On the Ixedvction nf Horse Lahour by single Carts. SO 



vered, the disadvantages and dlf?iculties of tlie system. It must 

 first be considered^, that whatever reduction of horses may accom- 

 plish the carting labour, a certain number is required for tillage, 

 particularly in busy seasons. I have with my reduced number, 

 eight, found myself pressed in the spring, particularly the last. 

 1 believe I might have forwarded my work by better arrangement, 

 and by having been less scrupulous in waiting for dry intervals 

 during the winter, but it is essential, particularly throughout 

 barley and turnip sowing, that the work should be " close up." 

 Growing, instead of beans and peas, a large breadth of potatoes 

 and mangel-wurzel, my tillage labour is very severe during April, 

 May, and June, and I have been obliged to go for assistance to 

 my own stable, to an amount equal to one horse for those three 

 months. To meet this difficulty it is my intention first to reduce 

 my nimiber throughout the vear to seven, and seven able ones I 

 am satisfied will accomplish my general work satisfactorily, and 

 then in the month of March either purchase two pairs of oxen, 

 and work them till June and graze or sell them, or four aged 

 horses, any moderate loss in the disposal of which at the end of 

 three months would be well repaid in the value of their work. 

 Thus four horses for three m.onths, being equal to one throughout 

 the year, I should not exceed mv present cost in the keep of 

 eight. 



There are probably few districts that present a greater apparent 

 obstacle to the use of both single carts and two-horse ploughs 

 than that ha which I am situated, from the practice which pre- 

 vails of making up heavy horses for the London market. They 

 are bought in between two and three vears old, worked till five 

 or six, and sold fat at the fairs to the London dealers. London 

 must be supplied ; and the practice cannot be abandoned. And 

 the question is, how far so young a stock is compatible with the 

 above systems. Those who have experience in the practice are 

 perhaps best able to determine. It strikes me that, as a larger 

 stock than usual must be required to prevent the colts and fatting 

 horses from being overworked, the two systems quoted might still 

 be easily carried into effect, by a larger proportionate stock than 

 they would otherwise require. One advantage, however, the 

 natural working of the practice, would give which I am in search 

 of, viz. an increase of strength in the spring ; for instance, were 

 young stock to be employed on my farm, nine would probably be 

 required throughout the year, and if the purchase of three colts 

 were made in the winter, there would be twelve for the spring 

 work, and three might be got ready for the London dealers by 

 the beginning of the summer. 



It will be seen by all this that my system requhes exertion to 

 economise the means of performing spring tillage. I am not. 



