashioned cnougli to prefer clothes to carpets, a neces- sary to a luxury. If carpets are to be exported, well and good ; they may, perhaps, pay as well as coarse woollens sent to South America, or elsewhere ; but if carpets are to be consumed at home, as they have been for some years past, the manufacturer, indeed, is fed by what he earns, but for any addition to the national revenue, he may as well sit with his hands behind him, and at once be fed from the pocket of the richer classes : it is only receiv- ing with one hand, and paying with the other; the nation will not be enriched; and the same thing may be said of every article of luxury consumed at home. This is very unfashionable doctrine, without doubt ; but it is too true. In treating of Ryeland sheep, it may not be amiss to remark, that they are not a mountain sheep, as many suppose, but are bred in the vales of Hereford and Ross, on the very same land with the Hereford oxen. How many favourite theories will he knocked on the head by this one fact ! If the same land breeds the smallest and finest woolled ■ ( «5 ) woolkd sheep, it breeds also the largest oxea in our kingdom. A country must be envied, which, without minute attention to the science of breeding, can turn out two opposite animals in size, so good in their kind ; it teaches us that more dependance is to be placed on the breed or race of animals, than we are at first aware. We offer no comment on circumstances seemingly so contradictory ; we only record them as facts. Details of the breed and treatment of the Merino flock at Rambouillet, a na- tional farm near Paris, merit the Society's notice. They appear to result from much patient observation, and must be valued accordingly. This race has retained all its quality of pile in Saxony, as well as in Sweden and Denmark, where it has been spreading for fifty years past ; in proof of which, 200 bags of Merino wool, scoured and sorted, were imported into this country last year, by one person, and the whole of ir sold at the primest price of Spanish wool. A sample was produced at the last annual meeting of the Bath Society ; a clothier present said, he had manufactured it into cloth, and that ( i6 ) that it worked up as well as it looked in sample. The Editor of the Bibliothcque Britannique speaks pointedly to the adoption of the Merino breed in this kingdom : in a pri- vate letter of a late date, he says, ** I have ** much admired the samples of wool you have '* caused to be directed to me j I like to see your *' perseverance gets the better of prejudices *' among your neighbours. The Spanish breed *• of sheep is a true mine, which the English *' have despised to explore till now. I don't ** know whether I am mistaken, but I suspect '* in you a higher opinion of that breed than •* you were pleased to own. It seems, that, in ** order to reconcile your prejudiced country- ** men to the admission of these foreign sheep, ** you disguised them under the Ryeland and •' South-down cloak ; and knowing that meat •• and fat are, in England, the necessary pass- ** ports of fine fleeces, you particularly in- ** sisted upon the carcass being not injured by *• the introduction of the Spanish blood. Is *' it your opinion that there will be more pro- *' iit tor you in crossing the Spanish rams *' with the Rveland and South-down ewes. " than in breeding the Spanish in and in ? *' Have ( '7 ) ** Have you any experiment, which- makes ** you suppose, that a degeneration would take *' place by persevering, exclusively, in the same *' blood ? Now, if there was no degeneration *' (as I am let] to suppose by my experience, *• and that of many others in France), would ♦' not there be infinitely more profit in keeping *' the pure Spanish breed, than by crossing? *' The reputation of that excellent breed cannot ** but increase and extend annually in Great ** Britain. If the monopoly, created by your ** wool laws in favour of the manufacturer, •' was once abolished, the Spanish sheep *' would, no doubt, grow more and more po- *' pular. The advantages, I experience by the *' keeping of that breed, would certainly be ** still greater with you, since you have already *' hired out Spanish rams at one hundred gui- ** neas, whereas I could not sell them higher ** than twenty-five. You will see, however, '* in the number of September, of the Biblio- ** theque Britannique, that the produce of '* my flock is immense, considering the capi- ** tal. I shall learn with great pleasure, that ** the number of these sheep is increasing in " England; I shall say, in the terms of D '* Washington, ( i8 ) ** Washington, * The multipHcation of useful ** animals is a common blessing to mankind.' ** National jealousy on that point is highly *' absurd. Industry has an immense fields *' and if rival nations, instead of crossing each ** other in agricultural and commercial views, ** endeavoured to take the lead in useful *• improvements, and emulate each other in *• all good things, they would be reciprocally *' subservient to the prosperity of theirneigh- ** hours without hurting their own. There ** would be more happiness for all individuals, ** and more people to enjoy it. — So much for a ' • dream ! — I come to the samples of your flock. ** I have, in my collection, samples of ** all English wools: your Ryeland is com- *' parable to most of the Spanish wool of •* co?nmercc I but the improvement is evident •* in the cross; thchalf Ryeland half Spanish ** has all the qualities of fine Spanish wool. *' There is one quality, which is peculiar to ** the prime Leonese, viz. an extreme softness, ** joined with strength and elasticity. All ** your samples seem to partake, in a high f* degree, of that quality, and it is peculiarly ** remarkable ( '9 ) ^* remarkable in the cross of Ryeland*. NovV, ** I suspect it may be partly owing to the ** rubbing of ochre, after the Spanish fashion: ** I was led to think so by observing a ** reddish tinge -f- in your samples, which I ** suppose to have been washed on the back, ** and by remerhbering that you had counte- ** nanced that method. — Be so good as to * * tell me whether it was so or not ? I take ** the liberty of sending here enclosed a sam- " pie in the yolk of one of my best rams. I ** have not yet met with a finer fleece among * It was to this wool, that, within ten days after the receipt of this letter, the premiums were adjudged by your Committee. t The common colour of the soil. Nothing has been rubbed in. A trial was made three years ago on some Ryeland sheep, in order to prove whether ochre tended, iri any degree, to give a softness to the wool, but it appeared to have a contrary effect, if any. No trace of. such a practice could be discovered among the shepherds in Spain, yet in some parts it may prevail. Some fleeces, brought from Spain in 1800, were analyzed by Dr. Garneti, as we have elsewhere noticed, and no ochre could be discovered. Mon. Lasteyrie agrees in the disuse of ochre, and considers it as an application to prevent the skins from blistering in the sun immediately after shear- ing : in no other way useful. D 31 " many ( 2° ) '* many hundred Spanish beasts, that I have ** examined; as well those lately imported *' from Spain, as the flocks that have been *' naturalized these many years. That ram *• belongs to the seventh or eighth generation, ** born in France, out of the original flock *' arrived from Spain, always -breeding in and ** in, with a remarkable increase of weight in ** the animals and in their fleece. These facts ** deserve attention. You may see in the last ** report of Tessier and Hazard, concerning ** the sheep of Rambouillet, the results of the ** comparison between the newly arrived ** Spanish rams and ewes, and the old stock *' issued from individuals drawn from Spain '• eighteen years ago; I have seen the two " flocks, and would have prejudged the fact ** as it is stated. In my flock, the mean •' weight of the fleeces of the ewes of the ** Rambouillet breed has been seven pounds ** fwe/ve ounces, pois de mare, in the yolk. *' Now, the mean weight of the fleeces of tlie *• Spanish ewes, arrived last year at three of ** my neighbours* premises, has been five ** pounds. As to the comparative fineness, no *' better criterion could possibly be obtained, •* than the price fixed by the merchants and *' manufacturers ( 2. ) ** manufacturers in the public sale at Ranl- ** bouillet. The manufacturers do not act at *' random, when they give a price full as high ** for that wool as for the prime Leonese ** coming from Spain; they have known its ** value by repeated experiments these many ** years.'* The Merino fleece is in colour unlike that of any English breed. There is a dark brown tinge on the surface of the best fleeces, amounting almost to a black, which is formed by dust adhering to the greasy yolky proper- ties of its pile : and the contrast between it and the rich white colour within, as well as that rosy hue of the skin, peculiarly denoting high proof, surprise at first sight. The harder the fleece is, the more it resists any outward pressure of the hand, the more close and fine will be the wool. Here and there a fine pile may be formed with an open fleece, though but rarely. Two seasons ago, some Merino wool was sorted into R's, F's, and T*s j the broad- cloth and kersymere manufactured froiVi it were durable and excellent articles in wear; the remainder was sold at a guinea per fleece ; and none has yet been sold for a less price. In iSoi, the fleeces weighed, on an average,' I rams. ( « ) rams J ewes, and ewe hogs, six pounds eight ounces each in the grease; in 1802, seventy- nine fleeces sold for seventy-nine guineas, the weight somewhat less ; but every sort of wool in the kingdom is said to weigh less this year than usual, probably occasioned by the cold and dry winds of April and May, which did not allow the yolk to rise; but as it weighed less, so it is admitted by the wool-staplers, that its quality was improved. If we read the late Report of your Committee, and attentively consider the small quantity of waste and se- cond wool in the fleeces of half Spanish and half Ryeland sheep, we have no right to sup- pose these Merino fleeces dear at one guinea each. No attention has been paid in Spain to the form of their sheep; and it must be evident to every judge of stock, that a jour- ney from the mountains of the north, to the plains of the south of Spain, cannot be other- wise than productive of more injury to the frame and constitution of the animal than of benefit to the fleece, which, like the frame, is dependant on, and nourished by, the blood. Does it stand to reason, that a long drift of four or five hundred miles every spring and autumnj, { 23 ) autumn, and that at the rate of 80 and I03 miles per week, can be beneficial to sheep ? — - Undoubtedly not. Have we a single breed which could support it uninjured ? — None, which would not have been hunted into de- formity. So far from thinking hot climates necessary to fine wool, we know that coarse- fleeced sheep are to be found in many parts of Spain : that in Portugal, wool, unmixed with Merino blood, is of the coarsest quality, worth about is. ad. per pound. We know, too, that after shearing every pile is coarse; and improves, both to the eye and the touch, as the autumn advances. No race of sheep has ever been seen, even in this northern climate, to be more impatient of heat, or more op- pressed by it, than the Merino. By due at- tention to foodj by moderation and equality of keep; by shelter in the winter months; and by those common regulations, which induce health in the animal itself, we shall stand as high as to the produce of wool and meat as any nation in Europe. Hence we may sup- pose it is, that Dr. Parry continues to demon- strate that improvement on the Spanish pile, which is so strongly pointed out by the last Report of your Committee. One inference may be clearly deduced from the long drift and yolky fleece of the Merinos ; namely, that they ( n ) they are equal, if not superior, to any breed ia these kingdoms, as a flock to work in the fold. We may add, that the length and thickness of wool covering their belly and hind legs, together with a closeness of pile on the back and loins, must of necessity enable them to support more severity of cold and wet than any breed as yet introduced arriong us ; unless we admit, that length and fine wool are inseparably connected with weakness of con- stitution, which evidence from all quarters forbids us to do. We have before noticed, that a pendu- lous skin under the throat, what we term throatiness, is much esteemed, because it is supposed to denote a tendency both to wool and to a heavy fleece. This property is usually accompanied with a sinking or hollow in the neck : both of these