20—1846.] 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
327 
about the latter end of March, or beginning of April, possesses an adequate allotment of naturally good or 
after the principal corn crops are sown. When de- 
ferred until May or June, they will undoubtedly answer 
tolerably well, but it is not advisable to delay the sowing 
80 long if it can possibly be done earlier. The common 
practice is to take a crop of Oats the first year from off 
the land, in which case the Furze is sown broadeast im- 
Mediately after the Oats, and both harrowed in together 
esame as Clover and Grass seeds, A better plan, 
however, in situations where the ground will admit of 
its being done, is to sow the Oats and then drill the 
Furze seed in rows a foot apart, and afterwards brush 
or cover them with alight harrow. This will be found 
superior to sowing broadeast, less seed will be required, 
and, what is of far more importance, the vacant spaces 
between the rows may be cleaned after the corn has 
been cut, and some fresh soil, if necessary, drawn to 
the plants before winter, which will be of great service 
in promoting their growth, aud at the same time prevent 
them from being drawn up by the frost and destroyed. 
6, The quantity of seed required for an acre will 
vary according to their quality and the mode in which 
they are intended to be sown. If broadcast, and the 
Seed can be depended on as being fresh and good, from 
6 to 8 lbs. per acre may be reckoned a fair average ; 
but if in drills, little more than half the quantity will be 
sufficient. The usual cost of the seed ranges between ls. 
and ls. 6d. per lb., which is of little importance when 
compared with the loss of a crop. Oa this account, 
therefore, it is desirable to sow rather thickly, so as to 
avoid the chance of failure, by saving the price of a few 
extra pounds of seed.— M. E. H 
ON THE STATE OF HUSBANDRY IN LOWER 
BRITTANY. 
WITH INCIDENTAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CONDITION OP 
THE FARMING POPULATION THERE, COMPARED WITH 
THE SOCIAL STATE OF THE ANALOGOUS CLASSES IN 
IRELAND. 
By Mamm DOYLE. 
(Continued from p. 989 
Ir is to be borne in mind'that there is not in Brittany, 
as in Ireland, generally, a redundaney of rural popula- 
lation (relatively with the quantity of land in eultiva- 
tion) pressing forward upon new soil, having over- 
populated the old enclosures. There is a sufficient 
extent of the raw material for profitable employment 
to the population in the present amount of enclosures 
in Brittany, if draining and alternate husbandry were 
introduced without that absolute necessity for eneroach- 
ment on the wastes which partially exists in Ireland, 
and in parts of Great Britain too : for example, within 
a circle of 20 miles round London, which contains an 
enormous pauper population, of which a considerable 
part might be located ou the numerous commons which 
are still uninelosed and barren, because neglected. Any 
9ne who looks at the cottager's enclosure on the 
Most miserable common may see what human industry 
Can do on the poorest soil ; how soon the surface becom 
productive mould from the effects produced by shelter- 
ing enclosures. 
So well known, indeed, in past times, was this influ- 
ence of enclosures upon the fertility of the soil that, in 
upland parts, they were frequently formed for this sole 
purpose. In many of the open districts of Scotland, for 
instance, it was (perhaps in some still is) tbe regular 
Practice to enclose small crofts by mounds and banks 
of earth ; and to accommodate the cultivator of these 
curtilages, huts were constructed having their sides 
Composed of the same materials, and thatched with a 
Covering of straw, rushes, or dried ferns. In the course 
of years, these raised banks, as well as the huts, became 
so thoroughly saturated with vegetable matter, as to 
form heaps of rich manure. This tempted the crofter 
to demolish them ; their materials were carefully spread 
over the surface of the ground ; while in another situa- 
tion he built for himself a new hut, and around his field 
new enclosures. Under a system very similar to this, 
at least in its effects, was a very large proportion of the 
Soil of England, also, raised to its present state of fer- 
tility. Human labour, combined with the operation of 
Natural causes, rendered the crofts productive. The 
Period at length arrived when the consolidation of many 
of the small crofts into one farm appeared profitable to 
the Owner. A substantial farmhouse was built; two- 
thirds of the cottages were pulled down ; the enclosures 
Were enlarged ; the rubbish of tbe demolished eottages, 
together with the material of the banks and hedges 
Which were removed, were spread over the land. and 
made a 
the soil, In this arrangement we recognise the di-pen- 
Sation of a wise and benevolent Providence, which wills 
at, in the economy of nature, nothing shall be lost. 
