310 Farming of Leicestershire. 



increased facilities for this. Fowler's self-moving' engine and 

 anchor were first tried, but owing to the hilly character of many 

 of the fields other tackle has since been purchased, in order to 

 work the stationary engine. Howard's cultivator has also been 

 added, to which, by a cross iron bar, is attached Ashby's 

 rotating harrows, thus — which are most efficient in cleaning the 



land, or preparing it at one operation 

 for a seed bed. 



To supply the engine the drainage 

 water is utilised, wells being made in 

 the corners of the fields, or other points 

 where it is likely to stand. 



Owing to numerous breakages, the 

 first year's trial of steam cultivation 

 was not encouraging, but experience and a better class of dupli- 

 cates soon met the difficulty, and the advantages arising from 

 the use of steam in the cultivation of these stiff soils are very 

 great. Economy, as compared with horse labour, better drainage, 

 better and deeper comminution of the soil, facility for cultivating 

 a large acreage in a limited time, better crops, are all attendant 

 results. 



Improved modern implements of all descriptions are in use 

 on the farm. The corn is all drilled with Garret's drill and hoed 

 with his horse-hoe. Reaping machines have been used since 

 1852, and found to economise labour very much, besides gaining 

 time, an important consideration in harvest and hay seasons. 



The cost of machine reaping, wear and tear, and interest 

 inclusive, is about 7s. Gd. per acre, the prices paid for mowing 

 and tying by hand averaging 10s. per acre. 



Mowing and haymaking machines are in use, as is also the 

 hay-cocking machine, invented by Sir John Tyrrel, of Boreham, 

 Essex ; the latter is especially serviceable in showery weather, 

 for drawing the hay together into large cocks with great 

 rapidity. 



Some considerable portions of grass land of a second-rate 

 quality have of late years been converted to tillage. The 

 practice is to pare and burn the turf; the first crop being rape 

 and white turnips, which are consumed by sheep on the ground, 

 the second crop, also roots (swedes and mangolds), are again partly 

 consumed on the ground. A stock of fertility is thus laid in, 

 which subsequent judicious management retains, and from which 

 full crops of all descriptions are obtained. 



Lord Berners consitlers this to have been very advantageous to 

 his occupation, as it provides roots and straw for the winter 

 feeding, and accommodation for an increased number of cattle ; 

 besides, he finds when he wishes to let the land, that it com- 