points are offensive to the eye of an English breeder, but they can be got rid of by drafting the most faulty ewes, and a due attention to the form of the rams; so that it is probable, in a few years few traces of them will be found* ; if they are faulty in these *• Nothing has tended to render the Merino sheep more unsightly to an English eye, than the large tuft of v-ool, which covers the. head. This wogl is of a ver ( 25 ) these points, they are level on the back and behind the shoulders. There is no reasonable foundation to conclude, that a deformity in the shape is essential to the production of good wool : the fact is not so. The two rams, from which the ewe hogs were bred, whose fleeces have obtained your premium, were the best shaped, according to our ideas, of twelve, the whole number at that time imported. In spite of these outward impediments, great en- couragement has been given, inasmuch as all the rams, which were not employed by the Bath Society and at home, have been let out, both last and this season, at an average price of fifty guineas ; and all the draft ewes, of pure Merino blood, have been readily sold at six guineas each : a score were purchased of me at this price, by a member of the Society, Mr. very inferior quality, and classes with that below the hock of the hind legs. It does not sort either into the R's, F's, or T's, and is not thought worthy to be exported. It has been our practice to keep the wool of both these parts of the sheep clipped twice or three times a year 5 the first lime about six weeks after shearing. The fleece, although reduced a few ounces in weight, loses very little of its value; and if the cats-hair should appear in the head locks, without being visible in any other part of the fleece, which sometimes occurs, the fleece is rescued thereby from a very great drawback on its value, E Toilet. ( 26 ) Toilet. A knowledge of its value, and an anxious desire to disseminate every where this celebrated breed, have led him into classical researches as to its origin. He thinks it may- be traced from Asia Minor and Greece into Italy; from thence, probably, into Spain. Columella, and other writers, call them " Ta- rentine sheep," from the city of Tarentum. There are various opinions, however,, as to their origin : within a few years there will be but one as to their value. Lest it should be surmised that the facts here stated, and the conclusions which icvery judge of sheep will thence be. led to draw, should have been formed on a scale of practice too confined, it is advisable to suggest, that the flock consists of 340 breeding ewes, and the whole produce, at two years old, is fatted off, with the exception of such draft ewes as may be sold for stores; con- sequently, the number of the sheep is from 1000 to 1200; a scale not of the largest, but still large enough with safety to warrant any inference that may be drawn. The lambs are dropt in the vale of Taunton, and continue in it during the first summer. The store flock is summered a short distance from 2 thence ( 27 ) thence, on the hills before mentioned, bordef- ing on Exmoor Forest. The contrast of di- mate must be remarkable, because there is a difference in the time of harvest of a month : our feeding sheep are then grazed in the ex- posed but rich marsh of Bridgewater, long celebrated for its good beef and fat oxen ; or finished in turnips and winter vetches in the vale. We had reason to fear, in either case, that the strength of keep might open the pile, and give a coarseness to the wool, as well as to the grain of meat; but the event has destroyed such fears, insomuch that we had no scruple in sending some wether lambs to win- ter in the marsh, using the precaution to cott them during the severe winter months; and although this land had the character of being too strong, and of scouring lambs, even to the danger of losing them, we found the mixed breed able to endure it, and thrive surpris- ingly*. Whether as an article of food for those, who are robust j or those, who are deli- cate, even at the early age of i8 months, when mutton is usually thought indifferent, it is nu- tritious and exquisite in flavour. There is a * They did well until the end of December, when keep getting scarce, the grounds were hained up for a fresh bite in February. E % firmness ( 28 ) firmness in the spine fat ; a richness and deep colour in the gravy ; and a fine texture and tenderness in the grain, which must command customers, and ensure to this breed the good will of butchers, wherever they may be situ- ated. There are two parties to be considered ; the seller and the purchaser. We have had occasion to note, how essential a ready sale is to every article of produce, and that this cir- cumstance, in great part, tended to enforce the necessity of a change of breed. These diver- sities of soil and climate, unequalled, proba- bly, within the same space of ground, enable us to speak with a confidence, it would be presumption otherwise to do ; because toge- ther they embrace all those leading varieties, which., some certain spots excepted, are to be found in the whole United Kingdom. The quantity of stock here stated to run per acre, may appear great to many persons : some maybe disposed to doubt the facts. Every pos- sible precaution to ascertain them has been ta- ken; and to speak with as much accuracy as can be, where we are to reason on an average. My wish was not to deceive myself j I trust it is not in my nature wilfully to deceive others. The Ryeland sheep, alluded to, were summered at 2d. ( 29 ) 2d. each per week by my own tenant that season; we knew the fact to be correct, which he has repeatedly confirmed by declaring, that it was the exact average rate per acre. In the marsh, such a stock, in point of numbers, of fat and store sheep, has been carried this sea- son, as would be found almost to exceed be- hef. The fatting wether hogs and draft store ewes, which must be, to make the most of them, kept as high as fat sheep, amounted to more than four per acre, during the six sum- mer months ; the store ewes amounted to more than two per acre, and were large, strong. South-down ewes, of Mr. Elman*s blood, in all more than six per acre, besides refuse lambs, &,c. and nothing could exceed their proof. In the winter of 1800, the vale estate carried, from the beginning of September to the first week in June, 700 store sheep, about 250 lambs included, on one hundred acres of pasture land, of which sixty were indifferent, and forty as good pasture land as could be seen : the ground carried more stock ; probably, from the mode of depasturing. Where sheep work in the fold, they must run in large lots : and some loss per acre in the stocking may be incurred, because the profit of the fold is great ; but where folding is ( 3° ) is not practised, and the country much en- closed, sheep should be stocked in small par- cels, thin on ground, and frequently changed: the land thereby is not stained, and one lot follows another in perpetual succession. Every judge of stock knows the value of change, even, occasionally, into worse keep. It is our fixed belief, that wc can carry six and a half Ryelands, or half Ryelands, per acre, on land (free of any local consideration) worth one guinea and a half per acre, with the help of some turnips and pease-haulm in the dead wmter months ; and that with judgment in the manner of stocking we shall neither push them beyond their growth, nor make them meat for the butcher, but shall maintain them, m healthy store state. On the same land, and inider the same circumstances, we can carry four South-downs, or their cross, and some- what more per acre. If our Ry eland ewes will fat to twelve pounds per quarter, our South- downs will reach nearly eighteen; the rate of stock per acre will therefore be found the same in proportion to the size*. The quantity of good mutton and wool per acre must be the only test of good or bad management : it is * The wethers of each breed will be, of course, sume pounds heavier per quarter. on. ( 31 ) on the increased stock of South-downs, which his estate in Norfolk now carries, that Mr. Coke prides himself. A noted husbandman from Nottinghamshire is said to have declared, that he never before saw an estate so stocked. The South-down stock, which is now reared on a farm of the Duke of Bedford, called Maulden, in Bedfordshire, the nature of the land considered, will be found to exceed that, which belongs to myself. A very few- years ago, great part of this estate was wild unproductive heath, valued at 2S. 6d. per acre. A Norfolk farmer was invited to take it, but declined any engagement, at any price. Four hundred acres of it have been broken up. Its situation was such as to preclude alL extra manure, therefore the estate is makins; itself by the sheepfold : it now carries 400 breeding South-down ewesj the stock amounts to 1200, and the fat sheep finished on the same : there remain about 1 50 acres only of heath to break up, at which time the estate will carry 1600 sheep. The South- down stock is large in size, and of the first- rate quality ; the land cannot now be valued at more than ten shillings, and the stock three per ( 32 ) per acre, winter and summer. We should rejoice to see any improvement more substan- tial or more beneficial than this ; for it is to be remembered, that, in proportion as the sheep stock increases, heavier and better crops of corn will be grown. The average of South- down store stock on Mr. Elman*s pastures at: Glynde, he asserts to be four per acre. As his sheep are of the largest size, this rate of stocking will be found exactly similar to our own. He could not afford to starve his own sheep ; because they are too valuable to make the difference of feed of the slightest consequence. The principle, on which Sir Lawrence Palk conducts his sheep husbandry, needs only to be recorded : it will speak for itself. Part of his estate is rich land, improved by water, which heretofore ran to waste, and lies low in the vale of Exeter : the rest borders upon Haldown. Instead of stocking the whole with the heavy-bodied sheep of the country, which either must have been stocked so thin per acre as to pay nothing, or have dwindled in size, or have been starved, the estate now carries 500 breeding ewes ; on the lower, aoo of the new Leicester blood, and on the upper part, 300 ( 33 ) 300 Ry elands, the produce of which have one quarter of the Merino blood, and the whole flock hereafter will be of this description. As the winter advances, and the heavy-bodied sheep go into turnips, the Ry elands are brought down to run after and clean up the layer, by which they get well wintered; and as the summer approaches, they return to the high lands, and work in the fold. li:' any man can devise a system, which under such circumstances will pay more in good produce per acre, let him sug- gest it : his information will be thankfully received. But it will be urged, Why is it that these men should do more than we do? Why do not we draw from our management as much for the public supply ? Because you are tied down and fettered by old prejudices, adverse to your interest ; and because they, profiting by a more extended education, reason on a greater scale, and act on principles more consistent with nature and good sense. It is by the neglect of, or by an unremitting atten- tion to, this great secret in rural economy; and by the adoption of animals for husbandry labour, which do not consume our food, but, on the contrary, add most considerably to it, T that ( 34 ) that the national supply will either be scanty or abundant. The question having of late been repeat* edly asked, What proportion of the Merino blood it would be advisable to bring into the South-down breed with advantage ? my answer has been, One quarter, only, provided the out- ward semblance and character of the South- down is intended lobe preserved ; the Ryeland being a white-faced sheep, assimilates with the Merino more readdy, and will bear one half, or even more. With the strictest regard to truth it may be said, that the unwearied attention of this Society, and the abilities of many of its, leading members, could alone have dispelled those doubts, which hung over the minds of numberless landed proprietors and manufac- turers, deeply interested in the event, but despairing of ultimate success. Its centrical situation as to the superfine manufactures be- fore alluded to, a consequent connexion be- tween the landed and commercial interests, naturally pointed it out as the centre of such undertakings, and induced me to solicit its aid. ( 35 ) aid. Our much-lamented President, the late Duke of Bedford, was decidedly of the same opinion, and acted up to it accordingly. His loss, great as it is to th-e farming part of our community, would have been irreparable, were it not that his successor is bent on promoting objects so notoriously beneficial : an intimate knowledge of him enables me to say, that, as far as I am competent to judge, he has ability and knowledge to perfect them. From the foregoing observations it will appear, that, in its common application to Bri- tish husbandry, this breed of sheep has the power, perhaps exclusively, to maintain its quahty of wool; for, strong keep will lengthen, but will not open or deteriorate the pile; that it has, without question, amelio- rated the quality, and, what is of more im- portance, has added considerably to the quan- tity of our native shoit wool fleeces, whilst at the same time, the proof or aptitude to fatten has increased rather than diminished. Sup- posing, then, that no great improvement in the shape should be obtained, it becomes to any man simply a question between his eye and his pocket ; if he must have beauty, and F 2 that. ( 36 ) that, too, of an unwieldy description, let him have it ; but if he prefers profit, which is sup- posed to be the more substantial acquisition of the two, he knows where it may be found, A trite but wise adage says, ** Handsome is ** that handsome does.