82 YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 



He remarked that, deferring until another opportunity a 

 summary of the ground already covered, he would endeavor to 

 describe briefly one or two extensive farms against the man 

 agement ef which it was less likely that a charge could be 

 brought of any " higher farming" than was consistent with 

 profit, or within the reach of others similarly situated. Un 

 doubtedly there was bad farming in England, as well as in this 

 country ; there was, also, a small class of those whose opera 

 tions were bolstered up on unusual capital, of whom Mr. Mechi 

 would answer as an example, and who could not therefore be 

 regarded exactly as fair specimens of the practical man in the 

 present condition of English husbandry. He had enjoyed the op 

 portunity, however, of visiting several who might justly rank as 

 such, and could only regret that the necessities of the case then 

 compelled the entire omission of much in which an interest would 

 be felt by practical farmers in this country, and the very imper 

 fect survey of the instances to which time allowed an allusion. 



" Butley Abbey," and one or two other farms, altogether 

 including 3,000 acres in the county of Suffolk, occupied by Mr. 

 Thomas Crisp, together with the operations upon it, were first 

 considered. A description was given of the sheep-walks, and 

 the system of sheep-husbandry practised. The " four-course" 

 system is generally adhered to, but a " stolen crop" of turnips 

 is sometimes obtained the seed drilled upon the wheat stub 

 bles, and the roots fed off in the late autumn and succeeding 

 spring, and the next crop in the course being mangolds. The 

 quantity of mangolds grown is increasing, compared with tur 

 nips, so far as his observations extended in Great Britain. 



The sheep of that part of England are prolific mothers and 

 good milkers, and are consequently in 'demand. Mr. C. had a 

 flock of about 2,000 breeding ewes, with which he puts a 

 Leicester or Southdown " tup." The lambs it is his practice to 

 sell, the autumn after they are one year old, or indeed any time 

 during that season according to circumstances ; and the price 

 received for them varies with age and quality, from $7.50 all 





