THE author's advice TO AGRICULTURISTS. 223 



' Suggestions.' A compound formed of four parts of properly 

 prepared beans, to one only of linseed, would, at the present 

 weight, quality, and price of each, cost about 50s. per ton ; 

 with the addition of potatoes, something less. Peas, according 

 to my own experience, are superior to beans. Potatoes, on 

 many accounts, especially on that of economy, are preferable to 

 either. In fact, from repeated trial, observation, and report, 

 I am strongly in favour of the potato-compound invented by 

 Mr. Cubitt, of Witton. But every grazier must consult his 

 own convenience. Experience alone will convince him, that 

 whether hay, peas or potatoes, beans or barley are employed, 

 the office of all mainly consists in conveying linseed to the 

 stomach of the animal, and that a great error would be com- 

 mitted by a parsimonious use of that potent ingredient, which 

 like the philosopher's stone turns everything into gold. Be- 

 sides, a liberal proportion of linseed will always ensure the 

 ascendancy over foreign oil- cake ; and a quick return, the 

 mainspring of all trade, will animate the hitherto tardy ope- 

 rations of the farmer and of the grazier. 



My advice is, provide yourselves by all means from the 

 resources of your farms, with whatever is necessary to form the 

 cattle-compound ; with beans, peas, and potatoes where the 

 land is suitable to those crops, but especially with linseed, 

 which, observe, will flourish upon soils where none of the 

 others can be advantageously cultivated. That flax impover- 

 ishes the soil is a mere vulgar notion, devoid of all truth. The 

 best historical relations, and the verbal accounts of honest in- 

 genuous planters, concur in declaring it to be a vain prejudice, 

 unsupported by any authority ; and that these crops really 

 meliorate and improve the soil. Again, as Mr. Smith, of 

 Chibneys, observes, With respect to the course of crops, to 

 make the most advantage of clayey land, flax should be yowv 

 first crop ; but this, I know by experience, many, nay, I may 

 say all, landlords will argue against; but I have had the 

 pleasure, by experience, to convince them that they are wrong ; 

 for by sowing flax, and that being well attended to, your land 

 is excellently prepared for wheat, your tenant has in the flax 

 an excellent manure for his latter-math, upon which his flax is 

 laid ; he has a rich supply of seed to feed all his cattle ; he has 



