62 THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



improved the farm steading very much on bis own account, 

 mostly in the way of providiuf^- accommodation for a steam 

 threshing mill. He breeds from 6 to 8 calves every year, and 

 feeds from 22 to 24 cattle in covered courts. They are taken in 

 for feeding in the middle of October, and sold fat, w^eighing from 

 8 to 9 cwt. and sometimes more, during spring months. Yellow^ 

 turnips and straw, with 2h lbs. of linseed cake per animal, con- 

 stitute the staple food for the first few weeks. In course of time 

 swedes are given, and an increased allowance of cake, say 3 to 

 3^ lbs. each, per day. The tenant finds that polled cattle fatten 

 more equally than when mixed with horned animals, because 

 they are more settled, and agree better about their food. His 

 Clydesdale horses are extremely good, strong, and active. He lias 

 three men boarded in the kitchen, who get from £12 to £16 in 

 the half year. Wages have more than doubled since 1857. Mr 

 MacDonald says — " I see more potatoes grown and more low 

 priced phosphates used than formerly, which I have no doubt is 

 one reason why the land is not producing so much good grain 

 and strong stifl' straw as it used to do. It we could afford to 

 pasture our grass land for three years, and use more bones and 

 bone meal, we w^ould doubtless manao-e to restore the strain- 

 producing properties of the soil" Twenty-one acres swedes and 

 5 acres yellow turnips, 25 acres wheat, 25 acres barley, 21 

 acres oats, 2 acres potatoes, and 2 acres tares, are the usual 

 proportions of the various crops grown. 



The farm of Feddan is 200 imperial acres in extent of arable 

 land, and 178 acres of WT)od and pasture. The soil is generally 

 light, with a gravelly bottom and an occasional patch of pan. 

 The tenant, Mr Brown, is bound to the five-shift rotation. Barley, 

 which is the most remunerative cereal, yields from 4 to 5|- 

 quarters. Oats return a similar quantity. Mr Brown ploughs 

 land for turnips 9 inches deep in autumn, if the subsoil will 

 allow it, which he leaves unharrowed till spring. After it is 

 harrowed in spring he leaves it at least ten days. This he 

 considers of great importance, because the more the surface is 

 exposed he finds that it absorbs the ammonia better with 

 which the atmosphere is charged. Drills are formed 28 inches 

 wide for swedes and 27 for yellow turnips. Fifteen cubic 

 yards of well-made farm-yard manure is spread in the drill, to 

 which is added 2 cwt. dissolved bones, 2 cwt. superphosphate, 

 and 1 cwt. Peruvian guano per acre for swedes and yellow 

 turnips, 2 cw^t. dissolved bones and 2 cwt. superphosphates per 

 acre is the general allowance. Should the dung run short, an 

 additional supply of from 6 to 8 bushels of ground bones are 

 given. About half the root crop is eaten off by sheep. The 

 artificial manure is sown broadcast, a man sowing five drills at 

 once, which allows it to lie nearer the voung plants, and con- 



