MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



mid-April, is fit for the scythe. Succeeding 

 crops of this, keep the mangers of the cows 

 full, up to an early week in October. After- 

 ward may come cuttings of late-sown barley, 

 or the leaves of the Mangel, or carrot-tops, 

 with which, as a bonne bouche, the cattle are 

 withdrawn to their winter quarters, for their 

 dietary of cut-feed, oil-cake, occasional bran 

 and roots. 



They leave behind them in their summer 

 banqueting house, a little Rhigi of fertilizing 

 material — not exposed to storms, neither too 

 dry nor too moist, and of an unctuous fatness, 

 which will make sundry surrounding fields, in 

 the next season, carry a heavier burden than 

 ever of purple Mangel, or of shining maize- 

 leaves. 



I perceive, too, very clearly, in furtherance 

 of the illustration, that one acre will produce 

 as much nutritive food, under this system, as 

 four acres under the old plan of waste — by 

 poaching — and by exposure of all manurial 

 material to the fierce beat of the sun, and to 

 the washings of rain storms. I perceive that 

 the land, as well as cattle, are all fairly in hand, 

 and better under control. If at any time the 

 season, or the market, should indicate a de- 

 mand for some special crop, I am not dis- 



150 



