720 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



the period of entry, and the time at which the rent becomes payable, as this is sometimes 

 exacted, before there is any return from the lands, out of the actual produce of which it 

 ought to be paid ; and, lastly, on its being a grazing, or an arable farm, or a mixture of 

 both, 



4456. In pasture districts, the common mode of estimating the amount of capital 

 necessary, is according to the amount of the rent ; and it is calculated, tliat in ordinary 

 pastures, every farmer ought to have at his command, from three to five times the rent he 

 has agreed to pay. But in the more fertile grazing districts, carrying stock worth from 

 201. to 30^. and even upwards, per acre, (as is the case in many parts of England,) five 

 rents are evidently insufficient. When prices are high, ten rents will frequently be 

 required, by those who breed superior stock, and enter with spirit into that new field of 

 speculation and enterprise. 



4457. The capital required by an arable farmer varies, according to circumstances, 

 from 51. to 10/. or even 15/. per acre. An ignorant, timid, and penurious farmer lays 

 out the least sum he can possibly contrive ; and consequently he obtains the smallest 

 produce or profit from his farm. These, however, will always increase, when accom- 

 panied by spirit and industry, in proportion to the capital employed, if judiciously ex- 

 pended. At the same time, attention and economy cannot be dispensed with. It is 

 ill-judged to purchase a horse at forty guineas, if one worth thirty can execute the 

 labor of the farm ; or to lay out sums unnecessarily upon expensive harness, loaded with 

 useless ornaments. Prudent farmers also, who have not a large capital at command, 

 when they commence business, often purchase some horses still fit for labor, though past 

 their prime, and some breeding mares, or colts ; and in five or six years, they are fully 

 supplied with good stock, and can sometimes sell their old horses without much loss. 

 In every case, such shifts must be resorted to, where there is any deficiency of capital. 



4458. A mixture of arable and grass farming is, on the whole, the most profitable 

 method of farming. Independently of the advantages to be derived from the alternate 

 husbandry (which are always considerable), the chances of profit are much more 

 numerous from a varied system, than where one object is exclusively followed. Where 

 this mixed mode of farming is practised, the farmer will frequently rely on the purchase 

 of lean stock, instead of breeding his own ; and derives great advantage from the 

 quickness with which capital thus employed is returned. But, in that case, much must 

 depend upon judicious selection. In general it may be said, that to stock a turnip- 

 land arable farm, will require, at this time (1823), 51. or 61. and a clay-land farm from 

 71. or 8/. per acre, according to circumstances. 



4459. This capital is necessarily divided into two jmrts. The one is partly expended on 

 implements, or stock of a more or less perishable nature, and partly vested in the soil ; 

 for this the farmer is entitled to a certain annual gain, adequate to replace, within a given 

 number of years, the sum thus laid out. The other is employed in defraying the charges 

 of labor, &c. as they occur throughout the year ; the whole of which, with the interest, 

 should be replaced by the yearly produce. These two branches of expense on a farm are 

 the first to be attended to, both in order of time, and in magnitude of amount. 



4460. The most satisfactory statement hitherto given of the profit derived from the ex- 

 penditure of an adequate capital in arable farming, is that furnished by George Rennie, 

 Esq. of Phantassie, in East Lothian. On a mixed soil of 702 Enghsh acres, he states 

 the profits at 1/. 5s. per English acre, or about 14 per cent, on the capital employed. 

 Rennie is one of the very first practical agriculturists in Scotland, and has been so suc- 

 cessful as to purchase the farm which he occupies. (Code, <^c. p. 70 73.) 



Chap. III. 

 On the Choice of Stock for a Farm. 



4461. The stocking of a farm may be considered as including live stock, implements, 

 servants, and seed. A considerable portion of a farmer's capital is employed in ma- 

 nures, tillages, labor, &c. but a farm being once engaged, the above are the only descrip- 

 tions of stock which admit of a choice. 



Sect. I. Of the Choice of Live Stock. 



4462. The animals required by a farmer are of two kinds ; such as are employed to 

 assist in labor, and such as are used to convert the produce of the farm into food, or other 

 disposable commodities. 



