upon it, has served more to confuse than to instruct such at least I have found it, and I own I have, perhaps, read less on agricultural subjects than I ought to have done. Many things may appear new to me; and by this means to the reader, which are not so in reality. I am disposed to pay all possible deference to well-conducted and fairly-stated experiments, but to give very little credit to theoretical conjectures.

To be promptly and uniformly obeyed, the judgment of the master must be respected, and looked up to by those who are to receive his orders: and to establish this belief, and subdue the force of prejudice, requires a considerable length of time, as well as an unremitting attention.

SYSTEM.

Local circumstances and situation ought in a great measure to determine what system is most advantageous to be followed. Having considerable concerns in collieries in the neighbourhood of my farm, the furnishing horses for the works, &c. becomes a source of double profit. The practice was heretofore for the farmers to find the horses. The profit from it paid their rents and maintained their families. This was the main object of their attention, and consequently their farms were under the most slovenly management, yielding not a moiety of the produce they should have produced under proper culture. Were I to state my own profits, as a farmer, fairly, I should

add

add to them all the advances of rent made upon the different tenants, which it would have been impossible for me to have obtained, had the old system prevailed. I may observe also, that upon every failure of crops, proportional advances were made by my farmers, upon the work of their horses, which in better times it was found difficult to reduce. To furnish food for horses, and to feed them at the cheapest rate, is the primary object of my agricultural pursuits. Connected with this is another speculation to better as much as possible the situation of the numerous classes of labouring persons employed in my works. This first led me to undertake the establishment of a dairy on a large scale; conceiving I could not render a more essential benefit to the hard-working and industrious poor, than furnishing them and their families with a plentiful supply of good milk, at a moderate price. These objects have given rise to the experiments and plans detailed in the preceding essays, and they have occupied no small portion of my time and attention for the last four years.

To one object in agriculture, the selection and improvement of stock, I have paid but little attention, though of the first importance in the general system of farming; and I am strongly inclined to think more time and observation is requisite to attam a thorough knowledge of this branch than any other. If I am not very much mistaken, the propensities of different stocks to feeding, and the food they consume, &c. are not very generally or correctly ascertained. The experiments made by the gentlemen in Durham and Northumberland

Northumberland are extremely interesting on this head, and I wish they were more generally known. Every experiment well ascertained is valuable.— Theoretical treatises are more calculated to injure than promote the real interests of agriculture; for instance, Mr. Parkinson, in his Experienced Farmer," argues against deep ploughing: had he stated the instances wherein it failed, the nature of the soil, &c. his observations might have been serviceable; but in opposition to his too general position, I can from some practice, state the direct contrary to be useful in strong lands.

The system of cropping I invariably follow, is alternate white and green crops.

The green crops I would

The white crop, except

vary as much as possible. after potatoes, in wet seasons, is almost entirely wheat. When prevented having wheat after potatoes, I substitute oats. Barley is in our moist climate a very precarious grain. From forty to fifty bushels of wheat is a fair crop: this at 4s. is 10l. The same ground would produce sixty of oats, at 3s. which is 91, and the straw makes up a great part of the difference. Taking the chance of seasons, I think the oat crop will be more profitable. If winter-sown barley will stand the severity of a northern climate, and bear being cut twice for soiling, and then grown to be an average crop, it will undoubtedly prove most highly beneficial this, however, is yet to be tried. The losses have been so heavy and general from the mildew, that it is probable a great deal of spring wheat will be grown. I entertain considerable doubts of its

being more profitable than an oat crop. Wheat after turnips, though so much practised in Scotland and Northumberland, has been very little tried; where it is the practice, they suppose they get the best wheat.

I was so unacquainted and ignorant of all farming concerns at the commencement of my career, that I conceived a few months would enable me to make a total change in the appearance of my farm. Had I been fully apprised of the time, perseverance, and pa tience, as well as the expenditure requisite to accomplish even a moderate degree of perfection in such a soil, and with the discouragements of climate, I honestly confess that in all probability I should have shrunk from the undertaking. Success was looked upon as a matter of course, and the certain consequence of persevering exertion. Experience and the fruits of it, "judgment," may effect a great deal; but seasons such as the last we have experienced bid defiance to all human skill.

The unremitting attention of six years, with my mind and inclinatic bent upon bringing my farm into a good state of cultivation, has afforded me ample opportunities of correcting many errors. Some were local, others the fruits of hasty conclusions drawn from reading, and not being able to discriminate. The want of knowing when the work was properly done, subjected me to perpetual disappointments, and the pleasing delusions of expecting crops, which more judgment would have told me were not to be looked for from the management practised. One principal fault was impatience. The hurry and bustle of the

master

master had its influence on all employed. The object was to do much to effect that, the mode of doing the work was not considered. A A great exertion may on a chance occasion be attended with advantage, but this cannot be repeated. Only a certain portion of work can be supported, without occasioning a consequent failure, by which more is lost than gained. In general, bustle does not produce either much or good work. Arrangement and method are the soul of dispatch; when these are the governing principles, all the vexations so incidental to hurry, or a great proportion of them, are avoided. Every one is in his proper place. This is one of the fruits of experience which every one must learn for himself; the shorter, however, the apprenticeship, the more for the advantage of the individual.

Forethought and preparation are essential points in a farmer. When seasons prove adverse, the wisdom would be to attempt no more than can be well done.

The disappointments which are unavoidable in farming, lead, or ought to lead, to the conclusion, "that landed proprietors should be disposed to treat industrious tenants with great lenity, and to give every encouragement to exertion and diligence." The risks in farming are great in the most favoured situations. Those who are ignorant of agricultural affairs, as generally over-rate the profit of farmers as they under-rate their risks. A life of frugality and industry, guided by discretion, ought to be rewarded in every station with the means of independence and competency. No one envies the merchant his gains

or