^'^ agricl&ltural essays. 



Economy of Saving Straw. 



Notwithstanding the English farmers have hitherto so 

 much exceeded the American, in the business of saving and 

 preparing compost manure, the following remarks from the 

 Agricultural EncyclopsBdia may convint^e us of the great value 

 of that part of husbandry, in the estimation of the agricultural- 

 ists in England, and that the inattention to 1 hat business, was, 

 even there, chargeable as a great defect in their rural econ* 

 omy. 



"As straw is the basis of manure, it might be expected that 

 every good husbandman would bestow the most sedulous atten- 

 tion » upon the shearing or cutting his crop, so that the great- 

 est possible quantity of the raw material may be procured. 

 Very different, however, is the conduct of farmers in general ; 

 ^s over one half of Brftain, it may be safely estimated, that at 

 least one fourth of the straw is left in the field, where its 

 strength is wasted and dissipated by the rains and storms that 

 commonly prevail at the conclusion of Autumn. 



While it is recommended, that the crop should be cut low, 

 in order that materials for making manure may be increased, 

 that accuracy is not contended for that cannot be repaid by the 

 benefit to be derived from the-extra care that might be bestow- 

 ed in cuttmg it with view to that object. By running the 

 sickle upon the ground, drawing a level stroke, and gathering 

 no .-nore into the hand than can be fairly cut, all the advantages 

 of low shearing are obtained at a very trifling increase of ex- 

 pence. By a steady perseverance in this practice, from on^ 

 to two tons of manure per acre, may be annually gained 

 more than is procured in the common mode of cutting the 

 straw, especially where the crops are good. This annual 

 increase must operate powerfully upon the improvement of 

 the country. 



