Agriculture of Hertford si lire. 
297 
The times of feeding-, and the quantities for a large ox are — 
7 o'clock, 7 lbs. of mixture. 
10 „ 1 bushel of roots. 
3 „ 7 lbs. of mixture. 
5 ,, 7 „ of hay for the night. 
Two pails of water. 
Draining. — Here, as elsewhere, the work of draining has been 
variously apportioned between landlord and tenant. If the land- 
lord incurs the whole outlay and charges a per ccntage, a new 
letting affords the best opportunity for its execution, since the 
addition of interest to rent is not much relished by occupiers, 
even for a permanent improvement. 
The following examples, taken from the large experience of 
Mr. Humbert, of Watford, will show how the work is generally 
executed when the landlord charges a per centage on the outlay. 
At Haydon Hall, near Bushey, 3 feet 6 inches deep, and 24 
feet apart. At Bushey House (a stiff London clay), 3 feet, and 
3 feet six inches, by 24 feet and 30 feet. At Hadham Park, 
near Stortford, and land adjoining, 4 feet by 24 feet and 30 
feet. At Walkern, near Stevenage, 4 feet by 30 feet and 
40 feet apart. The land in the last instance is a diluvial clay, with 
water- worn chalk stones, boulders, and a great mixture of soils ; 
advantage is therefore taken of a comparatively open subsoil to 
increase the intervals and diminish the outlay. When the tenant 
does the whole the drains are commonly made 30 inches deep, 
and 5J to 7 yards apart. 
Some diluvial clays lying on the chalk, open in texture to 
a depth of 20 inches to 28 inches, and resting on a tough clay 
subsoil impervious to water, are converted into excellent barley 
lands by draining them 24 inches or 30 inches deep, and one 
rod apart. The advocates of this system maintain that by 
placing the outlet no deeper than the meeting between the close 
subsoil and the more porous surface soil, the land is most 
effectually freed from superfluous Avater. Shallow drainage, 
chiefly by bushes and straw, is an ancient practice on such land, 
but has been largely supplanted by the mole plough, aided as 
it now is by the steam engine, which is recommended by its 
efficiency, economy, and speed in executing a large quantity 
of work. It has sometimes been maintained by the grass 
farmers that drainage lessens the quantity of hay, though con- 
fessedly it improves its quality and sweetens the pasturage. On 
the other hand, it would be easy to give instances of grass farmers 
who have been enabled by drainage only to continue the payment 
of their rents, and who have themselves suggested this improve- 
ment to their landlords, from observing its great benefit on 
adjoining farms. 
