304 



MR. MATTHEWS TO THE AUTHOR. 



and down of a crib between two posts with the power of a rabbet 

 and a pin ; and the cow-boy, guided by common sense, would 

 "know when to raise it, nor would he take the " weight when 

 full" into calculation, seeing that he was only required to lift 

 the crib when empty. 



There is no prejudice, Mr. Editor, so difficult to remove as 

 that founded in ignorance ; yet have my plans in many notable 

 instances overcome that enemy to improvement, and I doubt 

 not that if your correspondent will favour me with a visit, his 

 sceptical objections will also be quickly removed ; or, should 

 the distance be deemed too great, my carpenter would forward 

 him a correct model of my boxes for 15 or 20 shillings. 



Thus would the " woful darkness " of " Ignoramus" be 

 dispersed, and glowing descriptions of the excellence of the 

 box-feeding system at Ashley soon be circulated through the 

 medium of the Farmer s Journal. 



As a lively illustration of the correctness of this expectation, 

 I offer the subjoined communication, received whilst engaged 

 yesterday in writing this letter : — 



Respected Friend, 



Thy disinterested efforts for improvement in agriculture, and 

 employment of our surplus labour, are in my opinion worthy of imi- 

 tation, and deserving the support of all capable of assisting in so 

 desirable an object, proving to demonstration that the remedy for 

 agricultural distress lies not in legislative enactments, but in the skill 

 and enterprise of agriculturists themselves. In carrying out this view, 

 I last winter partially adopted the compound feeding, as recommended 

 in thy work, for bullocks, but for want of suitable boiling-houses, &c., 

 added to the fear of trouble , soon gave it up, and therewith increased the 

 cost of feeding 25 per cent. This season I have adopted it thoroughly, 

 to entire satisfaction and greatly increased convenience ; bullocks, 

 sheep, horses, cows, and breeding sows, being all under this system. 

 ^Having for years used the linseed in a crude state, I can fully appre- 

 ciate its value, and the loss I have heretofore sustained. 



" I farm about thy quantity of land, having a considerable portion 

 of it under spade-cultivation, whereby I occupy much labour at this 

 season of the year, not only to my own profit and satisfaction of mind, 

 but I trust also to the advantage of the labourer, stimulating others to 

 go and do likewise. 



" Summer fallowing was never part of my course, rather two crops 

 in its room, early tares followed by turnips or cabbage. Two days 



