The Wilder of 1885-86. 
383 
Mr. Charles Howard, Biddenham, near Bedford : 
"1. My farms are situated at Biddenham (two), Bromham, and Bedford. 
The soils are Oxford cby, Boulder clay, loam and gravel. (Full description 
is given in R. A. S. E. ' Journal,' vol. x., part 2, p. 582.) 
" 2. The drought of July, 1885, affected the corn crops on light soils, and a 
very poor crop of roots was generally the case. But we had a splendid hay 
•crop of clovers and grasses, which was secured in the best and cheapest 
manner. The winter of 18S5-8G was very trying to stock, also to the wheat- 
plant, which was thinned out very much by the biting winds. Keep has 
also been short during the spring, and it has been found an expensive season 
to the stock-owner. The drought also dried up the young clover seeds, so 
that a great deal of land has been plouiihed up and sown with tares, peas, and 
beans. Many farmers had resown their clover after harvest, but the severe 
winter was too much for the young and tender plant. 
" 3. Extract from my .nummary of the year, September 29, 1885 : — 
" ' In consequence of the severe drought, the root crops are much below an 
average ; mangolds suflfertd from fly, and are very small, besides not being a 
full plant. Kohl rabi are not quite a full plant, but a fair crop. Swedes 
were " grubbed," and will, we fear, not be of good quality. Turnips after 
tares and trifolium, also on a late and rough piece of fallow, could not be sown 
until August 13th. My seven or eight acres of cabbages suffered from the 
dry weather, but proved of great value to sheep, cows, and pigs, from about 
the middle of J une until the latter end of September.' 
"4. Having a large breadth and fair crop of kohl rabi, I got through the 
winter very satisfactorily with my sheep ; they had a greater supply of dry 
food than usual, one large crop of clover hay giving us a good turn. We used 
but few roots for cattle, but gave them ' slopped ' food. 
" 5. Our late-sown turnips, with some rye and winter oats sown immediately 
after harvest, together with some mangolds, enabled us to get through very 
■comfortably with all the sheep. 
" 6. No experience of ensilage. 
" 7. Shelter in open yards with hovels is jirovided for the breeding flocks 
generally. I have heard ot one or two cases where losses have taken place for 
-want of proper shelter. 
" 9. In consequence of the f;iilure of the root crop, thousands of half-fat 
animals found their waj- to market, thus lowering prices. Mutton is now 
scarce, and has gone up in price. I think also there was a good deal of 
distress throughout the country during the past winter, which affected the 
demand for meat. 
" 10. Those of us who were farming in 1868 had a severe lesson from the 
<Irought of that year (see W. A. S. E. ' Journal,' vol. v., 1859, page 50). It 
would be difficult for farmers to prepare for what they really do not know will 
overtake them. It is a mistake for a farmer to be constantly changing his 
system ; I never knew it succeed. It is wise to provide a succession of spring 
keep, and I know of no crop so valuable, and so easily and cheaply cultivated, 
as the cabbage. It has helped me through many difficult summers with all 
descriptions of stock." 
Mr. John Webb (agent to Lord Brooke), Easton Lodge, Essex : 
" 1. The farms are in Essex, Leicestersline, and Northamptonshire. The 
Essex farms are generally on a cold clay soil, and in a rather humid climate. 
The Leicestershire ones have a clay soil, and cold, late, climate. Those in 
Northamptonshire, a good staple medium class soil, and a good climate. 
" 2. The summer of 1885 was very dry, but fairly good for corn crops on 
the heavy land, though the harvest was a late one. It was advantageous for 
cleaning foul lands, but owing to the drought of root crops — turnips in 
