510 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



[July 27, 



in this, in great measure, consists the difference in value 

 existing amongst clayey and deep or shallow sandy soils : 

 in the first case, the soil is easily injured by extremes 

 Of either kind of weather, and land of this kind is here 

 frequently termed " casualty" ou this account. In the 

 case of a shallow soil, one resting on rock, injury is 

 received only in very dry weather— the wetter the season 

 is, the better for it ; and in the case of deep sandy soils, 

 although the crops are dependent in some measure on the 

 •weather, yet the injury received from extremes of either 

 wet or dry is comparatively small. It is the great advan- 

 tage of drainage, when accompanied by subsoil ploughing, 

 that it removes superabundant water during a wet season, 

 and affords a source of moisture in a dry one, thus tending 

 to render all foils independent of the weather. The allu- 

 vial district, being perfectly flat, and also of considerable 

 extent, a verv slight fall can be obtained for water, and 

 the drainage of the land, when attempted, is most imper- 

 fect. Almost universally, however, no drainage has been 

 attempted— the occasional clearing out of the ditches 

 being the only attempt to dry the land. The scouricgs 

 of the ditches, mixed with the dung taken off the pasture- 

 land, is all that the land to be mown receives ; and this 

 cannot be sriven to it each year. An average crop of 25 

 cwts. of Hay per acre is cut each year ; and the value of 

 the early spring and autumn feed is greatly beyond that 

 of any other district of pasture-land in the county. Out 

 of 30 square miles, which is the extent of the alluvial 

 district, at least two thirds are mown each year. 



Gravel. — Beds of gravel occur covering the clay of 

 the lias near Slimbridge and Frampton, and also at East- 

 ington and Stroud. They are generally of no great 

 thickness ; in the centre of thar, however, at Frampton, 

 the wells dug for water do not reach the clay. These 

 diluvial deposits consist of fragments of calcareous 

 rock, generally of a rounded flat lozenge form, varying 

 from one or two inches in length to a mere sand. They 

 must be due to the degradation of rocks of the oolitic 

 series, as they are formed generally at the mouths of 

 the large valleys which here intersect those strata ; and 

 the gravelly form is more perfect, the fragments are 

 more perfectly rounded, the farther they occur from the 

 oolitic district. Besides these extensive deposits of 

 gravel there are numerous cases in which mere traces of 

 a deposit exist ; and these, though exiting in so small a 

 quantity, exert a great influence in improving the cha- 

 racter of the soil overlying them. 



Agricultural Character of the Gravel. — The surface 

 of the district covered by trie gravel is level, and, as 

 has Ibeen already said, is comparatively bare. Fewer 

 trees exist in tue hedge-rows, when we compare it with 

 the densely-wooded country surrounding it, and the 

 fields are larger. The land is chiefly arable. Mo-t of 

 that at Frampton, for instance, is arable ; perhaps, how- 

 ever, the halt of that occurring at Eastington is pasture. 

 The soil is a calcareous loam, not generally partaking 

 much of the grave. ly character of the subsoil. It varies 

 in depth from upwards of a foot to less than three or 

 four inches, constituting in the one case some qf the best 

 land in the county, but being in the other easily scorched 

 by a drought of any continuance. It is a light soil, 

 but when wet is apt to chug, and roll up before the 

 plough ; the plough in general use is of an old-fashioned 

 form, having a large flat wooden mould-board, inclining 

 backwards at an angle of 30° to the line of draught. 

