Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-07-02
Agrirultural.
PROGRESS OF ENGLISH AGRICUL-
TURE.

IURE.
Amid the general progress of which we
hear much nowadays, probably no one de-
partment of human industry has advanced
more rapidly, or with more benefcent results,
than that of griculture-especially in Great
Britain, A retrospect of the last hundred
years illustrates the truth of this remark in a
very striking and interesting manner. Such
a retrospect is furnished in the April number
Of the London Quarterly ReUieir. 1t could
be read with profit by every farmer in the
United States. Not only would it impart
many valuable hints, but it would demon
strate to every tiller of the soil the great pc
cuniary mot to mention public advantage
that would result from close study of the
nature and peculiarties of soils, the best
methods Of raising and improving stock, and
other important details Of his profession
In the article in the Quarterly to which we
allude, it is stated that at the close of the
eighteenth century the condition of agricul-
ture in England was mean and drepessed.-
Wheat, in many districts, was rarely cult
vated-and rarely eaten by the laboring clas-
ses. Rye, oats and barley were the prevail
ing crops A naked fallow-that is to saw. a
year of barrenness, which was too often year
of exhausting wceds--was the ordinary ex-
pedient for restoring the fertility of the soil.
Farm yard manure, exposed to the weather.
almost the only fertilizer. Artificial
grasses, with beans, peas and cabbages, were
rarely grown and turnps were confined to n
few counties, where they were sown broad
cast. Cultivation was performed almost en-
trely by manual labor, and farm implements
were rude and efficient. The cattle were
chiefly valued for their dairy qualities or their
Of al, a.,
they would milk or draw no longer The
greater number of breeds were large boned
and i'll shaped, greedy eaters, and slow in ar
irving at maturity. Fresh meat, for six
months IN the year, was luxury only enjoy
ed by the wealthiest personages.
Such was the character Of English husband
ny at the close of the last century Now, as
our readers well know, England produces the
most abundant and varied crops, and has al
most attained perfection in her stock. whether
for the dairy, the shambles, or for draft, and
labor saving machinery is employed to IA great
or extent in farming than in any other coun-
try in the world. The causes, however, that
were to produce this wonderful improvement
were even then in successful though limited
operation especially in the county of Norfolk
The first important step in the right direc-
ton appears to have been taken shortly after
the year 1880, by applying mari 10 sandy
lands. by the help of which boundess wilds
of rabbit warrins and sheep walks were con-
verted into rich grain bearing soil. Coinci-
dent with this improvement was the introduce
ton OF the cultivation of the turnip. which
proved quite as important as the use of mari.
Turnips answered the purpose Of fallow
crop, which cleaned and rested old arabic
lands they were food for fattening cattle in
winter grown on light land, and afterwards
eaten down by sheep, which consolidated il
by their feet, they prepared the way for grain
crops on wastes that had previously been giy-
en- up to the rabbits. BY this means the sands
of Norfolk. Noting and Bedford.
shire, with the help Of marling, and th,
heaths and wolds of Yorkshire and Lincoln,
shire were gradually reclaimed and made pro.
ductive.
Another improvement was the system o.
rotation Of crops that was established. lis
cardinal principle was never TO take two prain
crops in succession from one piece of land
The Importance Of alternating grain with
other crops was not only aseertained, but also
that there peculiar advantage in having
barley follow the turnips, clover the barley.
and wheat the clover, inasmuch as the fbrou,
roots of the clover were the finest possible
pabulum for the wheat. All these changes
were brought about between the years 7sC
and l760, but they were coniued, with slight
exceptions, to Norfolk county, and it was not
until the year 1867. through the labors Of
Arthur Young, that they began to penetrate
into other districts, although they have since
been universally adopted
The first English farmer who made sci.
ence OF breeding stock was Robert Blackwell
who established the admirable breed Of l.eic
estershire sheep. He was plain yooman