Enclosures are necessary to protect the growing craps 
Against the depredations of animals ; but in order that 
9 Space which they occupy, and the earth of which 
ey are composed, should not become entirely unpro- 
fitable, they of necessity arrest at the same time the 
Progress of the volatile and fertilising particles floating 
in the atmosy jan banl which, to unre- 
flecting persons appear in the light of encumbrances, 
nake in the end a very material addition to the produe- 
live capacity of the field which they enclose, 
‘No doubt the moors, such as we have been treating 
of, Should be looked upon more as reserves for the lo- 
Cation of the labouring classes when the old-established 
rms no longer yield the means of occupation propor- 
tionate to their population ; extension of area is in 
yee case imperatively called for, and the surplus lands 
ave a widely opening field, both in the dry heath 
Moors, and the humid bogs. But as long as a peasant 
artificially rich soil, with abundant shelter, he will not 
willingly abandon it to colonise a new and poor soil, 
which will require years of patient industry to render 
it good ; but where, as in our case, tens of thou- 
sands of men have no alternative but those of location 
on wastes or intolerable distress in their present cir- 
cumstances, it is to be expected that the legislature 
would energetically promote their occupancy of land 
now useless to the community, and yet capable of main- 
taining in comparative independence the surplus num- 
bers who would joyfully avail themselves of any fair 
opening for their reception. 
aving France for the present, let us see what has 
bise done in other foreign countries in reclaiming poor 
soils. 
We are told by Mr. Jacob that—* In the Nether- 
lands the district called Waesland, between Ghent and 
Antwerp, which is a mere agricultural country, is 
better peopled, better eultivated, and more productive 
than any other spot in Europe of similar extent, It 
was in the time of the civil wars in Flanders a mere 
sandy heath without inhabitants, without cultivation, 
aud without live stock, The change has been effected 
by persevering labour through many generations, and 
the results of that labour are more strikingly exhibited 
in the fruitful fields, the beautiful eaitle, the healthful 
id 
a separate account were opened of it, we should not (n 
very many instances) find that it clearly brought us in 
debt. I cannot now, I think, do better than lay before 
you several extraets, which I have colleeted from 
various sourees, and which relate to the subject in ques- 
tion. They are well worthy your attentive considera- 
tion. * Hints on the most economical manner of feeding 
horses.” (Copied irom the “ Quarterly Journal of Agri- 
culture,” No. 11, p. 721. By S. Menteath.) After 
speaking of a variety of articles generally in use for thig 
purpose, he goes on to say, that in North Wales, where 
there is oftentimes a scarcity of hay during winter and 
the early part of spring, Gorse or Furze is frequently 
employed to feed both cattle and horses ; being bruised 
by a small water mill, it is mixed with a small propor- 
tion of Oats, or cut hay and straw, and found to 
bea strong and nourishing food. Gorse is similarly 
used in parts of the county of Devon. Steamed Potatoes 
are strongly recommended as a cheap and useful article 
as food for horses ; but he says that they should on no 
account be given in a raw state. In feeding with any 
kind of grain, it should always be bruised, or, what is 
better, coarsely ground. The hay should be cut into 
chaff, mixed with a proportion of straw, and cut into 
lengths from a quarter to half an inch. Then follow 
some examples of successful practice founded on long 
experience. In the stables of Hanbury and Trueman, 
$ italfield 
and cleanly population, the comfortable an 
all other visible marks of rural prosperity.” 
