AGRICULTURE OF THE FYLDE 55 



Farm B. 



Area : 210 acres, 132 acres grass, 78 acres arable. 



65 cows in milk. 



20 in-calf cows. 



120 breeding ewes. 



Crops. 



Grass is the most important crop on the Fylde farm. Heavy crops of meadow 

 hay are produced, and the pastures carry a large number of stock. Large 

 quantities of farmyard manure are available for dressing the meadow land, and 

 the pasture land generally receives periodic dressings of phosphates, and 

 frequently an early dressing of nitrogenous manure to hasten spring growth. 

 The soil generally is deficient in lime, and the pastures and meadows receive 

 occasional dressings of lime either in the form of cob lime or ground limestone. 

 Hay-making commences early, usually about the first week in June. The 

 hay is almost always carted into Dutch barns at the homestead. 



The grazing season is short and as the cows have to be kept indoors for 

 practically seven months of the year, large amounts of purchased feeding stuffs 

 are consumed. Many Fylde farmers are wondering whether expense under 

 this heading could not be reduced by the adoption of the method of grass 

 drying by machinery. Hay-making in the Fylde, on account of the high 

 rainfall, is usually a most wasteful and costly operation, and if this new method 

 of conserving the abundant crops of grass proves economically sound it would 

 effect a great saving in the cost of purchased feeding stuffs. 



The arable land is generally farmed on the four-course system — roots, grain, 

 seeds, grain ; although in some cases this may be modified to a three-course, 

 cutting out one grain crop, and bringing in an extra root crop. 



Oats and wheat are the common grain crops. No barley is grown. Com- 

 pared with other arable areas heavy seeding of cereal crops is practised ; oats, 

 for example, may be sown up to the rate of 3 cwts. per acre. Although some 

 mangolds, swedes, and marrow stem kale are grown, the biggest portion of 

 the root land is under potatoes. Eclipse is the earliest variety grown, and King 

 Edward, Majestic and Kerr's Pink are popular second early and main crop 

 varieties. 



