1843.) 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
218) 
mode of bringing this material to the field of action; but 
were then poured over the layer. 
were proceedingat the same time, as we did not weigh 
out more than the materials for one layer, and could 
measure out the rest sufficiently rapid to allow of this 
improvement also.} {Each was composed of five layers like 
the first, and covered over with a layer of the wetted straw. 
The experiment occupied about one hour and a half in 
preparing, under the engineering of five pair of hands. 
The hills were covered over with turf and earth ; and are 
intended to be applied in June, to land which is to lie 
fallow till next spring, when it is to be sown with Barley. 
Mr. Carter's Experiment: Here we found some clean 
straw in the barn-loft, and proceeded to tie up two large 
bundles, each of which weighed 61 lbs. Notwithstanding the 
very great difference between the weight of this clean straw, 
and that of the wetted litter in the former experiments, 
we built two hills with it of the same size, or nearly so, as 
those of Mr. Hitchcock. The bottoms, of five feet square, 
were prepared with soil taken from a Mangel Wurzel bed. 
The clean straw proved to be rather an awkward subject 
to deal with in preparing so small a heap; and the result 
sadly affronted those notions of propriety which good 
workmen possess about turning out a job in a workman- 
like manner. It may, therefore, be as well in other cases, 
where clean straw can be got at, to chop it up into three 
or four lengths, to make it more manageable. The straw 
was spread out into five layers, and on each were placed 
three bushel baskets of horse-dung—the gypsum being 
continually sifted among the materials as in the last ex- 
periment. One water-pot of pure horse urine from a 
stable-tank was poured on each two of the layers, and two 
water-pots of much diluted drainings from the farm-yard 
were poured over each of the other three. The estimate 
for the whole quantity of dung used, was made by weigh- 
ing out six basketsful, at 2741bs., which gives an average 
of 452lbs, for each basket. The capacity of the watering- 
jot used was ascertained to be 19 pints. These heaps 
were hurdled in and covered over with mould, and are to 
be applied in October for Wheat. Although I consider 
this rough mode of performing the experiment will serve 
our purpose, I strongly recommend to all who possess 
the opportunity, to be careful in obtaining the separate 
materials as pure as possible. lean straw, as in Mr. 
Carter’s experiment; clean dung and pure urine as in 
Mr. Hitchcock’s ; sifted gypsum previously weighed out, 
as in Mr. Pilgrim’s and Mr. Carter’s. Attention to 
these sort of minutiz: always enhances the value of 
the experiment; and I dare say that the chemists who 
are preparing schedules B., C., &c. will be more posi- 
tive on such points than I have been in this first attempt. 
Instructions for filling up Schedule A.: There will be 
five separate occasions for referring to the schedule as the 
experiment prog 3 an da have conse- 
quently been arranged under five heads. Most of the 
memoranda under the first head seem to be too simple to 
need a comment, and a mere reference to the three expe- 
ximents already detailed will explain them readily. No.3 
may, perhaps, seem to be unnecessary ; but once for all, I 
must request that experimenters will be content to submit ! 
The noticing whether A. lies to the N., S.,E., or W. of 
B., is to avoid any error or doubt that may hereafter 
arise as to which of the two dunghills was gypsumed. 
Some people have very short memories. 
whole should be secured of the same quality by mixing in 
one vessel. No. 15 will need a little explanation. The 
chances of fixing the ammonia will be increased in pro- 
portion as the gypsum is more finely powdered. That 
which I have seen is rather coarsely so, and on sifting 
it through a flour sieve many large particles are left behind. 
These coarse particles may be thrown into a tank, where 
they will probably be useful. I should very much like to 
find that the experiment has been tried by some persons 
with gypsum artificially prepared. _T have been asked by 
more than one correspondent whether he could not pre- 
pare gypsum for his farm by dissolving chalk in diluted 
sulphuric acid, which is a very cheap substance; but I bave 
replied that I should conceive there can be very few loca- 
lities where the native material might not be purchased at 
a still cheaper rate. It would, however, be very easy to 
prepare artificially the small quantity required for a 
dunghill; and I think it would be well worth while for 
some of you to try our experiment with gypsum procured 
in this way, because the particles would be in a much finer 
state than we can hope to procure them by mere grinding. 
