286 



On the Farming of Suffolk. 



produce equal to, or the feed to continue so long as that produced 

 hy the common variety, but this deficiency, if it exists, is more 

 than compensated by the advantage of having feed 10 days earlier ; 

 this is of great importance to the flockmaster when the spring is 

 severe, or when there is a short supply of turnips. The time of 

 feeding off the rye is of course determined by the severity of the 

 winter, and by the time at which the turnip-crop is consumed. 

 The usual period being from the middle to the latter end of 

 April, if allowed to get too forward the sheep do not eat it readily. 

 The sheep are usually folded in hurdles on the rye, a fresh piece 

 being allowed them every day. Some of the hurdles are set so 

 that the lambs can get through and feed on the fresh rye at the 

 head of the fold, whenever they feel inclined. It is the practice 

 of some farmers (and one which is much to be recommended 

 when the turnip-crop is abundant) to cart the last of the turnips 

 into the rye-field, and give them to the sheep while feeding the 

 rye. The cost of carting the roots will be amply repaid by the 

 convenience of being able to proceed in the sowing of the barley- 

 crop at a seasonable time ; the loss to the land by not being folded 

 can readily be supplied by some artificial manure. Green rye, in 

 a forward state, is often mown for horses^ and cut into chafT with 

 a mixture of straw ; it is useful as affording the first gradual change 

 from the dry food of winter to the green food of summer. 



The cost per acre of rye for feeding is rather heavy ; but, at 

 present, the Suffolk farmers have not discovered any crop that so 

 well fills up the blank between the consumption of the turnip- 

 crop and the time at which the grass and clover are ready for the 

 sheep. 



As soon as the rye is fed off, the land is ploughed up and pre- 

 pared for turnips, which are drilled about the latter end of June 

 or beginning of July. The number of ploughings, scarifyings, 

 &c., which the land receives depends upon its cleanness, and also 

 on the difficulty that exists in bringing the rye-land into a suffi- 

 ciently pulverized state. Farm-yard manure is seldom used for 

 turnips after rye, but artificial manures, such as rapecake, bones, 

 and latterly guano and superphosphate of lime, are frequently 

 drilled in with the turnip-seed. 



A farmer in the neighbourhood of Wickham Market grows 

 swedes and white turnips after rye with only one ploughing, and 

 never fails of securing a good crop. 



On most farms a few acres of tares are sown for the purpose of 

 soiling horses, or occasionally for feeding sheep. The manage- 

 ment does not materially differ from the cultivation of the land 

 for green rye. 



Having thus disposed of a portion of the fallow (on some farms 

 about one-fourth of the entire shift), 1 shall proceed to consider 