** He was a bold man, who first ventured to introduce among us an Alderney cow ; and he must have had an eye steadfastly fixed on this adage for consolation ; yet the event has justified his hardiness. Just so with these Merino sheep ; but as other breeds have been improved, so by careful selec- tion may these: for the foundation, good wool and good and early proof, are not deficient. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. Nov. 12th, 1802. SOMERVILLE. Some days after the above paper was ad- dressed to the Bath Society, I received from Mr. Lasteyrie, together with a most polite letter, his history of the introduction of Me- rino sheep into different parts of Europe, lately published (Histoire de Tlntroduction des Moutons a Laine fine d*Espagne, dans les divers Etats de TEurope, et au Cap de Bonne Esperance). His exertions in tracing the different ( 37 ) different properties of sheep in Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Saxony, Prussia, &c. &c. are unex- ampled ; his knowledge has obviously been obtained in the sheepfold, and the fluency and correctness with which he details the various diseases of sheep and their remedies, declare him to possess a shepherd's knowledge ot a flock. In his commencement of the subject, l»e expresses himself thus : " The different governments of Europe * had long acknowledged the advantages that * would be derived to agriculture and com- * merce, from the introduction of fine wools * into their respective states; but their views ' meeting oppositionin the ignorance and pre- ' judice of the times, a considerable number of * years elapsed before they set about realizing * an idea, which at first seemed chimerical ; at * length there appeared men, equally com- * mendable for their patriotism and their * knowledge, who have laboured, with zeal ' and perseverance, to enlighten their fcllow- ' citizens, by producing facts to prove, that * nature, far from opposing itself to the pre- * servation of fine- wool sheep in certain cli- ' mates, seemed, on the contrary, to lend *• itself ( 38 ) " Itself complacently to the exertions of in- " dusfry. I believe I have demonstrated in " my treatise on sheep, that the fine wools of *' Spain depend neither on the voyage, nor on *' the soil, nor the climate, nor the pasture, but '* that it depends on other causes, and that it *' is possible to have in France, and elsewhere, " wool of the same quality as that of Spain. " My travels in the north of Europe have " offered f^icts and observations, which have ** afresh demonstrated this truth. I have '* found in the far greater number of the flocks *' 1 have examined, wool, which, judging ** from the eye or the touch, equals in beauty " and fineness that of Segovia and Leon ; so *' much so, that in my opinion no doubt can ** remain,, that we can obtain superfine fleeces •' in every part of Europe, where pastures are '* to be found, and where we can depend on " winter food, on which sheep can be sup- '' ported. These wools make cloths as fine, '* as silky, and supple as those manufactured '* of Spanish wool, as attempts made in '* France, and other countries, prove. But *' were it true, that the food, climate, and other " local circumstances had a certain influence ' on die iiUrinsic qualities of wool, such as ♦' the ( 39 ) •* the elasticity, the strength, the soft- ** ness, &c. &c. it would not be the less " proved, that, at all events, cloths, fine and " beautiful enough to satisfy persons the most ** difficult on this point, can be obtained; and ** that a nation can easily do without the fine *' wools of Spain, and feed its finest manufac- '• tures with those drawn from its own proper '* soil. Nevertheless, as these truths are still " held in doubt by some persons, and lest *' these doubts should have a considerable influ- ** ence on our agriculture and our commerce, I *' thought it my duty to publish these facts, " which must give a new degree of force and *' certainty. I here present to view the actual •' state of Merino flocks, naturalized in ** Europe.'* He says, that a Merino flock came into Sweden, in 1723; that from the year 1740, to the year 1780, a bounty of 75 percent, was allowed to those, who sold fine wool ; in 1780, these bounties were reduced to 15, and in 1786, to 12 per cent.; and in 1792, being no longer deemed necessary to encou- rage this breed, they ceased. In 1764, Swe- den possessed 65,369 Merino sheep, of the pure ( 40 ) pure blood, and 23,384 ot the mixed blood: since that period they have constantly in- creased in number, in spite of the difficulty occasioned by the length of winter, and seve- rity of the climate. That the Merino sheep preserve, in Sweden, their pristine form ) that the fleeces have lost nothing of their equality of length, their elasticity and fine quality of pile j that their weight continues as great as in Spain ; that he has seen Merino rams, whose fleeces weigh 13 poundseach; and that, when seasoned to the climate, and properly fed, he has seen them larger and finer sheep than in Spain. Up- per Saxony, he says, is the country next to Swe- den, where the introduction ot the Merino is of the longest date; and it is in Saxony where this naturalization has met with the most marked success, and produced effects the most beneficial : (he native breeds have, by a mix- ture of Merino blood, profited in an equal degree. The first importation was in 1765; the next in 1778. Mr. Lasteyrie says, he has seen many different flocks, and has found the pure Merino, as well as some mixed breeds, producing wool of the first quality; indeed, the sheepwalks of Saxony are at this moment more productive than any other spe- I cies ( 4> ) cies of husbandry J and that the wool sells at three times the price (une valeur triple au- dessusj of the wools of the country. Saxony rears about i ,600,000 sheep, of which 90,000 are Merinos, and the mixed breed. They were introduced into Prussia by Frederic II. in the year 1786. Some of these, distributed over the country, from misma- nagement and gross neglect, have degenerated and died ; others he has seen which preserve their pristine qualities*. In Denmark, and in various parts of Germany, Mr. Lasteyrie has seen this race of sheep always prospering, if well treated ; and in this, and in every other country, degene- rating from want of food, and neglect; always, however, doing as well as the native breeds in * The same circumstances have been made known to myself by the Baron de Walknitz. He is said to have been sent from Prussia for the purpose of studying rural economy, in different parts of the continent. If a week's residence with him on my own farm, in the month of May last, could entitle me to give an opinion, I would say, that a person more fit was never sent forth to gain in- formation J nor is a person easily to be found, who will apply his knowledge and talents to more direct and useful purpose. « thr ( 42 ) the same keep, and, in some cases, better; that the more regular and ample the supply of food is, whether of grass or green vegetables, the hea- vier and finer will be the fleece — the larger in size and more perfect in shape will the sheep be. He strongly recommends housing ; bur adds, that foul, close, sheep-cots are injurious, that a free circulation of air is always found beneficial, and that this breeed of sheep suffers more from heat than from cold — (This doctrine has been repeatedly confirmed by our practice at home); that they will get fat as quick as any indigenous breed, in any country, and have done so wherever a comparison has been made. An experiment was made on the Me- rino sheep of Rambouillct, which denotes the peculiar character of this breed, and its tendency to carry wool. A ewe, eighteen months old, was left unshorn ; the next sea- son, her fleece, when shorn, weighed fourteen pounds ten ounces ; and its pile, which was double the usual len";th, lost nothin": as to weight, because few ewes would have given more wool, if clipped at the usual period. Another ewe was shorn at thirty month? old, and gave a still greater quan- tity ( 43 ) tity of wool, although she, at that season, suckled a lamb ; her fleece weighed twenty- one pounds, and the pile was eight inches long. In the ninth year (1800) eight ewes, whose fleeces were of two years' growth, gave from sixteen to twenty pounds each. It appeared irom these different experiments, that Merino wool, of two years' growth, will double its length, and will preserve all its fine quality. It was not observed, that the sheep, subjected to this experiment, suffered particularly from heat, or that their health was, in any degree, injured. It is possible, that this property in the Merino fleece, to grow beyond the period usual in our breed of sheep, may be produc- tive of some new manutaCture, where great length and fine quality of pile is requisite; but the hazard of the blow-flv, and the chance of losing in hedges and brakes any part of a fleece after it is once fit for a manufacture, will not allow of this practice becoming ge- neral, admitting even that the sheep suflFer no- thing in their proof during the summer months from the weight of the fleece, which in a large scale of practice is improbable, and that the wool should be found to pay as well for growing to this length, as it would when G 2 shorn { 44 ) shorn in common course ; but we have taken the liberty of noticing a circumstance so novel to us, because our English breeds are all sup- posed to cast their fleeces at a certain season of the year, if not shorn, with exception to lambs which hold their fleeces (this is quoted by many as an argument against shearing lambs); because the fact has also been doubted by some of the best-informed and liberal amongst us, nor supposing the reporters of Rambouillet meant to deceive, but that some mistake must have been rriade. A sample of this wool is now in England; I have carefully examined it, and can bear testimony to the fact. Salt is not given to sheep in Prussia, and m Holland ; but in Sweden, in Saxony, in Si- lesia, and in France, it is considered a most important article, and is strongly recom- mended on the same principle as we had before laboured to induce its adoption in these kingdoms. There are three points of view, in which salt becomes an object of importance to the landed interest : as a manure, worked into ind incorporated with the soil ; as a top- dressing ( 45 ) dressing to green corn crops in the spring season, like soot, malt-dust, pigeon's dung, &c. or as a component part of the food of animals, more especially of cattle and sheep. It might be presumed, that salt would be useful as a manure, because sea sand, where it can be obtained, has occasionally produced good effect; yet great benefit is known to arise from an admixture of common sand, with clay and marls ; if judiciously applied, it renders that lighter, which was before too clofe and heavy, and that more w^arm, which was before too cold ; but whether the sea sand produces a property superior to com- mon sand, remains yet to be proved. In another case, also, without due atten- tion we may be misled ; where fish arc caught, as is sometimes the case, in great abundance ; for instance, pilchards on the coast of Corn- wall ; they have been applied as a manure, and with an effect almost incredible: this effect, on a cursory view of the subject, might be attributed to salt ; but we must not forget the oil contained in these fish, when putrid, equal almost to whale blubber, the strongest of ( +6 ) of manure: