x8o3. of the County of Noi-thumherland. 423 



being troubled with the difeafe ; of courfe, the downy-chafFed 

 kinds are moft proper for windy, open fitiiations, and the fmooth- 

 chafFed to well flieltered inclofed diihicls.' 



In the account of Angus oats (p. 89.) we fufpe£l that a 

 miftake is committed. This variety is faid to produce more 

 ftraw than the common oat, which we have never found to 

 be the cafe. So far from that, we judge that the latter, up- 

 on the fame field, will exceed the other in bulk, at leaft one 

 fixth. If the obfervation had applied to the grain, it would 

 have been well-founded, as Angus oats are undoubtedly more 

 prolific. With regard to the time of ripening, they appear 

 now, from being naturalized to the climate, to come earlier 

 to maturity, and in a more regular way, than when firft in- 

 troduced. 



The drilling of beans is moft judicioufly recommended. 

 Sowing this grain broad-caft, is certainly, in general feafons, 

 attended with the moft pernicious confequences. In fa£t, 

 drilling and horfe-hoeing beans, upon heavy foils, has been 

 attended with equal advantages, as are produced by turnips 

 upon the light ones. 



We decidedly coincide with the authors, that potatoes can 

 never be ufed with profit, in the feeding of cattle : a few of 

 them, however, may be ufeful for carrying on ftock in April 

 and May, after the turnip crop is finifhed. Potatoes do not 

 admit the land to be fo well cleaned as turnips : They are 

 planted too early, for getting the ground fufficiently worked j 

 and their after culture muft be concluded at an early period 

 of the feafon. We hardly ever faw a potato field completely 

 cleaned : witnefs all the fields in the vicinity of great towns, 

 where potatoes are the chief fallow crop. 



A curious and interefting hiftory of drilled turnips is given, 

 (p. 106.), which is too long to be inferted here, but fhall 

 afterwards be taken in by way of " Extradl." It appears 

 that, when originally introduced into Northumberland, they 

 were fown broadcaft ; and that the firft perfon who fowed 

 them, having much to do, was obliged to ride andyow, that 

 he might difpatch the greater quantity ! 



We are glad to notice, (p. 133.), that " the commons in 

 this county, capable of being converted into profitable tillage, 

 are now very trifling, the greater part having ^een inclofed 

 within the laft thirty years." The advantages attending this 

 proceeding, are detailed in the following manner ; 



" The 



