26 



Farming of Derhysfdre. 



shepherd the following day. A man and boy will attend to 200 

 sheep, and cut tbem turnips during the winter. Dry food of 

 some kind is given them, either mixed oil-cake, hay, or barley 

 chaff. One farmer of my acquaintance treats his hoggets with a 

 little bran every day, but he is an extensive miller ; another gives 

 them malt-dust (cums), but he is "a maltster. When the turnips 

 are finished, ewes and lambs have a plot of cabbages provided 

 until the grasses are more plentiful. An accident last year showed 

 the excellent keeping qualities of the red cabbage, commonly 

 used for pickling. A few scores of these were planted in the 

 ordinary way with the common ox-cabbage, and though they did 

 not get so large they kept better, were sounder, and the ewes 

 gave them the preference. These advantages were seen ; and as 

 there are no patents in nature, another year some acres of pickle 

 cabbages will be provided for consumption in May, when other 

 roots are exhausted. Wool, like mutton, goes in at the mouth, and 

 is dependent on the health and condition of the animal. Hoggets, 

 at the shearing in May, will give from 7 to 9 lbs. of wool each, 

 and ewes something less. The price received for limestone wool 

 last year, of average quality, was 32^. per tod of 281bs. 



Implements. — The implements in daily use are of the ordinary 

 yet improved kinds, from the steam-engine to the harrow. Every 

 village has several fixed and portable thrashing-machines by 

 Hornsby and other makers, and several moveable steam thrashing- 

 machines are continually at work. It is a fact that without machi- 

 nery corn could not be thrashed ; and it is no less a fact that some 

 corn last harvest was thrashed before it was cut, and lost in the 

 field for want of harvesters. Farmers are most anxious for the 

 success of the reaping-machines, and only wait to be fully 

 satisfied they are workable to give orders."*^ One of these ma- 

 chines, made by Taylor of Edingley, near Mansfield, was tried 

 last year in a field near Palterton, but the trial was a failure. It 

 ivould mow down the thistles in a grass field, and cut stubbles, 

 but it refused to cut the corn. Much credit it due to Mr. Taylor 

 for having brought out his machine, and reducing the price of it, 

 and it is hoped another year he will be more successful. Ploughs 

 are of wood, and made in the neighbourhood ; they have steel 

 boards, and are much alike in merit, no maker having the pre- 

 ference. Drags or scufBers, for stubble-paring in the autumn 

 and dressing the fallows, are in the hands of every farmer. They 

 are very simple yet effective tools, and usually made by the vil- 

 lage carpenter. The depth is regulated by wheels, and they are 



* It is hoped that another year all draining operations, and all works of im- 

 provement, where time is of little consequence, will be suspended during the 

 harvest. It would be advantageous to farmers and labourers and the public at 

 large. 



