1839] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



597 



will suffice exactly for (en days consumption; that 

 straw is useti each day, which carried six bolls, 

 one firlot, and three lorpets oi' grain; that each 

 bunch ol' straw yielded somethini^r loss than one 

 peck and three lorpets; and that ilie extent of 

 ground which produced the straw for one day's 

 consuniplion, was seventy hundredth parts of an 

 acre, Scotch measure. 1 have detailed these par- 

 ticulars, being sensible, that every thing favoring 



- method and accuracy, is highly acceptal^le to you. 

 The machine thrashes the benns most com- 

 pletely; — indeed, not one pod is left unstnpped of 

 its contents: but in some cases it hashes^ nl course 

 wastes, the straw considerably. Mr. Jamieson 

 says that the saving fl-oni machines' is much 

 greater with wheat and beans, than with oats and 

 barley, — the first mentioned grains beinir rarely 

 clean thrashed before machines were introduced. 

 The reason he assigns is, that unless sharp skutch- 

 ers are constantly used, oats are seldom completely 

 thrashed; and that barley, by reason of the long 

 awn which adheres to it, is with difficulty preven- 

 ted ti-om going off amongst the straw. Indeed, 

 he one day assured me, that a machme, to be per- 

 ftct, should be provided with two sets ofskutchers; 

 one lor oats, — and the other, more round, lor 

 wheat, barley, and beans. He add<-d, that sharp 

 skutchers do not suit wheat, as they cat the stalk 

 over by the neck, and so occasion much of the 

 grain to remam amongst the olfiil. 



Jan. 16. — After two or three days frost, a heavy 

 fall of snow came on last week, which, lor a time, 

 has effectually stopped fieki operations. All Elliot's 

 people, and some of mine, are iherelbre employed 

 in removing dung from the straw-yard, which is 

 miildened on the field intended Icir turnips, and, 

 Aviih ever}' coat of dung, or, more properly speak- 

 ing, nnrotied straw, another of snow liillows, which 

 in my humble opinion, will have a powerful effect 

 in hastening putreliiction; because, nidependen' of 



• all chemical reasoning on the subject, (lie snow 

 will only melt in a gradual manner, thereby mois- 

 tening the dunghill much more effectually than if 

 the greatest quantity of water had been thiown 

 upon it. Mr. Jamieson declares, that he never 

 saw a bad hill of dung, when mixed up with a full 

 quantity of snow; and that this incorporation ought 

 not to be neglected, when the means are gratuit- 

 ously provided by the elements. I omitted to men- 

 tion, that the turnip dung is also laid in layers up- 

 on the dunghills, and that the whole is carefully 

 shaken and spread thereupon. We have already 

 got out a large quantity, and, should the storm 

 continue, the yards will be cleared. However, as 

 there is an immense pile of straw in the centre 

 yard, from which the places bared of dung are con- 

 stantly covered, there will, in a little time, be as 

 much accumulated as ever. About one third of 

 the stack-yard is emptied; and, should the storm 

 continue after the liirm-yards are cleared, Mr. Ja- 

 mieson says he means to thrash incessantly till 

 good weather returns. 



My squad have partly been employed, for two 

 months past, in cutting hedges, and some of them 



^ are remarkably dexterous at chat operation. Mr. 

 Jamieson has all his hedges broad at bottom, and 



,_ narrow at top; and in this way a fence is obtained, 

 infinitely superior to the best stone walls. A very 

 few years care, at the beginning, puts them into 

 a situation for this mode of training; and, if that 

 care is continued till they arrive at maturity, the 



after expense is perfectly trifling. Many farmers, 

 good in other respects, are careless and indifferent 

 about tlieir fences, and neglect to protect and tram 

 up what was originally planted at a considerable 

 charge. Without entering u|)on the general (jues- 

 lion, viz. the necessity ofltrices in every case, all 

 I woulil say, is, that where they have been rear- 

 ed, a suitable attention ought to be bestowed upon 

 theni afterwards. Where a hedge is planted, it 

 must be. taaken lor granted. that it was deemed 

 necessary; therelore, nenleclijig it afieruards must 

 be considered as unpardonable conduct. 



The ewes Ivave got turnips since the storm com- 

 menced, a ()ari of the field being railed off'; to 

 whi^'Ji they are taken through the day, but at night 

 they are removed to an adjoining park, purposely 

 hained and kept rou^h for such an emergency. 

 Hvre, by scraping, they contrive to tret a tasting 

 of food; and as they have a bel.yful of turnips 

 every twenty-four hours, theirsituaiion is tolerably 

 good. One day we liad to shovel the snow from 

 the turnips, before the poor animals could get at 

 them. — Only three, out of twenty score, have died 

 since they came to ihe liuin, in October last. Mr. 

 Jamieson says, he has often suffered at the rate of 

 five per cent, through the season. 



Jati. 30. — ^I am now preparing to depart from a 

 place where I have enjoyed much happiness, and, 

 seen a <ireat deal of business; haviuo; Hitle more to 

 do, bui to get the inventory of implements taken 

 oli'niy hands, and the several accounts due to the 

 men under my ch.irge examined and audited. 

 These things, I confess, are absolutely necessary; 

 — still they do not afford me satisfaction, because 

 they remind me that I am to leave the service of 

 a gentleman Vv-ho has unilijrmly behaved to me 

 like a father, and that I am, more to associate \t'nh 

 (i*IJow servants, from whem I received uncommon* 

 instances ot liiendship and favor. Duly to yon, 

 however, is a permanent principle in my breast; 

 and though feelings cannoj be overcome all at 

 once, yet still those, which impress me at the mo- 

 ment, Will not, I hope, in the slightest degree pre- 

 vent me from enjoyinij the like haf)pines3 at your 

 fireside, as I have experienced hi this hospitable 

 mansion. 



The day before yesterday Mr. Jamieson sent for 

 me from the field, and I waited upon him imme- 

 diately. "George," says he, " I am more at leisure 

 just now than I probably may be at your dejiart- 

 ure; therefore cannot employ myself better than 

 in giving you a lew advices, which, likely, may be 

 usei'ul when you settle in the world, or in your 

 passage through it afterwards. In' the ^Vs< place, 

 let me assure you, that I am well pleased with 

 your behavior when in my service, because it 

 has been steady, regular, and inoffensive; but on 

 these points I mean to write myijood old liiend, 

 your father, which will be more satisfactory to him 

 than any thing communicated through your me- 

 dium. In the second place, I recommend most 

 earnestly, that you would take particular care of 

 your conduct and behavior when entering into 

 active life, because I ha"e known many young 

 men get a character stamped upon them at that 

 time, which no future alteration of conduct was 

 capable of removing. Be consistent and steady 

 therefore in your actions, — cautious in forming 

 schemes and connexions, — but firm and determined 

 in the execution. Think I'ov yourself at all times; 

 and, thougii it is often wise and prudent to refraia 



