or his well-earned applause :-why should not the farmer be equally rewarded, and equally considered?

DRAINING.

basis of all

Draining may justly be esteemed the agricultural improvements in strong soil. No operation requires more judgment, its success in a great measure, if not wholly, depending on the skill in giving a proper direction to the drains. Springs are caused by interruptions of the strata, which are denominated dykes; and these are produced by the fracture or disunion of the strata, and consist most commonly of the broken fragments of each superior strata, and towards the surface are generally of sand, gravel, and stones, which seldom or never fail of affording considerable quantities of water. Dykes may be approached to within a few feet in draining, and if not cut through and crossed, the water will not come away. A most material object is to run the drains at right angles, with the general course of these interruptions, which it is by no means difficult to trace. As a further instance of prior mismanagement (which must perpetually occur where a discerning and intelligent eye does not superintend and direct), I had the mortification of finding all the drains which had been previously made on my farm, so shallow and injudi, ciously made, as to produce little or no effect. None were cut deeper than twenty inches, and few more than a foot, which in my method of management

proves a great hindrance to the plough. It was in vain to attempt improvement without first laying the ground dry. In the last four years five hundred acres (all full of springs) have been drained at an expense little short of two thousand pounds. The depth of the drains are from three to six feet, and filled with stones to within twenty inches of the surface. The expense was from five to seven shillings per rood, the stones being quarried and led from a distance, Further experience has satisfied me, that I incurred a very heavy and unnecessary expense, which might have been avoided, and my land improved, had I adopted deep ploughing, by which means I should have procured stones in the ground sufficient to have filled the drains. This I have practised in the last year in making three thousand three hundred roods of drains in the Moor Close Farm, and the expense has not exceeded two shillings per rood: had the same plan been followed at the Schoose Farm, I should have saved near a thousand pounds. Notwithstanding the heavy expense attending my first draining operations, and which has added four shillings per acre to the rent, it has, in most instances, doubled the value of the land. At seven per cent. it would be highly for the interest of the farmer to have his land well drained, and this ought to be a sufficient temptation to induce the landlord to undertake it. I know of no expenditure of money that would prove so productive to the owner of the estate; the increased rent that would be obtained in consequence, at the end of a lease, would make a return of above twenty per cent.

In

In going over my ground a second time, I have found it necessary to make some additional drains. I have to lament that it did not occur to me, in the first instance to lay down the drains on the plan of the farm. This would have saved much trouble to myself, and those that come after me. I strongly recommend it to those who have to begin their improvements. In the course of the last summer, I got from deep ploughing in sixty acres of the Moor-Close Farm, above 8000 single horse carts of stones. I cut 1131 roods of drains, from a yard to four feet, besides a main drain of nearly half a mile. The whole cost 3s. per rood. From the expense I was put to by removing immense coal-banks, occupying several acres, which had settled and stood some feet deep in water, breaking up and preparing, &c. for wheat, the sixty acres cost me 251. per acre, or 1500 pounds. Public opinion has condemned it as a most injudicious expenditure. I quote it to shew the confidence I entertain of the bounty of the earth. I have no doubt the three first.crops will repay me the whole expense, and leave the land worth 40s. per acre, which was not worth 10s. to begin with. Three years ago I expended 187. per acre in draining and preparing a very miserable. poor field of 28 acres for wheat. The expenditure was equally condemned. The return of the first year was as follows:-It yielded 1070 bushels of wheat.

Bushels.

*

1024 sold at 4s. Od.

46

Brought forward,

28 acres, at 18/. per acre for draining,

&c. cost

Clear above expense

Though the Moor-close is so much nearer to the town, and better situated, I do not look for so good a crop. I offer this as an instance that may afford some encouragement to those who are fearful of expending their money on improvements.

CLEANING OF LAND.

The second operation in Agriculture is the complete eradication of weeds. Few have resolution and perseverance to do this as effectually as it ought to be done. My first attempt exhausted the patience of all employed, and (as I must candidly acknowledge) my own also. The work was only half done, and has obtained me no credit, nor afforded satisfaction to any one. Further experience has convinced me that there is no expense, which the complete cleaning of the ground will not repay. The usual method in this country has been to attempt cleaning the ground previous to sowing it with barley; but this cannot be effected without making it a late crop. There are but two methods in which it can properly be done, either by naked fallows, or in the turnip crop. My first ploughing (having a strong soil to work upon) was too shallow. For the last two winters I have ploughed all my ground intended for green crop with a chain plough of Mr. Small's, and four horses, making the furrow from

eleven to fourteen inches deep. As far as I have tried deep ploughing, it has answered admirably in the North of England, where 42. inches of rain fall in the twelve months, whilst in Norfolk they have but 22. It will be generally found impracticable to effect a complete cleaning of foul ground in one season. This gives a decided advantage to Norfolk and the Southern countries over the North, and enables them to effect their farming operations at a much cheaper rate, as also in a much shorter period. I conceive it practicable, however, by such an enlargement of the distances between the stitches, as will permit of working both with the plough and hoe throughout the season, to effect the cleaning of the ground as well, or nearly so, as from a fallow. Upon this principle, I have encreased the distance between the stitches of my potatoes, and all other green crops, to double of what is commonly allowed.

To cabbages I give four feet and an half between every plant in all directions, Potatoes, which are my most important crop, I plant in beds, three feet long by two broad, giving four feet and an half lengthways, and three feet end-ways, in quincunxes, so that the plough can work in every direction I am disposed to think that I can obtain as much weight of crop by this method, as is commonly got by any other mode, and have besides the great advantage of cleaning the ground.

By taking two green crops I can clean the foulest land perfectly well. This opinion, that on the wide stitches I can get an equally heavy crop, is formed