Farming of Northcunptonskire, 



73 



that kind of plough. There are also a considerable quantity from 

 Ransomes, Howard, Pearson, Sanders and Williams, and other 

 distant makers, used throughout the county. 



In consequence of an improved system of husbandry, repeated 

 ploughings on land in a high state of cultivation have become less 

 necessary, and the scarifier or scuffler supersedes the plough at 

 some seasons of the year. Mr. Knight of Northampton, and the 

 Messrs. Smiths of Northampton, Kettering, and Stamford, make 

 some very strong and serviceable wrought-iron scarifiers ; Finlay- 

 son, Ransome, and other makers have some in use in several 

 parts of the county ; and many scufflers are made witli wood- 

 beams and iron-shares by local manufacturers. 



Drills are used very extensively. The greater part of them are 

 kept by men who let them out to hire, sending a man with them, 

 performing the work at from Is. ScL to Is. Qd. per acre ; but it is 

 of great advantage to a farmer to have a drill of his own on the 

 spot. Many days are often lost in waiting for the drill-man to 

 come, and a favourable fine day frequently is lost by the drill 

 being previously engaged by a more fortunate neighbour. I once 

 lost considerably by being just one day too late in drilling a field 

 of barley : wet weather set in, and that part of the field that was 

 drilled in early, on a dry tillage, ivas more productive hy two 

 quarters per acre than the remainder of the fields which was 

 deferred for two or three weeks in consequence of the weather 

 being unfavourable. It taught me a lesson, and the next year I 

 purchased a Suffolk drill. 



The drills used are principally " Steerage drills," the man fol- 

 lowing behind and directing the drill. They are made principally 

 at the iron foundries in Northampton, and by other makers in the 

 county ; Messrs. Brettells, of Northampton, have made some very 

 good ones. There are not many Suffolk drills used. 



Thrashing machines are also let out to hire, worked with four 

 horses, and wdll thrash from 20 to 30 quarters per day. Steam 

 power has also been brought to bear upon this part of agricul- 

 tural labour, and steam-engines now perform the work of horses. 

 These are also let out for hire with a stoker and feeder, thrashing 

 the corn at from \s. to 1^. ^d. per quarter — the farmer finding a 

 supply of coal and men to assist. AYhen the barn is commodious 

 a large quantity of corn may be speedily thrashed, but they are 

 not adapted for small, confined barns, and are more frequently 

 used out of doors, with sheets for the reception of the corn. A 

 lew steam-engines for thrashing and other general purposes of the 

 farm have been of late years erected, but not to any great extent. 

 The late Sir Thomas Cartwright erected one on his commodious 

 farm-buildings at Aynhoe ; J. Beasley, Esq. has one now at 

 work on his farm premises at Overstone; and Sir Charles Isham, 



