The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-08-17
Ghe 6aruler.
ENGLISH FARMING.

Leaving the hustle and busy scenes of
this gigantic city, Iondon) We took the
train, and after riding two hours we ar
rived at the sManor House, the house Of
Alfred Coseh, Esq, near Chichester, in
Sussex county, to learn something of Eng
lish farming. This is one of the most
beautiful and productive portions Of Eng
land. Mr.. Cosen owns the homestead Of
his ancestors, he being the oldest son, a
place that / am told has been in the family
for nearly three hundred years. 1t con-
tains something over four hundred acres,
and more beautiful and elegant place |
never beheld. Il is all under hedge fenc-
ing and in the highest state of cultivation.
Mr.. Cosen is comparatively young man,
full Of vim and whole souled generosity,
married to Scotch lady of very possess
ing appearance and fine accomplishments,
who, together with her generous husband,
were well calculated to make us at once
feel at home, in their mansion. Partak-
ing of good dinner, / expressed desire
TO see some of his farming operations.
In England the buildings are usually
substantial, the barns being merely used
as stables, all the grain threshing being
done out of doors. On this farm every
necessary buildingis found in the most
complete order, the stablingrunning around
the barn-yard First showing me some Of
the finest cows ever saw, and some calves
in the stable, we came into the barn-yard
Here | found large mass of manure, the
products Of the straw hauled in and the
cattle kept on it. He then took me in the
rear of the building where he pointed out
large pile of manure, and stated that as
fast as he could work it up to n proper
condition in the yard, he had it conveyed
to the pile, where it would become well
cured, and from thence it was carried to
Che fields. We then walked into his grain
fields, and | must say l never saw such
wheat as he has, reaching over my shout
der, regularly, very large heads and as
level over the top as if clipped, and all
smooth chat, no bearded being grown in
England. No Indian corn is planted on
these islands, the climate not being adap-
ted to its maturity. As q substitute farm
ers grow mangels and turnips.
OF the mangel see large fields planted
as We plant corn, and farmed in the same
manner The tops and roots resemble
those Of our beets. Mr.. Cosen tells me
that he has had them to weigh as high as
forty pounds each. / saw a large pile of
last years growth, now used for feeding
his stock In the fall they are gathered
on pile, and a straw roof made over
them, so as to preserve them during the
winter. Turnips are raised and treated
in the same mode. These roots are run
through cutting machine that separates
them into small pieces, in which condition
they are fed to horses, cows, sheep and all
kinds Of animals, and are regarded very
nourishing and fattening. 1 find the same
kind of clover grown here that we have,
but not so extensively, fine meadow grass
being mostly used for pasturage and hay.
They have in use wheat drills, machines
for planting turnips, for rolling the ground,
cutting grass and grain, as we'll as for
thrcshing; but owing to the system of labor
they are not used as much as in our
country. On this farm are used fourteen
horses, and of the best seen anywhere, and
some eighteen of the finest fat steers,
ready for market. Hands generally board
themselves; cut grass and grain at az agreed
price per acre, the compensation being low.
The daily hands all board themselves, so
that the farmer has very little trouble in
that way. MIR. Cosen also has very large
herd of the finest quality of sheep, the
grass being well adapted to their raising
Grain cutting will begin in England about
the time you get this letter, the season
being far behind ours.
Several miles from Mr.. CoSen's place
lies the estate of the Duke of Richmond.
containing about 1000 acres of prime
land. We drove about FIVE miles to the
mansion house TO see it, and it is a most
lovely estate About tEo-third is farmed
by tenants, who have all very fine crops of
growing grain and grass. The balance is
used as a park and race course The
Duke has very large house in the park,
which he uses as his dwelling month or
20 in the summer. In the park / counted
sixteen pure jersey cows The races be-
gin the last of this month, and continue
four days, annually, on which occasion
thousands of people assemble to witness
them. 1t being about five miles from the
telegraph station, the Duke put up line of
five wires, from the regular station to the
race ground, for the purpose of conducting
intelligence during the races. This estate
looks more like real aristocracy than any
thing | have seen in England.-D. H.
Wiles u Hagerstosen Maa