East Ridiiif/ of Yvrhslnrc. 
]29 
APPENDIX. 
The following communication from Mr. Fleetwood Shawc, it is hoped, 
will prove interesting, not only as presenting a type and model of a 
well-managed East Riding farm, but by the variety of its soils and cul- 
ture, as furnishing useful practical details to agriculturists in general ; 
whilst the value of these details is greatly enhanced by the accuracy and 
fidelity with which they are recorded : — 
Brantingham Thorp, Jan. 25, 1848. 
" In compliance with your request, I proceed to give you some account 
of my farm ; but previously it will be necessary to say something of its 
situation, soils, &c. 
"This farm is situated at tlie south-western edge of the York Wolds, 
near the river Humber. It consists of 800 acres ; 500 of which are 
arable, and 300 grass. The soil varies much on different parts of it ; 
and so I must classify it into three distinct divisions: 1st, the wold; 
2nd, the middle ; 3rd, the alluvial portion. The 1st consists of about 
160 acres of a friable soil, from 4 to 5 inches in depth, incumbent on 
the chalk rock. Between this and the 2nd portion there is a belt of 
Kimmeridge clay about 200 yards in width, consisting of 55 acres, all in 
grass. In the 2nd portion the soil varies considerably : tliat part ad- 
joining the Kimmeridge clay being a deep rich loam, resting on a gravel ; 
another part light sandy loam, reposing on the inferior oolite ; and part a 
mixture of loam, sand, and peat, lying upon white or yellow sand : this 
division contains about 400 acres, nearly all arable. The 3rd portion 
contains 185 acres of alluvial soil, varying in quality, and increasing in 
fertility as it approaches the Ilumber: with the exception of 50 acres, it 
is all in grass. 
" I shall now describe the system of cropping adopted on the different 
portions. 
" 1st, or Wold portion. 
" 1st year. Wlute Turnips. — Drilled on the flat ; rows 24 inches 
apart; manured with 12 bushels of bones and 24 
bushels of Hull ashes per acre. Fed off with wether and 
giminer hogs ; the former receiving h lb. of oil-cake per 
day each, and all getting cut hay. N.B. — In 1847, 5 
bushels of bones dissolved in 100 lbs. of sulphuric acid 
were used in place of bones 12 bushels. 
2nd year. Hurley. — Drilled 9 inches wide; 10 pecks of seed per 
acre. 
3rd year. Seeds — viz. white clover, 14 lbs.; trefoil, 5 lbs.; parsley, 
2 lbs. ; common red clover, 3 lbs. ; perennial clover, 4 
lbs. — in all 28 lbs. per acre : sown after the barley is up, 
with a broadcast sowing-machine, and harrowed with 
very light harrows. After the barley is harvested, well- 
rotted fold-yard manure is laid on the seeds, at the rate 
of 8 tons per acre, spread by women, well bush-har- 
rowed, and rolled with a heavy iron roller, which rolling 
is repeated in spring. The seeds are depastured with 
sheep. 
VOL. IX. K 
