318 



Farming of East LotJiian. 



to two-thirds, is managed under a 5-coursG shift, the remainder under a 

 6-course. The 5 -course consists of: — 1. Turnips. 2. Potatoes. 3. Wheat. 

 4. Grass-seeds. 5. Oats. The 6-course is :— 1. Turnip. 2. Wheat or barley. 

 3. Grass-seeds. 4. Oats. 5. Beans or potatoes. 6. Wheat. 



The following is the number of acres under the respective crops for last 

 year, with the intended cropping for ]854. Extent of the arable land 653 

 acres : — 



1853. 1854. 



Turnip . . , , 



102 



acres. 



98 



acres. 



Potato . . . 



92 



5» 



94 





Wheat . . . . 



122 



J5 



159 





Barley . . . . 



68 



5> 



49 



?j 



Grass . . . . 



129 



J> 



130 



n 



Oats . . . . 



88 





85 





Beans and vetches 



43 



}^ 



30 





Turnip-seed 



6 





5 





Permanent grass . 



3 



JJ 



3 







653 



59 



6.53 



?» 



The varieties of the turnip cultivated are Purple-top Swede, Purple-top 

 yellow, and a few acres of White Globe. The average weight of bulbs is 23 

 tons per acre ; the whole are consumed by stock upon the farm, about one-half 

 by cattle, the other half by sheep ; swedes occupy fully one-third of the 

 whole. The cattle kept are usually half-bred short-horns. Feeding on 

 turnip commences by the beginning of October, sometimes by the second week 

 of September. The yellow variety lasts up till about the end of January, after 

 which swedes are given. The usual period the cattle are kept on turnip is 

 about five months. Foi' the last two months or more they receive, in addition 

 to turnip, 5 lbs of linseed-cake, principally foreign, the average price of which 

 is 11. per ton. Some seasons, when the prices of grain are low, oats bruised 

 and beans ground into meal are also given. When grain is given, the cattle 

 receive cake and corn each alternate day. The quantity of grain allowed per 

 day is 7 lbs. By the end of the period of feeding cake alone is given, it being 

 found that the cake gives the cattle a finer touch. Last year the quantity of 

 cake consumed by cattle was about 25 tons, of oats 90 quarters, and of beans 

 20 quarters ; in addition, about 3000 stones of hay, 22 lbs. to the stone, were 

 also given. The hay was cut, and given mixed up with the oats and bean- 

 meal. The number of cattle fattened last year was 74 ; in addition, 20 cattle, 

 on half-turnip, were kept during winter ; these were kept in courts during 

 summer, and are now on turnip. The average payment for keep per week is 

 about 5s. Qd. for cattle, which, when fattened, generally weigh about 50 stones 

 imperial. The average period of fattening is about 5 months. Last season 

 the return for feeding was much above the average. All the cattle are kept 

 in open courts with comfortable shedding. At present (November) there are 

 90 cattle on the farm. 



The sheep fattened are usually Cheviot and black-faced wethers and half- 

 bred hogs, a cross between the Leicester and Cheviot. The numbers last 

 year were — of Cheviot wethers, 260; of black-faced, 400; of half-bred hogs, 

 240. In addition, a breeding-stock was kept during winter, amounting in 

 number to above 500, with 200 young half-bred Cheviot hogs ; above 100 of the 

 old ewes were sold fat, also their lambs. The breeding-stock kept is partly pure 

 Leicester, Southdow^ns, and a cross between the Leicester and Cheviot. The 

 number of sheep on the farm at present is about 1200. About 50 shearling 

 Leicester rams are annually sold for breeding purposes ; the average price is 

 4/. 4s. ; also a few tup-lambs are sold, average price 3Z. . A portion of the 

 breeding-stock is grazed during summer on adjoining link lands in the pos- 

 session of Mr. Hope. 



