Manu res — Implements. 
305 
done harm rather than good, which might naturally have been 
expected. 
Of artificial manures^ the most common are guano, dry bones, 
and superphosphates. No great amount of any of these is 
used in the county. Superphosphate succeeds well for roots on 
the chalks and oolites, and on any land with a dry subsoil. At 
Burcott Lodge some very interesting experiments in the growing 
of turnips with sundry manures were made last year. Sixty 
yards of farm-yard dung per acre were tested against 3Z -worth 
of various artificial manures, and dissolved bones and guano pro- 
duced the greatest weight. A portion of the land, left without 
any dressing, grew but one-fourth of the weight of swedes. This 
very spirited agriculturist has this autumn applied dissolved 
bones, at the cost of (50^. an acre, to his wheat crop. The result 
of this experiment will be eagerly watched, for at present it is 
considered that no artificial dressing for cereals is so cheap or 
efficacious as guano.* Rags are still used in some parts of the 
county as a manure for wheat and other corn crops. Those from 
paper mills are considered best, as they are chiefly woollen. Such 
rags cost 50s. per ton, and 5*. extra for cutting and sowing. 
From 6 to 10 cwt. per acre is a fair dressing. Rags are objected 
to by some, as tending to produce mildew. Ashes are on the 
decline ; some, as well as soot, are still applied to the seeds ; 
but ashes are more generally used for turnips, being either 
drilled alone or in conjunction with artificial manures. 
I:\IPLEMENTS. 
In almost all parts of the county iron ploughs are rapidly 
superseding the old wooden ones. Indeed, improved imple- 
ments seem gradually extending ; for, as the old-fashioned things 
are used up, more efficient substitutes are introduced. The 
waggons are light and well made, but the same compliment can- 
not be passed on the carts. In several instances there are light 
one-horse carts, and the great common carts of the county with 
shifting ladders are used for several kinds of work. The most 
astounding revolution has lately taken place in threshing- 
machines. A short time since, only a few horse-machines Avere 
in the county ; now there are several portable steam-engines, 
which do their work most admirably. These steamers are let 
out at 255. or 305. a-day, and are constantly employed. This 
improved method of threshing is very opportune, for hand- 
threshing wheat had become almost impossible, and labourers do 
* The writer is informed by Mr. Vallentine, the agriculturist referred to, that 
" the bones produced eight bushels per acre over the unmanured part." He adds, 
that on his farm of 260 acres he has spent 400/. in two years for artificial manures 
with decided success. — Nov. 1855. 