 This, one would think, would form a most imperfect 

 implement, tending rather merely to push the furrow 

 slice aside, than to turn it over; but when the land is 

 wet, the farmers prefer it to the more elegant iron imple- 

 ments used in some parts of the county. It is generally 

 drawn by three horses in a row. The subsoil is of a more 

 retentive character than, from its gravelly nature, might 

 be supposed. The water stands in the ditches in the 

 fields near Frampton, during wet weather of any conti- 

 nuance. The greatest improvement might be effected 

 here by the use of the subsoil-plough. The porousness 

 which would thus be given to the subsoil, would render 

 drams effective, though placed at very considerable inter- 

 vals. Tne greatest difference is ob-ervable in the 

 management of land on the gravel. Two farms over 

 which I went, presented a great contrast. On one the 

 four- field system was adopted, for which the soil is 

 remarkably suited. On the other no system at all was 

 followed. Sometimes Wheat was followed by Beans, 

 which were succeeded by Wheat ; after which the land 

 was fallowed, and then Wheat again taken ; or Wheat 

 was taken during two successive years ; or it was fol- 

 lowed by Barley, and then after one year Clover, Wheat 

 wasaghin taken; or sometime-, Wheat being twice tiken 

 in a four years' course ; the intervening crops were 

 Potatoes or Swedes, and Vetches or fallow. The con- 

 sequence was, that in the one case the land was clean, 

 and the crops good, while in the other the land was foul 

 and the crops inferior. These instances, though occur- 

 ring at a considerable distance from one another, were on 

 precisely the same kind of soil, and they show how much 

 the value of land defends on the cultivatioM it receives. 

 The four-field course is adopted near Frampton, Wheat, 

 Turnips or Swedes, Barley, and seeds occurring in suc- 

 cession. The average crop of Wheat is above three 

 quarters to the acre : the lied Straw Lammas is the 

 kind generally sown. Indeed, this variety is held in 

 general estimation all over the county. White Wheats 

 are sel lorn sown. The Wheat is always sown in autumn, 

 generally towards the end of September; when, however, 

 forced by weather to postpone the sowing till spring. 

 Spring Wheats are seldom used — the seed is not changed. 

 The crop totlowing Wheat is generally Turnips or 

 Swedes. This is sown broadcast ; the plants are singled 



out in the usual way, when the rough leaf appears, and 

 a second hand-hoeing is all the cultivation they receive. 

 Large crops are therefore seldom raised, and when 

 they do occur, are due to a fortunate meeting of circum- 

 stances, more than to any excellence in the mode of 

 their cultivation. I should think eight or ten tons per 

 acre was above the average of this crop on this soil. 

 The Turnip-crop is eaten on the land by sheep, or taken 

 to the yard, according to the necessity and will of the 

 farmer. If he be well provided with Hay, it is given 

 partly to fattening oxen in his yard, or feeding 

 stalls, and partly to sheep on the land ; if otherwise, 

 however, he is forced to use it for his dairy stock. 

 The Turnip-crop is succeeded by Barley. Being a 

 Barley soil, good crops are raised on it ; four to 

 five quarters per acre are perhaps above the average. 

 Clover seeds, and the common Rye-Grass are sown with 

 the Barley, and, after remaining one year down, are 

 broken up for Wheat. The old pastures on the gravel 

 are close and sweet, but very short. The crop of Hay is 

 entirely dependent ou the weather; it is very easily 

 scorched by dry weather. An examination of the waste 

 land on the gravel, shows that the unassisted fertility of 

 this soil is very great. Frampton Common is the finest 

 in South Gloucestershire, and perhaps one of the finest 

 in the kingdom. The Grass is naturally good ; no weeds 

 of any kind are to be seen. The Common is surrounded 

 by houses and trees, for which it forms a most beautiful 

 natural lawn. The following facts relative to the value 

 of the soil on this deposit, show how great an improve- 

 ment may be permanently effected in soil, by the admix- 

 ture of earth of a kind different to that chiefly occurring 

 in it. The land on the gravel near Frampton is valued 

 at 25s. an acre. The land on the clay, on which the 

 gravel lies, is of a most perfectly opposite character, and 

 is valued at 20*. per acre. There is, between the two, a 

 band of soil where the gravel thins out over the clay, 

 which is valued at 35s. an acre. This band is about 70 

 or 80 yards wide. These valuations were made by a 

 committee of farmers, appointed by the parish for the 

 purpose of apportioning a new rate. This great differ- 

 ence in the value of the land around the edge of the 

 gravel, is also observable, though not in so marked a 

 manner, at Eastington. It was explained by one <<t" the 

 farmers who observed it, by supposing that while the 

 soil on the gravel is easily burnt, and the soil on the clay 

 easily injured by wet, that lying between the two will 

 not be liable to injury in either way : it will possess the 

 lightness of the gravel, and the roots of the plants culti- 

 vated on it will at the same time reach down to the clav. 

 The soil in this narrow band is evidently due to a mix- 

 ture of the clay and the gravel. 



AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. 



(Continued from page 488.) 



WINTER FOOD FOR DAIRY COWS. 



