924 



A Modern Hertfordshire Farm. 



[Jan., 



It is interesting to note the modifications in method that are 

 induced by conditions that may be only fugitive in their opera- 

 tion. Some ten years ago the IJp-to-Dates were suffering very 

 badly from potato blight, and as much as 50 per cent, of the 

 crop had to be sold as cattle food. The market was overstocked, 

 and prices fell. It was therefore decided to take up the produc- 

 tion of milk, which promised to be a more profitable under- 

 taking, and with this view^ a complete range of new buildings 

 was erected, including a shed for 40 cows. Fifty cows, with 40 

 in milk, were kept between 1909 and 1915. Milk, however, was 

 very low in price during that period, and in the winter of 1914 

 a loss of £S per week was being incurred, not taking into account 

 depreciation in respect of the cows, management and interest on 

 capital. The labourers were dissatisfied with the long hours, 

 and an endeavour to improve conditions by the introduction of 

 mechanical milking plant led to a reduction of the yield per cow. 

 and frequently the udders were spoiled. The herd was therefore 

 sold in September, 1915. • By this time the price of waste 

 potatoes suitable for cattle feeding only had risen, and it again 

 became more profitable to sell rather than to use them on the 

 farm. In view, however, of the scarcity of city manure, owing 

 to the increased use of mechanical transport, it may be necessary 

 to consider the desirability of the keeping of a larger number 

 of stock, in order to obtain a sufficient supply of dung, so neces- 

 sary for the potato crop. 



Wheat after Potatoes. — A mid-early variety is grown as a 

 main crop, as on stiffish land, such as at Birchfield, the best time 

 of sowing may thus be secured. After the potatoes are off the 

 ground ploughing is performed with a 5-6 in. furrow, and 2J- 

 bushels of seed per acre are drilled in ; a white chaff variety is 

 sown on the heavier and better land, and a red chaff on the 

 poorer soils. White chaffs give a low yield on the poor land, 

 while the red chaffs will not stand on the richer soils. 



DriUing on the tilth left by the potato diggers has been tried, 

 but the practice is not favoured, as the succeeding crop is found 

 to lack uniformity. Good results v/ere obtained in a dry winter, 

 but when the season was wet the land was lashed too tightly, and 

 it was found almost impossible to obtain a good " plant " of 

 clover. A dressing of 3 cwt. of artificials per acre in the same 

 proportions as in the potato mixture (see p. 923), is given to all 

 the wheat crops. Among the white chaff varieties grown in 1920 

 were Marshal Foch and Yeoman ; the averap^e yield per acre was 

 6 J- quarters. Eed chaff varieties are yielding 3-^7 quarters per 

 acre. 



