IW»*> 





ftatt -\ 





wak 



who mMmK 

 wm>' di 



if ootmperi 



Urn to 





lunner, 

 ;il- : t .,. t0 1 lish farming, who 

 rClkand <flWk arc equa 1, 



, did not muu ^ i (he difference , n the 



I at 



•u-niers 



tTI «4 7 a ecu tl t man applied to a company, 

 ..idaVilirn.nessto undertake the drainmg of h* 

 [arm, and advance the money requisite, total 



eturned, 



Mil 



amted the rtate«~™ »•* 



pletelv 



11 * '*!, . k 



0T er the fcngj* - r~' vfr . ,. llge v in part 



. h M emu*; "A** 1 1,,s ™ rk ', bUt i l,e 

 oat a <** : he hw co n P"™"^ ■ hat a no ise he has 



^ dWuu-«l l» batte^, and irtat ^^ 



^ , The in."" re-o« " J g» js the fact , 



ltot ^ 1 £tl,o« dfJs in which the former excel, 

 are defia. «. ■*>» , Y oung is a 



^ in the eeonmy £ £** r than Dr . Johnson 

 n* M* "^V i'^'he^coteh writers, on the 



0, Oliver "-jJJ^iSLtiBg their 'own ad- of the Gov 

 Other hai are continual } « « _. /r , iK/wva ir< wa8 informed 



wiV}',' interest, bv instalments , but before further steps 

 couM be taken, it was necessary to send then .engineer 

 o inspect the farm, and report on the mode of draining 

 o be adopted, and the cost of execution. The inspec- 

 tion was made, and the estimate forwarded to the pro- 

 prietor, which'came to 6/. 6* per acre. The landowner 

 being very much surprised at the expense, and enter- 

 taining no hope of Ins tenant being able to pay the in- 

 terest, decided on abandoning the idea of draining. 

 Very soon after his tenant left, and the persons who 

 looked at the farm, declined to take it, because the land- 

 owner, having only a lifehold interest m the land could 

 not promise that it should be drained. In this state of 

 affairs, he asked my advice. I recommended him at 

 once to apply to the Inclosure Commissioners, tor part 

 - - - eminent loan, which was promised ; but lie 



which had been thrown out of the drains. 





W?«;oi* believe the "East Lothian Farmer has 

 riven^S-ion to uch a tornado of abuse, in conse- 

 SZ^TS* quotations which Mr. Pusey has given m 

 hfs spec"- Have the English wagons not bee 

 a Li!- Mr. Pusey is quite sensible ol the « defects 

 Of £»«.».. fanning, but he wishes to reserve to himself 

 and fr; di (such as Mr. Mecln, who is specially licensed) 

 the privih admonition • oorrectioa— a otchman 



mast net hare the in*pud< ice to r< numend « the ex- 

 c\mm »f wMgoH for curt©" Mr. I usey, in tins 

 ma- remind* at of the sentiments addressed by our 

 Scottish bard when inspiring his countrymen with a 

 health v hatred <>t* tli trench : 



•« live kettUo' thel k; ute 



Perhaps a cl ittt n*ny fail ia't ; 

 But rleil a foreign tinkler loon 



In regard to tl rhallenfs which Mr. Pusey, a wealthy 

 In Llord, hat given to ths Lothian tenant fanners, not 

 beiin ntrr w»* have nothing to say, further than 



we think it would be a poor way «• settling the question 



~ * wager, at beat, is hut the fool's argument. The 

 sensible s(M-eeh of Mr. Torr, «>f Lincoln (which alone 

 redeemed the London Fannem 1 Club from utter foolish- 

 ness in tliia matter), was an admaable reproof to the 



previous .speakers. 



We must now conclude our observations with one 



word to Mr, Pusey, who it eeems let himself hound to 

 act th« part of knight errant, for the defence of the 

 English farmer?, their l * character being in some degree 

 iu his hand*" In the capacity of editor of the Agricul- 

 tural Society's Journal we assail him on his chosen 

 ground, we beg to tell bin that the absurd articles 

 which hay appeared in that Journal on the science 

 bearing so intimately and directly t>n the merits of 

 Seoiefc and English fanning, and which he has dul 

 indtaeed. shelter the whole of the disparaging writers 

 which we have enumerated. If the J. unial is ri^ht. 