indeed, we have reason to believe, that, as a manure, it is of no vahie, and we have to prove it the authority of Mr. Fenna, who, in his Report of Experiments on Salt as a Manure (and he has accurately detailed many) thus concludes : ** As an assistant or sti- mulus to the vegetable system, it appears through all the foregoing experiments to be quite destitute of every good property, and unworthy of notice as a manure, in any kind of process : such is the opinion of several neighbouring flirmers, who have viewed the different applications, and have, without exception, concurred m this report." We had no doubt of the good effect of salt on mouldy hay ; but it remained to be proved, how good hay, which had not spent its strength in premature fermentation, would bear such a quantity of salt as would invigo- rate the stomach, quicken the circulation of blood, and excite in cattle a desire to drink largelv. Some medical men, aware of our practice, conjectured, that salt tends to decom- pose and convert water to nourishment in an increased degree. Whether this is, or is not, to be so accounted for, we are incompetent to judge, but ( 47 ) but it is our business to know the effect it has on stock; and we do know, that it surpasses all belief. Some of our hay, lately in use, wan of the first quality of sheep hay, the produce of rich and deep loam on a limestone bottom; it was put together without wet, and had 251b, of salt per ton sprinkled through a sieve, a greater quantity than has yet been used. In colour, flavour, and proof, it equalled any hay whatever, and satisfies us that this, or a greater quantity of salt, may be infused into hay of the best quality, and with the best possible effect. In confirmation of this fact, we have also the authority of Mr. Darke of Breedon, one of the most celebrated graziers in the king- dom, who has mixed salt with his flooded mouldy hay, 8 lb. of salt only to a ton, and declares, that his Hereford oxen did better on it than others on the best hay he had, and that he was and is convinced, that the hay had all its good effect from the salt. Wc are not aware that the practice of giving salt in its raw state is any where to be found in this kingdom, except on our own estate. We shall therefore speak with due caution on the subject, confining ourselves to what '( 4S ) what has actually been done, and to the effect which in thirty months trial has been most apparent. The heavy duty now imposed on salt seems to be sufficient to deter others from its use, as it for some time deterred us. At length, we fortunately lost sight of this timidity : our motive was not to produce this or that imaginary effect, but to keep sheep in health. It was reasonable to con- jecture, that the flock would demand more salt in the autumn and spring months when dews are heavy, than in the summer or dead vvintcr months ; and so it proves. In Spain, a thousand sheep use in five months four arobes, or one quintal of salt, which is 128 lb. Their sheep would fat to about 13 lb. per quarter upon the average; this is the quantity given out, all of which may not be consumed ; and as the price ot salt in that country is no object, more would have been given, if more was ne- cessary. Without reference to what was allowed in Spain (for tlie increased moisture of our climate and the peculiar properties of our various soils would not allow such re- ference safely to be had), the quantity given to I ( 49 ) to our sheep was such as we have before staled would keep them healthy, or such as they appeared to demand. It is given in the morn- , ing when the sheep are looked over, in order to counteract the ill effect of the dew. They have consumed at the rate of one ton of salt for every thousand sheep, annually, which at the rate of 26s. per hundred, its present price, amounts to twenty-six pounds sterling : at the sarrte price the consumption of a thou- sand sheep might occasionally, but varying according to the season, amount to thirty pounds sterling per annum, and no more. A small handful is put on a flat stone, or slate, and ten or fifteen of these slates set a few yards apart, are enough for one hun- dred sheep. At first the sheep may be moved towards them ; if they feel a craving for salt, they will lick up quickly as much as is ne- cessary j if they do not want it, what remains dry, when the sheep are next looked at, is taken up and reserved for future use. Twice a week has usually been found sufficient ; in particular cases it may be offered thrice. As to any doubt respecting their inclination to H it, ( s° ) it, none can be maintained; for in the year* 1 80 1, of a flock approaching towards 1000, there are not ten old sheep, which have not taken kindly to it, and not a lamb, which does not consume it greedily. • You had suggested (says a gentleman who farms near Tewksbury, in Glouces- tershire) that chalk might be substituted for salt ; the latter being in this country too dear for common use upon a large scale. In Mr. T. Dillon's account of the Merino sheep, I find it stated, that the sheep eat less salt, when depastured in limy or marly soils. This led me to suppose, that an economical substitute for pure salt might be made use of; with this view I caused 12 lb. of chalk to be pounded, sifted, and kneaded in water, saturated with salt. This paste, being put in a trough, and dried in the oven, is placed in one of the racks, to prevent the sheep from soiling it; to this, when in the fold, they have constant access, and I be^ lieve they have received from it every benefit, that could be wished; they lick it constantly, and the lambs shew an uncommon partiality fx)rit." * - "when ( 5< ) When turnips in the early season are stocked with sheep, and the greens rank and strong, many die suddenly, more espe- cially young two-tooth sheep. The disor- der is a pent-up wind, occasioned by excess of fermentation in the stomach ; here salted hay and salt are devoured with a greediness, that denotes their salutary effect. The au- tumn of 1 80 1 was rainy and unfavourable, yet we did not lose one sheep in turnips, and probably never shall, whilst we persevere in the use of salt. In that of 1 802 we had many hundred fat wethers, gales, and hog sheep in turnips, and lost about two during the first month the turnips were stocked; the chances were, that in any keep, and in any season, of such a flock more might have died. In strong pastures likewise, when seasons are wet, the rot often spreads de- struction over whole tracts of country : here salt must be beneficial, and an object of national importance. It may not be an ab- solute specific in land naturally unsound ; such land it is madness, at any rate, to stock with sheep; but where the rot occa- H 2 sionally ( 52 ) sionally prevails, those, who have- carefully noted how salt affects cattle, can hazard little in supposing, that the disease will no rnore be heard of, when such a corrective is applied. We must content ourselves rather, with a negative than a positive proof, be- cause it is not easy to ascertain how many sheep might have fallen sick, or have died, which are now in health and alive; but it may be put to any flock-master, whether he would not consider himself a fortunate man, if at the expense of thirty pounds sterling per annum he could materially improve the health and condition of a flock of icoo sheep, weighing 14 lb. per quarter. His probable answer will be, that he would give double thq money to secure to himself such an advantage. We venture no opinion whatever on the propriety of commuting or abolishing this duty : if it be moderated or abolished, so much the better for the farming world ; if the duty remain, we shall persist in the use of salt, fortunate that we can obtain so great a benefit at so cheap a rate ; and rather than forego its use, we do not scruple to declare, (' 53 ) declare, that we would ' give one hundred pounds per annum, for every thousand sheep we possess, rather than be debarred its use even at its present rate ; well persuaded that we shall be most essential gainers thereby. It becomes a duty with us to say thus much, because an extensive adoption of the use of salt has a two-fold operation ; whilst it bene- fits the landed interest, it adds also, in a most considerable degree, to the national re- venue. On the subject of the Essay addressed to the Bath Society, the Chairman was pleased to express himself as follows : " Hetling House Society Rooms, Dec. 15, 1802. ** My Lord, ** As Chairman of this anniversary V meeting, I am directed to convey to your *' Lordship the most grateful thanks of the *' Society for your valuable Essay on Sheep f and Wool, and for your exhibition of stock " and ( 54 ) ** and utensils of husbandry; all of which ** were received with sentiments of the highest ♦* approbation. *' I have the honour to be, ** My Lord, ** Your most obedient servant, *' John Billingsley.*^ Report of the Committee. COPY. ** Your Committee, appointed to take ** Lord Somerville's Memoir into considera- ** tion, have perused the fame with much sa- " tisfaction. ** It contains a great deal of interesting *' information respecting the Spanish breed of ** sheep, and the different crosses of them ; and ** his Lordship appears now to be demonstrat- ** ing from his own experience what he *' long ( 55 ) " long ago promised to the Society and to the ** public. (Signed) " Jno. White Parsons., ** George Tollett. " Richard Astley. ** David Sweet. ** John R. Lucas. ** S. Payne. ** John R. Bracher. ** Gab. Goldney. ** W. C. Sloper." Among the stock exhibited was a Merino ram, reduced almost to a skeleton by a tedious voyage from Spain in boisterous weather, which had since served more than one hundred ewes, and was taken from the flock the day he was sent to Bath ; we believe this circum- stance could hardly be known, and that it was probably the first time a ram was ever exhi- bited for public inspection at that season of the year, after serving any number, much less such a flock as one hundred ewes, running with them all at the same time : more particularly when we include the sea voyage, which constantly pro- duces fever, until sheep are seasoned to it, and al- I ways ( 56 ) ways renders their importation a matter of ex- ceeding difficulty ; yet, under all these disad- vantages, there was ^ natural tendency in him to lay on fiesh and fat, which could not be control- led, together with a breadth of chest, a fulness rn the twist, or leg of mutton, and a breadth on theback, exemplifying the symmetry, to which these sheep, by attention to the frame, may be brought : he cleft two inches thick of fat on the rump. A tame bell wether, or manso, was shewn at the same time, and killed ; he was kept for the purpose of leading the flock (for no dogs are used in Spain), and always followed the shepherd, feeding from his pocket; so that when he came to this country at three years old, this sheep might have been warranted never to have tasted grass, yet, with hardly a tooth in his head, he brought himself to be good mutton on grass alone, and was as fat as need be served at table, or *' eat with *' bread," as the technical term is. The half- bred Ryeland and South -down two-tooth we- thers died as well, carrying as much spina fat as was necessary; and besides what was on the kidnies, rough fat or tallow in full pro- portion to their age and size; one of them, a small sheep, was judged to carry as much wholesome ( SI ) wholesome flesh on the spine, as some sheep would, weighing 40 pounds per quarter. As very few of the Merinos, actually bred in Spain, can ever be seen in this country; and as this is the foundation, on which we are heareaftcr to build that improvement in shape, which never yet was refused to animals, na- turally high in proof, we must cite one in- stance more. Several rams, brought over with the flock, were of a shape unfit to breed from ; notwithstanding the sacrifice was great, prime cost and heavy expense of the voyage considered, they were cut about the middle or end of October; and although very low in order at that time, they have exhibited a ten- dency to get fat, which absolutely surpasses belief. Some of them were spared to a gen- tleman near Taunton, and were judged by butchers to be fit to kill, and good meat in January. For two pure Merino ewes, exhi- bited, fifty guineas were offered, in presence of the whole meeting, and more was readv" to be given, if that price was not suflicient : it was not accepted. This subject has, at last, excited a more than common interest, and number- less questions arc asked as to the return or I profit ( S8 ) profit per acre, on clothing or fine wool ; this will depend on the nature of the keep ; if sheep are to run on pasture land only during the whole year, so much will depend on the nature