566 



Shepherd's Corner Farm. 



take is, where the surface-soil was not deeply buried, the crops 

 were least good." It should have been " most,''^ instead of ''not.''' 

 The whole of my experience has proved that it is not wise to 

 bury the surface -soil in the way I adopted in Fields No. 1, 2, 3 

 of this farm, but it is desirable gradually, year by year, to mix 

 the surface and subsoil, and thereby to improve the fertility of 

 the farm. 



I have the pleasure of seeing my neighbours, who occupy 

 lands of similar quality to this farm, converting unproductive 

 districts into fertile farms, avoiding my errors, profiting by my 

 experience, and I am thereby fully rewarded for my labour. 

 I hope that the publication of the accounts, as well as of the 

 system, may be useful to the agricultural community. 



Yours, truly, 



PORTMAN. 



Bryanston, June 24, 1847. 



Shepherd's Corner Farmy Durweston. 

 Field No. I— South Free Down—SQ a. 2 r. 22 p. 



1843. One year's ley — mown for hay : the crop about Ijton per acre ; 



the after-crop pastured by sheep. 



1844. Two years' ley — pastured by sheep and prepared for wheat: 14 



acres folded by sheep, and manured extra with ground rags, or 

 shoddy. 22 a. 2 R. 22 p. manured with yard-dung and once 

 ploughed. 



1845. Wheat. 14 acres dibbled last autumn; seed about libushe 



per acre. The season turned out peculiarly unfavourable for 

 thin-sown wheats, and here it proved an almost entire 

 failure — the crop harvested not more than 3 sacks per acre. 

 22 A. 2 R. 22 p. Chidham's wheat drilled; seed 3 bushels per 

 acre ; crop nearly 6 stacks per acre. This wheat is not well 

 adapted for this description of land. The straw grew weak and 

 very spongy. 



Field No. 2— North Free BoiLm—34: a. 2r. 37 p. 



1843. Oats. A very good crop of Poland and Tartar oats; 13 sacks 



per acre, and the straw very heavy. The land seeded with 

 1 bushel rye-grass, 10 lbs. trefoil, and 2 lbs. Dutch clover 

 per acre. 



1 844. One year's ley. 8 acres fed off by oxen and sheep. 26 a. 2 r. 37 p. 



mown for hay ; crop 1 ton per acre. 



1845. Two years' ley. 18 acres of this field dunged and folded, and 



ploughed as late as April for rape and turnips ; the ground 

 once ploughed and the seed drilled in with ashes only : the 

 crop very good. 16 a. 2 r. 37 p., two years' ley, pastured 



