108 Mr Hunters System of Farming. 



acres. The other stock varies according to the quantity of green food 

 produced in the course of the season. It is only necessary to observe, 

 that about ten sheep, weighing from twelve to fourteen pounds per 

 quarter, require from thirty to thirty-two tons of turnips (rather more 

 than the average produce of an English acre), to fatten them for mar- 

 ket *. Mr Hunter also keeps some cattle for winter soiling f, (if 

 that expression can be made use of), which are bought in October 

 and November, and sold in March. The sheep are fattened some- 

 times sooner, but the above weight of turnip will keep them till that 

 time. The cattle are sold as soon as fattened, if the market offers, 

 and are sooner or later ready, in proportion to the condition they 

 may be in when put up to feed J. 



Mr Hunter raises from four to five acres of turnips, for one of ru- 

 ta baga : the latter, however, requires one-third more manure, to pro- 

 duce a full crop. 



The crops Mr Hunter raises of turnips, and of ruta baga, are as 

 follows : 



1. Turnips. 



Tons per Tons per 



Scotch Acre. English Acre. 



Greatest crops, turnips 38 tons, tops 6 tons, 44 35 



Smallest crops, - 32 25 



Average about 38 30 



2. Ruta Baga. 



Tons per Tons per 



Scotch Acre. English Acre. 



Greatest crops, - 32 26 



Smallest crops, . -'--6-=- *~~ 23 14 



Average about 27| 20 



Mr Hunter was accustomed to make the intervals of the rows, 

 from twenty. seven to thirty inches. He found, at that time, the 

 crops to average about three or four tons less per acre than he now 



* At this rate, an acre of turnips fattens from 459 to 500 Ibs. of mutton, 

 and nearly as much of beef, which is in the ratio of from 1 6 to 1 7 Ib. of meat, 

 for every ton of turnips. 



f Soiling is commonly understood to mean, giving succulent herbage to live 

 stock ; but if it properly means making dung, it may also be applied to the giv- 

 ing of roots, for the purpose of feeding animals, and providing manure. 



\ It is calculated, that an acre of good turnips, would feed two and a half 

 cattle of 30 stone Amsterdam each, 17 oz. to the pound and 16 Ibs. to the 

 stone ; but say, that only two cattle are fed on the produce of an acre of tur- 

 nips ; in that case, it is contended, that 440 Ibs. Amsterdam weight, or more 

 of beef than mutton, would be produced, from equal weights of turnips, pro- 

 vided that the turnips be consumed at the stall by the cattle. 



