The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-04-05
Agricultural.


Thomrsons house Here be has In care
over 800 acres. He also rents farm ~
the lowlsnd. holding al,oscihnr 1900 scrvs.
This great charge be - uos reslgniag 10
bis sons
The t~o gree, industries 81 Mr..
Thompson's hall farm seems to be the
rsisleg o. sheep and keeping cows for
milk. A lamb fair has been held lsiels at
which be sold 800 lambs between four and
Ave month old, averaging 10 price 80 shil.
pings or about 81, Such are sold TO harm.
ers who are no, breeders. 10 he isti~ned
ior market Sheep fairs are frequent 70
Sussex hear Of one. recent lamb fair 10
which we're brought 1890 lambs.
The girls took me TO the granary 10 show
me where are stored loco feeeesa fact
which indicates thai their father is not
obliged 10 force bis produce into market.
On both farms he works about IA bullocks
aud 40horses On the south Downs work.
ing oxen are shod--two shoes on each foot
Of course. They are thrown down on
their backs, aud possession is taken Of
their feet. There are blacksmiihs' and
wheelwrights' shops on the place to save
tho trouble and expense Of running TO and
fro.
On this farm are kept 90 cows in beauti.
full order. not only fed, but groomed.
They never come GU, Of the stable except
when dry. when they are turned into the
rough pasture. MIR. Thompson white
washes the slated roof OF the cow.sheds 10
keep tho cows cool. He says it makes o
wonderful difference az TO the heat
absorbed. II Was in early August that !
visited Mr.. Thompon. They we're then
feeding green vetches among which enough
oats had been sowed TO bold up these
climbing leguminous plants. Besides
this green fodder Zach COW receives daily
about bushel OF brewers gram or malt.
ed barley, sent TO this region from Lon.
don, about 40 miles by rail. and brought
BY wagons several more, The cows aver.
age two and and half gallons Of milk
per day which is carted several miles, and
sold at about % cents the gallon. Man
gled.wurzel is the principal root raised on
the farm and is fed to the cows in winter.
A COW gets daily one bushel ofsllced man
gel, one bushel OF the grains, and as much
oat straw as she wants, and not unfrequent-
ly they give "a quarts day. They keep
Durhams which they consider the best
mixers. The mangel-wurzel does not make
rich milk, but it comes up to the standard
so they are not fined.
In August, | am just in wheat harvest
Mr.. THOMPSON says that 2S bushels of
wheat to the acre is considered moderate
crop, and not unfrequently 40 bushels are
grown. He says that Richard Redford.
close to the sea, an rich tertiary land, the
washing Of these chalk hills, raised 80
bushels to the acre over his whole rs acres
for several years in succession. Mr..
Thompson can not understand how farm
ing pays in America where the average Of
wheat is only IL or Is bushels. We have
not, however, the expense that find in q
newspaper estimate which l see for an ad-
joining county to this English one, some
Of which, turned into dollars and cents,
run about thus Ia shilling being put at "a
cents): Rent, per acre, over 81; tithes, 50;
rates on taxes, over 81. Other items are
blowing, pressing. drilling, four harrow
ings, spring rolling, hoeing, wcediag and
rocking. This last is put down at only
eight cents per acre.
Farming has recently been in very de-
pressed condition in many parts of Eng
land. Mr.. Thompson attributes this cir
cumstance to increased wages, rise 10 ex-
pense Of mechanical work, unfavorable
weather for several years and foreign CON-
petition. But he does not appear to de.
sire the establishment OF the corn laws
or duties on foreign grain. On the contra
ry, be thinks that my own country would
be greatly benefited by the introduction
Of free trade. During the late wet season
Mr.. Thompson's home farm has not suf-
fered as so many others have. as it lies
high.
or the Southdown sheep l have before
spoken, Merino sheep like ours in Amer
ida are not kept here, the carcasses being
to them Of more Importance than the wool.
The celebrated Southdown mutton does
not owe its favor to wild thyme, a. the
sheep are fatteDed on cultivated plants;
but when rabbits are killed their kidneys
are often quite thymy. This hill farm Of
Mr.. Thompson's. which is not inclosed,
feeds about 800 sheep. in three focks,
each flock having shepherd and dog.
At night the sheep are folded. the fold be-
ing made OF wattlos or hurdles OF wood,
which can be moved FROM spot to spot,
a fresh bedroom every night" says Mr..
Thompson. and inns one spot after anoth-
sr is MANFRED As 10 food, the plan on
he Southdowns is to try to have some
yreen food started by lambing- time, which
begins about March 10 The ewes are
brought into the yard, and kept until they |
rave foaled. but are often sent out almost |
on to rye grass or yonng rye. |
III this is the care Of the shepherd, who
las an anxious time Of il, rising in the
light to see if all is right. Many lambs