362 Of Straw. 



monly imagined ; and the value of that article, taken in the 

 aggregate, entitles it to more attention than has hitherto 

 been bestowed upon it. Farmers are apt to consider it as of 

 little or no worth, because it is not usually saleable, and is 

 rarely estimated, separately from the yearly produce^of the 

 soil. But though seldom sold, (except in the vicinity of 

 towns), it has an intrinsic value, as a fund for manure, a 

 means of feeding stock, and other useful purposes. 



1. On the Weight of Straw produced by the different Crops. 



It is evident, that the quantity of straw produced per acre, 

 must differ, according to a variety of circumstances; as, 

 1. The species of grain cultivated; 2. The different kinds 

 of the same grain, for red oats produce less straw than other 

 sorts ( ai3 ); 3. The season, for in a dry season the quantity 

 is less than in a moist ; 4. The soil, for in fertile soils, the 

 straw is more abundant than in poor ones ; 5. The season 

 when the seed is sown, for spring-sown wheat has less straw 

 than that which is sown in winter ; and, 6. The manner in 

 which the straw is cut, for an inch at the root-end of the 

 straw, is heavier, than two at the top (* 14 ). 



It is desirable, notwithstanding these diversities, to be 

 enabled to form some general idea, of the average produce in 

 straw, of each kind of grain; and the average weight of the 

 whole : but owing to the little attention hitherto paid to the 

 subject, and the scantiness of authorities, the weight cannot 

 be ascertained, with the accuracy that could be wished. It 

 is probable, however, that the following estimates are not 

 far from the truth. 



Mr Young stated, that the average produce in straw, stub- 

 ble included, of all the different crops, rejecting those upon 

 the weaker soils, might be calculated at 1 ton 7 cwt. per 

 English acre. 



Mr Middleton calculates the produce of the different crops 

 in straw, per acre, as follows : 



Cwt. Ibs. 



Wheat 31 or 3472 



Beans and Pease, 25 2810 



Oats, 25 2800 



Barley, 20 2240 



Average nearly, 25 or 2828 

 or about 1 ton. 



Mr Brown of Markle, has drawn up the following estimate, 

 of the produce of straw, from the different crops usually 



