The Farmer 



elusions of present-day scientists more fully in 

 regard to the chemical treatment of their grass! 

 The two questions that the practical farmer 

 will ask in regard to Mr. Prout's demonstration 

 are, firstly, Can the land be kept clean and in 

 good tilth ? and secondly. Has the soil de- 

 teriorated under this system of cultivation ? 

 The present Dr. Volcker shews in the volume of 

 the Royal Agricultural Society already referred 

 to that it has not deteriorated. Mr. Prout's 

 farm is 450 acres in extent, the soil is cold heavy 

 clay. He owns his own land and so has complete 

 freedom of cropping. It is situated near Saw- 

 bridgeworth and commands a good market, con- 

 sequently the straw can be sold easily and well, 

 — this is certainly an essential when the price of 

 wheat is low. But Mr. Prout's is not the only 

 heavy clay farm within easy reach of a good 

 market, and much more might be done by baling 

 straw, where the marketing conditions are not 

 so favourable. In general terms Mr. Prout's 

 methods of cultivation are to get as much land 

 as possible under wheat in the autumn, — such 

 fields as he finds it absolutely impossible to sow 

 in the autumn he sows in the spring with barley 

 or oats, though it is not good land for either. 

 After six or seven consecutive corn crops Mr. 

 Prout interposes a crop of trifolium or red 

 clover, selling the hay. After such a crop the 

 wheat does not receive its artificial dressing, so 



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