Mr. BoxaWs Farm, 
2G5 
Mr. Boxall consumes his roots in this order — white globes, 
Aberdeen yellows, swedes, and nian<>^old. Tlic two former have 
been brought to their present perfection by careful attention in 
the selection of roots for seed, bestowed during 30 years by his 
father and himself. Mr. Boxall narrates a curious circumstance 
which occurred in the improvement of one of these kinds of 
turnips, in illustration of the old adage, that " the proof of the 
pudding is in the eating." Some seed from roots selected for 
their round shoulders and general symmetry above ground, and 
for tapering down to a good depth under, (the two properties go 
together), were sown side by side with the ordinary seed. The 
sheep, on being folded over the whole, ate to the ground the pro- 
duce of the improved seed, and only slightly touched that of the 
unimproved, thus showing that the principle of selection is as 
applicable to the growth of vegetables, as to the breeding of 
animals, and that the choice of seed from handsome roots was not 
a mere fancy on the part of the producer, but that there was a real 
difference in the quality of the produce appreciable by those who 
ought to know best. 
In the second year, the oats or barley (very little of the latter 
is grown) are put in with one plough — 3-| bushels of seed per 
acre. Red clover (16 lbs. per acre), mixed with trefoil (6 lbs.), 
are sown at the same time. The sheep are run over the clover 
in autumn, as treading is supposed to be beneficial ; and no 
instance has occurred of losing the plant by frost. In the third 
year, the layer is cut for hay twice ; or a part of the second 
growth may be folded if wanted. Twelve cartloads of farmyard 
dung per acre, a shallow ploughing in September, if possible 
followed by the presser, are the preparation for wheat in the 
fourth year : the seed is 2 bushels ; rough-chaff is preferred for 
its short stiff straw. In the fifth year, the tares (half-winter, half- 
spring) are fed off with sheep ; the mixed trefoil and white 
clover is mown for hay. In the sixth year, the wheat land has 
the same dressing as before, except the portion where the sheep 
have been folded. In the seventh, the beans (spring) have 
12 loads of dung. In the eighth year, the wheat requires no 
help, if the beans have been generously treated. 
Mr. Boxall's predecessor used to require IG horses; but 
draining, and the frequent use of the cultivator instead of the 
plough, enables Mr. Boxall to do his work with 12 good seasoned 
animals, or about 4^ horses per 100 acres of his arable land — a 
remarkable contrast with the 7 generally used in this country. 
Of bullocks he fats none, but winters, beside his stock of 8 cows 
and a few young heifers, about 20 steers, which, being bought in 
the autumn, are served with straw and roots up to January, after 
which they get for two months a little cake and hay in addition, 
