112 



Farming of Northamptonshire, 



There is also room generally for improvement in tlie cultiva- 

 tion of the soil by a judicious application of increased capital. 

 Not unfrequently the desire to obtain land has led tenants to 

 increase their occupations without having a corresponding in- 

 crease of capital, and the consequence has been that the land 

 has suffered in condition, while they have not profited by their in- 

 creased holding. No farmer can cultivate with success more 

 acres than he has capital to manage, and it is far better to invest 

 m.ore capital in the farm in his occupation, providing it can be 

 done with profit, than to increase his tenancy, thereby withdraw- 

 ing a portion of his capital. In every parish there exists con- 

 siderable difference of produce from the same quantity of acres of 

 the same description of land, owing entirely to the different modes 

 of management. It is highly probable that many farms might 

 be greatly improved by the introduction of root crops on the 

 fallow ; by the consumption of a considerable part of the spring 

 com as food for fattening cattle ; by a more complete drainage, 

 and greater attention to the extirpation of weeds ; by the adop- 

 tion of the best kinds of implements and machinery, and by the 

 introduction of those artificial manures to the turnip crops that 

 are likely to promote their rapid early growth. The man who 

 now expects to succeed in the cultivation of the soil, and to main- 

 tain his position in the struggle of life, which is becoming daily 

 more severe, must lay aside the prejudices and preconceived 

 opinions of his forefathers, and adopt the onward progress of an 

 improved husbandry. 



It may not he out of place to refer to the desirableness of a 

 superior system of education for farmers' sons luho intend to follow 

 the occupations of their fathers. — In order to unite practice 

 with science" it now becomes absolutely necessary that the 

 succeeding generations should not grope along in the dark, as 

 many of us " practical men" have done all our lives. We follow 

 a certain routine of cultivation gathered from experience and 

 observation — we supply our fields with manure, but we can- 

 not tell anything about its component parts, or its adaptation to 

 supply the requisite food for the succeeding crop, and no doubt 

 vre often make many mistakes. I do not expect that this sen- 

 timent will find much favour with a very numerous class who 

 loudly exclaim against all hoolt farming ;^ but I am willing to 

 leave the matter to the calm judgment of those who are disposed 

 to form an unbiassed opinion on the advantages of improvement 

 in the education and training of farmers' sons. I do not see why 

 they should not as skilfully make a chemical experiment as plough 

 a straight furrow or drive a hard bargain. 



In conclusion, I tender my sincere thanks to my brother 

 farmers, for the very ready and kind manner in which they have 

 assisted me with information on various subjects contained in this 



