THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



165 



Sheep are nerer put to feed these meadows after the hay 

 crop is taken : if they arc, rot is certain to attack them. 



Attention is directed, as we proceed, to the fact that 

 the better the declivity the better the grass, and it may 

 be seen that where the fall is 1 foot in 72, the grass is 

 scant and "poor in comparison with what it is when the 

 fall is 1 foot in 16. Hoping to hear a fuller explanation 

 from Mr. Squarry, we leave the water meadows, and 

 crossing Mr. Rawlence's farm, where turnips are being 

 sown, and where a flock of improved Hampshire lambs 

 awaits our inspection on the clovers, we arrive at Mr. 

 Herbert's model farm. 



Here let us remark that about eleven years ago Mr. 

 Herbert took this farm into his own management. It 

 was then very foul and poor, as certain figuies hereafter 

 to be detailed will show, and he commenced a spirited 

 course of improvement, aided by Mr. Robson, the Agent 

 for the Pembroke Estates, determined to give a true 

 and certain sound to those who were likely to follow in 

 his path. We see nothing, then, but good husband- 

 like management, based upon maxims that have grown 

 out of the union of science with practice, and plain 

 serviceable buildings. No show, no extravagance. At 

 the onset, then, he proceeded to dispute a fallacy with 

 respect to the unprofitable character of root and green 

 crops, and so laid his plan for two-thirds in such crops 

 and one-third in cereal crops, and has practically ex- 

 ploded it, for not only has he shown a great increase in 

 the grain produce since 1846, and a fair return upon 

 capital! invested, but he intends forthwith to equalize 

 the share devoted to the cereal and root crops, without 

 7-educlng the number of cattle and sheep in any way. 

 The farm consists of 260 acres. 



The system of feeding is this : there are about thirty 

 boxes, and these are always filled. Here are 7 calves, 

 7 yearlings, 7 two-year-olJs, and from 7 to 8 drape 

 cows. C-ilves come in as the two-yeais-old go oft" fat- 

 tened. The boxes are bedded with sawdust, and when 

 these become inconveniently full, the contents are 

 emptied into a covered manure yard, there to be mixed 

 with dissolved bones, ashes, and other refuse, as compost 

 for the drill. The cattle are fed with equal parts of 

 oilcake and barley-meal, mixed with chaff, with tares in 

 summer and pulped roots in winter. The breed is 

 shorthorn, and in some instances the Alderney is crossed 

 with the shorthorn, yielding the best possible results. 

 The buildings are of stone, constructed with every regard 

 to efficiency and economy. The crops are the pride of 

 the neighbourhood, and t!ie excellence of the mangold 

 crop attracts special notice. Amongst other matters of 

 interest the little experiment on the Lois Weedon 

 system, which has been tried for four years, does not 

 escape notice. On gathering some of the splendid cars 

 of wheat so grown, we are told that the average produce 

 is from 30 to 40 bushels. 



Instinct seems to draw a considerable number of 

 people together at this juncture about the Park gates. 

 There is to be a grand luncheon in the Wilton House, 

 and so the fact needs no explanation. We are invited 

 to attend, and the reader may accompany ua across the 

 green sward of the Home Park, and beneath the shade 

 of the lordly trees — arrived at the great glass doors 

 that enter from the library upon the Italian garden, he 

 may avail himself of the ladies' privilege of looking on. 



A princely spread it certainly was. The tables were 

 laid for about 500 guests, but not more than 200 parto(di 

 of Mr. Herbert's hospitality. Amongst the latest arri- 

 vals were Lord Rivers, Lard Ernest Bruce, Sir Edward 

 Hulse, Sir J. Johnston, the Hon, W. H. B. Portmau, 

 T. Pdin, Esq., Mayor of Salisbury, the Rev. C.T.James, 

 Mr. Bullock Webster, Mr. Robson, &c. 



As soon as our thirst and appetites were somewhat 

 appeased by the substantialities and delicacies upon the 



table, Mr. Herbert rose, and, after silence was obtained, 

 said, that he had determined to disburden his mind of a 

 balance sheet, not with the idea that he should receive 

 much credit therefrom, because the human tendency to 

 bel.eve had come to be very very small in such matters. 

 He did think, however, that as a specimen of gentleman 

 farming he need not be ashsmed of the result. A few 

 years ago we heard a great deal about the change effected 

 upon Lincoln Heath ; but I think you will all admit, 

 without attributing it to any special partiality for this 

 district, that the change effected on Salisbury Plain may 

 fairly claim comparison with it. It is true we never had 

 a lighthouse to guide the traveller over the plain, but we 

 had plenty of chalk heaps. It was the only instance in 

 which the soil was ever turned up. But the aspect of 

 the plain is strangely altered now, and perhaps there are 

 some of us who in one sense may almost regret the 

 change ; for no place carried scent better than Salisbury 

 Plain. But the difference between five shillings per aero 

 and fifteen will, I have no doubt, outweigh the consider- 

 ation of sport ; whilst there is this advantage to be taken 

 into consideration with it — it has led to increased occu- 

 pation, and a proportionate increase of comfort amongst 

 the peasantry of this county. My farm consists of 260 

 acres, 186 acres of which are arable. In 1846 the crops 

 were estimated to be 26 bushels of wheat, 28 of barley, 

 32 to 36 of oats, and the farm scarcely equal to the 

 maintenance of 150 ewes with their usual number of 

 childer lambs. The stock kept since 1850 are 9 horses, 

 261 breeding ewes, 101 shearling lambs, 6 to 7 calves, 

 to 7 yearlings, 6 to 7 two-year-olds, and 8 to 9 barren 

 cows. With lespect to horses, I must remark that three 

 of them are always engaged upon the parks and demesne 

 grounds. You shall next have a statement based upon 

 the average of five years, commencing 1850, and ending 

 1855— 



Balance-sheet for the Wilton Home Farm 

 FOR THE Five Years commencing Michael- 

 mas, 1850, and ending Michaelmas, 1855. 





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