July  9 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
442 
An  English  Tenant  Farmer. 
HE  HAS  NO  DESIRE  TO  COME  TO  AMERICA. 
It  Pays  to  Develop  a  Specialty. 
Some  Awful  Expenses. — While  visiting  oDe  of  the 
most  thorough  and  intelligent  tenant  farmers  in  Eng¬ 
land,  I  fell  to  questioning  him  about  business  matters, 
especially  about  farming  in  England.  The  farm  con¬ 
sists  of  about  700  acres,  of  which  280  are  permanent 
pasture,  and  420  arable.  The  rent  is  only  $4,200  per 
year,  which  is  regarded  as  very  low,  and  is  the  same 
now  as  it  has  been  for  upwards  of  40  years !  He  is 
considered  especially  fortunate  in  securing  this  low 
rent  of  only  about  $0  an  acre.  His  tithes,  or  church 
taxes,  are  $395  and  his  rates  or  general  taxes  $530, 
making  a  total  for  rent  and  taxes  of  $5,215.  He 
employs  five  men  and  two  women  by  the  year,  and 
their  vages  added  to  the  amount  paid  for  other  help 
amount  to  $2,350  a  year.  He  purchased  in  1890,  $(510 
worth  of  feed  and  paid  $080  for  fertilizers;  for  grass 
seed  $250,  and  for  breeding  sires  (this  is  his  average 
for  the  last  five  years),  $960,  making  a  total  annual 
expense,  regardless  of  household  expenses,  machinery 
or  incidentals,  of  $10,065.  The  figures  astounded  me. 
I  wondered  how  a  man  dare  assume  such  large  ex¬ 
penses  pr  expect  to  make  anything  after  paying  them. 
But  this  farm  has  been  in  this  family  as  renters  for  at 
least  100  years,  and  quite  a  fortune  has  been  accumu¬ 
lated  from  its  profits. 
About  the  Farm. — I  naturally  asked,  “  How  do 
you  make  this  money?”  My  host  said:  “We  will 
have  another  cup  of  tea  and  take  a  stroll  over  the 
farm.”  This  stroll  was  of  four  hours'  duration,  dur¬ 
ing  which  we  visited  each  field.  The  soil  is  naturally 
good,  and  is  what  we  would  call  a  clay 
and  gravel  loam,  equal  to  our  best  land 
in  this  county,  but  a  trifle  harder  to  the 
tread.  Its  capacity  for  production,  lam 
assured,  has  been  improving  for  more 
than  70  years.  The  pasture  lands  are 
near  the  buildings,  so  that  the  stock 
thereon  may  be  conveniently  watched 
and  attended.  These  pastures  were  laid 
down  in  the  days  of  his  father  and  grand¬ 
father  at  an  average  expense  of  $15  per 
acre  for  seed  and  fertilizers.  The  lands 
were  thoroughly  cultivated  for  one 
season  without  cropping,  then  given  400 
pounds  of  phosphate  and  140  pounds  of 
lime  to  the  acre,  and  in  August  14  quarts 
to  the  acre  of  a  mixture  of  a  dozen  or 
more  varieties  of  grass  seeds  were  sown. 
The  next  year  the  land  was  pastured 
lightly  and  a  little  more  seed  added  on 
the  thin  spots.  For  five  years  it  has 
not  been  pastured  closely.  To  my  mind 
the  quality  of  these  English  pastures  has 
been  overestimated  The  grass  grows 
rank,  and  being  always  more  or  less 
wet,  it  is  sour,  and  constant  pasturing 
musses  it  over  until  frequent  changes 
from  field  to  field  are  essential  to  thrift, 
but  there  is  plenty  of  it  nine  months  in  the  year,  and 
this  rather  than  its  quality  has  made  for  it  a  reputation. 
Cattle  and  sheep  are  made  the  important  factors,  and 
the  cash  returns  from  both  pasture  and  arable  lands 
are  derived  from  them. 
The  grain  crops  average  100  acres  each  year,  di¬ 
vided  as  follows:  Wheat,  30  acres;  oats,  40;  barley, 
20,  and  rye,  10.  In  1890,  the  wheat  averaged  3(5  bush¬ 
els  per  acre,  worth  $1.25  per  bushel,  or  $45  to  the  acre; 
the  oats  55  bushels  at  40  cents,  or  $22  per  acre  ;  barley, 
43  bushels  at  $1.10,  or  $47.30  to  the  acre  :  rye,  30  bush¬ 
els  at  90  cents,  or  $27  per  acre.  The  straw  is  worth 
from  $10  to  $14  per  ton,  and  about  one-third  of  it  is 
sold.  The  value  of  100  acres  of  grain  and  straw  is  up¬ 
wards  of  $4,000,  and  the  amount  sold  amounted  to 
$3,000  in  round  figures. 
