On the Reduction of Horse Labour by single Carts. 



85 



My saving by two-horse ploui?hs (and I have observed the 

 same on other farms where they have been adopted) I consider 

 about one-fourth of the usual proportion of 4 horses to every 

 100 acres. If according to this proportion my appropriate number 

 under the general system would be 15, I save 3f by pair-horse 

 ploughs. My requisite strength then at this reduction is shown 

 to be 11 J. The saving, therefore, that I am able to effect by 

 single carts, according to my present reduction to 8, must be 3J, 

 rather more than one-fifth of my original proportion. 



I set out by string my confidence that this system is capable 

 of saving one half of the horses usually employed in the carting- 

 labour of a farm ; and therefore it will be necessary to show what 

 proportion carting bears to the rest of the work. Under the 

 ancient low systems of cultivation, this is very small : little 

 manure is carried out, and little produce brought home ; and to 

 such the practice under consideration offers no great boon. It is 

 there generally considered greater economy to save manual than 

 horse labour ; and as a large number of horses may really be 

 required to combat the usually foul state of the land with tillage 

 implements of faulty construction, there is always a superabun- 

 dance for carting purposes. To that happily much more nume- 

 rous body of farmers who have adopted every improvement 

 short of a two-horse plough the same observation in some degree 

 applies : the abundant strength they possess for tillage purposes 

 makes them feel no need of economy in carting operations. But 

 let them once economise their tillage system, they will find some 

 comfort in proceeding another step. Let them take the two-horse 

 plough as a first, and the single cart as a second step, and I have 

 no hesitation in asserting that they will find themselves (gradually 

 as they master the working of the system) able to perform their 

 labour, as I have experienced, with something approaching to 

 half the number of horses that they now use^, and with at least 

 equal facility and comfort. On the subject of the proportion of 

 carting to the rest of the work, I can, perhaps, best help to the 

 consideration of it by offering a rough calculation of my own ope- 

 rations, which will also show at the same time the degree of saving 

 effected 



ploughed again to the same depth ; and every operation repeated a second 

 time was generally sufficient to clean my kind of soil. August is the best 

 month for this species of fallowing ; after September the soil does not often 

 dry readily enong'h for separating the mould and roots by the roll, &c. 

 Extra strength may be required (it is here a question whether Biddell's 

 scarifier would economise the above process) to do it extensively, but it will 

 be well repaid ; for at no other season of the year is this troublesome w^eed 

 more easily destroyed. And after having thoroughly done it, I have ever 

 since found the Kentish dung-fork, applied at every opportunity, sufficient to 

 keep it under. 



