.Farmimj of Derbr/shire. 



33 



well and thoroughly drained that will be of lasting service for 

 future centuries.* 



Stavely is the Newcastle of the Derbyshire coal-field. The 

 energies of Mr. Barrow are directed to the most extensive and 

 successful coal-mining in the world. Nor is it less important in 

 an agricultural point of view. A great part of its soil is the 

 detritus of the rivers Dawley and Rother and their tributaries. 

 It is well adapted for grazing and arable purposes, and all the 

 family of cereals, legumes, and roots, flourish under a well-directed 

 and active cultivation. The course of cropping will not vary 

 much from that already given for the coal-series : the land is 

 drier, and more turnips grown and consumed on the land by 

 sheep. The turnips are grown on the Northumbrian system 

 with farm-yard manure, bones, and guano. Lime is not exten- 

 sively used, and chiefly on the wheat fallow, where its applica- 

 tion is considered necessary to reduce the mechanical tenacity of 

 the land. Notwithstanding the facilities of railway transit the 

 quantity of lime used does not increase, a preference being given 

 to bone and guano. This is the case generally where the land 

 has been subject to heavy liraings for years, more particularly 

 the grass land, where bones have had the happiest effect in im- 

 proving the herbage. 



" I have not," says a large occupier, " made any special ex- 

 periments with artificial manures, with a view to ascertain the 

 relative value of each, but I have used most of them with various 

 success, and the following are my conclusions : — 



" For rough, turfy, old grass land ; a dressing of from 6 to 8 

 tons per acre of Middleton Dale lime is the most beneficial. 

 For grass where the herbage is short, and the quality wants 

 improving, from 20 to 30 bushels of bone-dust is the most effec- 

 tual way of doing it. I have seen a field covered with white 

 clover after the application. Salt applied to wheat in March 

 at the rate of 7 to 10 cwts. per acre, I have found increase the 

 yield of corn from 1 to 2 loads of 3 bushels, although it makes 

 no apparent difference in the amount of straw ; but if examined 

 it will be found clearer, brighter, and more healthy, than where 

 salt is not applied." 



On Mr. Barrow's farm winter beans are successfully grown, 

 and the Defiance wheat has produced astonishing results. This, 

 wheat is gradually finding its way as seed-wheat, and its cullx- 



* Tha cost of making drain-tiles in this part of the county, including the first 

 operation of throwing up the clay to drawing the tiles from the kilns and racking 

 them, will average— 



s. d. 



22 6 per ICOO for 2i inch bore. 

 30 0 do. 3^ do. 

 36 0 do. 4i do. 

 VOL. XIV. D 



