330 
Agi-icultvre of Norfolk. 
companying sketch. The ground is raked witli a horse-rake. Horse-drag 
raked. Old men tie up Takings as closely to the mowers as possible ; as that work 
is more easily done when the com has been recently cut. In carting wheat (as 
with barley) there are two pitchers, and two persons to load each waggon. There 
are always two waggons at least loading, and two unloading, at the same time, by 
which means the work progresses more cheerfully, and much more is done than would 
be by each party working separately. ^Ir. Hudson does not use carts for carrying 
his corn ; and there are few persons in his immediate neighbourhood who do. 
The wheat is put together in round stacks, because these have a smaller proportion of 
outside, and wheat is not likely to heat from the weight of grain in the centre.* 
The stacks are made of one uniform size, in order that the two companies may keep 
pace with each other ; the advantage of wliich has been before stated. They are 
placed sufficiently far from each other to prevent any two of them being burnt by 
one original fire. — ■ — Tlie round staddles are made 9 yards in diameter, by sticking 
a fork in the ground as the centre, and then, with a rope 4^ yards long, having a 
ring at one end (to pass over the shaft of that in the centre), and a fork at the other, 
drawing the exact circle at once, and making them all of one size. — — Each of these 
stacks holds about 28 or .30 loads, about 18 or 20 shocks to a load, and 10 sheaves 
to a shock. Twelve waggons (eight going, and four unloading) will make eight 
such stacks a-day. All the wheat is stacked in the field, where grown. 
Thatched in the same manner as the barley, at bd. per yard, measuring round the 
eaves. The sides of these wheat-stacks cut round, immediately after harvest, with 
scythes having straight handles, for 2s. per stack. Shavings carried to the machine 
and threshed, from which Mr. H. got about 40 bushels last harvest; a larger quan- 
tity than usual, arising from the corn being difficult to mow, &c. Mr. H. hangs 
old worn-out sheep-nets round the eaves of his wheat-stacks, to keep the crows oflF. 
Does not plaster round the bottoms of his stacks, as rats are not so numerous 
with him as in some other parts of the county. f 
All wheat is threshed by machines, winnowed twice, then blown, and measured 
in the same manner as the barley ; and delivered by a waggon and four horses, taking 
22 to 24 sacks at each load. 
From what I had heard, I expected to find that the use of 
oxen for ploughing had recently been given up by many ; but I 
found very few instances of it, or even of a doubt expressed as 
to the propriety of keeping some Devons for this purpose, where 
the party possessed old grass-land suitable for their support. All 
admit that horses are best for harvest, and therefore say they 
must keep so many horses as are necessary to cart their corn. 
These horses will perform great part of the ploughing, and the 
number of oxen to be kept will be regulated by the extent of 
land the harvest horses cannot plough. 
Nearly all the best farmers of West Norfolk agree in this. As 
* There are many wlio object to roinid stacks. For instance, Mr. Overman, of 
Weaseuham, says — " Long ones are better, because tliere is not so much time lost in 
beginning and finishing them ; you can make them any length you like (in parts), 
and if you do not choose to get the same lengths into the barns, you can cut them." 
Mr. Overman's ricks are 7 yards wide, and 20 long. 
t At Stratton Strawless I first observed ricks plastered round, for about a yard 
from the bottom, with mortar, to keep rats out. The cost of doing a round stack, 
thus, (Mr. Bowman thought) had been about Vis., and the old plaster would be 
worth (as manure) nearly half the money. I observed several instances of tliis in 
the neighbourliood of Hlofield ; some of the parties having also dug a trench, 
about a yard deep, round tiie stacks. In some part-s of the county the stacks are on 
iron stands (or frames), for the same reasons. Mr. lilytli of Hurniiam has displayed 
great ingenuity in constructing a cheap one, from loose bars of iron and posts. 
The number of rats now infesting the county is little short of a plague. 