From  75  to  100  acres  of  roots  are  grown  each  year, 
and  are  divided  about  as  follows:  Mangels,  25  acres  : 
Swedes,  40  ;  rutabagas  or  turnips,  20  ;  cabbages,  8,  and 
potatoes,  7.  These  are  all  fed  on  the  farm.  For  sheep, 
temporary  fences  divide  off  a  few  acres  at  a  time  until 
all  are  eaten  to  the  bottom.  For  cattle,  they  are  gath¬ 
ered  and  cut,  and  fed  at  the  barn. 
The  rotation  of  crops  begins  with  what  the  English 
farmer  calls  an  “artificial  grass  layer,”  or  seeding 
down  for  a  few  years  only.  When  broken,  this  is 
cropped  to  roots,  followed  by  two  grain  crops  and 
seeded.  Barley  is  considered  the  best  grain  crop  with 
which  to  seed.  When  seeded,  from  40  to  50  acres  are 
mown  each  year  from  the  newly-seeded  area  ;  then  it 
is  pastured  for  two  years  before  it  is  broken  up  again. 
For  the  root  crop,  the  artificial  grass  layer  is  plowed 
in  August  or  September  and  cultivated  thoroughly 
for  the  remainder  of  the  year.  In  the  spring  it  is 
again  plowed  as  deep  as  the  soil  will  permit,  and  a 
fine,  soft  seed  bed  is  made.  The  fertilizing  is  all  done 
before  cropping  to  roots,  at  an  expense  of  at  least  $5 
per  acre  for  artificial  fertilizers,  besides  the  home¬ 
made  manure,  which  is  large  in  quantity  and  very 
rich  in  quality.  The  root  crop  receives  the  farmer's 
best  attention,  for  upon  it  his  profit  depends.  The  crop 
is  most  thoroughly  cultivated  with  single-horse  tools, 
and  the  roots  are  hoed  and  thinned  twice  at  an  ex¬ 
pense  of  $5  per  acre;  this  is  usually  done  by  the  job. 
Thus,  the  ground  is  kept  clear  of  weeds,  and,  after 
the  root  crops  have  been  taken  off,  the  ground  is  sown 
to  grain,  for  which  it  is  well  fitted,  and  failures  are 
comparatively  unknown.  For  these  grain  crops  they 
plow  and  fit  about  the  same  as  we  do,  but  the  harvest¬ 
ing  often  extends  into  October,  and  it  is  not  an  uncom¬ 
mon  sight  to  see  snow  on  the  shocks  of  grain  standing 
in  the  field.  The  straw  grows  rank,  often  lodges 
badly,  and  the  tools  are  heavy  and  antiquated,  but 
help  is  cheap  and  plentiful.  This  disposes  of  all  the 
arable  land  except  the  10  acres  of  garden,  to  which  the 
gardener  gives  his  entire  time  for  four  months,  and  is 
often  assisted  by  other  men,  and  from  this  fruits  and 
vegetables  are  sent  to  market  with  butter,  cream, 
poultry  and  eggs,  and  from  $500  to  $600  per  year  is 
returned  for  pocket  money. 
Cattle  and  Sheep. — The  stock  carried  consists,  first, 
of  250  choice  Shropshire  ewes  that  have  been  carefully 
bred  for  the  last  50  years,  are  all  registered  and  are 
world-renowned  as  one  of  the  most  famous  English 
flocks.  From  them  360  lambs  were  raised  last  spring  and 
they  are  for  the  most  part  kept  until  18  months  old, 
which  brings  the  flock  up  to  an  average  of  between  600 
and  700  sheep.  From  this  flock  150  to  175  are  annually 
sold  for  breeding  purposes  and  go  to  all  parts  of  the 
world.  The  yearling  ewes  sold  last  year  averaged  $27 
per  head  and  the  rams  $63,  or  a  total  of  $6,200  was 
received  for  the  breeding  sheep  sold.  In  addition  for 
wool,  at  18  cents  per  pound,  $900  was  received;  180 
mutton  sheep  were  sold  at  an  average  of  $12  each  or 
$2,160.  Some  of  the  mutton  sheep  were  sold  when 
four  months  old.  Some  were  aged  ewes.  The  total 
receipts  from  sheep  for  the  year  were  $9,260,  and  I  am 
assured  that  this  was  not  above  the  average  for  the 
last  six  years.  Most  careful  attention  and  the  best  of 
skill  have  been  given  this  flock,  and  as  high  as  $1,500 
has  been  paid  for  a  single  sire.  This  year  this  tenant 
farmer  paid  $325  for  one-lialf  interest  in  a  five-year-old 
ram  and  $700  for  a  yearling.  Sheep  have  been  the 
specialty  on  this  farm  for  three  generations,  and  it  has 
proved  a  pleasant  and  exceedingly  profitable  one  On 
this  as  on  all  other  English  farms,  stock  breeding- 
forms  the  basis. 
