1 38  Farming  of  Gloucestershire. 
season  for  planting  is  at  the  latter  end  of  April  and  beginning 
of  May. 
Barley  and  Oats. — The  root  crop  is  generally  succeeded  by 
barley,  but  oats  occasionally  take  the  place  of  barley.  After  the 
turnips  are  consumed  the  land  is  ploughed  up  the  usual  depth  of 
3 or  4 inches,  in  February  March,  and  April.  As  the  spring 
advances  the  fold  is  closely  followed  by  the  plough,  and  to  pre- 
vent harshness  the  breast-plough  is  called  into  requisition.  The 
surface  is  turned  over  an  inch  or  two  thick,  burying  the  sheep’s 
dung,  & c.  This  prevents  loss  of  manure  by  evaporation,  and 
keeps  the  soil  moist.  Barley  is  almost  all  of  it  drilled.  The 
time  of  planting  extends  from  the  end  of  March  to  the  beginning 
of  May.  Many  prefer  early  sowing,  but  I think  it  is  desirable 
to  be  more  particular  how  it  is  planted  than  as  to  the  time  when. 
If  the  land  be  worked  when  too  wet  underneath,  the  barley, 
however  well  it  may  come  up,  will  be  sure  to  indicate  that  all  is 
not  right  before  harvest.  The  land  is  seldom  dry  enough  before 
April,  when  the  greatest  portion  is  planted.  From  2 to  3 bushels 
are  drilled,  and  3j  to  4 bushels  are  sown  broadcast.  Where 
land  is  very  subject  to  charlock  there  is  great  danger  of  injuring 
the  barley  crop  by  sowing  too  early.  I have  found  great  benefit 
from  having  the  land  ploughed  as  soon  as  possible,  and  allowing 
it  to  lie  until  the  charlock  came  up : I then  work  it  well 
and  drill  the  barley.  In  about  ten  days  afterwards,  just  before 
the  barley  appears,  we  sow  the  seeds,  and  give  it  a double  tine 
with  some  light  harrows.  This  ivill  kill  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
charlock.  Perhaps  the  barley  may  suffer  a little  in  quality,  but 
that  loss  is  trifling  compared  with  having  it  full  of  charlock. 
The  average  crop  of  barley  is  about  4 quarters.  Barley  is  mown 
at  from  Is.  8d.  to  2s.  per  acre,  and  harvested  loose  in  the  same 
manner  as  hay. 
Oats. — Those  who  still  continue  the  six-field  system  plant  oats 
after  the  wheat  crop,  often  breast-ploughing  the  wheat  stubble 
before  Christmas.  They  then  harrow  out  the  parts  of  the  couch 
and  grass  cut  off  by  the  breast-plough,  and  burn  them  or  haul 
them  off  as  the  weather  permits.  The  land  receives  one  plough 
in  the  spring,  and  the  oats  drilled  or  sown  4 to  5 bushels  to  the 
acre  in  March.  With  this  crop  the  sainfoin  is  generally  sown : 
seed  about  4 bushels  per  acre.  The  produce  of  the  oat  crop  is 
from  4 to  5 quarters  per  acre. 
Seeds. — A mixture  of  about  1 bushel  of  rye-grass,  5 lbs.  cow- 
grass,  4 lbs.  trefoil,  and  3 lbs.  white  Dutch,  is  sown  with  barley 
and  oats.  The  crop  is  usually  called  “ Seeds,”  which  is  mown 
the  first  year  for  hay.  It  is  a general  rule  to  mow  the  seeds  at 
the  latter  end  of  May  and  the  beginning  of  June,  follou'ing  on 
with  the  sainfoin  and  meadow  grass  immediately  after.  It  is  not 
