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be to destroy one of the greatest advantages that the system 

 possesses over oil-cake, and which I have explained in the 

 'Suggestions.' A compound formed of four parts of properly 

 prepared beans, to one only of linseed, would, at the present 

 weight, quality, and price of each, cost about 50s. per ton; 

 with the addition of potatoes, something less. Peas, according 

 to my own experience, are superior to beans. Potatoes, on 

 many accounts, especially on that of economy, are preferable to 

 either. In fact, from repeated trial, observation, and report, 

 I am strongly in favour of the potato compound invented by 

 Mr.-Cubitt, of Witton. But' every grazier must consult his 

 own convenience. Experience alone will convince him, that 

 whether hay, peas or potatoes, beans or barley are employed, the 

 office of all mainly consists in conveying linseed to the stomach 

 of the animal, and that a great error would be committed by a 

 parsimonious use of that potent ingredient, which like the 

 philosopher's stone turns everything into gold. Besides, a 

 liberal proportion of linseed will always ensure the ascendancy 

 over foreign oil-cake ; and a quick return, the mainspring of 

 all trade, will animate the hitherto tardy operations of the 

 farmer and of the grazier. 



My advice is, provide yourselves by all means from the 

 resources of your farms, with whatever is necessary to form 

 the cattle- compound ; with beans, peas, and potatoes where 

 the land is suitable to those crops, but especially with lin- 

 seed, which, observe, will flourish upon soils where none 

 of the others can be advantageously cultivated. That flax 

 impoverishes the soil is a mere vulgar notion, devoid of all 

 truth. The best historical relations, and the verbal ac- 

 counts of honest ingenuous planters, concur in declaring it to be 

 a vain prejudice, unsupported by any authority ; and that 

 these crops really meliorate and improve the soil. Again, as 

 Mr. Smith, of Chibneys, observes, " With respect to the course 

 of crops, to make the most advantage of clayey land, flax 

 should be your first crop ; but this, I know by experience, many, 

 nay, I may say all, landlords will argue against ; but I have 

 had the pleasure, by experience, to convince them that they 

 are wrong ; for by sowing flax, and that being well attended 

 to, 3'our land is excellently prepared for wheat, your tenant 



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