1817. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
109 
do not differ widely from the methods prevailing with us. 
They are sometimes sown broadcast, and sometimes 
drilled. In the latter case four bushels of seed is sown 
per acre; in the former, as much as six bushels is some¬ 
times sown. The reason given for so large a quantity 
of seed, is, that though oats will tiller, 3 >-et the side 
shoots are seldom of much value, and it is best, there¬ 
fore, to sow seed enough to give the requisite number 
of stems. In yield, Mr. C. states that “ the crop va¬ 
ries from 30 to 60, and sometimes 80 bushels per acre.” 
In regard to harvesting, he says—“it is strongly ad¬ 
vised to cut oats early, as soon as the stalk turns yel¬ 
low under the head, and even while the other parts of 
it are green. None are lost in such case by shaking 
out; the grain itself is brighter, and the straw is saved 
in a much more palatable condition for the animals to 
whom it is fed.” 
The “ potato oat ” is said to be much esteemed. 
The grain is short and white, the panicles well filled, 
and it is usually without beard or awns.” It sometimes 
weighs forty-six pounds per bushel.” The “ Hopetown 
oat ” is another favorite kind of Scotch oat. “ It is es¬ 
teemed better adapted to light, than strong clay soils. 
Its weight is as great as that of the potato oat. The 
black Tartarian oat is another kind said to be much cul¬ 
tivated in England. “ They arc well known among 
us,” says Mr. C., “ having the panicles all on one side;” 
on account of this peculiarity, they are sometimes called 
“ horse-mane oats,” in some parts of this country. 
Barley. —The average yield of this grain in Eng¬ 
land, is stated to be from 30 to 50 bushels, and it usual¬ 
ly weighs from 45 to 50 lbs. per bushel. On good loamy 
soils, it is thought to be more profitable than oats; it is 
not so profitable on heavy lands. It is principally used 
for making beer, which is said to be the “ favorite drink 
of all the lower classes, and is seldom absent from the 
tables of the rich and luxurious.” The kind called 
“ Chevali(# barley,” is most esteemed. 
Rye. we are informed, is very little cultivated in 
Great Britain, and Mr. Colman says he has never seen 
it used there for bread. 
The English Horse Bean, is an important article 
with the British farmer. It yields on an average, 30 
bushels per acre, but sometimes gives 60 or even 70 
bushels. One quart of beans is considered equal to 
two quarts of oats for horses. 
Turneps. —The turnep culture has been called the 
“ sheet-anchor of British husbandry;” and from Mr. 
Colman’s account, we should be inclined to think the 
observation agreed with his opinion. “ The turnep 
crop,” sa} r s he, “ is to be considered the foundation of 
the improved husbandry of England, in the means which 
it affords of supporting an increased stock, in the abun¬ 
dance of enriching,manure which it thus supplies, and 
in the cleanness of cultivation to which it leads as a 
preparation for other crops.” 
He informs us that “ the practice of sowing broad¬ 
cast, which formerly prevailed, is nearly abandoned.” 
Where land is thin and liable to suffer by drouth, it is 
preferred to sow them -in drills on a flat surface, but on 
rich soil, it is deemed best to sow on ridges, which, for 
Swedes it is thought, should be at least twenty-seven 
inches apart, and of the distance of a foot or more in the 
rows. The best varieties, Mr, Colman thinks, are the 
yellow Aberdeen, and the Swedish, or ruta-baga, both 
which will keep well through the winter, and the 
Swedes will keep till late in spring. 
Mr. Colman admits that the advantages of growing 
turneps are much greater in England than they can be 
in this country, on account of the more favorable state 
of the English climate, both in regard to the growth of 
the turnep and the convenience of keeping it through 
the winter. But he says—“ I believe our farmers 
would find a very great advantage in growing esculent 
vegetables for sheep and cattle, instead of keeping them 
as is now done, through our long and severe winters ex¬ 
clusively upon dry food. They would be more useful 
to sheep in the lambing season, and for cows in milk; 
and though, in fattening properties I know no article, 
all things considered, superior to, our Indian corn, yet 
they certainly would come most beneficially in aid of 
that. I do not assert that turneps are the best crop 
for this purpose, but Swede turneps are certainly among 
the best. Mangel-wurzel, carrots, cabbages, parsneps, 
and potatoes, are all useful. * * * The con¬ 
clusion to which I have come, and in which I am daily 
confirmed, and with which I wish the farmers of the 
United States could be more and more impressed, is, that 
an abundant supply of succulent food should be provided 
for their stock during our long winters,—first as con¬ 
ducing to the health of the stock; and next, as contribu¬ 
ting essentially to the improvement of fattening stock, 
and as enabling the farmer to keep more stock; and 
lastly as furnishing him with the best means of enriching 
his farm, and extending and improving all his othef crops. 
Potatoes are said to be of better quality in England, 
generally, than in this country; though Mr. C. says 
those grown in the northern part of Maine and in New- 
Brunswick and Nova Scotia, are not excelled by any 
he has met with. He observes that new land and a 
moist climate are favorable to the production of the po¬ 
tato in its greatest excellence. Nothing peculiar is 
stated in regard to their cultivation. 
Grass Lands. —Mr. Colman informs us that in lay- 
ins; down lands to grass, the English use large quanti¬ 
ties of seed—“ from thirty to forty pounds, and these of 
great variety. In the rotation, the principal plants cul¬ 
tivated are the clovers, and the rye and orchard grass, 
or cocksfoot. The “ cow clover” is a permanent, but 
is more valued for pasture than for hay. In making 
clover hay, we are told “it is never tossed about and 
and spread, but simply turned and made up, first into 
small handfuls; and afterwards into cocks, and it. some¬ 
times receives heavy rains without as much damage as 
we should suppose.” ^ 
We shall continue our notices next month, giving a 
summary of MilColman’s remarks on “ Live Stock.” 
LETTERS FROM HOLLAND—No. III. 
Utrecht. Dec. 25, 1846. 
Messrs. Editors —My attention has been lately di¬ 
rected to that gigantic work of internal improvement 
commenced some years since in this country, the drain¬ 
ing of the Haarlemer Meer, or Lake of Haarlem. 
It is probable that many of your readers may have 
already seen some accounts of this undertaking, but a 
more particular notice may be of interest. Previous to 
the 15th century this lake scarcely existed, but toward 
the end of the 16th, a number of small lakes previously 
separated, owing to a rapid increase of their waters, 
burst, and overflowing the intervening space, united 
themselves permanently into one. The lake is eleven 
leagues in circumference, and has about 70 square miles 
of surface. It is somewhat higher than most of the ad¬ 
joining country, and is only restrained from overwhelm¬ 
ing a very large district by enormous dykes. There 
being no protection from the force of the winds, they 
produce a terrible effect, and drive the waters against the 
dykes with such fury that sometimes even all of their 
strength and solidity offers a scarcely adequate resistance. 
North Holland and South Holland are connected but 
by a narrow neck of land, and only the most constant 
care and watchfulness prevents the Haarlemer Meer 
from cutting through this, and converting the former 
into an island. For a considerable distance it is separa¬ 
ted from the Y., another inland sea, merely by a dyke; the 
Y is lower than the Haarlemer Meer, and the effect of 
