372 Of Straw. 



moisture into a fluid state, and, in either case, its whole sub- 

 stance is applicable as food for plants. The more of that 

 article, therefore, that can be converted into manure, con- 

 sistently with the other objects which require the-farmer's 

 attention, so much the more will his interest be promoted. 



Mr Young was of opinion, that it was impossible to raise 

 sufficient quantities of manure, more especially where soil- 

 ing was practised, if any straw were eaten ; and a number 

 of the best farmers in Norfolk maintain, that all straw should 

 be used as litter, and trodden into dung, by animals feeding 

 on much better food, as turnips, hay, or oil-cake. The prin- 

 ciple can never be generally carried into effect, for all farms, 

 as now cultivated, do not produce turnips, which is the best 

 article to use for rotting straw, from the immense quantity 

 of urine it produces. In regard to hay, or oil-cake, these 

 articles are too expensive, and often too scarce, to make the 

 use of them general; and besides, such dry food furnishes 

 little moisture to the dunghill, without which it cannot be 

 so effectually converted into manure. 



It appears from the statements of several eminent farmers, 

 that one ton of straw, if properly manufactured, that is, aug- 

 mented in weight, by the dung and urine of the stock main- 

 tained upon the farm, will produce from two, to even four 

 tons of manure ( a39 ); and as an English acre of grain, yields 

 more than a ton of straw, hence, on a farm where 300 acres 

 are sown yearly, nearly 100 of them may be manured from 

 its own produce, at the rate of 12 tons per English acre, 

 without the aid of extraneous substances, provided the four- 

 course rotation of, 1. Turnips; 2. Wheat, or Barley; 3. 

 Clover ; and, 4. Wheat, or Oats, be adopted. Where the 

 clover is pastured the second year, (which is an excellent 

 system), even less manure will be required than the quantity 

 above mentioned, while the produce of straw, will annually 

 become more abundant, during the remainder of the course. 



As 12 tons of dung per English acre, are necessary in 

 general cases, which would require all the straw produced 

 on the farm, according to its average produce, means ought 

 to be devised, without the aid of any extraneous manures, 

 to make up the deficiency, where a part of the straw is ap- 

 plied to the feeding of stock. The greatest care ought, 

 therefore, to be taken, that the crop be cut as low as 

 possible ; while by the aid of mould or peat earth, much 

 urine may be absorbed, that would otherwise be lost. The 

 making of composts, likewise, ought not to be neglected; and 

 where this system is practised, stock are maintained with 



