dimno- the last Four Years. 203 



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to the former history of farming- on this point. The castles of 

 the old barons were victualled at Michaelmas with salt beeves 

 and sheep, because there was little hay for their winter keep. 

 Afterwards more hay was made, and fresh meat was obtained 

 through the year. When our population exceeded the extent of 

 our meadows, the common turnip was introduced : but as this does 

 not well resist frost, it would last only till February. Then came 

 the swede, which carries us on till the end of March. Another 

 class of summer-food, clover, had been also introduced, but would 

 not be ready so soon : vetches therefore were sown in autumn, to 

 be fed off in spring. But there is still an interval to be filled — 

 for vetches do not come in as soon as swedes are ended. Man- 

 gold-wurzel indeed will carry us through this space of time ; but 

 it appears also that, while winter-feed may be prolonged, spring- 

 feed may be hastened by growing an early variety of vetches ; and 

 Mr. Williams, a farmer of Ilsley, informs us that last year he had 

 vetches 3 feet high in the beginning of May, on a backward soil in 

 a high situation. An account is given of this vetch in another part 

 of the present number. Its importance will be seen at once by 

 all flockmasters ; if it should stand the trial, the circle of artificial 

 food will be completed throughout the year, and a wonderful 

 triumph, I must say, be secured by the farmer's skill over the 

 seasons. Early rye, indeed, has long been used for the same purpose, 

 though some farmers do not approve of it ; for while young it 

 gives little food, and it shoots up rapidly to a harsh stalk which 

 stock do not relish. Clover of course is the mainstay during 

 summer ; but it is acknowledged that generally land will not bear 

 its recurrence well every four years, though we have not yet found 

 a substitute. The Italian rye-grass is evidently an acquisition, as 

 it gives not only a greater bulk than the common rye-grass, but is 

 also preferred by sheep. This is a new plant ; but in the pre- 

 sent Journal we have a strong recommendation of an old one. 

 Lucerne, which is the more interesting because Mr. Rodwell 

 brought it before the Board of Agriculture in 1811, and speaks 

 of it with unabated confidence now in 1842. It requires, however, 

 I believe, some depth of soil, and perhaps a favourable climate. 

 Rape, the green crop of the fens, is evidently at home upon 

 poor peaty land, pared and burnt, or dressed with peat-ashes ; 

 for such land has a tendency to produce leaves rather than roots ; 

 and ashes throw up the rape so strongly, that a flock of sheep is 

 hidden among the stems when at feed in the pen. Sainfoin, on the 

 other hand, is known to prefer a soil full of natural lime. There 

 are many new plants recommended for summer soiling — the Bok- 

 hara clover, the Siberian vetch, the Siberian bear's-claw — all three 

 of gigantic growth ; but of their merits we know nothing as yet, nor 



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