Hereford  cattle  are  made  another  specialty,  and  with 
their  white  faces,  graceful  horns  and  round  bodies 
make  a  picture  worth  taking  a  journey  to  see.  Eighty- 
four  head  were  upon  the  farm  in  August,  headed  by 
the  patriarch  of  the  herd  purchased  for  $1,400  five 
years  ago,  when  cattle  brought  longer  prices  than 
now,  and  he  has  proved  a  good  investment.  Of  the 
herd  32  are  cows  and  are  allowed  to  run  with  their 
calves  and  never  milked.  Last  year  all  the  surplus 
breeding  cattle  were  sold  to  a  gentleman  from  Brazil 
for  the  gross  sum  of  $3,100,  and  the  10  head  slaugh¬ 
tered  when  from  oue  to  two  years  old  sold  for  $800, 
making  a  total  of  $3,900  for  the  cattle  sold. 
Only  two  hogs  were  kept  and  they  were  killed.  The 
horses  sold  paid  for  the  horses  purchased.  Without 
graining  excessively  to  injure  them  for  breeding  pur¬ 
poses,  the  cattle  and  sheep  are  fed  to  get  all  the 
growth  possible  from  the  day  of  their  birth  until  sold. 
A  Big  Balance. — For  expenses  we  charged  the 
farm,  as  before  itemized,  for  rent,  taxes  and  labor 
$10,065.  We  now  credit  it  with  cash  for  grain  sold 
$3,000,  gross  receipts  from  sheep  $9,260,  gross  receipts 
from  cattle  $3,900,  total  receipts  $16,160;  deduct  $10,065 
for  expenses  and  there  is  left  a  net  gain  of  $6,095  for 
one  year.  This  leaves  $500  more  from  the  garden  for 
the  wife  and  pocket  money.  But  I  am  assured  that 
these  figures  are  conservative  and  that  $6,095  is  hardly 
an  average  annual  profit,  and  that  it  has  been  as  high 
as  $11,500  in  a  single  year  when  Hereford  cattle  had 
a  boom  and  brought  long  prices.  This  year  sheep  have 
been  higher  than  ever  before  and  cattle  lower.  How 
to  invest  this  income  profitably  seems  to  be  a  harder 
question  for  my  friend  than  how  to  make  it.  He  has 
tried  all  sorts  of  bonds,  stocks  and  mortgages  from 
America,  Africa  and  India  and  the  losses  have  about 
equaled  the  income  therefrom. 
After  getting  these  facts  carefully  in  detail,  I  asked 
the  privilege  of  withdrawing  the  suggestions  which 
I  had  made  to  him  one  year  before,  that  he  should  sell 
his  stock  on  the  farm,  wh:ch  I  estimated  would  be 
worth  about  $40,000,  and  come  to  America  and  buy  a 
farm  for  himself  and  save  the  rent.  I  concluded  that 
he  could  pay  his  rent  of  $4,200  and  then  make  more 
money  in  England  than  he  could  in  America  if  he 
owned  the  land. 
This  farm,  like  many  other  good  ones  in  England 
has  descended  from  father  to  son  for  several  genera¬ 
tions,  the  son  simply  inheriting  the  privilege  of  rent¬ 
ing  it,  for  he  can  never  ow  n  it  in  fee  simple,  but  who 
shall  sav  that  this  is  not  as  valuable  an  inheritance  as 
a  title  in  fee  simple  to  a  good  American  farm? 