 Lord Jvi'nwtrd is -also right. Mr. Pusey, in his recent 

 retiewMrf the Progrees ot Agricultural Knowledge, should 

 not have had respect to persona on this head, if he 

 "wereotherwis di>!>eeed to shrink from the task, the 



some of the works were executed, and had been seen by 

 an inspector under the commission, and that the cash 

 would be advanced, in accordance with his certificate 

 Here was difficulty ; the owner had not the means ol 

 either setting men to work, or of paying them. We 

 soon arranged this matter, and I was desired to inspect 

 the farm, to ascertain what portion really required drain- 

 ing, and to fix on the spot where to commence opera- 

 tions. The inspection was made, and a report forwarded 

 to the proprietor, showing that his farm might be tho- 

 roughly drained for 425/., which, on account of the 

 small ness of the sum, as much surprised him as he had 

 been astonished at the extravagance of the previous 

 estimate, the difference being 625/. 



Having obtained the promise of the loan, and autho- 

 rity to commence, we contracted with a drainer to exe- 

 cute the works, with the owner of a tile-yard to supply 

 the pipes, and proceeded with the works until we had 

 expended about 200Z.,and then applied for an inspector. 

 He visited the farm, made his report on our proceed- 

 ings, and in due time an order for a sum, a little short 

 of our vpenditure, was remitted. The inspector visited 

 us three times ; twice during the progress of the works, 

 and at the time of completion, for which something like 

 20/. was charged. He came from London by train, 

 about 90 miles, in the morning, and returned in the 

 evening of the same day. He went through his busi- 

 ia a quiet deliberate manner, and although much 

 more theoretical than practical, gave little or no un- 

 necessary trouble ; neither did he exhibit the usual airs 

 of an important man in office. He had too much good 

 sense to insist on his notions being literally carried out, 

 and was never heard, that 1 am aware of,' to hint that 



should be put in on the top of the pipes, we sele t*3 

 about 4 acres of the most adhesive of the 10 acres 

 which to test the absurdity of a whim of our o^ 

 Three acres were executed precisely in accordance with 

 the inspector's directions, 4 feet deep and 30 feet apart 

 thft nines nicelv nut in. and the clav and anil filled 



_he three 

 acres adjoining were drained 3 feet deep and 20 feet 



apart, the clay and soil being filled in as with the other 

 three acres. The 10 acres only formed part of afield 

 the other portion being rock, which it was useless ta 

 drain, with a stonebrash soil, on which the farmer" had 

 gathered together a considerable quantity of small 

 stones, which were laid in heaps on the land. "ty e 

 decided on using those stones in the drains by placin 

 them 20 inches to 2 feet thick on the top of the pipe^ 

 The drains were cut 34 to 4 feet deep, and 20 feet apart 

 and the pipes properly placed in the drains, and the 

 small stones on the pipes, and the drains filled up rather 

 above the surface with soil and clay, as in the other 

 cases. When visited by the inspector, it was seen and 

 admitted that the 4 acres were perfectly drained, the 

 3 acres in which the 3 feet drains had been placed, ex- 

 hibited a a slight dampness in some of the furrows, and the 

 3 acres which had been done precisely as the inspector 

 wished were scarcely benefited at all. He ordered 

 additional 3 feet drains to be put in between those 

 already there, thus draining the 3 acres 1 5 feet apart, 

 which placed it on a par with the rest. More than 

 3 years have elapsed, and up to the present moment 

 that part which had the stones placed on the top of the 

 pipes proves decidedly to be the most effectually drainei 

 This mode of draining is objected to by the commit 

 sioners and Mr. Girdwood ; and the other inspectors 

 either have the same objection, or urge it in obedience 

 to instructions. I have adopted it, and found it answer 

 admirably, and am not aware that any valid reason has 

 been assigned for the objection which is made to the 



use of stones on the top of pipes. 



