mth Horse (or Sfea77i) Tillage. 75 



of a field, while the other half grows wheat. The fact being- 

 established that at Lois-VVeedon the deep and perfect husbandry 

 of hand-tools and horse-tools together has produced, upon this 

 principle, most profitable crops for eighteen years in succession 

 it remains for the farmer to ascertain whether a less perfect 

 culture by traction-implements only, will afford results, smaller 

 of course, but of proportionate value, when the smaller expense 

 is taken into account. 



I for one resolved to find out whether the Lois- Weedon "prin- 

 ciple" — as distinct from the Lois-Weed on "practice" — would 

 retain its virtue out of its own neighbourhood, and on another 

 soil ; and I am of opinion that my conclusi(m on the point has not 

 attracted that attention which it deserves. 



My district — the South Lincolnshire " marsh " country — is 

 noted for its fine crops as well as rich pastures ; but the particular 

 field of my experiment is by no nneans peculiarly fertile. The 

 soil is an alluvial loam, rather adhesive, but readily ploughed at 

 6 inches depth by a pair of horses. This staple rests at 1 to 2-^ 

 feet depth, upon raw " silt " or muddy sand anciently deposited 

 by the tides ; but which, on most of the farm in cjuestion, 

 possesses none of the exuberant fertility of some marine warps. 

 Low-lying, flat, and naturally wet, it is partially relieved of 

 excessive moisture by a few thorn under-drains — which are 

 resorted to in this "dead level" tract, devoid of the "fall" 

 necessary for scouring out permanent pipe-drains. This piece, of 

 ten acres in extent, is considered about the worst bit of ground 

 on the farm ; average yields of wheat on this occupation — 

 under liberal management, with well-manured root and spring- 

 corn crops and cake-fed clovers — have varied from less than 30 

 up to 40 imperial bushels per acre, according as the harvests 

 may have been meagre or abundant. 



Such is the nature of the land. But I must call attention also 

 to its condition at the time of commencing operations. The 

 " Ash-tree piece " (though trees are few there) was under the 

 plough before 1 was born ; and had been last fallowed with 

 a turnip-crop in 1850. Its latest dose of any species of manure 

 whatever Avas 12 cartloads per acre of farmyard-dung, applied 

 for beans in 1854. A good wheat-crop followed in 1855; 

 succeeded by barley (not a heavy crop) in 1856. Nobody in 

 our neighbourhood would have expected to get a crop of wheat 

 directly after this barley — unmanured barley, which itself had 

 followed unmanured wheat, on ground not naturally very prolific 

 or in high condition. If the new culture could raise one decent 

 yield upon such a piece as this, the " principle " would clearly 

 be established ; and, accordingly, my first year's experimental 

 wheat was g-rown here in 1857. But this is not all : other dis- 