of the seasons, that no fixed value, or specific rate of stock, can well be given. If a large portion of this grass is to be kept hained up for winter, and the season be not favourable, autumn rains, followed quickly by frost, will kill very much of the foggage, and the sheep will consequently be very hard driven for food from Candlemas to the next shoot of grass, however late that may be. The quantity, indeed, of stock to be carried per acre, as well as their health and good condition, must be in proportion as there is more or less produce ; and on the compe- tent and regular supply of food the growth of good wool wholly depends. South-down store ewes, at three pounds a fleece, and at one shilling and ten-pence per pound, will pay five and six-pence per fieece; which, at six and a half sheep per acre in good upland pasture for seven months, and five months in turnips at the rate of fourteen or fifteen per acre will pay thirty-eight shillings or two pounds per acre. Ryeland, ditto, two pounds and a quar- ter a fleece, and two shillings and two-pence per ( 59 ) per pound, untrinded; nine sheep per acre, tur- nips in the same proportion as above, will pay two pounds three shillings and ten-pence halfpenny per acre. South-down and Me- rino ewes, of the half blood, at four pounds a fleece clean washed and at three shillings a pound, will amount to twelve shillings each fleece, which, at seven and a half per acre for seven months, amount to four pounds ten shil- lings per acre for the pasture land, with tur- nips for winter keep. The store ewes of Ryeland and Merino half-blood, at ten per acre for seven months, and turnips in propor- tion as above, at three pounds and a quarter each fleece, at three fliillings and two-pence per pound, or ten shillings and three- pence halfpenny a fleece, amounts to six pounds ten and five-pence per acre. Doubts have arifen as to the poflibi- lity of any return, such as this, to be had from wool. What then will be said of the pure Merinos ? — Why, that their fleeces have never been sold at less than one guinea each ; that the weight averages more than six pounds each, in the yolk; that on the above allowance of pasture for seven months, and turnips in aid of that pasture, 1 2 the ( 6o ) tlie return shall be ten guineas per acre. Mr. Lastcyrie says, that a ram was shewn last year at Rambouillet, whose fleece weighed sixteen pounds ; that some other flocks have given fleece of the same weight ; and a table, which he has given, demonstrates, that the average weight of the Merino fleece is from seven to eight pounds each, in the grease; setting the price at three shillings per pound only, the fleece becomes worth more than one guinea ; if it were necessary to bring addi- tional proof of a statement, which is known tq be correct, we are ready to allot some acres of ground to this purpose, and again to prove the fact : but as the proportion of stock, both of the mixed breeds and pure Merino, with the parent stock of South-down and Ryeland sheep, is well ascertained, we have, and can have, no further doubts on the subject : the wools from each sort actually will weigh these weights (and we have more than proved it, re- gard being had to the scanty growth of wool last spring), and they have actually sold for these prices, which are still considered by the trade as moderate. We are not now stating a return always to be made under careless and bad management, but what can be made, if every attention be paid. Few can form a calcula- 2 tio^;^ ( 6« ) tfon how much the water-meadows in Hamp- shire and Wiltshire pay per acre when they are hurdled off in cuts, and fed by couples in the spring months ; the scarcity of keep at that season of the year, and its value, enforce the necessity of thrift ; every blade of grass is then of consequence, and the profit m.ade of these meadows wonderful. We refrain from any comparison between the profits of long and short wool : on Lincolnshire and Leicester- shire land let Lincoln and Leicester wool be grown. A member of the Bath Society stands single in his avowed opposition to the ame- lioration of clothing wool, and, with the ill fortune, which usually attends an unqualified general assertion, is said to have declared, that he was an enemy to its impovement; where- upon another manufacturer and one of the most eminent in Gloucestershire asked if he knew any single article manufactured from coarse, which would not be better made from finer wool, if more was grown, so that it might be had equally cheap. No reply was made. This comparison gave rise to num- JDerless reflections in all probability, of which wc ( 6z ) we arc ignorant, but it produced the following from a member of the Society, the Rev. Mr. B. whose judgment and impart iaUty no man can doubt : ** Indeed, in whatever point of view the subject is contemplated, it is full of satis- faction ; double the quantity of fine wool can be raised from the same breed only by crosses, without impairing the carcass ; and if it should be argued, that in time the fine- wool sheeep might supersede others, it is some comfort to know, that there is not a single manufacture in which coarse wool is used, that would not be doubly valuable by being composed of that, which is fine; and as to price, the consumer or manufacturer need be under no apprehensions, for plenty would be sure to reduce it within fair and equita- ble bounds. In fact, it cannot be long, from the conviction that has been wrought on the public mind, as to the subject of your Essay, before the price of Spanish wool, from the quantity grown in this island, will be considerably reduced. As the pub- lic was obliged in the last scarcity of corn to pay on its importation for agency, freight, '* insurance J ( 63 ) *' insurance, demurrage, and a thousand et *' ceteras, which the home farmer puts into ** his pocket for every grain raised on his own '* estate without a shilhng additional expense; ** in the same manner the iine wool at present ** bears nearly the same price as the Spanish ; ** but when the country is enabled to raise *' enough for its own consumption, the ex- *' penscs attending the transportation from •' Spain being deducted, a far less profit than at ** present must satisfy the flock-master. At all '* events, every one is left at liberty to raise a '* competition, which can alone secure the inte- " rests of the public, and by which the price will " be fairly regulated. It was a most grateful *' pieceof intelligence, and confirms byyourex- ** pcrience what Dr. Parry had before intimated '■* to me, that it was in your power, by strong ** feeding, to lengthen the pile of the short- *• wooUed sheep, without deteriorating its ** quality ; a circumstance this, which may ** give birth to manufactures hitherto un- ** known or unsuspected." We ought to apologize for these details, which many may think projix; but it must not ( 64 ) not be forgotten, that subjects of this nature are liable, beyond any others, to misconstruc- tion, sometimes to selfish and wilful misre- presentation. We are fortunate in having de^ monstrated to the public that our " hexame- *• ters and pentameters," as the Editors of the British Critic have been pleased to express themselves, are not founded iin error. The dignity, the utility of this subject has been acknowledged in all ages and in every corner of the civilized world ; we love it for its own sake ; and it is necessary we should do so, to endure with patience the unworthy treatment to which it too often subjects us, and will never be induced to make it subservient to dirty political intrigue. We have twice been assailed by language as unprovoked and illiberal as ever disgraced the British press; once by a Daily Journal, v.hich did, indeed, endeavour by a subsequent comment to atone for what it had done; and once by *' A So^ ** ciety of Farmers,'' as the publication entitled itself, which Society consisted of one repub- lican land-surveyor, and his bookseller, in London. The surveyor is said to have lately • defrauded ( 65 ) defrauded a nobleman of a very large sum of money, to have been refused a passport to quit the kingdom, and to be now seeking refuge in the King's Bench prison, or in the Fleet, it is not very material which : the bookseller has since been a bankrupt. It is needless to say, both these publications were treated with the silent contempt they merited. Objections, however, to any principle may be made by men of another description ; and they may come from a quarter so respectable, as to demand elucidation : this is illustrated by the following observations on the properties of the two-furrow plough, in reply to a Treatise on Ploughs, published by Mr. F. de Neuf- chateau, ex-director, and member of the Na- tional Institute of France. This Treatise was sent to us by the author j to avoid noticing it was, therefore, impossible: any little know- ledge we happen to possess, shall be most rea- dily communicated, whether demanded in terms somewhat harsh, or, what is always more pleasant, in language of conciliation. Our reply was as follows : ** I have the honour to acknowledo^e the receipt of your Treatise on Ploughs, and the polite letter, which accompanied it. I feel K myself ( 66 ) myself bound, in an individual capacity, to offer you all possible elucidation on a question, interesting to all nations. ** Your Treatise does me the honour to put my ploughs in competition with many others. I must be allowed to disclaim any connexion with the assertions of others, and to stand or fall by my own alone, confirmed, as they fortunately are, by repeated and re- peated facts. If it appear, that I have formed any one erroneous calculation as to what might be done with this implement of husbandry, which subsequent practice has not again and again confirmed ; or stated that as a fact, which was not a fact j then will shame de- servedly be mine. The following passage m your Treatise must plead my excuse for this allusion : ' Voila certainement de magni- * fiques promesses; qui les admettrait sans ex- * amen ne sera pas digne d'en apprecier les re- * sultats, mais ni la description nile dessein nc ■ sufRcent pour se faire Tidee de la possibility * de resultats annonces.* Had this sentiment originated in a speculative opinion of mine alone, it might have been justifiable; but it follows the statement also of an absolute fact, witnessed ( 6? ) witnessed by very many persons of different descriptions. " Of the many ploughs you have called into notice, some we have long known to be useful implements j such as the Rotherham, or Yorkshire; the Essex and Suffolk, as well as Small's Scotch plough; the Norfolk, Hert- fordshire, and Turn wrest wheel ploughs ; and since, doubtless, you would not sit down to compose a programme on ploughs, the pro- perties of which you are unacquainted with, I take the liberty of sending a copy, or fac^ simile, of ploughs then in use, taken from a treatise written by Walter Blith, about the year 1653, by which you will immediately perceive how little originality of invention or improvement has been manifested in the greater part of the swing and wheel ploughs, con- structed within the last hundred and fifty years . Two or three exceptions there are, which shall be immediately noticed. This stagnation of real improvement militates nothing against the implements themselves now in use, but much against the numberless fancied improvements of modern authors. If all had written like Duhamel, or even like my countryman Small; K 3 or ( 68 ) or if all those, who have written, had studied the subject where only it could be studied, namely, in the furrow, this confusion would never have arisen. '* No notice is taken in your Treatise of two inventions in the construction of ploughs, which have really borne the test of practice with success. ** The first, Mr. TugwelPs, the Beverston single-wheelplough,theprinciple of draught in which, although expensive in the iron-work, is most effective ; his point of draught is perpen- dicularly above the point of action^ namely, the throat, or breast, where the share fits on : this plough has been noticed by the Bath Society. The second {?