We have also from practical experience extending over , 

 25 years, proved that stone drains (the till drains of this 

 district) are more substantial and permanent, and equally 

 as good and effective as the pipe drains, and can only 

 be set aside on the score of expense, which chiefly arises 



If stone can be dug on the spot, or is 



Mnglish farmers render 

 Soot practice is far in 



I 



Lutflish science. As 



advance of 

 highest authority" in one 

 departoteut, we only wonder at his credulity, the stratum 

 of errors, although coveted by a mas "of debris, yet 

 crop out at Ins very feet. To our mind, Mr. Pusey has 

 placed himself in a very ridiculous position ; his un- 

 gual d speech can only be looked upon as the natural 

 \h * the false science which he 



if his propositions were not submitted to, and his direc- 

 tions scrupulously carried out, that a certificate would 

 not fee given, and of course the money expended would 

 not be advanced. The money was advanced, including 

 his own expenses, with the exception of a small sum 

 which was disallowed, but it was never known why. 

 The interest of the money, which from time to time had 

 been paid to the workmen, until the advances could be ob- 

 tained, was also disallowed. The total expenses amounted 

 to a fraction under 427/., and the cash received from Go- 

 vernment 425/., which shows that the undertaking was 

 completed within 21. of the estimate. The works have gi ven 

 the highest satisfaction to the landowner and tenant, and 

 seme of the land is as much improved as any we have 

 ever seen, by draining. Although our progress in the 

 works was as smooth as we could desire, yet we differed 

 rather seriously on two points, and those we finally 

 settled by bringing them to the test of experiment. The 

 first bone of contention was relative to the best mode 

 of draining a pasture field. Many years since this field 

 had been ploughed, and when laid down to Grass, was 

 left in high tortuous ridges rather more than 30 feet 

 wide, the highest part of the ridges being 5 feet above 

 tlie furrows. The soil is a clay loam, mixed with occa- 

 sional streaks of sand, and very easy to drain. The 



^..♦^ a «. ,. v . , ^ * it . ^ ti{1 l uaVB ! Janc * on t,ie to P s of tne i^'dges, and about half wav down 



Tentured to trouble vou with the follow™ observations. I the sides, was dry, and Required no dmilg'LT 



cnaining portion being soft and spongy, and 'covered 

 with aquatic Grasses and plants. We proposed to follow 

 the furrows, and put the drains 2J feet deep, at an ex- 

 pense of :»0*. per acre, including pipes. This did not 

 mare with the views of the inspector, and he proposed, 

 hut did not insist, that the drains should be 2 J feet at the 

 furrows, and should run perfectly straight down the 

 field, from end to end, and cross the tops of at least two 

 oi the high ridges, where the drains would be 7 [eel 

 deep. Drains thus made would pass one-third of the 

 distance through soil which required no draining what- 

 ever and be inefficient on part of the remainder, and 

 would cost at least ol per acre. We declined to exe~ 



e science which he has patronised. 



JR. Rmcll, Kilwhiss, FifeMre. 



DRAINAGE UNPKR THE ACT. 

 The call for the observations of those " who have 

 had a more favourable < xperience of the Act," may 

 probably exclude the remarks of those who are disposed 



to state fa* which have occurred during their expe- 

 rience whether a favourable or otherwise" r "" T " 



from the carting. 



thrown out of the drains in making them, in quantito 

 sufficient to fill in the drains, they ought to be used, and 

 will be more economical than pipes. I refrain from pur- 

 suing this part of the subject further, and consider our 

 experience thus far in favour of the operation of the 

 Act, but I cannot say so much for a similar under- 

 taking which we are commencing. The inspector here 

 is disposed to enforce his crotchets, on the faith of 

 " four years 1 experience in all parts of England.' By 

 so doing he will inevitably nullify all the anticipated 

 benefits to be derived from the draining, and in all pro- 

 bability entail a greater mischief on the owner, by 

 saddling him with a higher interest than the increased 

 value of the land will ever pay. I hope I may be dis- 

 appointed, but if we are to take as a precedent, tHe 

 estate pointed out by the inspector as an example wor- 

 thy to be followed, I almost tremble for the safety ot 

 my employer, who cannot afford to be extravagant, lie 

 cannot expend ^Jl. or 8Z. an acre on poor stiff clay sou, 

 and hope the increased value to the tenant, by so doing, 

 will enable him to pay the interest in increased rent 

 I know it will not. Some of the land in its preset 

 state is not worth more than 10a. an acre, and no «^ 

 by draining alone can make it worth 20s. Then no 

 it to pay after being drained ? It will require yean 

 .of the best of cultivation before it will be worthy 

 per acre, thus yielding 5,. per acre only for inte^ 

 which is equivalent to an expenditure oi ol. u*- > 

 it is clear that on such land no more than 41. an . 

