43 



treated were absolutely barren, and have been so for some years past ; practi- 

 cally nothing grows there except spurry (Spergula arvensis). Dressings of 

 lime appear to have a counteracting influence in sweetening the soil. 



I was surprised to note the thickness of the young turnip crops, and learnt 

 that as much as 31bs. to the acre is considered an average sowing, which is 

 probably three to four times as much as should ultimately be needed. Thick 

 seeding is adopted, I was informed, as a protection against the turnip fly, 

 which is apt to work havoc among the young plants. Turnips are thinned 

 out with a broad hoe about Sin. wide, the fingers never being called into 

 requisition. I admired the practised skill with which the workmen did this 

 deftly and neatly, and without injuring the plants that were retained. 



In this district wheat is said to follow mangels with success. This is a sure 

 indication that the latter must ripen very early to give time for suitable 

 preparation of the soil for wheat. There is no doubt that in the majority 

 of cases recently pulled mangels leave the soil far too open and loose for 

 wheat. According to the farm manager at Woburn (Mr. Hogg), seven years' 

 experience has shown wheat not to succeed as well after tares as after mustard 

 and rape. As this is contrary to usually accepted views, I have thought it 

 worth while noting so far as Woburn is concerned. 



/ 



THE LAKE DISTRICT. 



On July llth I left Cambridge for Westmoreland and the English Lake 

 District, where I remained until the 19th. The sheep of the district are mostly 

 Herdwick, or, in the richer pasture, half-bred Leicesters. The Herdwicks 

 are most unprepossessing looking animals small, undersized, pot-bellied, 

 and generally of stunted appearance. I was informed, however, that no other 

 sheep can live in these parts ; the winter is too severe for them. It might be 

 suggested that they follow the example of the Greeks and Spaniards, who 

 winter their sheep on the plains, leading them back to the mountains with 

 the return of warm weather. 



Mr. Pattinson, who is a member of the governing body, was kind enough 

 to motor me over to Rigg Newton, a farm school kept jointly by the counties 

 of Cumberland and Westmoreland. I was very much impressed with the 

 neat and tidy way in which this little farm is managed. The dairy herd 

 consisted mostly of unregistered Shorthorns. One cow is said to have yielded 

 over l,000galls. of milk three years in succession, never testing less than 

 3 per cent, and often 4 per cent. As an indication of the trend of public 

 opinion I here heard it stated that the Scotch Shorthorns had ruined the 

 dairying industry of Great Britain, which explains the growing popularity 

 of the new milking strains. The flock consisted of various crossbred ewes, 

 mostly Herdwick and Border-Leicesters. They had been put to Down rams 

 for fat lambs. 