> the production of that most excellent husbandman, the late Mr. Ducket, of Esher, in Surrey : it is called the skim coulter plough. Having an engraving of this plough, I do myself the honour of for- warding it; but r fear the representation will do injustice to the work, which the plough is known to make. The principle is most sim- ple, and therefore most valuable : it is bor- rowed from the practice of trenching, used by gardeners. ( 69 ) gardeners, that is, of turning one spit of earth first, and then a second upon it, by which means that, which was first turned dow^n, lies rotting, undisturbed by any operation on the surface. The skim requires a perpendicular direction, and the coulter-hole is to be further re- moved from the throat and share : in the corn=- mon position it would choke, when in work* In thin and sandy soils it is more particularly useful, because it cuts off all which is on tlj^ surface, at the depth of an inch or inch and half, that it may be rotting for a future crop, giving thereby increased depth of soil to every subsequent course of crops, and acting often ^§ a pan or support to keep up manures in cir^ culation ; it being esteemed a great misfortune in such soils, that they run through. There is one other novel principle in the formation of our English ploughs, of which I shall en^ deavour to speak as sparingly as possible^ bej^ cause it is my own invention, and because it had not the good fortune to attract your notice in that representation of the two-furrow plough, which you have done me the honoujr to allude to. Having made some amcndmeat in the moveable plates, applied to two- furrow ploughj5, and having now de^i^ned them fpf ( 7* ) single-furrow ploughs of every description, I found myself under the necessity of taking out a patent, by which means alone the form of the cast iron mould-plate can be preserved from piratical and deceptive imitation : any de- viation from the original form, however trifling, might materially affect the turn of the furrow, and without doubt, any addi- tional obtusity or thickness in the form of the breast and throat must, of necessity, add very much to the weight of draught. In proportion to this obtusity will be the increase of weight. Nor should we forget another consequence at- tending this bluntness in the breast, namely, a broken and ragged furrow. On due consider- ation, you will find this a fundamental error in many of the ploughs noticed in your Trea- tise, whether of foreign or English construc- tion; yet, to prove to you how long ago this was known and prohibited, I take the liberty of quoting a passage from the above-men- tioned Walter Blith, which treats of the con- struction of ploughs. I was fortunate enough to purchase a copy of this book some weeks ago, and I have the more pleasure in giving an extract from the book, because it is as scarce as it is valuable. He says, * Before I 5 * proceed ( 7« ) * proceed in this discourse, I shall lay down * these two or three maxims, or conclusions; * first, that whatever moveth upon the land, * or that worketh in the land, or carrieth the * least earth or weight with it, must needs * move or work the easiest : a plough, the more ' earth or weight it carries with it, the more ' strength must be required : the natural fur- * row it must carry; but the lesser compass, * both in height and length, it bears upon the * plough, the easier the plough must go; the * more naturally any thing moves, the more * easily; and the more artificially, the more * difficultly : the sharper or thinner is any * tool, the easier it pierceth, and the less * strength it requireth; so, contrarily, the * thicker or duller any tool is, the more strength * must work it. ** * As for ixivino; an addition of ease unto * an ordinary way of ploughing, and the taking * away of some of the strength which is so * great a burden to the husbandman, is a * very vast concernment, and will take a very * large discourse; the effecting whereof, I * shall endeavour, under the following heads : ^ First, to discover several abuses or hinder^ * ances ( 70 ■ * Antes to the well going of the plough, With * some remedies thereto. Secondly, td give * you the descriptions with the figures of se^ ' veral sorts of ploughs, now in use* Thirdly, * to consider wherein the chief ease of the * plough consists,withtheeasiestgoing plough, *■ and the advantages gained thereby* Fourthly, * to discover to what sorts of land, and seasons ' of ploughing, each plough is most suitable, * with a double plough, yet unknown » and a * plough that shall both plough and harrow * at once.' He then proceeds to state the faults of ploughs, and says : * I tliereforc * shall be bold to say, that if plough-irons be * not madeexceeding true in all points, according ' to the land you have to plough, and wrought * fair and smooth, a plough-wright, or * plough^maker, shall not, nor cannot, work ' true to a false foundation; and if it be not * Wrought true, it shall hardly go true, unless * after much wearing, being wrought into ' work, it may plough reasonable well at last, ' and by that time the plough must be worn * out; but never with that ease nor conti- ' nuance as it would by truth of workman- * ship. Another abuse in him is the not * steeling his plougli-irons well, and making * them ( 73 ) * them sharp and well pointed ; the second * abuse is in the plough-maker, who works * according to certain coarse rules he hath * learned by trade, knows not how to hold a * plough himself, nor to apply himself to the * nature of the land, or according to the alter^ * ation of it, nor scarce is able to discern the * falsity of the smith*s workmanship, and is * not able to apply himself to all sorts of lands, * or those several sorts of tilths the husband- * man gives ; he shall never make a plough to * go with ease by his rules, unless he chop * upon it by chance. ** * The third abuse may be in the plough- * holder; and if he have not abilities to hold * his plough; to fix and alter his iron, and * his plough too, according to the several na- * tures of the land he plougheth, and accord- * ing to the manner of his ploughing, and * keep his irons in a true and keen posture ; * sometimes he is to cast down his land ; * sometimes to raise up, and sometimes to * plough up hill and down; sometimes even, * level ground; in all which, if he have not * good €;xperience, though both smith and * plough- wjights dp their parts, yet, because L * th^ ( 74 ) * the plough-holder cannot be made as well as * the plough, many good ploughs are utterly ' spoiled in the usage or abusage.* " Blith then proceeds to describe the Hertfordshire wheel-plough, represented in the plate, and says it is useful on flinty and strong soils, and will work well with great strength : he notices also the Turnwrest plough, and says : * There is another double- * wheel plough, and it is called the Turn- ' wrest plough, which of all ploughs that ever * I saw, surpasseth, for weight and clumsi-s ' nessj it is most of use in Kent, Picardy, * and Normandy, and is called the Kentish ' plough with us : I am confident it might * be cast into a neater form, and made to ' gooii advantage : the weightiness and ug- ' liness of it I hate, but the Turnwrest con- * ceit I like.' ** He next treats of the single- wheel plough, represented in the plate, which he commends highly. Its principle of draught comes nearer to that of the Beverston, than any I have yet seen, although differently executedl He tells us, that ' Col. Blunt, of Greenwich, *hath .%r ■]() ( IS ) *" hath ploughed with six good horses, six * men, and six ploughs, six acres a day at * sowing time, in light well-wrought ground.* ** Blith then treats of the Norfolk and Suffolk, which he calls * good ploughs, in * many countries where land is light.* Of the Dutch plough then used, and still in use in Lincolnshire, and of the double-furrow plough, carrying two furrows at once ; of this last he gives a description (vide plate), and says: * Which plough, thus marshalled, * you may well plough upon ordinary arable * land, which is in good tillage, a double pro- * portion, and also upon fair, clean lay tuff; * and this you may manage with four good ' horses, but not upon strong or rough land ; * the description and discourse whereof, I gi\Q * not in as of any great advantage above the * other plain plough, but for variety *s sake, ' and to provoke others to the amendment and ' perfecting of this discovery; yet I, for pre- * sent, see not, but it may be of excellent use * and expedition upon many lands in Eng- * land ; and experience of a good ploughman * will order it at pleasure.* L 2 *« Thar ( 76 ) ** That fhere is much practical good s^nse contained in these passages, no hus- bandman can deny. Now, Sir, I am to prove, whether or not I have worked out any of that ifnprovement, which he says the plough carrying two furrows is capable of. From the design representing a side view, you will observe, besides the moveable plates, coulters, stays, &c. how firmly the plough is put to- gether, and how little waste there is of timber and iron work. ** No foreshortened or front view was given, but the description in a particular man- ner noticed the keenness of the throat or breast, and the little resistance it would thereby pro- voke. ** Now, it is not to be denied, that you add to the strength of any implement, in pro- portion as you do away the resistance with which it had to contend; this circumstance Blith dwells on much; and, indeed, so will evel-y other man who knows what work is. The double-edged coulter is formed also to produce this effect; in strength and substance it is equal to the common or narrow coulter, and being less 5 broad, ( 77 ) broad, presents so much less for resistance: when in work, the stay gives a steadiness to it, the coulter being subject to frequent derangc- ment, to correct which, must occasion frequent stops, alteration of the wedges, and loss of time. ** We have now to consider the moveable mould-plate, and its operation on the furrow. If the breast of a plough be obtuse, the whole struggle lies there — there is the furrow turned, and the hindermost part of the mould-plate has little or nothing to do,- the furrow may be well laid for one particular sort of work, but the breast of the common plate can only be of one form, therefore can only turn one description of furrow; and this must be done at an increased weight of draught: this is beyond all contradic- tion, in these moveable plates, the furrow is not turned until it reaches the remotest point of action, at a distance of two feet from the point where the furrow is cut off from the land. By the gentle and progressive turn of the mould-plate, the earth hangs balancing, as it were, in the air, and the slightest pressure of the moveable plate lays it over. The prin- ciple of this plate is to deposit the furrow U any angle required, and to qualify it thereby ( 7« ) thereby for the different purposes of hus- bandry. There is another principle in plough- ing, equally well established; namely, that the base or bottom of the furrow must be cut level and true, or the surface of the work will be untrue, and the crop derive otherwise ma- terial injury. To effect this, the plough must go close at heel, and upright in its work, therefore the furrow must assume one form only. A third principle equally certain is, that in ploughing lay ground, or for sowing on one earth, the furrow should be laid far more iiat than is advisable in the last stirring or seed earth. As lor barley, &c. hitherto we have obtained one of these objects at the ex- pense of the others. No two-furrow plough could, for an instant, make work, except in an upright direction; for if it did, the ' land,' or left share, v/ould be buried too deep, and the furrow, or right share, would be thrown 05 ) Certificates of the iirst year's show are now mislaid ; those of the last year for stock obtaining premiums, are as follow : *' This is to certify, that the two pair of *' oxen shewn by the Duke of Bedford, for **.Lord Somerville's premium, are seven " years old ; that they were worked together ** for three years; that on January i, 1802, ** they were in fair working condition; and *' between that time and the ist of May, " when they were let up from work, they did ** forty-four days hard work: that they have ** never had corn of any description, or pota- ** toes; and between the 9th of November and ** the 19th of February, the day they set ofF ** on their journey for London, have con- ** sumed three hundred and eighty-four oil- ** cakes each. ** Edward Cartw^right. *' John Clayton.*' ** A yoke of oxen, seven years old, ** bought of (and as I believe bred by) Mr, ** Edward Jeffries, of the Sherriffs, Hereford- ** shire, worked by me three years, were in ^* fair working condition on New Year's Day, p ** 1803 r ( -06 ) ' 1 802 : went to work as soon after Candle-r ' mas as the land would permit us to plough, * and continued the same to the 2d or 3d ' of May following : did as much work day ' by day as any oxen 1 had : after they were * turned off from their work, have been fed * solely with grass and hay : never have eaten * during the time I have had them, either * potatoes or corn of any description: have ' travelled 80 miles and upwards, since Sa- * turday, the 19th instant. Feb. 25, 1803. ** John Edmonds/* " Haine Farm, near Tiverton, Devon. *' I hereby certify, that I sold, on the ' 5th May 1802, at Collumpton fair, to " Mr. Martin Webber, tw^ooxen, which he in- '* tends shewing for Lord Somerville*s prizes; ** bred by me, and taken to labour at two '* years old, and continued regularly working *' till the 25th April last: on New Year*s *' Day, 1802, they were quite lean: cannot ** say the exact number of days* work they ** did from New Year*s Day, 1802, but ven- " ture to say, more than fifty before I sold " them. I also certify, that they were never *♦ fed ( 107 ) ** fed with any kind of corn whatever while ** in my possession. ** Witness my hand, the 23d day of ** February 1803. ** Thomas Gamblin.