162 



Farming of South Wales. 



are now so limited that this system can only be practised by a few. 

 This is lamentably true ; but when the South Wales Railroad is 

 finished it will open the mining districts to the Western counties, 

 and enable the Welsh farmer to dispose of his stock in the English 

 markets. This gentleman prefers to keep farm-horses by pairs 

 in loose boxes, with a small yard attached. There is a trough 

 for water, and a bin for green food in summer in the yard, while 

 the box is supplied with a rack to contain the bruised gorse, and 

 two separate mangers, that the horses may be tied up when 

 feeding and not devour each others corn. Horses when at work 

 on the farm are sometimes exposed to cutting winds, &c, and 

 when thus treated are not so subject to colds and sore-throats as 

 those kept in stables. They also appear to rest with more ease 

 than when tied up in a stall. The horses are kept in the entire 

 year, and thus all the manure is saved. When turned out to 

 grass, horses feed it very unevenly, and spoil much of the grass if 

 long. During the winter the gorse (which will last four months) 

 is cut into chaff, and, with one bushel of oats and a few swedes 

 horses are kept in capital condition. In March, as the busy 

 season advances, hay is substituted and the corn increased. 

 Vetches will come to hand in May, and will, with clover, last 

 till the gorse is ready in the autumn. The tender shoot of the 

 young furze is admitted to be both " palatable and nutritious;" 

 cheapness is certainly added to these good qualities. The gorse is 

 best when cultivated ; but the great quantity of land which pro- 

 duces nothing else, causes the Welsh farmer to prefer gathering 

 it from the natural plants. By this method of feeding little hay 

 is consumed, and it is desirable, especially in the upland tracts, 

 not to place much reliance upon the hay, as it is generally badly 

 saved and of inferior quality. For breeding, the best and 

 youngest mares should be selected, and the colts sheltered and 

 well fed during the first two winters. 



The lack of accommodation will not allow the Welsh farmer 

 to resort to the improved methods of making manure, therefore 

 some suggestions are thrown out that may be of service in his 

 present condition. After the manure is carted to the fallow in 

 the summer, it would be well to line " the court" with sand, 

 ashes, or some porous material, to the depth of 3 or 4 inches. 

 This would absorb much of the urine, which, from the cow, con- 

 stitutes the most valuable part of the manure. Instead of having 

 the drain from the court" run into the horse-pond, it might flow 

 into some mould or peat, which should be collected for the pur- 

 pose, and now and then turned. All the cleaning of the stables 

 and hovels should be carefully spread, and the straw for the cows 

 not placed in heaps, but in bins, which can be roughly constructed 

 at very little expense. These bins should be constantly shifted, 



