88 Covered Catlle-ijanls. 



mangold drawn off the land, the yield of barley has been no less 

 than 72 bushels per acre ; and of oats, just the same, namel}', 

 Avithin a fraction of 9 quarters per acre, weighing 46 lbs. per 

 bushel. 



In conclusion, I ask for a practical testing of Lois-Weedon 

 wheat-growing as adapted to traction tillage. Not for a rash 

 adoption of a speculative " three-course rotation :" Ijut first of 

 all, for a trial on one field or plot of suitable wheat-soil. Let 

 that field be managed as if it were under the three-course hus- 

 bandry ; take stripe-wheat (with a portion of oats, or barley if you 

 like) lor the first year ; again, stripe-wheat for the second year ; 

 and then plough up and manure for other crops in the third 

 year ; after which, of course, two stripe-crops as before. With 

 accounts properly kept, this would soon show what merit exists 

 in the principle, and — do homage to the genius of Jethro Tull. 

 I know that it is difficult to move the mind of a practical man 

 out of its habit of settling things from general considerations. I 

 shall be told that an extension of wheat-culture is not advisable, 

 because roots, clover, and cattle-crops have, of late years, 

 answered better. But what can the wheat-crops that don't pay 

 possibly have to do with my wheat-crops which ivill pay ? The 

 entire case rests upon the low cost of production by my 



METHOD, IN COMPARISON WITH THE COST OF A WHEAT-CROP IN 



ORDINARY FARMING. I raise two good wheat-crops in succession 

 lor 5/. 10s. per acre each (every source of outlay included), and 

 at the same time and for the selfsame money, I am fallowing and 

 cleansing the ground in readiness for roots or other of the third 

 year s crops. Can any other system show an economy of expen- 

 diture like this? 



; Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, Januanj, 18G5. 



VI. — Covered Cattle-yards. By W. J. Mosckop. 



Although the design of this short contribution to the ' Journal 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society ' is less to discuss the merits of 

 covered cattle-yards, than to call attention to a peculiar mode of 

 constructing them, yet a brief recapitulation of the advantages 

 which practically we have found to arise from their use will not 

 be out of place, more especially as the fact is undoubted, that 

 among the great body of farmers they have not yet attained the 

 popularity, or even met with that appreciation which they 

 assuredly deserve. 



Whether an inquiry into the cause of this supineness would be 

 attended Avith any useful result is doubtful ; therefore, without 



