60 



Farming of Derby sldre. 



of the finest quality. The meadows subject to periodical inun- 

 dations supply hay, and consequently manure, to the higher 

 lands. No tillages, with the exception of lime, are purchased ; 

 but the grains from the Burton breweries are bought largely 

 by all the farmers within the reach of 10 or 12 miles. Contracts 

 are entered into with the brewers to take quantities of from 

 2000 to 4000 bushels annually. The brewing-season at Burton 

 extends over seven months in the year, beginning in the autumn, 

 and continuing through the winter ; during which time, it is 

 estimated that 8000 quarters of malt are mashed weekly. These 

 grains are equally divided, or nearly so, between the farmers of 

 Staffordshire and Derbyshire, and, at ?>d. or Aid. per bushel, are 

 cheap provender for pigs and cows. Many farmers provide pits 

 or tanks to store the grains, at a time of year when they are 

 most plentiful. This practice has very much reduced the 

 growth of hay. More cows are kept, and more land under pas- 

 ture. The grains are pressed down in the pits, and will in this 

 state keep sweet a long time. Pigs get the mouldy ones, and 

 the dairy cows eat the other, mixed up with chopped straw and 

 inferior kinds of hay.* The use of grains, in the economy of a 

 farm, is of immense advantage. Much coarse and unpalatable 

 food is consumed, waste prevented, and valuable manure made. 



Salt is extensively used, in this part of the county, as a top- 

 dressing to wheat and barley ; it increases the quantity of corn, 

 stiffens the straw, and prevents it falling down. It is applied at 

 the rate of 7 to 10 cwts. per acre, at a cost of the same amount 

 in shillings. In the neighbourhood of Chellaston, where the 

 gypsum is used for the repair of roads, the scrapings, are spread 

 on the fallows to prevent clover sickness with good effect. 



The disease which prevailed amongst the cattle a few years 

 ago was of a serious nature, and many farmers sustained great 

 losses. After the Mutual Cattle Assurance Association w^as 

 established, insurances were effected at a low premium : this, 

 with the epidemic, was the means of ruining what might have 

 been a useful institution.! 



The cropping on the red marls, taking the district of Weston- 

 on-Trent, Melbourne, and the adjacent districts, may be placed 

 as follows : — 



1st Year. — Fallow for turnips, cabbages, mangold. 



2nd do. Barley. 



3rd do. Seeds, mixed with Italian or common rye-grass. 

 4th do. Wheat. 



* Those farmers who have been in the habit of using grains are anxious for 

 malt-tax repeal. They agree, if the malt-tax were repealed, they could iucrease 

 the dairy cows, and reduce the growth of hay. 



t " The ordinary weight of a cow's lungs in a state of health, will be from 14 lbs. 

 to 20 lbs. The lungs of a cow that died of the epidemic weighed 97 lbs." 



