The Winter of 1885-86. 
379 
Mr. John Turner, the Grange, Ulceby, North Lincolnshire: 
" 1. Principally on chalk, with some strong; loam and some marsh land. 
" 2. A very fine, early seed-time in the spring of 1885. Afterwards rather 
dry, hwt on the whole a very fine summer. A very long, severe winter and 
a very late seed-time this spring. 
" 3. We had one of the very best root crops ever grown. 
" 4. I had such abundance that I had to buy extra sheep to consume my 
roots. 
" 5. Never grew catch-crops for spring consumption, our climate is toa 
backward for them, and generally we lose our turnip crop if we take any kind 
of catch-crop first. 
" 6. No silos in this neighbourhood. 
" 7. No shelter provided, except in lambing season. Impossible to provide 
shelter for the large flocks of she'^p in this district, the expense would be 
ruinous. 
"9. The low price of beef and mutton during the winter months was 
owing to several causes ; the loss of the root crop all over tlie South of 
England which forced half-fatted animals into the market; the falling off 
in consumption owing to the lack of employment in large towns ; and 
the importation of foreign meat which competes severely with om- inferior 
sorts. 
" 10. Grew a greater variety of roots. Mangolds and cabbages miaht, 
when planted early iu the summer, stand better than turnips grown later." 
The Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, Grantham : 
"1. Light red soil, ironstone underneath. The situation hilly and exposed 
to the east. 
" 2. Summer hot and dry, fair hay crops exceedingly well got. Corn of 
good quality, short in straw, well harvertsd. Pasture short for stock, but 
latter did not suffer, farm beiag well-watered. 
" 3. Mangolds were a good average crop ; swedes equally good. White 
turnips, coming up in the liot weather, were scorched and partially died ; 
the second sowing, checked by night frosts, came to a poor crop ; potatoes 
were sound and good. 
" 4. Good supply of roots. These were given with straw-chaff and a little 
wheat and barley meal. 
" 5. I don't provide green crops, having old pasture. 
"6. No. 
" 7. None, only in lambing time. 
" 9. By the limited purchasing power of the working class in consequence 
of bad trade, chiefly." 
Sir J. H. Thorold, Bart., Sjston Park, Grantham : 
"1. I have five farms in hand, beside niy home farm. Two are on the 
oolite, or Lincoln Heath, the others on the lias iu the valley. Four farms are 
within a few miles of Grantham, and one is four miles from Seaforth. The 
climate is dry. 
" 2. The summer was extraordinarily dry. The rains came before the 
wheat sowing was fairly commenced. The winter of 1885-86 was the longest 
recollected, and the spring of 18SG has been extraordinarily late and dry up 
to May. 
" 3. Mangolds did not seem to thrive even when there was a good plant, 
but grew in the autumn and came up with many rootlets and dirty. Turnips 
failed in many places on Lincoln Heath, but, when a plant was obtained, they 
proved better keep than had been expected. 
2 c 2 
