194 ^ Walk from 



yards. In consequence of this economy, there is no 

 deterioration of annual averages of their crops to be 

 recorded, as in some of our prairie States, which have 

 been boasting of the natural and inexhaustible fertility 

 of their soil even with the record of retrograde statistics 

 before their eyes. The grain and root crops are very 

 heavy ; and a large business is done in growing turnip 

 seed for the world in some sections of this fen country. 

 A large proportion of the quantity we import comes 

 from these low lands. 



Our host of the Four-Hundred- Acre Farm took us 

 over his productive occupation, which was in a very 

 high state of cultivation. The wheat was yellowing to 

 harvest, and promised a yield of 42 bushels to the acre. 

 The oats were very heavy, and the root crops looked 

 well, especially a field of mangel-wurzel. He appor- 

 tions his land to different crops after this ratio : Wheat, 

 120 acres ; oats, 80 ; rye-grass and clover, 50 ; roots, 60. 

 His live stock consisted of 300 sheep, 50 to 60 head of 

 cattle, and 70 to 80 hogs. His working force was from 

 10 to 12 men, 14 farm horses, and 4 nags. It may 

 interest some of my American readers to know the 

 number, character, and cost of the implements em- 

 ployed by this substantial English farmer in culti- 

 vating an estate of 400 acres. I noted down the 

 following list, when he was showing us his tool house : 