No. 19.—I do not wish it to be supposed that I have 
been deluding the experimenters to attempt more than I 
originally proposed; but it has occurred to me that the 
value of the experiment will be very materially enhanced 
without much additional labour, by dividing each dunghill 
into two equal parts, and then proceeding to apply these 
halves in the manner set forth in the schedule. Nothing 
further need be done to the two halves of A. But one 
half of B. may be thoroughly mixed up with half as much 
Sypsum as was employed on A., so that we shall be,able.to 
compare the effect of applying gypsum (as in half of A.) 
before decomposition, with applying it (as in half of B. ) 
after decomposition. Also, there should be six pieces of 
land marked out of equal size to one of which ‘‘ nothing” 
should be applied; and whilst one half of A.is applied to one 
Piece, the other half of A. might be applied through two 
No. 11. The* 
pieces. Still I do not press this mode of performing | # 
the experiment, though I most strongly recommend it. 
No. 20. The column headed ‘‘ Nothing’? means where 
nothing has been done to the land. If A. and B. are not | 
divided into halves, the entries can easily be made to that 
effect ; but if they are, then the Jength under A. 2 will 
be twice as much as under any of the others, provided all 
tHe pieces of ground are exactly the same shape. Nos. 21, 
22. The usual terms in which these are expressed in prac- 
tice is all that is required. No. 25. It will be better to 
experiment on a seed crop, if convenient ; but still a 
little varietyin this respect is advisable. Nos. 27, 28. 
The columns headed “Leaves on” refer to a root crop : 
which should be given, if possible, both with leaves off 
(under the first columns) and leaves on. No. 30, 31. In 
using the more general term “stalk,’’ I mean it should 
apply either to the straw of a grain crop, or to the stems 
of flax, fodder, &c. 
Schedule AA—EXPERIMENTAL CO-OPERATION. 
Quere—Tue Errect or Gyrsum on Duneuinis ? 
* PREPARATION OF TWO DUNGHILLS, one (A) with, and 
the other (B) without Gypsum. 
N.B.—Be very careful to make memoranda at the time, and 
trust nothing to memory. 
1. Prepared by Mr. [ ] County [ j Parish [ a 
2. Date of Preparation, Year [184 ] day [ | 
8. Position of A, is to the [ ] of B. 
4. Bottom for each is [ ] feet, by [ ] feet, and [ x} 
thick ; composed o: if 
F5. Quality of straw [ 4} 
e 
Weight of Straw in each dunghill is estimated at 
8. Quality of Dung 
9. Quantity of Dung actually weighed is { ] Ibs. and hence the 
10. Weight of Dung in each dunghill is estimated at C J lbs. 
11. Description of Urine 
12. Quantity of Urine added to each dunghill [ 
13. Quantity of Water added to each dunghill if. 
uncertain, then state quantity of liquid 
Ml 
F5 
/ 6. Quantity of Straw actually weighed is [ ] Ibs. and hence th 
ae [ 7 Ibs 
career 
14, If 12 and 13 are 
(described under 11), added to each dunghill J 
15. Quality of the Gypsum [ j 
16. Quantity sifted among A. [ j 
17, The dunghills covered over with [ jd 
* * MANURING THE LAND. 
18. Date of applying the Manure. Year [184 ] day le al 
19. State of the Muck [ 
is. 
20. Spaces manured j Nothing done 
A. L.A. 2. | B.1.—B, 2. 
21. Character of Soil [ 
22. Condition of Soil [ 
23. Previous Crop [ 
* * * NATURE OF CROP MANURED, 
N.B.—Be careful to make memoranda. Trust nothing to memory. 
24. Date of Sowing. Year [184 ] day [ al 
25. Name of See 
26. Quantity of See 
own where... 
