150 
Farming  of  Gloucestershire. 
is  considered  done  in  very  good  time.  As  soon  in  spring  as  the 
weather  will  permit,  the  beans  are  planted  with  a two-furrow 
drill,  or  by  hand  by  women.  Bean-setting  is  sometimes  done  by 
the  acre  ; but  the  common  custom  is  by  the  bushel.  The  usual 
prices  are  Is.  per  bushel,  or  4s.  per  acre.  When  planted  or  set, 
the  quantity  of  seed  is  4 bushels;  but  where  drilled,  is  4^  bushels 
per  acre.  Those  generally  planted  are  the  large  Gloucestershire 
beans.  Some  who  prefer  quantity  to  quality,  plant  the  Berkshire 
and  French.  Beans  are  twice  hand-hoed  in  the  spring,  at  an 
expense  of  7s.  to  9s.  per  acre,  according  to  the  state  and  clean- 
ness of  the  land.  When  ready  to  harvest,  they  are  reaped  or 
bagged,  and  tied  up  in  sheaves,  and  stocked  at  a cost  of  6s.  to  9s. 
per  acre.  The  produce  of  the  bean  crop,  like  that  of  barley,  is 
uncertain.  Sometimes  an  immense  crop  of  straw  is  grown  with 
but  little  corn.  From  3 to  5 quarters  per  acre  is  the  produce. 
It  is  considered  that  the  bean  crop  little  more  than  pays  the  ex- 
penses on  an  average  ; but  it  is  esteemed  useful  as  a preparation 
for  the  following  wheat  crop.  The  straw  is  also  valuable  as  fodder 
for  the  horses,  and  for  increasing  the  manure  heap. 
Wheat  generally  succeeds  beans,  clover,  vetches  fed  off,  and 
sometimes  turnips  and  other  roots.  As  soon  as  the  beans  are 
harvested,  the  land  is  what  is  termed  “ Bean-brushed,”  that  is 
skim-ploughed  or  brushed  over  about  3 inches  deep.  It  is  then 
harrowed  well,  to  clean  it  of  couch  or  other  weeds,  which  are 
picked  up  or  gathered  together  with  the  bean  stubble  and  burnt. 
If  any  manure  is  to  be  applied  it  is  now  put  on,  and  the  land 
ploughed  again  moderately  deep,  in  which  state  it  is  ready  for 
planting.  The  manure  is  not  often  applied  to  this  crop,  the 
land  generally  receives  its  manuring  when  fallowed.  The  clover 
ley  is  ploughed  up  as  time  will  permit ; it  is  better  done  early,  to 
allow  the  furrow  to  get  stale  before  planting  the  wheat.  In  general 
the  land  is  first  fit  for  planting  after  vetches  and  fallow,  but  it 
is  advisable  to  plant  when  the  seed  will  work  in  moderately  firm. 
The  turnip  or  root  land  is  in  general  the  last  to  be  planted  ; it  is 
ploughed  and  planted  as  opportunity  offers  up  to  Christmas,  or 
even  after;  the  spending  and  carting  off  requiring  time.  The 
principal  part  of  the  wheat  is  now  drilled  with  three-furrow  drills, 
which  are  made  in  the  district.  These  machines  will  also  drill 
beans  by  taking  out  the  middle  share.  The  Suffolk  drill  is  also 
introducing  itself,  and  when  more  of  the  land  is  drained  and  the 
immense  deep  and  wide  water-trenches  removed,  will  be  found  to 
be  an  useful  implement,  especially  if  made  purposely  for  stiff 
land.  Two  bushels  per  acre  is  about  the  average  seeding  of  the 
drilled  wdieat.  Half  a bushel  extra  is  added  if  sown  broadcast, 
or  drilled  very  late ; there  are  instances  of  a less  quantity  having 
been  tried  with  success.  The  kinds  planted  of  both  red  and 
