APPENDIX III 219 



available ploughing in has no advantages over dibbling, but 

 where no skilled labour can be obtained results can be 

 achieved which would be impossible by any other method. It 

 is not cheaper than dibbling, but the work is less monotonous. 

 In planting cabbage after fodder crops, it is very im- 

 portant that the plants be large and thick-stemmed. Such 

 plants will live through almost any condition of adversity. 

 The second crops are horse-hoed once only, and receive no 

 hand weeding ; this is sufficient to keep the crop quite clean. 

 The small amount of labour involved in the production of 

 the crops is worthy of note — Crop No. 3 in the Table, a 

 mixture of winter barley, winter oats and vetches, followed 

 bv cabbage, mav be taken as an example. The whole of the 

 labour involved in producing the two crops is : — 



Twice ploughing. 



Sowing seed mixture broadcast. 



Harrowing once. 



Planting cabbage. 



Horse-hoeing cabbage once. 



Carting and spreading farmyard manure. 



The cultivations are not costly, owing to the small number of 

 operations involved, but the cutting and carting absorbs a 

 good deal of labour. 



One of the most interesting results of the experiment is the 

 improvement of the texture of the soil as the result of the 

 frequent growing of fodder crops. The effect of these crops 

 on the mechanical condition of the soil is noted by many early 

 writers, but appears to have been lost sight of in more modern 

 times. 



CUTTING AND HANDLING THE CROPS 



Cutting with the scythe is expensive, but it is the only 

 possible means of cutting badly laid crops, such :is have been 

 experienced in the pa-st season. Since the commencement of 

 the experiment, in no previous year have the crops been so 

 completely twisted and beaten down, and it was clearly shown 



