in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, &c. : Classes 2 and 3. 75 
is the backbone of every commercial enterprise. It ought also 
to be so on every farm. No doubt some improvement has been 
made in this respect of late years, thanks in some measure to 
the attention given to the subject by the Royal Agricultural 
Society. But in reviewing the experience of a tour in counties 
vphere farmers — as these notes on their practice may prove — are 
certainly no more backward than in other districts, it is impos- 
sible to refrain from once more urging the essential importance 
of greater attention to the " office-work," as well as the field- 
work, of the farm. 
The Grange Farm is held on a yearly tenancy, and has been 
occupied by Mr. Shelton for 13 years. The whole has been 
drained 3 feet deep and 8 yards apart ; and about 8 acres were 
re-drained 7 years ago ; the landlord paying for the drainage, 
and the tenant cai-ting the tiles. In 1885 the rent was reduced 
by 10,s>. per acre, but is still 234^., which, with 27/. 10s. 11c/. of 
rates and taxes, mounts up to fully 3/. an acre. The tenant is 
forbidden to sell produce such as hay and straw, and there are 
certain restrictions as to cropping ; but no agreement has been 
signed since the passing of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1883, 
under which the farm is now held. 
The arable land is all in one field of 53 acres, enclosed in a 
ring fence, and the rotation is (1) roots, (2) barley, (3) part 
seeds or part beans, and (4) part wheat, part oats. Wheat, 
Webb's Improved Square-head, after beans, had been drilled at 
the rate of 2 bushels to the acre ; and the appeai-ance of the 
crop was exceedingly fine. Barley, nearly 15 acres of Webb's 
Kinver . Chevalier, was very strong and good ; barely 2 bushels 
had been drilled to the acre. Oats — 8 acres of Webb's Chal- 
lenge White, 3 bushels drilled to the acre — looked clean and 
strong at the time of the writer's visit in May, and in July had 
a splendid appearance, promising to yield 9 quarters per acre. 
Mr. Shelton drills all his corn 9 inches wide, so as to allow 
room for horse-hoeing, and the grain crops were all thoroughly 
clean. The average yield in ordinary seasons is about G quarters 
per acre. 
Seeds are never laid down by Mr. Shelton for more than one 
year ; and his method is to sow 14 lbs. of red clover, with ^ to ^ 
a peck of Italian ryegrass to the acre. In May the clover for 
mowing looked thin, but in July a heavy crop had been cut 
and secured in fine condition before the heavy rains of the sea- 
son had begun. 
Six acres of old grass for mowing that had been dressed 
with soil and farmyard manure was very good, and continued 
to look well at the final inspection. Eleven acres of grass, 
