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GENERAL HINTS ON FARMING.

SHOULD the preceding essays have merited any. share of the public attention, either on the grounds of their general usefulness, or from the correct attention with which the experiments have been made, it may not be unacceptable to the friend of agriculture, to enlarge the sphere of his enquiry, by perusing the few general remarks which have occurred to me in the progressive management of my own farm, or have resulted from my observations of the practice of

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FARMING BY GENTLEMEN.

If farming, as is boldly and confidently asserted by many, be a pursuit in which gentlemen must of necessity be losers, it may not be useless to ascertain from what combination of circumstances this failure arises. Conceiving that nothing is more conducive to the interests of agriculture than the practice and encouragement of it by gentlemen, I am anxious therefore to examine into the grounds of an opinion, which appears to militate against past as well as present experience. The advantage of the public, not less than the virtuous happiness of its individual members, are deeply implicated in the decision of this question. In proportion

proportion as example is more forcibly illustrative of imperfect practice than the most cogent reasoning, I present myself to the attention of my readers: and in detailing the causes which led me, at a late period of my life, to undertake the superintendance of my own house-farm, after having neglected it for upwards of 20 years, I am desirous of benefiting those, who from choice or other motives may, like myself, be induced to a constant residence in the country. The apprehensions generally entertained in the year 1801, from the failure of the hay crops, and the difficulties likely to arise in the providing food for any considerable number of horses, roused me from my indifference, and impelled me to dedicate my most serious attention to the subject. The result of my inquiry was the adoption of the plan for steaming potatoes, mixed with cut straw, as a substitute for hay. Hence an alternative which I had every reason to consider as likely to be productive of very serious loss, proved most unexpectedly a source of profit, and afforded me, what was not within my expectation, a fund of pleasurable amusement. For above 20 years I had confided the management of my farm, which was of some magnitude, entirely to the direction of a bailiff, with the single injunction of attending to the culture of turnips. My crops were the first grown in this neighbourhood. This was, however, the solitary instance in which I had taken any part or concern whatever in its management. The success of my steaming, and the flattering marks of approbation conferred upon my humble endeavours, by the Board of Agri

culture,

culture, and the Society of the Arts and Sciences, inspired me with a decided taste for agriculture; and I determined to remain no longer ignorant of what it is so much the interest of the proprietor to be acquainted with the value of his estate, and the most judicious methods of cultivation and improvement.

My first inquiry was respecting the system of. management, which had been practised in my own farm; and I confess that it costs me something to be obliged to expose my own remissness and inattention; but as as impartial statement may prove serviceable to others, I shall be more than compensated for any selfcondemnation which I may have to record. It was not long before I discovered that the neglect and inattention of the owner are maladies of a very infec tious nature, communicating their baneful effects in every direction, and enervating the exertions of all within its range. In short, I found my farm in the worst possible condition. Every thing out of order, and neither intelligence nor spirit in any one employ ed. The extent of the farm was upwards of five hundred acres, valued at a thousand pounds per annum. I was surprised, beyond measure, at finding that not only the whole produce of that swallowed up in expenses, but a debt of seven hundred pounds incurred in addition; a very just reward for ignorance and inattention. The produce, as I have now beyond a doubt ascertained, was far short of what it ought to have been; and the number, as well as the neglect and idleness of those employed, was out of all proportion to the work performed.

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formed. To whom was the blame of mismanagement chargeable? I have no hesitation in taking it intirely to myself. Here then is a notable instance in proof that gentlemen cannot farm to advantage! To what extent my annual losses might have gone, but for the season of scarcity, which roused me from my state of lethargic indifference, I am not prepared to say. I am strongly disposed to believe that it would prove a very fortunate circumstance for many gentlemen farmers, if similar difficulties were to produce similar examinations into the proceedings of their farms. Fame or profit are the ordinary incentives to exertion. Is there any branch of trade; are there even any of the sports of the field practised with success, which have not cost much time and attention in acquiring? Permit me to ask then, why a knowledge of the various operations in farming should be expected to be attained without thought or application? In this, as in every other instance in life, neglect will prove ruinous; and the losses of gentlemen farmers, gentlemen merchants, and gentlemen manufacturers, arise from inattention and ignorance of the business they are engaged in.

The foregoing description of my own attempt at conducting a farm by the agency of others, may be assumed as a faithful and general picture of the consequences of indifference on the part of the proprietor, and consequent wastefulness on that of the servant. He who would wish to farm with credit, satisfaction, and advantage, will do well to mark the words of old Cato, "Miserum est, cum Villicus Dominum docet."

This admirable precept I adopted as the rule of my agricultural proceedings; and I have pursued it with unremitting perseverance. Taking upon me at once the whole direction and superintendance of my farm, from hence it became necessary for me to make myself acquainted with every operation.

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I have been much struck since the publication of the former edition of this work, by the perusal of Mr. Blith's Survey of Husbandry surveyed.' In this is detailed much of the best practice of the present day, as indeed in other authors of the same periodAmongst other things is given a description of a double coulter plough, which Lord Somerville has recently improved. That agriculture has not made a more rapid progress does not appear to be from a want of knowledge, but from a want of encouragement. Till the demand for the produce of the earth exceeds the quantity produced at home, the stimulus is wanting to call husbandry into action. Agriculture is the offspring of arts and commerce. From these in due proportion springs the most happy and prosperous state of any country.

The errors I committed were no doubt numerous; however they were not entirely without their advan tage. Every failure proved a fresh incentive to energy and exertion. Practical knowledge is the most ser, viceable, and perhaps the only knowledge to be relied upon. Though agriculture be so ancient an art, and has of necessity been practised in every country without intermission; yet so little attention has been paid to principles, that what has been generally written upon

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