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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



scribed by Mr. Simpson, is to be found iu works that 

 have been at first well executed, but afterwards neg- 

 lected — sometimes from carelessness, at others from 

 estates passing into the hands of trustees for minors, 

 lunatics, and others, who will not supply the necessary 

 funds. There is, indeed, an act existing, introduced 

 by the present Duke of Newcastle, which was intended 

 to obviate this difficulty, by compelling landowners to 

 clear away obstructions ; but it does not appear to apply 

 in all cases, or else is seldom enforced. Again, in how 

 many instances does the respect for mill property allow 

 mischief to remain, greater by tenfold than the whole 

 value of the mill ! but there is no general act to compel 

 its removal, or to compensate the owner for it when done. 

 It is clear, then, that the first question is to consider 

 what can be done by legislation making it compulsory 

 on all to agree to one system of drainage, and to pro- 

 vide a revenue by a tax on the improved land for its 

 efiective support when made. 



The position of the " enclosure of waste lands " 

 question is supposed to be analogous, and the opera- 

 tion of the Enclosure Act was quoted by one speaker, 

 and the manifest advantage in promoting such works 

 by it described. The case, however, in some respects 

 differs from the drainage question. It would be easy 

 for an opponent to a drainage scheme to show that 

 while it might benefit his neighbours higher up, it 

 would be a positive injury to him situated lower down. 

 Also, it would be difficult to estimate the injui-y, if any, 

 but this is simply admitting that nothing we can do 

 will be without its disadvantages. The question still re- 

 mains — Are these difficulties sufficient to deter us from 

 attempting the only thing that can set us right ? Ai'e 

 we, in fact, to go on as we have done, and stand in the 

 way of future improvement? As legislation is the 

 first thing by which permission to do what is wanting 



can be obtained, so engineering comes next. Upon. 

 this subject the paper of JMr. Grantham gives us much 

 valuable information. His own practice has been 

 largely devoted to the carrying out of extensive drainage 

 works — amongst others, that of the Royal Forest of 

 Hainault, in Essex, of which about 2,000 acres have 

 been reclaimed, and a large number (615 miles) of 

 underground pipes laid. 



But the first great question of an engineering cha- 

 racter is the outfalls. These are of various kinds, dis- 

 charging themselves into large rivers or direct into the 

 sea. The latter are those requiring the largest amount 

 of engineering skill, as the most important of them are 

 through lands scarcely, if anything, above the level of 

 the sea; the ground is soft, the deposit of mud is im- 

 mense, and it has frequently happened that attempts 

 have been made to improve the navigation of the river 

 which forms the natural outlet, and to combine both 

 operations in one, probably sometimes to the detriment 

 of both. These larger works being well designed, atten- 

 tion must be given to the system of drains which are to 

 flow into them. The plans for these are equally 

 varied with the others, but involve less outlay, being 

 on a much smaller scale. Next above these are the 

 small works of individuals, each carried out to the ex- 

 tent which he considers desirable. All, however, re- 

 quire for their efficient action the varied resources of 

 engineers, whose experience has been gained in this 

 peculiar school. 



Let the work proceed with system, and the results 

 will generally amply repay even the most liberal ex- 

 penditure. We cannot, however, pursue this subject 

 farther at present, but hope hereaiter to continue its 

 consideration, when we purpose then to review the 

 difierent features of the paper itself. 



THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



THE SHEEP CLASSES. 



As the time is at hand when the prize sheet of the 

 Royal Agricultural Society is agreed upon and published, 

 it may not be inappropriate to offer a few plain re- 

 marks and suggestions upon its operations as respects 

 the above classes. Hitherto, for the most part, its chief 

 encouragement has been accorded to the old-estabHshed 

 breeds of Leicesters, Southdowns, and Long-wools ; and 

 of late years its prize sheet has included a series of 

 prizes for the local breeds of the district embraced by 

 the Society for the year of its meeting in that particular 

 district. It is quite correct that at the establishment 

 of this great society these three were the principal, and 

 also the most profitable breeds in the country, and as 

 such deserved the encouragement given to them. But 

 the Society's aim was a large and noble one ; it sought 

 to promote improvements of every character in the 

 breeding of farm stock. Hence have arisen several new 

 and splendid varieties of sheep. Some of these have 

 become as distinct and as truly established as separate 

 breeds of sheep, as the Leicester, the Southdown, or the 

 Long-wool breeds. One of the most profitable and best 

 of these modern breeds is the Shropshire Down sheep. 

 This breed may be said to possess the most commend- 

 able points of the Southdown and Leicester breeds, such 

 a judicious commingling and blending of the two cha- 

 racters of the animals in size and proportions and in 

 wool as to produce a kind of second-to-none in every 

 phase of their character. They are exceedingly pro- 

 lific, possess handsome and large well-formed frames, 



come early to maturity, are very hardy, and yield a 

 great weight both of wool and mutton, both of exceed- 

 ingly good quality. This breed is also extending itself 

 over a large tract of country, and is fast becoming not 

 only a very numerous, but a very important breed of 

 sheep. 



The next distinct breed of a modern character, which 

 ought to be noticed, both for its great value and the 

 extent of country over which it ranges, is the Hamp- 

 shire Southdown breed. They are not quite so hand- 

 some as the Shropshire Down breed, but they possess 

 a fine well-formed frame, their mutton is of excel- 

 lent quality, and they yield a fieece of very fine Down 

 wool of considerable weight. This breed is much larger 

 in its character than the pure Southdown, and it nearly 

 approaches it in the general contour of frame and ap- 

 pearance ; but it must yield the palm of beauty to the 

 Southdown, nor can it altogether equal it in the fine 

 quality of its mutton. In weight and substance, earli- 

 ness of maturity, and quantity of wool, it is superior. 

 The breadth of country over which it extends is great, 

 and the immense numbers bred give it a degree of im- 

 portance now, equal to the three favoured breeds above- 

 named. 



There have been great improvements also made in the 

 breeds of mountain sheep, and when it is considered that 

 a large breadth of our country is depastured by these 

 breeds, and where none other could live, it renders them, 

 as a distinct breed, of great national importance, and de- 



