The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-01-10
ENGLISH PRIZE FARMING.

IL IS llOI lTOlil Ely uSu ldIlueTS WHO
merely rent their farms that we hear
the complaint that their business is not
profitable, but from the owners of Amer
lean farms; yet these English farmers
each year pay large sums for rent, and
still larger sums for permanent improve
ments upon the land, f, om which they
derive but Temporary benefit. AT the
same time we own our lands, and in
our estimate of profit the interest on
their cost rarely enters into the calcula-
ton as charge upon the receipts; yet
the complaint is general that our farm
ing does not pay. Possibly there may
be something in our want of manage
ment, and comparison with the meth
DDS followed by some English farmers
who have been competitors for the
prize of 5000 offered by the English
Royal Agricultural Society, might help
to point out the weak spot. The farm
which was awarded the prize was one
occupied by Mr.. W. G. Walgate, of
400 acres, of which l20 are in grass.
His rotation is one of five years, viz:
Turnips or other roots, Spring grain,
(wheat, oats, or barley,) clover, wheat
and oats, OF peas and beans The
stock consists of l6O heavy long-wool
sheep, or as many more as may be
needed. to consume the roots; a large
number of pigs, many of which are
purchased for fattening, and not reared
upon the farm; forty bullocks for fat
tening, and twelve horses. The labor
costs So per acre. All the manure
made goes to the root crops, with 500
pounds of bone-dust and 400 pounds of
superphosphate per acre in addition.
The consumption of oil-cake and other
purchased feed is immense; the bulocks
eating six pounds day while grazing,
with seven pounds of meal per day
added when finally fed on turnips; the
manure is, therefore, very rich. The
wheat is sown in drills nine inches
apart, and eight to ten pecks per acre
of seed is sown. This crop is horse
hoed, also hand-weeded. The clover
fields are sown with fourteen pounds of
white and seven pounds of red clover
seed per acre, with little rib-grass
(narrow-leafed plantain) mixed. This
farm is said to have been evidently
under profitable management, and on
no other farm was there such an excel
lent lot of stock in the fields. Mr..
Walgate has been tenant on this farm
for twenty-five years, and had built the
greater part of the farm buildings HIM
self. One of the other farms was adj
mired for its neatness, both around the
farm-steading and the fields. The re-
port says a more charming garden,
tidier fields, better roads, and more per-
feet fences were never seen. The other
of the three farms competing was
managed in a similar manner to the
prize farm, but the special object of adj
miration was magnificent wheat-feld.
Now, in comparing the condition and
management of these farms with that
of the general run of our farms, there
are few leading points of difference.
They are the root culture, liberal feed
ing Of cattle and production of rich
manures, clean cultivation of even the
wheat crop, heavy manuring at the
commencement of the rotation with
two hoed crops in succession, beans
(Which takes the place of our corn) and
turnips, and clover crop between the
two small grain crops. The abundance
of labor is rendered necessary by the
system Of management. 1t is not nee
essary to point out wherein we fall
short in any respect; it speaks for it
self. There is nothing here impossible
of achievement by any American far
mer