SYSTEM OF FARMING. 223 



to 3| lb. of meat. I need not say that tliis is " doing- well ;" 

 but still I am oblig'ed to remark that the vast ditFerence 

 between the several sheep in respect to the increase in 

 weight, teaches us that these calculations ought to be made 

 on a large llock, where we may hope that the various diUer- 

 ences will correct each other, and produce a just estimate of 

 what we may hope to effect in the average of 100 sheep. 

 But you must not fail to remark, that a system of manao-e- 

 nieut which secures a value to a ton of Swedes of 15^*?., con- 

 sumed on the farm, gives a large return. I must next tell 

 you that I have also put my fatting jjigs upon boards. I 

 almost fear to announce this, lest some wag should call me a 

 man of wood, but you will at least acknowledge this to be 

 better than to be " a man of straw." I rejoice to tell you 

 that these also have done well on these " board wages" — so 

 well, indeed, that I hesitate a good deal to tell you how well. 

 You will not believe the machine or the weigher. I do, 

 because it was accurately attended to. Three pigs, two 

 hours after feeding, at 3 p.m., were weighed November 23d, 

 and at the same hour, under the same condition, on JYovem- 

 ber 30tli. I will give you the weight in pounds. 



No one will believe this last weighing. (A farmer exclaimed, 

 " I would not if the man swore to it !") Nineteen pounds in 

 one week ! I credit this, but I cannot expect you to do so, 

 unless I tell you how this was effected. Gentlemen, last 

 year at the Blandford dinner, when in full reliance on the 

 certainty of chemical principles, I asserted that I verily be- 

 lieved I could grow a Swede turnip on the dinner table; on 

 that occasion Mr. Rickman, whom I now see present, with 

 great openness declared that I was trying to humbug the 

 farmers. Now, I took this much to heart, and determined 

 secretly, for fear of accidents, to put my ])rinci})le to the test. 

 But you will observe that nothing can be done in secret at 

 my farm. A chemist in his laboratory can essay 100 expe- 

 riments, and if he fail feel no blush or shame ; but my farms 

 are so overrun, and every wash-tub peeped into, that it is 

 impossible to find a calm retreat for any hazardous trial. In 



spondent dates from that raral retreat, Paris, I will in strict confidence 

 inform him that I learned the principles on which my practice is founded 

 from ' Boussingault, Qiconomie Rurale,' tome ii. chapitre viii. § 3. 



