Report on the Agriculture of Sweden and Norway. 229 
whoat, the ley having- been ploughed out in July ; (6) mixture 
ot oats and barley. (B) about 383 acres are under a seven- 
course shift, of 55-acre fields, viz., (1) bare fallow or turnips ; 
(2) rye after fallow, and barley after turnips ; (3) and (4) seeds 
mown ; (5) tares, cut green ; (6) wheat ; (7) mixture of barley 
and oats. (C) 68 acres under a four-course shift (1) roots, last 
year carrots ; (2) barley, followed the same year by (3) rye, cut 
green the next spring, and succeeded by tares and oats, also cut 
green ; (4) barley, or mixed barley and oats. With reference to 
this shift it should be mentioned, that the taking of fodder-rye 
after barley, to be succeeded the same year by tares, is an experi- 
mental effort to get two green crops in one year. If it succeeds 
as well as it bids fair to do, Mr. Dickson will have once more 
well earned his present reputation as a pioneer in advanced 
Swedish farming. 
At present Mr. Dickson is going over his six-course shift with 
two root-crops in succession, with a view of thoroughly cleaning 
the land and putting it into better heart. Sometimes also he 
allows the grass to remain longer than two years, if it is good 
enough. Seven years ago Mr. Dickson bought a set of Howard's 
round-about steam-tackle. The economy and advantage of using 
steam, by enabling the fullest use to be made of every favourable 
day in the short Swedish season for the outdoor work of the 
farm, appear to have been very generally admitted by those 
who have seen his tackle at work, Mr. Dickson's ordinary 
farm-labourers having soon acquired the necessary facility in 
its use. His example has not hitherto been followed ; but I 
shall be surprised if the next year or two does not witness the 
introduction of one, if not two, other sets of steam-tackle into 
Sweden. 
Bare fallow, followed hy Rye. — The stubLle is generally steam-cultivated 
as sooQ as possible after harvest. In spiins; the land is ploughed or cross- 
cultivated by steam, and then harrowed, the sladd following the harrow. 
Farmyard-manure is carted out in June and ploughed in immediately. Rye 
is sown the middle of August, and the preparation of the seed-bed is as follows : 
the land should be left at least three weeks alter the dung is ploughed in, 
when it is harrowed previous to sowing ; if, however, it has become hard, in 
consequence of wet weather, or if weeds render it necessary, it is gone lightly 
over with the steam-cultivator or the drd. From 10 to 11 pecks of rye are 
drilled per acre, and a good crop is from 5 to 6 quarters. 
Seeds. — The mixture used is about 10 to 12 lbs. of red clover, li lb. or 
more of alsike, 7 or 8 lbs. of Tiuiothy, and enough rye-grass to make rather 
over 28 lbs. per imperial acre. All the seeds are sown with a broadcast ma- 
chine, as soon as possible in the spring when on rye, or on the barley imme- 
diately after it is sown. Mowing takes place between Midsummer and the 
beginning of July, according to the season, Mr. Dickson prefen-ing to cut before 
the ryegrass flowers, as the quality of the hay is theu much better; and 
although the quantity is necessarily short, a good aftermath is obtained, and 
may be either cat or fed. Originally he bad his ryegrass-seed from England ; 
