The Husbandry of the Period. 253 



earned the fifty-guinea bowl with, which the Society desired 

 to honour the introducer of the now famous swede turnip.^ 



For the three articles of profit, viz., lambs, wool, and folding, 

 stock-ewes about two years old were bought in September, 

 and for fattening on turnips and cabbages wethers of the same 

 age were bought in October, by which time the farmer was 

 enabled to gauge the feeding capabilities of his green crops. 

 If there was a prospect of a superabundant harvest, he would 

 set about purchasing some Scotch cattle for winter feeding, 

 in addition to the fatting oxen taken up about the middle of 

 the autumn from the summer's grass. All these were fed on 

 turnips, cabbages, or carrots, either in stalls under cover, or 

 loose in the straw-yard. Very little hay seems to have been 

 given them, and the use of cereals and oil-cake in supplying 

 the nitrogenous wants of animal life had not yet been recog- 

 nised.^ 



Most farmers by this time had included the potato in their 

 list of field crops. It was generally sown in rows on the flat, 

 on ground that would have otherwise come in for turnip culture. 

 A heavy dressing of farmyard manure was ploughed in, and 

 the ground levelled by the harrow. A man holding a tri- 

 angular dibble in his hands, which had three points and a place 

 for him to set his foot, struck it into the earth, by means of 

 which three holes were formed. Into these an attendant boy 

 dropped the seed potatoes, and one or two harrowings com- 

 pleted the process. Another method was to lay the potatoes 

 along the furrow after the plough ; but, strange to relate, 

 though less expensive, it was not recommended, partly 

 because the seed was not deep enough, and partly because 

 fifteen to twenty bushels were thought requisite for each acre's 

 setting.^ 



Grass land was preferred by many farmers for potato culture, 

 and no doubt large crops could be raised on what was virtu- 

 ally, as far as regards potatoes, virgin soil. Headlands and 



* Gentlemaits Magazine, Marcli 12, 1790. 



* The moi-e detailed description of the economy practised amongst the 

 farmers' live-stock follows in the next chapter. 



^ Farmer'' s Kalendar. A. Young. 



