78 
On  the  Farming  of  Sussex. 
used  indiscriminately  amongst  500  ewes,  such  uncertain  breeding 
renders  it  impossible  that  he  can  make  any  selection  from  them 
to  be  depended  on  for  stock ; this,  with  hard  keeping,  accounts 
for  the  now  generally  inferior  quality  of  the  South  Down  sheep. 
I must  not  pass  over  in  silence  the  mistaken  practice  generally 
followed  in  this  district  of  sowing  too  much  wheat,  a portion  of 
which  is  illtimed,  sparingly  manured,  and  therefore  on  such  soils 
not  to  be  calculated  on  to  produce  profitably.  It  is  better  to 
confine  the  quantity  sown  to  that  which  can  be  done  well,  and 
improve  the  flocks  in  condition,  by  growing  more  green  keep  for 
them  ; thus  raising  also  the  condition  of  the  land,  and  eventually 
increasing  the  yield  of  corn.  And  here  I propose  some  calculations 
which  I hope  may  be  useful  as  being  the  soundest  mode  whereby 
occupiers  can  ascertain  what  quantity  of  sheep  or  stock  can  be 
kept  in  good  and  profitable  condition.  The  way  to  apply  them 
is  to  value  the  produce  to  arise,  exclusive  of  corn,  from  the 
land  according  to  its  quality,  and  the  result  will  give  the  amount 
of  money  to  be  thus  obtained.  Thousands  of  acres  on  these  downs , 
I believe,  may  be  profitably  cultivated,  which  produce  now  little  but 
heath  and  furze.  I give,  as  under,  examples  of  the  best  systems 
in  support  of  my  opinions. 
Arable  . 
Down  pasture 
Arable  . 
Down  pasture 
Arable 
Down  pasture 
No.  1. — Farm  supposed  to  be  240  Acres. 
Acres. 
Acres. 
£. 
s. 
a. 
. 80 
20  Barley  and  wheat  . 
0 
0 
0 
. 160 
20  Seeds,  to  mow  and  feed 
50 
0 
0 

20  Oats  . 
0 
0 
0 
240 
20  Fallow  for  rape  and  tur- 
l 50 
0 
0 
■'■■■■■ 
nips  . . 
160  Sheep-pasture 
80 
0 
0 
240 
180 
0 
0 
2. — Far 
m 240  Acres. 
. 80 
16  Sainfoin 
40 
0 
0 
. 160 
16  Barley  and  wheat 
0 
0 
0 
— 
16  Seeds  to  pasture  . . 
40 
0 
0 
240 
16  Oats.  . . . 
0 
0 
0 
1G  Fallow  for  rape  . 
40 
0 
0 
160  Sheep  pasture  . . 
80 
0 
0 
240 
200 
0 
0 
3. — Fart 
n 240  Acres. 
. 120 
20  Sainfoin 
50 
0 
0 
120 
20  Barley  and  wheat. 
0 
0 
0 
— 
20  Pasture 
50 
0 
0 
240 
20  Ditto  . . . 
33 
6 
8 

20  Oats 
0 
0 
0 
120  Down  pasture  . . 
60 
0 
0 
240 
243 
0 
8 
