Management of Clay Lands for Sheep- Feeding. 521 
influence) on tho feeding properties of crops. In conclusion, ho did 
not deny that salt might act beneficially if used judiciously on lands 
which were suitable to it ; but when applied extensively and without 
great care and discrimination the crop would not, in his opinion, pay 
for the outlay. 
Mr. Fisher Hobbs, in opposition to the remark that the scour in 
cattle arose in a great degree from the salt present in mangold wurzel, 
said, that when sheep had too much vegetable matter, and showed 
symptoms of scour, almost the first thing the shepherd did was to 
give them a handful of salt, and in nine cases out of ten it proved a 
corrective. 
Mr. Lawes observed that what he had referred to was an accumula- 
tion of salts in mangold, which gave them a purgative character. 
Mr. Fisher Hobbs suggested whether mangold wurzel, being a 
marine jdant, might not on that account take up more salt beneficially 
than was done by swedes and common turnips. He had himself 
observed that when salt had been used to a considerable extent for the 
mangold wurzel plant, it produced no injurious effect, whereas tho 
swede died oil' with the same amount of salt. 
Mr. Lawes said he had, in fact, never grown mangold wurzel without 
salt ; but, this year, having occasion to make experiments in relation 
to this question he found, to his surprise, that his crop seemed much 
better without salt than with it. He had been as steady a user of salt 
as any one, and, if questioned on the subject, he should probably have 
said that mangold, being a marine plant, required salt ; but, after his 
recent experience, he should look a little more carefully to his con- 
sumption of salt another year. 
Mr. E. Barker moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Lawes, and tho 
Chairman, before putting it, said he believed that agriculturists would 
gladly avail themselves of any information to be derived from the 
practical experience of trustworthy persons who engaged in such inves- 
tigation. 
Mr. Lawes having returned thanks, the proceedings terminated. 
Meeting of Weekly Council, Wednesday, March lGfli. Mr. Eaymond 
Barker in the Chair. Lecture by Mr. Alfred HuonES, of Thorness, 
Isle of Wight, on 
The Management of Clay Lands for Sheep-Feeding. 
Mr. Hughes, in recommending his " scheme ' or system of manage- 
ment, commenced with the remark that he had had two years' satisfac- 
tory experience of it on a very stiff clay farm, near Cowes, in the Isle 
of Wight — on land not adapted to the four-course shift, nor kind to 
barley ; which, though it will grow valuable roots, defies the tenant 
to turn them to any profitable use. The farmer of such a soil, he 
continued, is deprived of two important sources of income : a good 
yield of useful malting barley, and the production on the land itself 
of a large quantity of mutton. He then proceeded as follows : — 
The system of management which is set forth in this Paper is in- 