*' *' Two oxen, bred and fed by Thomas ** Miller, West Farleigh, Kent; fed with *' cake and hay, and worked to the ist day of " August 1802. ** The cake these two oxen have eat, ** Weio-hedout 1 000 lb. 'to ** Now left - 1 45 8551b. » '* I John Skyrme, of Strotton Sugwas, ** in the county of Hereford, do hereby cer- ** ti fy, that the two oxen which I sold Mr. '* Byng on the 12th day of May 1802, were *• bred by me, and worked in the yoke for *' the space of three years preceding. October 20, 1 8o2. " JoHN SkyRME.' p 2 *• These ( '08 ) ** These two reel oxen Were bought by " me, Henry Coles, on February ii, 1802, '* and since Lady-day have been worked by '* my s'ervant, the bearer of this certificate, and ** the same have been fed by me on grass and " hay only, without any artificial food what- ** ever. — As witness my hand, this 14th day ** of February 1803, *' Henry Coles.' *' February 24, i8oa, sold Mr. Henry '* Coles two red oxen, which were my own ** breed at the parish of Stawley, in the ** county of Somerset, which were constantly ** kept to the plough to the last day of January *' last, by straw, and without any artificial *' food whatsoever. — As witness my h^nd, *' this nth day of February 1803. "J. W. Hellings.'^ ** This is to certify, that the five South- ** down wethers shewn by his Grace the ** Duke of Bedford, for Lord Somerville*s ** premium, were lambed on Maulden farm, *' in March 1801 ; that they vyorked in the ** f bid in 1 801, from May ist till JuJy 20'th^ ** wher^ ( 1^9 ) •** when they were weaned, and have never *' had oil-c^keor corn pf any description. " Edmund Cartwright. ** Thomas French." ** This pen of ewe hoggets were dropt in ** March; they went to fold in the middle of ** April, and folded with their dams till the *' beginning of November, invariably, when *• they were put to turnips, where they have ** been until last Wednesday : never have ** had cither corn, cakes, or hay; when they *• wxre taken from the flock, and drove to ** Edmonton, where they have been until this ** morning; their coats will inform the un- *' congenialness of the soil, and an open com- *' mon field. I shall again express my wish * ' that they may not be put in competition with ** park or paddock bred and fed, for the very ** same reasons as expressed in the certificate ** with my wether sheep. ** Edward Smith, jur». Clothalbury, 17th February 1803. ** They have, agreeably to the proposal, ** not been forced beyond the flock, nor have * ' they had their coats smoothed by the scissars." ^* This ( no ) " This is to certify, that the five Soiith- ♦• down wether sheep I offer for a premium *' given by Lord Somerville, were bred by *' Mr. Thomas Ellman, and self; are two ** years ten months old; were kept with the " flock, and folded the first year; since *' which time they have been fed on grass and *' hay till November last, wdicn they had *' some turnips. Feb. 28, 1803. ** John Ellman.'* The oxen which his Majesty conde- scended to exhibit, having no respite from la- bour, and being grazed in Windsor Park, could not be supposed, in point ot ripeness, to compete with others grazed on better land : they turned out, however, well when dead. The Devon oxen, grazed by the Duke of Bedford, which obtained the first prize, were worked together with six others in the thrash- ing-millj whether attracted by the principle of this stupendous piece of machinery, or by the uniformity, and, we may add, beauty, of the team itself, certain it is, that of the various exhibitions at the Woburn shearing in June, this seemed to claim more than common at- tention ( III ) tention in the husbandmen of Norfolk, in particular. We have noticed this with silent delight, and hailed it as a most auspicious omen. The husbandry ol that county wocild be almost inimitable, if a due proportion of its labour be performed by that which will add to, rather than consume, the food of m.an. The Kentish oxen, produced by Mr. Millar, although heavier *Jian the stipulated weight, could not be dismissed without some acknowledgment of their merit. They la- boured to the month of August last, and there- by completely illustrated the principle aimed at in this exhibition ; they were as fat as need ever be seen on the stones of Smithfield ; and in tlieir working state they must have evinced that activity and just proportion which would carry a loaded waggon to the top of any hill, and excite surprise and wonder in those who arc unaccustomed to the exertions of oxen. The Hereford oxen, grazed by Mr. Ed- monds, as well as those grazed by Mr. M. Webber, were much esteemed for the quantity of labour, and the manner in which they bore the ( "2 ) the drift up when fat. The prize was secured to Mr. Edmonds, his oxen not being over- weight : they weighed, St. lb. Fore quarter 41 4 Ditto 4^ o Hind quarter 38 o Ditto 38 Y The yellow ox. 3j J59 Fore quarter 41 Ditto . .41 Hind quarter 36 Ditto . . 37 7 2 4 4 156 2 Their rough fat amounted to 40 stone, or i6oIb. each. The yoke of Hereford oxen, bred by Mr. Skyrme, were not only such as might be ex- pected from his stock, but would have done credit to any breeder in the kingdom. The yoke of Devon oxen, grazed by Mr, Hudson, could not be supposed to come 5 i» ( "3 ) in competition with many others, for their labour is incessant, and their hopes of rest, except on Sundays, most feeble. Our certificate of their labour done, equalled, and, indeed, exceeded that of the last year; we believe they were universally thought to be creditable stock, yet had no hopes of gaining either prize, and consequently no dis- appointment : but as their proof has done cre- dit to him who grazed them, for they had all new flesh to lay in, as well as fat, it m,ay not be amiss to state, that they carried 53 stone of rough fat; that the kidnies were loaded, and the flesh, or grain, ripe and well filled up with fat. We were induced tolimit the weight of oxen ex- hibited, from 100 to 160 stone (16 score per quarter) on the presumption that cattle of these weights were best adapted to quick motion com- bined with strength, not aware that, in a period often months, or less, they could be brought to rharkct from labour, so ripe and perfect, as it now appears they do come. The same reason which then limited these weights to x 60 stone, now justifies an increase of weight to 180 stone, or 1 8 score per quarter, which alteration will be announced for the show of the years 1 804-5. Q. • If ( "4 ) It is a matter of precaution again to de- clare, that our only object is the introduction of oxen in the labour of husbandry, and by no means to advance one good working breed at the expense of another : whether they come from the East Riding of Yorkshire^ from Scotland, from Shropshire, from Hereford- shire, from North and South Wales, from Devon and Somersetshire, or from Sussex and Kent; all shall be welcome; and to all, as far as human endeavours can go, shall justice be done. How many millions of money have beer> expended in procurmg corn by importation, within the last four years, and how cruelly thousands of our fellow-subjects have suffered from the want of bread, need not here be urged, for the occurrence is too fresh in every memory ; but we are bound to repeat what has before been advanced, and without con- tradiction; that taking the number of heavy cart-horses at 500,000, which probably comes far short of the actual number; and admitting 200,000, from local circumstances, to be useful, the remaining 300,000 totally superfluous : the latter consume at the rate of one The following it eight y years ago. To face page The following Tables are inserted ; they were first published by us about eight years ago. TABLE FOR THE EQlULrZATION OF DIFFERENT WEIGHTS. Scores, Stones, It 141b. Stones, at 8 lb. Scotch Stones, i61b. Hundred, It2lb. St. lb. St. lb. St. lb. Cwt. qrs. lb. 20 equal 28 8 50 25 328 2S — 35 10 62 4 31 2 4 I 24 3° — 42 12 75 37 4 5 I 12 35 — 50 «7 4 43 6 610 40 — 57 2 100 50 7 i6 4S — b4 4 112 4 56 2 804 5° — 71 6 125 62 4 8 3 20 z** 8 137 4 68 6 9 3 8 60 — »5 10 150 75 10 2 24 65 - Q2 12 162 4 81 2 II 2 12 70 — 100 >75 87 4 12 2 75 — 107 2 ,87 4 93 6 13 I 16 80 — 114 4 200 100 14 I 4 TABLE OF PRICES. Scorn 3K sM- Sj'i. ^. 4iJ. 4J''. 4}i S''. SH sy- sK 6J. 6Jd. t¥- ty. 7,/. difference. 3 4 S 'S 30 35 40 45 50 11 is 70 li 85 90 95 /. .. J. ° 5 5 ols '3 I I 8 I r I 5 8 4 6 15 5 8 I 6 9 9 7 10 16 8 12 3 9 13 10 10 14 17 II ■6 5 17 It I .81, . JO 6 3 M 13 4 23 J =4 7 6 25 14 , 27 ■ 8 /. J. d. s 10 II 8 17 6 ■ 3 4 1 9 ' 5 16 8 7 5 10 3 IS ■ 4 1 11 13 4 13 2 6 \t'l,l 17 10 .8 ., 1 20 8 4 21 17 6 • 3 6 8 24 IS ■=> 2« 5 27 14 2 '9 3 4 6 3 1 12 6 18 9 1 5 e'; ^ 7 16 3 976 .0 .8 9 14 I 3 15 12 6 >7 3 9 18 15 20 6 3 21 17 6 23 8 9 25 26 II 3 28 2 6 29 13 9 31 5 I. 1. J. 068 13 4 1 6 8 I'.lt 8 6 8 II 13 4 13 6 8 18 6 8 21 13 4 23 6 8 25 26 13 4 28 6 8 30 31 '3 4 33 « 8 1. .. J. ii \\ '\ 1% 6 8 /. /. S « 3 17 10 19 13 9 21 17 6 14 I 3 26 5 28 3 9 30 12 6 32 16 3 35 37 3 9 39 7 6 41 II 3 Uj IS 1. s. d. 18 4 1 7 6 1 16 8 2 S '° 9 3 4 II 9 2 13 IS 16 10 18 6 8 20 12 6 22 18 4 25 4 2 27 10 29 IS 10 32 I 8 34 7 « 36 13 4 38 19 2 41 5 :?r8 /. t. J. 097 19 2 1 8 9 I 18 4 uv. II 19 I 14 7 6 ■ 6 IS 5 '9 3 4 21 II 3 23 19 2 26 7 1 28 IS 31 2 II 33 '0 >o 35 '8 9 38 6 8 40 14 7 43 ' ' 45 'o 5 47 18 4 1. : d /. J. rf 10 s 1 11 3 2 I 8 10 i 4 13 J • S 12 6 IS 4 7 2o 16 8 23 8 9 26 10 iS 12 II ji 5 33 >7 I j6 9 2 39 ' 3 41 13 4 44 S 5 46 17 6 49 9 7 J. I 8 I. I. J. 1. 1. d 10 10 II 3 118126 1 12 6 I 13 9 2 3 4 » 5 2 14 2 » "S 3 10 16 8 II s 13 10 10 14 I 3 16 s 016 17 6 18 19 2 19 <3 9 24 7 625 6 3 2, I 828 2 6 29 IS ■030 18 9 32 10 033 -5 35 4 236 I. 3 37 '8 439 7 6 40 12 6 42 3 9 43 6 845 46 1047 16 3 48 IS 50 11 6 SI 9 > S3 8 9 54 3 4 5« 5 /. /. d II 8 ■ 3 4 I'l t 2 >8 4 II 13 4 14 I. 8 17 10 20 I 4 =3 « 8 .S s '9 3 4 32 I 8 3S 37 18 4 40 16 8 43 8 ) "wholly inadequate to the risk and trouble irt- curred. As we have heretofore resisted the "vvanton attacks of the trade on our endeavours to increase and improve the breeds of short- wool slrcep, so again, motives of justice, as -well as interest, dictate to us, that if too high a price is set on the raw article, and an ade- quate profit does not belong to the manufac- turer, it may cease tobe manufactured altogether. The half South-down and Spanish wool was declared to be worth four shillings per pound ; but taking into consideration the im- mense profit we draw from these fleeces at three shillings per pound, the quantity mate- rially increased, and quality as materially im- proved, we shall content ourselves with such prices for the wool as will enable others to draw their share of profit from it when sent forth manufactured. These efforts to improve the wools of Great Britain by every possible means, origi- nated in a fear, that the Merino wool might, through the influence of France, either be denied to us wholly, or might come so fettered by du- ties and intermediate charges, as would para- lyze ( '»9 ) lyjze our manufactures, if not wholly destroy* our trade. We have incurred the sneers of thousands by such fears; an edict to this effect has at length passed; a Weekly Journal, well informedj in general, of what is passing oa the Continent, says, in its Number of March 5th, 1803, *' Our dealers in Spanhh wool *■*■ havCy to their great surprise, found that *' there exists in Spain an edicts prohibiting^ ** the exportation of woot\ except it be sold to '* a Frenchman — and, we believe , unless it ** be shipped first to France also.