** * RESULTS OBTAINED. 
27. Date of Gathering the Crop. Year [184 ] day [ | 
28. Quantities actually measured and weighed. 
As obtained With Leaves on 
uw 
Nothing done ] A. 1.—A. 2. |] B. 1,.—B. 2. 
cm aE 
Measure. | Weight. | Measure. | Weight. 
From “ Nothing done” 
Awl. . 
29. Estimate of whole measure and weight, As obtained 
From ‘ Nothing done” 
cal 
A.2. | 
Bl. 
B.2. | 
30. Quality of Crop [ 
31. Quality of Stalk [ 
32. Average length of Stalk [ 
* * * * * GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
83, ahh general memoranda may be inserted on the back of this 
sheet. 
us 
The Consequences of Experimental Farming without 
Previous Experience, exemplified in a Dialogue between 
two Country Gentlemen. Imitated from the French. By 
Martin Doyle.— Sanguine. I come to bid you farewell, 
my dear sir, and to ask if you have any commands for 
London, where I have taken a house, and where I hope 
to live for the remainder of my life—Steady. What! and 
give up your farming operations !—San. Yes. I shall 
never open my mouth again about ploughs or harrows, 
or thorough-draining, or any other country matters. Iam 
almost beggared by farming. Allow me to make you 
present of a set of confounded books on husbandry ; you 
will oblige me by taking them, for otherwise I shall burn 
every one of them.—Sveady. To save them from such a 
melancholy fate, I shall accept your obliging offer; but 
perhaps they are not so blameable as you think.—San. 
Just listen to me—it is the last time that I shall ever deli- 
berately touch upon the hateful subject—and you will see 
how far the books have been the cause of my failures.— 
‘Steady. 1 shall be happy to hear what you have to allege 
against them.—San. You know the cause of my coming 
here ?—Steady. Not exactly.—San. I had a tenant named 
Hogg, [Steady nods,] who held 250 acres of my property, 
and who was as provokingly ignorant of alternate hus- 
bandry as 1 am of embroidering my wife’s flounces; and 
who went on the old system of a fallow every fourth year, 
and three crops of corn in succession. Just think of that! 
—Steady. Very bad management, indeed. I recollect 
Hogg’s management perfectly—his meadows, too, were 
undrained, and never manured.— San. Exactly so ; and the 
roduce was nothing but a scanty supply of coarse herbage 
with a great proportion of rushes. Now, what rational 
landlord would tolerate such gross mismanagement ? (Mr. 
Steady gives another nod.] Well, sir, I sent Mr. Hogg 
about his business at the termination of his lease, taking 
a valuation his horses, cattle, sheep, and even some of 
his farm implements, which were not too bad for use; and 
then I determined to give an example of the best hus- 
bandry to all my tenants and the gentry around me. I 
went to work—with a set of books at my elbow, as if they 
were an infallible cabinet council. The first thing I did 
was to sell off Hogg’s long-legged and long-tailed native 
sheep, and to buy in their place a lot of heavy Leicester, 
with a ram that cost me 50/—S%eady. What ! before your 
land was able to feed them?—San. Even so. I got ri 
of the common breed of cows, which I thought were a 
disgrace to my farm, and sent off to the north of England 
for alot of short-horns, including a high-bred bull, for 
which I paid 100/.—Steady. And perhaps you never had 
less milk and butter in your life >—San. Never, sir— 
never; and as to fat cattle for the market, I had nota 
single one. My whole stock of short-horns was half- 
starved, and they got the distemper into the bargain.— 
Steady. But, my dear sir, how could you have expected 
to maintain that large description of cattle on your bare 
pastures, and before you had any artificial summer green 
food for them ; and not a turnip, I believe, in prospect 
for their winter keep ?—San. Why, sir, some villanous 
author persuaded me that they could be kept in good con- 
dition during the winter on straw.—Steady. And so they 
could, and be fattened on it, too, provided they had plenty 
of oil-cake with it.—San. But I had neither straw nor 
oil-cake ; for, having given up the notion of sowing more 
than a very little corn that year, as T conceived that the 
ground was heartily tired of it, I had hardly any straw, 
and what I had was consumed before the beginning of 
