DUKING PKESS OF AGRICULTUltAL WDKK. 235 



lessened, tlicre is also a deal to be done in avrannin.t; tlie work, so 

 as to oliviate a press at ])articnlar times, and tlic scheme in this 

 direction is as necessary and as powerful as in furnisliing the 

 KMinisite supply. The regulation of the work, so that as far as 

 ])(issil)le the ordinary hands can, without any outside liel]), over- 

 take it, is a i)art of tlie management on which every prudent 

 farmer will exercise considerable can; and thought. And to 

 ex])lain this more fully a luicf sketch <>[' llic year's labour on a 

 oOO acre farm — the size already treated — will be sul)mitted. 

 lieginning this sketch with winter, the area for ])utatoes is 

 alloted, and the summer manure is carted out and hnmediately 

 spread. This process is continued at the slacker seasons, and in 

 frosty weather, until the wliole is covered. If it is then con- 

 sichn'ed that there will be no difficulty in spring work, the turni]) 

 break of stubble is left and manured in spring, either with 

 remaining dvnig or artificial manures. The ploughing of the 

 unmanured portion is ])roceeded with, and a good dee]") furrow 

 turned on to its back best saves spring labour. The manured 

 portion is allowed to stand for the soluble constituents to wash 

 into the surface soil, and ploughing is deferred until Fel»ruar\' 

 or March. By this means the crop of annual weeds is small, 

 and nuich less horse and manual labour in s]ning and sunniier 

 will suffice. The crop of potatoes is increased b}' this method 

 rather than manuring in spring, but the same cannot be said of 

 turnips, although both crops are sounder. Lea ploughing next 

 proceeds during wet winter weather, and in dry snatches, or in 

 the few good days which generally precede frost, all hands must 

 be put to storing turnips. At suitable intervals the potato crop 

 of the previous year must be sent to market, so as not to inter- 

 fere with the busier spring months. With the fourth pair of 

 horses — three are engaged with two double-furrow ploughs — the 

 forenuin may expedite ploughing l)y opening and finishing ridges, 

 and ploughing headlands and a^-kward corners, of which there 

 are always a few, with a single-furrow plough. In February the 

 remaining stubble is turned over, and the turnip and potato 

 land, except some which nuiy have been sown in winter wheat, 

 is either ploughed or grubbed, the latter growing in favour, for 

 the seed-bi'd in spring. Early potatoes go in early in March, 

 with dry weatlier if possilde, and the sowing of oats proceed 

 about the end, and are all in by lOtli of April, with the excep- 

 tion perhaps of a plot on which the sheep are still kept. Late 

 ])otatoes — the seed previously prepared — are now got in, and no 

 delay occurs if the ])roper set of hands are ]nit to the ploughs. 

 The ])reparing of turnip land is going on, and by the beginning 

 of ]\lay, at farthest the 1 otli, swedes are sown. This operation 

 usually finishes about the middle of June, and as putting in with 

 artificial manures proceeds, one plough may, by extending the 