** If this edict has passed, the most flippant and sanguine speculator amongst us cannot con- strue it otherwise than as a measure most hostile to our trade ; we regret that it is so, but we draw consolation from the contents of the foregoing pages, which deal out, not opinion, but facts, ■whichgo to prove, thatthis blow at our national prosperity, like every other, may be warded off — that it may be defeated by the spirited exer- tions of the landed interest ; that we may, in spite of the world, produce this treasure on our ^tive soil. The ( 120 ) The three year old, or six-tooth wethers, exhibited by Mr. Ellman, were most generally and deservedly admired ; any prize which they eould have obtained, would not have been equal to the merits of the sheep ; to him the improvement of the South-down sheep, and that within a very short period of time, is in great part, if not wholly attributed. The ra- pidity with which it is now followed up, can be traced in the two pens of two year old we- thers, exhibited by the Duke of Bedford : this breed was not judged capable of coming to market ripe enough at that early age. The extension of stock in point of numbers, which results from this improvement, is an incalcu- lable benefit to the public ; and by those v/ho are competent to judge, it is so understood. Some eminent butchers in London have lately been heard to say, that, whether from increase of wealth, or other causes, so much more meat is ftow consumed than was the case even within their short remembrance; that the town could not have been supplied on the old system, and that if it had, mutton would now have been sold at, perhaps, five shillings per pound. 3 The ( '2' ) The pen of Wiltshire three year old we- thers, grazed by Mr. Chapman, were very complete sheep of their kind: it is a breed which works readily in the fold; and being pf a large size may be supposed to pay in the article of manure fpr living one year too long. The pen of Ry eland three year old wethers, of which we in a former passage promised to detail the weights, having been fed on grass and hay only, and exposed to the severity of the winter on an unsheltered layer, must have wasted con- considerably, more especially in the rough fat : it is usually the last laid on, and the first to decrease: the difference between a good grazier and a bad one consists in knowing what lean stock will get fat, and when it shall afterwards reach the exact period of its ripeness. They exceeded very little in size those of the same lot, which were all killed in September, but which did not die so ripe in the fifth quarter. At that period, or in the following month, it was acknowledged, that these were at their best also; so that we ascer- tain, by incontestable evidence, the size and degree of ripeness which this breed of sheep will attain in thirty months, however hard R their ( 122 ) their keep i Tiay be, even from the time they were dropped. St. lb. s. d. /. J-. ^. One sheep 9 5 at 5 4 per St. , 2 II 4 Fat . . 13-4 2 5 8 One sheep 86-5 4 — 2 6 8 Fat . . I 31- 4 2 5 II One sheep 81-5 4 2 3 4 Fat . . I 2I- 4 2 ^ ^ One sheep 92-5 4 2 9 4 Fat . . I 2-4 2 5 2 One sheep 8 3-5 4 2 4 8 Fat . . I 0-4 2 — 4 2 Five heads and plucks i- 6 8 13 8 5 Five skins X- I 13 I 15 I 6 WEIGHT OF SHEEP. Eighteen pounds per quarter; rough fat, ten pounds each. The wool, selling as skin wool, did not produce as much by some shiU lings each fleece, as if it had been shorn. The present value of the five sheep would be more than three pounds each. 3 The ( 123 ) The two-tooth Ryeland wethers, one year younger, were sold the same week fat at ^I. 5s. each, and died fuH as ripe as these above;- this puts the matter in a very clear point of view ; more especially when it is ob- served, that the sheep were sold in the country, at a distance of 160 miles from Lon- don, where the price is materially less than in the metropolis. ' The half Ryeland and half South-down wethers of the same age, being a new stock in the market, have excited much attention : those, we mean, which have been killed in the country and sent up ; for the distance pre- cludes all hope of sending up sheep alive, with any advantage. Whether this stock, under the adverse circumstances of feeding before detailed, yields to any other breed in the pro- perty of early ripeness, in small size of bone, in the thickness and quality of meat on the back and prime parts of the sheep, may be learnt o{ many, who are reputed to be among the best judges in this kingdom; we mean Messrs. King and Boys, sheep salesmen; and Messrs. Thomas, Giblet, Garment, and many other butchers. Jf these sheep can come up thus • * R. 2 ripe ( 124 ) ripe from nineteen to twenty-two months old, how much more perfect will they be three months hence, when their fleeces are taken off: their size adapts them in a peculiar degree to the supply of that season of the year. The struggle appears to be for early proof and abundant supply ; and we have the autho- rity of the most experienced to assert, that those possessing Merino blood will not be last in the race. — Nor is there any man bold enough to Say that they will not be first, when that attention shall be paid to the form and outward pdints of this unimproved but profitable race, without which true symmetry }.s rarely if ever to be met with. The ( >«5 ) The principles which we shall never (^ase to inculcate do not apply to any one exclusive mode of farming; they do not uphold the broad-cast against the drill, nor do they rnaiii- tain the drill against the broad- cast ; they are preparatory, and absolutely needful to both : wc have used both, and avow no preference to either. Various pieces of land were this season sown; half of each broad-cast, and half drilled, at nine inch intervals. Whatever doubts there were as to the crops of corn, there were none as to the goodness of the clover ; those, which were broad-casted in the drill barley, far ex- ceeded those seeded out in the broad-cast, at the rate of ten pecks of barley per acre : we must attribute this advantage, in a great de- gree, to a more free admission of the sun and air. Having heretofore noticed Mr. Bud- den's statement of the comparative expense of seed corn, broad-cast and drilled ; viz. fifty acres of wheat, forty acres of barley, ten acres of oats, twenty of peas, arid twenty of beans, in the year 1801 ; total broad-cast charge t\v6 hundred and sixteen pounds ten shillings, seed wheat, at fourteen shillings a bushel — with the same number of acres drilled and seed corn at the same price, by which the saving ;n seed cotn, on a hundred and forty acres of land, ( 1^6 ) land, amounted to one hundred and twenty-six |5ounds ten shillings, in favour of the drill; We think it right to give his return of the crop of that year, which has some time ago been sold ; and having stated the value and proper- ties of the land, we studiously avoid tedious controversial inquiries into the relative merits of the two systems^ and leave the reader to draw his own conclusions, and in secret to compare this produce with his own. The wheats averaged twenty-six bushels per acre, forty-five acres having yielded just one hundred and fifty- five quarters and three bushels j the barleys sown after turnips produced thirty-eight bushels and a half; and those put in, like a bad farmer, as he is pleased candidly to admit, after other corn crops, just twenty-four bushels per acre. The produce of i8o2 is expected to prove greater; the wheats j although nearly one half were; grown upon clover leys, where farmers in that part of the country said, it Was impossible to grow wheat, are averaged at twenty-eight bushels per acre, except one very poor field, valued at seven shillings per acre, produce about fourteen or sixteen bushels per acre. The barleys are judged to average more than forty bushels, or five quarters ( 127 ) quarters per acre. *• Twenty-eight bushels ** of wheat, or forty bushels of barley per acre, '* will, I know,** says Mr. B. *' be consi- ** dered by our great drill advocates as nothing; " but as 'the compecition between the drill and '■* the broad-cast husbandry can only fairly be *' ascertained, where crops are taken from lands ** nearfy of the same quality, I think 1 have *' every reason to be satisfied with the system ** I novv pursue ; for in no one instance, where ** I have been able to get a true account of the '■* broad-cast crops of this neighbourhood, even ** allowing the soil to be of somewhat a supe- *• rior quality, have I discovered the average *' produce for the last two years to be equal *' to what I have stated.*' Four acres of his last year's crop of wheat, 1802, from three feet lands, were put into a barn alone (these were not acres measured from the middle of the piece of land, but included the head lands), and threshed immediately after harvest; the produce 156 bushels, or 39 bushels per acre. The land which grew it was not worth thirty shillings per acre: the fields adjoining it were, a very few years ago, valued at twenty-five shillings per acre, which is the average value of Mr. Budden's lands, bearing the clover ley wheat of 1801 ; his purchase of manure for these crops ( 128 ) crops did not amount to twenty pounds ster- ling, and more than half the wheat crop had never heen manured since the estate came into his hands, or for many years before. Every man who knows him, will give ample credit to the truth and correctness of his statement, but should any person be disposed to doubt, he has expressed his readiness to give access to his books, with reference to the persons to whom his crops of that year were sold. We again examined the crops on this estate, in the month of August last ; and taking into consi- deration the nature of the land, found them such as any good husbandman would be proud to call his own. His turnips, one piece in parti- cular, drilled in like manner on three feet rows *, had more strength and more busy growth than any other crop we saw, journeying an hun- dred miles from thence. It since appears, that they did not fail during the dry month of Sep- tember, when so many were destroyed, but turned out in feeding a very great crop. The author of the New Farmer's Calen- dar, in his preface to the fifth edition of that * Two rows at nine inches apart, on three feet lands ; the interval, therefore, under correction of the plough or broad hoe, is 27 inches, work, ( 129 ) work, having been pleased to speak of the quick return of capital expended on a dairy farm of ours, of which the greater part was two years ago a morass, we hope for indul- gence if we here insert the account, with a view to pomt out the injury which the com- munity, as well as individual proprietors, derive from joint possession of land, and with a view to deter others from incurring the heavy charges of under-ground and stone draining, until they hav-e first ascertained the dead water which will draw off by opening in a proper manner the ditches round each piece of land ; a measure, independent of the benefit derived to the land, necessary to the pre- servation of the hedge itself, where cattle are to be depastured. Between eight and nine acres only have been hollow drained ; the stones were not far distant, and carried by contract, therefore the expense was comparatively light, about four- teen pounds per acre. Six acres are left in their natural state; not as evidence of what the rest were, but because they contain in varioys parts peat, or turf, very large quantities of which are about to be burnt for the purpose of top-dressing, and of manuring for the s turnip ( ^3o ) turnip crop. On this account, these few acres far exceed in value any others on the estate, yet the peat forms no part of the following valuation, but is considered as swampy dairy ground . Where the spine was considered to be in- curably coarse, it was pared and burnt at the rate of fifty shillings per acre, or nearly that: the land was then winter fallowed, and is now in complete order for cropping. For many years to come, this land has strength enough to bear the round course of beans, wheat — beans, wheat — beans, wheat; — but it will be brought into the four course of beans^ — wheat — cabbage — oats — on account ot wintering better the young stock. The dairy is let out to a dairy-man, ac- cording to the approved practice of our country, vvho brings security for payment of rent, we finding cows and an adequate keep for them during the year as for our own use, at eight guineas each cow, first caivers included. The stock is of the smallest and best breed of tlie country, called Devons; and such calves as we wish to rear, wc are allowed to wean at fourteen days old; the calves getting the w'hole- I . ^flush ( '3< ) flush of milk until that time ; and for them we pay one pound eight shillings each, to the dairy-man, when taken away; by which means, being in a tillage country, and highly stocked with sheep, wx are not embarrass- ed with any young stock which is not of the most kindly nature. The whole of this land, now pared and burnt, was not valued at more than seven shillings per acre, two years ago; it is probably now worth thirty shil- lings per acre, and cheap in the money. The remainder is rendered sound by opening — 23, /ier not, rtadf hardly S. GosNtLL, Printer, Litt4« Queen Street, Hoiborn. THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. Series 9482 I 000 562 936