314 Uxjjeriences of a Scotsman on the Essex Claijs. 
soda and sulphate of ammonia — tell instantly and advantageously. 
Notwithstanding the fact that guano is far above its value if 
reckoned by units, in the same way as we value other artificials, 
yet it is the most profitable in the end. I find that bones are 
adhered to, however, by those Scotsmen who occupy the lighter 
and more gravelly soils. The latter are, of course, more easily 
cultivated, and the times of working less dependent on the 
weather ; but that is not saying much, because both are difficult 
enough. A great point in favour of Essex is the comparatively 
small average rainfall. The same soil in the Noi'th would be 
looked on as almost hopeless ; but here we think it the best of 
all, and, in fact, when we are advising a " brither Scot " who is 
on the outlook for land in the South, we always warn him to 
beware of light land, and take the heavy in preference. When 
I see South-country Englishmen bewailing the misfortunes of 
clay-land farmers, I cannot help wondering if it is their limited 
experience makes them do so. If they had to farm clay land 
in Scotland with forty inches of rainfall per annum, they would 
know more, and have something to complain about. 
I was born on a farm in Ayrshire where the soil is as stiff 
as any I have seen here, lying, as it does, on the red and yellow 
boulder clay of the coal districts. Here, however, the rainfall 
is only half, and light land would be burnt up where clay land 
is benefited; while the "inherent fertility" of the clay is 
superior. Of course, I am referring to land which can be 
ploughed with two horses abreast ; three-horse land I believe 
to be rather scarce. I am aware that there is some such land 
where it is absolutely necessary to put three horses in a line to 
plough it ; but in one instance where I saw this done, I found 
when the man went away to dinner that I could pull the plough 
myself, as the soil was so light. I infer from this that three 
horses are often put in where there is no need for them. I am 
able to give the exact measure of the stiffiiess of our soil, how- 
ever, from dynamometer trials of different ploughs. In lea land, 
ploughing with Ransorae's '"Newcastle" wheel plough, and 
Howard's " Essex " plough, the draught is one cwt. for every 
inch in depth of the farrow — a five or six inch furrow requir- 
ing five or six cwt. to pull the plough. This we find a pair 
of horses can do for a day of seven to eight hours, although 
it is quite three times as much as ordinary land, and four times 
that of some light land. I have tried three or four kinds of the 
American chilled i)louglis, which do so well on light land, but 
the draught was no easier than Kausome's with mould-board 
No. 05, while the short stilts rendered it impossible to guide 
them steadily. If any soil is stiffer than this, tlien I hold a very 
