Early Vetches. 237 



of good rye hereafter. The rye should be sown on the furrow, 

 and the vetches drilled across, which seeds the land all over 

 beautifully. 



4th. Previous condition of land, with quality and exposure ? 



The condition was by no means excessive — having been clover, 

 the second crop fed for wheat ; then manured with stable-manure 

 for swede turnips, half of which were carted to an adjoining field; 

 afterward drilled with barley, which was carted in time to get in 

 the vetches by the 26th of August. The quality of the land is 

 of a moderate description : light-red in colour ; subsoil in one 

 part chalk, and the remainder gravel ; not of sufficient strength 

 to grow good wheat, but what is called in this county pretty little 

 land. As to exposure, you well know the wild, unprotected 

 nature of our country-— not a tree or hedge-row to shelter us. 

 This particular field has on the north side the Ilsley Down, and 

 on the others plain open arable fields ; the only sort of protection 

 being a bank and dead hedge, to keep back the sheep which fed 

 on the downs. 



5th. Time when feeding-off began, height of vetches at the 

 time, and bulk per acre ? 



I began feeding on the 5th of May, when the bulk was as much / 

 as could be grown to be eaten — i. e. any increase of growth would 

 have been attended with a corresponding rottenness at the bot- 

 tom : when raised up from the ground they were as high as the 

 hurdles, and well-blossomed. They were fit for feed a fortnight 

 before I began them ; but, having a plentiful supply of swedes, I 

 did not want them before. My cart-horses were well pleased 

 with the rye (which was too old for sheep) after it was taken from 

 the cages ; thus I derived a double advantage. 



6th. The degree of forwardness of other crops of vetches in 

 your neighbourhood at the same time ? 



So far as I am aware, no others were at all like them ; and as 

 my neighbours, besides very many people from all parts who 

 attended our early sheep-markets, spoke of them as very extra- 

 ordinary, I believe none were so good at that early time — a time, 

 be it remarked, when we are generally wofuUy ill off for sheep- 

 keep (having no water-meadows), and often obliged to support 

 them on artificial food, at great cost and annoyance. 



7th. How far do you attribute the superiority of your crop to 

 the variety ; how far to the early sowing ; how far to the abund- 

 ance of seed used ; and how far, if at all, to the intermixture of 

 rye ? 



The variety is undoubtedly more hardy, and at least 10 or 12 

 days earlier in their growth and fitness for feed ; they will contest 

 the right to grow with rye successfully, which no other sort will 

 do. I think the early sowing assisted most materially, inasmuch 



