578 



On a Variety of Italian Rye-Grass. 



I will now give an estimate of the cost and the produce of the crop. 

 It is an estimate only ; but I shall state each head, both of expense and 

 return, separately, that others may form their own opinion and correct 

 what may appear to them erroneous. 



In estimating the keep of large cart-horses in constant work at *]s. per 

 week I think I am under the mark, and I much doubt whether I usually 

 keep my horses during the month of May for less than \0s. per week. 

 In this, however, as in other respects, circumstances vary, and the cor- 

 rection is easy. 



Dr. 



3 ploughings, 6 acres, at 7s. per acre 6 6 

 Rolling, dragging, working, and 



sowing, at 7s. per acre ... 2 2 

 1 ton 12 cwt. of Ichaboe guano, at 



8/, per ton 12 16 



20 bushels of seed, at 8s. per bushel 8 0 



Carriage of ditto 0 10 



Mowing, threshing, and carrying, 



at 10s. per acre ..... 3 0 



Sheeting 1 10 



10 loads of manure, at 7s. per load 3 10 



1 ton of guano 8 0 



Watering with liquid manure . 0 15 



1 year's rent, rates, taxes, and tithes 16 10 



Total 



£62 19 



Cr. 



£ s. 



2 13 

 1 4 



53 sheep, 14 days, at 6f/. per week 

 48 lambs, ditto, at M. per week . 

 8 horses, 4 feeding bullocks, and 

 1 bull, 5 weeks, at 7s. per week 



each 22 15 



115 bushels of seed, at 8s. per bushel 46 0 

 5 loads of straw, at 25 s. per load . 6 5 



Total £78 17 



Expenses .... 62 19 



Balance 



£15 18 



To this must be added the crop of seed now ripening, 



worth at least 201. (say) £20 0 



Straw 3 0 



And a further crop of grass to be cut in October, or left 

 as keep for sheep in the spring (say) 6 0 



6)44 18 0 



Profit per acre . . « v -,.£798 



I have estimated the seed at 8^. per bushel, that being the price that I 

 paid to you last year, but by inquiring this day in London I find that the 

 present market price is 11^. Qd. per bushel. 



In the spring I intend to plough for oats. It is to be observed that 

 so rapid is the growth of this grass that no weed can live or can seed with 

 it. The ground seems perfectly clean, and I consider that in condition 

 it has much improved, and that it will be in excellent order for oats. 



Much as my expectations were raised by what I saw on your farm last 

 year, I have no reason to be disappointed with the present experiment ; 

 and I am now about to sow 9 acres more for another season. At the same 

 time, I think, there is one thing which, notbeing attended to, is likely to 

 occasion frequent disappointment in the growth of Italian rye-grass. I 

 think it is not generally sufficiently considered that no plant which yields 

 an unusally large and valuable produce can be grown without an unusual 

 supply of manure. No land will support without exhaustion crops of 

 extraordinary burden with the ordinary supply of manure. I believe 

 this rule to be without exception, and not applicable to Italian rye-grass 



