KottinghamsJiire and lAncolnsMre in 1888 : Class 1. 641 
otherwise it could not pay the cost of cultivation. The main 
and much the most important object, therefore, of Mr. Machin, 
and other good farmers of similar land, is to get a good crop 
of roots. To this end all the home-made manure of the year 
is always applied straight from the yards ; and if it can be said 
that an excess of energy or any other kind of effort is specially 
concentrated on any individual item of his work, where all of it 
absorbs so much, that excess Mr. ^Machin certainly devotes to 
the production of good swedes. 
About twelve loads per acre of farmyard manure is usually 
placed on the swedes, and a great point is made of applying it 
from the yards, where it has not previously been touched, to the 
ridges at seeding time, although the plan involves a great 
pressure of work at an especially busy and anxious time. Both 
the First and Second Prize men are great upon the superior 
virtues of green manure over that which has been treated in 
any way ; and they are ready with instances in which experi- 
ment and observation have proved their contention. They 
also point with much satisfaction to the evidences of " last " in 
their green manure, as shown in the many undissolved bits of it 
to be seen about the land after one or more crops — although 
there may certainly be two opinions as to whether this par- 
ticular feature should be reckoned among the advantages or 
disadvantages of the system. The manure, however, is all 
made under cover, and comes from the yards, not only in a very 
rich, but a very well rotted and manageable state. In addition to 
it 5 cwts. kainit and 1^ cwt. sulphate of ammonia are sown 
by hand for the roots. Each day's ploughing is drilled before 
night, to ensure germination in all weathers, and at a very dry 
time the excellent plan of ridging with a single-breasted plough 
is adopted, to bring up the moistest soil for the seed-bed. 
The ridges are 27 inches apart, and sowing commences about 
May 20. Ko white turnips or mangolds at all are grown. 
Directly the young turnips show themselves, a side hoe of 
Mr. Machin's own invention, which is attached behind the 
rollers of the drill to prevent the mould from burying the 
plants, is got to work. The usual L hoes follow next with 
harrows attached. 
Much careful attention has been given to the preservation 
of all the roots not wanted till after Christmas, as it is very 
difficult to keep them sound upon the forest land, particularly 
for the length of time which is there required. The survinng 
plan after many trials is to open a furrow with a single plough 
along the side of every double row of roots, into which two 
rows only are very carefully placed, when the furrow is turned 
