364 Of Straw. 



other hand, straw is seldom worth more than L.2 per 

 acre( aao ). 



The value of straw for feeding stock, depends much upon 

 the season when it is consumed. From the beginning of 

 November, to the 1st of March, when black cattle have 

 turnips in abundance, the straw of oats, and likewise of 

 beans and pease, if well harvested, may be safely used as a 

 substitute for hay, and may, during that period of the year, 

 be reckoned at from one half to nearly two-thirds of its 

 value, whatever the price of hay may be. Ninepence per 

 stone, however, when hay is Is. 6d. per stone, may be con- 

 sidered its fair value for feeding, during spring ; and 6d. as 

 the average during the whole year. 



In regard to straw used entirely as litter, it is calculated 

 by Mr Brown of Markle, that 130 stones of straw, the ave- 

 rage produce of an acre, will yield four two-horse cart-loads 

 of dung, worth, in East Lothian, 10s. per load ; that is, at 

 the rate of 3d. per stone for the straw, and L.I, 12s. per Eng- 

 lish acre, Straw for thatching will be nearly of the same 

 value. On the supposition, therefore, that there are eight 

 millions of acres of cultivated land, annually sown in Great 

 Britain, producing, on an average, 130 stone of straw, one- 

 fourth of which is consumed by feeding, and in that case 

 worth 6d. per stone, and three-fourths as litter or thatching, 

 worth only 3d., the total value of the straw in the kingdom, 

 may be estimated as follows : 



Two millions of acres of straw, at 130 stones per acre, worth 7 f R enr, nnn 

 6d. per stone, employed in feeding stock, - J ; 



Six millions of acres, at 130 stones per acre, worth 3d. per 7 n 7n nnn 

 stone, for litter or thatching, L.I : 12 : 6 per acre, $ 



Hence eight millions of acres, produce in straw upwards of L. 2? . r OKn nnn 

 each: in all, ... J ,15,^50,000 



The straw, therefore, annually produced, is of much more 

 consequence than is commonly considered ; more especially 

 when its great importance, as a means of renewing the fer- 

 tility of the soil, is duly estimated (**'). 



3. Of the various Purposes to which Straw is applicable. 



' These may be considered under the following general 

 heads: 1. Feeding stock; 2. Litter; 3. Thatching; 

 and, 4. Miscellaneous purposes. 



1. Feeding Stock In former times, this was the great 

 object to which straw was applied ; almost every stalk, ex- 



