174 
Farming of Wiltshire. 
sometimes as much as eight or ten bushels are burned in heaps, 
at as many yards asunder. The ashes, when cohl, are spread 
evenly over the land and ploughed in. The farmers of this dis- 
trict (that is the stonebrash soil) place great dependence on ashes 
for their turnip crops ; banks are grubbed, and the turf and roots 
burnt; road-sides pared, couch grass, and other weeds are collected 
and burnt: and the ashes are drilled for turnips, some few adding 
bones or other artificial manures, but the many are content with 
the ashes only, but the turnips often prove only an apology for a 
crop. Yard manure is generally better made than in South Wilts, 
a larger number of cattle being kept, and is mostly used for the 
wheat crop in a decomposed state. On the thin sods the plan of 
spreading it on the land after it is ploughed is much in fashion at 
present, and is done in the following manner ; — Upon the top of the 
ridge seven furrows are ploughed, being about the width of the cart ; 
the manure is then placed in heaps upon the furrows, and when 
the whole field is ploughed, it is spread abroad and worked in. 
Wheat is generally drilled upon the large farms, but upon small 
ones, where there is not much sown, it is often hoed in. Spring 
sowing is nearly becoming more general. In taking the crop 
reaping is universal, at prices varying from 65. to 10s. the acre, 
accordmg to crop. Barley and Oats are often ploughed in, but 
the drill system is adopted by many. Mowing is always adopted, 
price Is. to 2s. per acre. Beans and Peas are but little cul- 
tivated, the same remark applying as in South Wilts. 
Turnips are generally sown broad-cast where stifle-burning is 
practised, or when farm-yard manure is used ; but drilling is pre- 
ferred when bones or other artificial manure is applied. When 
the ashes are not sufficient to be spread over the land, they are 
usually collected and drilled in; some persons sow their turnips 
upon ridges, but the number is very limited : they are chiefly hoed 
by hand. On some farms a portion is carried off the land for con- 
sumption by cattle in the yards: and on the light soils they are 
mostly fed on the land by sheep. Rape, Rye, Vetches, and other 
green crops, are cultivated as in South Wdis; and upon the large 
farms arc consumed on the land by sheep. On smaller farms 
vetches are frequently sown for seed. Sainfoin is sown upon the 
stonebrash soil witii inudi advantage, and a great quantity is sown 
wherever there is no sheep-sleight, or but little pasture land on the 
farm. Artificial Grasses of the same kinds are sown as in South 
Wilts. 
Potatoes are extensively planted on the dairy farms where any 
arable land is attached, and are often the only root-crop taken. 
Upon the lighter soils, however, they are not much culiivatcd, ex- 
cept by the labourers, to whom a g(M)d deal of land is annually 
let in some parishes. They are much used in feeding pigs. 
