776 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



fairly said they are all alike, "as peas in a bushel are alike." When I just previously 

 mentioned that the dam of Hardihood had wool down to her jaws and hoofs, I did not 

 wish it to be inferred that her fullness of fleece was exceptional; for this characteristic of 

 these descendants of the Babraham stock is general. The lambs, both male and female, 

 are remarkable for the way they are furnished with thick, fine wool over the poll, on the 

 jaws, and down the legs. 



Before I make a few notes about the mode of cropping Streetly Hall, I will just men- 

 tion that I saw the entry in the Babraham catalogue of 1855, of the letting of Young 

 Elegance, the sheep which caused so much discussion among breeders of Shropshire^ and 

 their critics, from twenty to twenty-five years ago. He was hired in the above year at 

 131 guineas for use among the Kinver Hill flock, where he was accordingly used. The 

 same year the Duke of Richmond hired a ram afterward named The Duke at 170 

 guineas. 



Tho cropping of Streetly Hall is made subservient, to a great extent, to the large and 

 valuable flock of sheep kept on the farm. The four-course system is mainly pursued. 

 The cereals need not be reierred to in this place, further than to say that the green crops 

 and other food prepared for and given to the flock tell greatly on them in alavorable sea- 

 son. This year the spring and summer, so far, having been more favorable than for sev- 

 eral past seasons, the crops are generally heavy, and the wheat, oats, and barley have a 

 very fruitful appearance. Some of the wheat-fields have patches of a dark appearance in 

 them; but this is due to the excessive wet in the autumn having killed some of the 

 plants, the said dark appearance being due to the plants having tillered in the spring 

 from having had too much room. Mildew is there apparent, and threatened to be more 

 injurious, owing to recent wet and absence of sun. This is only another instance of the 

 folly of thin seeding, which was talked so much of and written so much about some 

 years ago. 



Green crops of almost all kinds are grown for the convenience and support of the flock. 

 Sainfoin is a favorite variety, and it grows freely on the clay which rests on a chalky or 

 marly subsoil. This year, owing to the free growth of tares, ryegrass, and clovers in 

 April and May, several acres of sainfoin have been saved for seed, and from the way the 

 stems are heavily laden, it is expected that eight or nine sacks per acre in the husk will 

 be yielded. Mr. Webb does not approve of the extra labor of * ' drawing ' ' this seed ; that 

 is, of scrubbing off the husk, as he says which is clearly evident that it is unneces- 

 sary; so he sows it with the husk on, and sells what he has to spare in the same condi- 

 tion. 



The swedes, mangolds, and early turnips are grown on ridges a yard apart, that a per- 

 fect tilth may be made while the crops are growing, which is clearly, as explained, a 

 necessary point in farming strong land. The plants in the rows are generally left with 

 a short space between them, but this is varied according to the nature of the plants. The 

 later white turnips are sown on the flat, and a Garrett's horse-hoe is used for cleaning 

 them. The Norfolk plan of leaving three white turnips in a bunch, when they are re- 

 quired for late spring feed, is here pursued. This is because they are found to withstand 

 the effect of winter frosts better when three are close together; they, so growing, yield 

 to the swelling of the soil at the time of its being frozen, by rising from the inner or 

 touching side of each turnip, whereby the roots are only slightly stretched, the cellular 

 tissue not being broken, as it is when the swelling soil presses all round a single turnip. 

 Neither mangold nor kohl rabi grow freely on this peculiar clay soil; so the latter are 

 not cultivated, and swedes are sown with the mangold, the latter being drawn out, and 

 the swedes left for feeding on the land. This peculiarity as regards mangold is now evi- 

 dent, for the swedes are strong and well grown, and their bulbs much larger than the 

 bottoms of the mangolds. 



A few Prussian blue peas are grown a dressing of 5 cwt. of blood manure per acre 

 being applied in the place of roots, as this soil is admirably adapted for them. They 

 are also generally grown to a small extent in the neighborhood. I heard of a case of 

 quarters to the acre having been grown. Mr. Webb's plant was 30 inches long, and very 

 heavily hung with large and full pods. After the peas are harvested, rape and mustard, 

 or late turnips, are sown, according as it may be expected the feed will be more required 

 in the autumn or spring. 



Italian ryegrass is sown in wheat for early spring feed. On this mangolds are thrown 

 he ewes, with a view to make the ryegrass last for the lambs till the clovers are ready, 

 s soil 19, of course, greatly increased in fertility by this plan. Turnips are sown after- 

 wards, sometimes on one deep furrow and a scarifying, or after three plowings, accord- 

 thc Reason and the other work of the farm may allow. 



j flock, in suitable divisions, is now being folded on white clover and lucera. Tho 



es are folded on a fine second growth of white or Dutch clover. The ram 



r we lutnbs are of course divided, they taking the lead in the folds, the ewes following, 



ono flay after the male lambs, the next after the females. There is a good supply of last 



