Farming of Northamptonshire. 



57 



plan is not to defer sowing the b.irlcy longer tlian the middle of 

 April, but to cart the remaining turnips off the land, to be 

 consumed on grass-land or on the next year's faHow. Barley 

 is often sowed broadcast and harrowed in, but in some districts 

 a considerable portion is drilled ; seed used about 3 bushels per 

 acre if drilled, and an additional ^ bushel if sown broadcast. 

 Clover-seeds are sown either at the time the barley is put in, or 

 are deferred until the barley is up ; the former plan is the most 

 prevalent and is considered the most certain, especially if dry 

 weather succeed the sowing. Tlie barley crop does not often 

 require much weeding, but suffers on the 'sandy land from 

 " golding," a weed that rises up late in the crop and is very 

 difficult to eradicate.* Chevalier and American barley are the 

 two kinds most commonly grown. The straw, when well har- 

 vested, and having with it an admixture of young clover, makes 

 good fodder for beasts or sheep in the winter months. 



Third Year, Clover Seed. — Red broad clover is not very often 

 sown alone on this description of soil, but with an admixture of 

 red clover, white Dutch , trefoil, and rye-grass. The following 

 quantities of the different kinds are in use throughout the county, 

 but many persons vary the proportions of each kind ; — 



No. 1. \\\ \ f'^^ • •) This is adapted for mowin,-. 



i i bushel rye grass . . / ^ ^ 



flOlbs. of red clover . .\ 



AT^ o ) 6 lbs. of v»hite ditto . . rr>u- • ^ • u j 



- \ 4 lbs. of trefoil . . • f ^^'^ '"^''^"'^ generally grazed. 



\ 1 peck of grass , , . j 



I 8 lbs. of red clover . ."i 



8 lbs. of white ditto , . I This is also for grazing, and some 



2 lbs. of trefoil . . . j persons omit the grass altogether, 



t 1 gallon of rye grass .] 



A small part of the seeds grown is often mown for hay; but 

 some farmers, who have a fair share of meadow-land v.dth their 

 occupation, graze their seeds during the summer, folding the 

 sheep during the night, and giving them a daily supply of corn 

 or cake. Mowing the seeds seems to be as beneficial to the suc- 

 ceeding crops of wheat as grazing them. This is accounted for 

 by the fact that, when the clover-plant is left to be mown, the 

 roots of the clover assist in supporting the wheat-plant, as they 

 grow larger than when seeds are eaten. Should the seeds fail of 



No. 3. 



* If this weed be the same with the corn-marigold, winch is very troublesome 

 in this neighbourhood on a limited tract of hue sandy soil, it may be worth the 

 trial to apply a moderate dose of lime, say 10 quarters per acre, Mr. Edmunds, 

 of Long-worth Lodge, near Abingdon, having used that dressing, found no other 

 benefit indeed, but, to his surprise, has not been troubled with this very unmanage- 

 xible weed since. — Ph. Pusey. 



