Agriculture of Berkshire. 
21 
most seasons, it will grow two sacks of wheat per acre more after 
three crops than it will after four ; from the fact of the roots being 
in full vigour when they are ploughed up, they afford just that 
food to the wheat-plant which it requires, and, above all, the 
land is fresh to lay down again in eight or ten years if necessary. 
The grasses are generally cut for hay in June and beginning 
of July, and the aftermath fed off by sheep. Mowing commences 
upon the rye-grass and mixed seeds, sainfoin following, the red 
and white clover coming last. When there is a considerable 
quantity to cut, great judgment is required to determine when to 
begin, so as to complete the whole in proper time, as the hay is 
quickly damaged by rain if allowed to get too old before it 
is cut. 
I rejoice to say that the practice of carting-out the manure 
from the yards during the autumn and winter months, and 
spreading it at once on the young grass-seeds, is rapidly doing 
away with the objectionable plan of drawing it into heaps in the 
winter, to be put on the grass after the hay is cleared, and before 
the ground is ploughed for wheat : the consequent advantages are 
very great. The labour on the farm is thus equalized, w^iich is 
exceedingly desirable. Employment is given in the winter 
months to those hands which, under the other plan, were often 
discharged, and from being deprived of the means of obtaining 
an honest living, frequently became the inmates of our gaols and 
workhouses. The quantity of hay grown thus is increased con- 
siderably ; on some of the light soils to the extent of at least one- 
third. The ley -ground is ready for the plough at any time after the 
lattermath is cleared off, so that it can be broken up in good 
season, instead of waiting in backward harvests till hands can be 
spared for spreading the manure, much to the prejudice of the 
succeeding wheat-crop, and frequently to the injury of the manure 
itself, which then lies on the land in small heaps for several 
weeks together, exposed to the scorching sun of July and August. 
And lastly, this practice tends to increase rather than diminish 
the yield of the wheat-crop, not so much in straw as in corn ; as, 
in consequence of the manure being well mixed with the soil, 
there are fewer lodged spots, and consequently less tailing-corn, 
and a more even sample. Artificial manures are not much used 
for corn-crops ; guano or nitrate of soda mixed with salt is occa- 
sionally applied in the spring months to wheat and spring corn, 
to invigorate a thin-looking or sickly field or so ; but the farmer 
relies more upon the resources of his farmyard for these crops 
than on any other means as a general rule. Within, however, 
the last five or six years a large trade has been done by the Great 
Western Horse-Manure Company, the proprietor of which (Mr. 
Tottenham) resides at Slough, and attends most of the markets in 
