Ayleshy, Rihy, and Rothwell Farms. 
425 
are g^rown, 6 lbs. of seed beinpf used to the acre. Following this, 
in May, about 120 acres of Skirving's swedes are sown, as well 
as some early rape ; and about 20 acres of early white turnips 
(grey and tankard whites), about the same time, for early feeding- 
off by hoggs. From one-third to one-half of the land devoted 
to roots is thus sown by the end of May. Early in June hybrid 
turnips follow in succession, namely, brown and green top yel- 
lows; and the common white, green, and pink globes, in alternate 
double rows, close the season of turnip-sowing by Midsummer 
Day. The first week in July about 20 acres of late rape is 
sown, to be fed off by drape ewes The quantity of seed used 
is about 3 lbs. per acre, of all kinds of turnips ; and all roots are 
sown on ridges about 27 inches asunder. 
As soon as weeds begin to appear a light two-knived horse- 
hoe of home-make is used, the common turnips being set out to 
ten inches apart, and the swedes to twelve. The rape is gone 
over with a hoe having two 4|-inch blades, which prevents its 
becoming too thick and getting mildew. The grubber is then 
extensively used (two or three times), finishing up with a strong 
iron one-horse implement. Hand-hoeing twice, and singling by 
a man and a boy, are afterwards done at the rate of 6s. per acre. 
The rape sown in May is eaten off by the rams and lambs 
in July, and the July-sown rape is used for the drape ewes in 
November. If plentiful it is used for the breeding ewes when put 
to the ram, as it gives the certainty of a larger flock of lambs. 
Towards the end of September the common turnips are begun 
to be fed off, and are generally finished before Christmas. All 
turnips are sliced by the Banbury cutter, and the original imple- 
ment, which took the Royal Agricultural Society's prize at 
Oxford, may still be seen on the Riby Farm. The troughs 
are placed in the fold of the previous day, and the cutters are 
therefore outside the nets, not within. All kinds of roots are 
pulped for stock. 
The sheep begin to go on swedes soon after Christmas, and 
the later portion, as soon as they begin to show any indication of 
running, are taken up and put in small pies on the land, a few 
being occasionally put in pies with mangolds. The sheep gene- 
rally come off swedes about the middle of April. 
The whole of the mangolds are carted off and put into pies, 
somewhat late in the season, as so far north it is very difficult to 
get them ripe enough to take up early. About one inch of the 
top and the whole of the fangs are left on the root, and neither 
straw nor thatching is then used in the pies, which are left open 
at intervals along the ridge, wisps of straw being used to stop up 
the apertures when required. Mangolds mixed with swedes are 
given to the stock, commencing in January and continued until 
2 F 2 
