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of time have overlooked very great and obvious abuses in the waste of labour. For instance, it took the labour of one person to twist straw-ropes, for binding up the straw drawn for cutting; in the room of these, I substituted ropes with rings and hooks. The drawing of the straw was held to be indispensable for cutting it properly, and this took the labour of two From accident or neglect, the drawing was on one occasion forgotten, and the immediate demand for it leaving no time to repair the oversight, the only resource which they had was to attempt the cutting of it undrawn. In the midst of the business I arrived, and most agreeably surprised I was to find it answer perfectly well, though attended with a little more trouble to the person employed.

men.

Having doubled the quantity of cut straw, I consider that by thus dispensing with drawing the straw, I have saved the labour of four persons for nine months in the year. I completely concur with Des Cartes, "that it is well to doubt of every thing, in order to search for the proof."

TYTHES,

It is much to be lamented that the legislature has not hitherto taken up the subject of Tythes. Mr. Pitt had actually a project for the commutation of them. The late administration were said to have had it under consideration, with a view of relieving the Irish. The subject has been noticed by those at

present

present in power. Much would it be for their credit

and fortunate for the

country, if this measure could

be carried into effect. Steps have been taken to ascertain the state of the British clergy, and I wish that the same plan which makes a better provision for

1

them, may do away what is found so intolerable a grievance. I have no doubt that the plan would be highly acceptable to the generality of the clergy. With some few exceptions, they are infinitely more moderate in what they exact, than the lay-impropriator. Their income is, in many instances, inadequate to their situation. It will scarce be denied, that the interests of religion, as well as good policy, require the respectability of that body to be maintained. Much it is to be regretted, that no mode has hitherto been found out of effecting this more consonant with the feelings of those who are to pay it, and at the same time less injurious to the interests of the public, who are doubtless interested in having the greatest possible produce drawn from the earth: Where tythes are taken in kind, it must prove ruinous to agricul ture; for though but a tenth of the produce, it is a fifth of the manure, forasmuch as it takes two acres of straw to make manure for the cropping of one.

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IRRIGATION.

This is very little introduced into practice in the North of England. A claim has been set by a lord of a manor, and owner of a mill, to the sole and en

tire

tire right in the water of the rivers; and in a case where no possible injury could be sustained by the mill, it is concluded to be a trespass to use the water for the purpose of irrigation. This cause is now de pending in the King's Bench, and the fate of this decision involves a question of much importance to the agriculture of the country. What little I have done has been attended with complete success, and bids fair to treble the value of the meadow. first cost has been six pound per acre. of the annual value of 37. I conceive it will become worth 10. In Northumberland I met with one instance, at Wark, where it did not seem to answer. I could obtain no satisfactory solution of the cause of the failure. Any neglect in opening the channels will most unavoidably, in a very short time, defeat all the beneficial effects.

The From being

CHOICE OF STOCK..

It appears highly desirable that agriculturists should come to some settled opinion, as to the merits and qualities of stock of various breeds, both of sheep and cattle. It should be ascertained what are the properties, what the excellence, where lie the defects of the different breeds of animals. More than one gentleman with whom I have been acquainted, persons, as far as I was able to judge, divested of all prejudice, anxious only to be right, have had the misfortune to get very wrong in their choice. After be

stowing

stowing much time and attention, and incurring a great expense to procure the best breed, they have had the mortification to find themselves perfectly mistaken, and all to begin again. Fresh expenses were thus incurred, and scarce a purchaser to be discarded objects of former favour.

found for the

To be a com

per

plete judge of stock is certainly a rare and difficult acquirement. The science extends to many points, which would totally escape the observation of the pretenders to knowledge in this branch. For instance, I have heard of an animal being turned out of a stock of high estimation, with which ordinary judges could find no fault. What want of discernment! The cow had white eye-lashes! an indisputable proof of mongrel breed! When perfection extends to such minutiæ, a man's whole life is scarce sufficient to acquire a competent knowledge of all the points of fection. Example and fashion are so powerful, that few are capable of resisting their influence when placed within the reach of their vortex; I would be understood to mean when they are sanctioned by persons standing high in public estimation. I am not therefore surprised at the extensive scale in which most novices in agriculture embark in purchasing and feeding stock. There is something highly gratifying in the sight of fine animals. By this pursuit the public often is benefited, seldom the individual. From the scale of expense on which the breeding system is generally carried on, I should conceive all the return looked for must be in fame, not in vulgar profit. Such as wish to unite both fame and profit, will do wisely to bestow

some

some pains to ascertain the actual cost at which their stock is bred and reared, from one to any given number of years. This will, nine times in ten, prevent the heavy losses which are incurred, and lead to economy in feeding, and applying such ground only to raising stock as is likely to make some return.

SERVANTS.

Though it is a fact not to be controverted, that servants are greatly changed for the worse, in all situations, compared with what they were in former times; yet I cannot accede to the general and almost univer sal blame thrown on them. I believe a full proportion of the fault belongs to the masters. If those in high life suppose they are at liberty to set bad examples, without their being followed by those about them, they are sadly mistaken. He who wishes for good servants must know not only how to value them, but how to merit having them. On the conduct of domestic servants a great check and restraint is imposed, by the necessity of having a character from their last place. In farming servants this is neglected. I rejoice to see efforts making in various agricultural societies, to restrain their members from taking servants without characters. The love of change is grown so prevalent, that few farm sei vants choose to remain above a year, or two, in the same place. The requir ing a character will make it more difficult to change, and therefore make servants more cautious of their

conduct.

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