Again, the Abbé Man says, “It is well-known that 
the Campine of Brabant, which is the northern part of 
that province, consisted originally of sand, covered with 
Heath, interspersed with lakes and extensive marshes, 
and here and there with woods of Fir. Tradition re- 
ports it to have been once a part of the sea, To this 
day, where eultivation has not extended, the soil of itself 
produces nothing but Heath and Fir ; the sand is of the 
most barren and harsh kind, nor can it be rendered 
fertile but by continued manuring. As the property of 
this ground may be acquired for a mere trifie, many 
have been the attempts of private persons to bring 
tracts of it into cultivation ; every means have been 
tried for that purpose, and government has given every 
possible encouragement to it. But I have not yet heard 
of any one, however considerable might be his fortune, 
that has succeeded in it, and many have been ruined by 
the eet. What is cultivated in the Campine is 
owing to the religious houses established in it, especially 
to the two great abbeys of Tougerloo aud Toerlode. 
Their uninterrupted duration for 500 or 600 years 
past, and their indefatigable industry, have conquered 
thoss barren harsh Jands, and rendered many parts of 
them highly productive. The method they follow is 
simple and uniform ; they never undertake to cultivate 
more of this barren soil at a time than they have suf- 
ficient manure for, seldom more than 12 or 15 acres in 
a year ; and when it is brought by labour and manuring 
to a state capable of producing sufficient for a family to 
live on, it is let out to farmers on very easy terms after 
having buiit them comfortable habitations. By these 
means many tracts of the Campine are well cultivated 
valuable addition to the depth and fertility of | ° 
and covered with villages, well built houses, and 
churches. I may here add, aud that from the un. 
doubted testimony of the historians of the Netherlands, 
that the cultivation of these rich provinces took its rise 
from the self-same means, 800 or 1000 years back, when 
they were in a manner one continued forest.” 
THE BEST WAY TO KEEP FARM HORSES. 
My mode of proceeding, then, will be, after a few pre- 
liminary remarks, in the first place to lay before you 
various methods of horse management, with their main- 
tenance, which have been resorted to by individuals 
practically engaged in büsiness to a large extent, an 
adopted by them after the test of long experience, and 
then, after having made such observations as may seem 
o suggest themselves to my mind, on a review of the 
whole, to leave the subject in the hands of those better 
able to cope with it ; hoping by this means to induce 
other more practical men to turn their attention to a 
matter very deserving serious thought ; so that by com- 
paring different modes of treatment, practised by dif- 
ferent persons, they may amend their own system, 
where it may be found defective. An old and a trite 
saying, but nevertheless equally a true one, declares 
that * great plenty oftentimes occasions great waste.” 
Thus it has ever been in our good vale of Gloucester, 
where, from pasturage being abundant, a large extent 
i ss land is annually cut, and made into hay ; the 
articles being plentiful and easy to come at, we are apt 
to presume on our abundance, and without much cal- 
culating the cost (as I ean Speak from experience), pro- 
digally lavish that which might be applied elsewhere 
with far greater profit to ourselves. The present 
season of difficulty will, however, set some of us a think- 
ing; and even then, after the best system of manage- 
ment pursued, many of us will scarce win through the 
coming winter. Our carters seem to think that, if by a 
plentiful supply of hay and water they ean give the 
horses under their care a large carcass, or, as they say, 
fill their bellies (and, I must add, plough a little more 
than half an aere of land in a day), all is well; not in 
the least considering the necessarily great expenses 
attending the support of a team of horses, even when 
fed with every due regard to economy. : 
It has oftentimes been a question in my mind, 
a 
p 82 horses are kept ; the animals receive 
all their food in the manger; no hay is ever put in 
the rack ; the whole are in excellent condition, evincing 
the goodness of the management adopted. They are 
fed in the following manner :— Each horse consumes in 
the 24 hours 18 lbs. of cut hay and straw, of which the 
latter is in the proportion of 1-8th—14 lbs. of bruised 
Oats, and 1 lb. of bruised Beans ; making in all 33 lbs. 
of food, In summer Beans are not given, being found 
too heating, but instead of the Beans a small addition 
is made to the quantity of Oats. Half a pound of salt is 
given weekly to each horse divided into two portions ; 
one given on Saturday night and the other on Sunday, 
which so given purges moderately. 
