402 



Farming of Lincolnshire, 



times to be thin along the rows. About a month after sowing" 

 the land should be horse-hoed, and harrowed with a triangular 

 expanding ridge-harrow ; on stiff soils this must be repeated 

 several times^ the effects of this constant tillage and pulverisation 

 in forcing onward the crop being truly astonishing. If the plants 

 are allowed to stand too near together, the stem grows weak and 

 wiry, and the leaves become "foxy" red, or mildewed. When 

 hoed out in a similar manner to turnips, but with a narrower 

 hoe, there is a freer circulation of air and a larger proportion of 

 nutriment for each plant ; the stalks, which the flock prefer to the 

 leaves, grow thick and juicy, and run up to the height of 3 or even 

 4 feet. On the best fen farms may be seen crops thus tall, and 

 so closely set that the sheep are completely hidden beneath the 

 branching leaves, and are compelled as it were to eat their way 

 into the field. Coleseed is ready for stocking about 3 months 

 after it is sov,'n ; the most common period being from the middle 

 of September to the middle of October. A first-rate crop will 

 carry 20 sheep per acre for 20 weeks, an inferior one perhaps 

 only 5, much depending, of course, on the time allowed for feeding 

 it off. The usual value of coleseed-keeping is from 305. to 6O5. 

 per acre, and sometimes reaches to 4/. or more per acre. The 

 animals fatten upon it with great rapidity, but such is the nature 

 of rich growing coleseed that it frequently brings on inflammatory 

 attacks red water," &c.), in which case recourse is had to a 

 diuretic drench. A supply of salt is always desirable, as a pre- 

 ventive of unhealthiness. As the change from the grasses or 

 clover to this superior nourishment is often attended with loss of 

 sheep, it is highly advisable, in the early part of the season, to 

 provide a "fall-back," or adjacent stubble-field into which the 

 flock may retire at pleasure. A small stack of straw, or a 

 quantity of straw placed between hurdles for the sheep to pull 

 at, is useful, especially in wet weather. Cut oat-sheaves given in 

 troughs are also an admirable addition to their food whenever 

 signs of unhealthiness become apparent ; and a small allowance 

 of cake or corn ought not to be withheld. The field, if large, 

 should be partitioned by " trays " (or hurdles), and the sheep be 

 thus allowed a fresh piece at certain intervals; a considerable 

 amount of waste from trampling, &c., being by this means pre- 

 vented, and the sheep kept more healthy than if suffered to roam 

 over the v/hole field — when they eat little else but leaf during the 

 first part of the time, and have no layer but amongst the lofty 

 vegetation continually wet with dew. 



A light and cheap shed or shelter — the walls constructed of a 

 double row of hurdles, v/ith straw packed between, and the flat 

 roof made with poles, hurdles, and a thick covering of straw — is 

 of benefit to the stock in pinching vv^eather ; they will invariably 