 can be expended in draining with safety, and ^]^ 

 ever expends more will have to make up the 

 from other resources. Can such draining answ 



it 



interest 

 er-cao 



this 



I 



lTespondents 



pay £ Let speculators say what they may ^ 

 subject, economy must be insisted on by the Jan ^ 

 or he will have bitterly to repent having borro ^ o have 

 Government money, and particularly th ?^. w .x j a ex« 



or 



cally earr i out ; but like most public enterprises it is 



liable to abuser and not the leaet of which ta the appa- 

 rent desire to lige e landowners to be extravagant, 

 against their wieheB, in carrying out some pet plan to 

 which the i ntpector or others in office may have com- 

 mute diettaelves* when the landowner knows from 

 experience thai such plan cannot answer physically 

 economically. J 



The field department is carried out by inspectors 

 acting uader orders from the offce in London who 

 have, from what I have observed, a certain course of 

 Proceeding prescribed, and who appear to he enforcing 

 U* i adoption m all *>Us> without exception, deep and 

 wide interval draw^ mi are restricted to the use of 

 pipes <mly. Landowner* who borrow the mnn« v n ^i 



commanding voice in the matter, 

 enforce a 



and 



should not 



J 



enditure ol tne »' v *7' ' ^ 

 of a landowner on what »JJ 



[lis own district be prJWJ 



. stranger, who ^**A w ili 

 A negative reply to J* ^ 





hack 



are 



their lands mioht *a K^ ^j 



mo 



the 



are often treated as mere schoolb s. 



practically k, w much mo ^ alout ^ ^^ — 



to mat oi an experience 



nent interest at stake? ..» — ^ . - , e cno* UL 



place the landowner in a position which be a ^ ote( i Q t 

 serve to occupy, and will infer that he ^^T^ ^ matter 



^abilities of the soil of their 



can 



digreawDg. It 



t is experience that we require 

 practical experience developed by one little 





droning 



Humbug ] attempted to be cast around 



Worth ail thft th«rv that K nn 1 ... 



since trie time of the flood 



cute the works in the manner proposed, and drained it 

 our own way, which answered the purpose perfectly 

 This was fully acknowledged on the visit of inspection 

 which afterwards took place. 



The other point of difference was on some very stiff 

 tenacious clay land, which was scarcely worth cultiva- 

 tion, and had been neglected on account of its tenacitv 

 We all agreed that this should be thoroughly, effectualh ' 

 and permanently drained ; but a question arose as to 

 tlie plan to be adopted to secure this much-desired 

 object. The inspector proposed 4 feet drains, 30 f eet 

 apart which we objected to having always been disap- 

 pointed with wide interval draining in stiff clavs Wo 

 prefer 20 feet apart, and 3 feet deep. It wa s fi na ll y 

 arranged to have a portion executed on both the nlaiw 



w? ^ eti ? cienc y ?V each ' and b y "*Y of still further 

 testing the whim, which some entertain, that no stones 



ignorant, and incapable of judging for himseJt 1 ^ ^ 



,./u:„u :~ „n u.,x \e _ ',i~~± "N^orl T ask l* *" - _-- 



which is all but self-evident. Need I ask 



land t 





■ 



* can* 

 character due to the landowners of England ^^tf 



not believe that they are so ignorant and sho1 ^ar)' 

 as to permit the uncurbed exercise of any ^ ^ 

 power in such a manner as to oblige a man ^ ^ 

 risk o*' ruin, under the pretence of being favoure i ^^ 

 immense benefit. It cannot he a benefit to * t * m0trt f 

 owner to expend 11. per acre of the Governing ^ 

 in draining. If any one is expecting this, the ^^ 

 vice we can give will be, to go into the follows* 

 lation. . „ 7/ ptf 



A farm of 500 



acres of poor clay soil ^ l %f\Qs. 

 it, would be charged ^rz& pet 



We acre expended on 



farm 



SOL a yf ^ 



time, making a difference ot w*> ^*9 



acre expended would be charged with 

 the same 



annum, and of 1500/. in the outlay. 



