November, 1912.] 



371 



COST OF CARTING MANURE. 



The Bulletin of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant-Diseases for 

 September, 1912, has a very interesting 1 account on the law of the decrease 

 of returns with the increase of the distance of the fields from the farm 

 from which we take the following extracts :— 



This study is based on the account books of eight large farms entered 

 at the "Association for Bookkeeping on the Howard system." They 

 refer to the agricultural year 1909-1910. The chief material is supplied by 

 auxiliary books in which for each field of the farm and for each crop 

 account has been kept of the amount of time expended upon it both by 

 men and draught animals. These data were again sub-divided. 



In calculating the time employed the following speed in travelling 

 without a load was assumed : — 



Horses T05 metres (3*43 ft.) per sec 

 Oxen 71 „ (2-13 „ ) 

 Men 1-00 „ (3-28 „ ) 



From the examination of figures of the various crops it appears that 

 in practice the influence of distance, if it has not been completely 

 eliminated, has been sensibly reduced. This is due to the sense and per- 

 sonal ability of the farm manager. 



The following are some of the tacts that appear evident from these 

 investigations. 



That the growing of rye in the most distant fields has lent itself 

 very well among cereals to resolve the problem of distance; it gives a 

 fair profit even in relatively distant fields. Among forage crops lucerne 

 and clover answer well. 



The practice of fallowing has also in certain cases proved useful, 

 especially for heavy lands which for their distance could not have been 

 profitably dressed with stable manure. 



Green manuring also contributes to reduce the effect of distance and 

 in the most distant fields it can almost replace fallowing. 



With a view to demonstrating that the connection between the value 

 of the land and the distance from the farm is recognised in practice, 

 the following table gives the figures actually paid by a farm for some 

 fields : - 





Years in which the 



Distance ol the Held from 



Purchase price per 

 acre. £ s. 



Area Acres, 



purchase was made. 



the farm. Yards. 



27-28 



1906 



3,179 





6-82 



190(3 



3,582 



(55-14 



5-58 



190(5 



2,516 





3'70 



1907 



3,118 



86-18 



8-41 



1910 



3,008 



86-18 



5'25 



1910 



3,118 



86'18 



24-70 



1909 



4,595 



71- 2 



8-05 



1908 



... 5,716 ... 



53' 4. 