In several Numbers of the GazHie opinions have been 

 given about food suitable for dairy cows in the winter 

 season ; having experimented a little on this subject 

 myself, I may perhaps be able to add somewhat to the 

 stock of information already given to the. public. I will 

 first set out with the articles my experience has proved 

 to be deleterious, as far as the flavour of butter and 

 cream are concerned. About 15 years ago, Mangold 

 Wurzell was pufled off by certain parties as leaving 

 nothing to be wished for, as winter green food for dairy 

 cows. The increase of milk from its use was said to be 

 extraordinary, and the butter was rich in colour and 

 highly flavoured ; as one of the many dupes to this fig- 

 meat, I allowed ab »ut a bushel per diem to be given t > each 

 cow, with as much hay as she would eat; a fortnight's 

 trial was quite sufficient to put an end to the experiment ; 

 boh the butter and cream were declared to be disHgree- 

 able, and unfit, from their acrid taste, f r all table, and 

 many culinary purposes. Common Turnips and Swedes 

 need no comment ; every one that has tasted the milk or 

 butrer of cows fed with them is satisfied of their unsuit. 

 ableness for the dairy, and the same may be said of Cab- 

 bages, Rape, &i\ Brewers' grains, if given in any quan- 

 tity, give their own peculiar flavour to the butrer. The 

 last article that I shall notice as one to be avoided, is old 

 after-pasture, when the Grass is withered, in the last two 

 months and in the first three months of the year; this 

 Grass, in wet weather, imparts a disagreeable rank Bess 

 to butter, that not unfrequently attaches the bl mie to 

 the dairy-maid; because the cow» having had nothii 

 but Grass, the cause is unaccountable. Among the 

 articles that give increase of milk and well- flavoured 

 butter, good oil-cake holds a prominent place — one in 

 the morning and one in the evening will hive an asto- 

 nishing effect ; to this may be added bran or pollard, 

 where it can be had reasonably ; two or three gallons 

 twice a day will greatly increase the milk; and with the 

 bran, if the cows have a taste for it, may be mixed a 

 gallon or two, or more, of malt-dust; all these give I 

 rich flavour to butter, and increase the quantity of milk. 

 Of roots, I have found three to be great and agree »ble 

 assistants to dairy produce: of Potatoes, every table 

 variety — Carrors, red and white, and Parsnips. Tue first 

 named I use sparingly — about two gallons a day, sliced 

 raw, and about three gallons of each of the other ro»ts 

 sliced also, and mix them all together when I have the 

 opportunity ; as long as the Potatoes are fit for table-use, 

 so long they may be given to the cows, but as soon as they 

 become spotted and of an earthy taste, they are no longer 

 fit for dairy cows ; the other roots may be given as long 

 as they continue sound ; nothing decayed or mouldy must 

 be given ; one ill-flavoured root will spoil a whole churn- 

 ing. The butter, from this plan of feeding, is delicious — 

 superior to other winter butter I have hitherto tasted. — 

 J. Steele, Epsom. 



With regard to the pecuniary relation of landlord and 

 tenant, I shall endeavour to show that long leases and a 

 Corn-rent (that is, the value of so many bushels of Wheat 

 at the current price of the day) are essentially beneficial 

 to both landlord and tenant, as well as to the country at 

 large. Under this system landlord and tenant have but 

 one common interest— they rise or fall together. The 

 present custom of fixed money-rents acts alternately most 

 injuriously on both. An unexpected war may find a 

 tenant benefiting by an enormous price ; whilst his 

 landlord has only his four per cent., reduced, in fact, to 

 two per cent., by all commodities having risen to war 



prices. 



On the other hand, a tenant hires on a war lease — a 

 sudden peace makes him bankrupt by the violent re- 

 action ; and still his landlord must let his farm at peace 

 prices, whilst he was deprived of war benefits. The 

 landlord is evidently the greatest sufferer, and should 

 hasten to amend so unfair and so ruinous a system. The 

 want of a well-founded code of rules for agricultural 

 improvement is much felt. At present each individual 

 claims for his own plan the palm of excellence. This 

 should no longer be. Our Royal Agricultural Society, to 

 which every landowner and farmer should belong, has 

 already effected vast good ; but still greater remains to 

 be done. They should have extensive model farms, with 

 schools and libraries attached. There should be shown, 

 after patient investigation, the most perfect and certain 

 modes of drainage, irrigation, and warping ; the most com- 

 plete, durable, and economical arrangement of buildings; 