February, when I found it impossible to purchase any 5 
and hay was enormously dear, and scarcely to be hadeven 
for a high price.—Steady. But you neglected to sow 
Turnips ?—San. I did not. I had commenced in Spring 
the thorough-draining of a field, containing 20 acres, for 
the purpose of growing a crop of Swedes, but unluckily 
the weather was very wet, and besides this, some necessary 
alterations, which I made in the draining, and a dis- 
appointment afterwards in the arrival of a cargo of tiles 
from Glasgow, prevented me from finishing the work until 
two months after the crops should have been above 
ground.— Steady. The produce, of course, was ——San, 
Nil—nulla bona—as the sheriff says in his returns.— 
Steady. May I ask about the nature of the alterations 
which you made in your mode of draining ?—San. I had 
read in one book that the drains should be cut across the 
fall; and my field sloped a good deal, and I had the whole 
surface intersected with drains, 20 feet apart, and at right 
angles to the descent. Well, just as [ was preparing to 
have them lowered, another book informed me thet they 
should be made obliquely, at an angle of about 45 degrees 
with the inclination of the land; and as I did not wish ta 
have the farmers of the country laughing at me afterwards 
for my ignorance of the improved plan, I had those drains 
filled up again with the earth that had been thrown out, 
and I set the labourers at work to form the oblique 
drains.—Steady. These answered your purpose, how- 
ever ?—— San. They might have done so, no doubt; but 
(I have not yet concluded my story) just as they were 
finished, I got hold of Mr. Smith’s pamphlet on thorough~ 
draining, and was immediately convinced by his reasoning 
that the oblique drains were wrong also, and 1 had them 
filled up again with earth [Mr, Steady shakes his head,] 
and made new parallels directly up and down the slope, at 
12 feet apart ; so, altogether, Mr. Steady, the draining of 
that field cost me a pretty round sum ; and besides, sir, 
I went to the expense of carting off all the yellow clay 
that had been thrown out of the drains ; though I now see 
clearly that it might have been thrown over the stones or 
tiles, as the water would have entered into the drains at 
the sides. Then, sir, I sent to Drummond’s for one of 
Smith's subsoil-ploughs, and found that the small horses 
which I had bought from Hogg were not able to draw it ; 
so that I was obliged to buy six Clydesdales, and when 
they arrived at my farm some other work pressed so hard. 
that I could not subsoil for that season, and was obliged 
to employ those fine horses in petty farm labour, and 
drawing materials for my new building. —Steady. Which 
Hogg’s horses would have done equally well San, 
Now I see clearly that I was wrong in incurring so much 
unnecessary expense at starting : but the truth is, that I 
wished to see well-appointed teams as soon as possible— 
it cost me a good deal to replace 
] 
as well.—Sveady. aM 
extravagance of this kind ; in the purchase of high-priced 
machines there is a great want of judgment very fre- 
quently. By the way, you have a threshing-mill, and if 
you wish to dispose of it —-— San. You may have it at 
half what it cost me; I put it up before I had a bushel of 
corn sown, and the very first day on which I tried how it 
would work, an unfortunate labourer, with a large family, 
lost one of his hands, by awkwardly letting his fingers slip 
between the rollers—poor fellow! amputation of the wrist. 
was necessary, and I conld not do less than settle an annuity 
of 20/.a year on him for his life —Steady. Well, that at least 
was not money thrown away —— San, No, but it is an 
item to the debtor side of my farming speculations,— 
Steady. But surely, though you mismanaged your draining 
so much, and lost your crop of Turnips in the first instance, 
you had a splendid crop in the ensuing season on the same 
field, which I suppose you had pmanured in the previous 
year for the expected Swedes ?—San. There again I was 
unfortunate, and entirely owing to books. I had been 
studying Sir John Sinclair's essay-on the manufacture of 
farina from Potatoes, and the modes of preserving Potatoes 
from year to year by kiln-drying- Mine had been kiln- 
dried; and when the season came round for planting 
