The Portland daily press., 1874-09-14
THE PRESS.
MONDAY MORNING, SEPT. IA, 1874
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
EngliSh Farming.

odWpliuScWOItu, County Vi adrIlOTu, dDOuC
twenty miles north of London, owned by Mr..
Prout; and the other in Swindon, county of
Willis, perhaps fifty miles west of London,
owned by Mr.. Middleditch. Mr.. Middle
ditch's farm of 500 acres, when he purchased
it about four years ago, was in poor condi-
tion, as it was close, heavy clay, entirely un
drained. Mr.. Prout's farm of 450 acres is al!
so of clay, and was in similar condition
when purchased by him thirteen years ago.
In the outset, both gentlemen were at large
expense in drainage, and in clearing the
ground of trees, hedges and fences, in order
that it might be prepared for using steam
power in cultivation. For the side drains,
three and four inch tiles were used; and
twelve inch pipes for the mains. When Mr..
Prout commenced on his farm, finding it in a
low state, he expended on it $4,000 in artfi-
cial manures, by his reckoning.
The cost of manare per acre each year is
$3.50. MIR. Middeditch uses from three to
four hundred weight OF dissolved bones, and
one to one and half of nitrate of soda per
acre. Formerly thirty-sx horses were re-
quired on his farm, one half being in grass !;
now, seven are sufficient, except when en-
gagged in drilling wheat.
The principal crop raised on both farms, is
wheat; the remainder of the land is devoted
to oats and grass, clover on one farm and
sainfoin Oh the other; the entire freedom of
the fields from weeds was noticeable on both
farms. Mr.. Prout's farm was divided into fif-
ty lots, containing each from eight to ten
acres; twenty-six lots were devoted to Revit
wheat, nine 10 red wheat, seven to black Tar
tartan oats, one to mixed wheat, five TO sec
Ond-cut clover; total amount of sales, three
hundred and ten acres of wheat, sixty-five of
oats, and forty-two of clover. The grain was
all sold standing, the purchaser in all cases to
harvest the crop at his own risk; the after
math to be eaten off by sheep was sold for
from $40 to $50 per acre. With the excep-
tion of a few spots, the general appearance of
the crops and fields was equal to any seen
during the past season.
1t will be noticed that these farms are cul-
tivated by steam power, the plowing, scarify-
ing and narrowing, all are done by the agen-
cy of steam engines. The blowing on Mr..
Middleditch's farm was done by two twenty
horsepower Fowler steam engines and plows,
The total work done by these engines in 1873,
was 1903 acres for himself, and 1909 acres for
his Leighbors. The hire of the engines the
last season amounted to $3735.
From letter written by Mr.. M. to gen.
tleman farmer in another county, who ap-
piled for information in relation to the cost of
steam cultivation, we learn, that the approxi-
mate cost per acre on his own farm, (includ-
ing five per cent. interest on cost, fifteen per
cent. depreciation. repairs, manual labor &c.
was for plowing $2.S2; scarifying $1.70; and
narrowing $52. He however estimated that
enough would be earned ON other farms, to
reduce the cost of his own work to $500 for
plowing; $40 for scarifying; and $37 for har-
rowing. In concluding his letter he says:
SIT therefore, remains for YOU TO put the
question to yourself; Can I do my work
cheaper by horses? say, certainly not, es-
pecially taking into consideration the follow
ing advantages, viz: high prices of horses and
cost of keeping; work done at the right
time; no poaching or treading or panmaking; !;
the atmospheric benefits of autumn cultiva-
tion; increased depth of seed-bed, and land
on the fiat without furrows; the certainty of
a root crop in drouthy seasons; grain crops
more certain and heavier by far; less manual
labor required, according to the value Of gross
return. These are some of my experiences"
These statements seem to us remarkably
interesting and important, and to foreshadow
very positively what the future of agriculture
may be, and probably will be. In an exami-
nation of the statistical details, we must not
be unmindful of the obvious principles under
lying the entire record, and on which success
apparently rests; although they may be an
tagonistic to the assertions, if not the expert
ences, of agriculturists in this country. We
can hardly persuade ourselves to believe, that
rotation of crops as a general rule is unneces-
sary; that as hitherto practised, it is only a
fashion, a custom, rather a bondage, under
which we have ignorantly bat needessly
| lived; and yet it appears to be incOntroyerti'
bly, demonstrated by these accounts, that al.
though grain crop follows grain crop, yet the
average yield steadily increases from year to
year. In commenting upon these statements
| the New York Tribune remarks: "These
favorable results, continued year after year,
seem to point to the probability that the pro
cess of sowing and reaping these crops upon
| this system may proceed indefinitely" The
| New York T.mes also says: "The fact that
two farmers can thus raise crops with profit,
| to all appearance indefinitely, proves that
| others may"
1t will, without doubt, be still more difficult
l for large class to surrender their inherited
| AID ancient faith in the indispensableness Of
barn manure and to give up the cherished
privilege of denouncing modern fertilizers
but what can be said in these cases, where
no stock is kept, and no crops consumed OF
the farm, and where everything is carried
away, and nothing but artificial manure:
brought on. The simple statement of facts
contains both the argument and verdict
Were we engaged in the manufacture of fer
tilizers, we should desire nothing more than ;
few such testimonies, to secure immense
sales, and correspoudngIy large returns ant
profits.
Additional confirmation is given to al
those who have believed in and practise'
UNDERTAKING. and deep blowing; for by tn
steam plow the land is plowed very deepl
and thoroughly; and it is quite evident tina
those who farm extensively, must, as individ
uals or community, summon to their ali
the power of steam.
1t would he interesting to our readers, Il
see the full account of the sales on thes
two farms with all the minuteness Of detail
we have only space for the general state
mept, that the prices realized for Mr.. Middle
ditch's crops of wheat, were from $19
$50 per acre; the average being about S.
| per acre. Mr.. Prout received $23, ,141 ft
| the entire sales of the present season, inclr
ding wheat, oats and clover, an average
over $51 per acre. The average of sales frol
this for seven years, has amounted to 50
0e5 annually.
When defective theories are advanced,