326 
Agriculture of Norfolk. 
troughs, nets, &c., for about Is. a score per week ; thus, if tlie sheep are fed on 
turnips twenty weeks, each sheep will cost about \s. for attendance. Mr. H. gives 
his sheep salt, either common or rock being always by them. 
Turnips are all drawn out of the ground by hand before frost sets in ; as evidence 
of which, there were none left on the laud in the state thej' had grown, when I rode 
over Mr. Hudson's farms about Christmas Day, 1843. Turnips are taken to the 
yards in light carts drawn by two horses. If intended for use in November or 
December, they are put in turnip-houses ; and for January and Fcbruar)' they are 
laid ou heaps, the tops being cut off, but the roots left on, as they are found to keep 
better so ; that is, they are not so liable to become musty. Those for March and 
April are placed in beds on wheat stubbles or other convenient situations which 
seem suitable for the purpose. Mr. Overman ofWeasenham draws otf about half 
the early-sown white turnips for cattle in the yards, or throws them upon the wheat 
stubble for them, previously to their being put into sheds or yards to fatten ; the 
remainder he eats off with sheep where they are grown. The Swedes are pulled, 
topped, tailed, and put into heaps (about eight heaps per acre), which are covered 
with a small quantity of straw and mould to preserve them from the frost, and to 
have them ready for use in any weather. This system of pyeing turnips is a very 
common one in Norfolk, and it is difficult to decide whether the majority of good 
opinions is in favour of it, or rather of the other method, which is, " placing" the 
turnips from several rows side by side, so as to leave at least nine-tenths of the land 
vacant. Mr. Overman has a practice which seems almost peculiar to himself at 
present, but not unlikely to extend in that district. After part of the Swedish tur- 
nips have been carted off, and the remainder put in " pies," the turnip-tops and 
"offal" are consumed on the land bi/ his flock of' ewes. 
Mr. Hudson cuts them for cattle, with Gardiner's, Wedlake's, or Man's slicers. 
The cattle have each about three bushels of turnips per day, and from 7 lbs. 
gradually increasing up to 10 lbs. per day of oil-cake, besides hay. Mr. Hud- 
son does not approve of cut hay for cattle ; he thinks they do not ruminate so well 
with it. He also thinks that long hay is a means of cleaning the mouths of the 
animals, otherwise clogged by eating oil-cake. Sheep finish the turnips by the 
second week in April. Mangold is pulled, topped, put in carts, and packed on 
heaps, for 5s. per acre ; and it is considered very important to have this done before 
the frosts. Mr. Milnes's plan of packing mangold-wurzel is, to throw up the main 
body of the pile roughly (so as to be laid open), but to pile, or place straight hif hand, 
the outside. The heaps are covered with straw first, then with soi 1 to the thickness 
of four inches, except the top, which for about a month is left open, for the heat, &c. 
to evaporate. 
Mr. Hudson observes, that mangold is not in season before February ; it is better 
in March, still better in April ; and tliat all cattle eating mangold should be kept 
warm, and have hay with it. Cattle should be gradually accustomed to mangold, 
the allowance of it being increased from day to day, thus : one peck the first day, two 
pecks the second, three the third, and four the fourth ; then increasing more largely, 
to six pecks the ninth day, &c. Mangold suits best in warm weather, and as it 
is more relaxing than turuips, it requires a more liberal supply of hay to correct the 
bowels of the animals. They eat less cake M'ith it, and fatten more rapidly upon 
it. Mangold is very useful to carry on wlieat for hoggets in March. ]}y con- 
suming about five tons of it per acre, and a little linseed-cake, the wheat is greatly 
improved. It is made more free from poppy and other weeds, the straw stifler, and 
the grain heavier and better. This, it mu.st be remembered, applies to dry land. 
Mr. Hudson first covers the bottoms of all his yards with sand or mould, to absorb 
all the liquid manure. The cattle are fed in yards with open sheds fronting the 
south, and affording shelter from tlie coUl north winds; these are spouted round to 
carry off water from the manure. Mr. Hudson (like many other Norfolk farmers) 
takes out his manures from horses and cattle alternately, to mix them in the hill — 
about half a day's work of each before changing. 
Second Year, Barley. 
After the turnips are off, the land is plouglied " fleet," or about 3i inches deep 
across the ridges, with a skeleton plough. In February, scarified, if the weather 
is favourable. Harrowed, and, if cloddy, rolled. Ploughed again, but not 
across, for reasons before stated. Harrowed, and rolled with light rollers, &c. 