If  there  is  a  practical  lesson  in  this  for  us,  it  lies  in 
the  possibility  of  seeking  each  for  himself  a  specialty, 
whether  it  be  in  fruit,  grain  or  stock  raising.  When 
a  man  begins  a  specialty  he  is  called  venturesome.  If 
he  fails  people  say,  “  I  told  you  so.”  If  he  succeeds 
he  is  called  lucky.  Much  depends  upon  the  specialty 
selected,  and  the  thoroughness,  and  skill 
with  which  it  is  followed.  Choose  some¬ 
thing  to  your  taste  and  of  general  util¬ 
ity.  Though  it  were  only  chicken  rais¬ 
ing,  I  would  make  a  specialty  of  some¬ 
thing,  get  a  reputation  for  it,  and  that 
reputation  will  make  money.  With  a 
specialty  well  chosen,  add  location,  suit¬ 
able  preparation  and  good  management, 
and  you  w  ill  succeed  and  place  yourself 
beyond  the  competition  of  cheap  lands, 
methods  and  men.  george  e.  breck. 
The  Flock  in  Summer. 
A  DRY  SEASON  FOR  SHEEP. 
Sheep  and  Clover. — Until  the  lambs 
are  weaned,  the  flock  of  breeding 
ewes  should  get  the  best  kind  of  pastur¬ 
age.  Of  all  fodders,  none  is  better  than 
clover.  This  is  often  noticeable  in  the 
way  they  will  eat  it  out  of  a  pasture  of  a 
mixed  nature.  After  the  lambs  have 
been  weaned,  the  ewes  will  do  well  on 
grain  stubble  or  bare  pasture,  as  it  is 
desirable  to  dry  them.  It  should  be  the 
aim  to  have  a  piece  of  second  growth 
clover  for  the  lambs  after  they  have 
been  separated  from  their  dams.  They 
like  it  best  when  fresh  and  in  a  fair  state  of  growth. 
It  pays  to  cater  to  their  appetites  at  this  time,  for  it  is 
at  this  period  of  their  lives  that  they  are  most  likely 
to  become  checked  in  their  growth.  The  proper  way 
to  wean  lambs,  paradoxical  as  it  may  seem,  is  not  to 
wean  them.  If  they  have  been  fed  some  grain,  pre¬ 
ferably  a  mixture  of  bran  and  oil  meal,  they  will, 
when  they  get  to  be  from  three  to  four  months 
old,  unconsciously  become  independent  of  their  dams. 
Must  Have  Water. — Sheep  should  have  access  at 
all  times  to  pure  water.  Of  all  the  abuses  that  have 
originated  with  man  there  is  not  one  that  for  inhum¬ 
anity  will  rank  with  the  denial  of  water  to  sheep. 
Their  salivary  glands  are  larger  than  those  of  cattle, 
thus  permitting  them  to  live  on  drier  food  and  en¬ 
abling  them  to  withstand  drought  better  ;  yet  it  is 
cruelty  in  the  highest  degree  to  withhold  water  from 
them,  more  especially  during  the  warm  months. 
It  will  greatly  assist  in  'keeping  the  flock  in  good 
health  if  they  have  liberal  supplies  of  salt  and  sul¬ 
phur.  A  suitable  mixture  of  the  two  is  made  when 
the  addition  of  the  sulphur  gives  the  salt  a  light  yel¬ 
lowish  tinge.  The  floekmaster  who  has  used  this 
mixture  will  invariably  give  evidence  as  to  the  bene¬ 
fit  from  it.  Sulphur  is  a  large  constituent  of  wool, 
and  it  is  contained  only  in  small  quantities  in  most 
plants,  so  that  to  its  beneficial  action,  aside  from  its 
medicinal  qualities  as  a  stimulant  of  the  skin,  may  be 
credited  its  good  effects  on  wool  growth. 
Insects  Worrying  Sheep.— It  is  during  early  spring 
and  summer  that  most  of  the  insect  enemies  of  sheep 
do  the  greatest  damage.  In  case  of  the  lambs  the  lung 
worm  (Strongylus  filaria)  is  likely  to  give  rise  to  un- 
tliriftiness.  The  lambs  that  become  affected  have  a 
scrimped  appearance,  and  are  troubled  more  or  less 
with  a  hacking  cough  in  the  advanced  stages.  The 
most  efficient  remedy  to  my  knowledge,  is  turpentine 
given  in  milk.  About  half  a  teaspoonful  of  the  former 
A  Clun  Forest  Sheep.  Fig. 
Reengraved  from  the  Mark  Lane  Express. 
