592 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. 



The number of acres in Great. Britain are — according to the Third Report of 

 the Emigration Committee — 7 7,39 4,433, in the following portions and condition — 



Uucultivated 



Cullivuted. but capable of Wastes. Total. 

 Improvoment. 



England . . 25,632,000 3,451,000 3,250,400 32,342,400 



Wales . . . 3,117,000 530,000 1,105,000 4,752,000 



Scotland . . 5,265,000 5,'J50,000 8,523,930 19,738,930 



Ireland . . 12,125,280 4,900,000 2,41G,GG4 19,441,944 



Briiish Islands 383,690 166,000 569,469 1,119,159 



In England and Wales it is calculated that there are in profitahle farming 

 land — ■ 



3,252,000 acres emploj-ed in the cultivation of wheat." 

 1,250,000 „ in that of bailey and rye. 

 3,200,000 „ „ oats, beans, and pease. 



1,200,000 „ „ clover and artificial grasses. 



1,200.000 „ „ field rools. 



2,100,000 „ „ fallow. 



48,000 „ „ hops. 



17,300,000 „ „ meadow and pasture. 



1,200,000 „ „ hedgerows, copses, woods, and wastes. 



And the annual property derived from agriculture in the United Kingdom has 

 been estimated at 216,817,624;. 



Solid Measure 

 includes both length, breadth, and depth; and the cubic contents of anything 

 are found by multiplying it twice within itself. Thus, 144 inches are 1 square 

 foot, and that, being again multiplied by 12, will amount to 



1728 cubis inches, forming I cubic foot (Cub. ft. ^ and 

 27 cubic feet are 1 cubic yard QCub. yd.). 

 By this measure the manure of farm-yard dung and composts are estimated ; the 

 heap of 27 cubic feet, or 1 cubic yard, which is called a load, being usually re- 

 garded as 1 ton. The length, breadth, and depth of the heap are to be taken 

 in feet and inches, multiplied into each other, and divided by 27, in order to 

 ascertain the cubical yards and nominal weight. Its actual weight must, how- 

 ever, depend upon the solidity of its contents; for, as fresh stable dung lies 

 loosely together, it will not weigh so heavily as that which has been rotted. 

 The cubic contents of sand, or any porous earth, will of course also prove 

 lighter than clay.* 



The load of timber, if in the rough, is 40 cubic feet ; if squared, 50 cubic feet. 



A cord of fire-wood i 



(8 feet long, 1 ... 

 • I . 1 , Icontainins: 



n4::hrg?h2«cub.rt. 



No. IV. 

 REMARKS ON THE WEATHER. 



(From the British Almanac.) 



The Barometer, as commonly met with, is very imperfectly constructed; but, 

 nevertheless, will answer tolerably well the purposes of a weather-glass. 

 People, in general, pay too much attention to the words /«/?•, rai)i,sturnii/,&.c., 

 engraven upon the scale ; and it is a common error to imagine that, as long as 

 the mercury, or the index which marks its course, points to those expressions, 

 the weather will be in accordance with them. The most important fact, how- 

 ever, to be ascertained in making an observation is, whether the mercury is in 

 the act of rising or falling ; as, if it ascends, although the index point to the 

 word rain, it is a much surer indication of fine weather than when the index 

 points to fair, and the metal descends. The point may generally be ascertained 

 by gently tapping the instrument ; which, freeing the mercury from a slight 

 adhesion to tlie glass, allows its freer motion, and instantly shows its upward or 

 downward tendency. 



* See the measurement of bay stacks; vol,. i\., p. 501. 



