Book III. 



IMPROVING FARM LANDS. 



751 



4574. As an example of adding part of a newly -enclosed common-field to a small anciently enclosed grass. 



712 



farm {fig. 712.), we give, 

 the following case : 



4575. The farmery (a) 

 and ancient enclosedfields 

 (6), are separated from 

 the common field by a 

 road, and bounded on the 

 other side by a lake. The 

 soil is a soft black earth 

 on a gravelly subsoil, 

 the surface a gentle slope 

 towards the lake. The 

 farm-house is supposed to 

 be already placed in this 

 ancient part; and the ob- 

 ject in view is to unite a 

 large portion of the com- 

 mon field, when enclosed, 

 to each ancient farm, so 

 as to get a fair rent for the 

 lands at the least expense. 

 The soil of this common 

 field is a light poor sand, 

 with nearly a flat surface. 

 The circumstances of the 

 country are favourable to 

 large farms, the climate 

 is dry, and the situation 

 such as to require shelter. 

 The number of acres to 

 be enclosed and added to 

 this farm is 1200. These 

 will be most advantage- 

 ously cultivated in six 

 shifts of, 1, turnips (c) ; 

 2, barley (d); 3, artificial 

 grasses (e) ; 4 and 5, the 

 same (/, g) ; 6, wheat or 

 oats {h). Each shift is 

 proposed to be separated 

 by a plantation for shelter, 

 and no inferior divisions 

 are made. In two of 

 the plantations are field- 

 barns, sheds, &c. where 

 the corn grown on one- 

 half of the arable lands is 

 threshed by a moveable 

 threshing-machine, and 

 the straw consumed by 

 cattle. There are cottages 

 at each of these barns for 



labourers to attend to the stock, &c. The ridges in each of the breaks or shifts are supposed to extend 

 their whole length ; or they may be ploughed as if the whole break were only one ridge, by which means 

 not a moment is lost in turning; at the ends, &c. Hereford or Devon oxen are supposed the beasts of 

 labour on this farm. 



4576. In place of the above rotation, wheat may be added after the second year of arti- 

 flcial grasses, and one shift kept entirely under saintfoin. This saintfoin division must 

 of course be changed every sixth or seventh year. However, if a proper mixture of 

 artificial grasses is sown, such as red, white, and yellow clover, rib-grass, burnet, saint- 

 foin, timothy, cocksfoot, rye-grass, and soft-grass, the produce will be superior to that 

 from either saintfoin or lucern alone, on a soil such as this, or even perhaps on any soil. 

 Every agriculturist of observation must be aware that the efforts of annual and biennial 

 plants are powerful for a few years at first, and that they uniformly produce a greater 

 bulk than perennials : the latter seem to compensate for this temporary bulk by a steady 

 durable produce. 



4577. The old pasture near the house is supposed to be irrigated from the upper part 

 of the lake, by a cut passing near the house. These pastures are particularly advan- 

 tageous for early lambs, milch cows, &c. and for stock in general in seasons of great 

 drought. 



4578. Correcting the outlines of fields is one of the most obvious sources of ameliora- 

 tion on many, perhaps on most, estates. The advantages of proper sized and shaped 

 enclosures have been fully pointed out, when treating of laying out farm lands, and in 

 altering existing fences the same principles must be steadily kept in view ; for though, 

 unless by a total eradication of all the existing fences, every requisite may not be attain- 

 able, yet such a number may be gained as amply to compensate for the expense. In 

 altering the shape and size of fields, besides the advantages resulting from the improve- 

 ment in form, it will generally be found that a number of culturable acres may be added 

 to the farm in proportion to the crookedness and width of the fences. Better drainage 

 and roads will also be obtained, and where ornament is an object, a park-like appearance 

 may be produced by leaving a single trees as part of what may have stood in the eradi- 

 cated hedge-rows. 



