Experiences up to the end of October, 1904. 151 



condition from the moisture-retaining power of vegetable matter. 

 The results of the whole surroundings have had a remarkable effect 

 on the sheep at Clifton-on-Bowmont, and not only has their health, 

 condition, and quality improved, but the death-rate, which, in the 

 case of flocks kept partly on hill lands and partly in fields in the case 

 of large farms, is about 5 per cent., has fallen to about 3 per cent. 

 The healthy conditions have, of course, told, as we have before seen, 

 most markedly on the turnips, which are quite free from disease, 

 though the season has been most favourable to the appearance of this 

 most serious evil — one of the worst that the farmer has to contend with. 



Safety of the System an reqardfi JJay and Pasture. — One of the 

 most experienced farmers on Bowmont Water once told me that he 

 estimated that they suffered from drought one season out of three. 

 Since taking up the Clifton-on-Bowmont farm, in 1887, our hay crops 

 have always been good, though we have had some seasons of severe 

 drought, besides other minor droughts. In one of these, with the 

 old system, much of the stock would have had to be sent off the 

 farm ; the flocks in the neighbourhood greatly suffered, while we 

 had abundant feed, in consequence of the drought-resisting nature of 

 the mixtures used, and it may be mentioned that the stock kept 

 considerably exceed that formerly kept on the farm previous to ray 

 occupation of it. 



Decomposition oj Vegetable Matter more Sapid on Warm Slopes. — 

 In Keith's " Agriculture of Aberdeenshire," page 637, it is stated 

 that " in thin soils, incumbent on gravel, decomposition of vegetable 

 matter is more rapid than its reproduction ; and being, when 

 decomposed, soluble in water, it is carried through the porous subsoil 

 along with the lime, animal manures, and whatever else water can 

 hold in solution. For this reason land of this description having a 

 south exposure is generally more shallow and exhausted than when 

 screened from the sun's heat by an inclination to the north." At the 

 present time, when our farming system requires to be largely 

 remodelled in order that we may successfully grapple with the 

 difficulties of the age, this is a point of considerable importance, and 

 deserving of further investigation, in order to estimate exactly the 

 effects of the yarious aspects in the case of thin soils overlying porous 

 subsoils, or which have been well drained. In such cases it seems 

 evident that the warm aspects should be kept m grass as long as 

 possible, and, when taken up, should be cropped with turnips, and 

 laid down to grass the year following, as the waste of vegetable 

 matter and manure is far greater when the land is under plougb 

 than when it is lying in grass. No experiments have been made that 

 I am aware of in order to determine the comparative loss of nitrates 

 on the various aspects. Dr.. Keith's book, which I have alluded to 

 previously {vide page 59), was published in 1811, and furnishes us 

 with more than one illustration of the great neglect of Government 

 in failing to keep alive and direct continuous attention to points of 



