Some of llie AgriciiUwal Lessons oflSGS. 
51 
mado. A "Teat cxtont of tlic stubbles has been turned up and ]ilauted witii 
mustard, rape, and turnips, either niixed or alone. I have sown 20 acres with 
Essex dwarf rape, which jiromiscs to make some keep ; also 13 or 11 with Italian 
rye-grass and rape mixed ; this does not show much at present, but 1 believe 
it will do well in the sprin";. The rape and the stubble turnips will be found 
most serviceable. Mustard does not stand for much at this period of the year ; 
besides the winter will atlect it. Tliere have, however, been some excellent crops 
of it this autumn after peas, and sheep have done well upon it. Cabbages are also 
being ])lanted out. If of an early variety, they will be fit for use in May next. 
I shall have 10 or 12 acres of liarly York and Sutton's Imperial, which I hope 
will serve rac during the months of IMay, June, Julj', and August, after which, 
time we get plenty of keep. I had 8 acres this summer, and had it not been 
for them I cannot tell how I could have managed my stock ; as sheep, pigs, and 
shorthorns, were all glad of them. I aia now eating off the second shoot or 
' sprouts,' and an abundance of keep I have. I think as a rule farmers do 
not cultivate this jjlant so much as they should ; it can be managed to come in 
all the year round, at any time the farmer requires the most keep ; in my case 
I have to provide for the summer months. Xothing grows more keep ; it is 
beautiful food ; and above all I know of no plant that can be cultivated more 
cheaply according to its weight, if only set about in the right way. 
" Most of the land which had been sown in the spring with clover has been 
resown in most cases with an admixture of Italian rye grass, ti'efoil, trifolium, 
together with either white or red clover. I fear, however, that not much good 
will come of it, as the very severe frost about October 20, must have de- 
stroyed the young and tender plants. Many farmers have left a portion of 
their old clovers where good ; much however completely died away during the 
drought. I cannot say what others will do as regards the rotation of crops ; in 
my own case having left 16 acres of old clover I shall to that extent omit the 
turnip crop and take barley after the wheat : the land will be in good condition 
after two years of clover lea, and with a good dressing of farmyard manure for 
the barley, it will be none the worse." 
The cabbage crop, to whicli Mr. Howard refers, seems to be a 
great resource on the stirfer class of soils : witness Mr. Ran- 
dell's experience of it as related in his report at the end of this 
Paper. And the following is a note from an almost neigh- 
bouring farm. Mr. Henry Hudson, of Pershore, Worcestershire, 
in a letter dated December 3rd, says : — 
" I planted trifolium, red clover, Italian rye-grass, white mustard, rape, 
stubble turnip, rye, and ^^dnter oats to provide food during the coming winter 
and early spring ; and to these I added 140,000 cabbage plants of the early 
sorts. The trifolium is looking very well, the red clover is weak and uncertain, 
the Italian rye-grass good, the miTstard very indifferent for want of rain. The 
rape has proved a failure from the same cause. Stubble turnips are magni- 
ficent, never better ; rye and winter oats and vetches are very promising : all 
on various soils, light and strong loams, and clays." 
The following is a note from J. Rowley, of Rowthome, 
Chesterfield : — 
" The early harvest enabled farmers to fallow and clean stubbles to a great 
extent. Wherever the clovers had failed, the stirbbles were resown with 
clovers as in spring, and have done very well, the mild weather having suited 
them. But many farmers waited the result of the change of the weather 
hoping the yoimg clovers would recover. Time has shown the plant the 
E 2 
