Progress of a Short-horned Bullock. 79 



would give the grower of 20 tons of turnips L.8 per acre, besides the 

 advantage obtained from the manure. This would certainly be suffi- 

 cient profit. But if his crop of turnips would produce from 30 to 40 

 tons per acre, all at the same expense, which is frequently the case, 

 the profit would be still more considerable. 



No. VI. 



ON THE ROTATION OF CROPS ON THE ESTATE OF HOLKHAM, 

 BY FRANCIS BLAIKIE, ESQ. 



WHEN an account is given, of the rotation of crops in any particular 

 estate or district, it is proper, that the soil and situation should be de- 

 scribed at the same time, so that the render may be better enabled to 

 judge of the propriety of the system. For instance, upon Mr Coke's 

 estates in West Norfolk, which is celebrated for its good husbandry, 

 the soil varies from light dry sand, to strong loam, retentive of wet. 

 But the greater part of the land is a friable sandy loam, naturally 

 poor, but very productive, from being kept in a high state of cultiva- 

 tion. The subsoil of the whole district is calcareous, and is called 

 clay, marl, or chalk, according to its texture. 



1st Rotation. The best, or first class of this land, is cultivated, ei- 

 ther upon the four course shift, or upon the four and six courses al- 

 ternately, as follows : 



77*6 Four Course Shift. 



1. Turnips well manured, and part of the crop eaten upon the 

 ground, or turnips and mangel wurzel, (" field beet,") in alternate 

 ridges of four or more drills ; the beet all drawn off, and consumed 

 in the yards, and turnips eaten upon the ground ; '2. Barley ; 

 3. Red clover, mown once ; the second crop folded, and eaten off by 

 ebeep, a fresh piece being set out every day ; 4. Wheat. 



The Six Course Shift. 



1. Turnips well manured, and part eaten on the ground ; 2. Bar- 

 ley ; 3. White clover and mixed seeds, mown once ; 4. Pasture ; 

 5. Pease ; 6. Wheat with manure. Thus, in the ten years, the land 

 received three dressings of manure, exclusive of the sheep-fold ; and 

 produced two crops of turnips, two of barley, two of wheat, one of pease, 

 one of clover hay, one of mixed grass hay, and one year's pasture. 

 The four or six course shifts, taken alternately, are preferable to a con- 

 stant repetition of four course husbandry, and should be adopted, when- 

 ever a convenient opportunity occurs. 



To a person unacquainted with the management of light arable 

 land, and the use of rape cake, it will appear, that the three dressings of 

 manure here mentioned, exclusive of the sheep-fold, are extraordinary 

 high farming. But when the expense, and speedy application of the 

 manure are pointed out, the wonder ceases. Thus, the average price 

 of rape cake, including the expense of breaking the same into a pow- 



