NOTES. 67 



telligent farmer, (John Tennant, Esq. of Girvan Mains, in Ayrshire,) has gra- 

 dually been enabled to stock three different farms ; and beginning with a rent 

 of only L.50 per annum, he now annually pays L.270O, or fifty-four times the 

 sum which he originally paid when he commenced farming. There can hard- 

 ly be a stronger argument in favour of that system, where the soil will bear it. 



260 Communication from William Hunter, Esq. of Tynefield, in East- 

 Lothian. 



261 Communication from William Hume, Esq. 



262 Yet in Northumberland, one of its most intelligent farmers, Mr Bailey 

 of Chillingliatn, states, that clover almost universally fails after wheat and po- 

 tatoes, and the same has been found in Roxburghshire. Perhaps a sufficient 

 quantity of manure, with two such scourging crops, had not been applied. An 

 experiment was tried in Ireland, to ascertain, whether potatoes are an exhaust- 

 ing crop or not. Four acres of land were equally well prepared, on two of 

 which potatoes were planted with dung, which produced a good crop. The 

 other two were fallowed, and dunged in the same proportion as the potatoe 

 ground. Both were sown with wheat at the same time, when, to the surprise 

 of every one, the potatoe ground produced the best crop of corn. There can 

 be no doubt, that dung is brought into a more perfect state of putrefaction by 

 being previously applied to a green crop, and more especially under a crop of 

 potatoes, as it has the advantage of being effectually blended with the soil. 

 The tops of the potatoes are also peculiarly fertilizing ; and from shedding 

 their decayed leaves, and excluding the surface of the soil from incessant heat, 

 a quantity of vegetable mould is created on its surface. Hence it is, that the 

 best crops of wheat have been produced, where the crops of potatoes have been 

 the most luxuriant. This experiment was tried at the Viscount de Vesci's, 

 Queen's County, Ireland. Communication from Edward Burroughs, Esq. 



263 Mr Curwen concurs in these sentiments. He remarks in his Report 

 to the Workington Society, anno 1816, p. 103, that the first lesson in modern 

 husbandry is, to correct and control too extensive ploughing, which is effec- 

 tually done, by confining the tenant to alternate white and green crops. The 

 proportion of green crops, with few exceptions, is too little, even in the best 

 cultivated farms in this country. When this shall be fully understood, a great 

 and essential point will be gained, and the progress of good husbandry will 

 become very rapid. 



264 The potatoe-oat would be the most productive, but the red oat is the 

 best calculated for a peaty soil. 



265 Mr Maxwell of Fletton, Huntingdonshire Report, p. 108. If the soil 

 or climate is unfavourable to pulse crops, a second year of herbage would be 

 preferable to beans or pease. 



266 Northumberland Report, p. 185, note. The danger of having the land 

 too fertile, particularly from the hazard of rust or mildew, has been long re- 

 marked. Ellis in his " Chiltern and Vale Farming explained," p. 200, has 

 the following remark : " I also further prove, that these blights happen by the 

 richness of the earth, and the wetness of the summer season ; because the best 

 wheat that England enjoyed this year, (ann. 1732,) grew on the poorest dry- 

 lands. " When the straw is firm and compact, rust is seldom experienced ; 

 but when it is large and porous, and full of sap, it seldom escapes. 



267 Middlesex Report, p. 183. Mr Greenhill of Stratford, in Essex, is said 

 repeatedly to have had 600 acres of potatoes, 600 of wheat, and 600 of clover 

 in one year, and thereby to have accumulated a large fortune. Ditto. He 

 had the good sense to discover, how much may be done by an intelligent far- 

 mer, who avails himself of the advantages which he may derive from being 

 near a metropolis, or a great market town. 



268 Mr Brown of Markle, in East-Lothian, has ascertained, that a pair of 

 horses, properly fed, and regularly employed, under a judicious system, can carry 

 on the cultivation of 50 English acres in a rotation of six ; namely, 10 acres in 

 fallow, or, on light soils, in turnips ; 10 acres in wheat or barley, with either of 



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