In Mr. Higgins’ stables, in Long-lane, 300 heavy cart- 
horses are kept and daily perform much har 
No hay is ever given in the rack.. Clover hay is gene- 
rally used mixed with half Barley straw ; the whole eut 
into short chaff. The corn given is always coarsely 
ground before it is mixed with the cut food. The hay 
chaff given is 19 lbs. for a very large horse, and 14 Ibs. 
for a small one. In winter a larger proportion of 
Beans is given than of Oats, being 2-3rds of the former 
and 1-3rd of the latter. In spring the Beans are 
diminished 1-3rd, and the other 2-3rds are made up of 
Barley, which is considered more cooling as a spring 
food, but in summer Oats are substituted for Barley. 
Of the ground corn the large horse has given him 20 Ibs., 
the small one 16 1bs., with the addition of 3 lbs. of bran 
in winter, and 4 lbs during the rest of the year. Thus, 
every large horse gets in the 24 hours about 40 lbs. of 
the mixed provender, and the small one 33. Salt is 
not given during the winter, but always in the other 
quarters of the year, one ounce being then daily given. 
‘The following method is adopted in mixing, the food. 
The cut chaff is first laid on a floor, over it the bran, 
next the bruised Beans, and lastly the other grain, 
Afterwards all the ingredients are tossed together, and 
are then ready for use. 
Dr. Sully, of Wiveliscomb, in the county of Somerset, 
has, with success, adopted the following method of feed- 
ing his horses, which constantly work hard, and travel 
at the rate of eight or nine miles an hour. He has for 
upwards of 20 years followed the same plan. In his 
stables there are no racks to hold hay, as he considers it 
a wasteful method of feeding; and that the horses, when 
they have the command of their heads, pull the hay out 
of the rack, and throw a considerable portion of it under 
their feet, and that 30 lbs. of hay and upwards are often 
consumed in this way, and spoiled in the 24 hours; 
whereas when it is cut and mixed with a due proportion 
of eut straw and bruised corn, 10 Ibs. are sufficient. i In 
the loft above the stable proportional quantities of food 
sufficient for the daily consumption of each horse are 
prepared ; a pipe is made to pass from the loft into each 
manger, and close by the top of the pipe 18 placed a tub 
capable of containing sufficient food for a horse for 24 
hours. ‘To prevent the horse from tossing the mixed 
food out of the manger, eross bars are nailed on the top 
of it at 12 inches apart; the cut hay and straw, and 
also the grain, are regularly weighed out, and when the 
ingredients are prepared, the proportions for each horse 
are allotted. The table, which follows, shows the 
articles of food given, asalso the quantities and weight, 
which the horses. should receive. 
No.) PEE | 3d | 4th 
| | Ibs.) 1bs.| Ibs.| Ibs, 
1 |Farinaceous substances, consisting of, | 
bruised or ground Beans, Peas,| | 
Wheat, Barley, or Oats .. .. | 9| 5|10| 5 
2 Bran fine or coarse... .. seas eel ee bee | ee | T 
3 |Potatoes, boiled or steamed, mashed i | saiae | 
ï E with a wooden beater EL 5 I9 ele 
resh grai boiled Barley) . - de seed k 
5 |Hay, EM dw into chaff. fom} 8) 20} 8 
6 Straw, ditto 7} 10 | 
Malt dust or ground oil-cake — .. 
With 9 ar, of ealtin each class 
By this table it will be seen that each horse receives 
30 lbs. of food in 24 hours ; a quantity which will iu all 
