Time of Entry on Farms. 315 



Y.— Manure. 



He will also have the chance of being rewarded in the spring 

 by the possession of manure sufficient for his use by keeping 

 all his animals in sheds and yards, instead of having to incur 

 a serious outlay in guano, nitrate of soda, superphosphate, &c., 

 at a time when he has ample calls upon his capital. It is 

 not to be expected, at any rate, that, in succeeding another, he 

 should liave the same quality of manure left as he would have 

 made himself; for an outgoing farmer, even if he adopted the 

 plan of feeding in yards, would scarcely supply his stock with 

 the same amount of cake and corn when he knew that he was 

 not to reap the benefit of it in the manure : an argument that 

 gains new weight from the prospect we have now of a failure in 

 the guano supplies, while as yet no convenient substitute has 

 been suggested. We have greater faith, we confess, in dung 

 than in guano, the benefit the land derives from it being in- 

 finitely more lasting. What a comfortable appearance has a 

 lawn thick carpeted with straw-manure, as we lately saw at the 

 Prince Consort's model farm, and what promise of abundant 

 sweet herbage does it afford ! To meet the objection of those 

 who urge the great expense of hauling out the manure from the 

 yards and on to the land, we reply, that if the farmer keep the 

 remunerative class of horse he should, he may always have a few 

 spare young ones for occasional use, which will pay their way, if 

 selected or bred judiciously, as well as any of the stock about the 

 place, while he has meanwhile had the benefit of their labour, 

 the exercise contributing to their health and condition. 



VI. — Drainixg. 



If draining be required on any part of the farm, though it is 

 the province, strictly speaking, of the landlord to do it, Avhether 

 free of cost to the tenant, or whether receiving a percentage on 

 the outlay, as the hauling of the pipes falls upon the tenant, it is 

 of advantage to him to have the winter before him for the work. 

 Besides that, not only are draining operations carried on at the 

 most favourable season in autumn and winter, but there is time 

 for the fiUing-in to settle and the sod to be rolled down in anti- 

 cipation of the necessary spring treatment of the land. Whereas, 

 if the draining be only commenced after the tenant has come 

 into occupation on February 2nd or March 25th, owing to the 

 usual difficulty and delay that attends the securing an efficient 

 gang of drainers, it is often with the greatest difficulty, after the 

 most strenuous exertions — if, indeed, it is possible at all — to 



