On the Farming of Sujfolk. 



321 



thore is no better material J:lian clay for this purpose), would 

 not be greater than, if equal to^ that yearly spent about the 

 present inconvenient structures. The landlord would be de- 

 riving interest on the money spent in the erection of good buildings, 

 and the tenant would reap much more from the economical manu- 

 facture of manure, and comfort to his cattle afforded by better 

 farm-buildings. For, in fattening cattle, scientific men have of 

 late years taught us that v/armth is equivalent to food; and I 

 leave it to any practical farmer to say whether it is cheaper to 

 supply this warmth by walls and roofs or by food. 



Suffolk, so noted for machines, is yet backward in introducing 

 the acknowledged improvements of threshing-machinery, and in 

 substituting lighter carts for the clumsy tumbrils. Light one- 

 horse carts would be of great advantage on the heavy soils, as they 

 would not injure the land to nearly the same extent as the heavy 

 loads now carried. The substitution of one-horse carts for wag- 

 gons and tumbrils is not likely to be carried to any very great 

 extent by the present race of farmers ; for though many of them 

 prefer carts, yet the disposal of the old carriages would be attended 

 with a very great sacrifice, and the change of a smart road- 

 waggon drawn by a team of Suffolk horses for a one-horse cart 

 would not meet with approval. 



The very light and blowing sands that are under cultivation, 

 might be prevented from blowing by greater shelter, and be ren- 

 dered more adhesive by the admixture of clay and marl where 

 these can be obtained, and more productive by a higher system of 

 feeding sheep. 



Belts of trees, chiefly larch and Scotch fir, and hedges of the 

 latter, afford shelter in some parts ; but they require to be greatly 

 extended before they entirely prevent the sand from blowing-^ 

 high winds being as productive of injury to the crops as con- 

 tinued dry weather. Furze or gorse flourishes well on these 

 barren soils, but is seldom applied to any other purpose than that 

 of affording cover for game, a material for draining, and for firing. 

 The kind of gorse used as provender is a variety closely allied 

 to the gorse which grows so luxuriantly on our heaths ; and 

 therefore we may conclude that the former would grow with 

 equal vigour, and afford to the farmers of this sterile tract a 

 plentiful supply of food (of which there is much need) for their 

 cattle and sheep. Those who doubt the feasibihty of this im- 

 provement will be convinced by referring to the ' Essay on Gorse,' 

 by O. Roberts, vol. vi., p. 379, of the Society's Journal. 



The heavy-land district is capable of improvement by the 

 general adoption of the system of autumn cultivation for the 

 root-crop, and by growing such roots as can be removed at an 

 early period from the land, and so doing away with the treading 



