312 Farming of Leicestershire. 



In wet weather, when outdoor work cannot be clone to advan- 

 tage, profitable labour, viz., thrashing under cover, can always be 

 found here. 



The dung from the stables, cowhouse, and piggeries is thrown 

 into a covered shed, on which we saw a number of pigs 

 luxuriating, and no doubt turning to good account any stray 

 grain or non-assimilated food that might have escaped the cattle 

 or horses. 



The manure from this shed is found extremely valuable, and 

 is carted direct to the land, without being turned over, and if 

 not ploughed in at once, is immediately covered over with 

 earth,* 



The sawmill is conveniently situated, and the feeding ap= 

 pliances are novel, simple, and efficient. 



Another extremely valuable contrivance is the utilisation of 

 the waste steam from the engine to heat a floor on which is dried 

 damp corn, green wood, «Scc., »S:c. The first cost of this was 

 trifling, and the expense of heating almost nil; it is univer- 

 sally applicable wherever there is a steam engine, and would 

 prove a great boon to any farmer who grows corn to any extent. 



Separated from the main buildings by a road is the hospital 

 for sick animals, and feeding-pens, with sparred floors, for 

 sheep; to which has been lately added an implemerit-shed and 

 granary, also a mill house, and shed for a portable steam engine, 

 which drives two pairs of stones and a flour-dressing apparatus, 

 to manufacture the flour for family use, for the labourers, and 

 such of the tenants as choose. 



The premises are lighted with gas manufactured thereon — a 

 great convenience and economy ; and very interesting it is to see, 

 in the dusk of a winter's evening, the buildings lighted up, and 

 the works progressing as vigorously as in daylight, which but 

 for the gas must have been stopped. 



Sheep. — A breeding flock of 200 ewes of the pure Leicester 

 breed is kept, one fourth of which are annually put to a Cots- 



* Lord Berners puts great stress on covering up the manure when laid in small 

 heaps on the land, and cites an instance where the labourers were overtaken by a 

 thunderstorm while manuring for roots, the ridges being opened and the dung 

 cai'ted on and laid in small heaps. A portion was covered with soil previous to 

 the storm, and the remainder left for a few days exposed, the manure and treat- 

 ment being in every other respect the same, but the ditference in the crops was 

 most astonishing ; where the manure was covered tlie produce was nearly doiihle, 

 nor d'd the difference end with the root crop, for the barley succeeding was also 

 very much better on the covered manure. This scarcely accords with tlie scientific 

 conclusions of Professor Voelcker, v.'ho does not anticipate harm from exposing 

 manure if spread on the ground. Lord Berners, however, is far too practical and 

 acute an observer to allow us to have the slightest doubt as to his accuracy, 

 and this is one of the instances where the teachings of science and the facts of 

 practice cannot be easily reconciled. 