 the most advantageous mode of tillage and course of crops; 

 the greatest economy of manure and labour; the minimum 

 of seed and maximum of distance in sowing ; the stage 

 of ripeness at which grain should be harvested ; the effect 

 of steeping seeds in manures; the most profitable mode 

 of (housing and feeding stock, and the advantages of re- 

 moving all trees and fences. When all these national 

 and important subjects are accurately ascertained by a 

 competent but limited board of paid and responsible 

 directors, deciding regardless of personal considerations, 

 then let a code of unerring rules be promulgated and 

 enforced wirh the full weight and sanction of the Society, 

 as a guide and beacon to the doubtful wanderer in search 

 of agricultural knowledge, who, eager to avoid the shoals 

 of error, is now distracted by multitudinous and conflict- 



in^ opinions. 



Chemistry and mechanism will, no doubt, daily lend 

 new aids to Agriculture ; but the points I have mentioned 

 must always form the unalterable basis of our agri- 

 cultural structure. 



Much is being said about how we are to pay for our 

 foreign Corn importations, whether in goods or in money. 

 This is not our affair at all— we are purchasers. If yoa 

 will have foreign Corn, Flax, and o her things, that you 

 might profitably produce at home, yon must pay for 

 them; and the seller (the foreigner) will not allow you 

 to dictate to him how he shall take his payment, whether 

 in *oods or in money; that is his affair— not yours. The 

 whole question of foreign Corn importation is, to my 

 mind, trivial and Insignificant, as compared with the im- 

 portance of national agricultural improvement; and I 

 hope to see the latter occupy the minds and speeches of 

 our statesmen and orators to the exclusion of the former. 



Let us grow Corn instead of timber, fences, and rub- 

 bish : we can do better without one than the other. I 

 am told, " We must have timber ! What should we do in • 

 case of war? : ' 1 answer, "How do we get our tea, 

 coffee, wine, and every other foreign article in time ot 

 war ?" So long as we have money to buy, arid hearts ot 

 oak to defend and convoy our purchases, Old ^ n S Ia ° a 

 can never feel a want, nor want a market to buy n. 

 Besides, what a gross folly it is to grow our own timoer 

 in Corn-fields, at a cost of four shillings a foot (1 am 

 sure it costs more), when we can import it at one-tniru 



the price. - j 



Some gentlemen think the removal of fences ana 

 throwing open the country would be detrimental togame. 

 Tins is contrary to the proof; wherever land is too- 

 roughly drained and the Turnip culture introduced^ iu 

 surely will game (if protected) thrive and increase, vv 

 and pasty uudrained land is inimical to game— particu- 



1 irly in a wet season. x . . «,«-.«« « 



A great error amongst farmers is the desire to grasp* 

 large qu mtitv of land, instead of concentrating their 

 capital by improvement in a smaller c».»r». One 01 

 the important results of my sugges.i.ms as to valuing 

 and making improvements, would be, that instead o W- 

 ,o U. per acre being (as .t is now on an average) »«« 

 cent t,nWs capital, double that amount «»»»" 

 required, as on my farm. Tins alone would *nd employ 

 mint for considerably more than one bu " dr « d "'H£ 

 of additional capital, ... .hat, in f .ct, when we had d» 

 p ,sed of all our foieign bonds and securities I doobti 

 'we should have near money enough to carry ° ut ^J 

 my practical scale of improvements, except slowly an 



gradually. , , ^^ t ;nn nf our 



B Let Agriculture form an honourable portion^ o^ 



general education— why should it 00. .. Tfa 



r„ r range side by side with Homer and \ Ifg U. 



would our nobility and gent.y ^/"^^."^d be able 



ishonest stewards and land-agents, an 



petentor dishonest scewarus duu •«»- -* A(rri . 



[,, appreciate those of a more wort y cnaiac^. Agr 



,. uku ral education "^P^^J* ^e not'he as 

 farmers are indispensable. W hy > uo "\. in ma nu- 



much uniformity in growing a sack or Corn ? ^ 



tactanng a piece of cotton, or i ^ ^ 



many a worthy person, retiring from th e ^ 



moils of a busy city to enjoy the tranquil F 



