414 OP STRAW, ITS VALUE, AND USES. 



same time it is probable, that the advantage of a softer 

 bed for the horses, would more than compensate for any 

 additional expence.* It is singular that the ancients were 

 accustomed to break straw upon stones, for the purpose of 

 rendering it more easily mixed with dung, and sooner dis- 

 solved ;f an operation which is now effectually done by 

 means of the threshing-mill. 



A farmer in Berwickshire calculates the value of an 

 English acre of straw, for dung, in the following manner. 

 He gives a single cart-load of turnips per day to eight or 

 ten cattle, with straw, in a fold-yard. He finds, that on 

 an average of three years, from two and a half, to three 

 acres of straw, will winter an ox, with turnips in the above 

 proportion. In this way each acre of straw will produce 

 about four double cart-loads of rotten dung, of from SO 

 to 35 cubic feet each, which a* 5 s. per load, is 20 s. per 

 acre. The dung, however, in this case, seems to be es- 

 timated too low. 



An important question comes next to be discussed, What 

 quantity of straw employed as litter, and converted into 

 dung, feedin the animals on straw and turnips, will be 

 sufficient to manure an acre for turnips or wheat ? 



There is reason to believe, if all the straw produced 

 upon a farm were converted into dung, by feeding cattle 

 with turnips in winter, and by soiling in summer, the pro- 

 duce of two acres of corn-straw, and one acre of grass, 

 cut for soiling, and consumed on the farm, would give ma- 

 nure for one. 



On this branch of the subject, it is intimated to me by 

 Mr Brown of Markle, that the quantity of dung produced 



* Middlesex Report, p. 175. 



t Dickson's Husbandry of the Ancients, vol. ii. p. 408. 

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